GB2471719A

GB2471719A - A vehicular communications system

Info

Publication number: GB2471719A
Application number: GB0912028A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Hebden
Original assignee: Secomak Ltd
Current assignee: Secomak Ltd
Priority date: 2009-07-10
Filing date: 2009-07-10
Publication date: 2011-01-12
Also published as: GB0912028D0

Abstract

A communications system for a vehicle comprises a control unit 2, an intercom system 4 to allow communication between a plurality of occupants of the vehicle, a terminal 5 connectable to an auxiliary sound source 6 such as a portable media player, a microphone 7 and a speaker 8. The control unit is operable to selectively connect at least one of the intercom system, terminal and microphone to the speaker. The communications system may be used in a military vehicle with an external speaker and may be used to address personnel or citizens in the immediate vicinity.

Description

Title: A COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEM

Description of Invention

The present invention relates to a communications system and, more particularly, to a communications system for a vehicle.

It is known for a military vehicle to be provided with an intercom system, allowing the occupants of the vehicle to communicate with one another during operations, for example using head-mounted communication devices. The vehicle may separately have a radio telecommunications device, for communication with other vehicles and/or a command centre. The occupants may individually have their own radio telecommunications devices connected to the same telecommunications network. Still further, a military vehicle may be provided with a microphone and external speaker device, operable to address personnel or citizens in the immediate facility of the military vehicle.

The present invention seeks to provide an improved communications system.

Accordingly, the present invention provides a communications system according to the appended claims. The present invention further provides a control unit for use in a communications system for a vehicle as claimed.

Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of non-limiting example only, with reference to the accompanying figures, in which: FIGURE 1 illustrates a schematic representation of a communications system embodying the present invention; and FIGURE 2 illustrates schematically a circuit diagram of a communications system embodying the present invention.

Figure 1 shows a communications system 1 embodying the present invention, comprising a control unit 2, an intercom system 3 to allow communication between a plurality of occupants 4 of the vehicle, a terminal 5 connectable to an auxiliary sound source 6, a microphone 7 and a speaker 8 mountable to a vehicle. Preferably, the speaker is mountable to the exterior of a vehicle.

The intercom system 3 is connected to the control unit 2 via a connection 9.

The terminal 5 is connected to the control unit 2 by a connection 10. The microphone 7 is connected to the control unit 2 by a connection 11. The speaker 8 is connected to the control unit 2 by a connection 12. When used in a military vehicle, all but the speaker 8 of the telecommunications system 1 may be housed inside the vehicle. The connection 12 between the control unit 2 and speaker 8 passes through the bulkhead.

The control unit 2 is operable to selectively connect at least one of the intercom system 3, terminal 5 and microphone 7 to the speaker 8.

At least one of the connections 9, 10, 11, 12 between the control unit 2 and intercom system 3, terminal 5, microphone 7 and speaker 8 may be either or both of a hard-wired connection 9A, 1 OA, 11 A, 1 2A or a wireless connection 9B, 1 OB, 11 B, 1 2B. In one embodiment, the housing of the microphone 7 contains a radio transmitter, transmitting signals from the microphone 7 to a receiver (not shown) associated with the control unit 2. Accordingly, the microphone 7 may not need to be hard-wired to the control unit 2.

In figures 1 and 2, the terminal 5 is shown to be connectable to the auxiliary sound source 6 by a hard-wired connection. In another embodiment, a wireless connection is used, for example Bluetooth or other short-range radio protocols. Each of the headsets of the occupants 4 of the vehicle may be hard-wired to the intercom system 3, for example by connection to a terminal unit positioned adjacent the workspace of each occupant 4. Alternatively, each headset of the occupants 4 may be wirelessly connectable to the intercom system 3. Each of the occupants 4 may communicate with one another using the intercom system 3. In another embodiment, each of the occupants 4 may communicate only with a single other occupant 4, for example a commander of the vehicle.

Conveniently, a communications system 1 embodying the present invention allows for the speaker 8 to be connected to any one of the intercom system 3, terminal 5 and microphone 7. An operator of the communication system 1 may operate the control unit 2 so as to select the required input. The control unit 2 may comprise a rotary switch, rotatable so as to select a predetermined one of the inputs 3, 5, 7.

