Citizens band radio with wireless cellular telephone connectivity

• US 8,078,120 B2
• Filed: 02/09/2009
• Issued: 12/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 02/11/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cobra Electronics Corp. (Cedar Electronics Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Cobra Electronics Corp. (Cedar Electronics Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Sandoval, Ramon, Mirabelli, Anthony Alfred, Mudra, Robert Edward
• Primary Examiner(s): Donovan, Lincoln
• Assistant Examiner(s): POOS, JOHN W
• Application Number:
  US12/368,018
• Publication Number:
  US 20090203319A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,037 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.3, 455/90.2, 455/575.9
• US Class Current: 455/90.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6066 including a wireless connection
• 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 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/21 for social networking applications

Abstract

A wireless communication device for use in connection with a cellular telephone is disclosed and a transceiver radio such as a citizens band radio. The wireless communication device of the present invention provides enhanced audio broadcasting capabilities for an operator of the device by providing a larger, more powerful speaker than that typically found in a cellular telephone. Thus, the apparatus of the present invention improves cellular telephone usage in a noisy environment such as the cab of a tractor trailer or other vehicle. In another embodiment, the wireless communication device of the present invention is connectable to multiple external devices and is capable of operating the external devices and providing access to a cellular telephone network for such external devices.

Claims

1. A citizens band radio having wireless cellular telephone connectivity comprising:

a vehicle mounted transceiver unit;

a handset comprising at least one microphone and a cellular activation switch; and

a cord operatively connecting said handset with said vehicle mounted transceiver unit;

wherein said vehicle mounted transceiver unit comprises;

a citizen band radio transceiver;

a wireless module operable to receive and transmit wireless communications with at least one cellular telephone;

an output switch in operative connection with an amplifier and speaker and operable to select between at least communication received via citizens band wireless spectrum and communication received via said cellular telephone; and

an indicator operable to indicate when communication is occurring via said cellular telephone.

2. The citizens band radio of claim 1 wherein said wireless module is a Bluetooth module.

3. The citizens band radio of claim 1 wherein said handset comprises separate microphones for communication via the citizen band wireless spectrum and communication via cellular telephone.

4. The citizens band radio of claim 1 wherein communication via cellular telephone may be made in half-duplex mode.

5. The citizens band radio of claim 1 wherein the cellular telephone is a smart phone.

6. The citizens band radio of claim 1 wherein the cellular telephone is connected to a cellular telephone network.

7. The citizens band radio of claim 1 wherein the cellular telephone is connected to a satellite network.

8. The citizens band radio of claim 1 wherein said citizens band radio is in removable operative connection with an external speaker.

9. The citizens band radio of claim 1 wherein the microphone further comprises an acoustic noise cancelling design.

10. The citizens band radio of claim 1 wherein the microphone further comprises at least one electronic noise cancelling circuit.

11. The citizens band radio of claim 1 wherein said citizens band radio will selectively pair with one of said at least one cellular telephone based on priority.

12. The citizens band radio of claim 1 wherein said wireless module is a wireless module selected from the group consisting of a Bluetooth module, a ZigBee module, an in infra red module, a module adhering to the 802.11 standard of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, a Wi-Fi module, and a WiFimax module.

13. The citizens band radio of claim 1 wherein said speaker is operable to broadcast sound at a greater volume than that achieved by said cellular telephone.

14. The citizens band radio of claim 1 further comprising an external output jack connectable to at least one external speaker.

15. The citizens band radio of claim 1 wherein said citizens band radio is operable to receive telephone calls via said cellular telephone.

16. The citizens band radio of claim 1 wherein said citizens band radio is operable to place telephone calls via said cellular telephone.

17. The citizens band radio of claim 1 further comprising at least one interface.

18. The citizens band radio of claim 17 wherein said interface is operatively associated with said radio transceiver when said output switch operatively selects communication via the citizens band wireless spectrum and wherein said interface comprises controls for at least one function of said radio transceiver.

19. The citizens band radio of claim 17 wherein said interface is operatively associated with said at least one cellular telephone when said output switch operatively selects communication via said cellular telephone and wherein said interface comprises controls for at least one function of said cellular telephone.

20. The citizens band radio of claim 1 further comprising at least one external device.

21. The citizens band radio of claim 20 wherein said wireless module is operable to communicate with said at least one external device, wherein said citizens band radio can send and receive communications and/or data from said at least one external device and send and receive said communications and/or data to said at least one cellular telephone.

22. The citizens band radio of claim 1 wherein said wireless module is operable to wirelessly communicate with at least one voice activated device.

23. The citizens band radio of claim 1, further comprising an external microphone jack.

24. A communication device having wireless cellular telephone connectivity comprising:

a vehicle mounted transceiver unit; and

a handset in operable association with said vehicle mounted transceiver unit, wherein said handset comprises at least one microphone, an interface, and a wireless module operable to receive and transmit wireless communications with at least one cellular telephone;

wherein said vehicle mounted transceiver unit comprises;

a radio transceiver having a wireless spectrum;

at least one speaker; and

a selective device in operative association with said wireless module and said radio transceiver, and operable to select between at least communication via the radio transceiver'"'"'s wireless spectrum and communication via said cellular telephone.

