Speaker unit with boom microphone

• US 6,058,184 A
• Filed: 12/17/1997
• Issued: 05/02/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation Of America (Sony Group Corp.), Sony Electronics Inc. (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Frank, Christopher L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chiang, Jack
• Application Number:
  US08/992,032
• Time in Patent Office: 867 Days
• Field of Search: 379/420, 379/447, 379/454, 379/455, 379/446, 455/90, 455/575
• US Class Current: 379/420.02
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/03 Constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. telephone hand-sets
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6075 adapted for handsfree use in a vehicle H04M1/6058 takes precedence; arrangements for holding telephones in a vehicle B60R11/0241

Abstract

A hands-free adapter for a telephone is disclosed. The hands-free adapter includes a housing, a speaker and a microphone that may be electrically coupled to a telephone. The hands-free adapter couples to a cigarette lighter receptacle of a vehicle. This provides power to operate the speaker and the microphone. In addition, power is coupled to the telephone for operating the telephone and charging the telephones batteries. The hands-free adapter also includes an articulating cable for positioning the speaker and the microphone near a user. The microphone is disposed within a boom which is pivotally coupled to the housing such that the boom may be moved from a retracted position to a fully extended position. The microphone is automatically activated as it is moved out of the retracted position and is automatically deactivated as it is moved back into the retracted position.

Claims

1. A hands-free telephone adapter comprising:

a housing having a speaker coupled thereto;

a boom having a first end pivotally coupled to said housing, said boom further having a second end adapted to be extended from said housing;

a microphone coupled to said boom proximate to said second end of said boom;

a power adapter electrically coupled to said housing, said power adapter configured for coupling with a vehicle such that electrical power from a vehicle is couplable to said speaker and to said microphone

an articulating cable coupled on one end to said housing and coupled on the opposite end to said power adapter, said articulating cable semi-rigid and flexible such that said housing can be easily positioned, said articulating cable rigid enough to maintain said housing in a selected position; and

a telephone connector for coupling said housing to a telephone.

2. The hands-free telephone adapter of claim 1 wherein said boom is movable from a retracted position into an extended position and wherein said microphone is activated when said boom is rotated out of said retracted position.

3. The hands-free telephone adapter of claim 1 further comprising:

electrical circuits disposed within said housing, said electrical circuits electrically coupled to said speaker and to said microphone.

4. The hands-free telephone adapter of claim 1 further comprising:

a switch electrically coupled to said boom and to said electrical circuits.

5. The hands-free telephone adapter of claim 1 wherein said articulating cable further includes:

a plurality of flexible cables.

6. The hands-free telephone adapter of claim 5 wherein said articulating cable further includes:

an electrical cable, said electrical cable electrically coupled to said power adapter and electrically coupled to said electrical circuits.

7. The hands-free telephone adapter of claim 6 wherein said electrical circuits couple said power adapter to said telephone for charging said telephone.

8. The hands-free telephone adapter of claim 1 wherein said power adapter is adapted to plug into a cigarette lighter receptacle.

9. The hands-free telephone adapter of claim 1 further comprising a volume control disposed in said housing and coupled to said speaker for controlling the volume of said speaker.

10. A hands-free telephone adapter comprising:

a housing having a speaker coupled thereto;

a boom having a first end pivotally coupled to said housing, said boom further having a second end adapted to be extended from said housing;

a microphone coupled to said boom proximate to said second end of said boom;

means for coupling said housing to a vehicle, said means including a power adapter configured for coupling with a vehicle such that electrical power from a vehicle is couplable to said speaker and to said microphone said means including an articulating cable coupled on one end to said housing and coupled on the opposite end to said power adapter, said articulating cable semi-rigid and flexible such that said housing can be easily positioned, said articulating cable rigid enough to maintain said housing in a selected position; and

means for connecting said speaker and said microphone to a telephone.

11. The hands-free telephone adapter of claim 10 further comprising:

means for activating said microphone, said means for activating said microphone including a switch coupled to said boom, said switch operable in response to the movement of said boom.

12. The hands-free telephone adapter of claim 10 wherein said means for connecting said speaker and said microphone to a telephone includes a connector electrically coupled to said speaker and to said microphone, said connector adapted to connect to a telephone.

13. The hands-free telephone adapter of claim 10 wherein said power adapter is adapted to connect to a cigarette lighter receptacle.

14. A method for hands-free operation of a telephone comprising the steps of:

a) providing a housing having a speaker coupled thereto;

b) providing a boom having a first end and a second end, said first end pivotally coupled to said housing and said second end adapted to be extended from said housing;

c) providing a microphone coupled to said boom proximate to said second end of said boom;

d) providing a power adapter electrically coupled to said housing, said power adapter configured for coupling with a vehicle such that electrical power from a vehicle is couplable to said speaker and to said microphone

e) providing an articulating cable coupled on one end to said housing and coupled on the opposite end to said power adapter, said articulating cable semi-rigid and flexible such that said housing can be easily positioned, said articulating cable rigid enough to maintain said housing in a selected position; and

f) providing a telephone connector for coupling said housing to a telephone.

15. The method for hands-free operation of a telephone of claim 14 wherein said boom is movable from a retracted position into an extended position and wherein said microphone is activated when said boom is moved out of said retracted position.

16. The method for hands-free operation of a telephone of claim 15 further comprising the step of:

providing a switch coupled to said boom for sensing when said boom is moved out of said retracted position.