IRVIN DAVID R (US)
WO1994029966A1 | 1994-12-22 |
GB2210233A | 1989-06-01 | |||
US4873711A | 1989-10-10 | |||
US5490213A | 1996-02-06 |
1. | We claim: An untethered microphone unit for handsfree communication system comprising: (a) a microphone adapted to convert sound waves into electrical microphone signals; (b) a wireless transmitter associated with said microphone and adapted to provide untethered transmission of said microphone signals to an associated radio telephone base adapted to receive the transmitted microphone signals; (c) a wireless receiver adapted to receive transmitted control signals; control circuitry operatively associated with said microphone, said transmitter and said receiver, said control circuitry being responsive to said transmitted control signals to control the transmission of said microphone signals to the associated radio telephone base; and (d) a power supply to provide electrical energy to power said untethered microphone unit. |
2. | The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said power supply comprises a rechargeable battery. |
3. | The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said power supply includes a solar panel for gathering solar energy from sunlight and converting said solar energy to electrical energy. |
4. | The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a mount adapted to mount said untethered microphone unit in the interior of a vehicle. |
5. | The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said control circuitry is adapted to transmit control information to the radio telephone base via said transmitter. |
6. | The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an actuator operatively associated with said control circuitry, said control circuitry adapted to activate said untethered microphone unit when said actuator is actuated. |
7. | The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising an actuator operatively associated with said control circuitry, said control circuitry adapted to deactivate said untethered microphone unit when said actuator is actuated. |
8. | The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said control circuitry is adapted to operate in conjunction with said microphone and adapted to activate said untethered microphone unit when audible information is presented to said microphone to allow voice activated operation. |
9. | I he apparatus of claim 1 wherein said control circuitry is adapted lo monitor for said transmitted control signal, said control circuitry adapted to keep said untethered microphone unit activated while said control signal is present. |
10. | The apparatus of claim 9 wherein said control circuitry is further adapted to deactivate said untethered microphone unit when said control signal is not present. |
11. | The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said control circuitry is adapted to activate or deactivate said untethered microphone according lo said control signal from said radio telephone base. |
12. | The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said control circuitry is adapted to periodically activate and deactivate said receiver when said untethered microphone unit is activated, said control circuitry adapted to monitor said control signal when receiver is activated. |
13. | A method of providing handsfree operation of a radio telephone in a vehicle comprising: (a) converting sound waves to electrical signals at a remote, untethered microphone unit; (b) transmitting said electrical signals from the remote microphone unit to a base unit via a first wireless carrier; (c) transmitting base control signals from the base unit to the remote microphone unit via a second wireless carrier; and (d) controlling said microphone unit according to the base control signals from the radio telephone base. |
14. | The method according to claim 13 wherein said microphone unit is normally in an deactivated state. |
15. | The method according lo claim 14 further comprising the step of manually activating said microphone unit to place the remote microphone unit in an activated stale. |
16. | The method according to claim 15 further comprising the steps of providing power to said microphone unit while control signals arc being received, and deactivating said microphone when control signals are not received. |
17. | The method according to claim 15 further comprising the step of transmitting control signals from said remote microphone unit to said base unit in response to the actuation of said remote microphone unit. |
18. | A method for providing handsfree operation of a radio telephone in a vehicle comprising: (a) converting sound waves to electrical signals at a remote, untethered microphone unit; (b) transmitting said electrical signals from said remote microphone unit lo a base unil using a wireless carrier; (c) receiving a control signal al a receiver in said remote microphone unit; (d) deactivating said remote microphone unit when said control signal is no longer received at said remote microphone unit. |
19. | The method according to claim 18 wherein the step of receiving said control signal comprises activating said receiver al periodic intervals for a preĀ¬ determined duration to receive said control signal. |
