Ethernet isolator for microphonics security and method thereof

Abstract

A system and method for providing microphonic isolation on a transmission line. The transmission line has a first part and a second part. The first part of transmission line carries a data signal and a microphonic signal. The microphonic signal has frequencies that include those in a range of substantially 20 Hz to substantially 20 kHz. The system includes an isolation apparatus. The isolation apparatus has an input in electrical communication with a first part of the transmission line, an output in electrical communication with the second part of the transmission line, and a filter in electrical communication with the input and the output. The filter is arranged to substantially remove the microphonic signal received at the input from first part of transmission line and pass the data signal to the output.

1 . A system for providing microphonic isolation on a transmission line, the transmission line having a first part and a second part, the first part of the transmission line carrying a data signal and a microphonic signal, the microphonic signal having frequencies that include those in a range of substantially 20 Hz to substantially 20 kHz, the system comprising:
 an isolation apparatus having:
 an input in electrical communication with the first part of the transmission line; 
 an output in electrical communication with the second part of the transmission line and; 
 a filter in electrical communication with the input and the output, the filter arranged to substantially remove the microphonic signal received at the input from the first part of the transmission line, the substantially removed microphonic signal not being outputted from the filter. 
   
     
     
         2 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the transmission line is an Ethernet transmission line. 
     
     
         3 . The system according to  claim 1 , further comprising an electronic device electrically coupled to the first part of the transmission line, the electronic device transducing the microphonic signal into the first part of the transmission line. 
     
     
         4 . The system according to  claim 3 , wherein the electronic device includes a telephone. 
     
     
         5 . The system according to  claim 3 , wherein the electronic device includes a computer. 
     
     
         6 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the isolation apparatus further comprises a signal interrupt mechanism, the signal interrupt mechanism being electrically coupled to the filter and to the input, the signal interrupt mechanism preventing signal transmission to the filter when the signal interrupt mechanism is not energized. 
     
     
         7 . The system according to  claim 1 , further comprising an optical isolation circuit electrically coupled to the first part of the transmission line and to the filter. 
     
     
         8 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the electronic device includes a housing, the isolation apparatus being integrated into the housing. 
     
     
         9 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the filter includes a high pass filter in electrical communication with the transmission line. 
     
     
         10 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the isolation apparatus further comprises a sound isolating compound enveloping at least a portion of the filter. 
     
     
         11 . A method for providing microphonic isolation on a transmission line, the transmission line having a first part and a second part, the first part of transmission line carrying a data signal and a microphonic signal, the microphonic signal having frequencies that include those in a range of substantially 20 Hz to substantially 20 kHz, the method comprising:
 receiving the data signal and the microphonic signal from the first part of the transmission line; and   substantially removing the microphonic signal received from the first part of the transmission line using an isolation apparatus having a filter, the substantially removed microphonic signal not being outputted from the filter.   
     
     
         12 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the transmission line is an Ethernet transmission line. 
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the isolation apparatus substantially removes the microphonic signal at least in part by optically isolating the first part of the transmission line from the second part of the transmission line. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 11 , wherein the filter is a high pass filter. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 11 , further comprising preventing the data signal from being output when the isolation device is not powered. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 15 , wherein the data signal is prevented from being output when the isolation device is not powered by using a signal interrupt mechanism to disconnect an electrical signal path from the first part of the transmission line to the second part of the transmission signal line. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the signal interrupt mechanism is a relay. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 16 , wherein the relay is energized based on a power signal received from an electronic device, the electronic device transducing the microphonic signal. 
     
     
         19 . A device providing microphonic isolation on a transmission line, the transmission line having a first part and a second part, the first part of transmission line carrying a data signal and a microphonic signal, the microphonic signal having frequencies that include those in a range of substantially 20 Hz to substantially 20 kHz, the device comprising:
 an input in electrical communication with a first part of the transmission line;   an output in electrical communication with the second part of the transmission line;   a filter in electrical communication with the input and the output, the filter arranged to substantially remove the microphonic signal received at the input from the first part of transmission line, filter including a high pass filter in communication with the transmission line, the substantially removed microphonic signal not being outputted from the filter; and   an optical isolation circuit in electrical communication with input and the filter.   
     
     
         20 . The device of  claim 19 , further comprising a signal interrupt mechanism, the signal interrupt mechanism being electrically coupled to the filter and to the input, the signal interrupt mechanism preventing signal transmission to the filter when the signal interrupt mechanism is not energized.