GB2374448A

GB2374448A - Programmable remote controller for a press to talk switch

Info

Publication number: GB2374448A
Application number: GB0130787A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Donald Lewis Macdonald
Original assignee: Thales UK Ltd
Current assignee: Thales UK Ltd
Priority date: 2000-12-29
Filing date: 2001-12-21
Publication date: 2002-10-16
Also published as: GB0130787D0

Abstract

A remote control system for selectively actuating a radio 13 to transmit speech from a microphone 32 includes a press to talk switch or pressel 14 in a receiver 10 which can be remotely operated from a remote switch 11. The remote switch transmits a coded signal which, when received by the pressel, actuates the radio 13 to transmit the speech. The receiver includes re-programmer 20 operable to provide the remote switch with a code that enables the switch to actuate the pressel. This re-programming occurs when the remote switch and receiver are connected by connector 19. The re-programmer 20 can generate the code automatically, e.g. by a random number generator, as soon as the connector parts 19a, 19b are connected together and/or the code can be passed on operation of push button 21 provided on the receiver. A lost remote switch 11 can thus be replaced by a new remote switch which is encoded to allow its co-operation with the pressel 14.

Description

REMOTE CONTROL SYSTEMS AND THEIR OPERATION The invention relates to remote control systems for actuating a radio to transmit speech from a microphone and to methods of operating such remote control systems.

A remote control system may comprise a receiver for receiving a coded signal from a remote switch for actuating the receiver to actuate a radio to transmit speech from a microphone. It is a problem with such systems that, if the remote switch is lost, the receiver must be re-programmed to allow it to be actuated by a new remote switch.

This is both time consuming and expensive.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided a remote control system for connection between a microphone and a radio comprising a receiver which, when actuated, actuates the radio to transmit speech from the microphone, and a remote switch for transmitting a signal to the receiver for actuating the receiver, the receiver including re-programming means operable to provide the remote switch with a code that allows a signal from said remote switch coded with said code to actuate the receiver.

In this way, if the remote switch is lost, a further switch can be readily re-programmed to allow it to be used with the receiver.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of operating a remote control system comprising operating a remote switch to send a coded signal to a receiver to actuate the receiver so actuating a radio to transmit speech from a microphone, replacing the remote switch with a further remote switch and sending from the receiver to said further remote switch a signal providing the further remote switch with a code that allows a signal coded with said code from said further remote switch to actuate the receiver.

According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of operating a remote control system comprising connecting a remote switch to a receiver, providing a code to said remote switch from said receiver, disconnecting the remote switch and the receiver and operating the remote switch to send to the receiver a signal coded with said code to actuate the receiver so actuating a radio to transmit speech from a microphone.

The following is a more detailed description of two embodiments of the invention, by way of example, reference being made to the accompanying drawings in which :- Figure 1 is a schematic block diagram of a remote switch connected to a receiver for use in a wireless system where the receiver is connected to a headset and a radio to control communication therebetween,

Figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of the remote switch and receiver of Figure 1, and Figure 3 is a schematic perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the remote switch and receiver including two switches and with the receiver being connected between a headset and two radios.

Referring first to Figure 1, the control system comprises a receiver 10 and a remote switch 11. The receiver 10 is connected between a headset 12 including a microphone 32 and a radio 13 and includes an actuator switch 14 which, when operated, actuates the radio 13 to transmit speech from the microphone 32. Such a receiver 13 is often referred to as a"press-to-talk"switch or a pressel. The switch 14 may also, when operated, connect the headset 12 to the radio 14.

The remote switch 11 comprises a transmitter 15 which, on operation of a push button switch 30, transmits via an aerial 16 a coded signal to the receiver 10. The receiver 10 includes an aerial 17 which passes the coded signal to a decoder 18 which then passes the decoded signal to the actuator switch 14 to actuate the radio 13. The receiver 10 includes manual switch 24 which, when operated, also actuates the actuator switch 14 to actuate the radio 13. The remote switch 11 is separable from the receiver 10 so that it can, for example, be strapped around a hand of a user, where it can be operated without, for example, requiring the user to release a weapon.

The receiver 10 and the remote switch 11 include respective co-operating first and second connector parts 19a, 19b. When the connection between the receiver 10 and the remote switch 11 is made by these parts 19a, 19b, a re-programmer 20 in the receiver 10 passes to the transmitter 15 in the remote switch 11 a code. The reprogrammer 20 also passes the code to the decoder 18 in the receiver 10. The transmitter 15 uses this code to produce the coded signal which is received by the decoder 18 and operates the actuator switch 14. The code need not form the whole of the coded signal; the code will form an"affiliation"signal which identifies the remote switch 11 to the receiver 10 and this is then followed by a separate signal. The separate signal may be one of a sequence of randomly generated separate signals.

The principal circumstance in which this code is needed is when one remote switch 11 is lost or broken and is replaced by a further remote switch 11. Before the further remote switch 11 is used for the first time it needs to be re-affiliated with the receiver 10. To do this, it is connected to the receiver 10 via the connector parts 19a, 19b and receives a code from the re-programmer 20. The re-programmer 20 can generate the code automatically as soon as the connector parts 19a, 19b are connected together and/or the code can be passed on operation of push button 21 provided on the receiver.

The code may be provided by a random number generator in the re-programmer 20.

The remote switch 11 may have a park position on the receiver 10 in which the connector parts 19a, 19b are connected. In this case, the re-programmer 20 may pass

a new code to the remote switch 11 each time the connector parts 19a, 19b are connected.

As seen in Figure 1, the radio 13 includes a power source 22 and, when the connector parts 19a, 19b are connected, this may be used to recharge a rechargeable power source 23 provided in the remote switch 11.

