Speaker microphone connector for communicator

A RF communication system includes a speaker microphone connector connecting a communication station with a communication unit to transmit an audio signal and RF signal therebetween. The speaker microphone connector includes an audio cable, a RF cable and a tubular enclosing shelter enclosing the audio cable and the RF cable therein, wherein an end portion of the RF cable extends out of the enclosing shelter between first and second ends thereof such that the end portion of the RF cable is split with the audio cable to individually connect to the communication station. In addition, a retaining device is provided at the enclosing shelter to retain the RF cable and the audio cable in a splitting manner.

BACKGROUND OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

1. Field of Invention

The present invention relates to a communication system, and more particularly to a RF communicator which comprises a speaker microphone connector connecting between a communication station and a communication unit to transmit an audio signal and a RF signal while being cost effective.

2. Description of Related Arts

Conventional communication system device comprises a base unit, a speaker unit, and an audio cable. The base unit has an antenna for receiving RF signal, a RF process unit, an audio process unit, a connector for connecting the audio cable. The speaker unit has a speaker and microphone and can transmit audio and RF signal with the base unit through the audio cable. When the communication system device is in use, a user usually mount the base unit at his/her waist area and the speaker unit is mounted on his/her shoulder so that it is more convenient for the user to reach for the speaker and the user can listen to the speaker easier. The problem with such a conventional design is that the antenna is installed at the base unit which is usually mounted at the waist area of the user thus lowering the receiving capability of the RF signals because the antenna can receive better RF signal if it is mount at a higher elevation location.

The above discussed design is the most basic communication system device. To overcome the problem of bad RF reception, the antenna is installed at the speaker unit instead of the base unit. This design leads to another conventional communication system device. With the antenna installed at the speaker unit now, it offers a much better RF reception. Since the antenna is now mounted on the speaker unit, there requires a way to communicate with the base unit to process these RF signal. The audio cable which connects the speaker unit and the base unit will now also require having a RF wire to transmit signals from the antenna. The conventional design has the RF wire separated at one end of the audio cable wherein the RF wire is then connected separately to the base unit to process the RF signals. Although this conventional design offers a better reception for the RF signal, the manufacturing of such a connector at the end of the audio cable with the RF wire separating out from the audio wire is extremely difficult. It is also known that the RF wire has to be completely enclosed because they are highly sensitive to surrounding noise and interferences. Therefore, this design really complicates the manufacturing process of such connector that needs to separate the RF wire out from the cable and effectively reroute it to the base unit.

In remedy to the above described problem, another conventional design proposed to keep the RF wire within the audio cable together with the audio wire and to plug the cable in all at once to avoid the complicated manufacturing process of the above described connector adapting to the base unit. This design thus eliminates the complication of the connector but it requires additional wiring arrangement inside the base unit for connecting the RF wire. Since such design requires a different electrical construction for the base unit, and the manufacturing cost for the base unit is expensive and complicated at the same time.

SUMMARY OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

A main object of the present invention is to provide a RF communication system wherein a RF cable is separated from an audio cable within a speaker microphone connector, the speaker microphone connector is easy to manufacture but yet still provides a great RF reception and a stable signals transfer.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a RF communication system wherein a RF cable is separated from an audio cable within a speaker microphone connector and the RF cable is sealedly enclosed to ensure a reliable and stable signal transfer so as to minimize interferences.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a RF communication system having a one-piece integrated adapter which is easy to install and does not involve complicated mechanical structure.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a RF communication system which does not involve complicated mechanical structure, so as to minimize the manufacturing cost and other related expenses of the audio communication system.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a process of manufacturing a speaker microphone connector for communicatively connecting a communication unit to a communication station, wherein the manufacturing process of the speaker microphone connector does not involve complicated mechanical structure but yet still provides a RF communication system a great RF reception and a stable signals transfer.

