Marine communication device with wireless cellular telephone connectivity

• US 8,311,546 B2
• Filed: 02/09/2009
• Issued: 11/13/2012
• 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: Boudreau, Wilfred Charles, Mudra, Robert Edward, Johnson, James Richard, deWaal, Christopher Steven
• Primary Examiner(s): Karikari, Kwasi
• Application Number:
  US12/867,140
• Publication Number:
  US 20100311476A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,373 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.2, 455/501, 455/220, 455/445, 455/550.1, 455/552.1, 455/556.1, 455/151.4
• US Class Current: 455/445
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3877 Arrangements for enabling portable transceivers to be used in a fixed position, e.g. cradles or boosters
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/18 Telephone sets specially adapted for use in ships, mines, or other places exposed to adverse environment H04M1/19 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces

Abstract

A wireless communication device for use in a noisy or harsh environment in connection with a cellular telephone is disclosed. The wireless communication device 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. The apparatus of the present invention improves cellular telephone usage in the typically noisy and harsh environment found while operating a boat. The present apparatus further provides a half-duplex mode of communication to further reduce ambient noise experienced while using a cellular telephone in a noisy environment In another embodiment, the apparatus is connectable to a variety of external devices and is capable of operating the external devices and providing internet access for a variety of external devices through a cellular telephone connection In at least one embodiment, the present invention is connectable to any transceiver.

Claims

1. A marine communication device with wireless cellular telephone connectivity comprising:

a microprocessor;

a wireless module;

a speaker;

a microphone; and

a switch, wherein said switch is operable to select between a radio mode and operation of said wireless module;

wherein said wireless module is operable to wirelessly communicate via a wireless module communication with a cellular telephone and said speaker and said microphone may be used in connection with a cellular communication conducted via said cellular telephone, wherein said wireless module lacks a capability to directly communicate via said cellular communication, wherein said wireless module communication differs from said cellular communication, and wherein said radio mode is operable independent from said wireless module communication and said cellular communication.

2. The marine communication device of claim 1 operable to transmit and receive via said cellular communication in half-duplex mode.

3. The marine communication device of claim 1 further comprising a case which is weather resistant.

4. The marine communication device of claim 1 wherein said wireless module utilizes the Bluetooth standard for the wireless module communication.

5. A marine communication device with wireless cellular telephone connectivity comprising:

a microprocessor operatively associated with a speaker, a microphone, at least one switch, and a wireless module, wherein said wireless module is operable to wirelessly communicate via a wireless module communication with at least one cellular telephone and said speaker and said microphone may be used in connection with a cellular communication conducted via said cellular telephone, wherein said wireless module lacks a capability to directly communicate via said cellular communication, and wherein said wireless module communication differs from said cellular communication; and

a transceiver;

wherein said at least one switch is in operative association with said microphone and operable to select between wirelessly communicating and transmitting via said cellular communication via said cellular telephone or a transceiver communication via said transceiver, wherein said transceiver communication differs from said wireless module communication and said cellular communication.

6. The marine communication device of claim 5 wherein said transceiver is a VHF Marine radio.

7. The marine communication device of claim 5 operable to transmit and receive communication in half-duplex mode.

8. The marine communication device of claim 5 further comprising at least one case which is weather resistant.

9. The marine communication device of claim 5 wherein said wireless module utilizes the Bluetooth standard for said wireless module communication.

10. The marine communication device of claim 5 further comprising an interface wherein said interface is operatively associated with said transceiver when said at least one switch operatively selects said transceiver communication via said transceiver and wherein said interface comprises controls for at least one function of said transceiver.

11. The marine communication device of claim 5 further comprising an interface wherein said interface is operatively associated with said cellular telephone when said at least one switch operatively selects said cellular communication via said cellular telephone and wherein said interface comprises controls for at least one function of said cellular telephone.

12. The marine communication device of claim 5 wherein said marine communication device is operatively connectable to at least one external speaker.

13. The marine communication device of claim 5 wherein said microphone is further used in connection with said transceiver communication via said transceiver.

14. A communication device with wireless cellular telephone connectivity comprising:

a microprocessor;

a wireless module;

a speaker;

a microphone; and

at least one user interface;

wherein said microprocessor is operatively associated with said wireless module, said speaker, said microphone and said user interface; and

wherein said wireless module is operable to wirelessly communicate via a wireless module communication with at least one external device and said speaker and said microphone may be used in connection with an external device communication conducted via said external device, wherein said wireless module lacks a capability to directly communicate via said external device communication, wherein said communication device is operable to select between wirelessly communicating and transmitting via said external device communication or a transceiver communication, wherein said wireless module communication differs from said external device communication and from said transceiver communication, and wherein said external device communication differs from said transceiver communication.

15. The communication device of claim 14 operable to transmit and receive communication in half-duplex mode.

16. The communication device of claim 14 further comprising a case which is weather resistant.

17. The communication device of claim 14 wherein said wireless module utilizes the Bluetooth standard for said wireless module communication.

18. The communication device of claim 14 further comprising an external power source and a cord, wherein said cord is operatively associated with said external power source and operatively connected to said communication device.

19. The communication device of claim 18 further comprising an internal power source, wherein said cord is operatively associated with said external power source and operable to charge said internal power source.

20. The communication device of claim 14 wherein said at least one external device comprises at least one cellular telephone.

21. The communication device of claim 20 wherein said user interface is operable to execute functions of said at least one cellular telephone.

22. The communication device of claim 20 further comprising at least one additional external device, wherein said wireless module is operable to wirelessly communicate with said at least one additional external device, wherein said communication device can receive communications from said at least one additional external device and transmit said communications via said wireless module communication to said at least one cellular telephone.

23. The communication device of claim 20 further comprising at least one additional external device, wherein said wireless module is operable to wirelessly communicate with said at least one additional external device, wherein said communication device can receive communications via said wireless module communication from said at least one cellular telephone and transmit said communications to said at least one additional external device.

24. The communication device of claim 14 wherein said at least one external device comprises at least one navigation device.

25. The communication device of claim 14 wherein said at least one external device comprises at least one weather device.

26. The communication device of claim 14 wherein said wireless module is operable to wirelessly communicate via said wireless module communication with more than one external device.

27. The communication device of claim 14 wherein said at least one user interface comprises at least one switch.

28. The communication device of claim 14 wherein said user interface is operable to execute functions of said at least one external device.

29. The communication device of claim 14 wherein said at least one user interface comprises more than one switch.

30. The communication device of claim 14 further comprising a display.

31. The communication device of claim 14 wherein said wireless module is operable to wirelessly communicate via said wireless module communication with at least one voice activated wireless device.