In another embodiment, the control unit 2 may comprise a micro-processor, which is operable automatically to select at least one of the inputs 3, 5, 7. For example, the control unit 2 may connect the speaker 8 to whichever one of the inputs 3, 5, 7 is active. If a further of the inputs 3, 5, 7 subsequently becomes active, the control unit 2 will continue to output only the original input to the speaker 8. Only when the original input 3, 5, 7 becomes inactive will the control unit 2 operate to select the newly active input 3, 5, 7.

In another embodiment, the control unit 2 is configured such that the newly active input causes a disconnection between the originally active input and the speaker 8.

In one embodiment, the control unit 2 is configured so as to allocate a predetermined connection priority to each of the intercom system 3, terminal 5 and microphone 7. For example, an input from the microphone 7 may override any existing input from the terminal 5 but not vice versa, owing to the connection priorities allocated. In one embodiment, both the inputs from the terminal 5 and microphone 7 may permanently be connected to the speaker 8.

Whenever an input is received from the terminal 5 or microphone 7, the control unit 2 may always output this to the speaker 8, unless overridden.

In one embodiment, before the control unit 2 connects the speaker 8 to the intercom system 3, an additional manual switch associated with the intercom 3 must be activated, so as to avoid inadvertently connecting the potentially secret communications between occupants of the vehicle 4 to the outside of the vehicle via the speaker 8.

In one embodiment, the control unit 2 is be configured so as to prevent the connection of the intercom system 3 with the speaker 8 when the intercom system 3 is being used for communication between multiple occupants 4 of the vehicle.

The auxiliary sound device 6 may deliver a recorded message, or one of a plurality of recorded messages. The auxiliary sound source 6 may be a portable media player, for example an MP3 player. In one embodiment, the communications system 1 comprises an integral media player permanently connected to the terminal 5.

In one embodiment, the control unit 2 is operable to be controlled remotely.

For example, at least one of the intercom system 3, terminal 5 and microphone 7 may have a control device associated therewith to operate the control unit 2.

Any control signals from the intercom system 3, terminal 5 or microphone 7 may be communicated along the respective connections 9, 10, 11.

In one embodiment, the communications system 1 further comprises a radio transceiver, so as to allow communications between the vehicle and an external entity. In one embodiment, the radio transceiver may form a part of the intercom system 3. In another embodiment, the output from the radio transceiver may be connected to the control unit 2, so as to be selectively connectable to the speaker 8. Similarly, at least one of the outputs from the intercom system 3, terminal 5 and microphone 7 may be output to the radio transceiver. Accordingly, the signal sent to the speaker 8 may be simultaneously transmitted using the radio transceiver, which can be tuned to the appropriate radio channel of the intended recipient(s) of the output of the speaker. Additionally or alternatively, at least one repeater station could additionally be provided, having a speaker, the transmitted signal being output through the speaker. The repeater station may be mobile and/or vehicle mounted.

In one embodiment, the housing of the microphone 7 includes a pre-amplifier unit (not shown). In the embodiment shown in figure 2, the pre-amplifier unit 13 forms a part of the control unit 2. Such an embodiment is beneficial since the sensitive and delicate circuitry of the pre-amplifier 13 need not then be housed within the microphone 7.

In one embodiment, as shown in figure 2, the housing of the speaker 8 further comprises a power amplifier 14. In another embodiment, the power amplifier 14 may be housed within the control unit 2.

A communications system embodying the present invention may be operable to selectively connect to the communications system of another vehicle. For example, a communication system 1 is operable selectively to connect at least one the intercom system 3, terminal 5 and microphone 7 to the respective speaker 8 of a further vehicle. The respective speaker of a plurality of vehicles can therefore receive the same input.

In one embodiment, the speaker 8 is mounted externally on the vehicle.

Preferably, the speaker 8 is ruggedised and operable to be at least one of waterproof, shockproof and blast-proof. Conveniently, the speaker 8 has an audible range of up to 300 metres. In an embodiment where the communications system 1 is utilised on a marine vessel, the speaker 8 may be a sub-surface speaker.

The communications system 1 may further comprise a recording unit (not shown), to record the output of the speaker 8 and/or the individual inputs from each of the intercom system 3, terminal 5 and microphone 7. The recording unit may form part of an integral media player/recorder which is operable both to output media to the terminal 5 and to record the output of the speaker 8.