Accordingly in order to accomplish the above objects, the present invention provides a RF communication system comprising:

a communication station which comprises an audio unit, an audio outlet operatively connected to the audio unit, a RF unit, and a RF outlet operatively connected to the RF unit;

a communication unit which comprises an audio transmitter and a RF transmitter; and

a speaker microphone connector, which comprises:

an audio transmission unit comprising an audio cable electrically extended from the audio transmitter and an audio connector which is electrically coupled with the audio cable and is connected with the audio outlet of the communication station for transmitting an audio signal between the communication station and the communication unit through the audio cable;

a RF transmission unit comprises a RF cable operatively extended from the RF transmitter and a RF connector which is operatively coupled with the RF cable and is connected with the RF transmitter for transmitting RF signal between communication station and the communication unit through the RF cable; and

a tubular enclosing shelter having a first end extended from the communication unit, a second end coupling with the audio connector, an interior cavity receiving the audio cable and the RF cable therein that an end portion of the RF cable is extending out of the enclosing shelter position between the first and second ends thereof to couple with the RF connector, and means for retaining the RF cable in a splitting manner.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Referring toFIG. 1of the drawings, the preferred embodiment of the present invention illustrates an audio communication system comprising a communication station10which comprises a first signal unit, a first signal outlet, operatively connected to the first signal unit, a second signal unit, a second signal outlet operatively connected to the second signal unit.

Accordingly, the communication station is a RF communication station that the first signal unit is an audio unit11, the first signal outlet is an audio outlet12operatively connected to the audio unit11, the second signal unit is a RF unit13, and the second signal outlet is a RF outlet14operatively connected to the RF unit13. The communication station10is usually mounted at a waist area of the user so that it is convenient for the user to reach for. The audio unit11and the RF unit13are capable of processing an audio and RF signals which are transferred to the communication station10through the audio outlet12and the RF outlet14. The RF outlet is also adapted to fit an antenna15so as to receive the RF signals.

Referring toFIG. 2of the drawings, the communication system further comprises a communicator communicating with the communication station10, wherein the communicator comprises a communication unit20and a speaker microphone connector30connecting the communication station10with the communication unit20.

The communication unit20comprises a first transmitter and a second transmitter. According to the preferred embodiment, the first transmitter is an audio transmitter21and the second transmitter is a RF transmitter22.

The communication unit20, which is embodied as a PTT (Push-To-Talk) communication device, is mounted as a higher elevation location so as to achieve a better reception for the RF signals. The communication unit20could be mounted on a shoulder position of the user for example, so it is easy for the user to reach for when the user needs to speak or listen. The audio transmitter21is capable of transmitting an input voice signal ultimately to the audio unit11of the communication station10for processing. The RF transmitter22is capable of transmitting RF signals between the communication station10and the communication unit20which ultimately allows the communication system to communicate with the other communication systems. The RF transmitter22further has a supplemental RF outlet221wherein the antenna15for receiving RF signal is coupled with the outlet according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention. Since the communication unit20has a high elevation than the communication station10, it offers a better reception for the RF signal. It is worth to mention that the antenna15is originally mounted at the RF outlet14of the communication station10to communicate with the RF unit13thereof. The antenna15is detached from the communication station10and is detachably mounted to the supplemental RF outlet221of the communication unit20to communicate with the RF transmitter21. In other words, the structural configuration of the supplemental RF outlet221is the same as the RF outlet14that the antenna15receives the RF signal at the communication unit20and transmits the RF signal to the communication station10through the speaker microphone connector30.

The speaker microphone connector30comprises a first signal transmission transmitting a first signal between the first signal unit of the communication station10and the first signal transmitter of the communication unit20, and a second signal transmission transmitting a second signal between the second signal unit of the communication station10and the second signal transmitter of the communication unit20.

According to the preferred embodiment, the first signal transmission comprises an audio transmission unit31and a plurality of audio cables32electrically extended from the audio transmitter21. The audio transmission unit31further comprises an audio connector33which is electrically coupled with the plurality audio cable32and is connected with the audio outlet12of the communication station10for transmitting the audio signal as the first signal between the communication station10and the communication unit20through the audio cable32. The audio cable32is made of electrical wires and is capable of transferring audio signals.

The second signal transmission comprises a RF transmission unit34which comprises a RF cable35operatively extended from said RF transmitter22. The RF transmission unit34further comprises a RF connector36which is operatively coupled with the RF cable35and is connected with the RF transmitter22for transmitting RF signal as the second signal between the communication station10and the communication unit20through the RF cable35. The RF cable35is made of an electrical wire which is capable of transferring RF signals. The length of the speaker microphone connector30should be long enough to at least connect the communication unit20from the shoulder position of the user to the communication station10from the waist position of the user.

