Modular communication device and system

• US 9,641,926 B2
• Filed: 06/05/2013
• Issued: 05/02/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Partech Incorporated (Par Technology Corporation)
• Original Assignee: 3M Innovative Properties Company (3M Company)
• Inventors: Awiszus, Steven T., Berger, Robert N.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mei, Xu
• Assistant Examiner(s): ODUNUKWE, UBACHUKWU A
• Application Number:
  US13/910,448
• Publication Number:
  US 20130329905A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,427 Days
• Field of Search: 381 74, 381374, 381103, 381311, 381384, 381122, 381 711, 381111, 455416, 455 305, 455 413, 455566, 4555661, 455 39, 4555752, 455403, 4555691, 310 25, 704275, 429 96, 710304, 361600
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/00 Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers subscriber services or facilities provided at exchanges H04M3/00; prepayment telephone coin boxes H04M17/00; current supply arrangements H04M19/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6066 including a wireless connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1041 Mechanical or electronic switches, or control elements switches in general H01H
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1058 Manufacture or assembly
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1091 Details not provided for in groups H04R1/1008 - H04R1/1083
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/09 Applications of special connectors, e.g. USB, XLR, in loudspeakers, microphones or headphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2430/01 Aspects of volume control, not necessarily automatic, in sound systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/00 Deaf-aid sets , i.e. electro-acoustic or electro-mechanical hearing aids; Electric tinnitus maskers providing an auditory perception electrical stimulation of auditory nerves to promote the auditory function A61N1/36038; optical stimulation of auditory nerves to promote the auditory function A61N5/0622

Abstract

The technology disclosed herein relates to a modular communication device and a system. The modular communication device has a speaker carrier and an electronics module. The speaker carrier has a speaker and an attachment portion, and the electronics module has a wireless transceiver. The speaker carrier and the electronics module are detachably coupled so that the electronics module provides audio signals to the speaker when the speaker carrier and electronics module are coupled. The speaker carrier can be removed from and attached to the electronic module. In one embodiment, the system generally has two or more modular communication devices and a base station that allows communication between the modular communication devices.

Claims

1. A communication system comprising:

a modular communication device, the modular communication device comprising;

a carrier comprising;

a speaker;

a microphone;

a microcontroller; and

an attachment portion, the attachment portion comprising a first plurality of electrical contacts; and

an electronics module comprising;

a wireless transceiver;

a microcontroller; and

an attachment portion comprising a second plurality of electrical contacts;

wherein the carrier and the electronics module are adapted to be mechanically and electrically detachably coupled at the attachment portion of the carrier and the attachment portion of the electronics module;

wherein the electronics module and the carrier are adapted such that;

at least two of the first plurality of electrical contacts are coupled with at least two of the second plurality of electrical contacts such that the electronics module is in electronic communication with the carrier;

the electronics module is physically supported by the carrier;

the microcontroller of the electronics module is adapted to communicate with the microcontroller of the carrier over the first and second plurality of electrical contacts to authenticate the carrier using a challenge and response authentication protocol including the use of a cryptographic function; and

the wireless transceiver of the electronics module is adapted to;

wirelessly receive audio signals from a wireless intercom base station and provide the audio signals to the carrier to be played by the speaker; and

wirelessly transmit audio signals received by the microphone to the

wireless intercom base station using a wireless signal;

wherein, when the carrier and the electronics module are not mechanically and electrically coupled, the audio signals are not passed between the carrier and the electronics module;

wherein the detachably coupled carrier and electronic module are designed for module interconnectivity; and

wherein the electronics module comprises a user input device for changing a wireless channel of the wireless transceiver.

2. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the carrier further comprises a boom with the microphone disposed thereon.

3. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the carrier further comprises one or more status lights.

4. The communication system of claim 3, wherein one of the one or more status lights is in communication with the wireless transceiver and is configured to illuminate when the wireless transceiver receives a vehicle detection notification.

5. The communication system of claim 1, wherein the microcontroller of the carrier is disposed on a circuit board.

15. The communication system of claim 1, comprising an intercom base station and a second modular communication device, a second carrier of the second modular communication device adapted to both attach to the electronics module of the carrier of the modular communication device and a second electronics module of the second modular communication device.

