DE20104764U1 - adapter - Google Patents

Description

Description

The invention relates to an adapter.

After the mobile phone, more and more personal digital assistants (PDAs) are being used. Personal digital assistants are small computers that generally weigh less than 500 grams, such as handheld computers, palm-sized computers, palmtops, smart phones and the like. For the sake of simplicity, these devices are referred to as personal digital assistants.

In order to connect personal digital assistants with other external devices, such as cell phones, GPS receivers (Global Positioning System), MP3 players and so on, device-specific connection solutions such as cables, infrared or radio connection solutions are used in accordance with the state of the art.

This state-of-the-art connection arrangement has the disadvantage that only data communication between the PDA and a single other external device is possible.

Another disadvantage is that each device requires a power adapter and a power connection. This can be a major problem if the devices are to be operated in a car, for example, where there is only one connection for power supply via the cigarette lighter socket.

Another disadvantage of the state-of-the-art systems is that when changing a PDA

or an external device, all connection solutions must always be replaced.

The technical problem underlying the invention is to provide an adapter with which the aforementioned disadvantages do not occur.

This technical problem is solved by an adapter having the features according to claim 1.

Because the adapter is designed as an adapter that can be connected to a personal digital assistant and that establishes at least one data connection to at least one other external electrical device, it is possible to establish a connection between the personal digital assistant and the at least one external electrical device with relatively simple and, if necessary, easily replaceable connections.

The adapter is attached to the personal digital assistant, for example to the palm-sized computer, palmtop, smart phone or the like, using a corresponding plug or a connecting cable. If the personal digital assistant is replaced with another device, i.e. another palmtop or smart phone or the like, only one module of the adapter with the corresponding PDA-specific plug or socket is replaced.

The adapter according to the invention is designed as a universal and modular adapter that establishes the data connection between the PDA and several external devices. Advantageously, the adapter according to the invention simultaneously supplies power to all connected devices,

such as PDA and/or external devices via a power plug (DC or AC).

If the PDA or the external electronic device is replaced in this system, only a simple and inexpensive device-specific module, such as a PDA-specific adapter element or a cable with a plug adapted to the external electronic device, needs to be replaced. All other components remain usable.

For example, it is possible to use the adapter according to the invention to establish a connection between a PDA and a cell phone. In this way, mobile data connections to the Internet can be established and content can be transferred from or to the PDA. The adapter according to the invention creates a solution that can be easily adapted at minimal cost if the cell phone or PDA is replaced. Given the rapid technological development of these two types of device in particular, it is sensible and to be expected that the devices will be replaced in relatively short periods of time.

A particularly advantageous feature of the adapter according to the invention is that the PDA and the mobile phone use a common power supply and can communicate with each other.

Another example of using the adapter according to the invention is the connection of a PDA with a mobile phone and a navigation receiver/antenna. By connecting these devices, inexpensive dynamic navigation systems can be created.

For example, the current traffic jam reports can be updated. The map material is located on a central computer, for example, and the route is calculated there and transferred to the PDA via the cell phone. In addition to the PDA, cell phone and GPS receiver/antenna, only the adapter according to the invention and navigation software are required to obtain a fully-fledged navigation system.

In order to adapt the adapter to the respective personal digital assistant, it is advantageous to have an exchangeable interface in the adapter for the PDA.

A particularly advantageous feature is that the PDA adapter can be used to supply the entire system with power from a single power supply, for example the cell phone, the PDA and other external devices. This means that a separate power adapter does not have to be available and connected for each device. In particular, when using several devices (PDA, cell phone, MP3 player and the like), the power supply for all devices can be ensured via a cigarette lighter socket in a vehicle, for example.

The adapter advantageously has at least one socket for a cell phone, at least one socket for an external antenna, at least one further socket for connecting a GPS, an MP3 player, cassette player or the like and/or at least one socket for headphones, a loudspeaker or the like. This socket can also be designed in such a way that the speakers of the car radio can be used via a corresponding module which is connected to the car radio, for example in the form of a cassette adapter.

Advantageously, at least one socket is also provided for a hearing/speaking device or other voice input devices.

The adapter advantageously has at least one threaded bushing on the back. Depending on the area of application, the adapter can optionally be securely and firmly attached to other parts, such as a car mount, using these threaded bushings. The adapter is advantageously designed to be flat on the back for this purpose.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, all edges of the PDA adapter and the modules of the external devices are rounded.

Further details of the invention can be found in the subclaims.

The drawing shows an embodiment of the invention, in which:

Fig. 1 is a representation of an adapter according to the invention;

Fig. 2 shows the connections between the devices that can be connected to the adapter.

Fig. 1 shows an adapter (1) with a base element (2) and an exchangeable module (3). The exchangeable module (3) has a plug (4) for connection to a personal digital assistant (PDA) (5).

According to Fig. 1, the PDA (5) is connected directly to the module (3). However, it is also possible to connect the module (3) to the PDA (5) with a cable.

The PDA adapter (1) distributes the data streams between the PDA (5) connected to the module (3) and the plug (4) and the devices (8, 9) connected to sockets (6, 7). The data streams are controlled via the PDA (5). The PDA adapter (1) also distributes and controls the power supply to the devices (8, 9) connected to sockets (6, 7). The device (8) is designed as a GPS (Global Positioning System). The device (9) is designed as a cell phone.

The power supply for the entire system is provided via a socket (10) in the PDA adapter (1). Various power adapter variants specially adapted to the PDA adapter (1) can be connected to the socket (10), such as a power adapter (11), adapter for the vehicle cigarette lighter socket or the direct connection to the vehicle on-board network (not shown) and landline adapter (not shown).

Due to the possibility of connecting several end devices (5, 8, 9), only power adapters (11) with a correspondingly high output power are used for this system.

