Adapters for facilitating half-duplex wireless communications in portable electronic communications devices, and systems comprising same

• US 8,942,748 B2
• Filed: 02/14/2012
• Issued: 01/27/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 02/14/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Harris Global Communications, Inc. (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Harris Corporation (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Nylund, Blake J.
• Primary Examiner(s): PHU, SANH D
• Application Number:
  US13/372,810
• Publication Number:
  US 20130210475A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,078 Days
• Field of Search: 455/518, 455/404.2, 455/90.2, 455/90.3
• US Class Current: 455/518
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 5/00 Near-field transmission systems, e.g. inductive or capacitive transmission systems

Abstract

Adapters (10) for use with portable electronic communications devices (12) such as cellular phones, smart phones, and personal digital assistants can facilitate use of the devices (12) in half-duplex communications modes such as push to talk (PTT) and land portable radio (LMR). The adapters (10) can include a case (18) configured to receive the communications device (12), and a button or key (40) mounted on the case. The key (40) communicates with the communications device (12) when the communications device (12) is disposed in the case (18), and is operable to generate on a selective basis an input corresponding to a transmit command that causes the communications device (10) to transmit. The adapters (10) can also include a speaker module and a microphone that communicate with the communications device (10) via a connector (28) on the case (18), or wireless transceivers (41a, 41b).

Claims

1. A communications system, comprising:

a portable electronic communications device comprising a housing in which electronic components are disposed, the electronic components comprising

a processor,

a memory communicatively coupled to the processor and having computer-executable instructions stored thereon, and

a transceiver communicatively coupled to the processor and operable to send and receive radio-frequency signals to and from a telecommunications network, the computer-executable instructions being configured so that the computer-executable instructions, when executed on the processor, cause the portable electronic communications device to transmit only when receiving an input corresponding to a transmit command; and

an adapter providing an accessory for the portable electronic communications device, the adaptor comprising (1) a case configured to receive the portable electronic communications device and (2) a key mounted on the case;

wherein the key is communicatively coupled to the portable electronic communications device when the portable electronic communications device is disposed in the case; and

wherein the key generates on a selective basis the input corresponding to the transmit command.

2. The communications system of claim 1, wherein the adapter further comprises a speaker mounted on the case and being operable to produce an acoustic output in response to an input from the portable electronic communications device.

3. The communications system of claim 2, wherein the adapter further comprises a plug mounted on the case and electrically connected to the speaker, wherein:

the input from the portable electronic communications device is an electrical input; and

the plug is configured to engage an earpiece jack on the portable electronic communications device when the portable electronic communications device is disposed in the case so that the plug is operable to transmit the electrical input to the speaker.

4. The communications system of claim 1, wherein the adapter further comprises a microphone mounted on the case and being operable to generate an output responsive to an acoustic input thereto.

5. The communications system of claim 4, wherein the adapter further comprises a plug mounted on the case and electrically connected to the microphone, wherein:

the output of the microphone is an electrical output; and

the plug is configured to engage an earpiece jack of the portable electronic communications device when the portable electronic communications device is disposed in the case so that the plug is operable to transmit the electrical output to the portable electronic communications device.

6. The communications system of claim 4, wherein the microphone is a noise-canceling microphone.

7. The communications system of claim 1, wherein the case comprises a rigid shell, and a resilient sleeve disposed around the shell.

8. The communications system of claim 1, wherein the adapter further comprises a first electrical connector mounted on the case and configured to engage an electrical connector on the portable electronic communications device when the portable electronic communications device is disposed in the case.

9. The communications system of claim 8, wherein the adapter further comprises a battery mounted on the case, electrically connected to the first electrical connector, and being operable to provide electrical power to the portable electronic communications device when the portable electronic communications device is disposed in the case.

10. The communications system of claim 8, wherein the first electrical connector is a universal serial bus connector.

11. The communications system of claim 8, further comprising a second electrical connector electrically connected to the first electrical connector, mounted on the case, and configured to be accessible from an exterior of the case.

12. The communications system of claim 8, wherein the key is electrically connected to the first electrical connector so that the key is communicatively coupled to the portable electronic communications device by way of the first electrical connector and the electrical connector on the portable electronic communications device when the portable electronic communications device is disposed in the case.

13. The communications system of claim 1, wherein:

the adapter further comprises a first wireless transceiver electrically connected to the key;

the portable electronic communications device further comprises a second wireless transceiver communicatively coupled to the processor; and

the first wireless transceiver is configured to communicate with the second wireless transceiver so that the key is communicatively coupled to the portable electronic communications device by way of the first and second wireless transceivers.

