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Mobile Phone Patent Abstract
A universal mobile phone adapter device for a vehicle appliance
operable for enabling a user to talk hands-free on a mobile phone
during a phone call between the mobile phone and a telephone of
another party when the mobile phone is electronically connected
to the vehicle appliance. The adapter device includes a universal
vehicle adapter base integrated in the interior of the vehicle.
The adapter base is electronically connected to the vehicle appliance.
The adapter device includes first and second adapter sleeves which
are removably receivable one at a time within the adapter base.
The adapter sleeves include respective first and second mobile phone
receiving areas for removably receiving first and second mobile
phones having different configurations. The adapter sleeves and
the adapter base electronically connect the mobile phones to the
vehicle appliance when the adapter sleeves receive the respective
mobile phones and the adapter base receives the adapter sleeves.
Mobile Phone Patent Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A vehicular hands-free mobile phone system, the system comprising:
a vehicle appliance integrated into the vehicle, the vehicle appliance
being operable for enabling a user to talk hands-free on a mobile
phone during a phone call between the mobile phone and a telephone
of another party when the mobile phone is electronically connected
to the vehicle appliance, the vehicle appliance having a universal
vehicle adapter base integrated in the interior of the vehicle for
access by the user, the adapter base having an adapter sleeve receiving
area; and first and second adapter sleeves each being removably
received within the adapter sleeve receiving area of the adapter
base one at a time, the first adapter sleeve having a first mobile
phone receiving area for removably receiving a first mobile phone
having a first configuration, the second adapter sleeve having a
second mobile phone receiving area different than the first mobile
phone receiving area for removably receiving a second mobile phone
having a second configuration different than the first configuration;
wherein the first adapter sleeve and the adapter base electronically
connect the first mobile phone to the vehicle appliance when the
first adapter sleeve receives the first mobile phone and the adapter
base receives the first adapter sleeve; wherein the second adapter
sleeve and the adapter base electronically connect the second mobile
phone to the vehicle appliance when the second adapter sleeve receives
the second mobile phone and the adapter base receives the second
adapter sleeve.
2. The system of claim 1 wherein: the vehicle appliance includes
a microphone for receiving voice communications of the user during
a phone call between one of the first and second mobile phones and
a telephone of another party when the one of the first and second
mobile phones is electronically connected to the vehicle appliance,
wherein the vehicle appliance electronically communicates the received
voice communications to the one of the first and second mobile phones
for transmission to the telephone of the other party during the
phone call.
3. The system of claim 2 wherein: the one of the first and second
mobile phones electronically communicates voice communications received
from the telephone of the other party during the phone call to the
vehicle appliance when the one of the first and second mobile phones
is electronically connected to the vehicle appliance, wherein the
vehicle appliance is connected to a vehicle speaker for outputting
the received voice communications of the other party for the user
to hear during the phone call.
4. The system of claim 1 wherein: the vehicle appliance includes
a keypad, the keypad being integrated into the vehicle for access
by the user, wherein the vehicle appliance controls one of the first
and second mobile phones in accordance with dialing activity of
the keypad when the one of the first and second mobile phones is
electronically connected to the vehicle appliance.
5. The system of claim 1 wherein: the vehicle appliance includes
a display, the display being integrated into the vehicle for access
by the user, wherein the vehicle appliance controls the display
to display information indicative of activity of one of the first
and second mobile phones when the one of the first and second mobile
phones is electronically connected to the vehicle appliance.
6. The system of claim 1 wherein: the vehicle appliance is electronically
connected to a vehicle power supply in order to power one of the
first and second mobile phones when the one of the first and second
mobile phones is electronically connected to the vehicle appliance.
7. The system of claim 2 wherein: the vehicle appliance includes
a voice recognition converter, wherein the voice recognition converter
recognizes user voice commands received by the microphone and the
vehicle appliance electronically communicates with the one of the
first and second mobile phones in order to control the one of the
first and second mobile phones in accordance with the user voice
commands when the one of the first and second mobile phones is electronically
connected to the vehicle appliance.
