HANDS FREE KIT FOR A MOBILE PHONE
This invention relates primarily to so called "hands free kits", which allow the user of a mobile telephone to use it without having to hold the mobile telephone whilst it is being used in a motor vehicle or the like. In particular, the invention relates to a hands free kit which uses the so called personal hands free port supplied with a mobile phone or one that is provided externally of the handset.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Hands free kits for mobile phones have proven to be useful adjuncts providing a greater degree of convenience and in some cases safety for mobile phone users (especially when used by drivers of vehicles). Traditionally hands free kits have been available as either personal or in-vehicle kits. The former generally consists of a unit or module which can be connected to and locked onto a mobile phone and which provides external connections for a speaker and microphone which can be located at a position remote from the phone itself. Thus a person can wear the mobile phone for example on the belt of his/her trousers, whilst a lead is connected from the attached hands free kit module to a microphone/headphone speaker arrangement conveniently mounted on a headband or the like to be worn on the head, allowing the user to speak to and hear a person on the phone, without the need to hold the mobile phone itself. The mobile phone can be set to answer an incoming call automatically so that the wearer can immediately and conveniently receive the call totally "hands free'".
Although, such personal hands free kits are finding some use by drivers whilst in vehicles, wearing a head mounted microphone/earphone arrangement which itself is attached to a phone worn by the user may not be convenient and in some instances could be unsafe as external sounds (horns, sirens etc) may not be heard clearly because of the earphone. Furthermore, it is likely that a driver may wish to listen to music form the vehicle's sound system and this would again be impeded if an earphone were being worn. Thus in-vehicle hands free kits have generally developed which favour the use of an external speaker conveniently mounted for example under the dash, and a remote microphone located
adjacent the driver's head for convenience. It will also be appreciated that in-vehicle hands free kits generally utilise a cradle to support the phone when it is used in this way.
In addition, they use power from the vehicle's electrical power supply, which is generally a battery which itself is continuously charged in use by an alternator. Furthermore, they use aerial facilities to capture and send the signals upon which the operation of the mobile phone relies. Thus in-vehicle hands free kits generally have external connections to the vehicle's electric power supply and to an external aerial mounted about the vehicle.
In-vehicle hands free kits are varied between fully installed and integrated units which are generally fitted by professional tradesmen, and which have permanent and hidden connection to the vehicle's power supply, and to the other peripheral components such as aerial, speaker and microphone, to those which may be termed "do-it-yourself kits which are generally less expensive and have less permanent connection especially with regard to say the external power supply. In this case, power can be readily accessed for the hands free kit by means of a lead and connector which is simply connected or inserted into the vehicle's cigarette lighter socket and hence connected to the battery, the lead from the vehicle's cigarette lighter socket to the hands free kit not being hidden as in the aforementioned professional installation. Similarly other connections to peripheral components are generally of a less permanent nature.
Given the relatively inexpensive nature of personal hands free kits and the obvious additional advantages enjoyed by mobile phone users who have in-vehicle hands free kits, it would be extremely advantageous if a hands free kit did not require to be connected to the motor vehicle's battery power supply and that it can be connected to a common port of the phone or a common port which is adapted to be attached to the phone.
It will be apparent that such a hands free kit which did not require connection to the battery power source of the motor vehicle and which is able to be connected to a common port which is an industry standard, is suitable to be used with all different makes and models of mobile phones as it can operate according to the individual operation of each mobile phone. This is advantageous as a major difficulty with hands free kits is that as there is no industry standard for such operation, it is the case that different manufacturers all use
different operational systems and system connectors between each other as well as in their own range of phones.
OBJECT OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved in-vehicle hands free kit which is able to use so called personal hands free port of a mobile phone whether supplied within the phone casing or supplied as an accessory. At the very least the invention provides an alternative to previously proposed independent hands free kits for use in motor vehicles or the like.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention there is provided a hands free kit for a mobile phone comprising a receptacle for receiving a mobile phone handset and a housing remote from said receptacle, said receptacle being adapted to be placed in a convenient location for reception and transmission of electromagnetic signals between the mobile phone handset and the mobile phone network, said housing being adapted to be placed substantially adjacent the head of a user, or anywhere convenient, said housing containing electronic circuitry including transducer/transceiver means, microphone means, speaker means and battery power supply means with said circuitry being connected to said mobile phone handset via its PHA (Personal Handsfree Adaptor) port or a PHA adaptor, wherein said microphone and speaker means receive and provide sound waves from and to said user whilst said mobile phone handset communicates with said network.
Alternatively, the microphone can be external to the housing.
Preferably, the electronic circuitry shuts down power consumption when not in use.
Preferably, the receptacle and housing are removably located within a motor vehicle whereby the receptacle is located adjacent the dashboard and the housing is located adjacent the front door pillar. In particular, the receptacle can be located adjacent the air vents. It is also within the scope of the present invention for the kit to be located and used in any situation where a hands free environment is desirable.
Preferably, the circuitry includes full duplex, echo and noise cancelling circuits.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
One embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawing in which:
Fig. 1 is a perspective schematic view of an in-vehicle hands free kit according to one embodiment of the invention.
BEST MODE OF CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Referring to the drawing, one embodiment of a hands free kit 10 includes an in-vehicle receptacle clip 11 into which a mobile phone handset 12 is received and a remote housing 13. The phone handset 12 includes personal hands free circuitry (not illustrated) and has a PHA port 14 to which a conventional earphone speaker and microphone are usually connected.
The receptacle clip is preferably attached to a vent 15 on the dashboard 16 of the motor vehicle and as such is easily removed therefrom if required. The housing 13 is preferably attached to the door pillar 17 of the motor vehicle substantially adjacent the user's head to be properly located to receive and provide sound. The housing 13 is connected to the PHA port 14 of the mobile phone handset 12 by cable 18 and contains a speaker 19, a microphone 20 and electronic circuitry including battery power supply (not illustrated) to thus provide a hands free arrangement. In another preferred arrangement, the PHA port is supplied as an accessory to the handset 12.
The kit 10 operates such that an analog signal is transmitted/received by the PHA port 14 and the electronic circuitry via the cable 18. The circuitry transforms the signals such that the signals are compatible with the industry standard PHA port 14.
The circuitry provides for full duplex, echo and noise cancelling, is compatible with any make and model of mobile phone handset, low power consumption such that the device effectively shuts down to minimal power consumption when not in use.
The foregoing describes only one embodiment of the present invention, and modifications obvious to those skilled in the art can be made thereto without departing from the scope of the present invention.
The system preferably uses the antenna of the handset, but it is also possible to use and external antenna if desired.