Abstract:
A wireless transmission system is disclosed containing a rechargeable transmitter and receiver. The transmitter is able to receive an input A/V signal and wireless transmit the A/V signal to a receiver which outputs the A/V signal to a receiving device.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This application claims the priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 60/731,497, filed Oct. 31, 2005, which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     The present invention relates generally to a wireless video and audio link between electronic devices.  
         [0004]     2. Related Art  
         [0005]     With the greater availability and affordability of electronic devices, today&#39;s homes more and more include electronic entertainment and theater systems. Such systems include a number of different electronic components that are typically connected together and communicate with each other via wires. Unless cables or wires are used to connect such electronic components as televisions and home theater equipment, signals from these different devices cannot be transmitted to remotely located devices, such as a television in a bedroom. Thus, the video or audio programming can only be enjoyed in those areas already hard wired. Additionally, the areas behind such devices are usually a jumble of wires. The presence of a large number of wires in a home can be unattractive.  
         [0006]     Entertainment systems are today also included in new automobiles. Many vehicles now come equipped with video entertainment systems. Such systems typically come with video monitors as standard equipment and are capable of showing movies and television programming. Video game systems can also be connected to the video monitor to enable game play. However, the video game system is an external component provided by the vehicle owner and requires an AC power source not usually present in vehicles. Also, the video game system must be connected via wires to the video monitor. In the smaller confines of a vehicle, the wires connecting different components are even more intrusive and may even present a driving hazard.  
         [0007]     Thus, there is a need for a wireless audio/video link and power supply.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0008]     In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, there is provided a wireless transmission system comprising a transmitter including input ports to receive input A/V signals, transmitter circuitry adapted to process the A/V signals for wireless transmission, an antenna coupled to the transmitter circuitry to wirelessly transmit the processed A/V signals, a rechargeable power supply coupled to the transmitter circuitry, and recharging circuitry coupled to the rechargeable power supply to supply recharging power thereto. The system may also include a receiver comprising an antenna adapted to receive the wirelessly transmitted signals from the transmitter, receiver circuitry coupled to the antenna and adapted to process the received signals, output ports to receive processed signals from the receiver circuitry and adapted to be coupled to a receiving device, a rechargeable power supply coupled to the receiver circuitry, and recharging circuitry coupled to the rechargeable power supply to supply recharging power thereto.  
         [0009]     In another embodiment of the invention, a docking station for wireless senders/receivers is provided. The docking station includes a housing; a recharging port provided on the housing and adapted to be coupled to corresponding recharging ports on the wireless sender and receiver; a DC input coupled to the recharging port; a power inverter disposed in the housing, receiving the DC input and providing an AC output; and an AC output port coupled to the power inverter and receiving the AC output.  
         [0010]     Further objectives and advantages, as well as the structure and function of exemplary embodiments will become apparent from a consideration of the description, drawings, and examples. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0011]     The foregoing and other features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following, more particular description of an exemplary embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings wherein like reference numbers generally indicate identical, functionally similar, and/or structurally similar elements.  
         [0012]      FIG. 1  depicts an exemplary system formed using a wireless link according to an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0013]      FIG. 2  depicts a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a transmitter according to the present invention;  
         [0014]      FIG. 3  depicts a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a receiver according to the present invention; and  
         [0015]      FIG. 4  depicts a block diagram of an exemplary embodiment of a docking station according to the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0016]     Embodiments of the invention are discussed in detail below. In describing embodiments, specific terminology is employed for the sake of clarity. However, the invention is not intended to be limited to the specific terminology so selected. While specific exemplary embodiments are discussed, it should be understood that this is done for illustration purposes only. A person skilled in the relevant art will recognize that other components and configurations can be used without parting from the spirit and scope of the invention.  
         [0017]     Embodiments of the present invention provide a wireless link between a sending device and a receiving device. The sending and receiving devices may include any type of electronic devices that are not configured to communicate in a wireless manner. The sending and receiving devices may include such devices as televisions, digital video disk (DVD) players, video cassette recorders (VCRs), video cameras, stereos, satellite systems, video game systems, etc. For example, the embodiment illustrated in  FIG. 1  includes a sending device  10 , for instance a video game system such as Playstation 2 from Sony, coupled to a transmitter  12 . The transmitter  12  receives output signals from the video game system. The output signals may include audio and video signals for a game being played on the game system. The transmitter  12  transmits those video and audio signals in a wireless manner to a receiver  14 . The receiver  14  receives the wireless signals and provides the video game system output signals to receiving device  16 , such as a television or other display. The television can then display the video and play the audio associated with the output signals from the video game system.  
         [0018]      FIG. 2  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a transmitter  12  according to the invention. The transmitter  12  includes a housing  20  enclosing various power, control and signal transmission circuits. The housing  20  includes one or more ports  22  via which a signal may be input into the transmitter  12 . The input signals may include, for example, TV, DVD, VCR, camcorder, stereo, satellite system or game system signals. The ports  22  included in transmitter  12  may vary based on the types of sending devices  10  with which the transmitter  12  is designed to operate. In the example discussed above, the transmitter  12  is coupled to a game system, such as a Sony Playstation 2. The ports  22  may be A/V input or output jacks, a USB port, serial port or other types of I/O ports.  
         [0019]     One or more control circuits may also be provided. A control circuit  33  may interpret or convert signals from the sending device  10 . The control circuit  33  may perform the operations to provide the signal from the port  22 , for example a USB port, to the transmitter circuitry  24 . Different control circuits may be provided for the different types of ports  22 . The control circuit  33  may also be incorporated into the transmitter circuitry  24 .  