8. The system of claim 3 wherein: the one of the first and second
mobile phones electronically communicates textual messages received
from the telephone of the other party during the phone call to the
vehicle appliance when the one of the first and second mobile phones
is electronically connected to the vehicle appliance, wherein the
vehicle appliance includes a text-to-speech (TTS) converter which
converts the received textual messages into speech, wherein the
vehicle appliance outputs the speech on the speaker for the user
to hear during the phone call.
9. The system of claim 1 wherein: the adapter sleeve receiving
area of the adapter base has a universal electrical plug connector,
and the first and second adapter sleeves each have a complementary
universal electrical plug connector; wherein the plug connector
of the adapter base and the complementary plug connector of the
first adapter sleeve interconnect with one another in order to electronically
connect the first adapter sleeve to the vehicle appliance when the
adapter base receives the first adapter sleeve; wherein the plug
connector of the adapter base and the complementary plug connector
of the second adapter sleeve interconnect with one another in order
to electronically connect the second adapter sleeve to the vehicle
appliance when the adapter base receives the second adapter sleeve.
10. The system of claim 9 wherein: the first adapter sleeve has
a first electrical plug connector which connects with a complementary
electrical plug connector of the first mobile phone when the first
adapter sleeve receives the first mobile phone in order to electronically
connect the first mobile phone to the first adapter sleeve and thereby
electronically connect the first mobile phone to the vehicle appliance
when the adapter base receives the first adapter sleeve.
11. The system of claim 10 wherein: the second adapter sleeve has
a second electrical plug connector different than the first electrical
plug connector of the first adapter sleeve, the second electrical
plug connector connects with a complementary electrical plug connector
of the second mobile phone when the second adapter sleeve receives
the second mobile phone in order to electronically connect the second
mobile phone to the second adapter sleeve and thereby electronically
connect the second mobile phone to the vehicle appliance when the
adapter base receives the second adapter sleeve.
12. A universal mobile phone adapter device for a vehicular hands-free
mobile phone system, the system having a vehicle appliance integrated
into a vehicle, the vehicle appliance being operable for enabling
a user to talk hands-free on a mobile phone during a phone call
between the mobile phone and a telephone of another party when the
mobile phone is electronically connected to the vehicle appliance,
the device comprising: a universal vehicle adapter base integrated
in the interior of the vehicle for access by the user, the adapter
base being electronically connected to the vehicle appliance and
having an adapter sleeve receiving area sized to receive at a time
one adapter sleeve having a uniform base configuration; a first
adapter sleeve having the uniform base configuration in order to
be removably receivable within the adapter sleeve receiving area
of the adapter base, the first adapter sleeve having a first mobile
phone receiving area for removably receiving a first mobile phone
having a first physical body configuration and a first electrical
interface configuration; wherein the first adapter sleeve and the
adapter base electronically connect the first mobile phone to the
vehicle appliance when the first adapter sleeve receives the first
mobile phone and the adapter base receives the first adapter sleeve;
a second adapter sleeve having the uniform base configuration in
order to be removably receivable within the adapter sleeve receiving
area of the adapter base, the second adapter sleeve having a second
mobile phone receiving area different than the first mobile phone
receiving area for removably receiving a second mobile phone having
a second physical body configuration and a second electrical interface
configuration different than the first physical body configuration
and the first electrical interface configuration; wherein the second
adapter sleeve and the adapter base electronically connect the second
mobile phone to the vehicle appliance when the second adapter sleeve
receives the second mobile phone and the adapter base receives the
second adapter sleeve.
13. The device of claim 12 wherein the vehicle appliance includes
a microphone for receiving voice communications of the user during
a phone call between one of the first and second mobile phones and
a telephone of another party when the one of the first and second
mobile phones is electronically connected to the vehicle appliance,
wherein: the one of the first and second mobile phones electronically
receives the voice communications from the vehicle appliance for
transmission to the telephone of the other party during the phone
call when the one of the first and second mobile phones is electronically
connected to the vehicle appliance.
