Abstract:
A wireless communication device for use in a noisy or harsh environment in connection with a cellular telephone is disclosed. The wireless communication device provides enhanced audio broadcasting capabilities for an operator of the device by providing a larger, more powerful speaker than that typically found in a cellular telephone. The apparatus of the present invention improves cellular telephone usage in the typically noisy and harsh environment found while operating a boat. The present apparatus further provides a half-duplex mode of communication to further reduce ambient noise experienced while using a cellular telephone in a noisy environment In another embodiment, the apparatus is connectable to a variety of external devices and is capable of operating the external devices and providing internet access for a variety of external devices through a cellular telephone connection In at least one embodiment, the present invention is connectable to any transceiver

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/027,769 filed on Feb. 11, 2008. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to a marine communication device having wireless connectivity, such as by Bluetooth technology or other wireless standard, to a cellular telephone which is in turn connected to the cellular telephone network. The operator of the marine communication device is therefore able to place and receive cellular telephone calls while taking advantage of the more powerful microphone and speaker units associated with the marine communication device or communication devices for other noisy environments. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Communication from a boat traditionally was accomplished via a ship-borne marine VHF radio operating in the frequency range between 156 and 162 MHz. With the advent and widespread use of cellular telephones, smart phones, or other devices which communicate on the cellular telephone network, much of the communication between a boat and the shore may now be accomplished via cellular telephone. While this technology is not appropriate for large, ocean-going vessels which may frequently be outside the range of a cellular telephone, for many recreational boat users, cellular telephone communication may be the preferred method. 
         [0004]    A significant disadvantage of cellular telephone communication while on board a boat is noise. While use of a cellular telephone in the relative quiet of a building or enclosed road-going vehicle may be satisfactory, noise levels on an unenclosed, moving boat or in other noisy environments may far exceed the noise levels of a building or enclosed vehicle and overwhelm the capabilities of a cellular telephone. Noise associated with the boat&#39;s engine, the rush of wind and the splash of water may make communication difficult as the person on the boat or in other noisy environments may be unable to hear the person to whom they are speaking, while their own communication may be drowned out on the receiving end. More specifically, because cellular telephones generally operate in a duplex mode, meaning that audio signals are able to be transmitted both ways simultaneously, noise from the boat is continuously broadcast, cluttering up the communication signal and impeding conversation. Similarly, the noisy environment of the moving boat may make it difficult to even hear the ring of a cellular telephone. 
         [0005]    A further disadvantage of cellular telephone use while on board a boat is the environmental hazards to which the telephone may be subjected. In particular, cellular telephones are generally not designed with marine applications in mind. Therefore, they may not be particularly well suited to withstand the increased humidity associated with boating, to say nothing of the corrosive salt air experienced in near-shore, oceanic boating or weather damage caused by ultraviolet rays resulting from prolonged exposure to sunlight. Furthermore, because many recreational boats are not enclosed, a cellular telephone used on a boat may experience rain to a degree not normally expected. Furthermore, cellular telephones used on a boat may be exposed to water from spray associated with the moving boat, or operators with wet hands from swimming or fishing, or the cellular phone may even be dropped overboard. In short, because the cellular telephone may not be able to ring loudly enough, or broadcast a conversation loudly enough to be heard, an operator typically must place the cellular telephone in a location that is easily accessible to maximize his or her ability to hear it. Unfortunately, this placement may also coincide with a location that puts the cellular telephone at greatest risk from the dangers discussed above. 
         [0006]    In addition, other environments are known to experience the same or similar disadvantages to cellular telephone use such as noise, weather, and the potential for accidents. These environments can include various farm equipment (i.e. tractors, harvestors, etc.), construction equipment (i.e. cranes, dump trucks, front loaders, etc.), off-road vehicles (i.e. jeeps, four-wheelers, etc.), automobiles, private aircraft, and various buildings (i.e. factories, manufacturing plants, power plants, etc.). 
