Combination broadcast receiver and mobile telephone

• US 5,247,705 A
• Filed: 03/18/1991
• Issued: 09/21/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 03/20/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Kasser, Jurgen, Liman, Helmut, Scholz, Matthias, Attig, Joachim
• Primary Examiner(s): Eisenzopf, Reinhard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): FAILE, ANDREW I
• Application Number:
  US07/671,261
• Time in Patent Office: 918 Days
• Field of Search: 455/74, 455/79, 455/116, 455/344, 455/345, 379/58, 379/59, 379/67, 381/42, 381/43
• US Class Current: 455/74
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 16/0373 Voice control in general G10L

Abstract

A combination broadcast receiver and mobile telephone for motor vehicles is disclosed, in which acoustically operating devices are always switched off in the motor vehicle when a voice command detection circuit is switched on.

Claims

1. A combination broadcast receiver and mobile telephone system for a motor vehicle having respective output terminals (2) controlling a plurality of peripheral devices (3, 4, 5, 17) which become acoustically operative in the interior of the motor vehicle, said system comprising

a microphone (6) disposed in the interior of the motor vehicle and a voice command detection circuit (7) having a first input connected to said microphone (6);

a manually actuatable pulse switch (8);

a coupling switch (9) having a first input connected to an output of said pulse switch (8), and a plurality of outputs for simultaneously actuating the voice command detection circuit (7) and muting said peripheral devices (3, 4, 5,

     17) connected to said terminals (2), and;

a controllable timer element (10), which controls the length of time the coupling switch (9) is switched on, said timer element having a control input (11) which is connected to an output of the voice command detection circuit (7) for reception of an acknowledgement signal;

wherein

manual actuation of said pulse switch (8) turns on said coupling switch (9) for a predetermined initial muting period;

said detection circuit (7) listens for a command during said initial muting period and, depending upon which command is detected, alternatively terminates said muting period or extends said muting period by sending said acknowledgement signal to said timer element (10).

2. A combination broadcast receiver and mobile telephone system for a motor vehicle having respective output terminals (2) controlling a plurality of peripheral devices (3, 4, 5, 17) which become acoustically operative in the interior of the motor vehicle, said system comprising:

a microphone (6) disposed in the interior of the motor vehicle and a voice command detection circuit (7) having a first input connected to said microphone (6);

a manually actuatable pulse switch (8);

a coupling switch (9) having a first input connected to an output of said pulse switch (8), and a plurality of outputs for simultaneously actuating the voice command detection circuit (7) and muting said peripheral devices (3, 4, 5,

     17) connected to said terminals (2) and;

a controllable timer element (10), which controls the length of time the coupling switch (9) is switched on, said timer element having a control input (11) which is connected to an output of the voice command detection circuit (7) for reception of an acknowledgement signal, wherein;

manual actuation of said pulse switch (8) turns on said coupling switch (9) for a predetermined initial muting period;

said detection circuit (7) listens for a command during said initial muting period and, depending upon which command is detected, alternatively terminates said muting period or extends said muting period by sending said acknowledgement signal to said timer element (10);

said detection circuit (7) includes a memory (14) and, if said detection circuit has not recognized a complete voice command prior to the end of said muting period, voice signals detected during said muting period are stored in said memory until said pulse switch (8) is again manually actuated.

3. A combination broadcast receiver and mobile telephone system for a motor vehicle in accordance with claim 2,

wherein a visual indication device (15) is coupled to said pulse switch (8) and remains turned on while said voice signals are kept stored in said memory (14) of said voice command detection circuit (7).

4. A combination broadcast receiver and mobile telephone system in accordance with claim 2, further comprising:

a data bus (13) interconnecting said detection circuit (7), said timer element (10), and said peripheral devices (3, 4, 5,

     17);

a control block (18) connected to said data bus (13);

a respective control element (23) at each peripheral device;

and a respective gate circuit (22) interposed between said data bus (13) and each control element (23);

said control block (18) being operative, in response to a control signal from said detection circuit (7), to close said gate circuits and to thereby block adjustment of said control elements (23) of said peripheral devices during activation of the pulse switch (8).