14. The device of claim 13 wherein the vehicle appliance is connected
to a vehicle speaker for outputting voice communications of the
other party for the user to hear during the phone call, wherein:
the one of the first and second mobile phones electronically transmits
voice communications of the other party received from the telephone
of the other party during the phone call to the vehicle appliance
when the one of the first and second mobile phones is electronically
connected to the vehicle appliance for the vehicle appliance to
output over the vehicle speaker.
15. The device of claim 12 wherein the vehicle appliance includes
a keypad integrated into the vehicle for access by the user, wherein:
the one of the first and second mobile phones electronically receives
commands indicative of dialing activity on the keypad from the vehicle
appliance and functions in accordance with the received commands
when the one of the first and second mobile phones is electronically
connected to the vehicle appliance.
16. The device of claim 12 wherein the vehicle appliance includes
a display integrated into the vehicle for access by the user, wherein:
the one of the first and second mobile phones electronically transmits
display information indicative of mobile phone activity to the vehicle
appliance for the vehicle appliance to display on the display when
the one of the first and second mobile phones is electronically
connected to the vehicle appliance.
17. The device of claim 12 wherein: the adapter sleeve receiving
area of the adapter base has a universal electrical plug connector,
and the first and second adapter sleeves each have a complementary
universal electrical plug connector; wherein the plug connector
of the adapter base and the complementary plug connector of the
first adapter sleeve interconnect with one another in order to electronically
connect the first adapter sleeve to the vehicle appliance when the
adapter base receives the first adapter sleeve; wherein the plug
connector of the adapter base and the complementary plug connector
of the second adapter sleeve interconnect with one another in order
to electronically connect the second adapter sleeve to the vehicle
appliance when the adapter base receives the second adapter sleeve.
18. The device of claim 17 wherein: the first adapter sleeve has
a first electrical plug connector which connects with a complementary
electrical plug connector of the first mobile phone when the first
adapter sleeve receives the first mobile phone in order to electronically
connect the first mobile phone to the first adapter sleeve and thereby
electronically connect the first mobile phone to the vehicle appliance
when the adapter base receives the first adapter sleeve; wherein
the second adapter sleeve has a second electrical plug connector
different than the first electrical plug connector of the first
adapter sleeve, the second electrical plug connector connects with
a complementary electrical plug connector of the second mobile phone
when the second adapter sleeve receives the second mobile phone
in order to electronically connect the second mobile phone to the
second adapter sleeve and thereby electronically connect the second
mobile phone to the vehicle appliance when the adapter base receives
the second adapter sleeve.
19. A method for using a vehicle appliance operable for enabling
a user to talk hands-free on a mobile phone during a phone call
between the mobile phone and a telephone of another party when the
mobile phone is electronically connected to the vehicle appliance,
the vehicle appliance having a universal mobile phone adapter base
in the interior of the vehicle for access by a user, the adapter
base having an adapter sleeve receiving area for receiving an adapter
sleeve at a time, the method comprising: inserting a first adapter
sleeve having a first mobile phone receiving area into the adapter
sleeve receiving area of the adapter base in order to electronically
connect the first adapter sleeve to the vehicle appliance; inserting
a first mobile phone having a first configuration into the first
mobile phone receiving area of the first adapter sleeve in order
to electronically connect the first mobile phone to the first adapter
sleeve such that the first mobile phone is electronically connected
to the vehicle appliance when the first mobile phone is inserted
into the first adapter sleeve and the first adapter sleeve is inserted
into the adapter base; removing the first adapter sleeve from the
adapter base; inserting a second adapter sleeve having a second
mobile phone receiving area different than the first mobile phone
receiving area into the adapter base in order to electronically
connect the second adapter sleeve to the vehicle appliance; inserting
a second mobile phone having a second configuration different than
the first configuration into the second mobile phone receiving area
of the second adapter sleeve in order to electronically connect
the second mobile phone to the second adapter sleeve such that the
second mobile phone is electronically connected to the vehicle appliance
when the second mobile phone is inserted into the second adapter
sleeve and the second adapter sleeve is inserted into the adapter
base.
20. The method of claim 19 further comprising: removing the first
mobile phone from the first adapter sleeve after the first mobile
phone has been inserted into the first adapter sleeve.
