Personal, self-programming, short-range transceiver system
First Claim
1. A method, comprising:
- inserting an earphone into a base unit thereby electrically coupling the earphone to the base unit through a plurality of contacts;
scanning a band for an open channel with the base unit;
locking the earphone to the open channel;
separating the earphone from the base unit;
transmitting a signal from the base unit to the earphone on the open channel; and
inserting another earphone into the base unit.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for establishing a communication link between a transmitter and a receiver for the purpose of relaying audio material derived from an existing source to a user desiring to remain unencumbered by the source apparatus comprises the steps of: placing the receiver unit into physical contact with the transmitter unit, powering up both transmitter and receiver units, and waiting for an indication of process completion before setting the receiver unit in place. The transmitter unit searches for a free rf communication channel, initiates transmission of user-chosen audio material over permitted broadcast bands, and programs the receiver unit with information allowing it to receive on the same channel. The receiver unit is lightweight, worn in the outer canal of the ear or on the head in the conventional manner. The entire programming and transmission process takes place automatically without further user intervention. This method allows multiple users in proximity to receive their individually chosen source material or to enjoy a common transmission.
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Citations
37 Claims
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1. A method, comprising:
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inserting an earphone into a base unit thereby electrically coupling the earphone to the base unit through a plurality of contacts;
scanning a band for an open channel with the base unit;
locking the earphone to the open channel;
separating the earphone from the base unit;
transmitting a signal from the base unit to the earphone on the open channel; and
inserting another earphone into the base unit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An apparatus, comprising:
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a base unit including a power supply, a battery charger coupled to the power supply, a receptacle coupled to the battery charger, the receptacle having contacts, a shared frequency synthesizer, a transmit-receive switch coupled to the shared frequency synthesizer, a scanner having a scan controller coupled to the transmit-receive switch and a channel detector coupled to the scan controller, a programmer coupled to the scanner, a transmitter having a modulator coupled to the transmit-receive switch and an amplifier coupled to the modulator, an audio-in signal connector coupled to the modulator, and an antenna coupled to the amplifier and the channel detector; and
an earphone including a latch, a transmit-receive switch coupled to the latch, a receiver coupled to the transmit-receive switch, and an amplifier coupled to the receiver, the earphone adapted to a) be inserted into the receptacle of the base unit and b) make electrical contact with the contacts of the receptacle, wherein the base unit includes another receptacle and, further comprising, another earphone. - View Dependent Claims (17, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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18. An apparatus, comprising:
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a base unit including a power supply, a battery charger coupled to the power supply, a receptacle coupled to the battery charger, the receptacle having contacts, a shared frequency synthesizer, a transmit-receive switch coupled to the shared frequency synthesizer, a scanner having a scan controller coupled to the transmit-receive switch and a channel detector coupled to the scan controller, a programmer coupled to the scanner, a transmitter having a modulator coupled to the transmit-receive switch and an amplifier coupled to the modulator, an audio-in signal connector coupled to the modulator, and an antenna coupled to the amplifier and the channel detector; and
an earphone including a latch, a transmit-receive switch coupled to the latch, a receiver coupled to the transmit-receive switch, and an amplifier coupled to the receiver, the earphone adapted to a) be inserted into the receptacle of the base unit and b) make electrical contact with the contacts of the receptacle, wherein the base unit includes a secondary program control circuit that locks an additional earphone to a preselected channel. - View Dependent Claims (19)
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Specification