Connectivity device and method of providing same

• US 8,254,846 B2
• Filed: 08/20/2009
• Issued: 08/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Belkin International Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Belkin International Incorporated (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Seil, Oliver Duncan, Ferdman, Kelly, Kleeman, David, Elgie, Richard James, Nalwad, Vijendra, Gale, Vannin, Brewer, Timothy
• Primary Examiner(s): Ghebretinsae, Temesgh
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bilodeau, David
• Application Number:
  US12/545,017
• Publication Number:
  US 20100075609A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,104 Days
• Field of Search: 455/66.1
• US Class Current: 455/66.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/02 for radio sets, television sets, telephones, or the like; Arrangement of controls thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0005 Dashboard
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0054 using cigarette lighter
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0075 using a containment or docking space
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/38 Transceivers, i.e. devices in which transmitter and receiver form a structural unit and in which at least one part is used for functions of transmitting and receiving
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3822 specially adapted for use in vehicles H04B1/3827 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3877 Arrangements for enabling portable transceivers to be used in a fixed position, e.g. cradles or boosters
• 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 1/6091 including a wireless interface

Abstract

In some embodiments, a connectivity device is configured to provide electrical power to a first electrical device and facilitate communications between the first electrical device and at least one second electrical device. The connectivity device further is configured to couple to a cigarette lighter and an external electrical power source. The connectivity device can include: (a) a first removable cigarette lighter adapter having: (1) a first electrical output interface; and (2) a power interface configured to removably couple to the cigarette lighter; (b) a base module having: (1) at least one first interface; (2) a second interface configured to removably couple to the first electrical output interface of the first removable cigarette lighter adapter and configured to also couple to the external electrical power source; (3) a third interface configured to removably couple to the first electrical device; and (4) a first control configured to receive operational instructions for the first electrical device. Other embodiments are disclosed herein.

Claims

1. A connectivity device configured to provide electrical power to a first electrical device and facilitate communications between the first electrical device and at least one second electrical device, the connectivity device further configured to couple to a cigarette lighter and an external electrical power source, the connectivity device comprising:

a first removable cigarette lighter adapter comprising;

a first electrical output interface; and

a power interface configured to removably couple to the cigarette lighter;

a base module comprising;

at least one first interface;

a second interface configured to removably couple to the first electrical output interface of the first removable cigarette lighter adapter and configured to also removably couple to the external electrical power source;

a third interface configured to removably couple to the first electrical device; and

a first control configured to receive operational instructions for the first electrical device,

wherein;

the base module is configured to provide the operational instructions and the electrical power to the first electrical device through the third interface.

2. The connectivity device of claim 1, further comprising:

a wireless transmitter module removably coupled to the base module; and

an antenna electrically coupled to the wireless transmitter.

3. The connectivity device of claim 2, wherein:

the wireless transmitter module comprises;

a transmitter; and

a display electrically coupled to the transmitter and configured to display information related to the transmitter.

4. The connectivity device of claim 1, wherein:

the base module further comprises;

a microphone electrically coupled to the third interface and configured to provide data signals to the first electrical device through the third interface.

5. The connectivity device of claim 1, wherein:

the second interface of the base module comprises a universal serial bus connector.

6. The connectivity device of claim 5, wherein:

the first electrical output interface of the first removable cigarette lighter adapter compromises a universal serial bus connector.

7. The connectivity device of claim 1, further comprising:

a second removable cigarette lighter adapter comprising;

a first electrical output interface configured to removably couple to the second interface of the base module; and

a power interface configured to removably couple to the cigarette lighter to receive a second electrical current,

wherein;

the power interface of the first removable cigarette lighter is configured to receive a first electrical current; and

the second electrical current is different than the first electrical current.

8. An electrical accessory configured to transmit first data signals and electrical power to a first electrical device, the electrical accessory comprising:

a cigarette lighter module comprising;

a first universal serial bus connector;

a power receiving interface configured to couple to a cigarette lighter and receive the electrical power from the cigarette lighter; and

at least one second universal serial bus connector; and

a base module removably coupleable to the cigarette lighter module and comprising;

a universal serial bus connector configured to couple to the first universal serial bus connector of the cigarette lighter module;

a first electrical interface configured to couple to the first electrical device;

at least one second electrical interface;

a first microphone electrically coupled to the first electrical interface and configured to receive sounds and convert the sounds into the first data signals; and

electrical device controls for at least partially operating the first electrical device,

wherein;

the base module is configured to provide the electrical power to the first electrical device that the base module receives from the cigarette lighter module when the first universal serial bus connector of the cigarette lighter module is coupled to the universal serial bus connector of the base module, when the power receiving interface of the cigarette lighter module is coupled to the cigarette lighter, and when the first electrical interface of the base module is coupled to the first electrical device; and

the base module is further configured to provide the electrical power to the first electrical device that the base module receives from an external electrical power source when the universal serial bus connector of the base module is coupled to the external electrical power source.

9. The electrical accessory of claim 8 further comprising:

a transmittal module removably coupleable to the base module, the transmitter module comprises;

a removable radio frequency transmitter configured to wirelessly provide second data signals to a receiving device,

wherein;

the base module is further configured to receive the second data signals from the first electrical device.

10. The electrical accessory of claim 8, further comprising:

a body enclosing at least a portion of the base module.

11. The electrical accessory of claim 10, wherein:

the universal serial bus connector of the base module is mechanically coupled to the body.

12. The electrical accessory of claim 10, wherein:

the base module further comprises;

a wire with a first end and a second end; and

the first end of the wire is mechanically coupled to the body; and

the second end of the wire is mechanically coupled to the universal serial bus connector of the base module.

13. The electrical accessory of claim 8, wherein:

the base module is further configured to receive second data signals from the first electrical device; and

the at least one second electrical interface comprises;

a TRS connector configure to provide the second data signals to a receiving device;

a power interface configured to provide second electrical power to a third electrical device.

14. The electrical accessory of claim 8, wherein:

the first electrical interface comprises a thirty-pin connector.

15. A method of providing a connectivity device for interfacing with an electrical device, the method comprising:

providing a first body;

providing a first electrical interface;

providing a power interface configured to removably couple to a cigarette lighter;

electrically coupling the first electrical interface to the power interface;

mounting the first electrical interface and the power interface to the first body;

providing a second body;

providing a second electrical interface configured to removably couple to the first electrical interface and configured to also removably couple to an external electrical power source;

providing a third electrical interface configured to removably couple to the electrical device;

providing a first control configured to receive operational instructions for the electrical device;

providing a fourth electrical interface;

electrically coupling the second electrical interface to the third electrical interface;

electrically coupling the fourth electrical interface to the third electrical interface;

electrically coupling the first control to the third electrical interface; and

mounting the second electrical interface, the third electrical interface, and the first control to the second body such that the second body is removably coupleable to the first body when the second electrical interface is coupled to the first electrical interface.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

providing a fourth electrical interface;

mounting the fourth electrical interface to the second body;

providing a third body;

providing a fifth electrical interface;

providing a radio frequency transmitter;

electrically coupling the radio frequency transmitter to the fifth electrical interface; and

mounting the radio frequency transmitter and the fifth electrical interface to the third body such that the third body is removably coupleable to the second body when the fourth electrical interface is coupled to the fifth electrical interface.

17. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

providing a microphone;

electrically coupling the microphone to the third electrical interface; and

mounting the microphone to the second body.