Patrol Vehicle Communications System For Users Of Both Mobile And Portable Radios

• US 20180013393A1
• Filed: 05/10/2017
• Published: 01/11/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Michael D. Dieringer
• Original Assignee: Michael D. Dieringer
• Inventors: Dieringer, Michael D.
• Granted Patent: US 10,135,411 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/002 Seats provided with an occupancy detection means mounted therein or thereon detection means responsive to presence or absence of children B60N2/266
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/879 with additional features not related to head-rest positioning, e.g. heating or cooling devices or loudspeakers
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/20 Automatic control H03G3/005 takes precedence; combined with volume compression or expansion H03G7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/3005 in amplifiers suitable for low-frequencies, e.g. audio amplifiers H03G3/32, H03G3/34 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H03G 3/32 the control being dependent upon ambient noise level or sound level
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3822 specially adapted for use in vehicles H04B1/3827 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/385 Transceivers carried on the body, e.g. in helmets
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2430/01 Aspects of volume control, not necessarily automatic, in sound systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2499/13 Acoustic transducers and sound field adaptation in vehicles

Abstract

In a communications system for an individual who has access to a vehicle-mounted two-way radio and a portable two-way radio which includes a speakermic having a speaker through which audible messages are transmitted for the individual to hear, there is provided a volume control arrangement associated with the speakermic through which the audio volume of the speakermic speaker can be adjusted. The system also includes a transmitter for transmitting a signal to the volume control arrangement that the individual is seated in the vehicle, and further includes a transmitter for transmitting a signal to the volume control arrangement that the mobile radio is energized. A receiver is associated with the volume control arrangement of the speakermic so that upon receipt of the signals transmitted from the two transmitters, the audio volume of the speaker of the speakermic is automatically lowered.

Claims

1. In a communications system for an individual who has access to a vehicle, a vehicle-mounted two-way radio and a portable two-way radio which includes a speakermic having a speaker through which audible messages are transmitted through the portable radio for the individual to hear, and wherein the vehicle includes a seat, the improvement characterized in that:

the speakermic has a volume control arrangement through which the audio volume level of the speaker of the speakermic can be adjusted from a preset level of volume and there is associated with the volume control arrangement a receiver which is adapted to lower the audio volume level of the speaker of the speakermic upon receipt of signals indicative that predetermined conditions have been met; and

the communications system includes

(a) presence-sensing means for sensing the presence of the individual when the individual is seated in the seat of the vehicle and means associated with the presence-sensing means for transmitting a signal to the receiver associated with the volume control arrangement of the speakermic speaker that the individual is seated in the vehicle, and

(b) power-sensing means for sensing that the mobile radio is energized and means associated with the mobile radio power-sensing means for transmitting a signal to the receiver associated with the volume control arrangement of the speakermic speaker that the mobile radio is energized

so that upon receipt, by the receiver, of a signal from the presence-sensing means indicative that the individual is seated in the vehicle seat and of a signal from the power-sensing means indicative that the mobile radio is energized, the volume of the speaker of the speakermic is automatically lowered from a preset level by way of the volume control arrangement.

2. The improvement as defined in claim 1 wherein at least one of the means for transmitting of the presence-sensing means and the means for transmitting of the power-sensing means is adapted to transmit a corresponding signal wirelessly to the receiver associated with the volume control arrangement, and

the receiver associated with the volume control arrangement of the speakermic is adapted to receive a wirelessly-transmitted signal.

3. The improvement as defined in claim 1 wherein each of the means for transmitting of the presence-sensing means and the means for transmitting of the power-sensing means is adapted to transmit a corresponding signal wirelessly to the receiver associated with the volume control arrangement, and

the receiver associated with the volume control arrangement of the speakermic is adapted to receive a wirelessly-transmitted signal from the presence-sensing means and a wirelessly-transmitted signal from the power-sensing means.

4. The improvement as defined in claim 1 wherein the volume control arrangement of the speakermic is adapted to return the volume of the speakermic speaker to its preset level when the signal being transmitted from either the presence-sensing means or the power sensing means ceases.

5. The improvement as defined in claim 1 wherein the presence-sensing means includes a proximity sensor mounted adjacent the seat of the vehicle for sensing the presence of the individual when seated in the seat.

6. The improvement as defined in claim 1 wherein the presence-sensing means includes a plunger-operable switch mounted adjacent the seat of the vehicle and capable of being actuated when the individual sits upon the seat.

7. In a communications system for an individual who has access to a vehicle, a vehicle-mounted two-way radio and a portable two-way radio which includes a speakermic carried by the individual and which includes a speaker through which audible messages are transmitted through the portable radio for the individual to hear, and wherein the vehicle includes a driver'"'"'s seat, the improvement characterized in that:

the communications system includes

(a) presence-sensing means for sensing the presence of the individual when the individual is seated in the driver'"'"'s seat of the vehicle and means associated with the presence-sensing means for transmitting a signal indicative that the individual is seated in the driver'"'"'s seat, and

(b) power-sensing means for sensing that the mobile radio is energized and means associated with the mobile radio power-sensing means for transmitting a signal indicative that the mobile radio is energized; and

the speakermic has a volume control arrangement through which the audio volume level of the speaker of the speakermic can be adjusted from a preset level of volume and there is associated with the volume control arrangement a receiver which is adapted to lower the audio volume level of the speaker of the speakermic upon receipt of signals from the presence-sensing means that the individual is seated in the driver'"'"'s seat and from the power-sensing means that the mobile radio is energized

so that upon receipt, by the receiver of the speakermic, of a signal from the presence-sensing means indicative that the individual is seated in the vehicle seat and of a signal from the power-sensing means indicative that the mobile radio is energized, the volume of the speaker of the speakermic is automatically lowered from a preset level by way of the volume control arrangement.

8. The improvement as defined in claim 7 wherein at least one of the means for transmitting of the presence-sensing means and the means for transmitting of the power-sensing means is adapted to transmit a corresponding signal wirelessly to the receiver associated with the volume control arrangement, and

the receiver associated with the volume control arrangement of the speakermic is adapted to receive a wirelessly-transmitted signal.

9. The improvement as defined in claim 7 wherein each of the means for transmitting of the presence-sensing means and the means for transmitting of the power-sensing means is adapted to transmit a corresponding signal wirelessly to the receiver associated with the volume control arrangement.

10. The improvement as defined in claim 7 wherein the volume control arrangement of the speakermic is adapted to return the volume of the speakermic speaker to its preset level when the signal being transmitted from either the presence-sensing means or the power sensing means ceases.

11. The improvement as defined in claim 7 wherein the presence-sensing means includes a proximity sensor mounted adjacent the seat of the vehicle for sensing the presence of the individual when seated in the seat.

12. The improvement as defined in claim 7 wherein the presence-sensing means includes a plunger-operable switch mounted adjacent the seat of the vehicle and capable of being actuated when the individual sits upon the seat.