WO1996032783B1

WO1996032783B1 - Interface for portable communications device

Info

Publication number: WO1996032783B1
Application number: PCT/US1996/004888
Authority: WO
Filing date: 1996-04-10
Publication date: 1996-12-12
Anticipated expiration: 1997-10-11

Abstract

An interface between a portable cellular phone and an automobile radio to allow hands-free operation of the phone is housed in a remote housing connected to a battery eliminator cigarette lighter adapter plug for simple installation into an automobile. The interface converts incoming signals from the cellular phone from audio frequency to radio frequency and transmits the signals to the existing automobile radio receiver, wherein the signals are reproduced over the radio speakers. The interface may also be used with a power conversion system to increase the power of the phone transmissions. Further, the interface may be used with any external communication source, such as a facsimile machine or laptop computer and modem. The interface is also easily adapted for use with any stand-alone audio producing devices, such as a cassette deck or compact disc player.

Claims

47AMENDED CLAIMS[received by the International Bureau on 31 October 1996 (31.10.96); original claims 1-46 replaced by amended claims 1-25 (6 pages)]

1. An interface connectable to an external communication source for interfacing the source to a radio including a radio receiver and a radio speaker, co prising: a converter which converts incoming audio signals from the external communication source to radio frequency signals; a transmitter which transmits the radio frequency signals to the radio receiver, wherein the audio signals are reproduced over the radio speaker; and an interface speaker which reproduces a signal generated by the external communication source when the source receives an incoming signal.

2. The interface of claim 1, further comprising a microphone which receives an outgoing voice signal and transmits the outgoing signal to the external communication source.

3. The interface of claim 1, wherein the interface is housed in a remote housing connectable to the external communication source.

4. The interface of claim 1, wherein the interface is connectable to a battery eliminator to supply power from an external power source to the external communication source.

5. The interface of claim 1, further comprising an antenna for transmitting the radio frequency signals from the transmitter to the radio receiver. _ 48 -

6. The interface of claim 5, further comprising a capacitor coupled between the antenna and an external power source which supplies power to the radio.

7. The interface of claim 1, wherein the radio is an RBDS radio and the interface further comprises an RBDS transmitter for transmitting a command signal to adjust the radio when a signal is received by the external communication source.

8. The interface of claim 7, wherein the RBDS transmitter transmits a command to adjust the radio when an outgoing signal is sent by the external communication source.

9. The interface of claim 1, further comprising means for transmitting incoming signal identification information from the external communication source to the radio and reproducing the information over the radio.

10. The interface of claim 1, further comprising voice recognition means and radio control means to enable a user to control the external communication source and the radio through voice commands.

11. The interface of claim 1, wherein the external communication source is a fixed cellular phone and the fixed cellular phone is interfaced to a portable cellular phone for increasing the power transmissions of the portable cellular phone. - 49 -

12. An interface connectable between a portable cellular phone and a fixed cellular phone for interfacing the fixed phone to a radio including a radio receiver and a radio speaker, comprising: a transceiver which receives phone operation signals from the portable phone and transmits the signals to the fixed phone; a converter which converts incoming audio signals from the fixed phone to radio frequency signals; a transmitter which transmits the radio frequency signals to the radio receiver, wherein the audio signals are reproduced over the radio speaker; and an interface speaker which reproduces a signal generated by the fixed phone when an incoming signal is received from an external communications cell.

13. The interface of claim 12, further comprising a microphone which receives an outgoing voice signal and transmits the outgoing signal to the fixed phone.

14. The interface of claim 12, wherein the interface is connectable to a battery eliminator to supply power from an external power source to the portable phone.

15. The interface of claim 12, further comprising voice recognition means to enable a user to control the portable phone through voice commands. - 50 -

16. The interface of claim 12, wherein the radio is an RBDS radio and the interface further comprises an RBDS transmitter for transmitting a command to adjust the radio when the portable phone is in use.

17. A system for interfacing a portable cellular phone to a radio including a radio receiver and a radio speaker, comprising: a power converter which converts a signal between power levels; and an interface connectable to the cellular phone, wherein the interface includes a transceiver which communicates with the cellular phone and the power converter, a converter which converts an incoming audio signal received from the phone to a radio frequency signal, and a transmitter which transmits the radio frequency signal to the radio receiver, wherein the audio signal is reproduced over the radio speaker.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the power converter comprises an external antenna for communicating with an external communications cell and an internal antenna for communicating with the interface.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the power converter further comprises a transceiver which receives signals from the external communications cell and the interface and a repeater which amplifies the signals.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the interface further comprises a microphone which receives an outgoing voice signal and transmits the signal to the cellular phone.

21. The system of claim 17, wherein the interface further comprises a speaker which reproduces a signal generated by the cellular phone when the phone receives an incoming signal.

22. An interface connectable to an audio producing device for interfacing the device to a radio including a radio receiver and a speaker, comprising: a converter which converts incoming audio signals from the audio producing device to radio frequency signals; a transmitter which transmits the radio frequency signals via an antenna to the radio receiver, wherein the audio signals are reproduced over the radio speaker; and a capacitor coupled between the antenna and an external power source which supplies power to the radio.

23. The interface of claim 22, further comprising a speaker which reproduces a signal generated by the audio producing device when the device is activated.

24. The interface of claim 22, wherein the interface is connectable to a battery eliminator to supply power from the external power source to the audio producing device. - 52 -

25. The interface of claim 22, wherein the radio is an RBDS radio and the interface further comprises an RBDS transmitter for transmitting a command signal to adjust the radio when a signal is sent by the audio producing device.