Patent Application
20100056072
The present invention relates to cables and tuner-transmitters for connecting portable personal electronic devices with external entertainment systems. More particularly, the present invention relates to connecting cable systems for receiving input from portable personal electronic devices and conveying them to an external entertainment system. Even more particularly, the present invention relates to connecting cables and FM tuner-transmitters for receiving electronic signals from portable personal electronic devices, transforming the signals, and conveying them to an external entertainment system.
It is common in the present society for individuals to carry a portable personal electronic device (PPED) which provides to the user an entertaining output, either audio or video, from a memory capability within the PPED. The PPED has evolved from a portable radio which receives a signal from an external source and transforms it into an audible signal presented through either a speaker or ear phones. The typical PPED now contains a memory device which the user can load with music, video, data, etc. for playback at a later time, thus freeing it from the limitation of available local broadcast sources.
When a user is traveling in a vehicle, or otherwise near an external entertainment system (EES) which he desires to use as the playback outlet, it is necessary to connect the PPED with the EES, either wirelessly or through a wire or cable. This is frequently accomplished by connecting a cable between the PPED and the EES. Typically the playback occurs over an unused FM frequency to the EES which receives the signal from the PPED and presents it to the user. Given the extensive use of the FM frequency bands, the user must have a variety of frequencies from which to choose in order to avoid conflict with an active FM station.
When using the PPED, the user may often have occasion to change the settings for the output connection. In a moving vehicle for example, an FM frequency that is not used in one location may be in use in a new location in which the vehicle is operating. This requires the PPED user to change some connection setting to utilize another, unused, frequency. If the PPED user is the vehicle operator, it is imperative that attention to safely driving the vehicle take precedence over changing the PPED settings. Thus, what is needed is a PPED-EES connecting apparatus that the operator can conveniently manipulate without detracting from the safe operation of the vehicle.
Accordingly, the present invention is an apparatus consisting of a connecting cable with a housing containing a built-in FM tuner and transmitter that connects a PPED, such as an iPod®, iPhone®, portable DVD player, and the like, with an EES, such as a home entertainment center, a car radio or a DVD player. The apparatus can be operated without needing to look at the apparatus in order to quickly select a different FM frequency for playback operation if the need arises.
The present invention uniquely combines an electronic cable in two segments with appropriate electronic connectors for connecting the chosen PPED with an EES. Each cable segment is configured with an electronic jack-type connector on one end and a rotatable electronic connector on the other end. The rotatable connectors connect physically and electronically with the housing which contains suitable FM circuitry for receiving the signals from the PPED and transforming them in a manner suitable for connecting with an EES. The connection with the EES is preferably wireless but can be either hard wired or wireless.
The housing includes a dial selector for preset FM frequency taps selected from typically un-used FM frequencies, or other suitable frequencies as appropriate. Each tap is represented by a detent-type position which physically holds the selector at the selected detent, providing the user with a fast, tactile feedback which the user can interpret as a positive connection, avoiding the need for the user to visually inspect the selector to determine which frequency is selected. The present invention incorporates a 360 degree dial selector that can be operated in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction, without the need to reverse direction at some internal stop. The housing may further contain a display portion to visually confirm to the user the selected frequency in use.
For a better understanding of the present invention, reference is made to the below referenced accompanying Drawing. Reference numbers refer to the same or equivalent parts of the present invention throughout the several figures of the Drawing.
Referring now to
The external portion of housing 10 has two sections, a fixed shell 15 and a cylindrical rotatable frequency selector dial 16. Dial 16 is freely rotatable and selects one of the preset frequencies. If desired, the housing may also contain a transparent display section 17. Display section 17 is typically a back lighted transparent panel which identifies the frequency selected by the user. Alternatively, the display section 17 could display any datum or data consisting of lights, symbols or numbers, employing for example light emitting diodes or printed transparent screens. While a cylindrical housing 10 is shown, it is to be understood that any shape housing could be used without departing from the intent and teaching of this disclosure.
Referring now to
Information as herein shown and described in detail is fully capable of attaining the above-described object of the invention, the presently preferred embodiment of the invention, and is, thus, representative of the subject matter which is broadly contemplated by the present invention. The scope of the present invention fully encompasses other embodiments which may become obvious to those skilled in the art, and is to be limited, accordingly, by nothing other than the appended claims, wherein reference to an element in the singular is not intended to mean “one and only one” unless explicitly so stated, but rather “one or more.”
All structural and functional equivalents to the elements of the above-described preferred embodiment and additional embodiments that are known to those of ordinary skill in the art are hereby expressly incorporated by reference and are intended to be encompassed by the present claims. However, it should be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes and modifications in form, apparatus material, and fabrication material detail may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.
Moreover, no requirement exists for a device or method to address each and every problem sought to be resolved by the present invention, for such to be encompassed by the present claims. Furthermore, no element, component, or method step in the present disclosure is intended to be dedicated to the public regardless of whether the element, component, or method step is explicitly recited in the claims. No claim herein is to be construed under the provisions of 35 U.S.C. 112, sixth paragraph, unless the element is expressly recited using the phrase “means for.”
The present invention applies industrially to cables for connecting portable personal electronic devices to an external entertainment system for playback of audio, video or data.