         [0007]    Therefore, it is desirable to provide a communication system that has the advantages of cellular telephone communication, while eliminating the disadvantages associated with using a cellular telephone on board a boat or in other noisy or harsh environments. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0008]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a communication device that is wirelessly connectable to the cellular telephone network, and thereby enables a boat operator or passenger to use a cellular telephone, smart phone, or other devices which communicate on the cellular telephone network, while on board a boat. 
         [0009]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a communication device that is wirelessly connectable to a cellular telephone and which is weather resistant or even waterproof such that it may be used on board a boat. 
         [0010]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a communication device that is wirelessly connectable to a cellular telephone and which may be operated in half-duplex mode thereby preventing the person speaking to the operator of the communication device from hearing the boat noise while the person is speaking. 
         [0011]    It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a communication device that is wirelessly connectable to a cellular telephone and which may provide audio broadcasting capabilities which are superior to the cellular telephone. 
         [0012]    It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a communication device which is operable from an on-board power source. 
         [0013]    It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a communication device which may be integrated into a boat&#39;s audio system such as a stereo or marine radio for cellular telephone audio. 
         [0014]    It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a communication device which has an easy to use interface and which uses an existing cellular telephone to make and receive calls. 
         [0015]    It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a communication device which may store and retrieve phone numbers and other data, including but not limited to names, type of phone, etc. 
         [0016]    It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a communication device which is enabled to provide and display diagnostic information including but not limited to battery condition and cellular signal strength. 
         [0017]    It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a communication device which is enabled to perform functions as supported by the wireless standard on which it is operating, such as providing and displaying information, including but not limited to voicemail indications, text message and e-mail indications, and to display text messages and e-mails. 
         [0018]    It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a communication device which is operatively connectable to other voice enabled devices and is operable as a microphone for such devices, including but not limited to communication devices, radio devices, and devices with voice activated functions, such as navigation devices, chart plotters, depth finders, and the like. 
         [0019]    It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a communication device which can be paired with cellular phones and will select pairing based on a priority. 
         [0020]    It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a communication device that is connectable to the cellular telephone network through a wireless connection to a cellular telephone, smart phone, or other device which communicates on the cellular telephone network, and thereby enables communication through the cellular telephone network in noisy environments. 
         [0021]    It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a communication device that is connectable to the cellular telephone network through a wireless connection to a cellular telephone, smart phone, or other device which communicates on the cellular telephone network, which can act as a hub to provide internet access to other devices (i.e. navigation devices, chart plotters, computers, weather monitoring devices, etc.) through the cellular telephone network. 
         [0022]    Further areas of applicability of the present invention will become apparent from the detailed description provided hereinafter. It should be understood however that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating preferred embodiments of the invention, are intended for purposes of illustration only, since various changes and modifications within the spirit and scope of the invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art from this detailed description. Furthermore, the figures shown are specific to only one particular embodiment of the communication device described. However, the present invention is applicable to any number of communication devices, and the particular circuitry and embodiments illustrated should not be taken as a limitation of the present invention. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0023]    The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0024]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram depicting the layout of the communication device of the present invention. 
           [0025]      FIG. 2  is a view of the front of one embodiment of the communication device of the present invention. 
           [0026]      FIG. 3  is a side view of one embodiment of the communication device of the present invention. 
           [0027]      FIG. 4  is a top view of one embodiment of the communication device of the present invention. 
           [0028]      FIG. 5  is a block diagram depicting the layout of another embodiment of the communication of the present invention. 
           [0029]      FIG. 6  is a block diagram depicting the layout of another embodiment of the communication device of the present invention. 
           [0030]      FIG. 7  is a block diagram depicting the layout of another embodiment of the communication device of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0031]    With reference to  FIG. 1 , a communication device  10  for wirelessly communicating with a cellular telephone is shown according to the principles of the present invention. However, it will be understood that the scope of the present invention should not be limited to this particular wiring architecture. 
