Accessory for portable electronic device

• US 8,000,820 B2
• Filed: 07/19/2007
• Issued: 08/16/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/23/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Vinci Brands LLC
• Original Assignee: Griffin Technology
• Inventors: Griffin, Paul P Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz; Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): McCord; Paul
• Application Number:
  US11/779,886
• Publication Number:
  US 20070260798A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,489 Days
• Field of Search: 700/94
• US Class Current: 700/94
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3822 specially adapted for use in vehicles H04B1/3827 takes precedence

Abstract

A transmitting accessory includes a base dock for receiving a portable electronic device and a transmitter that is removably coupled to the dock. When the device and transmitter are mounted on the dock, the transmitter receives signals from the device through the dock and transmits the signals to a remote receiver. The transmitter can be decoupled from the dock and coupled directly to the portable electronic device when the device is removed from the dock such that the device and transmitter can be carried and function as a single unit. The user inputs of the portable electronic device can preferably be used to control functions of the accessory and the device'"'"'s display to display the selected transmission frequency or channel of the transmitter.

Claims

1. An accessory for coupling with a portable electronic device, said accessory comprising:

a body adapted to fit in a 12-volt outlet having a mounting portion extending outward from said body;

a dock connected to said body that is adapted to couple to said portable electronic device such that said portable electronic device is held in an upright position and electrical signals can be received from said portable electronic device with said dock; and

an FM transmitter adapted to be coupled to said dock while said portable electronic device is coupled to said dock such that said FM transmitter can transmit data received by said dock from said portable electronic device to a remote receiver when said portable electronic device is coupled to said dock;

wherein said FM transmitter can be decoupled from said dock and coupled directly to said portable electronic device when said portable electronic device is decoupled from said dock such that said FM transmitter can transmit data received from said portable electronic device to said remote receiver;

wherein said FM transmitter detects manipulation of a user input of said portable electronic device and alters a broadcast frequency of said FM transmitter based u on said detected manipulation; and

wherein said FM transmitter configures said portable electronic device to display a transmission frequency of said accessory on a display of said portable electronic device.

2. The accessory of claim 1 wherein said dock is adapted to receive power from said 12-volt outlet and charge said portable electronic device when said portable electronic device is coupled to said dock.

3. The accessory of claim 1 wherein said FM transmitter is a digital transmitter that transmits a digital signal in an HD digital radio format.

4. The accessory of claim 1 wherein a housing of the FM transmitter is configured to be physically coupled to a housing of the portable electronic device such that the portable electronic device and the accessory can be carried as a single unit.

5. The accessory of claim 1 wherein a set of user inputs on said transmitter can be repurposed to control more than one function of said transmitter.

6. The accessory of claim 1 wherein said FM transmitter is a parasitic device that obtains power from said portable electronic device when said FM transmitter is coupled to said portable electronic device.

7. The accessory of claim 1 wherein said transmitter configures said remote receiver to receive data on a particular channel or station.

8. An accessory for use with a portable electronic device, said accessory comprising:

a base having a first input/output connector adapted to receive said portable electronic device and hold said portable electronic device in an upright position and a second input/output connector;

a 12-volt adapter configured to be received in a in a 12-volt car outlet connected to said base; and

a transmitter having an input/output connector such that said transmitter can be indirectly coupled to said portable electronic device through said second input/output connector on said base when said portable electronic device is coupled to said base and directly connected to said portable electronic device when said portable electronic device is decoupled from said base;

wherein said transmitter receives an audio signal from said portable electronic device corresponding to music being played on said portable electronic device and broadcast a broadcast radio frequency signal corresponding said audio signal to a broadcast frequency radio receiver; and

wherein said transmitter detects manipulation of a user input of said portable electronic device and alters a broadcast frequency of said transmitter based upon said detected manipulation; and

where said transmitter configures said portable electronic device to display a transmission frequency of said accessory on display of said portable electronic device.

9. The accessory of claim 8 wherein said transmitter receives data from said portable electronic device and transmits said data to a remote receiver.

10. The accessory of claim 8 wherein when the transmitter is directly coupled to said portable electronic device, the portable electronic device and transmitter can be carried as a single unit.

11. The accessory of claim 8 wherein said transmitter comprises user inputs that allow a user to select a transmission frequency of said transmitter.