WO1998028896A1

WO1998028896A1 - Audio integrator module

Info

Publication number: WO1998028896A1
Application number: PCT/AU1997/000885
Authority: WO
Inventors: Joseph Saro
Original assignee: Marrakech Pty. Limited
Priority date: 1996-12-24
Filing date: 1997-12-24
Publication date: 1998-07-02
Also published as: GB2336502A; GB9914856D0; AUPO439996A0; GB2336502B

Abstract

Au audio integrator module (21) that is connected to a mobile telephone hands free car system kit and the vehicle stereo/radio (30) has means whereby when an outward or inward telephone call is made from or to the mobile telephone, the stereo is disconnected from its speaker (32), thus muting the sound from the stereo/radio and the mobile telephone reception is connected to the stereo/radio speakers so that the incoming signal is received through the stereo/radio speaker.

Description

AUDIO INTEGRATOR MODULE

BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION

This invention relates to an Audio Integrator Module and in particular, to an Audio Integrator

Module that is to be used in association with a mobile telephone and a hands free car system kit.

Hands free car system kits to be used in association with mobile telephones were developed to overcome problems associated with drivers of vehicles using a hand held mobile telephone whilst

driving. It was and still is believed that use of a hand held use of a mobile telephone whilst driving

leads to driver distraction. More importantly, in Australia it is illegal to use a hand held mobile

telephone whilst operating a vehicle as a driver using a hand held mobile telephone whilst driving

does not have both hands free, and therefore would not be fully in control of the vehicle should a

hazardous situation occur.

A common problem associated with hands free system kits for mobile telephones is that when a

mobile telephone user either makes a telephone call, or receives a telephone call, they are required

to turn down or switch off the vehicle stereo/radio to enable them to hear the person on the other

end of the mobile telephone properly. The action of physically reaching over to turn down or switch

off the stereo/radio adds to driver distraction at the time of answering or making the telephone call. In an attempt to provide a solution to this problem there is a product on the market which is

connected to the stereo/radio and operates by automatically adjusting the front or rear speaker

volume of the stereo/radio when the mobile telephone is in use. Trial and use of this product has

shown that if the speaker volume prior to the telephone call is very high, then the automatic

reduction in the speaker volume is not adequate and the user must still either turn down or turn off

the stereo/radio. Therefore in these situations the current product does not fulfill its intended

purpose.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide an Audio Integrator Module that mutes the vehicle

stereo/radio and which directs the audio from any hands free system to the existing vehicle speaker.

The invention, in its broadest sense, includes an Audio Integrator Module that is connected to a

mobile telephone hands free car system kit and the vehicle stereo/radio has means whereby when

an outward or inward telephone call is made from or to the mobile telephone, the stereo is

disconnected from its speaker, thus muting the sound from the stereo/radio and the mobile telephone

reception is connected to the stereo/radio speaker so that the incoming signal is received through the

stereo/radio speaker.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood we shall describe one particular form

of the audio integrator module made in accordance with the invention with reference to the

accompanying drawings, in which: Fig 1. Is a schematic diagram of the audio integrator module

The Audio Integrator Module(21) may be arranged so that where there is an electrically operated

antenna(22), that power is maintained to the antenna.

The Audio Integrator Module(21) may have circuitry(23) which can be incorporated into a cube or

solid rectangle of an epoxy or the like so that the circuitry is "potted" and not able to readily be

accessed, which circuitry may be divided into two sections, an Audio Control Section(24) and a

Power Control Section(25).

In one form of the invention it may be desirable that the Audio Integrator Module(21) is in the form

of a single component which has a plurality of pins(26) where the Audio Control Section(24) and

the Power Control Section(25) are positioned along opposite sides of the module(21).

In a preferred form of the invention the Audio Integrator Module(21) is a single component which

consists of twelve pins(26) that are in two groups; Power Control Group(27) and Audio Control

Group(28). The module also has an LED(29) which is lit-up when the module(21) is triggered. For

ease of installation and identification of the Power Control Section(25) and the Audio Control

Section(24), we have placed the LED(29) off centre near the row of Power Control Group pins(26).

In a preferred form of the invention the Audio Control Section(24) consists of six connection

pins(26) that operate as per the table below. TABLE 1

Audio Control Connections

*Note: The polarity of these connections will not effect the operation of the module but it is goods practice to maintain the correct polarity of the sound system.

In this preferred form of the invention the Power Control Section(25) also consists of six connection

pins(26) that operate as per the table below.

TABLE 2

Power Control Connections

*Note: See option list to select appropriate configuration As there are various stereo/radios on the market, with or without a mute function, the table below

describes the different connection options for Pins 10, 11 or 12.

