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GB2342815A - Hands-free apparatus including battery charging and gain control circuits - Google Patents

Hands-free apparatus including battery charging and gain control circuits Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2342815A
GB2342815A GB9822231A GB9822231A GB2342815A GB 2342815 A GB2342815 A GB 2342815A GB 9822231 A GB9822231 A GB 9822231A GB 9822231 A GB9822231 A GB 9822231A GB 2342815 A GB2342815 A GB 2342815A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
housing
hands
control circuit
cellular telephone
free apparatus
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Withdrawn
Application number
GB9822231A
Other versions
GB9822231D0 (en
Inventor
Danny Ma
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Individual
Original Assignee
Individual
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to GB9822231A priority Critical patent/GB2342815A/en
Publication of GB9822231D0 publication Critical patent/GB9822231D0/en
Publication of GB2342815A publication Critical patent/GB2342815A/en
Withdrawn legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M1/00—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
    • H04M1/60—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers including speech amplifiers
    • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B60—VEHICLES IN GENERAL
    • B60R—VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B60R11/00—Arrangements for holding or mounting articles, not otherwise provided for
    • B60R11/02—Arrangements for holding or mounting articles, not otherwise provided for for radio sets, television sets, telephones, or the like; Arrangement of controls thereof
    • B60R11/0241—Arrangements for holding or mounting articles, not otherwise provided for for radio sets, television sets, telephones, or the like; Arrangement of controls thereof for telephones
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M1/00—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
    • H04M1/02—Constructional features of telephone sets
    • H04M1/04—Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M1/00—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
    • H04M1/60—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers including speech amplifiers
    • H04M1/6033—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers including speech amplifiers for providing handsfree use or a loudspeaker mode in telephone sets
    • H04M1/6041—Portable telephones adapted for handsfree use
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M1/00—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
    • H04M1/60—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers including speech amplifiers
    • H04M1/6033—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers including speech amplifiers for providing handsfree use or a loudspeaker mode in telephone sets
    • H04M1/6041—Portable telephones adapted for handsfree use
    • H04M1/6075—Portable telephones adapted for handsfree use adapted for handsfree use in a vehicle
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M1/00—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
    • H04M1/60—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers including speech amplifiers
    • H04M1/6033—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers including speech amplifiers for providing handsfree use or a loudspeaker mode in telephone sets
    • H04M1/6041—Portable telephones adapted for handsfree use
    • H04M1/6075—Portable telephones adapted for handsfree use adapted for handsfree use in a vehicle
    • H04M1/6083—Portable telephones adapted for handsfree use adapted for handsfree use in a vehicle by interfacing with the vehicle audio system
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M1/00—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
    • H04M1/60—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers including speech amplifiers
    • H04M1/6033—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers including speech amplifiers for providing handsfree use or a loudspeaker mode in telephone sets
    • H04M1/6041—Portable telephones adapted for handsfree use
    • H04M1/6075—Portable telephones adapted for handsfree use adapted for handsfree use in a vehicle
    • H04M1/6083—Portable telephones adapted for handsfree use adapted for handsfree use in a vehicle by interfacing with the vehicle audio system
    • H04M1/6091—Portable telephones adapted for handsfree use adapted for handsfree use in a vehicle by interfacing with the vehicle audio system including a wireless interface

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Multimedia (AREA)
  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Telephone Set Structure (AREA)
  • Telephone Function (AREA)
  • Mobile Radio Communication Systems (AREA)

Abstract

The hands-free apparatus includes a main unit 21 and a telephone seat 22. The main unit houses a power supplying circuit (211, fig.4) connected to a power jack 210 mounted on the housing, a charging control circuit (216, fig.4), an internal loudspeaker 213, an internal microphone 214 and a gain control circuit (217, fig.4). The gain control circuit may be connected to the microphone disposed within the main unit or to an external microphone 24 connected to a socket on the main unit casing. The power jack may be connected to either a lighter socket of a car (26, fig.2) or to a household socket (27, fig.6). The telephone seat is provided with a signal connector 222 for connecting the the cellular telephone handset to the charging control circuit and the gain control circuit disposed within the main unit. The charging control circuit controls the recharging of the cellular telephone when the handset is connected electrically to the signal connector.