The present invention further provides a control unit for use in a communications system for a vehicle, the communication system comprising: an intercom system to allow communication between a plurality of occupants of the vehicle; a terminal connectable to an auxiliary sound source; a microphone and a speaker mountable to a vehicle, wherein the control unit is operable to selectively connect at least one of the intercom system, terminal and microphone to the speaker.

Conveniently, the present invention provides a centrally integrated communications system, offering a significant improvement over the previously separated and unconnected communication modules of the prior art.

Whilst embodiments of the communications system are applicable to use on a vehicle, their use is not limited thereto. For example, embodiments of the invention may be used on a building, the speaker mounted on the outside of the building. Moreover, embodiments of the invention are applicable to both military and non-military applications.

When used in this specification and claims, the terms "comprises" and "comprising" and variations thereof mean that the specified features, steps or integers are included. The terms are not to be interpreted to exclude the presence of other features, steps or components.

The features disclosed in the foregoing description, or the following claims, or the accompanying drawings, expressed in their specific forms or in terms of a means for performing the disclosed function, or a method or process for attaining the disclosed result, as appropriate, may, separately, or in any combination of such features, be utilised for realising the invention in diverse forms thereof.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A communications system for a vehicle, comprising: a control unit; an intercom system to allow communication between a plurality of occupants of the vehicle; a terminal connectable to an auxiliary sound source; a microphone; and a speaker, wherein the control unit is operable to selectively connect at least one of the intercom system, terminal and microphone to the speaker.
2. A communications system according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the connections between the control unit and intercom system, terminal microphone and speaker is a wireless connection.
3. A communications system according to any preceding claim, wherein the control unit may at least partially be operated remotely.
4. A communications system according to any preceding claim, wherein only one of the intercom system, terminal and microphone may be connected to the speaker at any one time.
5. A communications system according to any preceding claim, wherein the control unit is configured such that the connection of one of the intercom system, terminal and microphone to the speaker overrides an existing connection to the speaker.
6. A communications system according to claim 5, wherein the control unit is configured so as to allocate a predetermined connection priority to each of the intercom system, terminal and microphone.
7. A communications system according to any preceding claim, wherein the control unit is configured so as to selectively prevent the connection of the intercom system with the speaker when the intercom system is in operation for communication between occupants of the vehicle.
8. A communications system according to any preceding claim, wherein the auxiliary sound source delivers a recorded message.
9. A communications system according to any preceding claim, wherein the auxiliary sound source is a portable media player.
10. A communications system according to any of claims 1 to 7, further comprising an integral media player connected to the input terminal.
11. A communications system according to any preceding claim, wherein the control unit is at least partially controllable remotely from a control device associated with at least one of the intercom system, terminal and microphone.
12. A communications system according to any preceding claim, further comprising a radio transceiver.
13. A communications system according to claim 12, wherein the control unit is operable to selectively connect an output from the radio transceiver to the speaker.
14. A communications system according to any of claims 12 and 13, wherein the control unit is operable to selectively connect at least one of the outputs from the intercom system, terminal and microphone to the radio transceiver.
15. A communication system according to any of claim 12 to 14, wherein the radio transceiver forms part of the intercom system.
16. A communications system according to any preceding claim, wherein the microphone is associated with a pre-amplifier unit.
17. A communications system according to any preceding claim, wherein the speaker is associated with a power amplifier.
18. A communications system according to any preceding claim, comprising an over-ride switch, to selectively prevent connection between the speaker and the intercom system, terminal and microphone.
19. A communications system according to any preceding claim, operable to selectively connect to a communications system of another vehicle.
20. A communications system according to claim 19, wherein the control unit is operable to selectively connect at least one of the intercom system, terminal and microphone to the respective speaker of at least one further vehicle.
21. A communications system according to any preceding claim, wherein the control unit is contained in a housing.
22. A communications system according to any preceding claim, wherein the speaker is externally mountable to the vehicle.
23. A communications system according to any preceding claim, wherein the vehicle is a military vehicle.
24. A control unit for use in a communications system for a vehicle, the communications system comprising: an intercom system to allow communication between a plurality of occupants of the vehicle; a terminal connectable to an auxiliary sound source; a microphone; and a speaker, wherein the control unit is operable to selectively connect at least one of the intercom system, terminal and microphone to the speaker.
25. A communications system or control unit substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying figures.
26. Any novel matter or combination thereof hereinbefore described.