Hands-free kit for mobile radio-telephone handset

• US 7,477,922 B2
• Filed: 08/31/2001
• Issued: 01/13/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: We Though of It 1ST Limited
• Original Assignee: We Though of It 1ST Limited
• Inventors: Lewis, Marcus
• Primary Examiner(s): RAMPURIA, SHARAD K
• Application Number:
  US10/363,476
• Publication Number:
  US 20040033820A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,692 Days
• Field of Search: 4555691-5692, 4555751-5752, 455/575.9, 455/573, 455 411- 412, 455/90.3, 379/433.01, 379/430, 381/110
• US Class Current: 455/569.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/05 specially adapted for use on head, throat or breast
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6066 including a wireless connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0274 by switching on or off the equipment or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A hands-free kit for a mobile radio-telephone handset, the hands-free kit having an earpiece and an infra-red transmitter with the transmitter being able to relay audio signals from the handset to the earpiece. The earpiece includes an infra-red receiver for receiving audio signals from the transmitter. By positioning the transmitter in the line of sight of the earpiece receiver, audio signals may be relayed from the handset to the earpiece with the reduced likelihood of the earpiece becoming dislodged as the user moves his head.

Claims

1. A hands-free kit for a mobile radio-telephone handset, said hands-free kit comprising:

an earpiece for a user, said earpiece having an infra-red receiver;

a transmitter comprising means for directly relaying audio signals from the mobile radio-telephone handset to said earpiece when said earpiece is worn by the user, said infra-red receiver of said earpiece receiving said audio signals from said transmitter when said transmitter is also being worn or carried by, or attached to, the user; and

,

means for attaching, carrying or wearing said transmitter by the user on a front side of the user'"'"'s body and in a line of sight of said earpiece for direct transmission from said transmitter worn or carried by, or attached to, the user to said infra-red receiver of said earpiece, or for direct transmission from said transmitter to a forwards projecting portion of said earpiece having means for reflecting audio signals from, at least, a direction of said transmitter towards said infra-red receiver, wherein the means for reflecting audio signals includes a parabolic concave mirror, said hands-free kit for the mobile-telephone handset being operable when said earpiece, said transmitter and said means for attaching, carrying or wearing said transmitter are all located exclusively on the user'"'"'s body.

2. The hands-free kit for a mobile radio-telephone handset according to claim 1, wherein said infra-red receiver comprises a plurality of photosensitive devices for receiving infra-red signals from different directions, including a direction leading from said transmitter.

3. The hands-free kit for a mobile radio-telephone handset according to claim 1, wherein said transmitter communicates with the mobile-radio-telephone handset via a wireless connection.

4. The hands-free kit for a mobile radio-telephone handset according to claim 1, wherein said receiver is located at a distal end of a portion of said earpiece with said receiver projecting forward from an ear of the user.

5. The hands-free kit for a mobile radio-telephone handset according to claim 1, further comprising a microphone and means for connecting said microphone to the mobile radio-telephone handset.

6. The hands-free kit for a mobile radio-telephone handset according to claim 5, wherein said microphone comprises a part of an integrated unit also comprising a transmitter.

7. The hands-free kit for a mobile radio-telephone handset according to claim 5, wherein said transmitter communicates with the mobile radio-telephone handset via a wireless connection, and said microphone and said transmitter each communicate with the mobile radio-telephone handset via the same said wireless connection.

8. The hands-free kit for a mobile radio-telephone handset according to claim 1, wherein said transmitter comprises a rechargeable power Supply.

9. The hands-free kit for a mobile radio-telephone handset according to claim 1, wherein said earpiece comprises a rechargeable power supply.

10. The hands-free kit for a mobile radio-telephone handset according to claim 1, wherein said transmitter and said earpiece each have a rechargeable power supply.

11. The hands-free kit for a mobile radio-telephone handset according to claim 10, further comprising a holder for said earpiece and said transmitter by which said rechargeable power supply for each of said earpiece and said transmitter are able to be charged.

12. The hands-free kit for a mobile radio-telephone handset according to claim 11, wherein said holder comprises means for charging said earpiece and said transmitter directly from an external power supply.

13. The hands-free kit for a mobile radio-telephone handset according to claim 11, wherein said holder comprises a rechargeable power supply and means for charging said earpiece and said transmitter via said rechargeable power supply of said holder.

14. The hands-free kit for a mobile radio-telephone handset according to claim 11, wherein said holder includes means for preventing said earpiece from being charged independently of said transmitter.

15. The hands-free kit for a mobile radio-telephone handset according to claim 11, wherein said holder includes means for preventing said earpiece from being charged independently of said earpiece.

16. The hands-free kit for a mobile radio-telephone handset according to claim 11, wherein said holder includes means for visibly indicating a state of charge for said holder.

17. The hands-free kit for a mobile radio-telephone handset according to claim 11, wherein said holder includes means for visibly indicating a state of charge for at least one of said transmitter and said earpiece.

18. The hands-free kit for a mobile radio-telephone handset according to claim 17, wherein said means for visibly indicating a state of charge includes a light.