According theFIG. 3of the drawings, the speaker microphone connector30further comprises a tubular enclosing shelter45having a first end37extended from said communication unit20. A second end38couples with the audio connector33. The tubular enclosing shelter45has an interior cavity receiving the audio cable32and the RF cable35therein. An end portion39of the RF cable35is extending out of the enclosing shelter45position between the first and second ends37,38thereof to couple with the RF connector36. The speaker microphone connector30further comprises means for retaining the RF cable35in a splitting manner. In order to conveniently separate the RF cable35from the audio cable32, a different color cable could be use as the RF cable35so that users can easily recognize the RF cable35. In fact, the structure of the RF cable35is different from that of the audio cable32such that a person who skills in that art should able to recognize the RF cable35to be separated. The length of the enclosing shelter45should give a space which allows the users to conveniently separate the RF cable35and arrange in the splitting manner. The tubular enclosing shelter45is made of flexible material such as PVC tube so that it is capable to bend and adapt for different. It is worth to mention that since the end portion39of the RF cable35is extended out of the enclosing shelter45position between the first and second ends37,38thereof to couple with the RF connector36but not extended out at the audio connector33, the electrical configuration of the speaker microphone connector30can be simplified. Especially when the size of the audio connector33is relatively small, the RF cable35does not need to be pass through the audio connector33to split with the audio cable32so as to keep the structural and electrical configuration of the audio connector33as simple as possible.

The retaining means of the speaker microphone connector30contains a splitting slit40formed at the enclosing shelter45between the first and second ends37,38thereof. The end portion39of said RF cable35extends out of the interior cavity of the enclosing shelter45. A portion along of the enclosing shelter45can be cut along the speaker microphone connector30so that the RF cable35can be pulled out in the splitting manner. The enclosing shelter45further comprises a sealing element41sealedly attached to the enclosing shelter45to sealedly enclose the splitting slit40so as to retain the RF cable35in a splitting manner. The enclosing shelter45is made of flexible material so that to provide a convenient installation. The enclosing shelter45ensures a better sealing of the RF cable35from the surrounding so as to minimize the interference and noise the RF cable35might experience. The sealing element41is integrally extended from the audio connector33to form a one-piece integrated adapter42according to the preferred embodiment of the present invention.

According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention illustrated inFIG. 3of the drawings, the retaining means of the speaker microphone connector30further comprises two securing rings42,43securely attaching to the enclosing shelter45at two slit ends of the splitting slit40respectively so as to securely hold the RF cable35and the audio cable32in position along the splitting slit40. The two securing rings42,43are made of metallic materials and help to strengthen the mechanical structure of the enclosing shelter45. The two securing rings42,43also help define the space which allows the users to conveniently separate the RF cable35and arrange it in the splitting manner.

Accordingly, the portion of the enclosing shelter45is cut along a circumferential thereof to form the splitting slit40to allow the end portion of the RF cable35extending out of the interior cavity through the splitting slit40. In other words, a portion of the enclosing shelter45is cut off as shown inFIG. 4. Alternatively, the splitting slit40can be formed by a longitudinal cut along the enclosing shelter45to form a gap thereon so as to allow the end portion of the RF cable35extending out of the interior cavity through the gap. And it should be noted that the ways of forming the splitting slit40are not only limited to the two methods described above as long as the portion of the enclosing shelter45is cut out and the RF cable35is pulled out between the first and second ends37,38.

The retaining means of the speaker microphone connector30further comprises a sealing shelter44which extends from the enclosing shelter45to the RF connector36and receives the end portion39of the RF cable35in a concealed manner. The sealing shelter44provides an extra sealing in addition to the enclosing shelter45to ensure a complete sealing of the RF cable35from the surrounding so as to minimize the interference and noise the RF cable35might experience. The sealing shelter44is made of flexible material such as PVC tube so that so that the speaker microphone connector30is capable to bend and adapt for different situations.

