Audio device integration system

• US 7,489,786 B2
• Filed: 12/11/2002
• Issued: 02/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Blitzsafe Texas, LLC (Ira Marlowe)
• Original Assignee: Ira Marlowe
• Inventors: Marlowe, Ira
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin; Vivian
• Assistant Examiner(s): KURR, JASON RICHARD
• Application Number:
  US10/316,961
• Publication Number:
  US 20030215102A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,253 Days
• Field of Search: 381/86, 307/9.1, 307/10.1, 340/825.25, 340/825.24, 700/94, 455/345, 455/346, 701/36, 710/303, 710/304
• US Class Current: 381/86
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 31/00 Arrangements for the associated working of recording or reproducing apparatus with related apparatus with cameras or projectors G03B31/00 ; recording/reproducing of music for electrophonic musical instruments G10H1/0033; automatic arrangements for answering calls or for recording messages for absent subscribers H04M1/64; telephonic communication systems adapted for combination with dictation recording and playback systems H04M11/10; connection of TV recorder with other related apparatus, e.g. TV camera or receiver, in which the TV signal is significantly involved H04N, e.g. H04N23/00, H04N5/765; combination of radio or TV with other apparatus, e.g. with vehicles H05K11/00
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 33/10 Indicating arrangements; Warning arrangements G11B15/04, G11B19/04, G11B27/34, G11B27/36 take precedence

Abstract

An audio device integration system is provided. One or more after-market audio devices, such as a CD player, CD changer, MP3 player, satellite receiver, DAB receiver, or the like, is integrated for use with an existing OEM or after-market car stereo system, wherein control commands can be issued at the car stereo and responsive data from the audio device can be displayed on the stereo. Control commands generated at the car stereo are received, processed, converted into a format recognizable by the audio device, and dispatched to the audio device for execution. Information from the audio device, including track, disc, song, station, time, and other information, is received, processed, converted into a format recognizable by the car stereo, and dispatched to the car stereo for display thereon. One or more auxiliary input sources can be integrated with the car stereo, and selected between using the controls of the car stereo. Both an audio device and one or more auxiliary input sources can be integrated together, and a user can select between the device or the one or more auxiliary input sources by issuing selection commands through the car stereo. A docking station is provided for docking a portable audio or video device for integration with the car stereo.

Claims

1. An audio device integration system comprising:

a first connector electrically connectable to a car stereo;

a second connector electrically connectable to an after-market audio device external to the car stereo;

a third connector electrically connectable to one or more auxiliary input sources external to the car stereo and the after-market audio device;

an interface connected between said first and second electrical connectors for channeling audio signals to the car stereo from the after-market audio device, said interface including a microcontroller in electrical communication with said first and second electrical connectors, said microcontroller pre-programmed to execute;

a first pre-programmed code portion for remotely controlling the after-market audio device using the car stereo by receiving a control command from the car stereo through said first connector in a format incompatible with the after-market audio device, processing the received control command into a formatted command compatible with the after-market audio device, and transmitting the formatted command to the after-market audio device through said second connector for execution by the after-market audio device;

a second pre-programmed code portion for receiving data from the after-market audio device through said second connector in a format incompatible with the car stereo, processing the received data into formatted data compatible with the car stereo, and transmitting the formatted data to the car stereo through said first connector for display by the car stereo; and

a third pre-programmed code portion for switching to one or more auxiliary input sources connected to said third electrical connector.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the car stereo further comprises an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) car stereo connected to said first electrical connector.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the car stereo further comprises an after-market car stereo connected to said first electrical connector.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the after-market audio device further comprises a CD player, CD changer, MP3 player, Digital Audio Broadcast (DAB) receiver, or satellite receiver connected to said second electrical connector.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said interface further comprises a plug-and-play mode for automatically detecting a device type of the after-market audio device connected to said second electrical connector and integrating the after-market audio device based upon the device type.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said interface generates a device presence signal for maintaining the car stereo in a state responsive to processed data and audio signals.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said second pre-programmed code portion processes data generated by the after-market audio device including track and time information.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said second pre-programmed code portion processes data generated by the after-market audio device including song title and artist information.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said second pre-programmed code portion processes data generated by the after-market audio device including channel number and channel name information.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said interface processes video information generated by the after-market audio device.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the formatted data is displayed as a menu on a display of the car stereo.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the display comprises a graphic panel.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein commands are input by a user using one or more control buttons or presets on the car stereo.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein audio signals from the one or more auxiliary input sources are selectively channeled to the car stereo by said interface.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a user can select between the one or more auxiliary input sources by depressing keys on the car stereo.

16. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a user can select one of the auxiliary input sources by entering a disc number at the car stereo.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a user can select one of the auxiliary input sources by entering a track number at the car stereo.

18. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a user can select one of the auxiliary input sources by entering both disc and track numbers at the car stereo.

19. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a user can select between the audio device and the one or more auxiliary input sources by entering a sequence at the car stereo.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the sequence comprises a track up selection followed by a track down selection.

21. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a second interface connected to said interface for providing a plurality of auxiliary input sources.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein both said interface and said second interface are controllable using the car stereo.

23. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a bus connection established between the after-market audio device and said interface.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the bus connection comprises a Universal Serial Bus (USB) connection.

29. The apparatus of claim 24, wherein the interface is switchable into an auxiliary input mode by issuing a control sequence at the car stereo.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the control sequence comprises a track up command followed by a track down command.

25. An audio device integration system comprising:

a first electrical connector connectable to a car stereo;

a plurality of auxiliary electrical connectors connectable to a plurality of auxiliary input sources;

an interface connected between said first electrical connector and said plurality of auxiliary electrical connectors for channeling audio from at least one of the plurality of auxiliary input sources to the car stereo, said interface including a microcontroller in electrical communication with said first electrical connector and said plurality of auxiliary electrical connectors, said microcontroller pre-programmed to execute;

a first pre-programmed code portion for remotely controlling at least one of the plurality of auxiliary input sources using the car stereo by receiving a control command from the car stereo through said first electrical connector in a format incompatible with at least one of the plurality of auxiliary input sources, processing a received control command into a formatted control command compatible with at least one of the plurality of auxiliary input sources, and transmitting a formatted control command to at least one of the plurality of auxiliary input sources through at least one of said plurality of auxiliary electrical connectors for execution by at least one of the plurality of auxiliary input sources;

a second pre-programmed code portion for receiving data from at least one of the plurality of auxiliary input sources through at least one of the said plurality of auxiliary electrical connectors in a format incompatible with the car stereo, processing the received data into formatted data compatible with the car stereo, and transmitting the formatted data to the car stereo through said first electrical connector for display by the car stereo; and

a third pre-programmed code portion for selecting one of the plurality of auxiliary input sources from the car stereo.

26. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein the third pre-programmed code portion for selecting one of the plurality of auxiliary input sources processes a disc or track selection entered by a user using control buttons of the car stereo to select one of the plurality of auxiliary input sources.

27. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein at least one of the plurality of auxiliary input sources comprises a CD player, CD changer, MP3 player, satellite receiver, or a Digital Audio Broadcast (DAB) receiver connected to one of said plurality of auxiliary electrical connectors.

28. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein a device type of at least one of the plurality of auxiliary input sources is automatically detected by said interface and at least one of the plurality of auxiliary input sources is automatically integrated with the car stereo based upon the device type.

31. The apparatus of claim 25, wherein at least one of the plurality of auxiliary input connectors comprises a bus connection established between at least one of the plurality of auxiliary input sources and said interface.

32. The apparatus of claim 31, wherein the bus connection comprises a Universal Serial Bus (USB) connection.

33. A method for integrating an after-market device with a car stereo comprising:

providing an interface having a first electrical connector connectable to a car stereo, a second electrical connector connectable to an after-market device external to the car stereo, a third electrical connector connectable to an auxiliary input source, and a pre-programmed microcontroller positioned within said interface;

connecting said first electrical connector to the car stereo, said second electrical connector to the after-market device external to the car stereo, and said third electrical connector to the auxiliary input source external to the car stereo and the after-market device;

remotely controlling the after-market device using the car stereo by;

receiving control commands from the car stereo at the interface through said first electrical connector in a format incompatible with the after-market device; and

processing the control commands into formatted control commands compatible with the after-market device using a first pre-programmed code portion pre-programmed into and executed by said microcontroller and dispatching the formatted control commands to the after-market device through said second electrical connection;

receiving data in a format incompatible with the car stereo through said second electrical connector and audio from the after-market device at the interface;

processing the data into formatted data compatible with the car stereo using a second pre-programmed code portion pre-programmed into and executed by the microcontroller and dispatching the audio and formatted data to the car stereo through said first electrical connector;

displaying the formatted data on the car stereo and playing the audio through the car stereo; and

playing audio from the after-market device through the car stereo.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein the step of receiving data from the device comprises retrieving CD track and time information from the device.