TABLE 3

Connection Options for Pin 10, 11 and 12

*Note: this device is designed to suit standard non-power boosted audio systems. (Max. Power dissipation 60Wpk) for high power systems use the H.P. Audio Integrator Module.

Connection option 1 would be used for a standard stereo/radio(30) which has no mute function.

Connections 2 and 3 would be used for stereo/radios(30) that have a mute function but which are,

depending on age, may be wired differently to each other.

In the preferred form of the invention the Audio Integrator Module(21) in installed to automatically

control the stereo/radio(30) of the vehicle whilst a hand held mobile telephone(31) is in operation

via the hands free system kit(34). When there is an incoming call, or the user wishes to make a call, the user presses the send/OK key

to receive or make the telephone call. When the send/OK key is pressed this activates the

module(21) and the accessories power to the stereo/radio(30) is switched off and the audio from the

hands free system kit(34) is directed through the vehicle's existing speaker(32). To terminate calls

on the other hand, the user of the mobile phone(31), presses the end/no key, the accessories power

to the stereo/radio(30) is switched on, and the audio of the stereo/radio(30) emits back through the

speaker(32).

This improvement over the prior art is beneficial to the user as it eliminates the possibility of having

to physically reach over and turn down or off the stereo/radio(30) during a telephone call as

mentioned herein above.

Many modern vehicles nowadays have safety and security features installed to prevent damage to

or theft from the vehicle. One such feature is the automatic vehicle antenna(22), which is powered

by the vehicle's 12 Volt battery. When the stereo/radio(30) is turned on, the antenna(22) goes up,

and when the stereo/radio(30) or the car is turned off the antenna(22) goes down.

In a further embodiment of the invention the module(21) can also override the electronic

componentry that controls the antenna, therefore the antenna(22) does not go up and down every

time a call is made or received. Whilst several embodiments of the invention have been discussed, it is to be understood that various

modifications can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.

Claims

The Claims defining the invention are as follows:

1. An audio integrator module that is connected to a mobile telephone hands free car system

kit and the vehicle stereo/radio has means whereby when an outward or inward telephone

call is made from or to the mobile telephone, the stereo is disconnected from its speaker,

thus muting the sound from the stereo/radio and the mobile telephone reception is connected

to the stereo/radio speaker so that the incoming signal is received through the stereo/radio

speaker.

2. An audio integrator module as claimed in claim 1 wherein the module is arranged in such

a way so that in the presence of an electrically operated antenna, power is maintained to the

antenna.

3. An audio integrator module as claimed in claim 2 wherein the circuitry can be incorporated

into a solid figure of an epoxy or the like so that the circuitry is not easily identifiable and

hence not able to be readily accessed.

4. An audio integrator module as claim 3 wherein the circuitry is divided into atleast two

sections comprising an audio control section and a power control section.

5. An audio integrator module as claimed in claims 1-5 wherein the module is a single

component comprising a plurality of pins and the audio control section and power control

section are positioned opposite to one another.

6. An audio integrator module wherein a sclaimed in claim 5 wherein the pins are separated

into groups of two: being power control pins and audio control pins.

7. An audio module integrator as claimed in claim 6 wherein the module comprises an LED

which is illuminated when the module is triggered.

8. An audio integrator module as claimed in claim 7 wherein the LED is positioned off centre

in close proximity to the power control section pins.

9. An audio integrator module as claimed in any previous claim wherein the audio control

section comprises atleast six connection pins that function as provided in Table 1.

10. An audio integrator module as claimed in Claim 9 wherein the power control section

comprises atleast six connection pins that function as provided in Table 2.

11. An audio integrator module as claimed in Claim 10 wherein connection pins 10, 11 and 12

comprising power control pins described in Tables 2 and 3 make reference to various

connection options for car stereos/radios with or without mute functions.

12. An audio integrator module as claimed in Claim 11 wherein connection option 1 referrred

to in Table 3 can be applied where a stereo/radio has no mute function.

13. An audio integrator module as claimed in Claim 12 wherein connection options 2 and 3 can

both be applied where the stereo/radio has a mute function.

14. An audio integrator module as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the module is

installed in a vehicle, such module functioning to automatically control the functioning of

a stereo/radio of the vehicle whilst a hand held mobile telephone is in operation, via a mobile

telephone hands free system.

15. An audio integrator module as claimed in claim 14 wherein the module is activated by the

user of a mobile phone, said phone being located in a vehicle, pressing the send/ok function key on the mobile phone, resulting in the accessories power to the stereo/radio being

switched off, and the audio from the hand free system is directed through the vehicle's

speaker.

16. An audio integrator module as claimed in claim 15 wherein the module can override the

electronic componentry that controls a vehicles antenna, therefore stopping the vehicle

antenna from going up and down everytime a call is made or received.

17. An audio integrator nmodule as here-in-before described with reference to the accompanying

drawing.