Radio telephone and independently controlled booster

• US 5,995,813 A
• Filed: 10/08/1997
• Issued: 11/30/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Ikeda, Masatoshi, Ishikura, Akira, Sawa, Buntaro
• Primary Examiner(s): Eisenzopf, Reinhard J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kincaid, Lester G.
• Application Number:
  US08/946,973
• Time in Patent Office: 783 Days
• Field of Search: 455/69, 455/522, 455/571, 455/126, 455/127, 455/550, 455/575, 455/116, 455/13.4, 455/115, 455/117, 455/63, 455/67.11, 455/67.3, 455/572
• US Class Current: 455/127.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3877 Arrangements for enabling portable transceivers to be used in a fixed position, e.g. cradles or boosters
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/52 using AGC [Automatic Gain Control] circuits or amplifiers

Abstract

In a radio telephone equipment which includes a portable radiotelephone (100) and a booster (400), an output from the portable radiotelephone (100) whose output level is set according to a level control signal transmitted from a base station is amplified with a preset amplification factor by an automatic gain control circuit (22) provided in the booster (400). As a result, since the amplification factor of the amplifier in the booster and the portable radiotelephone are independently controlled, the booster can be connected to even a portable radiotelephone which is designed without considering that it will be connected to the booster.

Claims

1. A radio telephone equipment which communicates with a base station via a radio channel and comprises a radiotelephone and a booster removably connected to said radiotelephone, wherein said radiotelephone comprises:

an antenna for transmitting a signal;

first amplifying means for amplifying a speech signal to be transmitted;

first automatic gain control means for controlling an amplification factor of said first amplifying means according to an output level of said first amplifying means and a control signal transmitted from the base station. the control signal compensating for a frequency-dependent, signal-level deviation in a transmission signal output from said radiotelephone;

switching means for selectively supplying an output signal of said first amplifying means to said antenna or said booster;

means for storing correction data for compensating for a frequency-dependent, signal-level deviation in a transmission signal output from said booster;

means for detecting connection of said booster; and

means for correcting the control signal supplied to said first automatic gain control means according to the correction data when connection of said booster is detected by said detecting means; and

wherein said booster comprises;

second amplifying means for amplifying a signal supplied from said radiotelephone; and

second automatic gain control means for controlling an amplification factor of said second amplifying means according to an input level of said second amplifying means and an output level of said second amplifying means.

2. A radio telephone equipment according to claim 1, wherein said second automatic gain control means comprises means for controlling the amplification factor of said second amplifying means to keep gain of said booster constant according to the input level of said second amplifying means and the output level of said second amplifying means.

3. A radio telephone equipment according to claim 1, wherein said booster comprises a directional coupler connected to said second amplifying means, for extracting a signal input to said second amplifying means and a signal output from said second amplifying means and supplying the same to said automatic gain control means.

4. A radio telephone equipment according to claim 1, wherein said booster and said radiotelephone are connected via a high-frequency cable for transmitting a high-frequency signal;

said booster superposes a DC signal on the high-frequency signal and supplies the signal to said radiotelephone via said high-frequency cable; and

said detecting means detects connection of said booster based on the DC signal superposed on the high-frequency signal.

5. A radio telephone equipment according to claim 1, wherein said radiotelephone comprises a portable handset and an adapter having a speaker and microphone for permitting handsfree conversation,

said booster being connected to said adapter.

6. A radio telephone equipment according to claim 1, wherein the radio telephone equipment is a car telephone.

7. A radio telephone equipment according to claim 1, wherein the radio telephone equipment is a portable radiotelephone.

8. A radio telephone equipment which comprises a radiotelephone and a booster removably connected to said radiotelephone and which communicates with a base station via a radio channel, wherein said radiotelephone comprises:

an antenna for transmitting a signal;

first amplifying means for amplifying a speech signal to be transmitted;

means for inputting a frequency specifying signal;

first automatic gain control means for controlling an amplification factor of said first amplifying means according to the frequency specifying signal in order to compensate for a frequency-dependent, signal-level deviation in a transmission signal from the radiotelephone;

switching means for selectively supplying an output signal of said first amplifying means to said antenna or said booster;

means for storing correction data of each frequency for compensating for a frequency-dependent, signal-level deviation in a transmission signal output from said booster;

means for correcting the output level of said radiotelephone according to the correction data read out from said storing means based on the frequency specifying signal when connection of said booster is detected by said detecting means; and

wherein said booster comprises;

second amplifying means for amplifying a signal supplied from said radiotelephone; and

second automatic gain control means for controlling an amplification factor of said second amplifying means according to an input level of said second amplifying means and an output level of said second amplifying means.