35. The method of claim 33, wherein the step of receiving data from the device comprises retrieving MP3 song, title, track, and time information from the device.

36. The method of claim 33, wherein the step of receiving data from the device comprises retrieving channel number, channel name, artist, and song information from the device.

37. The method of claim 33, wherein the step of receiving data from the device comprises retrieving video information from the device.

38. The method of claim 33, wherein the step of displaying the formatted data comprises displaying the data in an LCD panel.

39. The method of claim 33, wherein the step of displaying the formatted data comprises displaying the data in a graphical user interface at the car stereo.

40. The method of claim 33, wherein the step of displaying formatted data comprises displaying video at the car stereo.

41. The method of claim 33, wherein the step of connecting the after-market device to said second electrical connector comprises connecting a CD player, CD changer, MP3 player, satellite receiver, or a Digital Audio Broadcast (DAB) receiver to said second electrical connector.

42. The method of claim 33, further comprising receiving a selection command from the car stereo and channeling data and audio from the auxiliary input source to said interface in response to the selection command.

43. The method of claim 42, further comprising processing the data from the auxiliary input source for display on the car stereo.

44. An apparatus for docking a portable device for integration with a car stereo comprising:

a storage area remote from a car stereo for storing the portable device;

a docking portion within the storage area for communicating and physically mating with the portable device;

a data port in communication with the docking portion, the data port connectable with a device for integrating the portable device with the car stereo; and

an interface connected to said data port and to the car stereo, said interface channeling audio from the portable device to the car stereo said interface including a microcontroller in electrical communication with the portable device through said data port and the car stereo, said microcontroller pre-programmed to execute first program code for remotely controlling the portable device using the car stereo by processing control commands generated by the car stereo in a format incompatible with the portable device into formatted control commands compatible with the portable device, and dispatching formatted control commands to the portable device for execution thereby.

45. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein said storage area further comprises a top member, a bottom member, and a hinge, interconnecting said top member and said bottom member at an edge thereof

46. The apparatus of claim 45, further comprising a clasp for retaining said top and bottom members in a closed position.

47. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein the data port comprises an RS-232 or Universal Serial Bus (USB) port.

48. The apparatus of claim 44, wherein the storage area further comprises a top portion and a bottom portion defining a sleeve for holding the portable device.

49. A method of integrating an after-market device with an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) or after-market car stereo comprising:

providing an interface having a first electrical connector, a second electrical connector, and a microcontroller positioned in said interface and in electrical communication with said first and second electrical connectors;

connecting the after-market device to said first electrical connector;

connecting said second electrical connector to the car stereo;

determining whether the car stereo is an OEM car stereo or an after-market car stereo;

generating and transmitting a device presence signal to the car stereo using a first code portion pre-programmed into and executed by the microcontroller to maintain the car stereo in an operational state responsive to signals generated by the after-market device, the device presence signal based upon the car stereo; and

channeling audio signals from the after-market device to the car stereo using said interface.

50. The method of claim 49, further comprising receiving control commands from the car stereo at said interface in a format incompatible with the after-market device.

51. The method of claim 50, further comprising converting the control commands into a format recognizable by the after-market audio device using a second code portion pre-programmed into and executed by the microcontroller.

52. The method of claim 51, further comprising dispatching formatted commands to the after-market audio device for execution thereby.

53. The method of claim 49, further comprising converting data received at the interface from the after-market audio device in a format incompatible with the car stereo into a format compatible with the car stereo using a third code portion pre-programmed into and executed by the microcontroller.

54. The method of claim 53, further comprising displaying formatted data on the car stereo.

55. The method of claim 54, wherein the step of displaying formatted data comprises displaying channel numbers, channel names, titles, tracks, song names, or artist names on the car stereo.

