Voice-activated radio transceiver

• US 5,008,954 A
• Filed: 09/24/1990
• Issued: 04/16/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Geoffrey Quelch, John Lomenick, Micah Gunn, Rodney Monheit
• Original Assignee: Carl Oppendahl
• Inventors: Oppendahl, Carl
• Primary Examiner(s): Eisenzopf, Reinhard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): URBAN, EDWARD F
• Application Number:
  US07/587,602
• Time in Patent Office: 204 Days
• Field of Search: 455/78, 455/79, 455/82, 455/84, 379/389, 379/390, 379/406, 379/407, 379/409
• US Class Current: 455/79
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/46 by voice-frequency signals; by pilot signals

Abstract

An improved VOX-activated transceiver has a signal generator provided in conjunction with the VOX circuitry to provide audio tones through the earphone of the transceiver to announce the transition to transmit mode, or the transition out of transmit mode, or both. By listening for the tones, the user can be continuously apprised of the status of the transceiver. An open mike condition (continuous transmission due to continuous microphone signal in excess of the VOX threshold) is noted, for example, because the user whose transceiver has the open mike will fail to hear the expected tone at the beginning or ending of the user'"'"'s spoken words. Loss of battery power is likewise noted because the user will fail to hear the expected tone at the beginning or ending of the user'"'"'s spoken words. Finally, in transceivers having the feature that the VOX circuit is disabled for the duration of receipt of a signal above the squelch threshold, any resulting transmit starvation will be immediately apparent because the user will fail to hear the expected tone at the beginning or ending of the user'"'"'s spoken words.

Claims

1. In a transceiver of the type having a transmit mode, a receive mode, and a squelched mode, and wherein the transceiver enters receive mode upon receipt of a signal having a strength greater than a predetermined squelch threshold, and wherein the transceiver enters transmit mode by voice activation of a voice activation means having a triggering time, and wherein the audio signal received by the receiver portion of the transceiver is conveyed to the user by speaker means, the improvement wherein is provided:

sound pulse generation means responsive to the voice activation for generating a momentary alerting sound audible to the user and conveyed to the user by the speaker means, said sound pulse generation means generating the momentary alerting sound at about the time when the transceiver enters transmit mode, the duration of said momentary alerting sound being less than the triggering time of the voice activation means,

whereby the user is alerted that the transceiver has entered transmit mode, and whereby the user will be made aware of loss of power or of spurious continuous transmission.

2. The transceiver of claim 1 wherein the transceiver has a microphone and the microphone is integrally mounted with the speaker means.

3. In a transceiver of the type having a transmit mode, a receive mode, and a squelched mode, and wherein the transceiver enters receive mode upon receipt of a signal having a strength greater than a predetermined squelch threshold, and wherein the transceiver enters transmit mode by voice activation of a voice activation means having a triggering time, and wherein the audio signal received by the receiver portion of the transceiver is conveyed to the user by speaker means, the improvement wherein is provided:

sound pulse generation means responsive to the voice activation for generating a momentary alerting sound audible to the user and conveyed to the user by the speaker means, said sound pulse generation means generating the momentary alerting sound at about the time when the transceiver leaves transmit mode, the duration of said momentary alerting sound being less than the triggering time of the voice activation means,

whereby the user is alerted that the transceiver has left transmit mode, and whereby the user will be made aware of loss of power or of spurious continuous transmission.

4. The transceiver of claim 3 wherein the transceiver has a microphone and the microphone is integrally mounted with the speaker means.

5. In a transceiver of the type having a transmit mode, a receive mode, and a squelched mode, and wherein the transceiver enters receive mode upon receipt of a signal having a strength greater than a predetermined squelch threshold, and wherein the transceivers enters transmit mode by voice activation of a voice activation means, and wherein the audio signal received by the receiver portion of the transceiver is conveyed to the user by speaker means, the improvement wherein is provided:

sound pulse generation means responsive to the voice activation for generating a momentary alerting sound audible to the user and conveyed to the user by the speaker means, said sound pulse generation means generating the momentary alerting sound at about the time when the transceiver enters transmit mode, the sound pulse generation means further comprising means for disabling the voice activation means for the duration of said momentary alerting sound,

whereby the user is alerted that the transceiver has entered transmit mode, and whereby the user will be made aware of loss of power or of spurious continuous transmission.

6. The transceiver of claim 5 wherein the transceiver has a microphone and the microphone is integrally mounted with the speaker means.

7. In a transceiver of the type having a transmit mode, a receive mode, and a squelched mode, and wherein the transceiver enters receive mode upon receipt of a signal having a strength greater than a predetermined squelch threshold, and wherein the transceiver enters transmit mode by voice activation of a voice activation means, and wherein the audio signal received by the receiver portion of the transceiver is conveyed to the user by speaker means, the improvement wherein is provided:

sound pulse generation means responsive to the voice activation for generating a momentary alerting sound audible to the user and conveyed to the user by the speaker means, said sound pulse generation means generating the momentary alerting sound at about the time when the transceiver leaves transmit mode, the sound pulse generation means further comprising means for disabling the voice activation means for the duration of said momentary alerting sound,

whereby the user is alerted that the transceiver has left transmit mode, and whereby the user will be made aware of loss of power or of spurious continuous transmission.

8. The transceiver of claim 7 wherein the transceiver has a microphone and the microphone is integrally mounted with the speaker means.