Mobile Phone Patent Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to a universal mobile phone
adapter method and system for vehicles.
2. Background Art
It is desirable for mobile phone users to conduct telephone calls
in their vehicles using hands-fee devices. Currently, mobile phone
users have a few options for using hands-free devices in order to
make telephone calls from their vehicles. One option is for the
users to use vehicles having fully integrated cell phones such as
provided by the OnStar.RTM. hands-free system. Another option is
for the users to install mobile phone specific hands-free kits in
their vehicles. Another option is for the users to use cigarette
lighter adapter kits in their vehicles.
Each of these options have disadvantages. For example, the built-in
cell phone system (i.e, the OnStar.RTM. hands-free system) precludes
the use of the users' own mobile phone providers and mobile phones.
As such, users are required to pay substantially higher rates for
air time. Further, this built-in system cannot be removed from vehicles.
Accordingly, the built-in cell phone is mobile only as long as a
user is in a vehicle having the built-in system.
The mobile phone specific hands-free kits allow users to pick their
own mobile phone providers and allow the users to remove their mobile
phones from the vehicles. However, these kits are generally expensive
to install in vehicles and mar the interior of the vehicles. Further,
these kits only function with compatible mobile phones. For example,
these kits only function with the mobile phones of a certain mobile
phone provider. Furthermore, the hands-free capabilities of the
mobile phones are only available in the vehicle in which the compatible
mobile phone specific hands-free kit is installed.
The cigarette lighter adapter kits have the advantage of portability.
However, the insertion and removal of a mobile phone is somewhat
difficult and the quality of the reception and transmission can
be quite poor due to the poor integration with the vehicle. Dialing
capabilities are not provided and the microphones of the kits are,
by necessity, in mounts which are frequently far from the users
when the users are in the vehicles.
Thus, there exists a need for a universal mobile phone adapter
system integrated into a vehicle in which the system allows a user
to use any one of a plurality of mobile phones in a hands-free manner
in the vehicle.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The present invention is pointed out with particularity in the
appended claims. However, other features of the present invention
will become more apparent, and the present invention will be best
understood by referring to the following detailed description in
conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which:
FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram of a universal mobile phone
adapter system for use in a vehicle in accordance with the present
invention;
FIGS. 2A and 2B respectively illustrate plan views of the bottom
and top surfaces of a first adapter sleeve for use with a first
cell phone and the adapter base of the universal mobile phone adapter
system;
FIG. 2C illustrates a plan view of the bottom surface of the first
mobile phone;
FIGS. 3A and 3B respectively illustrate plan views of the bottom
and top surfaces of a second adapter sleeve for use with a second
cell phone and the adapter base of the universal mobile phone adapter
system;
FIG. 3C illustrates a plan view of the bottom surface of the second
mobile phone; and
FIG. 4 illustrates a vehicle interior having a sample vehicle installation
point of the adapter base of the universal mobile phone adapter
system.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT(S)
Referring now to FIG. 1, a block diagram of a universal mobile
phone adapter system 10 in accordance with the present invention
is shown. System 10 is for use with a vehicle (not shown) and includes
a vehicle appliance 12 integrated into the vehicle. Vehicle appliance
12 includes a universal vehicle adapter base 14 that is also integrated
into the vehicle. In general, system 10 allows a vehicle user such
as the vehicle driver to take any one of a plurality of differently
sized and configured mobile phones 16 and 18 at a time and use the
selected mobile phone in a hands-free manner in the vehicle.
System 10 is for use with a corresponding vehicle of a plurality
of vehicles. Thus, each vehicle has a respective system 10. Adapter
bases 14 of vehicle appliances 12 are identical in size and design.
The design of adapter base 14 is generally rectangular block-sized
and the size of the adapter base is generally large enough to support
the adapter base and components inserted therein during use of a
vehicle. Each adapter base 14 serves as universal mobile phone connection
point to the corresponding vehicle.
