Patent Publication Number: US-2016227352-A1

Title: Auxiliary bluetooth device

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is a continuation patent application of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/624,449, filed on Feb. 17, 2015 which claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Patent Application No. 62/111,562, filed on Feb. 3, 2015, the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
    
    
     STATEMENT RE: FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH/DEVELOPMENT 
     Not Applicable 
     BACKGROUND 
     The various embodiments and aspects described herein relate to a wireless enabling device for a non-wireless device. 
     Antiquated electronics were manufactured without any wireless communication capabilities. As such, antiquated electronics require a wired connection between the antiquated electronics and a wireless enabled device. The wireless enabled device accommodates antiquated electronics by providing an audio jack so that the wired connection may be established between the audio jack of the wireless enabled device and the audio jack of the antiquated electronics. Unfortunately, the wired connection has certain downfalls such as aesthetics and maneuverability. 
     Accordingly, there is a need in the art for an improved communication link between electronic devices. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     The various aspects and embodiments described herein address the needs discussed above, discussed below and those that are known in the art. 
     An auxiliary wireless device that enables a normally non-wireless enabled device to wirelessly communicate with a wireless enabled device is disclosed herein. The auxiliary wireless device includes a transceiver, battery pack and an audio connector. The audio connector is insertable into an audio jack of the normally non-wireless enabled device. A button on the auxiliary wireless device may be depressed in order to make the auxiliary wireless device findable by a wireless enabled device for establishing a communication link between the auxiliary wireless device and the wireless enabled device. In this manner, an audio signal may be communicated between the normally non-wireless enabled device and the wireless enabled device. 
     More particularly, an auxiliary wireless device for enabling wireless connection between a first non-wireless enabled device to a second wireless enabled device is disclosed. The auxiliary wireless device may comprise a wireless transceiver, a rechargeable battery, an audio connector and a button. The wireless transceiver may transmit electronic data through the auxiliary wireless device between the first non-wireless enabled device and the second wireless enabled device. The rechargeable battery may be in electrical communication with the wireless transceiver for providing power to the wireless transceiver. The audio connector may be in electrical communication with the wireless transceiver. The audio connector may be sized and configured to be inserted into an audio jack of the first non-wireless enabled device. The button may be in communication with the wireless transceiver and operative to make the auxiliary wireless device findable by the second wireless enabled device. 
     The wireless transceiver may operate on a Bluetooth standard or a Wi-Fi standard. 
     The auxiliary wireless device may have a light source for indicating a charge level of the rechargeable battery. 
     The audio connector may be a RCA connector, 2.5 mm phone connector, 3.5 mm phone connector, 6.5 mm phone connector or other connector known in the art or developed in the future. 
     In another aspect, a method for utilizing an auxiliary wireless device for establishing a wireless communication link between a first non-wireless enabled device and a second wireless enabled device is disclosed. The method may comprise the steps of inserting an audio connector of the auxiliary wireless device into an audio jack of the first non-wireless enabled device; depressing a button on the auxiliary wireless device so that the auxiliary wireless device is findable by a second wireless enabled device; configuring the second wireless enabled device to a search mode for finding the auxiliary wireless device; and establishing a connection between the auxiliary wireless device and the second wireless enabled device for providing a communication link between the first non-wireless enabled device and the second wireless enabled device. 
     In the method, the first non-wireless enabled device may be a stereo of an automobile, a stereo amplifier, home stereo or a head phone. 
     In another aspect, an auxiliary wireless device for enabling wireless connection between a first non-wireless enabled device to a second wireless enabled device is disclosed. The auxiliary wireless device may comprise a wireless transceiver, a rechargeable battery, a universal serial bus (USB) connector and a button. The wireless transceiver may transmit electronic data (e.g., music file, audio file or data file) through the auxiliary wireless device between the first non-wireless enabled device and the second wireless enabled device. The rechargeable battery may be in electrical communication with the wireless transceiver for providing power to the wireless transceiver. The USB connector may be in electrical communication with the wireless transceiver. The USB connector may be sized and configured to be inserted into a USB port of the first non-wireless enabled device. The button may be in communication with the wireless transceiver and operative to make the auxiliary wireless device findable by the second wireless enabled device. 
     The wireless transceiver may operate on a Bluetooth standard. Alternatively, or additionally, the wireless transceiver may operates on a Wi-Fi standard. 
     The auxiliary wireless device may further comprise a light source for indicating a charge of the rechargeable battery. 
