COMMUNICATION SYSTEM

Abstract: A communication system especially for coaching swimmers comprises a hand set which the coach uses to summon up a swimmer or swimmers to be instructed by means of generated tones and a thing worn by each swimmer to be instructed which contains electronic amplifying means and audio transducers. To water proof the electronics they are enclosed in a sealed enclosure and then in the latex of a swimming cap. Batteries used in the circuitry can be recharged without breaking the sealing by using a strong magnetic field to break through the water-proofing and drive a constant current battery charging arrangement.

Description: - Λ - COMMUNICATION SYSTEM FIELD OF THE INTENTION The present invention relates to communication systems. BACKGROUND O THE INVENTION The invention arose from a problem in coaching swimmers. A swimming coach watches his swimmers from a pool surround and yells his instructions. Swimming pools especially when indoors are noisy.places and it is difficult for any swimmer to understand the shouted instructions. Normally there are many swimmers being coached at the same time and thus each swimmer has to listen for any instruction which might be meant for him and ignore instructions meant for any one else; this is distracting to the swimmer. The invention is not however limited to swimming instruction but is applicable to most sports and other communication. The present invention aims to provide a communication system for the transmission of instructions from an instructor to a class or other group of i structees. SUMMARY 0E THE PRESENT INVENTION One aspect of the present invention provides a communication system comprising an instruction unit linked electro-magnetically to a receiving unit in something to be worn by an instructee. The elestro-magnelri-c "" linking can be done at audio frequency by having a loop surrounding the class or group or by radio transmission. If radio transmission is used, the transmitter should be of low power say . watt of radiated power to avoid too large an area in which the signal can be received. The system can incorporate an encryption or scrambling device to prevent outsiders eavesdropping on the instructions given. There is keen rivalry between swimming coaches. " The system can also incorporate a switching arrangement whereby an individual and/or a sub-group and/or the entire group can be addressed so the instructor can give instructions to whichever individual he selects* to whichever of a number of pre-selected sub-groups he choses and/or the entire group. It would of course be possible to arrange for a plurality of individuals to be instructed without the need for determining in advance which sub-group they belonged to. The receiving unit has to include an audio-transducer to produce the sound. ' This audio-transducer can be in the form of ear-piece to be received in the instructee's ear; this has an advantage in that the power demanded from the unit is low but it is difficult to render such a transducer water-proof in a swimming environment. It is preferred in a swimming environment to use a transducer which is enclosed in a water-tight case and then to incorporate that case in the latex of a swimming cap, which in the case of a swimmer or diver would be the said something worn. In a non-watery environment, the said something could be in the form of a head-piece with, ear-pieces to fit in the ears although there is nothing * to prevent said something being anything worn or carried by the instructee. Instead of instructions going direct from the instruction unit which can be a hand-held unit, it would be possible to use a relay unit to augment the signal and the relay unit can derive power from a mains supply. In another aspect of the invention, a swimming cap has provision for receiving an electronic signal receiving unit. Said provision can be in the form of -«. p-θ-eket^or' pockets into_>ιh:L_ch the unit can be inserted. A further aspect of the invention provides a swimming cap incorporating an electronic signal receiving device. The cap can incorporate the said receiving unit by being made in a dipping process with the unit being between two skins or by having a patch vulcanised over the unit. The receiving unit .can be made in two parts each fitting over an ear with each part containing an audio- transducer---with '^ on-e in " -addition having the electronic circuitry and the other a power supply. Unfortunately it has been found that the power demand of the receiving unit and particularly that of the transducers gives an undesirably short life of the receiving unit when non-rechargeable batteries are used. It has therefore been found desirable to use re¬ chargeable batteries. It has also been found desirable to switch off the unit when not in use. To avoid the need for mechanical switches, the unit can be switched on by an electronic signal and be held on for a determined period. One