25. The communication device of claim 24 wherein said radio transceiver operates on the citizens band radio frequencies.

26. The communication device of claim 24 wherein said radio transceiver operates on the business band radio frequencies.

27. The communication device of claim 24 wherein the operable association between said vehicle mounted transceiver unit and said handset comprises a cord.

28. The communication device of claim 24 wherein the operable association between said vehicle mounted transceiver unit and said handset comprises a wireless connection.

29. The communication device of claim 24 wherein said vehicle mounted transceiver unit further comprises an amplifier in operative association with said speaker.

30. The communication device of claim 24 wherein said vehicle mounted transceiver unit further comprises at least one indicator operable to indicate the active mode of communication.

31. The communication device of claim 24 wherein said handset comprises separate microphones for communication via the citizens band wireless spectrum and communication via said cellular telephone.

32. The communication device of claim 24 wherein communication via said cellular telephone may be made in half-duplex mode.

33. The communication device of claim 24 wherein said cellular telephone is a smart phone.

34. The communication device of claim 24 wherein said cellular telephone is connected to the cellular telephone wireless network.

35. The communication device of claim 24 wherein the cellular telephone is connected to a satellite network.

36. The communication device of claim 24 further comprises an acoustic noise cancelling design.

37. The communication device of claim 24 further comprises at least one electronic noise cancelling circuit.

38. The communication device of claim 24 wherein said communication device will selectively pair with one of said at least one cellular telephone based on priority.

39. The communication device of claim 24 wherein said wireless module is a wireless module selected from the group consisting of a Bluetooth module, a ZigBee module, an in infra red module, a module adhering to the 802.11 standard of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, a Wi-Fi module, and a WiFimax module.

40. The communication device of claim 24 wherein said wireless module is a Bluetooth module.

41. The communication device of claim 24 wherein said at least one speaker is operable to broadcast sound at a greater volume than that achieved by said cellular telephone.

42. The communication device of claim 24 further comprising an external output jack connectable to an external speaker.

43. The communication device of claim 24 wherein said communication device is in removable operative connection with an external speaker.

44. The communication device of claim 24 wherein said communication device is operable to receive telephone calls via the cellular telephone.

45. The communication device of claim 24 wherein said communication device is operable to place telephone calls via the cellular telephone.

46. The communication device of claim 24 wherein said interface comprises at least one switch.

47. The communication device of claim 24 wherein said interface is operatively associated with said radio transceiver when said selective device operatively selects communication via the radio transceiver'"'"'s wireless spectrum and wherein said interface comprises controls for at least one function of said radio transceiver.

48. The communication device of claim 24 wherein said interface is operatively associated with said at least one cellular telephone when said selective device operatively selects communication via said cellular telephone and wherein said interface comprises controls for at least one function of said cellular telephone.

49. The communication device of claim 24 wherein said at least one speaker further comprises at least one wireless-mode speaker operatively associated with said wireless module and at least one radio transceiver-mode speaker operatively associated with said radio transceiver.

50. The communication device of claim 49 wherein said selective device operatively selects communication via said cellular telephone by decreasing the output of said at least one radio transceiver-mode speaker.

51. The communication device of claim 49 wherein said selective device operatively selects communication via said cellular telephone by increasing the output of said at least one wireless-mode speaker.

52. The communication device of claim 49 wherein said selective device operatively selects communication via the radio transceiver'"'"'s wireless spectrum by increasing the output of said at least one radio transceiver-mode speaker.

53. The communication device of claim 49 wherein said selective device operatively selects communication via the radio transceiver'"'"'s wireless spectrum by decreasing the output of said at least one wireless-mode speaker.

54. The communication device of claim 24 wherein said selective device is an output switch operatively associated with said at least one speaker.

55. The communication device of claim 24 further comprising at least one external device.

56. The communication device of claim 55 wherein said wireless module is operable to communicate with said at least one external device, wherein said communication device can send and receive communications and/or data from said at least one external device and send and receive said communications and/or data to said at least one cellular telephone.

57. The communication device of claim 24 wherein said wireless module is operable to wirelessly communicate with at least one voice activated device.

58. The communication device of claim 24 further comprising an external microphone jack.

59. A communication device having wireless cellular telephone connectivity comprising:

a vehicle mounted transceiver unit; and

a handset in operable association with said vehicle mounted transceiver unit, wherein said handset comprises at least one microphone, and an interface;

wherein said vehicle mounted transceiver unit comprises;

a radio transceiver having a wireless spectrum,

a wireless module operable to receive and transmit wireless communications with at least one cellular telephone;

at least one speaker; and

a selective device in operative association with said wireless module and said radio transceiver, and operable to select between at least communication via the radio transceiver'"'"'s wireless spectrum and communication via said cellular telephone.

60. The communication device of claim 59 wherein said radio transceiver operates on the citizens band radio frequencies.

61. The communication device of claim 59 wherein said radio transceiver operates on the business band radio frequencies.

62. The communication device of claim 59 wherein said wireless module is a wireless module selected from the group consisting of a Bluetooth module, a ZigBee module, an in infra red module, a module adhering to the 802.11 standard of the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers, a Wi-Fi module, and a WiFimax module.