     The USB connector may be a USB or a mini USB. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       These and other features and advantages of the various embodiments disclosed herein will be better understood with respect to the following description and drawings, in which like numbers refer to like parts throughout, and in which: 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a kit of an auxiliary wireless device; 
         FIG. 2  illustrates the auxiliary wireless device shown in  FIG. 1  enabling a non-wireless enabled device (i.e., automobile stereo) to wirelessly communicate with a wireless smart phone; 
         FIG. 3  illustrates the auxiliary wireless device shown in  FIG. 1  enabling a non-wireless enabled device (i.e., home stereo) to wirelessly communicate with the smart phone; 
         FIG. 4  illustrates the auxiliary wireless device shown in  FIG. 1  enabling a non-wireless enabled device (i.e., guitar effects pedal board) to wirelessly communicate with a wireless headphone or a second non-wireless enabled device (i.e., guitar); and 
         FIG. 5  illustrates another kit of the auxiliary wireless device. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring now to the drawings, an auxiliary wireless device  10  for wirelessly connecting a first non-wireless enabled device  12 ,  14 ,  16  such as a stereo of an automobile  12 , home stereo amplifier  14  and a guitar effects pedal  16  with a second wireless enabled device  18 ,  20  such as a smartphone  18  and/or a headphone  20  is disclosed. The auxiliary wireless device  10  provides a physical connection to an audio jack  42  of the first non-wireless enabled device  12 ,  14 ,  16  and has a transceiver for wirelessly communicating with the second wireless enabled device  18 ,  20 . 
     The auxiliary wireless device  10  is shown as having a box form factor. However, other form factors are also contemplated. By way of example and not limitation, the form factor of the auxiliary wireless device  10  may be round, oval or other configurations. The housing of the auxiliary wireless device  10  may have a button  24  that is accessible from the outside. The button  24  when depressed broadcasts a signal through the transceiver  22  so that the auxiliary wireless device  10  is findable by the second wireless enabled device. The auxiliary wireless device  10  is described as having the transceiver  22 . However, it is also contemplated that the device  10  may be fitted with a receiver for receiving signals from the second wireless enabled device  18 ,  20 . In order to establish the communication between the auxiliary wireless device  10  and the second wireless enabled device  18 ,  20 , the initial communication may be established with a hardwired connection between a USB port  24  and the second wireless enabled device  18 ,  20 . 
     The auxiliary wireless device  10  may be powered by a rechargeable battery  26 . The rechargeable battery  26  may be recharged by way of the USB port  24 . In particular, the auxiliary wireless device  10  may be provided with a cable  28  that has USB connectors  30 ,  32  on both ends of the cable  28 . The USB connector  30  is insertable into the USB port  24  of the auxiliary wireless device  10 . The USB connector  32  is operative to fit into an outlet plug  34  so that electricity can flow through the cable  28  into the battery  26  for recharging. Alternatively, the USB connector  32  can be connected to a USB port  24  of the second wireless enabled device  18 ,  20  in order to establish the communication link between the second wireless enabled device  18 ,  20  and the auxiliary wireless device  10 . In this regard, when the USB connectors  30 ,  32  are connected to the USB port  24  of the auxiliary wireless device  10  and the second wireless enabled device  18 ,  20 , the user depresses button  23  that starts a script to establish a wireless communication between the second wireless enabled device  18 ,  20  and the transmitter  22  of the auxiliary wireless device  10 . 
     The housing of the auxiliary wireless device  10  may also have three light sources  36   a , b and c. The light source  36   a  emits a red color. The light source  36   b  emits a yellow color. The light source  36   c  emits a green color. When the battery  26  is fully charged, light source  36   c  emits a green light to indicate that the battery  26  is fully charged. This would make it an incomplete sentence. Light sources  36   b,    36   a  do not emit any light. If the battery  26  is not fully charged and holds about one half of a charge, the light source  36   b  emits a yellow light. Light sources  36   c  and  36   a  do not emit any light. When the battery  26  has a low charge, light source  36   a  emits a red light to indicate such battery condition. Light sources  36   b,    36   b  do not emit any light. 
     As discussed above, the outlet plug  34  is operative to be plugged into an electrical socket for providing electricity through the cable  28 . The outlet plug  34  has two prongs that can be inserted into the electrical outlet. The outlet plug  34  also has a USB connector  38  that can receive the USB connector  32  of the cable  28 . 
     The auxiliary wireless device  10  also has an audio connector  40 . The audio connector  40  is in electrical communication with the transceiver  22  and feeds an audio signal to an audio jack  42  of the first non-wireless enabled device  12 ,  14 ,  16 . Conversely, it is also contemplated that the first non-wireless enabled device  16  can transmit an audio signal through the transceiver  22  of the auxiliary wireless device  10  to the wireless headphone  20 . 
     The audio connector  40  is shown as being rigidly fixed to the housing of the auxiliary wireless device  10 . However, it is also contemplated that the audio connector  40  may be connected to the housing of the auxiliary wireless device  10  by way of a flexible electrical cable (not shown). This allows the person to place the housing of the auxiliary wireless device  10  on a support surface away from the audio jack  42  of the first non-wireless enabled device  16 . When the audio connector  40  is fixedly attached to the housing of the auxiliary wireless device  10 , the housing of the auxiliary wireless device  10  protrudes outward in line with the audio jack  42  of the first non-wireless enabled device  12 ,  14 , which may not be an optimal position. 
