Personal Portable Integrator for Music Player and Mobile Phone

• US 20070142025A1
• Filed: 10/10/2006
• Published: 06/21/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Skullcandy, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Skullcandy, Inc.
• Inventors: Alden, Richard
• Granted Patent: US 7,395,090 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/403
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3805 with built-in auxiliary receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/05 specially adapted for use on head, throat or breast
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6058 involving the use of a headset accessory device connected to the portable telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6066 including a wireless connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72442 for playing music files
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface

Abstract

A personal portable integrator is used to integrate the services of an arbitrary audio delivery device such as an MP3, CD, DVD, radio, or other media player, with the services of an arbitrary two-way communication device such as a mobile phone, or a two-way radio such as a walkie-talkie, citizen band radio (e.g., CB), HAM radio, marine or aviation radio, and the like. The portable integrator receives and provides input and output signals from both the audio delivery device and the two-way communication device, thereby enabling a user to listen to music or other audio material and receive and place phone calls on a mobile phone simultaneously. The portable integrator provides these services by switching between the audio and communication devices, mixing signals received therefrom, and optionally enabling a user to reduce the volume or mute the signals as desired.

Claims

1. A portable apparatus for integrating a two-way communication device and an audio delivery device, wherein the portable apparatus is configured in size and shape to be portably carried in either a hand of a user or an article of clothing during use of the portable apparatus, the apparatus comprising:

a first electrical connector configured to receive a first audio signal from a substantially arbitrarily selectable audio delivery device;

a second electrical connector configured to receive a second audio signal from a substantially arbitrarily selectable two-way communication device;

a coupling device independent from the audio and two-way communication devices, the coupling device connected to receive the first and second audio signals, and to transmit a third audio signal comprising at least one of the first or second audio signals; and

an acoustic device adapted to convert the third audio signal to an acoustic wave having an audio range corresponding to a hearing range of a user.

2. The portable apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising a first switch connected to selectively switch between the first and second audio signals to provide the third audio signal.

3. The portable apparatus as recited in claim 1, the apparatus further comprising a volume controller connected to selectively control the volume of at least one of the first or second audio signals.

4. An portable apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the coupling device is remotely disposed from both of said first and second electrical connectors and while still being connected to said first and second electrical connectors with at least one of wired, optical or wireless connection means.

5. An portable apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein at least one of the first or second electrical connectors is physically detached from the coupling device and wirelessly communicates with the coupling device.

6. The portable apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the coupling device is proximate the face of a user.

7. The portable apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the coupling device contains at least one of a microphone, a switch, a mixer, or a volume controller.

8. The portable apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the first and second electrical connectors comprise jacks that each have a male terminal end.

9. The portable apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein only one of the first and second electrical connectors is detachably connected to the coupling device with a flexible wire.

10. The portable apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the coupling device is detachably connectable to both of the audio and two-way communications devices with the first and second electrical connectors, respectively.

11. The portable apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising a mixer connected to mix the first and second audio signals to create the third audio signal.

12. The portable apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein the coupling device comprises a mixing controller for selectably adjusting and controlling a mixing weight of the first or second audio signals as they are mixed by the mixer into the third audio signal.

13. The portable apparatus as recited in claim 12, wherein the mixing controller enables volume of a selected one of the first and second audio signals to be selectively reduced without being muted during a simultaneous use of both the audio and two-way communication devices during which both the first and second audio signals are audible as part of the third audio signal during the simultaneous use.

14. The portable apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising a microphone connected to transmit a voice signal to the two-way communication device.

15. The portable apparatus as recited in claim 14, further comprising means for adjusting a volume associated with the microphone.

16. The portable apparatus as recited in claim 1, further comprising:

a switch configured to activate a function of the two-way communication device;

wherein;

the two-way communication device is a mobile phone; and

the function is selected from the group consisting of a mute command, a call connect command, a call disconnect command, voice-activated dialing, and a command to call the last number dialed.

17. The portable apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein the coupling device comprises at least two physically separate devices.

18. The portable apparatus as recited in claim 17, wherein the at least two physically separate devices comprise means for enabling wireless communication between the at least two physically separate devices.