56. The method of claim 54, wherein the step of displaying formatted data comprises displaying video on the car stereo.

57. An audio device integration system comprising:

a first electrical connector connectable to a car stereo;

a second electrical connector connectable to a portable MP3 player external to the car stereo

an interface connected between said first and second electrical connectors for transmitting audio from a portable MP3 player to a car stereo, said interface including a microcontroller in electrical communication with said first and second electrical connectors,

said microcontroller pre-programmed to execute;

a first pre-programmed code portion for generating a device presence signal and transmitting the signal to the car stereo to maintain the car stereo in an operational state; and

a second pre-programmed code portion for remotely controlling the MP3 player using the car stereo by receiving a control command from the car stereo through said first electrical connector in a format incompatible with the MP3 player, processing the control command into a formatted control command compatible with the MP3 player, and transmitting the formatted control command to the MP3 player through said second electrical connector for execution by the MP3 player.

58. The apparatus of claim 57, wherein the car stereo further comprises an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) car stereo connected to the first electrical connector.

59. The apparatus of claim 57, wherein the car stereo further comprises an after-market car stereo connected to the first electrical connector.

60. The system of claim 57, wherein said microcontroller is pre-programmed to execute a third code portion for receiving data from the MP3 player in a format incompatible with the car stereo, processing received data into formatted data compatible with the car stereo, and transmitting formatted data to the car stereo for display thereby.

61. The apparatus of claim 60, wherein said third code portion processes data generated by the MP3 player including track and time information.

62. The apparatus of claim 60, wherein said third code portion processes data generated by the MP3 player including song title and artist information.

63. The apparatus of claim 60, wherein commands are input by a user using one or more control buttons or presets on the car stereo.

64. The apparatus of claim 57, further comprising a bus connection established between the MP3 player and said interface.

65. The apparatus of claim 64, wherein the bus connection comprises a Universal Serial Bus (USB) connection.

68. The apparatus of claim 63, wherein the car stereo further comprises an after-market car stereo connected to said first electrical connector.

66. An audio device integration system comprising:

a first electrical connector connectable to a car stereo;

a second electrical connector connectable to a satellite radio receiver external to the car stereo;

an interface connected between said first and second electrical connectors for transmitting audio from a satellite radio receiver to a car stereo, the interface including a microcontroller in electrical communication with said first and second electrical connectors, said microcontroller pre-programmed to execute;

a first pre-programmed code portion for generating a device presence signal and transmitting the signal to the car stereo to maintain the car stereo in an operational state; and

a second pre-programmed code portion for remotely controlling the satellite radio receiver using the car stereo by receiving a control command from the car stereo through said first electrical connector in a format incompatible with the satellite radio receiver, processing a received control command into a formatted control command compatible with the satellite radio receiver, and transmitting the formatted control command to the satellite radio receiver though said second electrical connector for execution by the satellite radio receiver.

67. The apparatus of claim 66, wherein the car stereo further comprises an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) car stereo connected to said first electrical connector.

69. The system of claim 66, wherein said microcontroller is pre-programmed to execute a third code portion for receiving data from the satellite radio receiver in a format incompatible with the car stereo, processing received data into formatted data compatible with the car stereo, and transmitting formatted data to the car stereo for display thereby.

70. The apparatus of claim 69, wherein said third code portion processes data generated by the satellite radio receiver including track and time information.

71. The apparatus of claim 69, wherein said third code portion processes data generated by the satellite radio receiver including song title and artist information.

72. The apparatus of claim 69, wherein said third code portion processes data generated by the satellite radio receiver including a channel number and a channel name.

73. The apparatus of claim 69, wherein commands are input by a user using one or more control buttons or presets on the car stereo.

74. The apparatus of claim 66, further comprising a bus connection established between the satellite radio receiver and said interface.

75. The apparatus of claim 74, wherein the bus connection comprises a Universal Serial Bus (USB) connection.

76. An audio device integration system comprising:

a first electrical connector connectable to a car stereo;

a second electrical connector connectable to a digital audio broadcast receiver external to the car stereo;

an interface connected between said first and second electrical connectors for transmitting audio from the digital audio broadcast receiver to the car stereo, said interface including a microcontroller in electrical communication with said first and second electrical connectors, said microcontroller pre-programmed to execute;

a first pre-programmed code portion for generating a device presence signal and transmitting the signal to the car stereo to maintain the car stereo in an operational state; and

a second pre-programmed code portion for remotely controlling the digital audio broadcast receiver using the car stereo by receiving a control command from the car stereo through said first electrical connector in a format incompatible with the digital audio broadcast receiver, processing a received control command into a formatted control command compatible with the digital audio broadcast receiver, and transmitting the formatted control command to the digital audio broadcast receiver through said second electrical connector for execution by the digital audio broadcast receiver.

