System for interfacing a communication device with a radio for hands-free operation

• US 6,052,603 A
• Filed: 09/18/1997
• Issued: 04/18/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Micro Enhanced Technology Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Mold-Tech Plastics Limited Partnership
• Inventors: Denison, William D., Brownfield, Lawrence, Kinzalow, Richard M., Calhoun, Sandra Kinzalow, Nitz, Klaus E., Arkin, David M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Urban, Edward F.
• Application Number:
  US08/932,522
• Time in Patent Office: 943 Days
• Field of Search: 455/575, 455/90, 455/93, 455/95, 455/99, 455/15.5, 455/79, 455/116, 455/345, 455/346, 455/517
• US Class Current: 455/557
• 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: H04M 1/271 controlled by voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/57 Arrangements for indicating or recording the number of the calling subscriber at the called subscriber's set at the operator set in a manual exchange H04M5/20
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6091 including a wireless interface

Abstract

An interface between a portable cellular phone and an automobile radio to allow hands-free operation of the phone is housed in a remote housing connected to a battery eliminator cigarette lighter adapter plug for simple installation into an automobile. The interface converts incoming signals from the cellular phone from audio frequency to radio frequency and transmits the signals to the existing automobile radio receiver, wherein the signals are reproduced over the radio speakers. The interface may also be used with a power conversion system to increase the power of the phone transmissions. Further, the interface may be used with any external communication source, such as a facsimile machine or laptop computer and modem. The interface is also easily adapted for use with any stand-alone audio producing devices, such as a cassette deck or compact disc player.

Claims

1. An interface connectable to a stand-alone external communication source for interfacing the source to a radio including a radio receiver and radio speaker, comprising:

a converter which converts incoming audio signals from the external communication source to radio frequency signals;

a transmitter which transmits the radio frequency signals to the radio receiver, wherein the audio signals are reproduced over the radio speaker; and

an interface speaker which reproduces a signal generated by the external communication source when the source receives an incoming signal,

wherein the interface is remote from the communication source and the communication source is capable of operating independently of the interface.

2. The interface of claim 1, further comprising a microphone which receives an outgoing voice signal and transmits the outgoing signal to the external communication source.

3. The interface of claim 1, wherein the interface is housed in a cradle capable of receiving the external communication source.

4. The interface of claim 1, wherein the interface is housed in a remote housing connectable to the external communication source.

5. The interface of claim 1, wherein the interface is connectable to a battery eliminator to supply power from an external power source to the external communication source.

6. The interface of claim 5, wherein the battery eliminator further comprises means for charging an internal battery of the external communication source when the device is not in use.

7. The interface of claim 1, wherein the interface is housed in an adapter plug connectable to an external power source to supply power to the external communication source.

8. The interface of claim 7, further comprising a battery eliminator for overriding an internal battery of the external communication source and a battery charger for charging an internal battery of the external communication source when the device is not in use.

9. The interface of claim 1, further comprising an antenna for transmitting the radio frequency signals from the transmitter to the radio receiver.

10. The interface of claim 9, further comprising a capacitor coupled between the antenna and an external power source which supplies power to the radio.

11. The interface of claim 1, wherein the radio is an RBDS radio and the interface further comprises an RBDS transmitter for transmitting a command signal to adjust the radio when a signal is received by the external communication source.

12. The interface of claim 11, wherein the RBDS transmitter transmits a command to adjust the radio when an outgoing signal is sent by the external communication source.

13. The interface of claim 1, further comprising means for transmitting incoming signal identification information from the external communication source to the radio and reproducing the information over the radio.

14. The interface of claim 13, further comprising a memory to store the incoming signal identification information.

15. The interface of claim 1, further comprising an annunciator which develops a tone when an incoming signal is received by the external communication source.

16. The interface of claim 15, further comprising means for delaying transmission of the incoming signal from the interface to the radio to allow for adjustment of the radio.

17. The interface of claim 1, further comprising voice recognition means to enable a user to control the external communication source through voice commands.

18. The interface of claim 1, further comprising voice recognition means and radio control means to enable a user to control the radio through voice commands.

19. The interface of claim 1, wherein the external communication source is a portable cellular phone.

20. The interface of claim 1, wherein the external communication source is a digital computing device.

21. The interface of claim 1, wherein the external communication source is a fixed cellular phone and the fixed cellular phone is interfaced to a portable cellular phone for increasing the power transmissions of the portable cellular phone.

22. An interface connectable between a portable cellular phone and a fixed cellular phone for interfacing the fixed phone to a radio including a radio receiver and a radio speaker, comprising:

a transceiver which receives phone operation signals from the portable phone and transmits the signals to the fixed phone;

a converter which converts incoming audio signals from the fixed phone to radio frequency signals;

a transmitter which transmits the radio frequency signals to the radio receiver, wherein the audio signals are reproduced over the radio speaker; and

an interface speaker which reproduces a signal generated by the fixed phone when an incoming signal is received from the external communications cell.

23. The interface of claim 22, further comprising a microphone which receives an outgoing voice signal and transmits the outgoing signal to the fixed phone.

24. The interface of claim 22, wherein the interface and the fixed phone are connectable to an external power source.

25. The interface of claim 22, wherein the interface is connectable to a battery eliminator to supply power from an external power source to the portable phone.

26. The interface of claim 25, wherein the interface is housed in a cradle capable of receiving the portable phone.

27. The interface of claim 25, wherein the interface is housed in a remote housing connectable to the portable phone.

28. The interface of claim 22, wherein the interface is housed in an adapter plug connectable to an external power source to supply power to the portable phone.

29. The interface of claim 22, further comprising voice recognition means to enable a user to control the portable phone through voice commands.

30. The interface of claim 22, wherein the radio is an RBDS radio and the interface further comprises an RBDS transmitter for transmitting a command to adjust the radio when the portable phone is in use.

31. A system for interfacing a portable cellular phone to a radio including a radio receiver and a radio speaker, comprising:

a power converter which converts a signal between power levels; and

an interface connectable to the cellular phone, wherein the interface includes

a transceiver which communicates with the cellular phone and the power converter,

a converter which converts an incoming audio signal received from the phone to a radio frequency signal,

a transmitter which transmits the radio frequency signal to the radio receiver, wherein the audio signal is reproduced over the radio speaker, and

an interface speaker which reproduces a signal generated by the cellular phone when the phone receives an incoming signal.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein the power converter comprises an external antenna for communicating with an external communications cell and an internal antenna for communicating with the interface.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein the power converter further comprises a transceiver which receives signals from the external communications cell and the interface and a repeater which amplifies the signals.

34. The system of claim 31, wherein the interface further comprises a microphone which receives an outgoing voice signal and transmits the signal to the cellular phone.

35. The system of claim 31, wherein the interface and power converter are connected to an external power source.