AUXILIARY POWER ADAPTER HAVING DEVICE CONTROLS

• US 20080015717A1
• Filed: 07/19/2007
• Published: 01/17/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vinci Brands LLC
• Original Assignee: Griffin Technology
• Inventors: Suzuki, Takahiko, Griffin, Paul
• Granted Patent: US 8,111,044 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/94
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction

Abstract

An accessory for a portable electronic device, such as a digital music player, includes a set of device controls for controlling the portable electronic device. The accessory includes a microprocessor and a memory that contains function codes corresponding to the functions selected by the controls. Preferably, the accessory is a charger is adapted to be inserted into for a 12-volt car auxiliary power outlet and the protruding face of the charger body is a click wheel controller that rotates. The accessory may also include a FM transmitter for transmitting an audio signal received from the portable electronic device to the car stereo and a verification system for insuring the charger is produced by an authorized supplier.

Claims

1. A charger for a portable electronic device comprising:

a charger body dimensioned to couple with a 12-volt car outlet wherein a face of said charger body rotates such that a user can select a function of said portable electronic device by rotating said face of said charger body.

2. The charger of claim 1 wherein said rotating face of said charger controls a pause, play, and rewind function of said digital music player.

3. The charger of claim 1 wherein said charger further comprises a transmitter for transmitting an output of said portable electronic device to a remote receiver.

4. The charger of claim 1 wherein said rotating face further comprises a click wheel.

5. The charger of claim 1 wherein said charger body contains a verification system that interacts with a verification system of said portable electronic device to insure that said charger is produced by an authorized partner of an entity producing said portable electronic device.

6. The charger of claim 1 wherein said rotating face provides tactile feed back to a user.

7. An accessory for a portable electronic device, said accessory comprising:

a rotary controller whereby said accessory can transfer control codes to said portable electronic device in response to a user'"'"'s manipulation of said rotary controller such that a user can implement functions on said portable electronic device with said rotary controller on said accessory.

8. The accessory of claim 7 wherein said rotary controller provides tactile feedback to a user.

9. The accessory of claim 7 wherein said accessory is a charger having a charger body configured to fit in a 12-volt car outlet and said rotary controller further comprises a protruding front face of said charger body.

10. The accessory of claim 7 wherein said accessory further comprises a transmitter for wirelessly transmitting said control codes to a receiver in said portable electronic device.

11. The accessory of claim 7 wherein said device is a digital music player and said rotary controller allows a user to pause, play, rewind, or skip songs played by said digital music player.

12. The accessory of claim 7 wherein said accessory communicates with operating software of the portable electronic device such that the charger can control the functions of the portable electronic device.

13. The accessory of claim 7 further comprising a microphone such that a voice signal can be received with said microphone and stored on said portable electronic device.

14. The accessory of claim 7 further comprising a verification system for coupling with a verification system of said portable electronic device such that said portable electronic device can verify that said accessory is an authorized accessory.

15. The accessory of claim 7 wherein said rotary controller is a click wheel that provides tactile feedback to a user.

16. The accessory of claim 7 wherein said portable electronic device is an Apple iPod™

.

17. A charger for a portable media player, said charger comprising:

a charger body for physically and electrically coupling to a 12-volt outlet such that said charger transfers power from said 12-volt outlet to said portable media player wherein a protruding face of said charger body rotates and functions as a click wheel controller such that a user can control functions of said portable media player by manipulating said click wheel of said charger.

18. The charger of claim 17 further comprising a transmitter for transmitting an output of said portable media player to a remote receiver.

19. The charger of claim 17 wherein said click wheel allows a user to play, pause or skip a song playing on said portable media player.

20. The charger of claim 17 wherein said charger contains a verification system that insures that said charger is compatible with said portable media player.