77. The apparatus of claim 76, wherein the car stereo further comprises an Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) car stereo connected to said first electrical connector.

78. The apparatus of claim 76, wherein the car stereo further comprises an after-market car stereo connected to said first electrical connector.

79. The system of claim 76, wherein said microcontroller is pre-programmed to execute a third code portion for receiving data from the digital audio broadcast receiver in a format incompatible with the car stereo, processing incompatible data into formatted data compatible with the car stereo, and transmitting formatted data to the car stereo for display thereby.

80. The apparatus of claim 79, wherein said third code portion processes data generated by the digital audio broadcast receiver including track and time information.

81. The apparatus of claim 79, wherein said third code portion processes data generated by the digital audio broadcast receiver including song title and artist information.

82. The apparatus of claim 79, wherein said third code portion processes data generated by the digital audio broadcast receiver including a channel number and a channel name.

83. The apparatus of claim 79, wherein commands are input by a user using one or more control buttons or presets on the car stereo.

84. The apparatus of claim 76, further comprising a bus connection established between the digital audio broadcast receiver and said interface.

85. The apparatus of claim 84, wherein the bus connection comprises a Universal Serial Bus (USB) connection.

86. A device for integrating video information for use with a car stereo, comprising:

a first electrical connector connectable to a car stereo;

a second electrical connector connectable to an after-market video device external to the car stereo;

an interface connected between said first and second electrical connectors for transmitting video information from the after-market video device to the car stereo, the interface including a microcontroller in electrical communication with said first and second electrical connectors, said microcontroller pre-programmed to execute;

a first pre-programmed code portion for generating a device presence signal and transmitting the signal to the car stereo through said first electrical connector to maintain the car stereo in an operational state responsive to signals generated by the after-market video device.

87. The device of claim 86, further comprising means for converting video information into a format compatible with the car stereo.

88. The apparatus of claim 86, further comprising a bus connection established between the video device and said interface.

89. The apparatus of claim 88, wherein the bus connection comprises a Universal Serial Bus (USB) connection.

90. The apparatus of claim 86, wherein said microcontroller is pre-programmed to execute a second code portion for receiving a control signal from the car stereo in a format incompatible with the video device, processing a received control signal into a formatted control signal compatible with the video device, and transmitting the formatted control signal to the video device for execution thereby.

91. The apparatus of claim 90, wherein said microcontroller is pre-programmed to execute a third code portion for receiving data from the video device incompatible with the car stereo, processing received data into formatted data compatible with the car stereo, and transmitting formatted data to the car stereo for display thereon.

92. An audio device integration system comprising:

a car stereo;

a portable audio device external to the car stereo;

an interface connected between the car stereo and the portable audio device, the interface including a microcontroller pre-programmed to execute;

first pre-programmed means for generating a device presence signal and transmitting the signal to the car stereo to maintain the car stereo in an operational state;

second pre-programmed means for remotely controlling the portable audio device using the car stereo by receiving a control command from the car stereo in a format incompatible with the portable audio device, processing the control command into a formatted control command compatible with the portable audio device, and transmitting the formatted control command to the portable audio device for execution thereby; and

means for transmitting audio from the portable audio device to the car stereo.

93. The apparatus of claim 92, wherein the portable audio device comprises a portable CD player.

94. The apparatus of claim 92, wherein the portable audio device comprises a portable MP3 player.

95. The apparatus of claim 92, wherein the portable audio device comprises a portable satellite receiver.

96. The apparatus of claim 92, wherein the portable audio device comprises a portable Digital Audio Broadcast (DAB) receiver.

97. The apparatus of claim 92, wherein the second electrical connector comprises further comprising a bus connection established between the portable audio device and said interface.

98. The apparatus of claim 97, wherein the bus connection comprises a Universal Serial Bus (USB) connection.

99. An audio device integration system, comprising:

a first electrical connector electrically connectable to a car stereo;

a second electrical connector electrically connectable to an after-market, line-level audio source external to the car stereo; and

an interface connected between said first and second electrical connectors for transmitting audio from the after-market, line level audio source to the car stereo, said interface including a microcontroller in electrical communication with said first and second electrical connectors, said microcontroller pre-programmed to execute;

a first pre-programmed code portion for generating and transmitting a device presence signal to the car stereo through said first electrical connector to maintain the car stereo in an operational state responsive to signals generated by the after-market, line-level audio source.