# US 2014/0154991 A1 · Low noise detection system using log detector amplifier > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0154991 A1 - Document ID: US20140154991A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/095,973 - Filed: 2013-12-03 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-12-03 - Assignees: Dockon AG - Applicants: DockOn A.G. - Inventors: Forrest Brown; Patrick Rada - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140154991A1 ## CPC - H04B 1/10: Means associated with receiver for limiting or suppressing noise or interference - G01F 1/66: by measuring frequency, phase shift or propagation time of electromagnetic or other waves, e.g. using ultrasonic flowmeters - G01F 1/663: by measuring Doppler frequency shift - G01F 1/667: Arrangements of transducers for ultrasonic flowmeters; Circuits for operating ultrasonic flowmeters - G01F 15/063: using electrical means - G01M 3/00: Investigating fluid-tightness of structures - G01M 3/243: {for pipes} - H03D 3/002: {Modifications of demodulators to reduce interference by undesired signals (H03D3/248 takes precedence)} - H04Q 9/00: Arrangements in telecontrol or telemetry systems for selectively calling a substation from a main station, in which substation desired apparatus is selected for applying a control signal thereto or for obtaining measured values therefrom - H04Q 2209/40: using a wireless architecture - H04Q 2209/43: using wireless personal area networks [WPAN], e.g. 802.15, 802.15.1, 802.15.4, Bluetooth® or Zigbee® - H04B: TRANSMISSION - G01F: MEASURING VOLUME, VOLUME FLOW, MASS FLOW OR LIQUID LEVEL; METERING BY VOLUME - G01M: TESTING STATIC OR DYNAMIC BALANCE OF MACHINES OR STRUCTURES; TESTING OF STRUCTURES OR APPARATUS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - H03D: DEMODULATION OR TRANSFERENCE OF MODULATION FROM ONE CARRIER TO ANOTHER (masers, lasers H01S; circuits capable of acting both as modulator and demodulator H03C; details applicable to both modulators and frequency-changers H03C; demodulating pulses H03K9/00; transforming types of pulse modulation H03K11/00; coding, decoding or code conversion, in general H03M; repeater stations H04B7/14; demodulators adapted for AC systems of digital information transmission H04L27/00; synchronous demodulators adapted for colour television H04N9/66) - H04Q: SELECTING (switches, relays, selectors H01H; wireless communication networks H04W) ## Abstract A low noise detection system is disclosed in which a modulator located in a transmitter or a receiver is configured to convert a voltage data signal to a frequency signal, to modulate a baseband signal with the voltage data, and to output the modulated data signal. The receiver further includes a log detection amplifier configured to receive the modulated data signal and to regeneratively demodulate the modulated data signal to extract the data in an amplified analog data signal while not significantly amplifying any noise in the modulated data signal. The receiver further includes a digital conversion circuit for converting the amplified analog signal into a digital data signal. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A low noise detection system, comprising: a transmitter including a modulator configured to convert a voltage signal indicative of data to a frequency signal, to modulate a baseband signal with the data, and to transmit the modulated data signal; a receiver including a log detection amplifier configured to receive the modulated data signal and to regeneratively demodulate the modulated data signal to extract the data in an amplified analog data signal while not significantly amplifying any noise in the modulated data signal; and a digital conversion circuit for converting the amplified analog signal into a digital data signal. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The low noise detection system of claim 1, wherein the transmitter includes an oscillator configured to provide the modulator within an intermediate frequency signal for AM modulation and the modulator is configured to AM modulate the baseband signal with the data. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The low noise detection system of claim 1, wherein the modulator includes a phase lock loop (PLL) for FM modulating the baseband signal with the data. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The low noise detection system of claim 1, wherein the modulator includes a voltage controller oscillator (VCO) for FM modulating the baseband signal with the data. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The low noise detection system of claim 1, wherein the log detection amplifier includes a frequency to voltage converter configured to convert the amplified analog signal into an output voltage signal including the data. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The low noise detection system of claim 5, wherein the digital conversion circuit includes an N-bits analog to digital converter configured to convert the amplified analog signal into an output digital signal including the data. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The low noise detection system of claim 1, wherein the digital conversion circuit includes a N-bit counter with a fast clock, a 1/N digital inverse function and a scaling circuit configured to convert the amplified analog signal into an output digital signal including the data. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The low noise detection system of claim 1, wherein the modulator is configured to modulate the baseband signal with a frequency tone of approximately 40 dB of high spectral purity. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The low noise detection system of claim 1, wherein the transmitter is a wireless transmitter operating at above or below 1 GHz and the receiver is a wireless receiver. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The low noise detection system of claim 1, wherein the transmitter is a medical transmission device configured to transmit the modulated data signal at a patient and the receiver is a medical receiver device configured to receive the modulated data signal passing through or being reflected by the patient, and wherein the data represents information about the patient's medical condition. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The low noise detection system of claim 1, wherein the transmitter is a wireless transmitter and the receiver is a wireless receiver within a user wearable device. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The low noise detection system of claim 11, wherein the data includes a voice signal. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The low noise detection system of claim 11, wherein the receiver further includes a second transmitter including a second modulator configured to convert a second voltage signal indicative of second data to a second frequency signal, to modulate a second baseband signal with the second data, and to transmit the second modulated data signal, and wherein the second data includes voice signals received by a microphone of the receiver. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The low noise detection system of claim 1, wherein the transmitter is a RFID transceiver and the receiver is installed within a RFID transponder including a coil for powering the RFID transponder based on the modulated data signal and a transmitter for transmitting a code stored in a memory of the RFID transponder back to the RFID transceiver. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The low noise detection system of claim 1, wherein the transmitter and the receiver are installed in a leak detector device including an ultrasonic detector configured to monitor sound or pressure in a fluid within pipe indicative of a leak of the material from the pipe. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The low noise detection system of claim 1, wherein the transmitter and the receiver are installed in a flow rate monitoring device including two or more acoustic detectors configured to monitor material within a pipe indicative of a flow rate of the material. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The low noise detection system of claim 1, wherein the baseband signal is a microvolt signal. ### Claim 18 A low noise detection system, comprising: a transmitter configured to transmit a baseband signal including a voltage data signal; and a receiver including a modulator configured to convert the voltage data signal to a frequency signal, to modulate the baseband signal with the voltage data, while not significantly amplifying noise and to output a modulated data signal, the receiver further including a log detection amplifier configured to receive the modulated data signal and to demodulate the modulated data signal to extract the data in an amplified analog data signal, and the receiver further including a digital conversion circuit for converting the amplified analog signal into a digital data signal. ### Claim 19 (depends on 18) The low noise detection system of claim 18, wherein the log detection amplifier is configured to demodulate the modulated data signal concurrently in both AM and FM modes. ### Claim 20 (depends on 18) The low noise detection system of claim 18, wherein the receiver includes an oscillator configured to provide the modulator within an intermediate frequency signal for AM modulation and the modulator is configured to AM modulate the baseband signal based on the intermediate frequency signal with the data signal. ### Claim 21 (depends on 18) The low noise detection system of claim 18, wherein the modulator includes a phase lock loop (PLL) for FM modulating the baseband signal with the data signal. ### Claim 22 (depends on 18) The low noise detection system of claim 18, wherein the modulator includes a voltage controller oscillator (VCO) for FM modulating the baseband signal with the data signal. ### Claim 23 (depends on 18) The low noise detection system of claim 18, wherein the log detection amplifier includes a frequency to voltage converter configured to convert the amplified analog signal into an output voltage signal including data from the data signal. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The low noise detection system of claim 23, wherein the digital conversion circuit includes an N-bits analog to digital converter configured to convert the amplified analog signal into an output digital signal including data from the data signal. ### Claim 25 (depends on 18) The low noise detection system of claim 18, wherein the digital conversion circuit includes a N-bit counter with fast clock, a 1/N digital inverse function and a scaling circuit configured to convert the amplified analog signal into an output digital signal including data from the data signal. ### Claim 26 (depends on 18) The low noise detection system of claim 18, wherein the modulator is configured to modulate the baseband signal with a frequency tone of approximately 40 dB of high spectral purity. ### Claim 27 (depends on 18) The low noise detection system of claim 18, wherein the transmitter is a wireless transmitter operating at above or below 1 GHz and the receiver is a wireless receiver. ### Claim 28 (depends on 18) The low noise detection system of claim 18, wherein the transmitter is a medical transmission device configured to transmit the baseband signal at a patient and the receiver is a medical receiver device configured to receive the baseband signal passing through or being reflected by the patient so as to include the data representing information about the patient's medical condition. ### Claim 29 (depends on 18) The low noise detection system of claim 18, wherein the transmitter is a medical baseband signal issued at a patient and the receiver is a medical receiver device configured to receive the baseband signal issued from the patient so as to include the data representing information about the patient's medical condition. ### Claim 30 (depends on 18) The low noise detection system of claim 18, wherein the transmitter is a wireless transmitter and the receiver is a wireless receiver within a user wearable device. ### Claim 31 (depends on 30) The low noise detection system of claim 30, wherein the data includes a voice signal. ### Claim 32 (depends on 30) The low noise detection system of claim 30, wherein the receiver further includes a second transmitter including a second modulator configured to convert a second voltage signal indicative of second data to a second frequency signal, to modulate a second baseband signal with the second data, and to transmit the second modulated data signal, and wherein the second data includes voice signals received by a microphone of the receiver. ### Claim 33 (depends on 18) The low noise detection system of claim 18, wherein the transmitter is a RFID transceiver and the receiver is installed within a RFID transponder including a coil for powering the RFID transponder based on the baseband signal and a transmitter for transmitting a code stored in a memory of the RFID transponder back to the RFID transceiver. ### Claim 34 (depends on 18) The low noise detection system of claim 18, wherein the transmitter and the receiver are installed in a leak detector device including an acoustic detector configured to monitor sound or pressure in a fluid within pipe indicative of a leak of the material from the pipe. ### Claim 35 (depends on 18) The low noise detection system of claim 18, wherein the transmitter and the receiver are installed in a flow rate monitoring device including two or more acoustic detectors configured to monitor material within a pipe indicative of a flow rate of the material. ### Claim 36 (depends on 18) The low noise detection system of claim 18, wherein the baseband signal is a microvolt signal.