Adapter base 14 has a block-sized cavity 15 sized to removably
receive one of a plurality of adapter sleeves such as adapter sleeves
20 and 22. Each adapter sleeve 20 and 22 has a block-sized design
complementary to the block-sized design of cavity 15. Each adapter
sleeve 20 and 22 respectively fits into cavity 15 in order to be
mechanically connected to adapter base 14. Cavity 15 of adapter
base 14 may receive one of adapter sleeves 20 and 22 at a time.
An adapter sleeve such as adapter sleeve 20 may be removed from
cavity 15 of adapter base 14 in order to allow another adapter sleeve
such as adapter sleeve 22 to be inserted into the cavity of the
adapter base.
Adapter base 14 includes an electrical plug connector 24 within
cavity 15. Adapter sleeves 20 and 22 each include respective bottom
surface 26 and 28 having an electrical plug connector 30 (see FIGS.
2A and 3A). Electrical plug connector 30 mates with electrical plug
connector 24 of adapter base 14 when the corresponding adapter sleeve
20 or 22 is inserted into the adapter base in order to electronically
connect the corresponding adapter sleeve and the adapter base.
Adapter sleeves 20 and 22 each correspond with a respective mobile
phone 16 and 18. Adapter sleeves 20 and 22 are used to electrically
connect the respective mobile phones 16 and 18 to adapter base 14.
As such, each adapter sleeve 20 and 22 is for use with one mobile
phone having a given size and a given electrical plug configuration.
Adapter sleeves 20 and 22 generally transform the sizes and electrical
plug configurations of mobile phones 16 and 18 to be compatible
with adapter base 14. Accordingly, by way of adapter sleeves 20
and 22, a plurality of differently sized and configured mobile phones
may be used with adapter base 14. Because adapter base 14 has an
identical design and size with respect to the adapter bases of other
vehicles, a given sized and configured mobile phone may be used
with different vehicles by way of the adapter base and one of adapter
sleeves 20 and 22.
Adapter sleeves 20 and 22 each include respective top surfaces
32 and 34. Top surfaces 32 and 34 each include a respective cavity
36 and 38 (also see FIGS. 2B and 3B). Cavities 36 and 38 of adapter
sleeves 20 and 22 have different configurations and sizes with respect
to one another. The configuration and sizes of cavities 36 and 28
of adapter sleeves 20 and 22 are different from one another in order
to accommodate and removably receive differently configured and
sized mobile phones 16 and 18.
For example, cavity 36 of adapter sleeve 20 has a block-sized configuration
to accommodate and removably receive mobile phone 16 therein. That
is, mobile phone 16 generally has a block-styled body sized to fit
within cavity 36 of adapter sleeve 20. Mobile phone 16 also has
an electrical plug connector 40 having, as an example, a triangular
shape on a bottom surface 42 of the mobile phone (see FIG. 2C).
Plug connector 40 includes, as an example, three female electrical
connectors 44. Female connectors 44, when connected to corresponding
connectors, are for use to generally transmit and receive phone
signals, status signals, power signals, etc., between mobile phone
16 and vehicle appliance 12 via adapter sleeve 20 and adapter base
14. Correspondingly, cavity 36 of adapter sleeve 20 has a complementary
electrical plug connector 46 having a triangular shape (see FIG.
2B). Plug connector 46 includes three male electrical connectors
48 for receiving the female connectors 44 of mobile phone 16.
When mobile phone 16 is inserted into cavity 36 of adapter sleeve
20 the mobile phone 16 is mechanically connected to adapter sleeve
20. Further, plug connector 40 of mobile phone 16 and plug connector
46 of adapter sleeve 20 connect with one another in order to electronically
connect the mobile phone 16 and adapter sleeve 20. Plug connector
46 of adapter sleeve 20 is electronically interconnected to plug
connector 30 located on bottom surface 26 of the adapter sleeve.
Adapter sleeve 20 includes internal electronics which electrically
interconnect plug connectors 30 and 46 such that mobile phone 16
and vehicle appliance 12 electrically communicate with one another
via plug connectors 40, 46, and 30 when the mobile phone 16 is inserted
into adapter sleeve 20 and the adapter sleeve 20 is inserted into
adapter base 14.