way of doing this would be for a part of the circuit to sense when a signal was being received and to switch off the remainder of the circuit if the signal was not addressed to it and another would be to switch the circuit on when a signal was applied and then switch it off only after a delay. A yet further aspect of the invention provides a method of recharging batteries without direct contact by placing the batteries with a charging ' circuit in an alternating magnetic field with the circuit rectifying an alternating voltage derived from the field and deriving a constant current to recharge the batteries. It has surprisingly been found that water does not attenuate the radio frequencies used in a prototype sufficiently to prevent the prototype being used in swimming coaching,indeed the prototype was effective in six foot of water that is with a trainee at the bottom of the deep end of a swimming pool which was nominally six foot deep (six foot is over 1.8 metres). - i - The invention v/ill no".-; be described, by ~ ..&j of exae-ple, with reference to the accompanying drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Figure 1 is a block diagram of a communication system according to the present invention for use in coaching swimmers, Figure 2 illustrates a variant, Figure 5 is a perspective view of an instruction unit, Figure 4 is a circuit diagram of the instruction unit, Figure 5 is a circuit diagram of a receiving unit Figure 6 shows the arrangement of cells forming a battery used in the circuit of Figure 3 . Figure 7 is a view of a swimmer wearing a cap embodying the present invention, Figure 8 is a section of a detail on line VIII-VIII of Figure 7 . Figure 9 is a schematic section showing detail of Figure 8, Figure 10 is a a view of how the receiving unit can be worn for other uses, ' . ' Figure 11 shows diagrammatically a recharging unit for the battery used in Figure j and Figure 12 illustrates how the unit of Figure 11 co-operates with circuitry connected to the battery to charge the battery. DESCRIPTION OF EXEMPLARY ΞMODIMENTS Figure 1 shows in block outline a communication system. A hand-held instruction unit 21 incorporates a key board and associated logic circuitry 22 which will be mentioned in more detail in relation to Figure 3, a built-in micro-phone 25, a speech encoding circuit 2 , amplifying circuitry 25■ > and an aerial 26 all powered by a battery 27 or mains electricity, a rechargeable battery is preferred. A receiving unit 28 comprises a battery 29, an antenna 50, radio-frequency amplifying stages 31 possibly in the form of a heterodyne receiver, means 32 for detecting whether the received signal contains a component identifying that the signal is intended for that receiving unit, - " decoding arfange- ment 33. an audio-stage amplifier ~ M- a d a power supply logic circuit 35 * The transmission frequency can be of the order of 27 -MHz or 9 MHZ but is not critical •and the radiated signal has a low power ' of say 1 watt and is preferably frequency modulated. Depending on the supplier of the transmitters and receiving units, there can be any reasonable number of receiving units associated with one instruction unit. These receiving units would be indentical one with another except for unit-identifying tracks (not shown) which would be processed during manufacture to give a unique identifying code and codes common to a group and to a sub-group, it is theoretically possible to have the said 'common codes as part of the unique codes (so the unique codes would be ABA,ABB, ABC etc. with the group code A and the subgroup code AB with the receiver sensing the final letter and cutting off the receiver if the final letter is not the right one) and this would economise on tracks. Figure 2 illustrates a variant wherein instead of restricting the range by using low power to avoid polluting the magnetic spectrum away from the instruction area, the instruction area 36 is surrounded by an induction loop 37 driven by a relay unit 38 which is mains powered 39 and can receive a signal from the instruction unit 21 by extremely low-power radio transmission or by a cable link 40. Figures 3 and 4 illustrate an instruction unit. This instruction unit is contained in a water-tight plastics material case 41 the back of which is adapted to receive notes written on it with say a grease pencil or other marker- The circuit inside the case as shown in Figure 4 comprises a stop watch chip 42 controlled by an initiating button 43 (Figure 3) and a stop button 44 (Figure 3) . a display 45 for the stop watch, a microphone 46, and audio amplifier chip 47, a battery 48, an on-off switch 49, a calling tone generator chip 50, an array of addressing buttons some 51 of which are intended to summon an individual and others 52 a group of individuals, these buttons controlling the tone generated, a chip for superimposing the output of the tone generator chip on the output of the audio