Combination cellular telephone radio receiver and recorder mechanism for vehicles

• US 6,131,042 A
• Filed: 05/04/1998
• Issued: 10/10/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Chang Lee
• Original Assignee: Chang Lee, Thao, Chao
• Inventors: Lee, Chang, Thao, Chao
• Primary Examiner(s): Bost, Dwayne D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Vuong, Quochien B.
• Application Number:
  US09/072,754
• Time in Patent Office: 890 Days
• Field of Search: 455/556, 455/99, 455/575, 455/345, 455/569, 455/90, 455/351, 455/557, 379/454, 379/455
• US Class Current: 455/556.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0205 for radio sets B60R11/0211 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0211 for record carriers apparatus, e.g. video recorders, tape players or CD players
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0217 for loud-speakers
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0241 for telephones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0247 for microphones or earphones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0264 for control means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0005 Dashboard
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/001 Vehicle control means, e.g. steering-wheel or column
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0014 Arm-rests
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0094 characterised by means for covering after user, e.g. boxes, shutters or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0288 Apparatus made of several modules independently mounted
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0294 Apparatus with multi-functionalities, e.g. radio and telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3805 with built-in auxiliary receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3822 specially adapted for use in vehicles H04B1/3827 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6083 by interfacing with the vehicle audio system

Abstract

A combination cellular telephone and radio receiver/tape player/recorder for vehicles includes a cellular telephone circuit and an AM/FM radio receiver including an antenna and loudspeaker. The cellular telephone is wired to the radio receiver for receiving and sending cellular telephone transmissions through the radio antenna and playing telephone messages through the loudspeaker. A dialing keypad is mounted on an armrest beside the driver'"'"'s seat. The keypad includes a cover and a motor operatively associated with the cover for retracting and replacing the cover so as to enclose the keypad. The tape player/recorder is used to record telephone messages being received or sent by the cellular telephone. An alphanumeric display provided as a component of the basic radio receiver/tape player/recorder is connected to display telephone numbers being called out or called in. A cellular telephone handset with the same telephone number allows passengers in other parts of the vehicle to talk on the telephone.

Claims

1. A combination cellular telephone and AM/FM radio receiver, tape player/recorder mechanism for a vehicle having a driver'"'"'s seat, comprising,

a cellular telephone devoid of a handset,

a radio receiver and tape player/recorder mechanism including an antenna and a loudspeaker,

said cellular telephone being wired to the radio receiver and tape player/recorder for receiving and sending cellular telephone transmission through said radio antenna and transmitting sound communication through said loudspeakers,

the cellular telephone being hardwired by direct wiring connection to the radio receiver and tape player/recorder and supported physically behind an interior surface of the vehicle,

a dialing keypad mounted upon an upper portion of an armrest positioned beside a driver'"'"'s seat within said vehicle that is connected to the cellular telephone for dialing a number being called,

function control selector switch means wired to the cellular telephone for controlling the operation of said cellular telephone,

a movable cover over the keypad, and

motive power means connected to the cover for automatically concealing the keypad while the cellular telephone is not in use,

hook switch means for turning off the cellular telephone that is operatively associated with the motive power means whereby when the cellular telephone is hung up, said cover is moved to a closed position over the keypad by the motive power means without attention of the user.

2. The combination cellular telephone and AM/FM radio receiver, tape player/recorder mechanism of claim 1 wherein said cellular telephone has a control module, the radio receiver includes an alphanumeric display, the telephone control module is operatively connected to the alphanumeric display for indicating a telephone number being called out or being called in, and the alphanumeric display is on a dashboard of said vehicle.

3. The combination cellular telephone and AM/FM radio receiver, tape player/recorder mechanism of claim 1 wherein said radio receiver is connected to a recording means, the recording means is operatively connected to the cellular telephone for recording incoming messages and the cellular telephone has a telephone memory board, the radio receiver has an alphanumeric display, and the alphanumeric display is connected to the telephone memory board for displaying a telephone number being called out or called in.

4. The combination cellular telephone and AM/FM radio receiver, tape player/recorder mechanism of claim 1 wherein the function control switch is contained within a cluster of switches on the steering wheel that is located adjacent the periphery of the steering wheel so as to be accessible to a driver without the driver removing his hands from the steering wheel and the cluster of switches is wired to the cellular telephone for controlling the operation thereof.

