WO2007061161A1

WO2007061161A1 - Portable fm transmitter

Info

Publication number: WO2007061161A1
Application number: PCT/KR2006/000992
Authority: WO
Inventors: Seok-Chun Yoon
Original assignee: Wiseware Co.
Priority date: 2005-11-28
Filing date: 2006-03-17
Publication date: 2007-05-31
Also published as: KR200408527Y1

Abstract

Provided is a portable FM transmitter. The portable FM transmitter is fixedly adhered to and accommodated by a portable audio device and receives power from the portable audio device so that the portable FM transmitter can be light-weighted, small-sized, and handy to carry. The portable FM transmitter receives an audio signal from the portable audio device and transmits the audio signal at a predetermined frequency by wireless. The FM transmitter includes an audio signal receiving unit receiving the audio signal through a connector from the portable audio device; an FM transmission unit converting the audio signal into an FM signal; and an antenna unit transmitting the FM signal, wherein the FM transmitter receives power from a power supply unit of the portable audio device and displays an operating state using a display unit of the portable audio device, and a central processing unit (CPU) of the portable audio device is connected to a control unit of the FM transmitter.

Description

PORTABLE FM TRANSMITTER

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to a portable FM transmitter, and more particularly, to a portable FM transmitter that is fixedly adhered to and accommodated by a portable audio device, such as a personal digital assistant (PDA) and a portable phone, and receives power from the portable audio device, so that the potable FM transmitter does not require an additional portable power supplier, such as a dry cell, and can be light- weighted, small-sized, and handy to carry. Background Art

[2] In recent years, with developments in electronic components and memory technology, sound reproduction devices, such as cassette players, compact disc (CD) players, and MPEG audio layer-3 (MP3) players, are becoming more light-weighted and small-sized for high portability. Also, the newest portable phone serves not only as a simple telephone but also as a digital camera, a PDA, and/or an MP3 player. In addition, the newest portable phone is being developed and utilized as a multimedia phone including other various functions as well as the above-described functions. Such a multimedia portable phone is actually being selected and used by a lot of users nowadays.

[3] However, since sound reproduced by a small-sized sound reproduction device has low output, it can be heard only by earphones or built-in speakers of the sound reproduction device, which are inferior in sound quality to typical speakers.

[4] To overcome this drawback, an FM transmitter has been widely used. When the FM transmitter is connected to any portable audio device, a user can listen to music or the radio through a device tuned to a radio frequency. For example, a user has only to connect an MP3 player to the FM transmitter, tune a home audio system or a car stereo system to a radio FM, and determine the same channel. Then, the user can hear music from the MP3 player through the home audio system or the car stereo system.

[5] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional FM transmitter, and FIG. 2 is a construction diagram of the conventional FM transmitter.

[6] Referring to FIGS. 1 and 2, a conventional FM transmitter 1 includes a sound signal receiving unit 6, an FM transmission unit 8, and an antenna unit 10. The sound signal receiving unit receives a sound signal through a connector 4 (e.g., a connection jack) from a portable audio device 2 (e.g., a PDA, an MP3, or a portable phone) that generates the sound signal. The FM transmission unit 8 converts the audio signal into an FM signal, and the antenna unit 10 transmits the FM signal. The conventional FM transmitter 1 further includes a power supply unit 12, a display unit 14, an FM channel selection switch 16, and a control unit 18. The power supply unit 12 is needed to operate the foregoing circuit including the sound signal receiving unit 6, the FM transmission unit 8, and the antenna unit 10. The display unit 14 displays an operating state of the FM transmitter 1. The FM channel selection switch 16 serves to select an FM channel, and the control unit 18 serves to control the foregoing components. Disclosure of Invention Technical Problem

[7] As can be seen from the above-described construction, in the conventional FM transmitter 1, the power supply unit 12 that supplies power to the FM transmitter 1 makes use of portable batteries or cigar jacks especially for vehicles. Also, the display unit 14 (e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD)) is attached to the FM transmitter 1 in order to display an operating state and the remaining amount of the batteries. Owing to these heavy and bulky components, the conventional FM transmitter 1 is inconvenient to carry.

