Electronic equipment audio system

• US 5,963,872 A
• Filed: 06/06/1997
• Issued: 10/05/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 03/04/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Stein, Per
• Primary Examiner(s): LE, THANH C
• Application Number:
  US08/471,606
• Time in Patent Office: 851 Days
• Field of Search: 455/89, 455/90, 455/128, 455/269, 455/277.1, 455/344, 455/345, 455/346, 455/347, 455/351, 455/422, 455/550, 455/552, 455/553, 455/556, 455/557, 455/558, 455/575, 379/58, 379/430, 379/433, 364/705.01, 364/705.05
• US Class Current: 455/557
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 31/00 Arrangements for the associated working of recording or reproducing apparatus with related apparatus with cameras or projectors G03B31/00 ; recording/reproducing of music for electrophonic musical instruments G10H1/0033; automatic arrangements for answering calls or for recording messages for absent subscribers H04M1/64; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with dictation recording and playback systems H04M11/10; connection of TV recorder with other related apparatus, e.g. TV camera or receiver, in which the TV signal is significantly involved H04N, e.g. H04N23/00, H04N5/765; combination of radio or TV with other apparatus, e.g. with vehicles H05K11/00
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 31/003 with radio receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/088 with parts of the receiver detachable or collapsible
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/38 Transceivers, i.e. devices in which transmitter and receiver form a structural unit and in which at least one part is used for functions of transmitting and receiving
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3805 with built-in auxiliary receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3816 Mechanical arrangements for accommodating identification devices, e.g. cards or chips; with connectors for programming identification devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0254 comprising one or a plurality of mechanically detachable modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6041 Portable telephones adapted for handsfree use
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6066 including a wireless connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A modular telecommunications system for an electronic audio system being specially configured for wireless telecommunication in accordance with a preselected standard. Modular units are adapted to be secured within AM/FM radios, tape players, automobiles, and the like, for establishing a telecommunications link with a wireless network. The modular unit comprises a housing for mounting a telecommunications transceiver in the particular item of electronic audio systems, and a microphone or keyboard is provided for generating user communication signals. In this manner, electronic equipment may be purchased for its conventional, non-telecommunications use such as entertainment or commercial monitoring with the added flexibility of wireless telecommunications. An electronic audio system having conventional audio components is modified for utilizing a telecommunications module containing a transceiver. A microphone and keypad are added to the electronic audio equipment for utilizing the functions of the telecommunications module.

Claims

1. An improved electronic audio system of the type having a radio received that provides audio output signals to at least one speaker, said radio receiver having a housing, the improvement comprising:

a module port disposed in said housing, said module port having a module connector;

a module removably disposed in said module port and having;

a second housing with a first end;

a system connector for engagement with said module connector of said module port, said system connector disposed on said first end of said second housing; and

a telecommunications transceiver whose operation depends solely on engagement with the electronic portion of the radio receiver;

said telecommunications transceiver for communicating audio input signals and audio output signals with one of a plurality of standardized wireless networks in accordance with at least one preselected communication standard,

wherein said telecommunications transceiver provides the audio output signals to said at least one speaker through said system connector of said removable module and said module connector of said module port; and

a microphone which provides audio input signals to said telecommunications transceiver of said removable module through said module connector of said module port and said system connector of said removable module.

2. The improved electronic audio system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said radio receiver is a personal radio player.

3. The improved electronic audio system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said radio receiver is an automobile radio player.

4. The improved electronic audio system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said radio receiver is a television set.

5. The improved electronic audio system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said radio receiver is a video tape player.

6. The improved electronic audio system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said module port and said removable module are of a PCMCIA standard.

7. The improved electronic audio system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said improved electronic audio system has a battery power source disposed in said radio receiver housing which supplies electrical power to said radio receiver, and

wherein said telecommunications transceiver of said removable module receives electrical power from said battery power source through said system connector of said removable module and said module connector of said module port.

8. The improved electronic audio system as set forth in claim 7, wherein said module port and said removable module are of a PCMCIA standard, and

wherein said module connector and said system connector are modified from the PCMCIA standard to include power contacts for transmitting the electrical power from said battery power source to said telecommunications transceiver.

9. The improved electronic audio system as set forth in claim 1, further including an external power source providing electrical power to said telecommunications transceiver of said module through a power connector mounted to said second housing.