According to the preferred embodiment of the present invention as shown inFIG. 3of the drawings, the retaining means of the speaker microphone connector30further comprises a T-shaped tubular retainer46securely mounted at the enclosing shelter45at the splitting slit40. The tubular retainer46has first, second and third openings47,48,49that the plurality of audio cable32is extended from the first opening47to the second opening48within the interior cavity. The end portion39of the RF cable35is extended from the first opening47to the third opening49to extend out of the interior cavity of the enclosing shelter45. In other words, during the manufacturing process, a user inserts the speaker microphone connector30comprising both the audio cable32and RF cable35into the first opening47of the tubular retainer46. The user then split and pick out the RF cable35and insert it into the third opening49of the tubular retainer46. The plurality of audio cable32then passes through the second opening48of the tubular retainer46and is connected to the audio connector33. The T-shaped tubular retainer46helps the users to split the RF cable35manually and provides an additional safety protection to the plurality of audio cable32and the RF cable35.

The present invention also discloses a process of manufacturing the speaker microphone connector30to communicatively connect the communication unit20to the communication station10as shown inFIG. 5of the drawings. The process comprises the steps of:

(a) receiving the audio cable32and the RF cable35along the tubular enclosing shelter45, wherein the audio cable32is electrically extended from the audio transmitter21of the communication unit20while the RF cable35is operatively extended from the RF transmitter22of the communication unit20;

(b) forming the splitting slit40at the enclosing shelter45between first and second ends37,38thereof, wherein the first end37of the enclosing shelter45is extended from the communication unit20;

(c) pulling out the end portion39of said RF cable35out of an interior cavity of the enclosing shelter45through the splitting slit40such that the RF cable35is split with the audio cable32at the splitting slit40;

(d) electrically coupling the audio connector33with the audio cable35at the second end38of the enclosing shelter45to connect with the audio outlet12of the communication station10for transmitting the audio signal between the communication station10and the communication unit20through the audio cable35;

(e) operatively coupling the RF connector36with the end portion39of the RF cable35to connect with the RF outlet14of the communication station10for transmitting the RF signal between the communication station10and the communication unit20through said RF cable.

The process further comprises a step of sealedly attaching the sealing element41to the enclosing shelter45to sealedly enclose the splitting slit40so as to retain the RF cable35in the splitting manner. The sealing element41ensures a better sealing of the RF cable35from the surrounding so as to minimize the interference and noise the RF cable35might experience. In addition, the sealing element41can be sealed at the enclosing shelter45at any location where the splitting slit40is formed thereat, so as to simplify the manufacturing process of the speaker microphone connector30.

The process further comprises a step of extending the sealing element41integrally from the audio connector33to form the one-piece integrated adapter42. The one-piece integrated adapter42is more convenient for users to plug in and it offers an extra sealing to the RF cable to minimize the interference and noise.

The process further comprises a step of securely attaching the two securing rings42,43to the enclosing shelter45the at two slit ends of the splitting slit40respectively so as to securely hold the RF cable35and the audio cable32in position along said splitting slit40. The two securing rings42,43help strengthen the mechanical structure of the enclosing shelter45and define the space which allows the process to conveniently separate the RF cable35and arrange it in the splitting manner.

Step (b) of the process further comprises a step of cutting off the portion of the enclosing shelter45along a circumferential thereof to form the splitting slit40to allow the end portion39of the RF cable35extending out of the interior cavity through the splitting slit40. It should be noted that the step of cutting off the portion of the enclosing shelter45should not be only limited to the examples described above.

Step (c) of the process further comprises a step of receiving the end portion39of the RF cable35in the sealing shelter44in a concealed manner. The sealing shelter44offers a better sealing to the RF cable so as to minimize the interference and noise.

The process further comprises a step of securely mounting the T-shaped tubular retainer46at the enclosing shelter46at the splitting slit40. The tubular retainer46has first, second and third openings47,48,49respectively. The audio cable32is extended from the first opening47to the second opening48within the interior cavity. And the end portion39of the RF cable35is extended from the first47opening to the third opening49to extend out of the interior cavity of the enclosing shelter45. The T-Shaped tubular retainer46makes it more convenient for the user to split the RF cable35and helps retain the RF cable36and audio cable32. It is worth to mention that the securing rings42,43can be omitted when the tubular retainer46tightly mounted at the enclosing shelter46such that the tubular retainer46can securely retain the audio cable32and the RF cable36in position.