Dockable portable satellite receiver

• US 20060094349A1
• Filed: 09/01/2005
• Published: 05/04/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/20/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies Incorporated (Visteon Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Visteon Global Technologies Incorporated (Visteon Corporation)
• Inventors: Wingrove, T.C., Bator, Philip M., Slesak, Christian H., Burnham, Robert J., Tkaczyk, Gary, Thoone, Martin, Lau, Tzu C., Nagara, Wes, King, Jack H. Jr.
• Application Number:
  US11/218,140
• Publication Number:
  US 20060094349A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/3.02
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/08 Constructional details, e.g. cabinet
• CPC Class Codes: H04H 40/90 specially adapted for satellite broadcast receiving

Abstract

A portable satellite receiver includes a tuner, an antenna, and an amplifier. The portable satellite receiver has a protective housing enclosing the tuner, antenna, and amplifier. The portable satellite receiver is configured to interface with an accessory device through a communication link such that the accessory device receives audio signals from the portable satellite receiver over the communication link.

Claims

1. A portable satellite receiver comprising a satellite antenna, a satellite tuner, a media player, a display, and user controls, wherein the portable satellite receiver includes a protective housing, the protective housing enclosing the satellite tuner and the media player.

2. The portable satellite receiver according to claim 1, wherein the media player is a digital media player.

3. The portable satellite receiver according to claim 1, wherein the media player is configured to record an audio signal received from the satellite tuner.

4. The portable satellite receiver according to claim 1, wherein the protective housing includes a connector configured to be received by a docking station, thereby allowing two-way communication between the portable satellite receiver and the docking station.

5. The portable satellite receiver according to claim 4, wherein the media player is in communication with the docking station allowing the media player to sync memory with the docking station.

6. The portable satellite receiver according to claim 1, further comprising a wireless transceiver that is in communication with a docking station to allowing syncing of the media player with the docking station.

7. A satellite entertainment system comprising a portable satellite receiver having a tuner, an antenna, and a low noise amplifier, the portable satellite receiver including a protective housing enclosing the tuner, the antenna, and the low noise amplifier;

an accessory device distinct for the portable satellite receiver, the portable satellite receiver being configured to communicate with the accessory device through a communication link, to receive audio signals from the portable satellite receiver.

8. The satellite entertainment system according to claim 7, wherein the satellite receiver has receiver contacts on the outside of the protective housing and the accessory device has a receptacle configured to receive the satellite receiver, the receptacle having receptacle contacts configured to interface with the receiver contacts thereby establishing a communication link between the satellite receiver and the accessory device.

9. The satellite entertainment system according to claim 8, wherein the portable satellite receiver includes a battery electrically connected to the contacts such that the battery can be charged by the accessory device.

10. The satellite entertainment system according to claim 8, wherein the receptacle receives the entire protective housing of the portable satellite receiver.

11. The satellite entertainment system according to claim 7, wherein the accessory device is a headphone.

12. The satellite entertainment system according to claim 11, wherein the communication link is a wireless communication link.

13. The satellite entertainment system according to claim 11, wherein the headphone includes a first headphone antenna to receive a satellite signal.

14. The satellite entertainment system according to claim 11, wherein the headphone includes a second headphone antenna configured to retransmit the satellite signal.

15. The satellite entertainment system according to claim 11, wherein the headphone includes a low noise amplifier connected between the first headphone antenna and the second headphone antenna.

16. The satellite entertainment system according to claim 7, wherein the accessory device includes a user control interface.

17. The satellite entertainment system according to claim 16, wherein the user control interface is configured to control tuner parameters to manipulate the tuner.

18. The satellite entertainment system according to claim 16, wherein the accessory device includes an information display and the portable satellite tuner provides information to the accessory device for display on the information display.

19. The satellite entertainment system according to claim 7, wherein the portable satellite receiver includes a media player in communication with the tuner to provide an audio signal, the media player being enclosed by the protective housing.

20. A device for automotive vehicles comprising:

a head unit including a radio receiver for receiving amplitude or frequency modulated radio signals, said head unit including a receptacle, and

a portable receiver adapted to be received in said receptacle, said portable receiver interfacing with said head unit when received within said receptacle, said portable receiver including storage media to store data in said portable receiver for playback thereby and including a tuner to receive signals transmitted from a satellite for playback thereby, said receiver adapted to store said signals for playback thereof.