FM transmitter and power supply/charging assembly for MP3 player

• US 7,280,802 B2
• Filed: 07/08/2003
• Issued: 10/09/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Philips Electronics North America Corporation (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Netalog Incorporated
• Inventors: Grady, Jeff
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, THUAN T
• Application Number:
  US10/615,108
• Publication Number:
  US 20040058649A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,554 Days
• Field of Search: 455/3.01, 455/3.04, 455/3.05, 455/3.06, 455/414.1, 455/41.2, 455/500, 455/91, 455/95, 455/99, 455/100, 455/161.1, 455/346, 455/343.1, 455/74, 455/93, 455/569.1, 455/569.2
• US Class Current: 455/42
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/03 Constructional details, e.g. casings, housings
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2205/021 Aspects relating to docking-station type assemblies to obtain an acoustical effect, e.g. the type of connection to external loudspeakers or housings, frequency improvement

Abstract

An FM transmitter and power supply/charging assembly electrically coupleable with an MP3 player. The assembly includes a modular docking unit having a main body portion with a docking cavity therein, wherein the main body portion contains the FM transmitter and power/charging circuitry, with coupling means in the docking cavity for connecting the MP3 player with the FM transmitter and power/charging circuitry, to accommodate FM transmission by the FM transmitter of audio content when played by the MP3 player in the docking cavity of the modular docking unit, and adapted for transmitting electrical power through the modular docking unit and the power/charging circuitry therein, for charging of a battery of the MP3 player and/or powering of the MP3 player.

Claims

1. An FM transmitter and power supply/charging assembly electrically coupleable with an MP3 player, said assembly comprising a modular docking unit having a main body portion with a docking cavity therein, with retention means for retaining the MP3 player in position in the cavity, wherein the main body portion contains said FM transmitter and power/charging circuitry, with coupling means in the docking cavity for connecting the MP3 player with the FM transmitter and power/charging circuitry, to accommodate FM transmission by said FM transmitter of audio content when played by said MP3 player in the docking cavity of the modular docking unit, and with means for transmitting electrical power through said modular docking unit and said power/charging circuitry therein, for charging of a battery of the MP3 player and/or powering of the MP3 player.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the coupling means in the docking cavity comprises a firewire coupling.

3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the modular docking unit comprises at least one indicator light indicative of the operational state of the unit.

4. The assembly of claim 3, wherein the indicator light indicates the “

ON”

or “

OFF”

state of the unit.

5. The assembly of claim 3, wherein the indicator light indicates the charging status of a battery in an MP3 player docked in the cavity of the modular docking unit.

6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the modular docking unit comprises a housing formed of polymeric material.

7. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the FM transmitter has a transmission range of up to about 6 feet.

8. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the FM transmitter produces an output frequency audio signal in a range of from about 85 to about 95 Megahertz.

9. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said FM transmitter produces a single output frequency signal.

10. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said FM transmitter produces a variable output frequency signal.

11. The assembly of claim 1, which is constructed and arranged to dock with an iPOD™

MP3 player.

12. A sound system including an FM transmitter and power supply/charging assembly as in claim 1, and an MP3 player docked in the docking cavity of the modular docking unit of said assembly.

13. The sound system of claim 12, wherein the MP3 player comprises an iPOD™

MP3 player.

14. The sound system of claim 12, arranged for transmission of music to a table-type FM receiver.

15. The sound system of claim 12, arranged for transmission of music to a vehicular FM receiver for outputting of sound from vehicular audio speakers.

16. The sound system of claim 12, wherein the MP3 player includes a firewire port.

17. The sound system of claim 12, wherein the FM transmitter has a transmission range of up to about 6 feet.

18. The sound system of claim 12, wherein the FM transmitter produces an output frequency audio signal in a range of from about 85 to about 95 Megahertz.

19. The sound system of claim 12, wherein the FM transmitter produces an output variable frequency audio signal.

20. An MP3 player accessory kit, comprising an FM transmitter and power supply/charging assembly as in claim 1, and at least one power adaptor/charger for said FM transmitter and power supply/charging assembly.

21. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the retention means comprise side rails on said main body portion, bounding said cavity.