Description

HANDS-FREE APPARATUS FOR HANDS-FREE OPERATION OF A CELLULAR TELEPHONE SET The invention relates to a cellular telephone accessory, more particularly to a hands-free apparatus adapted for use with a cellular telephone set to permit hands-free operation of the latter in and out of a car.
While a cellular telephone set offers the advantage of eliminating the need for a wire connection with a telephone service provider to result in a greater freedom of movement for the user, the cellular telephone set requires the user to hold onto the same during use. The cellular telephone set is thus inconvenient to use in some instances, such as when driving, operating a keyboard, etc. Particularly, when used while driving, the cellular telephone set can expose the driver of a car to a higher risk of accident.
In order to permit hands-free operation of the cellular telephone set while driving, a hands-free apparatus for use in a car has been proposed heretofore.
Referring to Figure 1, the hands-free apparatus includes a main unit 11, a telephone seat 12 adapted for seating the cellular telephone set (not shown) thereat and adapted for connecting electrically the cellular telephone set to the main unit 11, an external loudspeaker 13 connected electrically to the main unit 11 and adapted to reproduce incoming telephone signals, and an external microphone 14 connected electrically to the main unit 11 and adapted to pick up outgoing telephone signals. The main unit 11 is further connected electrically to a car battery 10 for power supplying purposes.
However, it is noted that the aforesaid hands-free apparatus is inconvenient to install since the main unit 11, the telephone seat 12, the loudspeaker 13 and the microphone 14 have to be mounted securely and individually at various positions in the passenger room of the car. Moreover, once installed, the hands-free apparatus cannot be removed from the car for handsfree operation of the cellular telephone set indoors.
Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a hands-free apparatus that is easy to install and that is adapted for use with a cellular telephone set in order to permit hands-free operation of the latter in and out of a car.
Accordingly, the hands-free apparatus of this invention is adapted for use with a cellular telephone set to permit hands-free operation of the latter, and includes a main unit and a telephone seat.
The main unit includes a housing, a power jack mounted on the housing and adapted to be connected to a power source, a power supplying circuit disposed in the housing and connected electrically to the power jack, a charging control circuit disposed in the housing and connected electrically to the power supplying circuit, an internal loudspeaker built into the housing and adapted to reproduce incoming telephone signals, an internal microphone built into the housing and adapted to pick up outgoing telephone signals, and a gain control circuit disposed in the housing and connected electrically to the internal loudspeaker and the internal microphone.
The telephone seat is mounted on the housing and is adapted for seating the cellular telephone set thereat.
The telephone seat is provided with a signal connector that is connected electrically to the charging control circuit and the gain control circuit and that is adapted to be connected electrically to the cellular telephone set.
The charging control circuit is adapted to initiate and control recharging of the cellular telephone set when the cellular telephone set is connected electrically to the signal connector.
The gain control circuit is adapted to process the incoming telephone signals that are received from the cellular telephone set via the signal connector, and controls the internal loudspeaker to reproduce the incoming telephone signals.
The gain control circuit processes the outgoing telephone signals picked up by the internal microphone, and is adapted to provide the outgoing telephone signals to the cellular telephone set via the signal connector.
In the preferred embodiment, a mounting frame is adapted to be mounted securely in a car, and the housing of the main unit is formed with a coupling member that engages removably the mounting frame. When used in a car, a plug is provided to connect electrically the power jack to a lighter socket of the car. When used indoors, an ac-to-dc adapter is provided to connect electrically the power jack to a household electrical outlet.
Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent in the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment with reference to the accompanying drawings, of which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of a conventional hands-free apparatus for use with a cellular telephone set to permit hands-free operation of the latter inside a car; Figure 2 is an exploded perspective view of the preferred embodiment of a hands-free apparatus for use with a cellular telephone set in accordance with the present invention; Figure 3 is an exploded rear perspective view of the preferred embodiment; Figure 4 is a schematic circuit block diagram of the preferred embodiment; Figure 5 is an assembled perspective view of the preferred embodiment when adapted for use in a car; and Figure 6 is an exploded perspective view of the preferred embodiment when adapted for use indoors.
