Interface device for wirelessly controlling an audio device

• US 10,175,929 B2
• Filed: 06/10/2016
• Issued: 01/08/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/12/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nsv Group FZCO
• Original Assignee: Nsv Group FZCO
• Inventors: Harris, Victor
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Vivian
• Assistant Examiner(s): Suthers, Douglas
• Application Number:
  US15/178,998
• Publication Number:
  US 20160364203A1
• Time in Patent Office: 942 Days
• Field of Search: 381 87, 381 88
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0207 Wire harnesses
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/162 Interface to dedicated audio devices, e.g. audio drivers, interface to CODECs
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/202 by remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6091 including a wireless interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72415 for remote control of appliances

Abstract

An interface device is configured to be attached to an audio device and at least one switch within a vehicle. The audio device recognizes a predetermined voltage signal as being a desired audio characteristic and then generates an audio signal having the desired audio characteristic. The interface device includes a central processing unit (CPU) and a wireless receiver. The wireless receiver may receive a wireless data signal from a wireless device corresponding to a desired change to the audio characteristic. The wireless data signal is converted to a first voltage signal. The first voltage signal is transmitted to the CPU. The CPU transforms the first voltage signal to an audio input signal, corresponding to the predetermined voltage signal recognizable by the audio device and corresponding to the desired change to the audio characteristic. The CPU may also receive a second voltage signal, which is converted to the audio input signal.

Claims

1. An interface device configured to be electrically connected to an audio device of a vehicle, the audio device configured to recognize each one of a plurality of predetermined voltage signals as corresponding with a respective change in a one of a plurality of audio characteristics and generate an audio output signal having the respective change in the one of the plurality of audio characteristics, in response to recognizing one of the predetermined voltage signals, the interface device comprising:

a central processing unit (CPU); and

a wireless receiver, electrically connected to the CPU through a first electrical connection;

wherein the wireless receiver is configured to be wirelessly connected to a wireless device;

wherein the wireless receiver is configured to;

receive a wireless data signal from the wireless device corresponding to a respective change to the one of the plurality of audio characteristics;

convert the wireless data signal to a first voltage signal; and

transmit the first voltage signal to the CPU through the first electrical connection;

wherein the first voltage signal is a voltage; and

wherein, in response to receiving the first voltage signal from the wireless receiver, the CPU is configured to;

transform the first voltage signal to an audio input signal corresponding to the one of the predetermined voltage signal recognizable by the audio device of the vehicle and corresponding to the respective change to the one of the plurality of audio characteristic;

wherein the audio input signal is a voltage that is not equal to the first voltage signal; and

transmit the audio input signal to the audio device such that the audio device within the vehicle outputs a corresponding audio signal;

wherein the CPU is configured to be electrically connected to a switch through a second electrical connection to receive a second voltage signal from the switch; and

wherein, in response to receiving the second voltage signal from the switch, the CPU is configured to;

recognize the second voltage signal as corresponding to the predetermined voltage signal recognizable by the audio device of the vehicle and corresponding to the respective change to the one of the plurality of audio characteristics;

generate the audio input signal, such that the voltage of the second voltage signal equals the voltage of the audio input signal; and

transmit the audio input signal to the audio device such that the audio device within the vehicle outputs the corresponding audio signal.

2. The interface device, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the wireless receiver is configured to receive radio frequency signals.

3. The interface device, as set forth in claim 2, wherein the wireless receiver is a Bluetooth receiver.

4. The interface device, as set forth in claim 2, wherein the wireless receiver is a WiFi receiver.

5. The interface device, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the respective change to the one of the plurality of audio characteristics is at least one of a respective change to a volume, a respective change to a radio station, and a respective change to a mode.

6. The interface device, as set forth in claim 5, wherein a respective change to a mode is a respective change from one of a radio mode, a satellite radio mode, a CD mode, an MP3 mode, and an auxiliary mode to another of the radio mode, the satellite radio mode, the CD mode, the MP3 mode, and the auxiliary mode.

