Abstract:
A wireless communication device for use in connection with a cellular telephone is disclosed and a transceiver radio such as a citizens band radio. The wireless communication device of the present invention 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. Thus, the apparatus of the present invention improves cellular telephone usage in a noisy environment such as the cab of a tractor trailer or other vehicle. In another embodiment, the wireless communication device of the present invention is connectable to multiple external devices and is capable of operating the external devices and providing access to a cellular telephone network for such external devices.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    This application claims the benefit of priority from U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/027,764 filed on Feb. 11, 2008. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to a citizens band radio having wireless connectivity, such as by Bluetooth technology or other wireless standard, to a cellular telephone or other device that connects to the cellular network or a similar network. The operator of the citizens band radio is therefore able to place and receive cellular telephone calls while taking advantage of the microphone and more powerful speaker units associated with the citizens band radio. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    Citizens band radios, or “CBs,” have long been used for communication, primarily between truck drivers, but also by hobbyists and the like. Traditionally, the citizens band radio may have been the long-haul trucker&#39;s primary mode of communication. However, with the advent and widespread use of cellular telephones and other devices on the cellular telephone network, much of a truck driver&#39;s communication can now be done via a cellular telephone. Yet many truck drivers may still desire a citizens band radio for communication from truck to truck. For this reason, many drivers may still equip their trucks with a citizens band radio and carry a cellular telephone with them for communication with known parties or other parties that are outside the range of the CB radio. 
         [0004]    Use of a cellular telephone communication while driving, however, has several known disadvantages. For example, the mere act of locating, retrieving, and answering a cellular telephone from, for example, a pocket, may be distracting to a driver. Furthermore, and of particular importance to drivers of tractor trailers, may be noise present in the cab of a truck which may overwhelm the capabilities of a cellular telephone. Noise associated with the truck&#39;s engine may make communication difficult. First, the truck operator may have difficulty hearing as the noise of the truck may drown out conversation. Second, the person speaking to the truck operator may be unable to hear the operator&#39;s voice, as a cellular telephone may pick up and transmit the ambient noise from the interior of the truck. Similarly, the noisy environment of the truck may make it difficult to even hear the ring of a cellular telephone. 
         [0005]    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 in a noisy environment such as a tractor trailer. Furthermore, it is desirable to provide a communication device which may be integrated into a communication device already adopted by many truck drivers and which is therefore already familiar to most drivers and may therefore be more easily used while driving. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    It is an object of the present invention to provide a citizens band radio that is wirelessly connectable to a cellular telephone, and thereby enables an operator of the citizens band radio to carry on a conversation over the cellular telephone network while utilizing the microphone and speaker(s) integrated with the citizens band radio. 
         [0007]    It is another object of the present invention to provide a citizens band radio which is wirelessly connectable to a cellular telephone, and which provides a user interface which is familiar to users of citizens band radios. 
         [0008]    It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a citizens band radio that is wirelessly connectable to a cellular telephone and which may provide audio broadcasting capabilities which are superior to the cellular telephone. 
         [0009]    It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a citizens band radio which is operable from an on-board power source. 
         [0010]    It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a wireless Bluetooth® device which is operable from an on-board power source and is wirelessly connected to a citizens band radio. 
         [0011]    It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a citizens band radio which has an easy to use interface and which uses an existing cellular telephone to make and receive calls. 
         [0012]    It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a citizens band radio which can be paired with cellular telephones and will select pairing based on a priority. 
         [0013]    It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a citizens band radio that is switchable between a cellular telephone mode and a citizens band radio mode. 
         [0014]    It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a citizens band radio which is wirelessly connectable to a cellular telephone and which may provide noise canceling attributes for both cellular telephone communication and citizens band radio communication. 
         [0015]    It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a citizens band radio that is wirelessly connectable to a cellular telephone and which may improve communication between its operator and another person, whether over a cellular network or over citizens band radio frequencies through use of an adjustable gain function. 