19. The hands-free kit for a mobile radio-telephone handset according to claim 18, wherein said light is constantly illuminated, extinguished or illuminated intermittently for indicating different states of charge.

20. The hands-free kit for a mobile radio-telephone handset according to claim 8, wherein said transmitter includes means for visibly indicating a state of charge.

21. The hands-free kit for a mobile radio-telephone handset according to claim 20, wherein said means for visibly indicating a state of charge includes a light.

22. The hands-free kit for a mobile radio-telephone handset according to claim 21, wherein said light is constantly illuminated, extinguished or illuminated intermittently for indicating different states of charge.

23. The hands-free kit for a mobile radio-telephone handset according to claim 20, further comprising a holder for said transmitter by which said rechargeable power supply for said transmitter is able to be charged, said holder comprising a lidded case having a portion of which is at least partially transparent and through which said means for visibly indicating a state of charge for said transmitter is able to be viewed.

24. The hands-free kit for a mobile radio-telephone handset according to claim 9, wherein said earpiece includes means for visibly indicating a state of charge.

25. The hands-free kit for a mobile radio-telephone handset according to claim 24, wherein said means for visibly indicating a state of charge includes a light.

26. The hands-free kit for a mobile radio-telephone handset according to claim 25, wherein said light is constantly illuminated, extinguished or illuminated intermittently for indicating different states of charge.

27. The hands-free kit for a mobile radio-telephone handset according to claim 24, further comprising a holder for said earpiece by which said rechargeable power supply for said earpiece is able to be charged, said holder comprising a lidded case having a portion of which is at least partially transparent and through which said means for visibly indicating a state of charge for said earpiece is able to be viewed.

28. The hands-free kit for a mobile radio-telephone handset according to claim 9, wherein said earpiece emits an audible warning signal for indicating where a power supply of at least one of said transmitter and said earpiece is nearing exhaustion.

29. The hands-free kit for a mobile radio-telephone handset according to claim 28, wherein said audible warning signal comprises a periodic signal that increases in frequency as said power supply of at least one of said earpiece and said transmitter is exhausted.

30. The hands-free kit for a mobile radio-telephone handset according to claim 1, wherein said audio signals transmitted from said transmitter to said infix-red receiver are encrypted.

31. The hands-free kit for a mobile radio-telephone handset according to claim 1, wherein said transmitter transmits an identification signal for identifying said transmitter to said earpiece.

32. The hands-free kit for a mobile radio-telephone handset according to claim 31, wherein said identification signal is a unique signal.

33. The hands-free kit for a mobile radio-telephone handset according to claim 31, wherein said identification signal is chosen on a random basis from one of a plurality of possible identification signals.

34. The hands-free kit for a mobile radio-telephone handset according to claim 31, wherein said transmitter and said infra-red receiver are pre-programmed for operating a particular said identification signal.

35. The hands-free kit for a mobile radio-telephone handset according to claim 31, wherein said identification signal is communicated from said transmitter to said infra-red receiver.

36. The hands-he kit for a mobile radio-telephone handset according to claim 35, wherein said identification signal is generated by said transmitter.

37. The hands-free kit for a mobile radio-telephone handset according to claim 36, wherein said identification signal is derived from an identification code of the mobile radio-telephone handset with which said hands-free kit is to be used.

38. The hands-free kit for a mobile radio-telephone handset according to claim 37, wherein said identification code is a telephone number.

39. The hands-free kit for a mobile radio-telephone handset according to claim 36, wherein said identification signal is chosen on a random basis.

40. The hands-free kit for a mobile radio-telephone handset according to claim 39, wherein a new identification signal, chosen on a random basis, is communicated to said earpiece on a periodic basis.

41. The hands-free kit for a mobile radio-telephone handset according to claim 31, wherein said earpiece responds to an invalid said identification signal by emitting an audible warning signal.

42. The hands-free kit for a mobile radio-telephone handset according to claim 31, wherein said transmitter periodically transmits said identification signal within a stream of said audio signals.

43. The hands-free kit for a mobile radio-telephone handset according to claim 42, wherein said earpiece provides an audible alarm signal if a valid said identification signal is not received within a predetermined period of time.

44. The hands-free kit for a mobile radio-telephone handset according to claim 1, wherein said earpiece operates for periods in a standby mode with at least one function of said earpiece is disabled for conserving electrical power.

45. The hands-free kit for a mobile radio-telephone handset according to claim 44, wherein said earpiece enters said standby mode when a received audio signal is absent.

46. The hands-free kit for a mobile radio-telephone handset according to claim 44, wherein said transmitter transmits an identification signal for identifying said transmitter to said earpiece with said earpiece entering said standby if a valid said identification signal is not received.

47. The hands-free kit for a mobile radio-telephone handset according to claim 44, wherein said at least one function having been disabled is restored in response to a received audio signal.

48. The hands-free kit for a mobile radio-telephone handset according to claim 47, wherein said at least one function having been disabled is only restored if said received audio signal comprises a valid said identification signal.

