Accessory-type GPS receiver

• US 7,493,216 B2
• Filed: 08/16/2004
• Issued: 02/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/19/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Kang, Do-Woo
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; Khoi
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen; Chuong P
• Application Number:
  US10/919,660
• Publication Number:
  US 20050043888A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,646 Days
• Field of Search: 340/426.19, 340/426.2, 340/531, 340/538.17, 3405391-53913, 340/539.3, 340/568, 340/2, 340/568.4, 4553431-346, 455/556.1, 455/556.2, 455/557, 455/572, 455/573, 455/575.1, 439/626.31, 439/638, 701/213, 342/357.06, 342/357.1, 342/357.12
• US Class Current: 701/213
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/34 Power consumption
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/35 Constructional details or hardware or software details of the signal processing chain
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/36 relating to the receiver frond end
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3805 with built-in auxiliary receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6075 adapted for handsfree use in a vehicle H04M1/6058 takes precedence; arrangements for holding telephones in a vehicle B60R11/0241
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724098 Interfacing with an on-board device of a vehicle for hands-free speaking in vehicles H04M1/6075
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/10 including a GPS signal receiver

Abstract

An accessory-type GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver comprises a mobile terminal side plug connector, and a cradle/hand-free side receptacle connector disposed substantially opposite thereto. The GPS receiver further comprises a power supply that receives power from a mobile terminal power charge line being operatively coupled between the mobile terminal side plug connector and the cradle/hand-free side receptacle connector. The plug connector is used to pass GPS data directly to a mobile terminal. The receptacle connector is used to pass non-GPS data to the mobile terminal via the plug connector.

Claims

1. A GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver, comprising:

at least one GPS signal processor configured to process GPS signals received from one or more satellites;

at least one mobile terminal side plug connector arranged to connect the GPS receiver to a mobile communication terminal;

at least one cradle/hand-free side receptacle connector arranged to connect the GPS receiver to an external poxver supply that is external to both said mobile communication terminal and the GPS receiver, wherein in response to the GPS receiver being connected in between the external power supply and the mobile communication terminal, an internal power supply of the mobile communication terminal is recharged by the external power supply;

a first internal power supply configured to power the GPS signal processor in a first state, wherein the first internal power supply does not provide power to the mobile communication terminal; and

a second internal power supply configured to power the GPS signal processor in a second state to maintain power to a memory for storing GPS data while said at least one GPS signal processor is in the second state.

2. The GPS receiver of claim 1, wherein the at least one GPS signal processor communicates with at least one mobile terminal via said at least one mobile terminal side plug connector through a UART (Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter).

3. The GPS receiver of claim 1, wherein said at least one GPS signal processor is configured to receive power from the external power supply.

4. The GPS receiver of claim 1, wherein said second internal power supply comprises at least one coin cell power supply to maintain power to a memory configured to store GPS data while said at least one GPS signal processor is in the second state.

5. The GPS receiver of claim 1, further comprising at least one switch-type antenna portion being operatively coupled to said at least one GPS signal processor via at least one GPS RF (Radio Frequency) filter, said at least one switch-type antenna portion being used for wireless communication with at least one GPS satellite.

6. The GPS receiver of claim 5, wherein said at least one switch-type antenna portion comprises at least one internal passive GPS antenna, and at least one external active GPS antenna.

7. The GPS receiver of claim 6, wherein when said at least one internal passive GPS antenna is in an “

on”

state, said at least one external active GPS antenna is in an “

off”

state.

8. The GPS receiver of claim 6, wherein when said at least one external active GPS antenna is in an “

on”

state, said at least one internal passive GPS antenna is in an “

off”

state.

17. The GPS receiver of claim 1, wherein each of said at least one mobile terminal side plug connector and said at least one cradle/hand-free side receptacle connector is a standard 24-pin connector, respectively.

19. The GPS receiver of claim 1, wherein in the first state the GPS receiver is connected to the mobile communication terminal.

20. The GPS receiver of claim 1, wherein in the second state the GPS receiver is disconnected from the mobile communication terminal.

9. A GPS (Global Positioning System) receiver, comprising:

at least one GPS signal processor configured to process GPS signals received from one or more satellites;

at least one plug-type connector configured to pass the GPS signals directly to at least one mobile terminal;

at least one receptacle-type connector configured to pass non-GPS signals to said at least one mobile terminal via said at least one plug-type connector; and

wherein said cradle/hand-free side receptacle connector connects the GPS receiver to an external power supply that is external to both said mobile communication terminal and the GPS receiver, wherein in response to the GPS receiver being connected in between the external power supply and the mobile communication terminal, an internal power supply of the mobile communication terminal is recharged by the external power supply;

a first internal power supply configured to power the GPS signal processor in a first state, wherein the first internal power supply does not provide power to the mobile communication terminal; and

a second internal power supply configured to power the GPS signal processor in a second state to maintain power to a memory for storing GPS data while said at least one GPS signal processor is in the second state.

10. The GPS receiver of claim 9, wherein the at least one GPS signal processor communicates with at least one mobile terminal via said at least one mobile terminal side plug connector through a UART (Universal Asynchronous Receiver/Transmitter).

11. The GPS receiver of claim 10, wherein said at least one GPS signal processor is configured to receive power from said external power supply.

12. The GPS receiver of claim 9, wherein the second internal power supply comprises at least one coin cell power supply to maintain power to a memory is configured to store GPS data while said at least one GPS signal processor is in the second state.

13. The GPS receiver of claim 10, further comprising at least one switch-type antenna portion being operatively coupled to said at least one GPS signal processor via at least one GPS RF (Radio Frequency) filter, said at least one switch-type antenna portion being used for wireless communication with at least one GPS satellite.

14. The GPS receiver of claim 13, wherein said at least one switch-type antenna portion comprises at least one internal passive GPS antenna, and at least one external active GPS antenna.

15. The GPS receiver of claim 14, wherein when said at least one internal passive GPS antenna is in an “

on”

state, said at least one external active GPS antenna is in an “

off”

state.

16. The GPS receiver of claim 14, wherein when said at least one external active GPS antenna is in an “

on”

state, said at least one internal passive GPS antenna is in an “

off”

state.

18. The GPS receiver of claim 9, wherein each of said at least one plug-type connector and said at least one receptacle-type connector is a standard 24-pin connector, respectively.