20. | A radio communication device for hands free operation in a vehicle comprising: (a) a radio telephone base unit including a base transmitter, a base receiver, and a base control circuitry operatively associated with said base transmitter and said base receiver, and (b) an untethered microphone unit including a microphone adapted to convert sound waves into electrical audio signals; a microphone transmitter associated with said microphone unit, a microphone receiver, and microphone control circuitry operatively associated with said microphone transmitter and said microphone receiver; (c) said microphone transmitter adapted to transmit and said base receiver adapted to receive said audio signals; (d) said base control circuitry adapted to have said base transmitter transmit base control signals; and (e) said microphone receiver adapted to receive said base control signals, said microphone control circuitry further adapted to control said microphone unit according to said base control signals. |
21. | The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said control signals include a callinprocess signal. |
22. | The apparatus of claim 21 wherein said audio signals are transmitted by said microphone transmitter to said base transmitter when callinprocess signals are being received by said remote microphone unit. |
23. | The apparatus of claim 20 wherein said microphone transmitter is further adapted to transmit microphone control signals and said base receiver is further adapted to receive said microphone control signals, said base control circuitry adapted to control said base according to said microphone control signals. |
24. | The apparatus of claim 23 wherein said microphone control signals include a call termination signal. |
25. | The apparatus of claim 23 wherein said microphone control signals include a call initiation signal. |
26. | The apparatus of claim 20 further including means for periodically activating said microphone receiver while a call is in process lo monitor said base control signals. |
27. | A base unit for handsfree radio telephone operation in a vehicle comprising: (a) a wireless base receiver adapted to receive transmitted audio signals from an untethered microphone unit; (b) a base transmitter; and (c) a base controller operatively associated with said base receiver and said base transmitter; (d) said base controller adapted to transmitter transmit base control signals via said base transmitter to provide control information to Ihe untethered microphone unit, said base controller further adapted to process the audio signals received from the untethered microphone for radio telephone communication. |
28. | The apparatus of claim 27 wherein said radio telephone base is a cradle adapted to interface with a radio telephone, said control circuitry adapted lo send the audio signals to the radio telephone for transmission to a radio telephone network. |
29. | The apparatus of claim 27 wherein said control signals transmitted by said base unit includes a callinprocess signal. |
30. | The apparatus of claim 27 wherein said radio telephone base is integrated into a radio telephone. |
31. | The apparatus of claim 27 wherein said base receiver is further adapted to receive microphone control signals adapted to provide information from the untethered microphone unit to said base unit. |
32. | The apparatus of claim 29 wherein said microphone control signals include a call initiation signal. |
33. | The apparatus of claim 29 wherein said microphone control signals include a call termination signal. |
Background of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to hands-free radio telephone
operation and, more particularly, to an untethered microphone for permitting
hands-free radio telephone communications.
When a handheld radio telephone, such as a cellular telephone, is operated
in a moving vehicle, safety considerations dictate that a hands-free accessory be
used. The hands-free accessory often provides a physical entrapment for the
portable radio telephone, and, among other features, an external microphone
located in a position to pick-up the driver's voice. The physical entrapment for
the portable radio telephone is generally described as a cradle. The external
microphone is typically altached, clipped, or mounted lo the driver's sun-visor or
mounted along the windshield or driver window trim.
Electrical signals from the microphone corresponding to the user's voice
must be coupled to the radio telephone. Currently, this coupling is made via a
cable running between the external microphone and the body of the radio
telephone. When a remote microphone cable is used, the cable must be shielded
in order to prevent the injection of spurious electrical noise into the radio
telephone's audio system. Because of the requirement for shielding, the cable is
relatively thick, and therefore unsightly when strung across the interior of the
vehicle.
In order to hide the cable, it could be built into the vehicle's structure
during manufacture or, as currently done, added by an after-market vendor. Both
of these approaches are inherently unsatisfactory. The first is unsatisfactory
because of the added manufacturing cost, the problem of stressing the cable
whenever the sun-visor is moved, and the problems associated with repairing the
cable once installed. The second approach is unsatisfactory because of the
consumer's well-founded reluctance to allow an after-market technician of
unknown skill to take apart, drill and otherwise modify the vehicle in order to hide
the cable.
Thus, there remains a need for a wireless microphone adapted lo operate in
association with a radio telephone base unit. In order to completely eliminate
associated wiring, there is a need for a remote, wireless microphone having its
own independent power supply. There is also a need for a rechargeable power
supply capable of using solar energy to recharge a battery in the remote
microphone in order to avoid having to periodically replace regular batteries.