22. The assembly of claim 21, wherein the retention means further comprise lateral tabs extending inwardly from said side rails.

23. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the retention means comprise a retractable shelf member mounted on said main body portion.

24. The assembly of claim 23, wherein the retractable shelf member is arranged for manual actuation by a digit of a user.

25. The assembly of claim 23, wherein the retractable shelf member is positioned at a first end of the cavity and said coupling means are positioned in the cavity at a second opposite end of the cavity.

26. The assembly of claim 1, wherein said coupling means comprise a dock connector that is matably engagable with a connector of the MP3 player adapted for coupling with any of a firewire coupling and a USB coupling.

27. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising a frequency indicator on the main body portion.

28. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising a frequency tuning control on the main body portion.

29. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the main body portion has a generally rectangular shape.

30. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising a headphones jack on the main body portion and coupled to said circuitry.

31. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the main body portion includes a housing comprising a plurality of parts.

32. The assembly of claim 31, wherein the at least two parts of the plurality of parts are removably coupled together.

33. The assembly of claim 1, wherein any of the FM transmitter and power/charging circuitry is disposed entirely within the main body portion.

34. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the means for transmitting electrical power comprises a plug connector engageable with a cigarette lighter socket of a motor vehicle.

35. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the power/charging circuitry comprises at least one conductive electrical circuit element.

36. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one electrical circuit element comprises any of an electrical contact and a power cord.

37. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the power/charging circuitry is adapted to power and/or charge the MP3 player.

38. The assembly of claim 1, further comprising an adjustable mounting element adapted to maintain the docking assembly in any of a plurality of spatial positions, wherein the mounting element is affixed to a plug connector engageable with a cigarette lighter socket of a motor vehicle.

39. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the MP3 player comprises a storage medium adapted to receive and store digital media files.

40. The assembly of claim 1 wherein the transmitter has selectively adjustable digital frequency tuning and the assembly further comprises a digital frequency indicator display for displaying the transmission frequency.

41. A radio frequency transmitter and power supply/charging assembly electrically coupleable with an MP3 player, said assembly comprising:

a main body portion defining a cavity for receiving the MP3 player, and having an associated radio frequency transmitter and power/charging circuitry;

coupling means disposed in the cavity for connecting the MP3 player with the radio frequency transmitter and power/charging circuitry when the MP3 player is received by the cavity, to accommodate radio frequency transmission by said radio frequency transmitter of audio content when played by said MP3 player; and

means for transmitting electrical power through said power/charging circuitry and said coupling means, for charging of a battery of the MP3 player and/or powering of the MP3 player.

42. The assembly of claim 41, wherein the radio frequency transmitter produces an output frequency audio signal in a range of from about 85 to about 95 Megahertz.

43. The assembly of claim 41, wherein the radio frequency transmitter produces a single frequency modulated output frequency signal.

44. The assembly of claim 41, wherein the radio frequency transmitter produces a variable output frequency signal.

45. The assembly of claim 41, wherein the means for transmitting electrical power through said power/charging circuitry, and said coupling means comprises a plug connector engageable with a cigarette lighter socket of a motor vehicle.

46. The assembly of claim 41, wherein the main body portion comprises a plurality of parts.

47. The assembly of claim 46, wherein at least two parts of the plurality of parts are removably coupled together.

48. The assembly of claim 41, wherein any of the radio frequency transmitter and power/charging circuitry is disposed entirely within the main body portion.

49. The assembly of claim 41, wherein the power/charging circuitry comprises at least one conductive electrical circuit element.

50. The assembly of claim 41, further comprising an adjustable mounting element adapted to maintain the main body portion in any of a plurality of spatial positions, wherein the mounting element is affixed to a plug connector engageable with a cigarette lighter socket of a motor vehicle.

51. The assembly of claim 41 wherein the MP3 player comprises a storage medium adapted to receive and store digital media files.

52. The assembly of claim 41 wherein the radio frequency transmitter has selectively adjustable digital frequency tuning and the assembly further comprises a digital frequency indicator display for displaying the transmission frequency.