5. The combination cellular telephone and AM/FM radio receiver, tape player/recorder mechanism of claim 4 wherein said clusters of switches include at least two of the following:

a power switch for the telephone, a volume control for the telephone, a switch for forwarding or reversing a recorder device, and a telephone hook switch.

6. A combination cellular telephone and AM/FM radio receiver, tape player/recorder mechanism for a vehicle having a driver'"'"'s seat, comprising,

a cellular telephone devoid of a handset,

a radio receiver and tape player/recorder mechanism including an antenna and a loudspeaker,

said cellular telephone being wired to the radio receiver/tape player/recorder for receiving and sending cellular telephone transmissions through said radio antenna,

a dialing keypad mounted upon an upper portion of an armrest positioned beside a driver'"'"'s seat within said vehicle is connected to the telephone for dialing a number to be called,

said radio includes at least one speaker,

the cellular telephone is operatively connected to the speaker for transmitting audible messages received by the telephone through said speaker,

the cellular telephone being hardwired by direct wiring connection to the radio receiver and tape player/recorder and being unexposed in the vehicle,

function control selector switch means wired to the cellular telephone and located on a steering wheel adjacent the periphery of the steering wheel for controlling the operation of said cellular telephone,

motive power means connected to a keypad cover over and connected to said cellular telephone to move the cover to a closed position over the keypad to automatically conceal the keypad without the attention of the user when the cellular telephone is not in use,

the recorder is operatively connected to the cellular telephone for recording incoming messages and messages to be transmitted by the telephone,

the cellular telephone has a telephone memory,

the radio receiver has an alphanumeric display, and

the alphanumeric display is connected to the telephone memory for displaying a telephone number being called out or called in.

7. The combination cellular telephone and AM/FM radio receiver, tape player/recorder mechanism of claim 6 wherein an earphone is connected to the cellular telephone and a selector switch is connected for actuating either the operation of the speaker or the earphone.

8. The combination cellular telephone and AM/FM radio receiver, tape player/recorder mechanism of claim 7 wherein the earphone is on a retractable cord.

9. The combination cellular telephone and AM/FM radio receiver, tape player/recorder mechanism of claim 6 wherein there are provided two clusters of switches, one at the 3 o'"'"'clock position on the steering wheel and one at the 9 o'"'"'clock position on the steering wheel so as to be accessible to a driver without the driver removing his hands from the steering wheel.

10. A combination cellular telephone and AM/FM radio receiver, player mechanism for a vehicle having a driver'"'"'s seat, comprising,

a cellular telephone which is not a handset,

a radio receiver and player mechanism including an antenna and a loudspeaker,

said cellular telephone being wired to the radio receiver and player mechanism for receiving and sending cellular telephone transmission through said radio antenna and transmitting sound communication through said loudspeakers,

the cellular telephone being hardwired by direct wiring connection to the radio receiver and player mechanism and supported physically behind an interior surface of the vehicle,

a dialing keypad mounted upon an interior part of a vehicle and connected to the cellular telephone for dialing a number being called,

function control selector switch means wired to the cellular telephone for controlling the operation of said cellular telephone,

a movable means for concealing the keypad, and

motive power means connected to the movable means for imparting motion thereto, and

switch means operatively associated with the motive power means for enabling the movable means to conceal the keypad by the motive power means when the cellular telephone is not in use.

11. The combination cellular telephone and AM/FM radio receiver, player mechanism of claim 10 wherein the function control switch is contained within a cluster of switches on the steering wheel that is located adjacent the periphery of the steering wheel so as to be accessible to a driver without the driver removing his hands from the steering wheel and the cluster of switches is wired to the cellular telephone for controlling the operation thereof.

12. The combination cellular telephone and AM/FM radio receiver, player mechanism of claim 11 wherein said clusters of switches include at least two of the following:

a power switch for the telephone, a volume control for the telephone, and a telephone hook switch.

13. The combination cellular telephone and AM/FM radio receiver, player mechanism of claim 11 wherein there are two of said clusters of switches, one at the 3 o'"'"'clock position on the steering wheel and one at the 9 o'"'"'clock position on the steering wheel so as to be accessible to a driver without the driver removing his hands from the steering wheel.

14. The combination cellular telephone and AM/FM radio receiver, player mechanism of claim 10 wherein an earphone is connected to the cellular telephone and a selector switch is connected for actuating either the operation of the speaker or the earphone.