         [0020]     The signals from the sending device  10  are provided via the ports  22  to transmitter circuitry  24 . The transmitter circuitry  24  prepares the signal to be transmitted in a wireless manner to the receiver  14 . The transmitter circuitry  24  may include coder/decoders, modulators or other circuits and components required for wireless transmission, which circuits and components are known to those of ordinary skill in the art. The transmitter  12  can process the signals from the sending device  10  to prepare them for transmission, for example, via a 2.4 GHz wireless link. Of course other frequencies or other types of wireless transmission methods, such as infrared, etc, may also be used.  
         [0021]     The signal encoded according to the wireless transmission method is then sent via antenna  28  to the receiver  14 . For example, the signals output from the video game system that are typically provided directly to a television monitor to represent game play are instead provided to the transmitter  12 . The signal is encoded and sent via antenna  28  to the receiver  14 . The receiver  14  processes the signal and provides the processed signal to the receiving device  16 , such as a television monitor.  
         [0022]     Transmitter  12  may be powered via a power supply  30 , such as one or more rechargeable batteries. The power supply  30  may provide power to the transmitter circuitry  24 , control circuit  33 , and to other components of the transmitter  12 . Recharging circuit  32  is coupled to the power supply  30  and to a recharging port  34  provided on the housing  20 . The recharging port  34  may include recharging contacts, a pin connector or the like. When the transmitter  12  is coupled to a docking station, discussed below, the recharging port  34  may be coupled to a corresponding portion of the docking station to receive charging power. The recharging circuit may be configured to receive either AC or DC power to charge power supply  44 .  
         [0023]      FIG. 3  illustrates an exemplary embodiment of a receiver  14  according to the invention. The receiver  14  includes a housing  34  enclosing various power, control, and receiver circuits. Receiver  14  includes an antenna  36  for receiving the wireless signals from the transmitter  12 . The antenna  36 , as well as antenna  28 , may be any type of antenna, for example, a patch antenna, an antenna formed on a printed circuit board, etc. The wireless signals received by the antenna  36  are provided to receiver circuitry  38 . The receiver circuitry  38  processes the wireless signals, for example by decoding, demodulation or the like. Such receiver circuitry is well known to those of ordinary skill in the art. The processed signal is provided via one or more ports  40  to a receiving device  16 . The receiving device  16  may be, for example, a TV, DVD, VCR, camcorder, stereo, satellite system, game system, etc. The ports  40  may take various forms depending on what type of input signals the receiving device  14  is capable of receiving. For example, the port  40  may include USB ports, serial ports, A/V ports, coaxial cable ports, etc.  
         [0024]     One or more control circuits may also be provided in the receiver  14 . A control circuit  42  may convert the processed signal from the receiver circuitry  38  into the appropriate format to be communicated to the receiving device  16  via ports  40 . The control circuit  42  may perform the necessary operations to provide signals to the receiving device  16  via a USB port, for example. Different control circuits may be provided for different types of ports  40 . The control circuit  42  may also be incorporated into the receiver circuitry  38 .  
         [0025]     Similar to the transmitter  12 , receiver  14  may be powered via a power supply  44 , such as one or more rechargeable batteries. The power supply  44  may provide power to the receiver circuitry  38  and other components of the receiver  14 . Recharging circuit  46  is coupled to the power supply  44  and to recharging port  48  provided on the housing  34 . When the receiver  14  is coupled to the docking station, discussed below, the recharging port  48  may be coupled to corresponding recharging port  54  on the docking station  50 . The recharging circuit may be configured to receive either AC or DC power to charge power supply  44 .  
         [0026]     An example of a docking station  50  according to an embodiment of the invention is depicted in  FIG. 4 . The docking station  50  includes a housing  52 . The housing  52  may protect the electronic and other components of the docking station  50 . The housing  52  includes a recharging port  54 . The recharging port  54  may be adapted to be coupled to the respective recharging ports on the transmitter  12  or receiver  14 . More than one recharging port and associated circuitry may be provided to allow the transmitter and receiver to be charged simultaneously. Power to charge the power supplies  30 ,  44  is supplied from the docking station  50  to the transmitter  12  or receiver  14  via the recharging port  54 . The recharging port  54  may comprise one or more contacts, pins or the like. The housing  52  of the docking station may be configured to receive the housings of the transmitter  12  and receiver  14  in a secure manner so that contact between the recharging ports  34 ,  48  and  54  is maintained during a charging operation.  
         [0027]     The docking station  50  may include inputs  56 A,  56 B adapted to receive power from various sources. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 4 , the docking station  50  includes an input  56 A for receiving DC power, for example 12 volt DC power from a cigarette lighter adapter. The docking station  50  may also include an input  56 B for receiving power from a wall cube that may be plugged into a typical AC wall outlet. Either of these or other power supplies may be used as the recharging power source. Power is provided from the inputs  56 A,  56 B to the recharging circuitry  57  and eventually to the transmitter  12  or receiver  14 . Accordingly, recharging can be performed from either of an AC or DC power source.  
         [0028]     The docking station  50  may include power inverter circuitry that can convert DC input power into AC output power. For example, as mentioned above, the docking station  50  may include an input for receiving DC input power, for example via a cigarette lighter adapter. The DC input power can be converted by power inverter  58  into AC output power to power various devices, such as a television monitor or game system. An AC power outlet  60  may be provided for this purpose.  
         [0029]     The embodiments illustrated and discussed in this specification are intended only to teach those skilled in the art the best way known to the inventors to make and use the invention. Nothing in this specification should be considered as limiting the scope of the present invention. All examples presented are representative and non-limiting. The above-described embodiments of the invention may be modified or varied, without departing from the invention, as appreciated by those skilled in the art in light of the above teachings. It is therefore to be understood that, within the scope of the claims and their equivalents, the invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described.