amplifier, and a radio frequency amplifier chip 53 with its frequency deciding oscillator 54. The precise circuitry and components have not yet been finalised and so it would be misleading to give components and precise circuitry. However the requirements , , for the stop watch chip are that preferably it is of a type that not only has an initiating and a stop button but also has an arming button 55 permitting the timing to start on a receipt of a large signal on line 56 from the microphone denoting arrival of a loud noise such as a start-race signal. The calling tone generator can be in the form of a micro-processor which could not only synthesise the tones but perhaps could without too much cost allow the buttons 52 to cover variable groups of individuals by a programme which included a step that pushing a button 52 followed shortly by pushing buttons 51 meant that that button 52 thereafter meant the pushed buttons 51 and then cycle the tones between the codes for the right buttons 51; the receiver unit presently developed relies on each button 51 or 52 having a distinct tone and so is tuned to two tones or more. The output of the chip 53 is fed through a rubber covered aerial 25. Figure 5 is a circuit diagram of a receiving unit. Whilst development is not complete and no provision has been made for scrambling the signals as indeed was the case in Figure 4, development has proceeded far enough to give fuller details. The antenna 30 which can be in the form of a pick-up loop passes the incoming signal through a filter 60 such as a Ceramic Murata SFE49 to a radio-frequency amplifying chip 61 such as a Milliard TDA T021 with a beat oscillator 62 controlled by a 49-80 Megahertz crystal oscillator 63. The output of the chip 61 is fed to a tone sensing chip 64 such as a CML FX335SLVI through a noise eliminating filter 65. With the chip 64 there are associated a frequency-standard oscillator 66 such as a 1 MegaHertz crystal and a succession of breakable links 67 to determine the tones to be sensed. The output of the chip 64 which is the output of the chip 61 only when the correct tone is sensed is fed through amplifier stages 68 to an audio transducer arrangement 69. Another output " from the chip 64 is taken to a power switching chip(such as a 74HC02)69 which receives a voltage from a battery 70 and switches that voltage off or on ('on* means to the rest of the circuitry direct or through a voltage regulator 71)• This chip is switched into one state by a signal from the chip 64 or a large signal taken from the antenna 30 on line 72 and this state is the one passing the voltage. This chip 69 is held in that state until the state is reversed by another chip 73 such as a 74HC4060 which is a counter timer setting a delay of say 30 minutes. The signal on the line 72 will only be large if the antenna is very close to the transmitter and so this is used to set the receiver unit functioning at the start of a training session and thereafter this signal will be weak and only the signal from the chip 64 (which has been switched on) will operate the chip 69. Figure 6 shows an arrangement of cells 80 forming the battery 70 of Figure ~ . ■ Seven miniature nickel- cadmium cells packed six around a central one with suitable connections to arrange them in series can provide 8.40 volts with a capacity of 60 milliampere- hours within a diameter of 5 cm. and a depth of 6 mm. even when the cells are encapsulated in a water-proofing plastics material. Figures 7 to 9 illustrate the mechanical arrangement of the receiving unit. Figure 7 shows a swimmer wearing a bathing cap 82 which has a projection 83 over each ear. Figure 8 shows that each projection contains a part 84 embodied in the cap as by the parts with a stretchable electric interconnection 87 being attached to a layer 85 formed by a first moulding dip with a second layer 86 being formed over the first layer and the parts and interconnection by a second moulding dip. Each of the parts 84 contains an audio transducer 88 such as of Murata piezoelectric material and forming part of the arrangement 69 with each part being contained in a sealed enclosure 89. The walls of the enclosure are spaced from the transducer on all sides and there is free space behind the transducer to receive in one part the battery 70 and in the other part a printed circuit board 90 mounting the circuitry of Figure 5 which board is about the same size as the battery (this is facilitated by using surface mounted components), and the antenna ' 30. Figure 10 illustrates that the receiving unit can be mounted otherwise than in a swimming cap for other uses. Figure 10 actually shows the receiving unit in a sweat band for foot sports with the receiving unit being in one or two parts. It is not essential to use rechargeable batteries in uses where water-proofing is not a key issue. In uses demanding head protection, the receiving unit can be incorporated in a helmet. Figures 