Summary of the Invention
The present invention is directed towards an untethered microphone
associated with a radio telephone base and adapted to provide wireless
communication therebetween. The remote microphone may include a
rechargeable battery, a solar power supply, and an associated solar panel
configured to recharge the battery. The remote microphone and base unit are
adapted to each transmit and receive data and control signals therebetween. The
remote microphone is further adapted to transmit voice signals from the
microphone to the base unit during operation. Typically, a first transceiver is
located with the remote unit, and a second transceiver is located with the hands-
free base unit. Working together, the transceivers carry the microphone's signals
to the radio telephone's transmitter. Additionally, the transceivers carry control
information back and forth between the microphone and the hands-free base unit.
The remote unit is typically mounted on the driver's sun-visor, with the
microphone element mounted facing Ihe driver and the solar panel exposed to the
sun through the vehicle's windshield. The solar panel trickle-charges the
rechargeable battery that supplies power for the remote unit.
Since the remote unit has limited electrical power at its disposal, its power
reserves must be conserved. Power preservation is accomplished by configuring
the remote unit to have a low-power or deactivated mode when the remote unit is
not in use. An actuator is mounted on the remote unit for answering incoming
calls and initiating outgoing calls. The actuator is typically used to bring the
remote out of a deactivated state to initiate operation. When a ringer mounted on
the base unit announces an incoming call, the person receiving the call signals
acceptance of the call by switching on the remote microphone unit with the
actuator. The remote unit then sends the microphone's output to the base unit via
the transceivers on the remote unit and base units. In response, the base unit sends
a call-in-progress signal to the remote unit via a return path provided by the
transceivers. The receiver at the remote unit is activated periodically to monitor
the presence of this signal. In one embodiment, the receiver powers down to save
power and periodically awakens lo check for the presence of a call-in-progress
signal while the transmitter of the transceiver stays on in order lo transmit the
microphone signal.
When the call ends, the base unit stops sending the call-in-progress signal.
The receiver senses the absence of the signal after a few failed attempts to receive
it and powers down, having deduced from the signal's absence lhat the call is over.
Alternately, the call acceptance switch or actuator can be made logically bi-stable,
and therefore useful to terminate the call and power down the remote unit. This
same bi-stable switch can be used by the vehicle's operator to power on the remote
unit in preparation for an outgoing call. In such cases, the remote unit will signal
Ihe base unit to prepare for an outgoing call.
The transmission of voice, data and control signals may be carried out by a
wide variety of analog or digital transmission schemes, such as frequency
modulation, amplitude modulation or pulse code modulation. Additionally, a
control signal may be as simple as receiving a certain Irequency. For example, the
call-in-progress signal may be as simple as a single transmitted frequency or as
complex as a digitally encoded data stream on an analog carrier.
These and other aspects of the present invention will become apparent to
those skilled in the art after a reading of the following description of the preferred
embodiments when considered with the drawings.
Brief Description of tlie Drawings
FIGURE 1 is a schematic of a remote microphone unit and an associated
hands-free base unit constructed according to a preferred embodiment of the
present invention;
FIGURE 2 is a more detailed schematic of the remote microphone unit
constructed according lo the embodiment of Figure 1 ;
FIGURE 3 is a perspective view of the remote microphone unit mounted
on a visor of a vehicle; and
FIGURE 4 is a flow chart showing the progress of a call.
Description of the Preferred Embodiments
Referring now to the drawings in general, and Figure 1 in particular, an
untethered, hands-free vehicle communication system, generally designated 10, is
shown constructed according to the present invention. The hands-free
communication system 10 includes two major sub-systems: a remote microphone
unit 12 and a hands-free base unit 14 for providing wireless or untethered
communications with the microphone unit 12.
The hands-free base unit 14 is typically mounted to a vehicle and provided
power by a vehicle power supply 16. The hands-free base unit 14 may be a
cellular telephone base, a cradle configured to receive a radio telephone, or a
separate unit configured to operate between a radio telephone and the remote
microphone unit 12. In any case, the base unit 14 is configured to provide
untethered communications with the remote microphone unit 12. Of course, the
base unit 14 in turn communicates with a cellular telephone system or other radio
telephone system in a conventional fashion.