         [0032]    Communication device  10  is comprised of case  12  and, in the embodiment shown, cord  14 , although in alternate embodiments, cord  14  may be eliminated and the functionality associated with the cord described below located within case  12 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , switch  16  is interposed within case  12  such that an operator may depress or otherwise activate switch  16  without the need for opening case  12 . In a preferred embodiment, case  12  is weather hardened or waterproof, such that it is able to operate in a marine environment. In other embodiments, case  12  may be designed to withstand other conditions (i.e. high and low temperatures, exposure to ultraviolet light, airborne particulate matter, etc.) such that it is operable in a multitude of environments. 
         [0033]    The circuitry comprising the depicted embodiment of the present invention includes leads  18  which when completed by switch  16  send an electrical signal to microprocessor  30 . Wireless module  20  may comprise a Bluetooth® module, a ZigBee® module, Infra Red module, or an 802.11, Wi-Fi, or WiFimax module of various types known in the art, although use of alternative wireless standards would not deviate from the scope of the invention. In a preferred embodiment, wireless module  20  is a Bluetooth module. Wireless module  20  is operatively connected to antenna  22 , microphone  24 , amplifier  26 , power source  28 , microprocessor  30 , and audio leads  32 . Microprocessor  30  is in turn operatively connected to amplifier  26 , display  34 , which may be a liquid crystal display or other type of known display, memory unit  36 , and input interface  38 , which may be a keypad or other known user-operable interfaces. In the embodiment shown, microprocessor  30  is also operatively connected to a wired data connection  40 . Wired data connection  40  may be used to input data into communication device  10  such as modifying the operating software used by communication device  10 . In a preferred embodiment, wired data connection  40  operates on the known Universal Serial Bus (“USB”) standard, although use of other communications standards such as PC, Ethernet, CAN, and/or NEMA would not deviate from the scope of the invention. Speaker  42  is also located within case  12 , and is operatively connected to amplifier  26 . In another embodiment, the interface is operable to display and control the functions of the cellular telephone, smart phone, or other device to the extent supported by the relevant wireless standard, including but not limited to, volume, text messaging, voicemail, internet access, e-mail, and streaming music. The interface may comprise any number of switches used by the device. 
         [0034]    Cord  14  is used primarily to transmit power between power supply  28  and a source  44  such as the electrical system of a boat. Source  44  will be a 12 volt source that is connectable to cord  14  via a plug, such as a 12 Volt DC accessory plug (commonly referred to as a cigarette lighter plug), although operating the communication device on a different power level would not deviate from the scope of the invention. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1 , cord  14  also is used to operatively extend audio leads  32  so that they may be connected to an appropriate audio reproducing device (not shown). Finally, cord  14  is also depicted as extending data connection  40 , although, as with audio leads  32 , it could terminate on or at case  12  without deviating from the scope of the invention. As shown, cord  14  terminates in a thru-hull connection  15 , although alternative connections would not deviate from the scope of the invention. Cord  14  may be hardwired into source  44  or may include an operatively removable plug-in that can allow the communication device to be portable. 
         [0035]    Turning to  FIG. 2 , various features discussed in relation to  FIG. 1  are again depicted. In particular, case  12 , cord  14 , and switch  16  are all shown. Similarly, display  34  and several embodiments of input interface  38  are also shown. It should be understood that the data shown on display  34 , and the particular arrangement of keys in input interface  38 , are for illustration purposes, and should not be taken as a limitation of the present invention. 
         [0036]      FIG. 3  similarly depicts a side view of case  12 , cord  14 , switch  16 , microphone hanger  17 , and input interface  38 . 
         [0037]    Finally,  FIG. 4  depicts a top view of case  12 , switch  16 , microphone hanger  17 , and input interface  38 . 
