ELECTRICAL ACCESSORY CONFIGURED TO TRANSMIT ELECTRICAL SIGNALS BETWEEN A FIRST ELECTRICAL DEVICE, A SECOND ELECTRICAL DEVICE AND A THIRD ELECTRICAL DEVICE AND A METHOD OF PROVIDING AND USING THE ELECTRICAL ACCESSORY

• US 20100273421A1
• Filed: 03/29/2010
• Published: 10/28/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Belkin International Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Belkin International Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Jiang, Wei, TU, Jason, Seil, Oliver Duncan, Suckle, Mitchell, Kleeman, David A., DeJong, Chad, Elgie, Richard James, Ferdman, Kelly, Brewer, Timothy, Gale, Vannin
• Application Number:
  US12/749,463
• Publication Number:
  US 20100273421A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/41.200
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/02 for radio sets, television sets, telephones, or the like; Arrangement of controls thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0005 Dashboard
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0054 using cigarette lighter
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0075 using a containment or docking space
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/38 Transceivers, i.e. devices in which transmitter and receiver form a structural unit and in which at least one part is used for functions of transmitting and receiving
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3822 specially adapted for use in vehicles H04B1/3827 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3877 Arrangements for enabling portable transceivers to be used in a fixed position, e.g. cradles or boosters
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6091 including a wireless interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface

Abstract

In some embodiments, an electrical accessory can be configured to transmit one or more first data signals to a receiving device. The electrical accessory can include: (a) a first electrical interface configured to mechanically and electrically couple to a first connector of a first electrical device, the first electrical interface further configured to receive a first part of the one or more first data signals from the first electrical device; (b) a first transmitter configured to transmit one or more second data signals to a second electrical device; (c) a first receiver configured to receive a second part of the one or more first data signals from the second electrical device; (d) a second transmitter electrically coupled to the first electrical interface and the first receiver, the second transmitter configured to transmit the one or more first data signals to the receiving device; (e) a first microphone electrically coupled to the first transmitter and configured to receive sounds and convert the sounds into the one or more second data signals; and (f) a controller electrically coupled to the first transmitter, the first receiver, the second transmitter, and the first microphone. The controller can be configured such that the controller instructs the first electrical device to stop providing the first part of the one or more first data signals before or when the first receiver receives the second part of the one or more first data signals from the second electrical device. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Claims

1. An electrical accessory configured to transmit one or more first data signals to a receiving device, the electrical accessory comprising:

a first electrical interface configured to mechanically and electrically couple to a first connector of a first electrical device, the first electrical interface further configured to receive a first part of the one or more first data signals from the first electrical device;

a first transmitter configured to transmit one or more second data signals to a second electrical device;

a first receiver configured to receive a second part of the one or more first data signals from the second electrical device;

a second transmitter electrically coupled to the first electrical interface and the first receiver, the second transmitter configured to transmit the one or more first data signals to the receiving device;

a first microphone electrically coupled to the first transmitter and configured to receive sounds and convert the sounds into the one or more second data signals; and

a controller electrically coupled to the first transmitter, the first receiver, the second transmitter, and the first microphone,

wherein;

the controller is configured such that the controller instructs the first electrical device to stop providing the first part of the one or more first data signals, before or when the first receiver receives the second part of the one or more first data signals from the second electrical device.

2. The electrical accessory of claim 1, wherein:

the first receiver is configured to receive one or more third data signals before the first receiver receives the second part of the one or more first data signals from the second electrical device; and

the one or more third data signals are an indication that the second device will begin to transmit of the second part of the one or more first data signals.

3. The electrical accessory of claim 1, wherein:

the first receiver is configured to receive one or more third data signals before the first receiver receives the second part of the one or more first data signals from the second electrical device; and

the one or more third data signals are an indication that the second electrical device is receiving a telephone call.

4. The electrical accessory of claim 1, further comprising:

a second electrical interface configured to electrically and mechanically couple to the receiving device to provide the one or more first data signals to the receiving device,

wherein;

the controller is configured such that the controller instructs the second transmitter to stop transmitting the one or more first data signals to the receiving device when the second electrical interface is electrically coupled to the first receiving device.

5. The electrical accessory of claim 1, further comprising:

one or more buttons,

wherein;

a first one of the one or more buttons is configured such that, when or after a user activates the first one of the one or more buttons, the controller instructs the second transmitter to begin transmitting the second part of the one or more first data signals to the receiving device.

6. The electrical accessory of claim 1, wherein:

the first part of the one or more first data signals comprises music.

7. The electrical accessory of claim 1, wherein:

the second part of the one or more first data signals comprises voice signals from a telephone call.

