Wireless transmitter for use in a vehicle

• US 7,315,729 B2
• Filed: 12/31/2003
• Issued: 01/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: VOXX International Corporation
• Original Assignee: VOXX International Corporation
• Inventors: Schedevy, George C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Feild; Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): DESIR, PIERRE LOUIS
• Application Number:
  US10/750,070
• Publication Number:
  US 20050143880A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,462 Days
• Field of Search: 455/20, 455/99, 725/75, 381/79, 381/86, 701/24, 709/219, 386/125, 348/837
• US Class Current: 455/99
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/02 for radio sets, television sets, telephones, or the like; Arrangement of controls thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0211 for record carriers apparatus, e.g. video recorders, tape players or CD players
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0054 using cigarette lighter

Abstract

A connecting device comprises a first power plug for connecting to a power output port of a vehicle, a second power plug for connecting to a power input port on an electronic device, at least one signal plug for connecting to at least one signal output port of the electronic device, wherein visual signals and audio signals are received by the connecting device through the at least one signal plug, and a wireless transmitter for wirelessly transmitting the visual signals and the audio signals to a receiver in the vehicle.

Claims

1. A connecting device, comprising:

a first power plug for connecting to a power output port of a vehicle;

a second power plug for connecting to a power input port on an electronic device;

at least one signal plug for connecting to at least one signal output port of the electronic device, wherein visual signals and audio signals are received by the connecting device through the at least one signal plug;

a wireless transmitter for wirelessly transmitting the visual signals and the audio signals to a receiver in the vehicle, wherein the visual signals include video;

a multiplexer for multiplexing the audio signals and the visual signals; and

a modulator having input connections to receive the visual and audio signals via and not via the multiplexer, wherein, when the modulator receives the visual and audio signals via the multiplexer, the modulator modulates the multiplexed visual signals and audio signals onto a predetermined frequency for wireless transmission at the predetermined frequency, and wherein, when the modulator receives the visual and audio signals not via the multiplexer, the modulator modulates the visual and the audio signals not transmitted via the multiplexer.

2. The connecting device as recited in claim 1, wherein power from the vehicle is supplied to the power input port of the electronic device via the first power plug and the second power plug.

3. The connecting device as recited in claim 1, wherein the electronic device is at least one of a digital video disc player, a video compact disc player, or an MP3 player.

4. The connecting device as recited in claim 1, wherein the visual signals and the audio signals are stored on at least one of a digital video disc, a video compact disc, or a computer file.

5. The connecting device as recited in claim 1, wherein the visual signals are synchronized with at least one of the audio signals or video signals.

6. The connecting device as recited in claim 1, further comprising a frequency selector for selecting the predetermined frequency.

7. The connecting device as recited in claim 6, wherein the receiver is tuned to the selected frequency.

8. The connecting device as recited in claim 1, wherein the receiver is a display unit coupled to an antenna of the vehicle.

9. The connecting device as recited in claim 1, wherein the receiver includes a display for displaying visual information derived from the visual signals transmitted by the wireless transmitter.

10. The connecting device as recited in claim 1, wherein the wireless transmitter includes a digital broadcast transmitter.

21. The connecting device as recited in claim 1, wherein the wireless transmitter includes a digital broadcast transmitter.

11. A connecting device, comprising:

a means for connecting to a power supply of a vehicle;

a first means for connecting to an electronic device, whereby power is supplied from the power supply to the electronic device;

a second means for connecting to the electronic device, whereby visual signals and audio signals from the electronic device are received by the connecting device;

a digital transmission means for wirelessly transmitting the visual signals and the audio signals to a receiver in the vehicle, wherein the visual signals include video;

a means for multiplexing the visual signals and the audio signals; and

a means for modulating the visual signals and the audio signals having input connections to receive the visual and audio signals via and not via the means for multiplexing, wherein, when the means for modulating receives the visual and audio signals via the means for multiplexing, the means for modulating modulates the multiplexed visual signals and audio signals onto a predetermined frequency for wireless transmission at the predetermined frequency, and wherein, when the means for modulating receives the visual and audio signals not via the means for multiplexing, the means for modulating modulates the visual and the audio signals not transmitted via the means for multiplexing.

12. The connecting device as recited in claim 11, wherein the electronic device is at least one of a digital video disc player, video compact disc player, or an MP3 player.

13. The connecting device as recited in claim 11, wherein the visual signals and the audio signals are stored on at least one or a digital video disc, a video compact disc, or a computer file.

14. The connecting device as recited in claim 11, wherein the visual signals are synchronized with at least one of the audio signals or video signals.

15. The connecting device as recited in claim 11, further comprising a means for selecting the predetermined frequency.

16. The connecting device as recited in claim 15, wherein the receiver is tuned to the selected frequency.

17. The connecting device as recited in claim 11, wherein the receiver is a display unit installed in the vehicle.

18. The connecting device as recited in claim 11, wherein the receiver includes a display for displaying visual information derived from the visual signals transmitted by the wireless transmitter.

19. The connecting device as recited in claim 11, wherein the transmission means includes a digital broadcast transmitter.

20. A wireless transmitter for use in a vehicle, comprising:

a connector for connecting to an output port of an electronic device, wherein the wireless transmitter receives audio signals and visual signals through the connector;

a multiplexer for multiplexing the audio signals and the visual signals; and

a modulator having input connections to receive the visual and audio signals via and not via the multiplexer, wherein, when the modulator receives the visual and audio signals via the multiplexer, the modulator modulates the multiplexed visual signals and audio signals onto a predetermined frequency for wireless transmission at the predetermined frequency, and wherein, when the modulator receives the visual and audio signals not via the multiplexer, the modulator modulates the visual and the audio signals not transmitted via the multiplexer; and

a digital broadcast transmitter for wirelessly transmitting the modulated audio signals and the visual signals to a receiver in the vehicle, wherein the visual signals include video.