The remote microphone unit 12 typically includes a power supply 20,
control circuitry 22, a microphone 24, a transmitter 26, a receiver 30 and an
actuator 32. The remote unit control circuitry 22 is operatively associated with the
microphone 24, transmitter 26, receiver 30 and the actuator 32. When a telephone
user invokes hands-free communications, the user will speak into the microphone
24 and typically receive audible communications through a speaker associated
with the base unit 14. The microphone 24 converts the user's voice into electrical
signals for radio frequency transmission by the transmitter 26. The transmitted
microphone signals are designated 42.
The remote unit control circuitry 22 is configured to also provide
information signals for transmission lo the base unit 14. The transmitted
information signals are designated 44. The information signals 44 may include
any suitable variety of status, data, or control information. For example, the
information signal may be a call initiation signal, a call termination, or a call
acceptance signal.
The transmitted microphone signals 42 and the transmitted information
signals 44 are received by a base unit receiver 36. The base unit control circuitry
34 directs the received microphone signals 42 for radio communications to a
cellular base station of a cellular telephone system in a conventional manner. The
base unit control circuitry 34 will also act on the transmitted information signals
44 from the remote unit 12 based upon the content of signals 44. For example, if
the information signal is a call initiation signal, the base unit 14 will respond by
initiating an outgoing call. Similarly, if the information signal is a call termination
signal, the base unit 14 will terminate the call.
The base unit control circuitry 34 and base transmitter 40 are adapted to
provide and transmit base information signals, designated 46, to the remote unit
12. For example, a call-in-progress signal is transmitted from the base unit 14 to
the remote unit 12 to inform the remote microphone unit that a call is in process.
In sum, the receivers and transmitters for the remote unit 12 and the base
unit 14 provide for two-way communication of control information via the
information signals 44, 46 and transmission of the microphone signals 42 from the
remote unit 12 to the base unit 14.
Turning now to Figure 2, there is shown a more detailed schematic of the
remote unit 12. In order to provide a truly untethered remote unit 12, the unit
must contain its own power supply. Preferably, a battery or system of batteries 52
is used to power the remote unit 12. Preferably, the battery 52 is a nicad battery
rechargeable via a trickle charger 50 coupled to a solar panel 48. The solar panel
48 is optimally positioned in order to receive solar energy whenever possible.
When solar energy is provided to the solar panel 48, electric power is provided to
the battery 52 through the charger 50. Given the automotive application, the solar
panel will be a small low-powered panel providing only small amounts of
continuous energy. The charger 50 will typically provide only a trickle charge to
the battery 52 when solar energy is available. The size of the solar panel 48 and
the capacity of the battery 52 are preferably designed so that the battery 52 always
has sufficient charge lo power the unit during normal operation.
In order to conserve power, the remote microphone unit 12 is normally
turned off. The aclualor 32 is used to initially "wake-up" the control circuitry 22
by directly providing momentary power along line 54 to the control circuitry 22
from the battery 52. The control circuitry 22_recognizes the "wake-up" signal and
sends a power control signal 58 to a primary power control 60. The primary
power control 60 directs power from the battery 52 to the various components of
the remote unit 12. The primary control 60 may be a mechanical relay or switch,
or an electronic switch, such as a bipolar or field effect transistor. Furthermore,
there are a variety of integrated circuits which have zero or low power
configurations or states. These integrated circuits may include transmitters,
receivers, control circuitry, or any combination thereof. The power control signal
58 may also be used to power down the remote unit 12.
When the actuator 32 is pressed, the remote unit's control circuitry
transmits a signal to the base unit 14. The actuator 32 may be pressed either to
initiate an outgoing call or to answer an incoming call. In response, the base unit
14 sends a call-in-progress signal to the remote unit 12 through the respective
transceivers. The receiver 30 at the remote unit 12 operates in conjunction with
the control circuitry 22 to monitor for the presence of the call-in-progress signal
sent from the base unit 14. As long as the call-in-progress signal is present, the
remote unit remains powered on. In a preferred embodiment, the remote unit 12
conserves energy further by having the control circuitry 22 periodically power-on
and off the receiver 30 of the remote unit 12. When the receiver 30 is active, the
remote unit 12 monitors for the call-in-progress signal.
