Abstract:
A connecting device comprises a first power plug for connecting to a power output port of a vehicle, a second power plug for connecting to a power input port on an electronic device, at least one signal plug for connecting to at least one signal output port of the electronic device, wherein visual signals and audio signals are received by the connecting device through the at least one signal plug, and a wireless transmitter for wirelessly transmitting the visual signals and the audio signals to a receiver in the vehicle.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present disclosure relates to a wireless transmitter for use in a vehicle, and more particularly to a wireless transmitter capable of wireless transmission of audio signals and visual signals. 
     2. Discussion of the Related Art 
     As society has become more mobile, demand has increased for electronic appliances and devices operable in vehicles. For example, video display devices, video cassette players (VCPs) and digital video disc (DVD) players have been provided in vehicles for video entertainment while traveling. 
     A video entertainment system may be permanently mounted in a vehicle. However, it is also desirable to connect a portable electronic device, such as a portable video compact disc (VCD) player or a DVD player, to a vehicle&#39;s power supply and to an existing sound system in the vehicle. 
     Devices are known for connecting a portable audio device, such as a compact disc (CD) player, to a vehicle&#39;s sound system, whereby audio signals from the CD player can be wirelessly transmitted to a receiver on the vehicle for broadcast through, for example, the vehicle&#39;s radio. Some of the known connecting devices use a vehicle&#39;s power supply through a connection to a power port, such as a cigarette lighter. 
     It has also become popular to display text on a display portion of, for example, a radio. The text may include, for example, information such as names of songs and artists. Text signals may be synchronized with audio and video signals and stored on a CD or a DVD along with audio and video signals. 
     Therefore, it may be desirable to transmit text signals from a portable entertainment device for broadcast on a display of a vehicle&#39;s sound system. 
     Accordingly, a need exists for a connecting device that utilizes a vehicle&#39;s power supply and can be used in conjunction with a portable video or audio player, to wirelessly transmit audio and text signals to an existing entertainment system in a vehicle for broadcast thereon. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     A connecting device, according to an embodiment of the present invention, comprises a first power plug for connecting to a power output port of a vehicle, a second power plug for connecting to a power input port on an electronic device, at least one signal plug for connecting to at least one signal output port of the electronic device, wherein visual signals and audio signals are received by the connecting device through the at least one signal plug, and a wireless transmitter for wirelessly transmitting the visual signals and the audio signals to a receiver in the vehicle. 
     The power from the vehicle may be supplied to the power input port of the electronic device via the first power plug and the second power plug. The electronic device may be at least one of a digital video disc player, a video compact disc player, a compact disc player, and an MP3 player. The visual signals and the audio signals may be stored on at least one of a digital video disc, a video compact disc, a compact disc, and a computer file. The visual signals may be synchronized with at least one of the audio signals and video signals. 
     The connecting device may further comprise a frequency selector for selecting a frequency on which the visual signals and the audio signals are wirelessly transmitted. The selected frequency may range from about 88 MHz to about 108 MHz or from about 88 MHz to about 225 MHz. The receiver may be tuned to the selected frequency. 
     The receiver may be at least one of an FM radio, a digital radio, and a display unit coupled to an antenna of the vehicle. The receiver may include a display for displaying visual information. 
     The connecting device may further comprise a multiplexer for multiplexing the audio signals and the visual signals, and a modulator for modulating the visual signals and the audio signals onto a predetermined frequency for wireless transmission at the predetermined frequency. The wireless transmitter may include at least one of an FM transmitter and a digital broadcast transmitter. The visual signals may include at least one of text, graphics and video. 
     Another connecting device, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, comprises a means for connecting to a power supply of a vehicle, a first means for connecting to an electronic device, whereby power is supplied from the power supply to the electronic device, a second means for connecting to the electronic device, whereby visual signals and audio signals from the electronic device are received by the connecting device, and a transmission means for wirelessly transmitting the visual signals and the audio signals to a receiver in the vehicle. 