53. The assembly of claim 41 wherein the coupling means comprises any of a firewire coupling and a USB coupling.

54. An FM transmitter and power supply/charging assembly electrically coupleable with an MP3 player, said assembly comprising an FM transmitter and power/charging circuitry, a docking unit defining a docking cavity therein for receiving an MP3 player, and an electrical coupling disposed in the docking cavity and electrically coupleable with the MP3 player when the MP3 player is received by the docking cavity, wherein the docking unit is constructed and arranged for connecting the MP3 player with said FM transmitter and power/charging circuitry, to accommodate FM transmission by said FM transmitter of audio content when played by said MP3 player in the docking cavity of the docking unit, and with means for transmitting electrical power through said power/charging circuitry, for charging of a battery of the MP3 player and/or powering of the MP3 player.

55. The assembly of claim 54, wherein the means for transmitting electrical power comprises a plug connector engageable with a cigarette lighter socket of a motor vehicle.

56. The assembly of claim 54, wherein the means for transmitting electrical power comprises an AC charger.

57. The assembly of claim 54, wherein the power/charging circuitry comprises at least one conductive electrical circuit element.

58. The assembly of claim 57, wherein the at least one electrical circuit element comprises any of an electrical contact and a power cord.

59. The assembly of claim 54, further comprising an adjustable mounting element adapted to maintain the docking unit in any of a plurality of spatial positions, wherein the mounting element is affixed to a plug connector engageable with a cigarette lighter socket of a motor vehicle.

60. The assembly of claim 54 wherein the MP3 player comprises a storage medium adapted to receive and store digital media files.

61. The assembly of claim 54 wherein the FM transmitter has selectively adjustable digital frequency tuning and the assembly further comprises a digital frequency indicator display for displaying the transmission frequency.

62. The assembly of claim 54 wherein the electrical coupling comprises any of a firewire coupling and a USB coupling.

63. An FM transmitter and power supply/charging assembly electrically coupleable with an MP3 player, said assembly comprising an FM transmitter and power/charging circuitry, a docking unit defining a docking cavity therein for receiving an MP3 player, and an electrical coupling disposed in the docking cavity and electrically coupleable with the MP3 player when the MP3 player is received by the docking cavity, wherein the docking unit is constructed and arranged for connecting the MP3 player with said FM transmitter and power/charging, circuitry, to accommodate FM transmission by said FM transmitter of audio content when played by said MP3 player in the docking cavity of the docking unit, and with means for transmitting electrical power through said power/charging circuitry, for charging of a battery of the MP3 player and/or powering of the MP3 player.

64. The assembly of claim 63, further comprising an electrical coupling disposed in the docking cavity and electrically coupleable with the MP3 player.

65. The assembly of claim 64 wherein each of the FM transmitter and the at least one power/charging circuit element is in electrical communication with the electrical coupling.

66. The assembly of claim 63 wherein the MP3 player comprises a storage medium adapted to receive and store digital media files.

67. The assembly of claim 63 wherein the FM transmitter has selectively adjustable digital frequency tuning and the assembly further comprises a digital frequency indicator display for displaying the transmission frequency.

68. The assembly of claim 63 wherein the electrical coupling comprises any of a firewire coupling and a USB coupling.

69. An FM transmitter and power supply/charging assembly electrically coupleable with an MP3 player, said assembly comprising:

a body adapted to receive the MP3 player;

an electrical coupling affixed to the body to engage the MP3 player when the MP3 player is received by the body;

an FM transmitter connectable with said MP3 player for FM transmission of audio content played by said MP3 player; and

power/charging circuitry connectable with said MP3 player for transmission of electrical power therethrough to charge and/or power the MP3 player.

70. The assembly of claim 69, further comprising an adjustable mounting element adapted to maintain the MP3 player in any of a plurality of spatial positions, wherein the adjustable mounting element is affixed to a plug connector engageable with a cigarette lighter socket of a motor vehicle.

71. The assembly of claim 69 wherein the MP3 player comprises a storage medium adapted to receive and store digital media files.

72. The assembly of claim 69 wherein the FM transmitter has selectively adjustable digital frequency tuning and the assembly further comprises a digital frequency indicator display for displaying the transmission frequency.

73. The assembly of claim 69 wherein the electrical coupling comprises any of a firewire coupling and a USB coupling.