         [0038]    Returning to  FIG. 1 , in operation, communication device  10  will be in wireless communication with a cellular telephone  46  via wireless module  20 . Cellular telephone  46  must be one of a known type of cellular telephones which incorporate wireless connectivity with similarly compliant devices. As one having skill in the art will recognize a smart phone or any other device which connects to the cellular telephone network or a similar wireless network may be used along with or in place of cellular telephone  18 . Accordingly, the term cellular telephone includes all devices which connect to the cellular telephone network or a similar wireless network such as a WiFi, Zigbee, or satellite network. A common standard for this type of communication, although not a limitation of the present invention, is Bluetooth® and is well known in the art. When cellular telephone  46  receives a call, a signal is sent by the short range wireless transceiver within cellular telephone  46  and is detected by wireless module  20 . Wireless module  20  and cellular telephone  46  may then begin communication. It should be understood that in the example just given, cellular telephone  46  will have been paired with wireless communication device  10  at some point in the past. Pairing of cellular telephones with wireless devices over wireless connections utilizing, for example, the Bluetooth® standard is well known in the art. In a preferred embodiment, the communication device can be paired with multiple cellular telephones, smart phones, and other devices connected to the cellular network and will select between such devices based on priority. 
         [0039]    When wireless module  20  receives a communication, it transmits an electrical signal to amplifier  26 , where the electrical signal is amplified and passed on to speaker  42 , where the electrical signal is converted to an auditory signal such that it may be heard by the operator. The communication received by wireless module  20  could take any number of forms. For example, the communication could be a voice transmission occurring as a part of a telephone conversation. Alternatively, the signal could be a ring signal received from cellular telephone  46 , indicating that a call is incoming. A ring tone could then be broadcast by speaker  42 , alerting an operator that a telephone call is incoming. The operator would then have the option to answer the call, either on the face of the telephone, or, in some embodiments of the present invention, through the input interface on the communication device  10 . 
         [0040]    Once a call had been connected, and communication was established through communication device  10 , the operator may listen to the conversation through speaker  42 . Because speaker  42  is physically larger than the speaker associated with cellular telephone  46 , and because both speaker  42  and amplifier  26  are powered by a more robust power source  44 , which could be, for example, the 12 volt power source associated with the boat in which communication device  10  is located, speaker  42  will generally be capable of broadcasting the audio signal at a much greater volume than would the speaker associated with cellular telephone  46 . 
         [0041]    When an operator is ready to transmit an audio signal, the operator first presses switch  16  which enables talk mode. As one skilled in the art will recognize, switch  16  may be any type of sensor, including but not limited to a voice activation sensor, inertial sensor, variable sensor, touch sensor, or button including the push-to-talk button commonly found on VHF or citizens band radios. In a preferred embodiment, communication device  10  operates only in half-duplex (sometimes referred to as simplex) mode. That is, communication device  10  will allow communication in only one direction at a time. Thus, at one time, communication device  10  will only either demodulate the incoming broadcast signal&#39;s audio over speaker  42 , or will modulate the audio signal received from microphone  24  sending it wirelessly to cellular phone  46 . By operating in half duplex mode, communication device  10  is able to reduce ambient noise broadcast during the communication, particularly when the non-operator of communication device  10  is speaking. 
         [0042]    Once switch  16  has been activated, the operator may begin speaking into microphone  24 . The operator&#39;s auditory input is converted to an electrical signal by microphone  24  and then broadcast by wireless module  20  to cellular telephone  46  where cellular telephone  46  transmits it along the cellular network as is well known. Thus, all communication between the operator aboard a boat using communication device  10  is accomplished using short range wireless technology and well known cellular telephone technology. Communication does not occur over the recognized marine spectrum, generally 156 to 162 MHz. 