6. A wireless inter headset comprising:

a carrier comprising;

a speaker;

a microphone; and

an attachment portion, the attachment portion comprising a first plurality of electrical contacts;

an electronics module comprising;

a wireless transceiver; and

a housing comprising a tab and a second plurality of electrical contacts;

wherein the carrier and the electronics module are adapted to be mechanically and electrically detachably coupled, the tab of the housing received by a corresponding cavity in the carrier, the carrier and the electronics module adapted to couple with each other by first angling the housing toward the carrier while the tab is inserted into the cavity of the carrier and then pressing a face of the housing against the carrier such that mating structures snap into place to hold the electronics module onto the carrier;

the electronics module and the carrier are adapted such that;

at least two of the first plurality of electrical contacts are coupled with at least two of the second plurality of electrical contacts such that the electronics module is in electronic communication with the carrier;

the electronics module is physically supported by the carrier;

the wireless transceiver of the electronics module is adapted to wirelessly receive audio signals from a wireless intercom base station and provide the audio signals to the carrier to be played by the speaker; and

the wireless transceiver also adapted to transmit audio signals received by the microphone to the wireless intercom base station using a wireless signal;

wherein, when the carrier and the electronics module are not mechanically and electrically coupled, no audio signals are passed between the carrier and the electronics module;

wherein the carrier can be removed from and attached to the electronic module; and

wherein the electronics module comprises a user input device for changing a wireless channel of the wireless transceiver.

7. The wireless intercom headset of claim 6, wherein the electronics module further comprises a status light.

8. The wireless intercom headset of claim 6, wherein the electronics module further comprises an authentication protocol.

9. The wireless intercom headset of claim 6, wherein the electronics module further comprises multimedia playback memory.

10. The wireless intercom headset of claim 6, wherein the electronics module further comprises a USB interface.

11. The wireless intercom headset of claim 6, wherein the electronics module further comprises audio recording memory and video recording memory.

12. The wireless intercom headset of claim 6, further comprising an actuator configured to provide tactile feedback to a device user upon receipt of a vehicle detection notification.

16. The communication system of claim 8, wherein the electronics module of the modular communication device is adapted to both attach to the carrier of the modular communication device and the second carrier of the second modular communication device.

17. The communication system of claim 8, wherein the audio signals transmitted by the modular communication device are received by the intercom base station and transmitted to the second modular communication device.

13. A wireless intercom headset comprising:

a carrier comprising;

a speaker;

a microphone;

a microcontroller; and

an attachment portion, the attachment portion comprising a first plurality of electrical contacts;

an electronics module comprising;

a wireless transceiver;

a microcontroller; and

an attachment portion comprising a tab and a second plurality of electrical contacts;

wherein the carrier and the electronics module are adapted to be mechanically and electrically detachably coupled, the tab of the attachment portion received by a corresponding cavity in the carrier, the carrier and the electronics module adapted to couple with each other by first angling a housing of the electronics module toward the carrier while the tab is inserted into the cavity of the carrier and then pressing a face of the housing against the carrier such that mating structures snap into place to hold the electronics module onto the carrier;

the electronics module and the carrier are adapted such that;

at least two of the first plurality of electrical contacts are coupled with at least two of the second plurality of electrical contacts such that the electronics module is in electronic communication with the carrier; and

the electronics module is physically supported by the carrier;

the microcontroller of the electronics module is adapted to communicate with the microcontroller of the carrier over the first and second plurality of electrical contacts to authenticate the carrier; and

the wireless transceiver of the electronics module is adapted to;

wirelessly receive audio signals from a wireless intercom base station and provide the audio signals to the carrier to be played by the speaker; and

wirelessly transmit audio signals received by the microphone to the wireless intercom base station using a wireless signal;

wherein, when the carrier and the electronics module are not mechanically and electrically coupled, the audio signals are not passed between the carrier and the electronics module;

wherein the detachably coupled carrier and electronic module are designed for modular interconnectivity; and

wherein the electronics module comprises a user input device for changing a wireless channel of the wireless transceiver.

14. The electronics module of claim 13, further comprising a capacitive switch in communication with the microcontroller of the electronics module;

and

a user input device in communication with the capacitive switch.

18. The wireless intercom headset of claim 13, wherein the housing comprises a battery compartment for receiving a battery.