Cassette adapter for mobile telephones

• US 6,058,319 A
• Filed: 03/05/1997
• Issued: 05/02/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ericsson, Inc. (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Original Assignee: Ericsson, Inc. (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Inventors: Sadler, John Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Bost, Dwayne D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): WYCHE, MYRON
• Application Number:
  US08/811,592
• Time in Patent Office: 1,154 Days
• Field of Search: 455/569, 455/149, 455/556, 455/557, 369/1, 369/2
• US Class Current: 455/569.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6083 by interfacing with the vehicle audio system

Abstract

A mobile radio telephone system includes a hands free kit which allows the audio signal to be output through a car stereo system. The mobile radio telephone system includes a hand held unit, a cassette adapter, and a coupling unit. The hand held unit is a fully functional mobile telephone including a receiver and transmitter capable of transmitting and receiving voice and/or data signals. The cassette adapter is configured to load into a cassette player of a car stereo system. The cassette adapter includes a record head for contacting a play-back head in the cassette player when the cassette adapter is loaded into the cassette player. A coupling unit attached to the hand held unit and includes a coupling circuit for electrical connecting the cassette adapter to the hand held unit. When the cassette adapter is coupled to the hand held unit, audio signals are output from hand held unit to the cassette adapter and picked up by the cassette player.

Claims

1. An accessory for a mobile radio telephone comprising:

a. a detachable coupling unit adapted to couple to said mobile radio telephone, said coupling unit including a coupling circuit having an audio input and an audio output for electrically coupling to audio circuits contained in said mobile radio telephone;

b. a detachable cassette adapter for coupling to said audio output on said coupling unit and for transferring audio signals originating with said mobile radio telephone to a playback head in a cassette player, said cassette adapter including a connector for mating with said audio output on said coupling unit and a record head for contacting said playback head in said cassette player to apply said audio signals to said playback head in said cassette player;

c. an external microphone for detachably connecting to said audio input in said coupling unit.

2. The accessory of claim 1 wherein said coupling unit comprise a cradle adapted to receive and hold said mobile radio telephone.

3. The accessory of claim 2 wherein said coupling unit includes a cradle adapter which couples to said cradle, wherein said cradle and cradle adapter collectively include the coupling circuit.

4. The accessory of claim 1 wherein said coupling unit includes an auxiliary input for an audio device such as a CD player and wherein said auxiliary input is connected to said audio output of said coupling unit.

5. The accessory of claim 4 wherein said coupling unit includes a switching circuit to selectively direct the output of said mobile radio telephone and said audio device to said cassette adapter.

6. The accessory of claim 1 wherein said coupling unit includes a data port which is electrically connected to said mobile radio telephone for inputting data which is transmitted by said mobile radio telephone.

7. The accessory according to claim 1 further including a detection circuit in said coupling unit for detecting the presence of said cassette adapter when the cassette adapter is connected to said coupling unit, and generating an enabling signal that is used by said mobile radio telephone to redirect the phone'"'"'s audio input and output to said coupling unit.

8. A mobile radio telephone system comprising:

a. a hand-held unit including a receiver and a transmitter and receiving voice and/or data signals via radio;

b. a detachable coupling unit adapted to couple to said mobile radio telephone, said coupling unit including a coupling circuit having an audio input and an audio output for electrically coupling to audio circuits contained in said mobile radio telephone;

c. a detachable cassette adapter for coupling to said audio output on said coupling unit and for transferring audio signals originating with said mobile radio telephone to a playback head in a cassette player, said cassette adapter including a connector for mating with said audio output on said coupling unit and a record head for contacting said playback head in said cassette player to apply said audio signals to said playback head in said cassette player; and

d. an external microphone for detachably connecting to said audio input in said coupling unit.

9. The accessory according to claim 8 further including a detection circuit in said coupling unit for detecting the presence of said cassette adapter when the cassette adapter is connected to said coupling unit, and generating an enabling signal that is used by said mobile radio telephone to redirect the phone'"'"'s audio input and output to said coupling unit.

10. The mobile radio telephone of claim 8 wherein said coupling unit includes a cradle adapted to receive and hold said mobile radio telephone.

11. The mobile radio telephone of claim 10 wherein said coupling unit includes a cradle adapter which couples to said cradle, wherein said cradle and cradle adapter collectively include the coupling circuit.

12. The mobile radio telephone of claim 8 wherein said coupling unit includes an auxiliary input for an audio device such as a CD player and wherein said auxiliary input is connected to said audio output of said coupling unit.

13. The mobile radio telephone of claim 12 wherein said coupling unit includes a switching circuit to selectively direct the output of said mobile radio telephone and said audio device to said cassette adapter.

14. The mobile radio telephone of claim 8 wherein said coupling unit includes a data port which is electrically connected to said mobile radio telephone for inputting data which is transmitted by said mobile radio telephone.