     The connecting device may further comprise a means for selecting a frequency on which the visual signals and the audio signals are wirelessly transmitted. The receiver may be at least one of an FM radio, a digital radio and a display unit installed in the vehicle. The connecting device may further comprise a means for multiplexing the audio signals and the visual signals, and a means for modulating the visual signals and the audio signals onto a predetermined frequency for wireless transmission at the predetermined frequency. The transmission means may include at least one of an FM transmitter and a digital broadcast transmitter. 
     A wireless transmitter for use in a vehicle, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, comprises a connector for connecting to an output port of an electronic device, wherein the wireless transmitter receives audio signals and visual signals through the connector, and one of an FM transmitter and a digital broadcast transmitter for wirelessly transmitting the audio signals and the visual signals to a receiver in the vehicle. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Preferred embodiments of the invention can be understood in more detail from the following descriptions taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  shows a connecting device including a wireless transmitter, according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 2  shows the connecting device of  FIG. 1  and a patch cord connectable thereto, according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 3  shows a connecting device including a wireless transmitter and a portable entertainment device connectable thereto, according to an embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 4A  shows a block diagram of transmitter/modulator unit for use with a connecting device, according to an embodiment of the present invention; and 
         FIG. 4B  shows a block diagram of transmitter/modulator unit for use with a connecting device, according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     Preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described below in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. This invention may, however, be embodied in different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the scope of the invention to those skilled in the art. 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , the connecting device  100  includes power port plug  110 , which can be inserted into a standard vehicle power port, such as a cigarette lighter. The connecting device  100  can transmit power from a vehicle (e.g., 12 volt DC power) to a portable entertainment device  300  ( FIG. 3 ) through a wire  171  and a power plug  170 , which can be plugged into a power port  330  of the portable entertainment device  300 . The portable entertainment device  300  may include, for example, a VCD player, a DVD player, a CD player, or an MP3 player. 
     The connecting device  100  includes a transmitter/modulator unit  120  and a frequency selector  121 . The frequency selector  121  can be tuned, using a button or a dial  122 , to a desired frequency on which a wireless transmitter included in the transmitter/modulator unit  120  can transmit audio and visual signals. In one embodiment, the wireless transmitter may include a frequency modulation (FM) transmitter  625  ( FIG. 4A ), whereby the frequency can be in the FM band, ranging from about 88 MHz to about 108 MHz. In another embodiment, the wireless transmitter may include a digital broadcast transmitter, such as a digital audio broadcast (DAB) transmitter  627  ( FIG. 4B ), which can transmit on frequencies in and beyond the FM band, ranging from about 88 MHz to about 225 MHz. Frequency may be tunable to a number of frequencies in the ranges in increments of 0.1 MHz. The wireless signals are transmitted to, for example a vehicle antenna. 
     Wireless audio and visual signals can be broadcast, for example, through an FM radio including a display for visual information, such as text, graphics or video. With the embodiment using the DAB transmitter  627 , transmission of the visual and audio signals may be to a digital radio in a vehicle capable of displaying more visual information than a traditional FM radio. The audio and visual signals may also be broadcast to a display unit capable of playing audio. The FM and digital radios and the display unit are coupled to the vehicle&#39;s antenna and tuned to the frequency on which the audio and visual signals are transmitted. The audio and visual signals may be stored, for example, on a DVD, VCD, CD, or a computer file, such as an MP3 file. The visual signals are signals pertaining to the stored program to be played and may include text, graphics or video, including, for example, information such as names of songs and artists, icons, and movie data, including name of the movie, director, and scene information. The visual signals may be synchronized with audio and video signals. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 1-3 , different configurations may be used for supplying audio and visual signals to the wireless transmitter  120 . For example, as shown in  FIG. 1 , a plug  150  may connect directly to an audio output port of a portable video or audio player, such as a DVD, VCD, CD or MP3 player, and transmit audio and visual signals to the transmitter/modulator unit  120  via wire  151 . A modulator  623  ( FIGS. 4A-4B ) included in the transmitter/modulator unit  120  then modulates the audio and visual signals for transmission on the selected frequency for receipt by and broadcast through a display unit and/or radio coupled to the vehicle&#39;s antenna. 