15. The communications system of claim 1, wherein the portable electronic communications device is a smart phone.

14. A communications system, comprising:

a portable electronic communications device comprising a processor, a memory communicatively coupled to the processor, computer-executable instructions stored on the memory, and a transceiver communicatively coupled to the processor and operable to send and receive radio-frequency signals to and from a telecommunications network, the computer-executable instructions being configured so that the computer-executable instructions, when executed on the processor, cause the portable electronic communications device to transmit only when receiving an input corresponding to a transmit command; and

an adapter comprising a case configured to receive the portable electronic communications device, and a key mounted on the case, wherein the key is communicatively coupled to the portable electronic communications device when the portable electronic communications device is disposed in the case and the key is operable to generate on a selective basis the input corresponding to the transmit command;

wherein;

the computer-executable instructions are further configured so that the computer-executable instructions, when executed on the processor, cause the portable electronic communications device to perform a user-programmable function when receiving an input corresponding to the user-programmable function; and

the adapter further comprises a second key mounted on the case, wherein the second key is communicatively coupled to the portable electronic communications device when the portable electronic communications device is disposed in the case and the second key is operable to generate on a selective basis the input corresponding to the user-programmable function.

16. An adapter for use with a portable electronic communications device as an accessory, comprising:

a case configured to receive the portable electronic device having a housing in which a plurality of electronic components are disposed; and

a key mounted on the case, the key being communicatively coupled to the portable electronic communications device via a wired or wireless communications link when the portable electronic communications device is disposed in the case and being operable to provide the portable electronic communications device with an input signal on a selective basis via the wired or wireless communications link, the input signal corresponding to a transmit command for causing the portable electronic device to transmit a signal wirelessly to another remotely located electronic device.

17. The adapter of claim 16, wherein the input signal is a signal capable of being interpreted by the portable electronic communications device as a transmit command when the portable electronic communications device is operating in a half-duplex mode.

18. The adapter of claim 16, further comprising a speaker mounted on the case and being operable to produce an acoustic output in response to an input from the portable electronic communications device.

19. The adapter of claim 18, further comprising a plug mounted on the case and electrically connected to the speaker, wherein:

the input from the portable electronic communications device is an electrical input; and

the plug is configured to engage an earpiece jack on the portable electronic communications device when the portable electronic communications device is disposed in the case so that the plug is operable to transmit the electrical input to the speaker.

20. The adapter of claim 16, further comprising a microphone mounted on the case and being operable to generate an output responsive to an acoustic input thereto.

21. The adapter of claim 20, further comprising a plug mounted on the case and electrically connected to the microphone, wherein:

the output of the microphone is an electrical output; and

the plug is configured to engage an earpiece jack on the portable electronic communications device when the portable electronic communications device is disposed in the case so that the plug is operable to transmit the electrical output to the portable electronic communications device.

22. The adapter of claim 20, wherein the microphone is a noise-canceling microphone.

23. The adapter of claim 16, wherein the case comprises a rigid shell, and a resilient sleeve disposed around the shell.

24. The adapter of claim 16, further comprising a first electrical connector mounted on the case and configured to engage an electrical connector on the portable electronic communications device when the portable electronic communications device is disposed in the case.

25. The adapter of claim 24, further comprising a battery mounted on the case, electrically connected to the first electrical connector, and being operable to provide electrical power to the portable electronic communications device when the portable electronic communications device is disposed in the case.

26. The adapter of claim 24, further comprising a second electrical connector electrically connected to the first electrical connector, mounted on the case, and configured to be accessible from an exterior of the case.

27. The adapter of claim 24, wherein the key is electrically connected to the first electrical connector so that the key is communicatively coupled to the portable electronic communications device by way of the first electrical connector and the electrical connector on the portable electronic communications device when the portable electronic communications device is disposed in the case.

28. An adapter for use with a portable electronic communications device as an accessory, comprising:

a case configured to receive the portable electronic device having a housing in which a plurality of electronic components are disposed; and

a key mounted on the case, the key being communicatively coupled to the portable electronic communications device when the portable electronic communications device is disposed in the case and being operable to provide the portable electronic communications device with an input on a selective basis; and

a first wireless transceiver electrically connected to the key, the first wireless transceiver being configured to communicate with a second wireless transceiver associated with the portable electronic communications device so that the key is communicatively coupled to the portable electronic communications device by way of the first and second wireless transceivers.