It will be appreciated that there are a number of alterations that can be made to the system described above with reference to Figure 1. The receiver 10 and the remote switch 11 need not be connected by connector parts 19a, 19b, they could be connected in any other way. The recharging of the remote switch power source 23 by the receiver power source 22 is optional as are the presence of the push button 10 and the manual switch 24.

The receiver 10 and the remote switch 11 need not form part of a wireless system; they could form part of any system where a remote switch passes a coded signal to a receiver to actuate the receiver.

An embodiment of the remote switch system will now be described with reference to Figure 2. Parts common to Figure 1 and to Figure 2 will be given the same reference numerals and will not be described in details.

Referring to Figure 2, the receiver 10 includes a casing 25 provided at one end with a connector socket 26 for connection to the headset (not shown). The manual switch 24 is provided on one side of the casing 25. A cable 27 leads from an end of the casing 25 opposite the connector socket 26 and ends in a plug 28 for connection to the radio 13. The push button 21 is recessed into the casing 25 to prevent accidental operation. The casing includes a clothing clip (not shown) by which the receiver 10 can be connected to the clothing of a person using the receiver 10.

The remote switch 11 includes a housing 29 with the push button switch 30 exposed on one surface. The housing 29 is carried on an elasticated strap 31 that extends around the receiver casing 25 to park the remote switch 11 on the receiver 10. When so positioned, the connector part 19b of the remote switch 11 is connected to the connector part 19a of the receiver 10. The receiver 10 and the remote switch 11 can thus function as described above with reference to Figure 1. When separated from the receiver 10, the elasticated strap 31 can be strapped around the user's hand to allow remote operation of the switch 30.

Referring next to Figure 3, there is shown a further embodiment of the invention incorporating the principles of Figure 1 that allows a single headset 12 to connect to either one of two radios (not shown). Parts common to Figures 1 and 2, on the one hand, and to Figure 3, on the other hand, are given the same reference numerals and will not be described in detail.

Referring to Figure 3, the receiver 10 shown in that drawing is for connecting a single headset to two radios (not shown). For example, one radio may connect to a secure network and the other to a non-secure network.

In this embodiment, the housing has a single connector socket 26 but has two cables 27a, 27b and two plugs 28a, 28b. There are two actuator switches 14, each connected to the headset 12 via the connector socket 26 and each associated with the respective manual switches 24a, 24b. The manual switches 24a, 24b may have different surface textures to allow them to be differentiated by touch. There is, however, only one push button 21, because only one re-affiliation of the remote switch 11 with the receiver 10 is necessary.

The remote switch housing 29 carries two push button switches 30a, 30b and is mounted on the casing 25 as described above with reference to Figure 2.

In use, one or other of the push button switches 30a, 30b is used to generate an affiliation signal and a separate further signal to actuate the associated actuator switch to actuate the associated radio to transmit speech from the microphone 32.

Claims

CLAIMS 1. A remote control system for connection between a microphone and a radio comprising a receiver which, when actuated, actuates the radio to transmit speech from the microphone, and a remote switch for transmitting a signal to the receiver for actuating the receiver, the receiver including re-programming means operable to provide the remote switch with a code that allows a signal from said remote switch coded with said code to actuate the receiver.
2. A system according to claim 1 wherein the receiver includes a connector receiving a c-operating connector on a switch, the code from the re-programming means being transmitted through said connector.
3. A system according to claim 2 wherein the re-programming means outputs a code when the receiver and a switch are connected via said connectors.
4. A system according to claim 2 wherein the receiver includes a switch which, when operated manually with the receiver and a remote switch connected via said connector, causes the re-programming means to output a code to the remote switch.
5. A system according to any one of claims 2 to 4 wherein the remote switch includes a rechargeable power supply unit, the receiver recharging said power supply unit when the receiver and the switch are connected via said connectors.

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6. A system according to any one of claims 1 to 5 wherein the receiver includes a decoding unit for decoding signals received from a remote switch, the reprogramming means outputting the code to the decoding unit as the code is provided to the remote switch.
7. A system according to any one of claims 1 to 6 wherein the receiver includes an actuating switch operable to actuate the receiver without the use of a coded signal from the remote switch.
8. A system according to any one of claims 1 to 7 wherein the coded signal actuates the receiver in a first mode, the receiver also being separately actuatable in a second mode by a second coded signal from a second remote switch, the reprogramming means being operable to provide a second remote switch with a code that allows a signal coded with said code from said second remote switch to actuate the receiver in said second mode.
9. A system according to claim 8 wherein said first and second remote switches are provided in a single unit.
10. A remote control system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 or to Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.

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11. A wireless system including a microphone and a radio with a remote control system according to any one of claims 1 to 10 connected therebetween.
12. A method of operating a remote control system comprising operating a remote switch to send a coded signal to a receiver to actuate the receiver so actuating a radio to transmit speech from a microphone, replacing the remote switch with a further remote switch and sending from the receiver to said further remote switch a signal providing the further remote switch with a code that allows a signal coded with said code from said further remote switch to actuate the receiver.
13. A method of operating a remote control system comprising connecting a remote switch to a receiver, providing a code to said remote switch from said receiver, disconnecting the remote switch and the receiver and operating the remote switch to send to the receiver a signal coded with said code to actuate the receiver so actuating a radio to transmit speech from a microphone.
14. A method according to claim 12 and comprising periodically reconnecting the remote switch to the receiver and, on each reconnection, passing a new code to the remote switch.
15. A method of operating a remote control system substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to Figures 1 and 2 or to Figure 3 of the accompanying drawings.