The GPS (8) is connected to the socket (6) via a GPS-specific plug (12), which in turn is connected to a plug (13). The mobile phone (9) is connected to the socket (7) of the PDA adapter (1) via a plug (14), which is connected to a plug (13).

If additional terminal devices are to be connected, the PDA adapter (1) is expanded with additional terminal modules (not shown) for data communication and power supply between the devices. Analogue signals, such as audio signals and digital signals or data streams, can be transmitted as data.

The PDA adapter (1) also has an antenna socket (16) through which an external antenna is inserted for the cell phone (9) connected to the socket (7) using the module (17). The module (17) to be inserted into the socket (7) consists of a cable (18) with a plug (13, 14) at each end. On one end there is the plug (13) that fits the socket (7), and this is always the same. On the other end there is the cell phone-specific plug (14). If a new or different cell phone is to be connected to the system, all that needs to be done is to replace the module (17).

The same applies to other end devices, such as the GPS (8), which are all connected to the socket (6) using device-specific modules (19). It is also possible to replace the GPS (8) with an MP3 player (20). The MP3 player (20) can also be connected to the socket (6 or 7) using a module (21). The module (21) has a plug (22) specific to the MP3 player and a plug (13) that fits into the sockets (6 and 7).

The terminal devices (8, 9, 20) can be controlled via the PDA (5). This makes it possible, for example, to download MP3 files via GSM (Global System for Mobile Communications) from the Internet using the mobile phone (9) and transfer them to the MP3 player (20) using the PDA (5).

In the opposite direction, it is possible to control the playback of tracks from the MP3 player via the PDA (5) and to play them via a socket (23) on headphones (24) via a plug (25). Instead of headphones (24), it is also possible to play the music on external speakers or via the car radio using an appropriate cassette adapter. If the cell phone (9) is not connected to the socket (7) (for example, if a smartphone is used as a PDA (5)), this socket (7) is also available for connecting other end devices.

A hearing/speaking device (27) is connected to a socket (26) via a plug (28), for example to enable telephone calls while driving in a motor vehicle. Alternatively, a complete hands-free system can be created by connecting an external microphone to the socket (26) and an external loudspeaker to the socket (23). The sockets (23 and 26) are standardized types (for example jack plugs). Therefore, a large number of standard components available on the market can be used there.

Standard components are connected to the sockets (16, 17, 23, 26), i.e. components that are not specifically adapted to the adapter. Only components that are specifically adapted to the adapter can be used on the other sockets.

According to Fig. 2, a terminal device, for example a mobile phone, is connected via a socket (31) to a socket (32) of another terminal device, for example an MP3 player. Furthermore, the mobile phone is connected via the socket (31) to the base element (33) and the module (34) of the PDA.

There is also a connection to a socket (38) of an external antenna.

In addition, there is a connection to a socket (37) of a power supply.

The base element (33) and the module (34) of the adapter (1), which are connected to the PDA, have, in addition to the already shown connection to the socket (31) of the mobile phone, further connections to audio outputs (35, 36), as well as a connection to the socket (32) of the MP3 player.

Reference numbers

1 adapter 2 Basic element 3 replaceable module 4 Plug 5 PDA 6 Socket terminal 7 Socket terminal 8th GPS 9 mobile 10 Power supply socket 11 Power adapter 12 Plug GPS 13 Plug 14 Plug mobile phone 16 Antenna socket 17 Mobile phone module 18 Cable 19 GPS module 20 MP3 player 21 module 22 Plug 23 Rifle 24 headphones 25 Plug 26 Rifle 27 Hearing/speaking device 28 Plug 31 Socket terminal device (mobile phone) 32 Terminal device socket (MP3 player) 33 Basic element 34 module 35, 36 Audio outputs

3 7 Power supply socket

3 8 Antenna socket

120301
CK/ns

Claims (10)

1. Adapter, characterized in that the adapter ( 1 ) has at least one plug connection ( 4 ) or at least one socket for connection to a personal digital assistant (PDA) ( 5 ), that the adapter ( 1 ) has at least one further plug connection or at least one further socket ( 6 , 7 , 10 , 16 , 23 , 26 ) for connecting at least one external electrical or electronic device ( 8 , 9 , 24 , 27 ), and that the adapter ( 1 ) is designed as an adapter ( 1 ) which establishes at least one data connection between the PDA ( 5 ) and the at least one further external electrical or electronic device ( 8 , 9 , 24 , 27 ). 2. Adapter according to claim 1, characterized in that the adapter ( 1 ) has an exchangeable interface ( 3 ) for the PDA ( 5 ). 3. Adapter according to claim 1, characterized in that the adapter ( 1 ) has a connection or a socket ( 10 ) for a power supply. 4. Adapter according to claim 1, characterized in that the adapter has at least one socket ( 6 , 7 ) for a mobile phone ( 9 ). 5. Adapter according to claim 1, characterized in that the adapter ( 1 ) has at least one socket ( 16 ) for an antenna. 6. Adapter according to claim 1, characterized in that the adapter ( 1 ) has at least one socket ( 6 , 7 ) for an MP3 player ( 20 ), a cassette player, a CD player and/or a global positioning system. 7. Adapter according to claim 1, characterized in that the adapter ( 1 ) has at least one socket ( 23 ) for a headphone ( 24 ), a loudspeaker and/or a connection to a car radio for using the speakers. 8. Adapter according to claim 1, characterized in that the adapter ( 1 ) has at least one socket ( 26 ) for a hearing/speaking device ( 27 ), a voice input device and/or a microphone. 9. Adapter according to claim 1, characterized in that the adapter ( 1 ) has at least one threaded bushing on a rear side. 10. Adapter according to claim 1, characterized in that the adapter ( 1 ) has rounded edges.