     Alternatively, as shown in  FIG. 2 , the plug  150  can connect to a patch cord  200  including plugs  210  and  220 . The plugs  210 ,  220  can connect to multiple audio output ports, for example ports  310  and  320  of a portable video player  300 . The ports may be, for example, left and right headphone ports that carry both audio and visual signals. 
     Alternatively, the portable video player  300  also may be equipped with a video output port  325  through which the visual signals are transmitted. It is to be understood that the portable player  300  may include one or multiple audio output ports carrying just audio or both audio and visual signals. In addition to the audio output ports, the player  300  may include a video output port capable of transmitting visual signals. 
     In a configuration including a player with a video output port, plugs  210  and  220  may connect to audio and video output ports, respectively, whereby audio signals are transmitted through the audio output port and visual signals are transmitted through the video output port. Therefore, audio and visual signals can be carried via the patch cord  200 , plug  150  and wire  151  to the transmitter/modulator unit  120 . 
     The modulator  623  then modulates the visual and audio signals on the selected frequency and transmits the signals for receipt by and broadcast through an entertainment device in a vehicle, such as a radio with a digital display, wherein the entertainment device is coupled to the vehicle&#39;s antenna. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , a connecting device  500 , like the connecting device  100 , includes a power port plug  510 , a transmitter/modulator unit  520  with a frequency selector  521  having a button or dial  522 . Power from the vehicle can be supplied to the portable entertainment device  300 , for example, a portable DVD player, via the power port plug  510 , wire  571  and plug  570 , which is inserted into power port  330 . 
     Audio signals from the portable player  300  are supplied to the transmitter/modulator unit  520  from output ports  310 ,  320 , which receive plugs  550  and  560 , respectively. Visual signals from the portable player  300  are supplied to the transmitter/modulator unit  520  from output port  325 , which receives plug  580 . The visual and audio signals are transmitted to the transmitter/modulator unit  520  through wires  581 , and  551  and  561 , respectively. A wireless transmitter, for example, an FM or DAB transmitter included in the transmitter/modulator unit  520 , then transmits the visual and audio signals on a selected frequency for receipt by and broadcast through an entertainment device in a vehicle, such as radio with a digital display, wherein the entertainment device is coupled to the vehicle&#39;s antenna. 
     In operation, when plug  110 / 510  is plugged into a vehicle&#39;s power port, a voltage (e.g., 12 volts DC) is processed, by, for example, a voltage circuit included in the transmitter/modulator unit  120 / 520 , to output a constant voltage. The constant voltage is supplied to the power port  330  of the player  300  via plug  170 / 570 . 
     Referring to  FIGS. 4A-4B , a transmitter/modulator unit  120 / 520  may include a multiplexer  629  for multiplexing the visual and audio signals received, for example, on a single wire, such as wire  151 / 551  and/or wire  561 . The multiplexer  629  converts the visual and audio signals into an appropriate form so that they can be modulated onto a chosen frequency by a modulator  623 , for example an FM or DAB modulator included in the transmitter/modulator unit  120 / 520 . Using the FM or DAB transmitters  625 ,  627 , a modulated signal can be wirelessly transmitted via an antenna  626  to a vehicle antenna. Alternatively, audio and visual signals can be sent directly to the modulator  623 , for example, from wires  551  and  561 , and  581 , respectively, without processing by the multiplexer  629 . 
     Once received by the vehicle&#39;s antenna, a modulated signal is received by an entertainment device in the vehicle, such as a radio, which is tuned to the chosen frequency. The audio and visual signals are then demodulated by a demodulator and are respectively output to speakers and a display of the entertainment device. 
     Although the illustrative embodiments have been described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that the present invention is not limited to those precise embodiments, and that various other changes and modifications may be affected therein by one of ordinary skill in the related art without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention. All such changes and modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims.