Work surface power unit with wireless speakerphone

• US 10,008,816 B2
• Filed: 05/01/2017
• Issued: 06/26/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Byrne Electrical Specialists Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Norman R. Byrne
• Inventors: Byrne, Norman R., Lautenbach, Aaron G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Sobutka, Philip
• Application Number:
  US15/583,372
• Publication Number:
  US 20170318609A1
• Time in Patent Office: 421 Days
• Field of Search: 455 412, 455 413, 4555501, 4555751, 4555758, 4555691
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 27/02 for simultaneous co-operation with two or more dissimilar counterparts
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 1/082 Plural DC voltage, e.g. DC supply voltage with at least two different DC voltage levels
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 3/00 Circuit arrangements for ac mains or ac distribution networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/03 Constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. telephone hand-sets
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6033 for providing handsfree use or a loudspeaker mode in telephone sets arrangements for preventing acoustic echo H04M9/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/62 Constructional arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/80 Services using short range communication, e.g. near-field communication [NFC], radio-frequency identification [RFID] or low energy communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/40 for selective distribution or broadcast
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/12 WLAN [Wireless Local Area Networks]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/04 adapted for relaying to or from another terminal or user

Abstract

An electrical power unit with wireless communications capability includes a wireless communications module supported in a housing that is configured to be mounted at or along a work surface. The wireless communications module includes an audio speaker, a microphone, a wireless audio signal receiver, and a wireless audio signal transmitter. The wireless signal receiver is operable to receive first electronic audio signals from a first mobile communication device, and the audio speaker is operable to emit amplified sound in response to the wireless signal receiver receiving the first electronic audio signals. The wireless audio signal transmitter is operable to receive second electronic audio signals from the microphone, and to transmit the second electronic audio signals to the mobile communication device for further transmission from the first mobile communication device to a second communication device located remotely from the electrical power unit and the first mobile communication device.

Claims

1. An electrical power unit with wireless communications capability, said electrical power unit comprising:

a two-piece housing forming an enclosure and configured to be mounted at a work surface;

a wireless communications module coupled to said housing and including an audio speaker, a microphone, a wireless audio signal receiver, and a wireless audio signal transmitter;

a main circuit board in electrical communication with each of said audio speaker, said microphone, said wireless audio signal receiver, and said wireless audio signal transmitter; and

a support plate disposed between said main circuit board on one side and each of said speaker and said microphone on an opposite side;

wherein said wireless communications module further comprises;

an elevated circuit board spaced above said main circuit board and said support plate;

a pairing button coupled to said elevated circuit board and configured to establish wireless two-way communications between said wireless communications module and said first mobile communication device; and

a low voltage DC power outlet coupled to said elevated circuit board and configured to provide electrical power to a portable electronic device positioned outside of said electrical power unit;

wherein said wireless signal receiver is operable to receive first electronic audio signals from a first mobile communication device, and said audio speaker is operable to emit amplified sound in response to the wireless signal receiver receiving the first electronic audio signals; and

wherein said wireless audio signal transmitter is operable to receive second electronic audio signals from said microphone, and to transmit the second electronic audio signals to the mobile communication device for further transmission from the first mobile communication device to a second communication device located remotely from said electrical power unit and the first mobile communication device.

2. The electrical power unit of claim 1, wherein said wireless communications module is operable to automatically or semi-automatically establish two-way wireless communications with the first mobile communication device when the first mobile communication device is moved to within a predetermined distance of said electrical power unit.

3. The electrical power unit of claim 2, wherein said electrical power unit is operable as a wireless remote speakerphone when said wireless communications module establishes two-way wireless communications with the first mobile communication device.

4. The electrical power unit of claim 1, further comprising at least one electrical power receptacle mounted at said housing.

5. The electrical power unit of claim 4, wherein said at least one electrical receptacle comprises a high voltage AC power outlet or a low voltage DC power outlet.

6. The electrical power unit of claim 4, wherein said at least one electrical receptacle comprises a low voltage DC power outlet at said wireless communications module.

7. The electrical power unit of claim 6, wherein said at least one electrical receptacle further comprises a high voltage AC power outlet, and wherein said high voltage AC power outlet and said wireless communications module are slidably coupled to said housing.

8. The electrical power unit of claim 1, further comprising a frame configured to be positioned atop said support plate and disposed around at least a portion of said elevated circuit board.

9. The electrical power unit of claim 8, wherein said frame is coupled to said support plate and positioned between said speaker and said microphone.

10. An electrical power unit with wireless communications capability, said electrical power unit comprising:

a wireless communications module including a main circuit board to which are operatively coupled an audio speaker, a microphone, a wireless audio signal receiver, a wireless audio signal transmitter, and a low voltage DC power outlet; and

a support plate disposed between said main circuit board and each of said speaker and said microphone;

wherein said wireless communications module further comprises an elevated circuit board spaced above said main circuit board and said support plate, and a pairing button coupled to said elevated circuit board and configured to establish wireless two-way communications between said wireless communications module and said first mobile communication device;

wherein said wireless signal receiver is operable to receive first electronic audio signals from a first mobile communication device, and said audio speaker is operable to emit amplified sound in response to the wireless signal receiver receiving the first electronic audio signals; and

wherein said wireless audio signal transmitter is operable to receive second electronic audio signals from said microphone, and to transmit the second electronic audio signals to the mobile communication device for further transmission from the first mobile communication device to a second communication device located remotely from said electrical power unit and the first mobile communication device.

11. The electrical power unit of claim 10, wherein said low voltage DC power outlet is coupled to said elevated circuit board.

12. The electrical power unit of claim 11, wherein said wireless communications module comprises an upper housing piece and a lower housing piece that cooperate to form an enclosure, said upper housing piece comprising a first opening associated with said speaker, a second opening in which said pairing button is positioned, a third opening in which said low voltage DC power outlet is position, and a fourth opening associated with said microphone.

13. The electrical power unit of claim 10, further comprising an outer housing configured to be mounted at a work surface, wherein said wireless communications module is mounted in said outer housing.