Radio with wired remote switch for smartphone

• US 9,628,885 B2
• Filed: 08/05/2015
• Issued: 04/18/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/05/2015
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Jaiswal, Pankaj, Sonnad, Sudhir, Km, Lohit
• Primary Examiner(s): HUBER, PAUL W
• Application Number:
  US14/819,017
• Publication Number:
  US 20170041694A1
• Time in Patent Office: 622 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/082 to be used in vehicles H04B1/086 takes precedence; holding or mounting accessories B60R11/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6083 by interfacing with the vehicle audio system
• 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 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/028 associated with devices performing functions other than acoustics, e.g. electric candles
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/06 Arranging circuit leads; Relieving strain on circuit leads
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/09 Applications of special connectors, e.g. USB, XLR, in loudspeakers, microphones or headphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2499/11 Transducers incorporated or for use in hand-held devices, e.g. mobile phones, PDA's, camera's
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2499/13 Acoustic transducers and sound field adaptation in vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 3/12 for distributing signals to two or more loudspeakers specially adapted for hearing aids H04R25/407
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A radio includes controls operatively disposed on a face panel. A 3.5 millimeter audio jack is disposed on or through the face panel. The audio jack has four contacts including a microphone contact. A microphone is disposed on or in the face panel to transduce sound received at the face panel. The microphone is electrically connected via a microphone output circuit to the microphone contact. A normally open switch has a switch actuator button disposed on the face panel. The switch is to connect the microphone output circuit to an electrical ground when the switch is closed. The audio jack is to electrically connect the radio to circuits of a smartphone including a smartphone left speaker output circuit, a smartphone right speaker output circuit, a smartphone ground circuit and a smartphone microphone input circuit.

Claims

1. A radio, comprising:

controls operatively disposed on a face panel;

a 3.5 millimeter audio jack disposed on or through the face panel, the audio jack having four contacts including a microphone contact;

a microphone disposed on or in the face panel to transduce sound received at the face panel, the microphone electrically connected via a microphone output circuit to the microphone contact; and

a normally open switch having a switch actuator button disposed on the face panel, the normally open switch to connect the microphone output circuit to an electrical ground when the normally open switch is closed wherein the audio jack is to electrically connect the radio to circuits of a smartphone including a smartphone left speaker output circuit, a smartphone right speaker output circuit, a smartphone ground circuit and a smartphone microphone input circuit.

2. The radio as defined in claim 1 wherein the radio is powered via a dedicated connection to a vehicle power bus.

3. The radio as defined in claim 1 wherein the radio has a selectable aux mode for selectably receiving and amplifying auxiliary audio signals that are input through the audio jack.

4. The radio as defined in claim 3 wherein, in response to a pressing of the switch actuator button, i) the radio is switchable from an audio source other than the audio jack to the auxiliary audio signals, and ii) the radio, via signals conducted through the audio jack, is to cause the smartphone to answer a call using the microphone and a set of speakers operatively connected to the radio.

5. The radio as defined in claim 1 wherein:

the radio is to amplify audio signals from the smartphone for output to speakers electrically connected to the radio; and

the normally open switch is to select a selected operative state from a plurality of operative states of the smartphone.

6. The radio as defined in claim 5 wherein the plurality of operative states of the smartphone includes a telephone mode and an audio entertainment mode.

7. The radio as defined in claim 5 wherein a selection of the operative state of the smartphone is responsive to a temporal pattern of opening and closing of the normally open switch.