7. A method of providing control of at least one of a plurality of audio characteristics of a vehicle audio device with an interface device, the method comprising:

electrically connecting the interface device to an input port of the vehicle audio device;

electrically connecting the interface device to at least one vehicle switch, wherein the at least one vehicle switch corresponds to a respective change to a one of the plurality of audio characteristics of the audio device within the vehicle;

wherein the interface device includes;

a central processing unit (CPU); and

a wireless receiver, electrically connected to the CPU through a first electrical connection;

wherein the wireless receiver is configured to receive a wireless data signal from a wireless device corresponding to the respective change to the one of the plurality of audio characteristics;

in response to the wireless receiver receiving the wireless data signal from the wireless device;

converting the wireless data signal to a first voltage signal; and

transmitting the first voltage signal to the CPU through the first electrical connection;

in response to the CPU receiving the first voltage signal from the wireless receiver;

transforming, by the CPU, the first voltage signal to an audio input signal, corresponding to a predetermined voltage signal recognizable by the audio device of the vehicle and corresponding to the respective change to the one of the plurality of audio characteristics;

wherein the audio input signal is a voltage that is not equal to the first voltage signal; and

transmitting the audio input signal from the CPU to the audio device of the vehicle; and

in response to the CPU receiving a second voltage signal from a switch in electrical communication with the CPU;

recognizing, by the CPU, the second voltage signal as corresponding to the predetermined voltage signal recognizable by the audio device of the vehicle and corresponding to the respective change to the one of the plurality of audio characteristics;

generating, by the CPU, the audio input signal, such that the voltage of the second voltage signal equals the voltage of the audio input signal; and

transmitting the audio input signal from the CPU to the audio device of the vehicle.

8. The method, as set forth in claim 7, wherein the wireless receiver is configured to receive radio frequency signals.

9. The method, as set forth in claim 8, wherein the wireless receiver is a Bluetooth receiver.

10. The method, as set forth in claim 8, wherein the wireless receiver is a WiFi receiver.

11. A method of operating an interface device to control an audio output signal generated by an audio device in a vehicle, the audio device configured to recognize a plurality of predetermined voltage signals from the interface device as corresponding with a respective change in a one of a plurality of audio characteristics and generate the audio output signal having the corresponding change in the one of the plurality of audio characteristics, in response to recognizing one of the predetermined voltage signals, the interface device including a central processing unit (CPU) and a wireless receiver electrically connected to the CPU through a first electrical connection, the method comprising:

in response to the wireless receiver receiving a wireless data signal from a wireless device corresponding to a respective change to the one of the plurality of audio characteristics;

converting the wireless data signal to a first voltage signal; and

transmitting the first voltage signal to the CPU through the first electrical connection;

wherein the first voltage signal is a voltage;

in response to the CPU receiving the first voltage signal from the wireless receiver;

transforming, by the CPU, the first voltage signal to an audio input signal, corresponding to the predetermined voltage signal recognizable by the audio device of the vehicle and corresponding to the respective change to the one of the plurality of audio characteristics;

wherein the audio input signal is a voltage that is not equal to the first voltage signal; and

transmitting the audio input signal from the CPU to the audio device; and

in response to the CPU receiving a second voltage signal from a switch in electrical communication with the CPU;

recognizing, by the CPU, the second voltage signal as corresponding to the predetermined voltage signal recognizable by the audio device of the vehicle and corresponding to the respective change to the one of the plurality of audio characteristics;

generating, by the CPU, the audio input signal, such that the voltage of the second voltage signal equals the voltage of the audio input signal; and

transmitting the audio input signal from the CPU to the audio device.

12. The method, as set forth in claim 11, wherein the wireless receiver is configured to receive radio frequency signals.

13. The method, as set forth in claim 11, wherein the wireless receiver is a Bluetooth receiver.

14. The method, as set forth in claim 11, wherein the wireless receiver is a WiFi receiver.

15. The method, as set forth in claim 11, wherein the respective change to the one of the plurality of audio characteristics is at least one of a respective change to a volume, a respective change to a radio station, and a respective change to a mode.

16. The method, as set forth in claim 15, wherein a respective change to a mode is a respective change from one of a radio mode, a satellite radio mode, a CD mode, an MP3 mode, and an auxiliary mode to another of the radio mode, the satellite radio mode, the CD mode, the MP3 mode, and the auxiliary mode.