19. An article of manufacture configured to receive the portable apparatus as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the portable apparatus is available by accessing an article of manufacture into which the portable apparatus has been received; and

the coupling device comprises means for transmitting an input signal to one of the first and second devices.

20. The portable apparatus as recited in claim 19, wherein the article of manufacture includes any of an article of clothing and a portable carrier, such as a backpack;

21. The portable apparatus as recited in claim 19, wherein the coupling device is configured to receive the first or second audio signal over an optical medium.

22. The portable apparatus as recited in claim 19, wherein the coupling device is configured to transmit any of the first audio signal, the second audio signal, and the input signal over any of an optical, or wireless medium.

23. The portable apparatus as recited in claim 19, wherein the coupling device is integrally coupled to the acoustic device by a wire, such that the acoustic device and the coupling device are not separated.

24. The portable apparatus as recited in claim 19, wherein the apparatus is integrated within any the article of clothing or a personal carrier device into which the first device, the second device, and the carrier are connected during use.

25. The portable apparatus as recited in claim 24, wherein the article of clothing comprises any of a jacket, a coat, or head gear.

26. The portable apparatus as recited in claim 24, wherein the personal carrier comprises any of a backpack, a helmet, or a belt pack.

27. A method for integrating a two-way communication device and an audio delivery device with a portable apparatus that is configured in size and shape to be portably carried in either a hand of a user or an article of clothing during use of the portable apparatus, the method comprising the portable apparatus performing the following:

receiving a first audio signal from a substantially arbitrarily selectable audio delivery device;

receiving a second audio signal from a substantially arbitrarily selectable two-way communication device;

receiving, by the portable apparatus, which is independent from the audio delivery and two-way communication device, the first and second audio signals, and transmitting a third audio signal comprising at least one of the first or second audio signals; and

converting the third audio signal to an acoustic wave having an audio range corresponding to a hearing range of a user.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising transmitting a voice signal to the two-way communication device.

29. The method of claim 27, the method further comprising selectively controlling the volume of at least one of the first or second audio signals.

30. The method of claim 27, wherein the independent device performs a task selected from the group consisting of switching between the first and second audio signals, mixing the first and second audio signals, transmitting the voice signal to the two-way communication device, and adjusting the volume of the first audio signal.

31. The method of claim 27, further comprising swapping the audio delivery device with a second audio delivery device.

32. The method of claim 27, further comprising:

connecting a switch with the two-way communication device to activate a function of the two-way communication device;

wherein;

the two-way communication device is a mobile phone; and

the function is selected from the group consisting of a mute command, a call connect command, a call disconnect command, voice-activated dialing, and a command to call the last number dialed.

33. The method of claim 27, further comprising swapping the two-way communication device with a second two-way communication device.

34. The method of claim 27, wherein the first audio signal, the second audio signal, and the third audio signal are received or transmitted over any of an electrical or optical wire.

35. The method of claim 27, further comprising selectively switching between the first and second audio signals to provide the third audio signal.

36. The method of claim 35, further comprising mixing the first and second audio signals to create the third audio signal.

37. A portable and wireless apparatus for wirelessly integrating a two-way communication device and an audio delivery device, wherein the portable and wireless apparatus is configured in size and shape to be portably carried in either a hand of a user or an article of clothing during use of the portable and wireless apparatus, the portable and wireless apparatus comprising:

means for wirelessly receiving a first audio signal from a substantially arbitrarily selectable audio delivery device;

means for wirelessly receiving a second audio signal from a substantially arbitrarily selectable two-way communication device;

a coupling device independent from the audio and two-way communication devices, the coupling device comprising said means for receiving said first and second audio signals, said coupling means further comprising;

means for transmitting a third audio signal comprising at least one of the first or second audio signals to an acoustic device adapted to convert the third acoustic wave to an audio range corresponding to a hearing range of a user.

38. An apparatus as recited in claim 37, further comprising means for mixing the first and second audio signals into the third audio signal and for enabling simultaneous use of said audio and two-way communications devices.

39. An apparatus as recited in claim 38, further comprising means for selectably adjusting and controlling a mixing weight of the first and second audio signals as part of the third audio signal.