MODULAR COMMUNICATION DEVICE AND SYSTEM

• US 20130329905A1
• Filed: 06/05/2013
• Published: 12/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Partech Incorporated (Par Technology Corporation)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Awiszus, Steven T., Berger, Robert N.
• Granted Patent: US 9,641,926 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/74
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/00 Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers subscriber services or facilities provided at exchanges H04M3/00; prepayment telephone coin boxes H04M17/00; current supply arrangements H04M19/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6066 including a wireless connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1041 Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements switches in general H01H
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1058 Manufacture or assembly
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1091 Details not provided for in groups H04R1/1008 - H04R1/1083
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/09 Applications of special connectors, e.g. USB, XLR, in loudspeakers, microphones or headphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2430/01 Aspects of volume control, not necessarily automatic, in sound systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/00 Deaf-aid sets , i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception electrical stimulation of auditory nerves to promote the auditory function A61N1/36038; optical stimulation of auditory nerves to promote the auditory function A61N5/0622

Abstract

The technology disclosed herein relates to a modular communication device and a system. The modular communication device has a speaker carrier and an electronics module. The speaker carrier has a speaker and an attachment portion, and the electronics module has a wireless transceiver. The speaker carrier and the electronics module are detachably coupled so that the electronics module provides audio signals to the speaker when the speaker carrier and electronics module are coupled. The speaker carrier can be removed from and attached to the electronic module. In one embodiment, the system generally has two or more modular communication devices and a base station that allows communication between the modular communication devices.

Claims

1. A communication system comprising:

two or more modular communication devices, each modular communication device comprising;

a speaker carrier comprising a speaker and an attachment portion configured to attach to a user; and

an electronics module comprising a housing and a wireless transceiver disposed in the housing;

wherein the speaker carrier and the housing of the electronics module are detachably coupled such that the wireless transceiver of the electronics module and the speaker of the speaker carrier are detachably coupled; and

a base station comprising a wireless transceiver for enabling communication between the two or more modular communication devices.

2. The communication system of claim 1, further comprising a user input device for changing a channel of the wireless transceiver.

3. The communication system of claim 2, the electronics module comprising the user input device.

4. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the speaker carrier further comprises a microphone.

5. The communication system of claim 4, wherein the speaker carrier further comprises a boom with the microphone disposed thereon.

6. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the speaker carrier further comprises one or more status lights.

7. The communication system of claim 6, wherein one of the one or more status lights is in communication with the transceiver and is configured to illuminate when the transceiver receives a vehicle detection notification.

8. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the speaker carrier further comprises a circuit board and a microcontroller.

9. The communication system of claim 8, wherein the speaker carrier further comprises an authentication protocol.

10. A modular communication device comprising:

a speaker carrier comprising a speaker and an attachment portion;

an electronics module comprising a wireless transceiver;

wherein the speaker carrier and the electronics module are detachably coupled so that the electronics module provides audio signals to the speaker when the speaker carrier and electronics module are coupled;

wherein the speaker carrier can be removed from and attached to the electronic module;

wherein the modular communication device comprises a user input device for changing a channel of the wireless transceiver.

11. The modular communication device of claim 10, wherein the electronics module further comprises a status light.

12. The modular communication device of claim 10, wherein the electronics module further comprises an authentication protocol.

13. The modular communication device of claim 10, wherein the electronics module further comprises multimedia playback memory.

14. The modular communication device of claim 10, wherein the electronics module further comprises a USB interface.

15. The modular communication device of claim 10, wherein the electronics module further comprises audio recording memory and video recording memory.

16. The modular communication device of claim 10, further comprising an actuator configured to provide tactile feedback to a device user upon receipt of a vehicle detection notification.

17. The modular communication device of claim 10, wherein the attachment portion comprises one of the group of a belt attachment structure, an attachment portion configured to couple to a stationary structure, a lanyard and a headband.

18. The modular communication device of claim 10 wherein the speaker carrier further comprises a microphone.

19. An electronics module comprising:

a housing having one or more mating electrical contacts on a mating surface, where the mating surface is configured to receive a speaker carrier;

a controller disposed in the housing, wherein the controller is in communication with the one or more mating electrical contacts; and

an authentication protocol in communication with the controller, wherein the authentication protocol is configured to authenticate the speaker carrier.

20. The electronics module of claim 19, further comprising a transceiver in communication with the controller.

21. The electronics module of claim 19, further comprising a capacitive switch in communication with the controller;

and

a user input device in communication with the capacitive switch.