Built-in handfree and battery charging communication system for a vehicle

• US 5,974,332 A
• Filed: 10/18/1996
• Issued: 10/26/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: In Hyun Chung
• Original Assignee: Byung Soo Park, Jee Won Industrial Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Chung, In Hyun
• Primary Examiner(s): Le, Thanh Cong
• Application Number:
  US08/733,570
• Time in Patent Office: 1,103 Days
• Field of Search: 455/575, 455/573, 455/550, 455/568, 455/569, 455/574, 455/90, 379/426, 379/428, 379/430, 379/433, 379/440, 379/453, 379/454, 379/455
• US Class Current: 455/569.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0217 for loud-speakers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0241 for telephones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0247 for microphones or earphones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0005 Dashboard
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0007 Mid-console
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/001 Vehicle control means, e.g. steering-wheel or column
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0014 Arm-rests
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0082 collapsible, e.g. for storing after use
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0092 with motorization
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0094 characterised by means for covering after user, e.g. boxes, shutters or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0276 for rear passenger use
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0282 for the use of several passengers, e.g. simultaneously

Abstract

A built-in handfree and battery charging system for a vehicle having a speaker, a power source, an antenna and a phone, includes at least one handfree device having a first plate built-in in a body of the vehicle and a second plate being movable into and out of the body for charging the phone, and at least one microphone disposed inside the vehicle for use with the phone.

Claims

1. A communication system for a vehicle having a speaker, a power source, an antenna and a phone, comprising:

at least one handfree device having a first plate built-in in a body of a vehicle, and a second plate being movable into and out of the body for charging the phone; and

at least one microphone disposed inside the vehicle for use with the phone, wherein the first plate includes a gear portion formed in a lower portion of the first plate, and a pair of guide grooves formed on opposite sides of the first plate.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a handfree kit built-in in the vehicle and being connected to the speaker, the power source, the antenna, and the first plate of the one handfree device.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a motor connected to the power source, and

a wheel surrounding the motor and being in gearing relationship with the gear portion of the first plate as the motor rotates.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the second plate includes:

a pair of guide projections formed on two opposite sides of the second plate and being movable in the guide grooves of the first plate.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the second plate includes:

a first projection formed on an end portion of the second plate, and

a second projection formed on a back portion of the second plate.

6. The system of claim 5, further comprising:

a first switch for moving the second plate out of the body,

a second switch for cooperating with the first projection, and

a third switch for cooperating with the second projection.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the second switch detects whether the second plate is moved completely out of the body, and the third switch detects whether the second plate is moved completely into the body.

8. The system of claim 6, further comprising:

a control circuit controlling movement of the second plate of the one handfree device into and out of the body according to the first, second and third switches.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the control circuit includes:

an integrated circuit for receiving outputs of the first, second and third switches,

a plurality of transistors, resistors and capacitors connected to the integrated circuit, and

a motor control circuit connected to the integrated circuit and controlling a rotational direction of the motor.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein when the second plate is moved out of the body, the first and second plates are connected in an arc configuration so that the phone is placed on the second plate at a predetermined angle.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein once the second plate is moved out of the body, the second plate is moved into the body by slightly pushing in the second plate.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one handfree device includes a plurality of the handfree devices having first and second handfree devices, the first handfree device being disposed within a display panel of the vehicle, and the second handfree device being disposed in a box located between a driver'"'"'s seat and a front passenger seat of the vehicle.

13. The system of claim 12, further comprising:

a third handfree device disposed in an arm rest box located between back passenger seats of the vehicle, the third handfree device having a charging case built-in in the arm rest box, the charging case being connected to the power source of the vehicle.

14. The system of claim 13, further comprising:

fourth and fifth handfree devices each disposed in a door trim portion of a back door of the vehicle, each of the fourth and fifth handfree devices having a charging case built-in in the door trim portion and connected to the power source of the vehicle.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein the door trim portion includes a groove and a cover for securely placing one of the fourth and fifth handfree devices therein.

16. The system of claim 1, wherein the at least one microphone includes at least one of the following:

a first microphone disposed on a handle of the vehicle,

a second microphone disposed in front of a front passenger'"'"'s seat in the vehicle,

a third microphone disposed above a right backdoor window of the vehicle,

a fourth microphone disposed on a right corner wall located between the right backdoor window and a right back seat of the vehicle,

a fifth microphone disposed above a left backdoor window of the vehicle, and

a six microphone disposed on a left corner wall located between the left backdoor window and a left back seat of the vehicle.