63. The communication device of claim 59 wherein said vehicle mounted transceiver unit further comprises an indicator operable to indicate the active mode of communication.

64. The communication device of claim 59 wherein the operable association between said vehicle mounted transceiver unit and said handset comprises a cord.

65. The communication device of claim 59 wherein the operable association between said vehicle mounted transceiver unit and said handset comprises a wireless connection.

66. The communication device of claim 59 wherein said vehicle mounted transceiver unit further comprises an amplifier in operative association with said speaker.

67. The communication device of claim 59 wherein said handset comprises separate microphones for communication via the citizen band wireless spectrum and communication via said cellular telephone.

68. The communication device of claim 59 wherein communication via said cellular telephone may be made in half-duplex mode.

69. The communication device of claim 59 wherein said cellular telephone is a smart phone.

70. The communication device of claim 59 wherein said cellular telephone is connected to the cellular telephone wireless network.

71. The communication device of claim 59 wherein the cellular telephone is connected to a satellite network.

72. The communication device of claim 59 further comprising at least one electronic noise canceling circuit.

73. The communication device of claim 59 further comprising an acoustic noise canceling design.

74. The communication device of claim 59 wherein said speaker is operable to broadcast sound at a greater volume than that achieved by said cellular telephone.

75. The communication device of claim 59 wherein said communication device will selectively pair with one of said at least one cellular telephone based on priority.

76. The communication device of claim 59 further comprising an external output jack connectable to an external speaker.

77. The communication device of claim 59 wherein said communication device is in removable operative connection with an external speaker.

78. The communication device of claim 59 wherein said interface comprises at least one switch.

79. The communication device of claim 59 wherein said interface is operatively associated with said radio transceiver when said selective device operatively selects communication via the radio transceiver'"'"'s wireless spectrum and wherein said interface comprises controls for at least one function of said radio transceiver.

80. The communication device of claim 59 wherein said interface is operatively associated with said at least one cellular telephone when said selective device operatively selects communication via said cellular telephone and wherein said interface comprises controls for at least one function of said cellular telephone.

81. The communication device of claim 59 wherein said at least one speaker further comprises at least one wireless-mode speaker operatively associated with said wireless module and at least one radio transceiver-mode speaker operatively associated with said radio transceiver.

82. The communication device of claim 81 wherein said selective device operatively selects communication via said cellular telephone by decreasing the output of said at least one radio transceiver-mode speaker.

83. The communication device of claim 81 wherein said selective device operatively selects communication via said cellular telephone by increasing the output of said at least one wireless-mode speaker.

84. The communication device of claim 81 wherein said selective device operatively selects communication via the radio transceiver'"'"'s wireless spectrum by increasing the output of said at least one radio transceiver-mode speaker.

85. The communication device of claim 81 wherein said selective device operatively selects communication via the radio transceiver'"'"'s wireless spectrum by decreasing the output of said at least one wireless-mode speaker.

86. The communication device of claim 59 wherein said selective device is an output switch operatively associated with said at least one speaker.

87. The communication device of claim 59 wherein said communication device is operable to receive telephone calls via the cellular telephone.

88. The communication device of claim 59 wherein said communication device is operable to make telephone calls via the cellular telephone.

89. The communication device of claim 59 further comprising at least one external device.

90. The communication device of claim 89 wherein said wireless module is operable to communicate with said at least one external device, wherein said communication device can send and receive communications and/or data from said at least one external device and send and receive said communications and/or data to said at least one cellular telephone.

91. The communication device of claim 59 wherein said wireless module is operable to wirelessly communicate with at least one voice activated wireless device.

92. The communication device of claim 59 further comprising an external microphone jack.

93. A communication device having wireless connectivity comprising:

a vehicle mounted transceiver unit;

a handset in operable association with said vehicle mounted transceiver unit, wherein said handset comprises at least one microphone, and an interface; and

a wireless module operable to receive and transmit wireless communications with at least one external device, wherein said wireless module is in operable association with said vehicle mounted transceiver unit and said handset;

wherein said vehicle mounted transceiver unit comprises;

a radio transceiver having a wireless spectrum,

at least one speaker; and

a selective device in operative association with said wireless module and said radio transceiver, and operable to select between at least communication via the radio transceiver'"'"'s wireless spectrum and communication via said external device.

94. The communication device of claim 93 further comprising at least one electronic noise canceling circuit.

95. The communication device of claim 93 further comprising an acoustic noise canceling design.

96. The communication device of claim 93 wherein said speaker is operable to broadcast sound at a greater volume than that achieved by said cellular telephone.

97. The communication device of claim 93 wherein said interface comprises at least one switch.

98. The communication device of claim 93 wherein said at least one external device further comprises at least one cellular telephone.

99. The communication device of claim 93 wherein said wireless module is operable to wirelessly communicate with at least one voice activated wireless device.

100. The communication device of claim 93 further comprising an external microphone jack.

101. The communication device of claim 93 wherein said selective device is an output switch operatively associated with said at least one speaker.