...that the Eveready Battery began as an invention called the "electric flowerpot," which was a tube with a battery and light bulb inside? The idea was to fasten this gizmo to the side of a flowerpot so it would illuminate the flowers from the bottom. The idea died on the vine and the businessman who licensed the flower pot, Conrad Huber, was left with a pile of useless tubes -- until he found a way to market them as batteries to light the world!
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AbstractA short range inductively coupled wireless communication system employs analog frequency modulation of a high frequency carrier and magnetic coupling between a transmitting antenna and a receiving antenna. A transmitter coupled to the transmitting antenna modulates multiple high-fidelity analog audio signals and digital control messages onto separate high frequency ("HF") carriers. The electric field portion of the transmitted electromagnetic field is substantially eliminated during transmission, while the magnetic field portion is substantially unaffected. The receiving antenna is coupled to a demodulator which reproduces the audio frequency signals and decodes control messages sent by the transmitter. | InventorsApplicationNo. 285511 filed on 04/02/1999US Classes:455/41.1, Near field (i.e., inductive or capacitive coupling)455/132, Plural receivers455/151.2Wireless link (sonic, RF, or infrared)Field of Search455/95, Mobile or portable455/129, With coupled antenna455/149, Plural output (e.g., plural speakers) (not stereo)455/151.2, Wireless link (sonic, RF, or infrared)455/103, Plural separate transmitters or channels455/132Plural receiversExaminersPrimary: Trost, WilliamAssistant: Nguyen, Simon Attorney, Agent or FirmUS Patent References4019141, Preselector cavity arrangement and RF selectivity assemblyIssued on: 04/19/1977 Inventor: Numan , et al.4229829, Apparatus for wireless transmission of a teaching program in a classroom Issued on: 10/21/1980 Inventor: Grunwald5264795, System transmitting and receiving digital and analog information for use in locating concealed conductors Issued on: 11/23/1993 Inventor: Rider5404577, Combination head-protective helmet & communications system Issued on: 04/04/1995 Inventor: Zuckerman, et al.5437057, Wireless communications using near field coupling Issued on: 07/25/1995 Inventor: Richley, et al.5568516, Very low power cordless headset system Issued on: 10/22/1996 Inventor: Strohallen, et al.5694467, Integrated sound/telephone headset system Issued on: 12/02/1997 Inventor: Young, III5771438, Short-range magnetic communication system Issued on: 06/23/1998 Inventor: Palermo, et al.5771441, Small, battery operated RF transmitter for portable audio devices for use with headphones with RF receiver Issued on: 06/23/1998 Inventor: Altstatt5867223, System for assigning multichannel audio signals to independent wireless audio output devices Issued on: 02/02/1999 Inventor: Schindler, et al.5978689, Personal portable communication and audio system Issued on: 11/02/1999 Inventor: Tuoriniemi, et al.6006115Wireless headphones for entertainment and telephonic communication Issued on: 12/21/1999 Inventor: Wingate International ClassH04B 005/00 |