Radio communication apparatus having a hands-free communication mode

• US 6,108,567 A
• Filed: 05/29/1998
• Issued: 08/22/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Hosonuma, Yoshimasa
• Primary Examiner(s): Bost, Dwayne D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEGREE, TRACY MICHELLE
• Application Number:
  US09/087,641
• Time in Patent Office: 816 Days
• Field of Search: 455/569, 455/570, 455/550, 455/345, 455/99, 455/575, 455/90, 455/563, 455/232.1, 455/253.2, 379/420, 379/432, 379/388, 704/224, 704/225
• US Class Current: 455/569.2
• 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 communication apparatus of the present invention has a hands-free communication capability and is applicable to, but not limited to, a motor vehicle. Only if the apparatus is connected to, e.g., an on-board cigar-lighter, hands-free communication can be held. This eliminates the need for a hands-free unit, an outside microphone and other extra parts conventionally mounted on the vehicle to implement a hands-free feature.

Claims

1. A radio communication apparatus comprising:

recognizing means for recognizing power input from an outside power source to said radio communication apparatus; and

control means for automatically setting up a hands-free communication mode when said recognizing means recognizes the power input from the outside power source, said hands-free mode being a mode in which an amplification level is adjusted based on one of a received speech level and a transmitted speech level.

2. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising setting means for setting up a function of automatically answering a call incoming when said recognizing means recognizes the power input from the outside power source.

3. An apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said control means and said setting means are set by a user of said apparatus beforehand.

4. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said recognizing means comprises a D/D converter.

5. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said control means and said setting means are set by a user of said apparatus beforehand.

6. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said recognizing means recognizes that said apparatus is connected to an on-board cigar-lighter by a cable.

7. An apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said apparatus comprises a portable telephone.

8. A radio communication apparatus comprising:

recognizing means for recognizing power input from an outside power source to said radio communication apparatus;

amplifying means for amplifying a speech;

outputting means for outputting a speech level amplified by said amplifying means;

control means for controlling a speech amplification degree of said amplifying means on the basis of the speech level when said recognizing means recognizes the power input from the outside power source; and

setting means for setting up a function of automatically answering a call incoming when said recognizing means recognizes the power input from the outside power source.

9. An apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein said outputting means comprises an analog-to-digital converter.

10. An apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein said recognizing means comprises a D/D converter.

11. An apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein said control means and said setting means are set by a user of said apparatus beforehand.

12. An apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein said recognizing means recognizes that said apparatus is connected to an on-board cigar-lighter by a cable.

13. An apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein said apparatus comprises a portable telephone.

14. A radio communication apparatus comprising:

recognizing means for recognizing power input from an outside power source to said radio communication apparatus;

first amplifying means for amplifying a received speech;

second amplifying means for amplifying a speech to be transmitted;

first outputting means for outputting a receipt speech level amplified by said first amplifying means;

second outputting means for outputting a transmission speech level amplified by said second amplifying means;

control means for reducing, after said recognizing means has recognized the power input from the outside power source, a speech amplification degree of said second amplifying means relatively when the receipt speech level rises, said control means further for reducing, after said recognizing means has recognized the power input from the outside power source, a speech amplification degree of said first amplifying means relatively when the transmission speech level rises; and

setting means for setting up a function of automatically answering a call incoming when said recognizing means recognizes the power input from the outside power source.

15. An apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein said first outputting means and said second outputting means each comprises an analog-to-digital converter.

16. An apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein said recognizing means comprises a D/D converter.

17. An apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein said control means and said setting means are set by a user of said apparatus beforehand.

18. An apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein said recognizing means recognizes that said apparatus is connected to an on-board cigar-lighter by a cable.

19. An apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein said apparatus comprises a portable telephone.

20. A radio communication apparatus comprising:

recognizing means for recognizing power input from an outside power source to said radio communication apparatus;

first amplifying means for amplifying a speech;

second amplifying means for amplifying a speech with a higher amplification degree than said first amplifying means;

decision means for determining whether a speech is output;

control means for causing, when said recognizing means recognizes the power input from the outside power source, said second amplifying means to control a speech amplifying degree on the basis of a result of said decision means and based on a speech level of said speech being output; and

setting means for setting up a function of automatically answering a call incoming when said recognizing means recognizes the power input from the outside power source.