         [0043]    Operation of wireless module  20  is controlled by microprocessor  30 , specifically controlling whether wireless module  20  is transmitting or receiving, depending on whether switch  16  has been depressed or not. Microprocessor  30  is also used to receive input from input interface  38 , store and receive information from memory  36 , and display information on display  34 . Input interface  38  may take any one of a number of configurations. As shown in  FIG. 2 , in the embodiment shown, a number of hard keys and soft keys are represented. Input interface  38  may be configured to accept a wide range of inputs and to perform a wide range of functions including, but not limited to, accepting numeric inputs (such as telephone numbers), controlling volume, controlling menu functions, accepting and disconnecting calls, checking voice mail, and the like. Similarly, display  34  may be used to display a wide range of information, such as the state of communication device  10 , caller identification, number dialed, duration of call, stored telephone numbers, text messages, e-mails, streamed music, and the like. 
         [0044]    Memory  36  may be a non-volatile memory used to store user preferences, telephone numbers and the like. Antenna  22  is used to facilitate transmission and reception of wireless signals by wireless module  20 . Power source  28  provides power to microprocessor  30 , wireless module  20  and amplifier  26 , although variations of these connections, such as directly connecting amplifier to a boat&#39;s 12 volt source, would not deviate from the scope of the invention. 
         [0045]    In the embodiment depicted, communication device  10  is equipped with a data connection  40 . However, this connectivity is not required, and alternate embodiments may exclude this element without departing from the scope of the invention. In this embodiment, data connection  40  is a USB connection which terminates at microprocessor  30  via data lead  41 , and which could allow a user to upload data to communication device  10  such as telephone directory information, or could be used by the factory or a technician to upload operating software to communication device  10 . 
         [0046]    Similarly, in the embodiment depicted in  FIG. 1 , communication device  10  is equipped with audio leads  32 . Audio leads  32  are not required for practicing the invention, and in alternate embodiments may be omitted. In the pictured embodiment, audio leads  32  terminate at a connector  33  for transmission of left and right channels of an audio broadcast. Connector  33  may be any type of connector for audio broadcasting, including but not limited to a three circuit female connector. In this embodiment, connector  33  may be placed in operative connection with an existing audio unit with complementary connecting devices. For example, many marine entertainment radios and stereo systems already in use on boats come equipped with an auxiliary jack for audio connections. By connecting connector  33  to such a device, an operator may be able to gain additional benefits from utilizing the even larger speaker associated with a marine entertainment radio or stereo versus the speaker present in communication device  10 . 
         [0047]    Finally, power is supplied from power supply  44  via cord  14  to communication device  10 . In the embodiment depicted, fuse  45  is interposed between power source  44  and power source  28  to protect the system&#39;s power source  44  from excess current draw or fault in device  10 . 
         [0048]    In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 5 , the communication device  52  is shown operatively connected to a radio  50  and including a second switch  48 . When switch  48  is activated, leads  49  are completed to send an electrical signal to microprocessor  30 . The communication device  52  is connected by cord  14  to radio  50 , which in a preferred embodiment is a VHF marine radio. Cord  14  may be hardwired into radio  50  or by a removable connection. Communication device  52  may receive power from radio  50  through cord  14  or may rely on internal power source  28 . In addition, connection to radio  50  may be used to charge power source  28 . 
         [0049]    In this embodiment, the first switch  16  is used in the same manner described in  FIG. 1  and second switch  48  is used to select between cellular telephone mode and radio mode. For example, when switch  48  is pressed once, communication device  52  may enter cellular telephone mode, wherein microphone  24  and speaker  42  are used to facilitate communication through a cellular telephone  46  via the wireless connection by wireless module  20 . When switch  48  is depressed a second time, communication device  52  may enter radio mode, wherein microphone  24  and speaker  42  are used to facilitate communication through the radio bandwidth compatible with radio  50 . 
         [0050]    Display  34  may indicate the current mode of the communication device  52  and may show additional information provided from each device, such as battery levels, signal strength of cellular telephone  46 , indications of voice and text messages, and the current frequency of radio  50 . During cellular telephone mode, display  34  may be used to retrieve and show text messages, e-mail, photographs, interne websites, and streaming music. 