10. The improved electronic audio system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the improved electronic audio system has an antenna which is used by said radio receiver to receive radio transmissions,

wherein said telecommunications transceiver of said removable module is coupled with said antenna through said system connector of said removable module and said module connector of said module port, and

wherein said telecommunications transceiver communicates with said standardized network through said antenna.

11. The improved electronic audio system as set forth in claim 10, wherein said module port and said module are of a PCMCIA standard, and wherein the module connector and the system connector are modified from the PCMCIA standard to include at least one contact for coupling the antenna with the telecommunications transceiver.

12. The improved electronic audio system as set forth in claim 1, further including an antenna coupled to said telecommunications transceiver of said removable module through an antenna connector mounted to said second housing.

13. The improved electronic audio system as set forth in claim 1, further including means for fading out the audio output signals from the radio receiver to the at least one speaker and emitting a signal that an incoming call is available, upon sensing an incoming call to said telecommunications transceiver.

14. The improved electronic audio system as set forth in claim 1, further comprising wherein said electronic audio system has a display disposed in the housing which displays the functional information of said radio receiver,

wherein said telecommunications transceiver provides data signals to the display through said system connector of said ale module and said module connector of said module port, and

wherein the display displays the functional information of said telecommunications transceiver.

15. The improved electronic audio system as set forth in claim 1, further including a keypad providing control signals to said telecommunications transceiver of said removable module through said module connector of said module port and said system connector of said removable module, and

wherein said keypad provides control of functions of said telecommunications transceiver.

16. The improved electronic audio system as set forth in claim 1, wherein the improved electronic audio system has a keypad disposed in the housing which keypad supplies control signals to the radio receiver,

wherein said keypad provides control signals to said telecommunications transceiver through said system connector of said removable module and said module connector of said module port, and

wherein said keypad provides control of functions of said telecommunications transceiver.

17. The improved electronic audio system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said at least one speaker and said microphone are assembled into a headset, and wherein said headset is coupled to said electronic audio system.

18. The improved electronic audio system as set forth in claim 17, wherein said headset is coupled to said electronic audio system by a cable extending therefrom.

19. The improved electronic audio system as set forth in claim 18, wherein said headset further includes a keypad which provides control signals to the telecommunications transceiver of said module through the module connector of said module port and the system connector of said module, wherein said keypad provides control of functions of the telecommunications transceiver.

20. The improved electronic audio system as set forth in claim 17, wherein said headset is coupled to said electronic audio system by an infra red communication link.

21. The improved electronic audio system as set forth in claim 20, wherein said headset further includes a keypad which provides control signals to the telecommunications transceiver of said module through the module connector of said module port and the system connector of said module, wherein said keypad provides control of functions of the telecommunications transceiver.

22. The improved electronic audio system as set forth in claim 17, wherein said headset is coupled to said electronic audio equipment by a radio communication link.

23. The improved electronic audio system as set forth in claim 22, wherein said headset further includes a keypad which provides control signals to the telecommunications transceiver of said module through the module connector of said module port and the system connector of said module, wherein said keypad provides control of functions of the telecommunications transceiver.

24. The improved electronic audio system as set forth in claim 1, wherein said radio receiver is a portable radio player.

25. An improved electronic audio system of the type having a recording medium player that provides audio output signals to at least one speaker, said recording medium player having a housing, the improvement comprising:

a module port disposed in the housing, said module port having a module connector;

a module removably disposed in said module port and having;

a second housing with a first end;

a system connector for engagement with said module connector of said module port and disposed on said first end of said second housing; and

a telecommunications transceiver whose operation depends solely on engagement with the electronic portion of said recording medium player;

said telecommunications transceiver for communicating audio input signals and audio output signals with one of a plurality of standardized wireless networks in accordance with at least one preselected communication standard,

wherein said telecommunications transceiver provides the audio output signals to the at least one speaker through said system connector of said removable module and said module connector of said module port; and

a microphone which provides audio input signals to aid telecommunications transceiver of said removable module through said module connector of said module port and said system connector of said module.

26. The improved electronic audio system as set forth in claim 25, wherein said recording medium player is a personal tape player.

27. The improved electronic audio system as set forth in claim 25, wherein said recording medium player is an automobile tape player.

28. The improved electronic audio system as set forth in claim 25, wherein said recording medium player is a compact disk player.

29. The improved electronic audio system as set forth in claim 25, wherein said module port and said removable module are of a PCMCIA standard.