         [0016]    It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a citizens band radio that is wirelessly connectable to a cellular telephone and which may integrate with additional output units, such as external speakers. 
         [0017]    It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a citizens band radio that is wirelessly connectable to a cellular telephone and, by utilizing the Bluetooth® connection, may redial a last telephone number dialed, answer calls, enable and disable voice activation of a voice enabled cellular telephone, and initiate and terminate the wireless connectivity, or other functions supported by the wireless standard used by the device. 
         [0018]    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 
         [0019]    The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein: 
           [0020]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram showing the basic layout of the citizens band radio of the present invention. 
           [0021]      FIG. 2  is a view of the front of one embodiment of the citizens band radio of the present invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 3  is a block diagram showing an alternate embodiment of the citizens band radio of the present invention in wireless communication with more than one external device. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0023]    With reference to  FIG. 1 , a citizens band radio  10  with wireless connectivity 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. 
         [0024]    Citizens band radio  10  is comprised of base  12 , typically a vehicle mounted transceiver unit and, in the embodiment shown, cord  14 , and handset  16 . Cellular telephone  18 , while not forming a part of citizens band radio  10 , is an integral part of the communication system, and is in wireless communication with citizens band radio  10 . 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. As shown in  FIG. 1 , switch  20  is interposed within handset case  22  such that an operator may depress or otherwise activate switch  20  without the need for opening handset case  22 . 
         [0025]    The circuitry comprising handset  16  as shown in the depicted embodiment of the present invention is simplified for ease of presentation and includes wireless activation switch  24 , and, in the embodiment shown, separate microphones  26  and  28  for wireless communication and citizens band radio communication respectively. It should be understood that alternate embodiments which may employ a single microphone for both wireless and citizens band radio communication, and the attendant switching circuitry would not deviate from the scope of the invention. Electrical signals generated in handset  16  are transmitted to base  12  via cord  14 . As one having skill in the art will recognize, the operative association provided by cord  14  may be achieved through other means including but not limited to a wireless connection between the handset  16  and base  14 , and such other means would remain within the scope and spirit of the present invention. 
         [0026]    Base  12  is comprised of base case  30 , wireless module  32 , wireless indicator  34 , audio output switch  36 , amplifier  38 , speaker  40 , and in the embodiment shown, an external output jack  42 . Wireless module  32  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  32  is a Bluetooth® module. Wireless module  32  is operatively connected to wireless indicator  34 , audio output switch  36 , and receives input from wireless activation switch  24  and wireless communication microphone  26 . 
         [0027]    Audio output switch  36 , which selects between audio from the citizens band radio or audio associated with the cellular telephone, is in turn connected to amplifier  38 . Amplifier  38  may be connected to speaker  40 , with, in certain embodiments, external output jack  42  interposed therebetween. 
         [0028]    In citizens band mode, the citizens band radio of the present invention is operated in much the same way as is known to operate a citizens band radio (the citizens band radio components are represented by box  41 ). That is, when the operator wishes to speak using the citizens band radio functionality, he or she presses switch  20  to enable talk mode. While in citizens band radio mode, it is necessary to depress switch  20  prior to speaking as, as is known in the citizens band radio art, conversations are in half-duplex mode (sometimes referred to as simplex mode) meaning that audio signals are transmitted in only one direction at a time. Once switch  20  has been depressed, the operator may begin speaking into citizens band radio microphone  28 . The operator&#39;s auditory input is converted to an electrical signal by citizens band radio microphone  28  and then broadcast over the known citizens band 27 MHz frequency. 
         [0029]    However, the citizens band radio of the present invention adds the functionality of allowing an operator to carry on a conversation via cellular telephone using elements of the hardware associated with the citizens band radio. First, cellular telephone  18  must be one of a known type of cellular telephones which incorporate wireless connectivity with similarly compliant devices. 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  18  receives a call, a signal is sent by the short range wireless transceiver within cellular telephone  18  and is detected by wireless module  32 . Wireless module  32  and cellular telephone  18  may then begin communication. It should be understood that in the example just given, cellular telephone  18  will have been paired with citizens band radio  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 addition, wireless module  32  may be paired with more than one cellular telephone, and is operable to select priority pairing. Priority pairing may be user defined, selected by order of pairing, current activity with the wireless module, or another form of priority, and all remain within the scope and spirit of the present invention. 