When the call ends, the base unit 14 stops sending the call-in-progress
signal. The control circuitry 22 powers down the various components of the
remote unit 12 after sensing the absence of the call-in-progress signal and after a
few failed attempts to receive it through the receiver 30. Alternately, the actuator
32 can be made logically bi-stable, and therefore useful to terminate the call and
power down the remote unit 12. The actuator 32, in a bi-stable state, can be used
by the user to power on the remote unit in preparation for initiating an outgoing
call. Once the call is initiated, the call-in-progress signaling will resume as
discussed above to keep the remote unit 12 powered during the call.
The actuator 32 may be further configured lo provide an actuator control
signal 56 to the control circuitry 22. The control circuitry 22 will recognize the
actuator control signal 56 and react accordingly. The actuator control signal 56
may be used for a variety of signals, such as turning the remote unit on or off,
initiating a call, or terminating a call.
As best seen in Figure 3, the remote unit 12 is preferably mounted on a
visor 66 of vehicle 68 with a remote unit clip or other mounting bracket 64. The
solar panel 48 is positioned to receive sunlight through the windshield 70 while
the microphone 24 is directed towards the passenger seated in seat 69. The base
unit 14 is mounted near or on the console of the vehicle 68. The base unit 14 is
associated with a speaker 72 to enable the user lo hear another party during radio
telephone communication.
The transmitters and receivers of the remote unit 12 and the base unit 14
are preferably integrated transceivers. Working together, the transceivers of the
remote unit 12 and the base unit 14 carry the transmitted microphone signal 42
from the remote unit 12 to the base unit 14 and ultimately to a radio telephone
transmitter (not shown) for radio telephone transmission to a cellular tower,
satellite or other base station.
Referring now to Figure 4, the operation of the remote unit 12 will be
described in greater detail. In use, a ringer typically signals an incoming call. To
accept the incoming call, the user activates the actuator 32 on the remote unit 12
(Block 100). The remote unit 12 powers on (Block 102) and sends a call-
acceptance signal to the base unit 14 (Block 1 4). The remote unit transmits the
audio transmission signal 42 to provide a mic-to-base-unit link to carry the user's
voice to the base unit for further radio telephone communication (Block 106).
Upon receiving the call-acceptance signal (information signals 44), the base unit
14 sends the call-in-progress signal (base information signals 46) to the remote
unit 12. The remote unit 12 monitors the call-in-progress signal from the base unit
14 (Block 108). If the call-in-progress signal is received by the remote unit 12,
the control circuitry 22 and the receiver 30 will go into a low-power state
(Decision 1 10). Preferably, the control circuitry 22 will power down the receiver
30 and then go into a low-power state. The control circuitry 22 may include an
internal clock configured to wake up the receiver 30 periodically (Block 1 12).
Upon wake up, the control circuitry 22 will power on the receiver 30 and listen for
the call-in-progress signal from the remote unit (Blocks 1 14 and 108). The control
circuitry 22 will continue this procedure until the call-in-progress signal is not
received. If the call-in-progress signal is not received, the control circuitry may
fully power down, sleep for another interval and attempt to receive the call-in-
progress signal, or go into a time-out procedure. The control circuitry 22 may
sleep for a select number of intervals before power down due to the absence of the
call-in-progress signal. The control circuitry 22 will eventually completely power
down the remote unit 12 if the call-in-progress signal is not received (Block 1 16).
The remote unit 12 provides various options to terminate a call. The user
may terminate a call from the base unit 14 by simply deactivating the base unit.
The base unit 14 will cease to broadcast the call-in-progress signal, so the remote
unit 12 will power down due to the lack of presence of the call-in-progress signal,
as discussed above. Alternatively, the user may contact the actuator 32 to
terminate the call. The control circuitry 22 will receive the actuator control signal
52, which may be as simple as a switch closure, and transmit a "call over" signal
(information signals 44) to the base unit 14. The base unit 14 will end the call,
and the remote unit 12 will power down.
To initiate an outgoing call, the user will preferably activate the actuator
32. The remote unit 12 will power on as discussed above, and signal the base that
it is preparing for an outgoing call (information signals 44). Although calls may
be initiated from the base unit 14, this would require the receiver 30 of the remote
unit 12 to remain powered, or periodically wake up from a low-power state.
Certain modifications and improvements will occur to those skilled
in the art upon a reading of the foregoing description. It should be understood that
all such modifications and improvements have been deleted herein for the sake of
conciseness and readability but are properly within the scope of the following
claims.