30. The improved electronic audio system as set forth in claim 25, wherein said improved electronic audio system has a battery power source disposed in the housing which supplies electrical power to said recording medium player, and

wherein said telecommunications transceiver of said removable module receives electrical power from said battery power source through said system connector of said removable module and said module connector of said module port.

31. The improved electronic audio system as set forth in claim 30, wherein said module port and said removable module are of a PCMCIA standard, and

wherein said module connector and said system connector are modified from the PCMCIA standard to include power contacts for transmitting the electrical power from said battery power source to said telecommunications transceiver.

32. The improved electronic audio system as set forth in claim 25, further including an external power source providing electrical power said telecommunications transceiver of said removable module through a power connector mounted to said second housing.

33. The improved electronic audio system as set forth in claim 25, wherein said improved electronic audio system has an antenna,

wherein said telecommunications transceiver of said removable module is coupled with said antenna through said system connector of said removable module and said module connector of said module port, and

wherein said telecommunications transceiver communicates with said standardized network through said antenna.

34. The improved electronic audio system as set forth in claim 25, wherein said module port and said removable module are of a PCMCIA standard, and

wherein said module connector and said system connector are modified from the PCMCIA standard to include at least one contact for coupling the antenna with said telecommunications transceiver.

35. The improved electronic audio system as set froth in claim 25, further including an antenna coupled to said telecommunications transceiver of said removable module through an antenna connector mounted to said second housing.

36. The improved electronic audio system as set forth in claim 25, further including means for fading out the audio output signals from the recording medium player to the at least one speaker and emitting a signal indicating that an incoming call is available, upon sensing an incoming call to said telecommunications transceiver.

37. The improved electronic audio system as set forth in claim 25, wherein said improved electronic audio system has a display disposed in the housing which displays the function information of said recording medium player,

wherein said telecommunications transceiver provides data signals to said display through said system connector of said removable module said module connector of said module port, and

wherein said display displays the functional information said telecommunications transceiver.

38. The improved electronic audio system as set forth in claim 25, further including a keypad which provide control signals to said telecommunications transceiver of said removable module through said module connector of said module port and said system connector of said removal module, and

wherein said keypad provides control of functions of said telecommunications transceiver.

39. The improved electronic audio system as set forth in claim 25, wherein said improved electronic audio system has a keypad disposed in the housing which supplies control signals to the recording medium player,

where the keypad provides control signals to said telecommunications transceiver through said system connector of said removable module and said module connector of said module port, and

wherein said keypad provides control of functions of said telecommunications transceiver.

40. The improved electronic audio system as set forth in claim 25, wherein the at least one speaker and said microphone are assembled into a headset, and

wherein said headset is coupled to the improved electronic audio system.

41. The improved electronic audio system as set froth in claim 40, wherein said headset is coupled to said improved electronic audio system by a cable extending therefrom.

42. The improved electronic audio system as set forth in claim 41, wherein said headset further including a keypad which provide control signals to said telecommunications transceiver of said removable module through said module connector of said module port and said system connector of said removable module.

43. The improved electronic audio system as set froth in claim 40, wherein said headset is coupled to the improved electronic audio system by an infra red communication link.

44. The improved electronic audio system as set forth in claim 43, wherein said headset further includes a keypad which provide control signals to said telecommunications transceiver of said removable module through said module connector of said module port and said system connector of said removable module.

45. The improved electronic audio system as set forth in claim 40, wherein said headset is coupled to the improved electronic audio equipment by a radio communication link.

46. The improved electronic audio system as set forth in claim 45, wherein said headset further includes a keypad which provides control signals to said telecommunications transceiver of said removable module through said module connector of said module port and said system connector of said removable module.

47. The improved electronic audio system as set forth in claim 25, wherein said recording medium player is a portable tape player.

48. The improved electronic audio system as set forth in claim 25, wherein said recording medium player is a video cassette recorder.

49. A modular telecommunications unit for an item of electronic equipment, said electronic equipment having a port for receiving said modular telecommunications unit and a module connector disposed in said port, comprising:

a housing with first and second ends;

a system connector disposed on said first end of said housing for engagement with said module connector of said electronic equipment;

a telecommunications transceiver disposed within said housing and electrically coupled to said system connector for communicating with one of a plurality of standardized wireless networks in accordance with at least one preselected communication standard;

a power connector disposed on said second end of said housing and electrically coupled to said telecommunications transceiver for engagement with an external power source; and

an antenna connector disposed on said second end of said housing and electrically coupled to said telecommunications transceiver for engagement with an external antenna.