9. A radio telephone equipment according to claim 8, wherein said booster and said radiotelephone are connected via a high-frequency cable for transmitting a high-frequency signal;

said booster superposes a DC signal on the high-frequency signal and supplies the signal to said radiotelephone via said high-frequency cable; and

said detecting means detects connection of said booster based on the DC signal superposed on the high-frequency signal.

10. A radio telephone equipment which communicates with a base station via a radio channel and includes a radiotelephone and a booster which is removably connected to said radiotelephone and amplifies an output of said radiotelephone by a constant amount, said radiotelephone equipment comprising:

an antenna for transmitting a signal;

first amplifying means for amplifying a speech signal to be transmitted;

first automatic gain control means for controlling an amplification factor of said first amplifying means according to an output level of said first amplifying means and a control signal transmitted from the base station, the control signal compensating for a frequency-dependent signal-level deviation in a transmission signal output from said radiotelephone;

switching means for selectively supplying an output signal of said first amplifying means to said antenna or said booster;

means for storing correction data for compensating for a frequency-dependent, signal-level deviation in a transmission signal output from said booster;

means for detecting connection of said booster;

means for correcting the control signal supplied to said first automatic pain control means according to the correction data when connection of said booster is detected by said detecting means;

and means for attenuating an output of said radiotelephone when connection of said booster is detected.

11. A radio telephone equipment according to claim 10, wherein said radiotelephone comprises means for controlling a transmission level according to a control signal from the base station;

and wherein said attenuating means comprises means for attenuating the output of said radiotelephone by correcting the control signal supplied to said radiotelephone from the base station.

12. A radio telephone equipment according to claim 10, wherein said booster comprises;

second amplifying means for amplifying a signal supplied from said first amplifying means; and

second automatic gain control means for controlling an amplification factor of said second amplifying means according to an input level of said second amplifying means, and an output level of said second amplifying means.

13. A radio telephone equipment according to claim 12, wherein said second automatic gain control means comprises means for controlling the amplification factor of said second amplifying means to keep gain of said booster constant according to an input level of said second amplifying means and an output level of said second amplifying means.

14. A radio telephone equipment according to claim 12, wherein said booster comprises;

a first directional coupler connected to an input of said second amplifying means for extracting a signal input to said second amplifying means and supplying the same to said second automatic gain control means; and

a second directional coupler connected to an output of said second amplifying means for extracting a signal output from said second amplifying means and supplying the same to said second automatic gain control means.

15. A radio telephone equipment according to claim 10, wherein said radiotelephone includes a portable handset and an adapter having a speaker and microphone for permitting handsfree conversation said booster being connected to said adapter.

16. A radio telephone equipment according to claim 10, wherein the radio telephone equipment is a car telephone.

17. A radio telephone equipment according to claim 10, wherein the radio telephone equipment is a portable radiotelephone.

18. A radio telephone equipment which communicates with a base station via a radio channel and comprises a radiotelephone and a booster removably connected to said radiotelephone for amplifying an output of said radiotelephone by a constant amount, wherein said radio telephone comprises:

means for detecting whether said booster is connected;

means for attenuating an output of said radiotelephone when connection of said booster is detected;

an antenna for transmitting a signal;

first amplifying means for amplifying a speech signal to be transmitted;

first automatic gain control means for controlling an amplification factor of said first amplifying means according to an output level of said first amplifying means and a control signal transmitted from the base station in order to compensate for a frequency-dependent, signal-level deviation in a transmission signal output from said radiotelephone; and

switching means for selectively supplying an output signal of said first amplifying means to said antenna or said booster; and

wherein said booster comprises;

second amplifying means for amplifying a signal supplied from said radiotelephone; and

second automatic gain control means for controlling an amplification factor of said second amplifying means according to an input level of said second amplifying means and an output level of said second amplifying means; and

wherein said radio telephone further comprises;

means for storing correction data for reducing a frequency-dependent, signal-level deviation in a transmission signal output from said booster; and

means for correcting the output level of said radiotelephone according to the correction data when connection of said booster is detected.

19. A radio telephone equipment according to claim 18, wherein said booster and said radiotelephone are connected via a high-frequency cable for transmitting a high-frequency signal;

said booster superposes a DC signal on the high-frequency signal and supplies the signal to said radiotelephone via said high-frequency cable; and

said detecting means detects connection of said booster based on the DC signal superposed on the high-frequency signal.

