MARINE COMMUNICATION DEVICE WITH WIRELESS CELLULAR TELEPHONE CONNECTIVITY

• US 20100311476A1
• Filed: 02/09/2009
• Published: 12/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cobra Electronics Corp. (Cedar Electronics Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Cobra Electronics Corp. (Cedar Electronics Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Waal, Christopher Steven De, Johnson, James Richad, Mudra, Robert Edward, Boudreau, Wilfred Charles
• Granted Patent: US 8,311,546 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/575.1
• 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 1/18 Telephone sets specially adapted for use in ships, mines, or other places exposed to adverse environment H04M1/19 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces

Abstract

A wireless communication device for use in a noisy or harsh environment in connection with a cellular telephone is disclosed. The wireless communication device provides enhanced audio broadcasting capabilities for an operator of the device by providing a larger, more powerful speaker than that typically found in a cellular telephone. The apparatus of the present invention improves cellular telephone usage in the typically noisy and harsh environment found while operating a boat. The present apparatus further provides a half-duplex mode of communication to further reduce ambient noise experienced while using a cellular telephone in a noisy environment In another embodiment, the apparatus is connectable to a variety of external devices and is capable of operating the external devices and providing internet access for a variety of external devices through a cellular telephone connection In at least one embodiment, the present invention is connectable to any transceiver

Claims

1. A marine communication device with wireless cellular telephone connectivity comprising:

a microprocessor;

a wireless module;

a speaker;

a microphone; and

a switch;

wherein said wireless module is operable to wirelessly communicate with a cellular telephone and said speaker and said microphone may be used in connection with communication conducted via said cellular telephone.

2. The marine communication device of claim 1 operable to transmit and receive communication in half-duplex mode.

3. The marine communication device of claim 1 further comprising a case which is weather resistant.

4. The marine communication device of claim 1 wherein said wireless module utilizes the Bluetooth standard.

5. A marine communication device with wireless cellular telephone connectivity comprising:

a microprocessor operatively associated with a speaker, a microphone, at least one switch, and a wireless module, wherein said wireless module is operable to wirelessly communicate with at least one cellular telephone and said speaker and said microphone may be used in connection with communication conducted via said cellular telephone;

a transceiver; and

wherein said at least one switch is in operative association with said microphone and operable to select between communication via said cellular telephone or said transceiver.

6. The marine communication device of claim 6 wherein said transceiver is a VHF Marine radio.

7. The marine communication device of claim 6 operable to transmit and receive communication in half-duplex mode.

8. The marine communication device of claim 6 further comprising at least one case which is weather resistant.

9. The marine communication device of claim 6 wherein said wireless module utilizes the Bluetooth standard.

10. The marine communication device of claim 6 further comprising an interface wherein said interface is operatively associated with said transceiver when said at least one switch operatively selects communication via said transceiver and wherein said interface comprises controls for at least one function of said transceiver.

11. The marine communication device of claim 6 further comprising an interface wherein said interface is operatively associated with said cellular telephone when said at least one switch operatively selects communication via said cellular telephone and wherein said interface comprises controls for at least one function of said cellular telephone.

12. The marine communication device of claim 6 wherein said marine communication device is operatively connectable to at least one external speaker.

13. The marine communication device of claim 6 wherein said microphone may further be used in connection with communication via said transceiver.

14. A communication device with wireless cellular telephone connectivity comprising:

a microprocessor;

a wireless module;

a speaker;

a microphone; and

at least one user interface;

wherein said microprocessor is operatively associated with said wireless module, said speaker, said microphone and said user interface; and

wherein said wireless module is operable to wirelessly communicate with at least one external device and said speaker and said microphone may be used in connection with communication conducted via said external device.

15. The communication device of claim 14 operable to transmit and receive communication in half-duplex mode.

16. The communication device of claim 14 further comprising a case which is weather resistant.

17. The communication device of claim 14 wherein said wireless module utilizes the Bluetooth standard.

18. The communication device of claim 14 further comprising an external power source and a cord, wherein said cord is operatively associated with said external power source and operatively connected to said communication device.

19. The communication device of claim 18 further comprising an internal power source, wherein said cord is operatively associated with said external power source and operable to charge said internal power source.

20. The communication device of claim 14 wherein said at least one external device comprises at least one cellular telephone.

21. The communication device of claim 20 wherein said user interface is operable to execute functions of said at least one cellular telephone.

22. The communication device of claim 20 further comprising at least one additional external device, wherein said wireless module is operable to wirelessly communicate with said at least one additional external device, wherein said communication device can receive communications from said at least one additional external device and transmit said communications to said at least one cellular telephone.

23. The communication device of claim 20 further comprising at least one additional external device, wherein said wireless module is operable to wirelessly communicate with said at least one additional external device, wherein said communication device can receive communications from said at least one cellular telephone and transmit said communications to said at least one additional external device.

24. The communication device of claim 14 wherein said at least one external device comprises at least one navigation device.

25. The communication device of claim 14 wherein said at least one external device comprises at least one weather device.

26. The communication device of claim 14 wherein said wireless module is operable to wirelessly communicate with more than one external device.

27. The communication device of claim 14 wherein said at least one user interface comprises at least one switch.

28. The communication device of claim 14 wherein said user interface is operable to execute functions of said at least one external device.

29. The communication device of claim 14 wherein said at least one user interface comprises more than one switch.

30. The communication device of claim 14 further comprising a display.

31. The communication device of claim 14 wherein said wireless module is operable to wirelessly communicate with at least one voice activated wireless device.