49. The hands-free kit for a mobile radio-telephone handset according to claim 44, wherein entry into said standby mode is immediate.

50. The hands-free kit for a mobile radio-telephone handset according to claim 44, wherein entry into said standby mode is delayed.

51. The hands-free kit for a mobile radio-telephone handset according to claim 1, wherein said transmitter operates for periods in a standby mode with at least one function of said transmitter being disabled for conserving electrical power in an absence of said audio signals from the mobile radio-telephone handset.

52. The hands-free kit for a mobile radio-telephone handset according to claim 1, further comprising:

an additional infra-red receiver positioned adjacent said transmitter; and

,

means for varying intensity of infra-red light emitted by said transmitter according to an amount of infra-red light received by said additional infra-red receiver.

53. The hands-free kit for a mobile radio-telephone handset according to claim 1, wherein said hands-free kit includes a set-up mode in which said transmitter emits a light signal of substantially constant amplitude and said earpiece emits a periodic audible signal having a periodicity varying according to an amount of light received from said transmitter as positioning of said transmitter is adjusted by a user.

54. The hands-free kit for a mobile radio-telephone handset according to claim 1, wherein said means for attaching, carrying or wearing said transmitter by the user in a line of sight of said earpiece is capable of being worn by the user at the user'"'"'s breast.

55. A method for using a hands-free kit for a mobile radiotelephone handset, said hands-free kit comprising:

an earpiece for a user, said earpiece having an infra-red receiver;

a transmitter comprising means for relaying audio signals from the mobile radio-telephone handset to said earpiece, said infra-red receiver of said earpiece receiving said audio signals; and

,

means for attaching, carrying or wearing said transmitter by the user on a front side of the user'"'"'s body and in a line of sight of said earpiece,

said method for comprising the steps of;

wearing said earpiece by the user;

carrying or wearing said transmitter by the user on the front side of the user'"'"'s body and in said line of sight of said earpiece;

directly transmitting the audio signals from said transmitter, when said transmitter is worn or carried by, or attached to, the user, and in a line of sight of said infra-red receiver, to said infra-red receiver of said earpiece worn by the user, or directly transmitting the audio signals from said transmitter to a forwards projecting portion of said earpiece having means for reflecting audio signals from, at least, a direction of said transmitter towards said infra-red receiver, wherein the means for reflecting audio signals includes a parabolic concave mirror; and

operating said hands-free kit for the mobile-telephone handset by the user when said earpiece, said transmitter and said means for attaching, carrying or wearing said transmitter are all located exclusively on the user'"'"'s body.

56. The method for using a hands-free kit for a mobile radio-telephone handset according to claim 55, wherein said step of carrying or wearing said transmitter by the user in said line of sight of said earpiece is carried out by the user wearing said transmitter at the user'"'"'s breast.

57. A hands-free kit for a mobile radio-telephone handset, said hands-free kit comprising:

an earpiece for a user, said earpiece having an infra-red receiver;

a transmitter comprising means for directly relaying audio signals from the mobile radio-telephone handset to said earpiece when said earpiece is worn by the user, said transmitter further including means for encoding said audio signals using at least one encryption algorithm, said infra-red receiver of said earpiece receiving said audio signals from said transmitter when said transmitter is also being worn or carried by, or attached to, the user, said infra-red receiver including means for decoding said audio signals so encoded by said transmitter; and

,

means for attaching, carrying or wearing said transmitter by the user on a front side of the user'"'"'s body and in a line of sight of said earpiece for direct transmission from said transmitter worn or carried by, or attached to, the user to said earpiece, or for direct transmission to a forwards projecting portion of said earpiece, the forward, projecting portion having a parabolic concave mirror for reflecting audio signals from, at least, a direction of said transmitter towards said infrared receiver, said hands-free kit for the mobile-telephone handset being operable when said earpiece, said transmitter and said means for attaching, carrying or wearing said transmitter are all located exclusively on the user'"'"'s body.

58. The hands-free kit for a mobile radio-telephone handset according to claim 57, wherein said means for encoding said audio signals and means for decoding said audio signals use one of a plurality of encryption algorithms chosen on a random basis.

59. The hands-free kit for a mobile radio-telephone handset according to claim 57, wherein said transmitter and said infra-red receiver are pre-programmed with an encryption key.

60. The hands-free kit for a mobile radio-telephone handset according to claim 59, wherein said encryption key is transmitted from said transmitter to said infra-red receiver.

61. The hands-free kit for a mobile radio-telephone handset according to claim 60, wherein said encryption key is generated by said transmitter.

62. The hands-free kit for a mobile radio-telephone handset according to claim 61, wherein said encryption key is derived from an identification code of said hands-free kit being used.

63. The hands-free kit for a mobile radio-telephone handset according to claim 62, wherein said identification code is a telephone number.

64. The hands-free kit for a mobile radio-telephone handset according to claim 62, wherein said encryption key is chosen on a random basis.

65. The hands-free kit for a mobile radio-telephone handset according to claim 64, wherein a new encryption key, chosen on a random basis, is transmitted to said infra-red receiver on a periodic basis.