11 and 12 illustrate a way of recharging the battery 70 without removing, or obtaining direct contact with, it so it can remain sealed within the enclosures for the life of a swimming cap. The caps _ o _ of several - • v.ai- trs ca be- thrown into a r.on-meτ lIiv." container surrounded by a coil 92 in series with a capacitor 93 . the coil and the capacitor being resonant at a frequency of say 25 kiloHertz. An oscillator 94 resonating at this frequency such as a Levell TH150 DM feeds a power amplifier 95 such as a GA28F Mosfet powered by a power supply unit 96 such as a Farnell LT3O.2 which¬ in turn keeps the coil 92 strongly resonating. The resulting magnetic field is picked up by a coil 97 in Figure 12 which can be the aerial or antenna 30. This coil is then connected to a current regulating device 98 consisting of a reference Zener diode 99. resistors 100 and a transistor 101 to charge the battery at a constant low current. The orientation of the coil 97 does not seer: critical within a wide range of orientat¬ ions. No provision has been made in the described embodiments for avoiding eaves-dropping but this would seem to be a mere matter of incorporating commercially available scrambling chips in the circuits. The radio-frequency used depends largely on the licensing authorities allocating frequencies and their restrictions on power outputs at permissible frequencies. Thus in the U.K., theauthorities will only permit minimal power at 9 MHz and so 27 MHz when they will permit.4 watts will be better. It is possible to use independent receiving units for each ear when it is desired to use two earpieces with each unit being self-contained with its own battery and circuitry. This avoids the need for a stretchable electrical connection which even with connection anchorages may be a source of failure if the wearer uses the projections 83 as an aid in pulling a swimming cap on. It is not thought that the connection would be a source of weakness and it would only be necessary in any eve t to wind the conneccion abound the enclosure to give a firm anchorage taking any strain off the connection's terminations.

Claims: C A I M S 1. A communication system comprising an instruction unit linked electromagnetically to a receiving unit in something to be worn by an instructee. 5 2. A system according to claim 1 wherein the instruction unit drives a loop laid down around an area containing the instructee. 3. A system according to claim 1 wherein the electromagnetic lining is at radio frequency. 10 4. A system according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the instruction unit comprises a micro-phone and amplifying means and a means for applying an addressing code to the amplifying means output whereby a receiving unit can accept only a signal 15 intended for it. 5.. A system according to any one of the preceding claims wherein the said something is a bathing cap. 6. A bathing cap having provision for receiving an electronic signal receiving unit.- ' 20 ~ . A cap according to claim 6 wherein said provision is in the form of at least one pocket into which the unit can be inserted. 8. A bathing cap incorporating an electromagnetic signal receiving unit. 25 9- A cap according to claim 8 wherein the unit is en¬ cased within the material of the cap. 10. A cap according to claim 9 wherein the unit is split into two parts joined by wiring with one part being positioned over each ear. 30 11. A cap according to claim 10 wherein each part contains an audio transducer with one also containing a battery and the other electronic circuitry, each part being contained in a water-tight enclosure with the transducer being spaced from that enclosure. 35 12. A cap according to claim 11 wherein the battery is of the rechargeable type. 13. A battery recharging arrangement comprising a a non-conductive non-magnetic container into which things can be put, a coil producing a magnetic field - / / - in the container, energising means for the coil, and in the thing a means for deriving energy from the magnetic field and rectifying it. 14. An arrangement according to claim 13 wherein the coil is arranged to be resonant at the energising frequency. 15- An arrangement according to claim 13 or claim 14 wherein the energy deriving means is arranged to yield a constant charging current to the battery. 16. A system substantially as herein described with reference to the drawings. 17. A bathing cap substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 7 to of the accompanying drawings. 18. An arrangement for recharging batteries substantially as herein described with reference to Figures 10 and

Inventors: GRADWELL PAUL STEPHEN, LEATHER TERENCE HENRY, NAYLOR FRANK RAYMOND, GRADWELL, PAUL, STEPHEN, LEATHER, TERENCE, HENRY, NAYLOR, FRANK, RAYMOND
Applicants: LEATHER TERENCE HENRY, LEATHER, TERENCE, HENRY
Application year: 1986
Main classification: A63B69
IPC codes: A42B1, A63B69, A63B71, H04B5