Technical Solution

[8] The present invention provides a portable FM transmitter that receives power from a portable audio device, such as a PDA, an MP3, and a portable phone, so that the FM transmitter can operate without an additional built-in power supplier. As a result, the portable FM transmitter can be light-weighted and of small bulk and improve in portability.

[9] Also, the present invention provides a portable FM transmitter that utilizes a display unit of a portable audio device for its own display function, so that the FM transmitter can be easily operated.

[10] According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a portable FM transmitter that receives an audio signal from a portable audio device and transmits the audio signal at a predetermined frequency by wireless. The FM transmitter includes an audio signal receiving unit receiving the audio signal through a connector from the portable audio device; an FM transmission unit converting the audio signal into an FM signal; and an antenna unit transmitting the FM signal, wherein the FM transmitter receives power from a power supply unit of the portable audio device and displays an operating state using a display unit of the portable audio device, and a central processing unit (CPU) of the portable audio device is connected to a control unit of the FM transmitter.

[11] In the present invention, the FM transmitter or the portable audio device may include an FM channel selection switch for determining the predetermined frequency.

[12] Also, the FM transmitter may further include a mike processing unit for enabling the FM transmitter to function as a wireless hands-free device.

[13] Further, the connector may be one of a 24-pin serial connector, a 10-pole connector, and a circular connector.

Advantageous Effects

[14] As described above, the FM transmitter according to the present invention receives power from a portable audio device, such as a portable phone, a user need not prepare an additional power supplier for the FM transmitter. Accordingly, when the user wants to listen to music of portable audio device through a car audio system or a home audio system, the user has only to connect the FM transmitter to the portable audio device using a connector and tune the FM transmitter and the car audio system or home audio system to the same frequency.

[15] Also, since the FM transmitter of the present invention utilizes a power supply unit and a display unit of the portable audio device, the FM transmitter can be light- weighted and small-sized. Therefore, the cost of production can be greatly curtailed and the FM transmitter can improve in portability.

[16] Further, when the portable audio device has a telephone function, the FM transmitter may include a mike processing unit and function as a hands-free device for vehicles.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[17] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional FM transmitter;

[18] FIG. 2 is a construction diagram of the conventional FM transmitter;

[19] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a portable FM transmitter according to an embodiment of the present invention;

[20] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a portable FM transmitter according to another embodiment of the present invention;

[21] FIG. 5 is a construction diagram of an FM transmitter according to the present invention; and

[22] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an example of an FM transmitter having a 24-pin serial connector according to the present invention. Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[23] A portable FM transmitter according to the present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown.

[24] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a portable FM transmitter according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a portable FM transmitter according to another embodiment of the present invention.

[25] Referring to FIGS. 3 and 4, a portable FM transmitter 101a or 101b according to the present invention can receive not only an audio signal but also power through a connector 104a or 104b from a portable audio device 102. Thus, the portable FM transmitter 101a or 101b can decline in weight and volume so that the portable FM transmitter 101a or 101b is handy to carry. Also, since the portable FM transmitter 101a or 101b performs a display function using a display unit 114 of the portable audio device 102, the portable FM transmitter 101a or 101b can be easily operated.

[26] FIG. 5 is a construction diagram of an FM transmitter according to the present invention.

[27] Referring to FIG. 5, an FM transmitter 101 of the present invention includes an audio signal receiving unit 106, an FM transmission unit 108, and an antenna unit 110. The audio signal receiving unit 106 receives an audio signal through a connector 104 from a portable audio device 102 and processes the audio signal. Here, the connector 104 may be a 24-pin serial connector, a 10-pole connector, or a circular connector, and the portable audio device 102 may be a PDA, an MP3, or a portable phone. Also, the FM transmission unit 108 converts the audio signal into an FM signal, and the antenna unit 110 transmits the FM signal. Further, the FM transmitter 101 includes an FM channel selection switch 116, which is used to select an FM channel, and a control unit 118, which is used to control the above-described components. Moreover, the FM transmitter 101 may further include a mike processing unit 120 so that the FM transmitter 101 may function as a hands-free device.