Adapter sleeve 20 with mobile phone 16 inserted therein are removable
from adapter base 14 as one piece. Mobile phone 16 is also removable
from adapter sleeve 20 when the adapter sleeve is inserted or removed
from adapter base 14. Accordingly, if desired, the user removes
mobile phone 16 from adapter sleeve 20 and adapter base 14 in order
to take the mobile phone out from the vehicle. When entering the
vehicle, the user re-inserts mobile phone 16 into adapter sleeve
20 and inserts the adapter sleeve into adapter base 14 (if the adapter
sleeve is not already inserted into the adapter base) in order to
use mobile phone 16 in conjunction with system 10. If desired, instead
of using the mobile phone 16 and adapter sleeve 20 combination,
the user inserts the mobile phone 18 and adapter sleeve 22 into
adapter base 14 combination in order to use the mobile phone 18
with system 10. Mobile phone 18 is also removable from adapter sleeve
22 when the adapter sleeve 22 is inserted or removed from adapter
base 14.
As another example of the different configurations and sizes of
cavities 36 and 38 of adapter sleeves 20 and 22 with respect to
one another, cavity 38 of adapter sleeve 22 has a circular-sized
configuration to accommodate and receive mobile phone 18 therein.
That is, mobile phone 18 generally has a circular-styled body sized
to fit within cavity 38 of adapter sleeve 22. Mobile phone 18 also
has an electrical plug connector 50 having, as an example, a rectangular
shape on a bottom surface 52 of the mobile phone (see FIG. 3C).
Plug connector 50 includes, as an example, three male electrical
connectors 54. Male connectors 54 are for use to generally transmit
and receive phone signals, status signals, power signals, etc.,
between mobile phone 18 and vehicle appliance 12 via adapter sleeve
22 and adapter base 14. Correspondingly, cavity 38 of adapter sleeve
22 has a complementary electrical plug connector 56 having a rectangular
shape (see FIG. 3B). Plug connector 56 includes three female electrical
connectors 58 for receiving the male connectors 54 of mobile phone
18.
When mobile phone 18 is inserted into cavity 38 of adapter sleeve
22 the mobile phone 18 is mechanically connected to adapter sleeve
22. Further, plug connector 50 of mobile phone 18 and plug connector
56 of adapter sleeve 22 connect with one another in order to electronically
connect the mobile phone 18 and adapter sleeve 22. Plug connector
56 of adapter sleeve 22 is electronically interconnected to plug
connector 30 located on bottom surface 26 of the adapter sleeve.
Adapter sleeve 22 also includes internal electronics which electrically
interconnect plug connectors 30 and 56 such that mobile phone 18
and vehicle appliance 12 can electrically communicate with one another
via plug connectors 50, 56, and 30 when the mobile phone 18 is inserted
into adapter sleeve 22 and the adapter sleeve 22 is inserted into
adapter base 14.
Accordingly, one mobile phone and adapter sleeve combination may
be inserted into adapter base 14 at a time in order to electronically
connect the mobile phone to vehicle appliance 12 in order to enable
a user of the vehicle to use the mobile phone in a hands-free manner
during a phone call. For example, the mobile phone 16 and adapter
sleeve 20 combination may be inserted into adapter base 14 in order
to electronically connect the mobile phone 16 to vehicle appliance
12. At another time, the mobile phone 18 and adapter sleeve 22 combination
may be inserted into adapter base 14 in order to electronically
connect the mobile phone 18 to vehicle appliance 12.
Mobile phone 16 (or mobile phone 18) is electronically connected
to vehicle appliance 12 in order to enable hands-free use of the
mobile phone 16 when a user is making a phone call. To this end,
adapter base 14 is connected to a controller 60 of vehicle appliance
12. Controller 60 generally communicates with mobile phone 16 via
adapter base 14 and adapter sleeve 20 and controls the overall operation
of the elements of system 10. Controller 60 is connected to a vehicle
power supply 68 to receive and provide power to the elements of
system 10.
Vehicle appliance 12 includes a microphone 70 for receiving voice
communications of the user. Microphone 70 is connected to controller
60 and is positioned within the vehicle to be near to the user.