8. The electrical accessory of claim 1, further comprising:

electrical device controls,

wherein;

the electrical device controls comprises a single button;

the single button is configured to begin and end a telephone call on the second electrical device; and

the single button is further configured to signal to the first electrical device to play, pause, fast forward, and rewind audio being played on the first electrical device.

9. The electrical accessory of claim 1, wherein:

the first receiver is a Bluetooth receiver; and

the first transmitter is a Bluetooth transmitter.

10. The electrical accessory of claim 1, wherein:

the second transmitter is a frequency modulated radio transmitter.

11. The electrical accessory of claim 1, further comprising:

a first transceiver comprising the first receiver and the first transmitter.

12. The electrical accessory of claim 1, further comprising:

a power acquisition unit configured to receive electrical power from an external power source.

13. The electrical accessory of claim 12, further comprising:

a holder configured to hold the first electrical device; and

a semi-rigid elongated portion configured to allow a position of the holder to be semi-permanently adjusted relative to a position of the power acquisition unit,

wherein;

the semi-rigid elongated portion is an antenna and is further configured to radiate the one or more first data signals.

14. The electrical accessory of claim 1, wherein:

the first electrical interface comprises a thirty-pin connector.

15. An apparatus configured to couple to a first media device, the apparatus comprising:

a Bluetooth module configured to transmit first data to the first media device and receive second data from the first media device;

at least one first control configured to at least partially operate the first media device;

a communications module electrically coupled to the Bluetooth module, the communications module is configured to transmit the second data received from the first media device to an external speaker system over at least one frequency modulated radio frequency;

a microphone electrically coupled to the Bluetooth module and configured to provide the first data to the Bluetooth module; and

a power acquisition unit configured to couple to an external electrical power source and configured to provide electrical power to at least the Bluetooth module, the microphone, the communications module, and the at least one first control.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising:

a first electrical coupling electrically coupled to the communications module and configured to couple to a second media device and receive third data from the second media device; and

the communications module is further configured to transmit the third data to the external speaker system over the frequency modulated radio frequency.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein:

the communications module is further configured to transmit the third data to the external speaker system until the communications module is instructed to begin transmitting the second data to the external speaker system.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising:

a first housing at least partially enclosing the Bluetooth module, the communications module, and the power acquisition unit.

19. The apparatus of claim 18, further comprising:

a second housing,

wherein;

the microphone and the at least one first control are located at the second housing.

20. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein:

the communications module comprises;

a frequency modulated radio frequency transmitter electrically coupled to the Bluetooth module, the frequency modulated radio frequency transmitter is configured to transmit the second data to the external speaker system.

21. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein:

the communications module comprises;

an electrical coupling electrically coupled to the Bluetooth module and configured to electrically and mechanically couple to the external speaker system, the electrical coupling is further configured to transmit the second data to the external speaker system.

22. The apparatus of claim 15, further comprising:

a display configured to display information related to the Bluetooth module.

23. A method of using an electrical accessory, the method comprising:

receiving a first stream of first data signals;

transmitting the first stream of the first data signals;

receiving one or more second data signals;

stopping the transmitting of the first stream of the first data signals;

receiving a second stream of third data signals;

transmitting the second stream of the third data signals; and

starting to transmit the first stream of the first data signals after receiving the second stream of the second data signals.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein:

receiving the first stream of the first data signals comprises;

receiving the first stream of the first data signals from a first electrical device;

receiving the one or more second data signals comprises;

receiving the one or more second data signals from a second electrical device; and

receiving the second stream of the third data signals comprises;

receiving the second stream of the third data signals from the second electrical device.

25. The method of claim 23, further comprising:

receiving one or more sounds;

converting the one or more sounds into a third stream of fourth data signals; and

transmitting the third stream of the fourth data signals.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein:

transmitting the first stream of the first data signals comprises;

transmitting the first stream of the first data signals to a first external speaker system; and

transmitting the second stream of the third data signals comprises;

transmitting the second stream of the third data signals to the first external speaker system.

27. The method of claim 23, wherein:

receiving the first stream of the first data signals comprises;

receiving the first stream of the first data signals using a first electrically coupling;

transmitting the first stream of the first data signals comprises;

transmitting the first stream of the first data signals using a frequency modulated radio frequency transmitter;

receiving the one or more second data signals comprises;

receiving the one or more second data signals using a Bluetooth receiver;

receiving the second stream of the third data signals comprises;

receiving the second stream of the third data signals using the Bluetooth receiver; and

transmitting the second stream of the third data signals comprises;

transmitting the second stream of the third data signals using the frequency modulated radio frequency transmitter.