17. A method for communicating in a vehicle having a speaker, a power source, an antenna and a phone, comprising the steps of:

providing at least one handfree device having a first plate built-in a body of the vehicle and a second plate being movable into and out of the body for charging the phone; and

disposing at least one microphone inside the vehicle for use with the phone, wherein the step of providing at least one handfree device includes the steps of,

forming a gear portion in a lower portion of the first plate, and

forming a pair of guide grooves on opposite sides of the first plate.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

providing a handfree kit built-in in the vehicle, and

connecting the handfree kit with the speaker, the power source, the antenna, and the first plate of the one handfree device.

19. The method of claim 17, further comprising the steps of:

providing a motor connected to the power source, and

providing a wheel surrounding the motor and being in gearing relationship with the gear portion of the first plate as the motor rotates.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of providing at least one handfree device further includes the steps of:

forming a pair of guide projections on two opposite sides of the second plate, and

moving the guide projections in the guide grooves of the first plate.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of providing at least one handfree device includes the steps of:

forming a first projection on an end portion of the second plate, and

forming a second projection on a back portion of the second plate.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising the steps of:

providing a first switch for moving the second plate out of the body,

providing a second switch for cooperating with the first projection, and

providing a third switch for cooperating with the second projection.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the second switch detects whether the second plate is moved completely out of the body, and the third switch detects whether the second plate is moved completely into the body.

24. The method of claim 22, further comprising the step of:

controlling movement of the second plate into and out of the body according to the first, second and third switches.

25. The method of claim 17, wherein when the second plate is moved out of the body, the first and second plates are connected in an arc configuration so that the phone is placed on the second plate at a predetermined angle.

26. The method of claim 17, further comprising the step of:

slightly pushing in the second plate to automatically move the second plate into the body, once the second plate is moved out of the body.

27. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of providing at least one handfree device includes the steps of:

providing a plurality of the handfree devices including first and second handfree devices,

disposing the first handfree device within a display panel of the vehicle, and

disposing the second handfree device in a box located between a driver'"'"'s seat and a front passenger seat of the vehicle.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising the step of:

disposing a third handfree device in an arm rest box located between back passenger seats of the vehicle, the third handfree device having a charging case built-in in the arm rest box, the charging case being connected to the power source of the vehicle.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising the step of:

disposing each of fourth and fifth handfree devices in a door trim portion of a back door of the vehicle, the fourth and fifth handfree devices each having a charging case built-in in the door trim portion and connected to the power source of the vehicle.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the step of disposing each of fourth and fifth handfree devices includes the step of:

forming a groove and a cover on the door trim portion for securely placing one of the fourth and fifth handfree devices therein.

31. The method of claim 17, wherein the step of providing at least one microphone includes at least one of the following steps:

providing a first microphone on a handle of the vehicle,

providing a second microphone in front of a front passenger'"'"'s seat in the vehicle,

providing a third microphone above a right backdoor window of the vehicle,

providing a fourth microphone on a right corner wall located between the right backdoor window and a right back seat of the vehicle,

providing a fifth microphone above a left backdoor window of the vehicle, and

providing a six microphone on a left corner wall located between the left backdoor window and a left back seat of the vehicle.

32. A handfree device built-in in a body of the vehicle, comprising:

a first plate fixed to the body and connected to a power source of the vehicle; and

a second plate being movable in and out of the body and receiving a phone thereon,

wherein when the second plate is moved into the body, the second plate is positioned above the first plate and the first plate charges the phone through the second plate, the first plate including,

a gear portion formed in a lower portion of the first plate, and

a pair of guide grooves formed on opposite sides of the first plate.

33. The device of claim 32, wherein the second plate includes:

a pair of guide projections formed on two opposite sides of the second plate, wherein the guide projections move in the guide grooves of the first plate.

34. The device of claim 33, further comprising:

a motor being connected to the power source and rotatable in two directions; and

a wheel surrounding the motor and being in gearing relationship with the gear portion of the first plate as the motor rotates.

35. The device of claim 32, wherein the second plate includes:

a first projection formed on an end portion of the second plate, and

a second projection formed on a back portion of the second plate.

36. The device of claim 35, further comprising:

a first switch for moving the second plate out of the body;

a second switch for cooperating with the first projection; and

a third switch for cooperating with the second projection.

37. The device of claim 36, further comprising:

a control circuit controlling movement of the second plate in and out of the body according to the first, second and third switches.

38. The device of claim 37, wherein the control circuit includes:

an integrated circuit for receiving outputs of the first, second and third switches,

a plurality of transistors, resistors and capacitors connected to the integrated circuit, and

a motor control circuit connected to the integrated circuit and controlling a rotational direction of the motor.

39. The device of claim 32, wherein when the second plate is moved out of the body, the first and second plates are connected in an arc configuration so that the phone is placed on the second plate in a predetermined angle.