For instance, microphone 70 is positioned on the rear view mirror
to be near the front vehicle passengers. As such, in order to talk
on mobile phone 16 the user talks into microphone 70 instead of
talking into the microphone of mobile phone 16 which is supported
in adapter base 14. Microphone 70 transfers the user's voice communications
to controller 60. In turn, controller 60 transfers the voice communications
to mobile phone 16 via adapter base 14 and adapter sleeve 20 for
transmission to the telephone of the party with whom the user is
communicating during the phone call.
Vehicle appliance 12 includes a speaker 72 such as one of the vehicle's
radio speakers. Speaker 72 is also connected to controller 60. Controller
60 controls speaker 72 to output the other party's voice communications
received by mobile phone 16 during the phone call between the other
party and the user. That is, controller 60 receives the other party's
voice communications from mobile phone 16 via adapter base 14 and
adapter sleeve 20 and then transfers these voice communications
to speaker 72 for the user to hear. As such, the user hears the
other party's voice communications by way of speaker 72 instead
of listening to the speaker of mobile phone 16.
Vehicle appliance 12 includes a voice recognition module (VRU)
74 connected to controller 60. VRU 74 is operable to translate user's
voice commands received by microphone 70 into signals which are
useable by controller 60. For example, VRU 74 translates the user's
voice command "dial" into a corresponding command signal
for use by controller 60. Similarly, VRU 74 translates numeric characters
spoken by the user into corresponding signals for controller 60.
In response to such voice commands, controller 60 controls the operation
of mobile phone 16 accordingly.
Vehicle appliance 12 includes memory 76 connected to controller
60. Memory 76 generally stores telephone number information in a
phonebook directory like a phonebook directory of mobile phone 16.
Such information may include a listing of names and associated telephone
numbers. Controller 60 accesses memory 76 and the memory of mobile
phone 16 to obtain such information and to write such information
to the both memories.
Vehicle appliance 12 includes a display 78 for displaying information
to the user. Controller 60 controls display 78 to display the same
type of information which is displayed on mobile phone 16 when the
mobile phone 16 is in use while connected to adapter base 14.
Controller 60 includes a voice synthesizer (not shown) which generates
electronic voice signals in response to corresponding electrical
signals generated by the controller during operation of system 10.
The voice synthesizer is connected to speaker 72 in order to output
voice signals for the user to hear. For example, such outputted
electronic voice signals may be "Dialing Phil" when mobile
phone 16 is dialing Phil's telephone number. Vehicle appliance 12
also includes a text-to-speech (TTS) module 80. Controller 60 controls
TTS module 80 to convert text messages received by mobile phone
16 into speech for output over speaker 72 with the use of the voice
synthesizer.
Vehicle appliance 12 includes a keypad 82 (i.e., dialing pad) which
is connected to controller 60. Keypad 82 is positioned in the vehicle
to be accessible and within reach of the user. For instance, keypad
82 is positioned in the dashboard of the vehicle. Keypad 82 generally
includes typical mobile phone buttons such as a numerical set of
keys and the like and is generally functional to recognize dialing
activity. As such, the user dials a telephone number using keypad
82 instead of manipulating the buttons of mobile phone 16 in order
to make a phone call. In turn, controller 60 recognizes the dialing
activity on keypad 82 and instructs mobile phone 16 to function
accordingly. Controller 60 also controls display 78 to display the
dialing activity (e.g., dialed numbers) of keypad 82 for the user
to see.
Referring now to FIG. 4, a vehicle interior 90 having a sample
vehicle installation point of adapter base 14 is shown. Vehicle
interior 90 is an example of where adapter base 14 as well as microphone
70, display 78, and keypad 82 are positioned within the interior
of the vehicle for access by the user.
Thus, it is apparent that there has been provided, in accordance
with the present invention, a universal mobile phone adapter method
and system for vehicles that fully satisfies the objects, aims,
and advantages set forth above. While embodiments of the present
invention have been illustrated and described, it is not intended
that these embodiments illustrate and describe all possible forms
of the present invention. Rather, the words used in the specification
are words of description rather than limitation, and it is understood
that various changes may be made without departing from the spirit
and scope of the present invention.
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