Wireless communication system for use by teams

• US 9,485,573 B2
• Filed: 06/26/2015
• Issued: 11/01/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bruce Black
• Original Assignee: Bruce Black
• Inventors: Black, Bruce
• Primary Examiner(s): Sorowar, Golam
• Application Number:
  US14/751,711
• Publication Number:
  US 20150373450A1
• Time in Patent Office: 494 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 2300/32 using hook and loop-type fasteners
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 27/201 Pocket closures
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 27/205 Pockets adapted to receive a mobile phone or other electronic equipment
• CPC Class Codes: A42B 3/303 Communication between riders or passengers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/03 Constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. telephone hand-sets
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/028 associated with devices performing functions other than acoustics, e.g. electric candles
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1025 Accumulators or arrangements for charging secondary cells per se H01M10/00; charging in general H02J7/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1041 Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements switches in general H01H
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/2876 by means of damping material, e.g. as cladding damping material for tuning desired resonances H04R1/2807, e.g. in vents H04R1/2823, H04R1/2846
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/023 Transducers incorporated in garment, rucksacks or the like
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/107 Monophonic and stereophonic headphones with microphone for two-way hands free communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/005 for combining the signals of two or more microphones specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/407
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/12 for distributing signals to two or more loudspeakers specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/407
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 5/033 Headphones for stereophonic communication details thereof, e.g. relating to batteries, cables or control elements H04R1/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 2420/01 Enhancing the perception of the sound image or of the spatial distribution using head related transfer functions [HRTF's] or equivalents thereof, e.g. interaural time difference [ITD] or interaural level difference [ILD]
• CPC Class Codes: H04S 7/00 Indicating arrangements; Control arrangements, e.g. balance control
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0241 where no transmission is received, e.g. out of range of the transmitter
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 84/08 Trunked mobile radio systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A helmet mounted communication system for use by teams includes a headset including any one of a speaker for projecting audio or a microphone for receiving audio, a mounting structure for mounting the headset in a helmet cavity of a helmet, and a biasing material between the headset and a cavity wall of the helmet cavity for floatably attaching the headset to the helmet in the helmet cavity.

Claims

1. A wireless communication system for use by members of a team, the system comprising:

a first wireless communication device for a team leader, the first wireless communication device comprising;

a microphone for enabling the first team member to input an oral message; and

a transmitter for transmitting the oral message via a first wireless communication protocol; and

a plurality of second wireless communication devices for a plurality of second team members, the second wireless communication devices comprising;

a main transceiver for receiving the oral message from the first wireless communication device via the first wireless communication protocol and for retransmitting the oral message via a second wireless communication protocol;

a wearable audio device comprising a receiver for receiving the oral message from the main transceiver via the second wireless communication protocol, and at least one speaker in communication with the receiver for generating audio corresponding to the oral message, wherein the speaker is mounted to the wearable audio device so as to be spaced apart from an ear of the second team member such that the second team member is able to hear ambient sound in addition to the oral message; and

a support on the second team member for mounting the main transceiver onto the second team member, the support in a location physically remote from the wearable audio device;

wherein the second wireless communication protocol operates at a lower power than the first wireless communication protocol, and wherein the first communication protocol operates over a longer range than second wireless communication protocol;

wherein the first wireless communication device includes a group routing controller having one or more selection actuators for selectively transmitting the oral message and wherein the second wireless communication device does not include a group routing controller; and

wherein the first wireless communication device includes a plurality of pre-set signal bandwidth settings for individual second team members or groups of the second team members.

2. The wireless communication system of claim 1, wherein the wearable audio device of the second wireless communication device comprises a transmitter and a microphone in communication with the transmitter for enabling the second team member to send an outgoing oral message to the main transceiver via the second communication protocol, and wherein the main transceiver is configured to retransmit the outgoing oral message to another wireless communication device via the first wireless communication protocol.

3. The wireless communication system of claim 1, wherein the second wearable audio device comprises an epaulet speaker that is mounted and immobilized in an epaulet of a jersey.

4. The wireless communication system of claim 3, wherein the epaulet speaker is built into an under jersey shirt or a team jersey.

5. The wireless communication system of claim 3, wherein the epaulet speaker is angled towards an ear of the second team member.

6. The wireless communication system of claim 1, wherein the first wireless communication device includes a proximity sensor configured to detect team members within a detection area, and wherein, when the team member is within the detection area, the second wireless communication device enters a standby mode.

7. The wireless communication system of claim 1, wherein the first wireless communication device includes a transceiver for transmitting an oral message to one or more wireless communication devices.

8. The wireless communication system of claim 1, wherein the plurality of pre-set signal bandwidth settings includes settings for a plurality of sub-groups.

9. The wireless communication system of claim 8, wherein the first wireless communication device includes an alarm module for generating a selected alarm notice at a determined time and broadcasting the selected alarm notice to a selected sub-group.

10. The wireless communication system of claim 8, wherein the plurality of groups includes a plurality of major bandwidths on group channels, and wherein the major bandwidths are each are divided into the plurality of sub-groups, and wherein each of the sub-group broadcasts to a plurality of members.

11. The wireless communication system of claim 10, wherein the first communication device stores the names of the group channels, the sub-groups, and the members that are pre-programmed such that the group channels, the sub-groups, and the members are automatically accessible.

12. The wireless communication system of claim 1 wherein the controller includes a synchronization activation protocol for pairing the controller with the second wireless communication device.

13. The wireless communication system of claim 1, wherein the controller includes a wireless or wired push to talk hand trigger assembly remote from the controller.

14. The wireless communication system of claim 1, wherein the controller includes any one or more of a tournament setting, a home game setting, an away game setting, and a practice setting.

15. The wireless communication system of claim 1, wherein the first communication device communicates with an external broadcast system, and wherein the external broadcast system includes a television broadcast or a public address system.

16. The wireless communication system of claim 1, wherein the support on the second team member includes a shoulder pad mounted assembly.

17. The wireless communication system of claim 16, wherein the shoulder pad mounted assembly includes a transceiver pouch providing an interference fit to hold the main transceiver and a mounting plate for securing the transceiver pouch to a shoulder pad shell.

18. The wireless communication system of claim 16, wherein the shoulder pad mounted assembly includes a containment shield.

19. The wireless communication system of claim 17, wherein the shoulder pad mounted assembly is retrofitted onto the shoulder pad shell.