20. A radio telephone equipment which comprises a radiotelephone and a booster removably connected to said radiotelephone and which communicates with a base station via a radio channel, wherein said radiotelephone comprises:

means for generating a control signal and speech signal to be transmitted;

an antenna for transmitting a signal;

first amplifying means for amplifying a signal generated from said generating means;

first automatic gain control means for controlling an amplification factor of said first amplifying means according to an output level of said first amplifying means and a control signal from the base station;

switching means for selectively supplying an output signal of said first amplifying means to said antenna or said booster;

means for storing amplification factors corresponding to a plurality of channels;

means for recognizing one of the plurality of channels over which a signal is transmitted;

means for detecting connection of said booster; and

means for correcting the control signal supplied to said first automatic gain control means to control the output level of said radiotelephone according to an amplification factor stored in said storing means and corresponding to the one of the plurality of channels recognized by said recognizing means when connection of said booster is detected by said detecting means,

and wherein said booster comprises;

second amplifying means for amplifying the output signal supplied from said first amplifying means; and

second automatic gain control means for controlling an amplification factor of said second amplifying means according to an input level of said second amplifying means and an output level of said second amplifying means.

21. A radio telephone equipment which comprises a radiotelephone and a booster removably connected to said radiotelephone and which communicates with a base station via a radio channel, wherein said radiotelephone comprises:

means for generating a control signal and speech signal to be transmitted;

an antenna for transmitting a signal;

first amplifying means for amplifying a signal generated from said generating means;

means for inputting a channel specifying signal;

first automatic gain control means for controlling an amplification factor of said first amplifying means according to the channel specifying signal;

switching means for selectively supplying an output signal of said first amplifying means to said antenna or said booster;

means for storing amplification factors corresponding to a plurality of channels;

means for recognizing one of the plurality of channels over which a signal is transmitted;

means for detecting connection of said booster;

means for correcting the control signal supplied to said first automatic gain control means to control the output level of said radiotelephone according to an amplification factor stored in said storing means and corresponding to the one of the plurality of channels recognized by said recognizing means when connection of said booster is detected by said detecting means; and

wherein said booster comprises;

second amplifying means for amplifying a signal supplied from said first amplifying means; and

second automatic gain control means for controlling an amplification factor of said second amplifying means according to an input level of said second amplifying means and an output level of said second amplifying means.

22. A radio telephone equipment which communicates with a base station via a radio channel and includes a radiotelephone and a booster which is removably connected to said radiotelephone and amplifies an output of said radiotelephone by a constant amount, said radio telephone equipment comprising:

an antenna for transmitting a signal;

first amplifying means for amplifying a speech signal to be transmitted;

means for inputting a frequency specifying signal;

first automatic gain control means for controlling an amplification factor of said first amplifying means according to the frequency specifying signal in order to compensate for a frequency-dependent, signal-level deviation in a transmission signal from the radiotelephone;

switching means for selectively supplying an output signal of said first amplifying means to said antenna or said booster;

means for storing correction data of each frequency for compensating for a frequency-dependent, signal-level deviation in a transmission signal output from said booster;

means for correcting the output level of said radiotelephone according to the correction data read out from said storing means based on the frequency specifying signal when connection of said booster is detected by said detecting means;

means for detecting whether the booster is connected to said radiotelephone; and

means for attenuating an output of said radiotelephone when connection of said booster is detected.

23. A radio telephone equipment according to claim 22, in which said booster comprises:

means for amplifying a transmission signal output from the radiotelephone;

means for determining the presence or absence of the transmission signal based on the level of an input signal of said amplifying means; and

means for supplying electric power to said amplifying means only when said determining means determines that the transmission signal is present.

24. A radio telephone equipment which communicates with a base station via a radio channel and includes a radiotelephone and a booster which is removably connected to said radiotelephone and amplifies an output of said radiotelephone by a constant amount, said radio telephone equipment comprising:

means for generating a control signal and speech signal to be transmitted;

an antenna for transmitting a signal;

first amplifying means for amplifying a signal generated from said generating means;

means for inputting a channel specifying signal;

first automatic gain control means for controlling the amplification factor of said first amplifying means according to the channel specifying signal;

switching means for selectively supplying an output signal of said first amplifying means to an antenna of said radiotelephone or said booster;

means for storing amplification factors corresponding to a plurality of channels;

means for recognizing one of the plurality of channels over which a signal is transmitted;

means for correcting the control signal supplied to said first automatic gain control means to control the output level of said radiotelephone according to an amplification factor stored in said storing means and corresponding to the one of the plurality of channels recognized by said recognizing means when connection of said booster is detected by said detecting means;

means for detecting whdther the booster is connected to said radiotelephone; and

means for attenuating an output of said radiotelephone when connection of said booster is detected.

25. A radio telephone equipment according to claim 24, in which said booster comprises:

means for amplifying a transmission signal output from the radiotelephone;

means for determining the presence or absence of the transmission signal based on the level of an input signal of said amplifying means; and

means for supplying electric power to said amplifying means only when said determining means determines that the transmission signal is present.