Referring to Figures 2 to 4, the preferred embodiment of a hands-free apparatus according to the present invention is shown to comprise a main unit 21 and a telephone seat 22.
The main unit 21 includes a housing 219, a power jack 210 mounted on a first side of the housing 219 and adapted to be connected to a power source (not shown), a power supplying circuit 211 disposed in the housing 219 and connected electrically to the power jack 210, a charging control circuit 216 disposed in the housing 219 and connected electrically to the power supplying circuit 211, an internal loudspeaker 213 built into the housing 219 and adapted to reproduce incoming telephone signals, an internal microphone 214 built into the housing 219 and adapted to pick up outgoing telephone signals, and a gain control circuit 217 disposed in the housing 219.
The telephone seat 22 is mounted on the housing 219 and is adapted for seating the cellular telephone set 1 thereat. In this embodiment, the telephone seat 22 is formed as an elongate upright hollow member that confines a receiving space 223 adapted for receiving the cellular telephone set 1 therein. The telephone seat 22 is provided with a signal connector 222 that is connected electrically to the charging control circuit 216 and the gain control circuit 217, and that is adapted to be connected electrically to the telephone set 1 when the latter is disposed in the receiving space 223.
Preferably, the housing 219 includes complementary front and rear housing parts. The front housing part is formed with four rearwardly extending screw posts 2121. The rear housing part is formed with four mounting holes 2121'registered with the screw posts 2121.
Screws 2120 extend through the mounting holes 2121'and engage the screw posts 2121 to join the front and rear housing parts. The housing 219 has a second side opposite to the first side and formed with a slot 212.
The telephone seat 22 is formed with a lateral extension 221 that extends into the slot 212 and that is formed with two retaining holes 220. The retaining holes 220 permit extension of two of the screws 2120 therethrough, thereby securing the lateral extension 221 to the housing 219 to mount the telephone seat 22 on the housing 219.
The power jack 210 can be connected electrically to a plug 26. The plug 26 is adapted to be connected to a lighter socket (not shown) of a car to establish electrical connection with a car battery (not shown) in a known manner. As such, electrical power can be supplied to the hands-free apparatus to permit operation of the same. Preferably, a protection circuit 2110 is disposed in the housing 219 and interconnects the power jack 210 and the power supplying circuit 211 to ensure supply of a stable voltage signal to the power supplying circuit 211. The charging control circuit 216 is connected electrically to the signal connector 222 to initiate and control recharging of the cellular telephone set 1 when the latter is connected electrically to the signal connector 222.
In the preferred embodiment, the main unit 21 further includes an audio jack 215 mounted on the first side of the housing 219 and connected electrically to an external speaker 23, such as an earphone, an external microphone 24, or both. Select switches 218 interconnect selectively the audio jack 215, the internal loudspeaker 213, and the internal microphone 214 to the gain control circuit 217. The gain control circuit 217 is connected electrically to the signal connector 222. As such, incoming telephone signals from the cellular telephone set 1 can be received by the gain control circuit 217 via the signal connector 222, and can be processed by the gain control circuit 217 before providing the same to the selected one of the internal loudspeaker 213 and the external speaker 23 for reproduction. Outgoing telephone signals picked up by the selected one of the internal microphone 214 and the external microphone 24 can be processed by the gain control circuit 217, and can be provided to the cellular telephone set 1 via the signal connector 222.
Preferably, the rear housing part of the housing 219 is formed with a coupling member 2190. The coupling member 2190 is provided with a pair of lateral flanges 2191. The main unit 21 and the telephone seat 22 are adapted to be mounted detachably in a passenger room of a car (not shown). As illustrated in Figure 5, the hands-free apparatus further comprises a mounting frame 25 adapted to be mounted securely in the passenger room of the car. The mounting frame 25 is formed with a pair of lateral slide grooves 250 for engaging slidably and removably the lateral flanges 2191 of the coupling member 2190. As such, the main unit 21 and the telephone seat 22 can be secured to the car via the mounting frame 25 for hands-free operation of the cellular telephone set 1 inside the car, and can be removed from the mounting frame 25 for indoor use.
As shown in Figure 6, when used indoors, the main unit 21 and the telephone seat 22 can be placed on top of a table (not shown), and the plug 26 of Figure 2 is replaced by an ac-to-dc adapter 27 that is adapted to connect electrically the power jack 210 to a household electrical outlet (not shown).