[28] The FM transmitter 101 can initiate the operation of the above-described circuit using a power supply unit 112 of a portable audio device 102 and can display an operating state using a display unit 114 of the portable audio device 102, thus facilitating the carrying and operation of the FM transmitter 101. In order to supply power to the FM transmitter 101 and enable the display unit 114 to display the operating state, a central processing unit (CPU) of the portable audio device 102 is connected to the control unit 118 of the FM transmitter 101, and the control unit 118 of the FM transmitter 101 is controlled based on a program fed in the portable audio device 102. Specifically, selection of an FM channel or control of functions may be performed based on the program fed in the portable audio device 102 using the display unit 114 (e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD) or a light emitting diode (LED)) and input/output keys. Further, unlike in FIG. 5, even the FM channel selection switch 116 may be controlled by the portable audio device 102. In FIG. 5, reference numeral 117 denotes a variety of components included in the portable audio device 102.

[29] In the present invention, when the portable audio device 102 has a telephone function, the FM transmitter 101 may function as a hands-free device. Specifically, the other party's voice on the phone is transmitted through the FM transmitter 101 so that a user can hear the other party's voice from a speaker of a car audio system or a home audio system. Also, the user's voice on the phone is transmitted through the mike processing unit 120 installed in the FM transmitter 101 to the other party.

[30] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of an example of an FM transmitter having a 24-pin serial connector according to the present invention.

[31] Referring to FIG. 6, an FM transmitter 101 has the shape of an accessory (e.g., a necklace) for a PDA or a portable phone, and a 24-pin serial connector 104 is covered with a connector protection cover 121. In this construction, the FM transmitter 101 can be freely attached to or detached from the PDA or the portable phone. A user may usually carry the FM transmitter 101 as the accessory or necklace for the portable phone. In a car or other places having an FM tuner, the user may separate the connector protection cover 121 from the 24-pin serial connector 104 and connect the 24-pin serial connector 104 to a 24-pin connector of the portable phone as shown in FIG. 3. Thus, the FM transmitter 101 is connected to the 24-pin connector of the portable phone and operated using power supplied from the portable phone. As a result, an audio signal output from the portable phone is converted into an FM signal and transmitted to an audio system by wireless.

[32] Although the present invention has been described with reference to certain exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that a variety of modifications and variations may be made to the present invention without departing from the spirit or scope of the present invention defined in the appended claims, and their equivalents. Industrial Applicability

[33] As described above, the FM transmitter according to the present invention receives power from a portable audio device, such as a portable phone, a user need not prepare an additional power supplier for the FM transmitter. Accordingly, when the user wants to listen to music of portable audio device through a car audio system or a home audio system, the user has only to connect the FM transmitter to the portable audio device using a connector and tune the FM transmitter and the car audio system or home audio system to the same frequency.

[34] Also, since the FM transmitter of the present invention utilizes a power supply unit and a display unit of the portable audio device, the FM transmitter can be light- weighted and small-sized. Therefore, the cost of production can be greatly curtailed and the FM transmitter can improve in portability.

[35] Further, when the portable audio device has a telephone function, the FM transmitter may include a mike processing unit and function as a hands-free device for vehicles.

Claims

[1] A portable FM transmitter, which receives an audio signal from a portable audio device and transmits the audio signal at a predetermined frequency by wireless, the FM transmitter comprising: an audio signal receiving unit receiving the audio signal through a connector from the portable audio device; an FM transmission unit converting the audio signal into an FM signal; and an antenna unit transmitting the FM signal, wherein the FM transmitter receives power from a power supply unit of the portable audio device and displays an operating state using a display unit of the portable audio device, and a CPU (central processing unit) of the portable audio device is connected to a control unit of the FM transmitter. [2] The FM transmitter according to claim 1, further comprising an FM channel selection switch for determining the predetermined frequency. [3] The FM transmitter according to claim 1, wherein the portable audio device includes an FM channel selection switch for determining the predetermined frequency. [4] The FM transmitter according to claim 1, further comprising a mike processing unit for enabling the FM transmitter to function as a wireless hands-free device. [5] The FM transmitter according to any one of claims 1 through 5, wherein the connector is one selected from the group consisting of a 24-pin serial connector, a 10-pole connector, and a circular connector.