         [0051]    In some embodiments, communication device  52  can operate the functions of radio  50  using switches  16  and  48  through the connection over cord  14 . In turn, communication device  52  can also operate the functions of cellular telephone  46  using switches  16  and  48  through the wireless connection. As one skilled in the art will recognize, a single switch may be used to control the functions of communication device  52 . For example, a single click may control one function while double clicking the same switch may control a second function and so forth. Alternatively, multiple switches may be used for communication device  52  and when using multiple switches, each may be a different type of switch (i.e. one depression switch, one inertial switch, one voice activated switch, etc.). 
         [0052]      FIG. 6  shows another embodiment of the present invention in the form of a portable wireless communication device  58 . This embodiment shows battery  54  as a power source and utilizes sensor  56  to control the operation of communication device  58 . Sensor  56  is a voice activated switch. As one skilled in the art will recognize, sensor  56  may be any type of switch or sensor (i.e. voice activation sensor, inertial sensor, variable sensor, touch sensor, or button) and remain within the scope and spirit of the invention. 
         [0053]    In addition,  FIG. 6  shows communication device  58  as a wireless hub for external devices including cellular telephone  46 , chart plotter  60 , and weather monitor  62 . Communication device  58  acts as a wireless hub by providing internet access through the cellular telephone network by operatively connecting to a paired cellular telephone  46 . As one skilled in the art will recognize, cellular telephone  46  could also be a smart phone or other device which communicates on the cellular telephone network and remain within the scope and spirit of the invention. In this embodiment, cellular telephone  46  is one of the many known varieties of cellular phones that are able to connect to the internet. In this embodiment, communication device  58  connects to the cellular network as described above by connecting to cellular telephone  46  via a wireless connection such as Bluetooth® by wireless module  20 . Once connected to the cellular network, communication device  58  can access the internet and provide access to other operatively connectable devices. 
         [0054]    For example,  FIG. 6  shows a weather monitor  62  connected to communication device  58  via cord  64  and a chart plotter  60  connected wirelessly to communication device  58 . In this embodiment, chart plotter  60  would be Bluetooth® compatible to wirelessly connect to wireless module  20 . Chart plotter  60  could then transmit to and receive information from the internet by wireless signal to communication device  58  which is in turn transmitted wirelessly to cellular telephone  46  and to the internet. The functions of chart plotter  60  and weather monitor  62  can be operatively controlled using sensor  56  of communication device  58  or may be controlled using each device&#39;s own interface. In other embodiments, devices that utilize communication device  58  as a wireless hub may include but are not limited to navigation devices, chart plotters, weather monitoring devices, depth finders, and computers. 
         [0055]    In another embodiment,  FIG. 7  depicts communication device  70  having a handset  72  and a console unit  74  connected by cord  76 . Handset  72  contains microphone  24  and switch  16 . Leads  78  send an electrical signal to microprocessor  30  when switch  16  is depressed. In this embodiment, console unit  74  contains microprocessor  30  operatively associated with power source  80 , display  68 , memory  36 , interface  82 , wireless module  20 , amplifier  26 , and speaker  42 . The case of console unit  74  is weather resistant construction to protect the circuitry from the elements of the environment. 
         [0056]      FIG. 7  also depicts a navigation unit  66  that uses at least one voice activation sensor. In this configuration, navigation unit  66  is Bluetooth® compatible and is in wireless communication with wireless module  20  of communication device  70 . Communication device  70  receives voice commands into microphone  24  and transmits the commands to the navigation unit  66  wirelessly. In this embodiment, communication device  70  acts as a voice input for navigation unit  66  and any other devices in operative connection. Display  68  may be used to indicate what other devices are in operative connection with communication device  70  and which device is currently in use. In some embodiments, switch  16  may be used to select which device is in use, while in other embodiments, selection of the device may occur through interface  82 . As one skilled in the art will recognize, any number of configurations for selecting devices may be used and all remain within the scope and spirit of the invention. 
         [0057]    The invention being thus described, it will be obvious that the same may be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention, and all such modifications as would be obvious to one skilled in the art are intended to be included within the scope of the following claims.