Claims (11)

  1. CLAIMS: 1. A hands-free apparatus adapted for use with a cellular telephone set to permit hands-free operation of the cellular telephone set, said hands-free apparatus comprising: a main unit including a housing, a power jack mounted on said housing and adapted to be connected to a power source, a power supplying circuit disposed in said housing and connected electrically to said power jack, a charging control circuit disposed in said housing and connected electrically to said power supplying circuit, an internal loudspeaker built into said housing and adapted to reproduce incoming telephone signals, an internal microphone built into said housing and adapted to pick up outgoing telephone signals, and a gain control circuit disposed in said housing and connected electrically to said internal loudspeaker and said internal microphone; and a telephone seat mounted on said housing and adapted for seating the cellular telephone set thereat, said telephone seat being provided with a signal connector that is connected electrically to said charging control circuit and said gain control circuit and that is adapted to be connected electrically to the cellular telephone set; said charging control circuit being adapted to initiate and control recharging of the cellular telephone set when the cellular telephone set is connected electrically to said signal connector; said gain control circuit being adapted to process the incoming telephone signals that are received from the cellular telephone set via said signal connector, and controlling said internal loudspeaker to reproduce the incoming telephone signals; said gain control circuit processing the outgoing telephone signals picked up by said internal microphone, and being adapted to provide the outgoing telephone signals to the cellular telephone set via said signal connector.
  2. 2. The hands-free apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said telephone seat is formed as an elongate upright hollow member that confines a receiving space adapted for receiving the cellular telephone set therein.
  3. 3. The hands-free apparatus as claimed in Claim 1 or Claim 2, wherein said housing has one side formed with a slot, said telephone seat being formed with a lateral extension that extends into said slot and that is secured to said housing to mount said telephone seat on said housing.
  4. 4. The hands-free apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, Claim 2 or Claim 3, wherein said main unit further includes a protection circuit that is disposed in said housing and that interconnects said power jack and said power supplying circuit to ensure supply of a stable voltage signal to said power supplying circuit.
  5. 5. The hands-free apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising a plug adapted to connect electrically said power jack to a lighter socket of a car.
  6. 6. The hands-free apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising an ac-to-dc adapter adapted to connect electrically said power jack to a household electrical outlet.
  7. 7. The hands-free apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising an audio jack mounted on said housing, an external speaker connected removably to said audio jack, and a select switch for connecting electrically a selected one of said internal loudspeaker and said external speaker to said gain control circuit.
  8. 8. The hands-free apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising an audio jack mounted on said housing, an external microphone connected removably to said audio jack, and a select switch for connecting electrically a selected one of said internal microphone and said external microphone to said gain control circuit.
  9. 9. The hands-free apparatus as claimed in any preceding claim, further comprising a mounting frame adapted to be mounted securely in a car, said housing being formed with a coupling member that engages removably said mounting frame.
  10. 10. The hands-free apparatus as claimed in Claim 9, wherein said coupling member is formed on a rear side of said housing and is provided with a pair of lateral flanges, said mounting frame being formed with a pair of lateral slide grooves for engaging slidably and removably said lateral flanges of said coupling member.
  11. 11. The hands-free apparatus adapted for use with a cellular telephone set to permit hands-free operation of the cellular telephone set substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in Figures 2 to 6 of the accompanying drawings.
GB9822231A 1998-10-12 1998-10-12 Hands-free apparatus including battery charging and gain control circuits Withdrawn GB2342815A (en)

Priority Applications (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9822231A GB2342815A (en) 1998-10-12 1998-10-12 Hands-free apparatus including battery charging and gain control circuits

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB9822231A GB2342815A (en) 1998-10-12 1998-10-12 Hands-free apparatus including battery charging and gain control circuits

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB9822231D0 GB9822231D0 (en) 1998-12-09
GB2342815A true GB2342815A (en) 2000-04-19

Family

ID=10840415

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB9822231A Withdrawn GB2342815A (en) 1998-10-12 1998-10-12 Hands-free apparatus including battery charging and gain control circuits

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GB (1) GB2342815A (en)

Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0313776A2 (en) * 1987-10-29 1989-05-03 Telenorma Gmbh Charging unit for cordless telephone
EP0494780A2 (en) * 1991-01-11 1992-07-15 Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba An adapter unit for adaptively supplying a portable radio telephone with power
US5379338A (en) * 1991-10-03 1995-01-03 Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba Radiotelephone with handset talking function and hand-free talking function
WO1996032783A1 (en) * 1995-04-11 1996-10-17 Mold-Tech Plastics Limited Partnership Interface for portable communications device
JPH10136063A (en) * 1996-10-31 1998-05-22 Daini Denden Kk Handsfree device

Patent Citations (5)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0313776A2 (en) * 1987-10-29 1989-05-03 Telenorma Gmbh Charging unit for cordless telephone
EP0494780A2 (en) * 1991-01-11 1992-07-15 Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba An adapter unit for adaptively supplying a portable radio telephone with power
US5379338A (en) * 1991-10-03 1995-01-03 Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba Radiotelephone with handset talking function and hand-free talking function
WO1996032783A1 (en) * 1995-04-11 1996-10-17 Mold-Tech Plastics Limited Partnership Interface for portable communications device
JPH10136063A (en) * 1996-10-31 1998-05-22 Daini Denden Kk Handsfree device

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB9822231D0 (en) 1998-12-09

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Legal Events

Date Code Title Description
WAP Application withdrawn, taken to be withdrawn or refused ** after publication under section 16(1)