21. An apparatus as claimed in claim 20, wherein said recognizing means comprises a D/D converter.

22. An apparatus as claimed in claim 20, wherein said control means and said setting means are set by a user of said apparatus beforehand.

23. An apparatus as claimed in claim 20, wherein said recognizing means recognizes that said apparatus is connected to an on-board cigar-lighter by a cable.

24. An apparatus as claimed in claim 20, wherein said apparatus comprises a portable telephone.

25. A radio communication apparatus comprising:

recognizing means for recognizing power input from an outside power source to said radio communication apparatus;

first amplifying means for amplifying a received speech;

second amplifying means for amplifying a speech to be transmitted;

third amplifying means for amplifying the received speech with a higher amplification degree than said first amplifying means;

fourth amplifying means for amplifying the speech to be transmitted with a higher amplification degree than said second amplifying means;

decision means for determining whether a received speech is output;

control means for causing, after said recognizing means has recognized the power input from the outside power source, said first amplifying means and said third amplifying means to amplify the received speech when said decision means determines that said received speech is output, said control means further for causing, after said recognizing means has recognized the power input from the outside power source, said second amplifying means and said fourth amplifying means to amplify the speech to be transmitted when said decision means determines that a received speech is not output; and

setting means for setting up a function of automatically answering a call incoming when said recognizing means recognizes the power input from the outside power source.

26. An apparatus as claimed in claim 25, wherein said decision means determines whether the speech to be transmitted is output.

27. An apparatus as claimed in claim 25, wherein said recognizing means comprises a D/D converter.

28. An apparatus as claimed in claim 25, wherein said control means and said setting means are set by a user of said apparatus beforehand.

29. An apparatus as claimed in claim 25, wherein said recognizing means recognizes that said apparatus is connected to an on-board cigar-lighter by a cable.

30. An apparatus as claimed in claim 25, wherein said apparatus comprises a portable telephone.

31. A communication method for a radio communication apparatus, comprising:

recognizing whether power is input from an outside power source to said radio communication apparatus;

setting up a hands-free communication mode;

setting up a function of automatically answering a call incoming;

detecting a speech level amplified by an amplifying circuit; and

controlling an amplification degree of said amplifying circuit on the basis of the speech level when said radio communication apparatus is in said hands-free communication mode.

32. A method as claimed in claim 31, wherein said radio communication apparatus comprises a portable telephone.

33. A communication method for a radio communication apparatus, comprising:

recognizing whether power is input from an outside power source to said radio communication apparatus;

setting up a hands-free communication mode;

detecting a receipt speech level amplified by a receipt speech amplifying circuit;

detecting a transmission speech level amplified by a transmission speech amplifying circuit;

reducing the amplification degree of said transmission speech amplifying circuit relatively when the radio communication apparatus is in the hands-free communication mode and the receipt transmission speech level rises; and

reducing the amplification degree of said receipt speech amplifying circuit relatively when the radio communication apparatus is in the hands-free communication mode and the transmission speech level rises.

34. A method as claimed in claim 33, wherein said radio communication apparatus comprises a portable telephone.

35. A communication method for a radio communication apparatus, comprising:

recognizing whether power is input from an outside power source to said radio communication apparatus;

setting up a hands-free communication mode;

setting up a function of automatically answering a call incoming;

amplifying a speech with a first amplification degree;

amplifying a speech with a second amplification degree higher than said first amplification degree;

determining whether a speech is output; and

amplifying if a speech is output, said speech with said second amplification degree when said radio communication apparatus is in said hands-free communication mode, said amplifying being based on a speech level of said speech being output.

36. A method as claimed in claim 35, wherein said radio communication apparatus comprises a portable telephone.

37. A communication method for a radio communication apparatus, comprising:

recognizing whether power is input from an outside power source to said radio communication apparatus;

setting up a hands-free communication mode;

setting up a function of automatically answering a call incoming;

amplifying a received speech with a first amplification degree;

amplifying a speech to be transmitted with a second amplification degree;

amplifying the received speech with a third amplification degree higher than the first amplification degree;

amplifying the speech to be transmitted with a fourth amplification degree higher than the second amplification degree;

determining whether a received speech is output;

amplifying, if a received speech is output, said received speech with said first amplification degree and said third amplification degree; and

amplifying, if a received speech is not output, the speech to be transmitted with said second amplification degree and said fourth amplification degree.

38. A method as claimed in claim 37, further comprising determining whether a speech to be transmitted is output.

39. A method as claimed in claim 37, wherein said radio communication apparatus comprises a portable telephone.