         [0030]    Once cellular telephone  18  and citizens band radio  10  have been paired, if the operator wishes to use his or her cellular telephone in connection with the citizens band radio of the present invention, several modes of operation are possible. In call receiving mode, when cellular telephone  18  receives a call, a signal is sent to wireless module  32 . Wireless module  32  then initiates an electrical signal to amplifier  38 , where the electrical signal is amplified and passed on to speaker  40 , where the electrical signal is converted to an auditory signal such that it may be heard by the operator. In this case, the auditory signal may be ring tone alerting an operator that a telephone call is incoming. To answer the call, an operator of citizens band radio  10  would activate wireless activation switch  24 , causing citizens band radio  10  to enter cellular telephone mode. In this mode, the citizens band radio microphone  28  is disabled and any audio associated with citizens band mode is muted. Furthermore, switch  20  is disabled as in cellular telephone mode communication is full duplex, meaning that audio signals are simultaneously broadcast from both ends of the conversation. It should be understood that alternate embodiments of the present invention may employ switch  20  during cellular telephone communication as well. That is, in certain embodiments, while in cellular mode communication may be changed from duplex mode communication into half-duplex, or simplex communication. Although half-duplex communication is not the preferred embodiment of the present invention, such an embodiment would not deviate from the scope of the invention. As one skilled in the art will recognize, switch  20  and wireless activation switch  24  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. Finally, wireless indicator  34  may indicate that a call is in progress. In a preferred embodiment, wireless indicator  34  is a light, preferably a blue light emitting diode, and would be constantly lit to indicate a call in progress. However, other types of wireless indicators and/or alternate indicators of in-progress calls would not deviate from the scope of the invention. In addition, embodiments that include other types of indicators, use indicators to indicate other information (e.g. that communication via the citizens band radio is in progress), and/or do not include a wireless indicator are still within the scope of the invention. 
         [0031]    The operator would then speak normally into handset  16 , his or her voice being picked up by wireless communication microphone  26 , modulated and broadcast wirelessly by wireless module  32  to cellular telephone  18 . Similarly, the operator may listen to the conversation through speaker  40 . Because speaker  40  is physically larger than the speaker associated with cellular telephone  18 , and because both speaker  40  and amplifier  38  are powered by a more robust power source (not shown, but typically a 12 volt power source associated with the vehicle in which citizens band radio  10  is mounted) associated with the citizens band radio  10 , speaker  40  will generally be capable of broadcasting the audio signal at a much greater volume than would the speaker associated with cellular telephone  18 . 
         [0032]    To initiate a telephone call over cellular telephone  18  using citizens band radio  10 , an operator would begin by initiating a call as per the requirements of the cellular telephone  18  paired with citizens band radio  10 . While the call initiation operations are ongoing, any tones generated by cellular telephone  18  may be wirelessly transmitted to citizens band radio  10  and broadcast over speaker  40 . Once the call has been connected, conversation may ensue as previously described. Furthermore, wireless indicator  34  may illuminate as previously described. To terminate the call, the operator may activate wireless activation switch  24 . Doing so will return citizens band radio  10  to citizens band radio mode. As in call receiving mode, when in call initiation mode, the operator of citizens band radio  10  will have the benefit of the larger speaker  40  associated with citizens band radio  10 . Furthermore, in both call receiving and call initiation modes, the operator will be utilizing a microphone which, unlike the microphone associated with cellular telephone  18 , may be gain adjusted, particularly when the unit is used in a tractor trailer, to minimize the ambient noise picked up by wireless communication microphone  26 . In addition, in a preferred embodiment, noise cancelling circuitry or technology, either acoustic or electronic, may be incorporated in citizens band radio  10 . This technology is well known to those skilled in the art, and is not generally available in cellular telephones. Finally, in extremely noisy environments, an operator may place an external speaker in operative connection with external output jack  42 . The external speaker may be of any type compatible with citizens band radio  10 , and may further amplify the audio output far beyond what may be possible using cellular telephone  18  alone. 
         [0033]    Other functions may be accomplished through use of wireless activation switch  24  and are generally limited only by the range of functions supported by the relevant wireless standard. For example, wireless activation switch  24  may be used to initiate alternate functions in cellular telephone  18  such as voice dialing, last number re-dialing, and enabling and disabling the wireless connectivity between cellular telephone  18  and citizens band radio  10 . Those skilled in the art will recognize that the range of functions available is limited only by the functionality of cellular telephone  18  and that the ability to incorporate or activate certain of these functions is not a limitation of the present invention. The range of functions of cellular telephone  18  may include text messaging, e-mail, internet, voicemail, etc. 
         [0034]    Turning to  FIG. 2 , various features of citizens band radio  10  discussed in relation to  FIG. 1  are again depicted. In particular, base  12 , cord  14 , handset  16 , switch  20  wireless activation switch  24 , and wireless indicator  34  are all shown. It should be understood that the particular arrangement of controls shown on the face of citizens band radio  10  are for illustration purposes, and should not be taken as a limitation of the present invention. 
         [0035]      FIG. 3  depicts another embodiment of the present invention with handset  46  and base  44  operatively associated by cord  58 . As discussed regarding  FIG. 1 , other operative associations than cord  58  may be employed and remain within the scope and spirit of the present invention. Case  50  of handset  46  encloses microphone  54 , wireless module  52 , and leads  56  all of which are operatively associated with cord  58 . Handset  46  also includes an interface, shown as switch  48  in  FIG. 3 . As one having skill in the art will recognize, the interface may include one or more switches, and the switch (or switches) may be any type of sensor or combination of sensors, including but not limited to a voice activated sensor, inertial sensor, variable sensor, touch sensor, or button including the push-to-talk button commonly found on VHF or citizens band radios. 
         [0036]    In this embodiment, when switch  48  is activated, leads  56  are connected sending an electrical signal vial cord  58  to microprocessor  60  and the radio transceiver components (shown as box  74 ). When switch  58  is deactivated, leads  56  are disconnected stopping the transmission of electrical signals to microprocessor  60  and the radio transceiver components (shown as box  74 ). Microphone  54  is connected to wireless module  52  and, via cord  58 , to microprocessor  60  and the radio transceiver components (shown as box  74 ), and is operable to function as the microphone for the transceiver mode and the external device mode. In a preferred embodiment, the radio transceiver components operate on the citizens band radio frequencies, however, as one skilled in the art will recognize the radio transceiver is not limited to operation on the citizens band radio frequencies and may operate on any frequency and remain within the scope and spirit of the present invention, including business band, aviation, VHF, marine bands, and public safety frequencies. The radio transceiver may also operate with the Multi Use Radio Service and/or the General Mobile Radio Service. 
         [0037]    Wireless module  52  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. Wireless module  52  is compatible with and operatively connectable with external devices  68  and  70 . 
         [0038]    Base  44  includes microprocessor  60 , output switch  62 , speaker  64 , output jack  66 , and display  72 . Microprocessor  60  is in operative association with leads  56 , microphone  54 , and wireless module  52  of handset  46  via cord  58 . Microprocessor  60  is also in operative connection with display  72  and output switch  62 . Output switch  62  is operable to select between audio output from wireless module  52  and the radio transceiver components (shown as box  74 ), and is in operative connection with speaker  64  and output jack  66 . 
         [0039]      FIG. 3  also depicts the communication device of the present invention operatively associated with external devices  68  and  70  via wireless module  52  found in handset  46  of the communication device. In  FIG. 3 , external device  68  is depicted as a cellular telephone and external device  70  is depicted as a navigation device (hereinafter “cellular telephone  68 ” and “navigation device  70 ” respectively). As one skilled in the art will recognize, various types and numbers of external devices may be operatively associated with the communication device and remain within the scope and spirit of the invention, including but not limited to navigation units, weather units, entertainment devices, computers, radar detectors, etc. Similar to the invention as described in  FIG. 1 , in this embodiment, the communication device can wirelessly connect to cellular telephone  68  through wireless module  52  to facilitate communication via cellular telephone  68  and is operable to control the functions of cellular telephone  68  via the interface depicted as switch  48 . 
         [0040]    In addition, in this embodiment the communication device may act as a wireless hub by providing access for various external devices through the cellular telephone network by operatively connecting to a paired cellular telephone  68 . As one skilled in the art will recognize, cellular telephone  68  could also be a smart phone or other device which communicates on the cellular telephone network or other similar network and remain within the scope and spirit of the invention. In this embodiment, the communication device connects to the cellular network as described above by connecting to cellular telephone  68  via a wireless connection, such as Bluetooth®, by wireless module  52 . Once connected to the cellular network, the communication device can access the Internet or other network and provide access to other operatively connectable devices. 
         [0041]    For example, navigation device  70  may be connected wirelessly to wireless module  52  of the communication device. In this embodiment, navigation device  70  would be Bluetooth® compatible to wirelessly connect to wireless module  52 . Navigation device  70  could then transmit to and receive information from the Internet by wireless signal to the communication device which is in turn transmitted wirelessly to cellular telephone  68  and to the Internet. The functions of navigation device  70  can be operatively controlled using the communication device interface depicted as switch  48  or may be controlled using the device&#39;s own interface. 
         [0042]    In addition, navigation device  70  may include at least one voice activation sensor. The communication device receives voice commands into microphone  54  and transmits the commands to the navigation device  70  wirelessly. In this embodiment, the communication device acts as a voice input for navigation device  70  and any other devices in operative connection. Display  72  may be used to indicate what other devices are in operative connection with the communication device and which device is currently in use. In this embodiment, switch  48  may be used to select which device is in use. In other embodiments utilizing an interface with more than one switch, selection of the device may occur through a separate switch. 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. 
         [0043]    In a further embodiment, base  12  (or base  44  from  FIG. 3 ) may also include an external microphone jack. The external jack allows an operator to connect an external microphone to the apparatus to use in place of wireless communication microphone  26  (or microphone  54  from  FIG. 3 ). In such use, circuitry within base  12  (or base  44  from  FIG. 3 ) would recognize that an external microphone had been connected, and would therefore disconnect or otherwise bypass wireless communication microphone  26  (or microphone  54  from  FIG. 3 ). Of course, alternate arrangements wherein wireless microphone remained active would not deviate from the scope of the invention. The use of an external microphone in this manner would also permit the operator to operate the apparatus in a hands-free mode. 
         [0044]    As one having skill in the art will recognize, other embodiments of the invention may use alternative selective devises instead of audio output switch  36  (or output switch  62  from  FIG. 3 ) in order to select between communication received via the transceiver radio or received via the cellular telephone (or other external device). Such alternative selective devices may be located in various positions within the apparatus or incorporated into other components of the invention. Selective devices may operate to allow only the operation of one form of communication at a time, or the selective device may diminish signals originating from one form of communication and/or increase signals originating from another form of communication. For example, in an alternative embodiment of the invention having separate speakers for communication received via the cellular telephone and communication received via the radio transceiver, the selective device may decrease the radio transceiver&#39;s speaker output and increase the speaker output associated with the cellular telephone in order to facilitate communication via the cellular telephone. Notably, decreasing the output signal to nothing is equivalent to muting or turning off the output. The variations of selective devices that have the effect of selecting the form of communication remain within the scope and spirit of the invention. 
         [0045]    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.