     The audio connector  40  is shown as being a 6.5 mm phone connector. However, the audio connector  40  may be configured as a 2.5 mm phone connector or a 3.5 mm phone connector. Other audio connectors  40  are also contemplated including but not limited to optical audio connectors, and other unique audio connectors known in the art or developed in the future. 
     The auxiliary wireless device  10  may also be provided with an audio connector converter  44 . The converter  44  converts the audio connector  40  built into the auxiliary wireless device  10  from one type or size of audio connector  40  to another type or size of audio connector  40 . By way of example and not limitation, the audio connector  40  may be a 2.5 mm phone connector  40 . The converter  44  may provide a 3.5 mm phone connector  40 . The converter  44  in this instance will have a receiving hole that receives the 2.5 mm audio connector  40  so that the auxiliary wireless device  10  may mate with an audio jack  42  designed for a 3.5 mm phone connector  40 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 2 , a stereo  12  for an automobile may not be equipped to wirelessly communicate with a wireless enabled device  18 . As such, the stereo  12  communicates with an electronic device  46  through a wired connection  48 . Unfortunately, the wired connection  48  is aesthetically messy and inconvenient to hook up each time the driver enters or leaves the automobile. In lieu of a wired connection  48 , the auxiliary wireless device  10  may be physically connected to the stereo  12  of the automobile. In particular, the audio connector  40  of the auxiliary wireless device  10  may be inserted into an audio jack  42  of the stereo  12  of the automobile. Thereafter, the smartphone  18  is placed in search mode for finding a discoverable wireless signal. The user then depresses the button  23  to make the auxiliary wireless device  10  findable. The transceiver  22  emits a signal that can be sensed by the smart phone  18 . The smartphone  18  indicates that the auxiliary wireless device  10  has been found and requests the user&#39;s permission to establish a wireless connection between the auxiliary wireless device  10  and the smartphone  18 . Thereafter, each time the smartphone  18  is within a wireless range of the auxiliary wireless device  10 , a communication link is established between the auxiliary wireless device  10  and the smartphone  18 . The user may play an audio recording from the smartphone  18  which is wirelessly transmitted to the auxiliary wireless device  10  and fed into the sound system of the stereo  12  of the automobile to play the audio recording from the speakers of the automobile. Moreover, an audio signal that emits a sound that would have been broadcast over a speaker of the smartphone  18  may now be wirelessly communicated to the auxiliary wireless device  10  so that the audio signal and corresponding sound may be played through the speakers of the stereo system  12  of the automobile instead. In this regard, the auxiliary wireless device  10  enables wireless connections between a non-wireless enabled device  12  such as a car stereo and a wireless enabled device such as a tablet computer or smartphone  18  (e.g., iPhone). 
     Referring now to  FIG. 3 , a home stereo  14  may not be equipped to wirelessly communicate with a wireless enabled device  18 . As such, for a home stereo  14  to play music or other audio stored on the wireless enabled device  18 , a wired connection is required between the smartphone  18  and the home stereo  14 . Unfortunately, the wired connection is aesthetically messy and inconvenient since the owner of the phone  18  may need to utilize the phone  18  and cannot stand near the home stereo  14  indefinitely. 
     In lieu of a wired connection, the auxiliary wireless device  10  may be placed in communication with the home stereo  14 . In particular, the audio connector  40  of the auxiliary wireless device  10  may be inserted into an audio jack  42  of the home stereo  14 . Thereafter, the smartphone  18  is placed in search mode for finding a discoverable wireless signal. The user then depresses the button  23  to make the auxiliary wireless device  10  findable. The transceiver  22  emits a signal that can be sensed by the smartphone  18 . The various aspects and embodiments described herein have been generically described in relation to a wireless communication link between two devices. However, the auxiliary wireless device  10  may be manufactured under different wireless standards. By way of example and not limitation, the auxiliary wireless device  10  may be a Bluetooth capable device in that the device  10  meets Bluetooth Special Interests Group standards. It is also contemplated that the auxiliary wireless device  10  may be a Wi-Fi capable device. Other short range wireless communication technology may be implemented into the device  10  known in the art or developed in the future. The smartphone  18  indicates that the auxiliary wireless device  10  has been found and requests the user&#39;s permission to establish a wireless connection between the auxiliary wireless device  10  and the smartphone  18 . Thereafter, each time the smartphone  18  is within a wireless range of the auxiliary wireless device, a communication link is established between the auxiliary wireless device  10  and the smartphone  18 . Alternatively, the auxiliary wireless device  10  may be programmed to establish a wireless connection with the smartphone  18  only after the button  23  is depressed. Once the smartphone  18  is out of the wireless range of the auxiliary wireless device  10 , the user needs to depress the button  23  again once the smartphone  18  is within the wireless range of the auxiliary wireless device  10 . When a communication link is established between the auxiliary wireless device  10  and the smartphone  18 , the user may play audio recordings from the smartphone  18  through the auxiliary wireless device  10  and onto the sound system of the home stereo  14 . In this regard, the auxiliary wireless device  10  enables wireless communication between a previously non-wireless enabled device such as a home stereo  14  and a wireless enabled device such as a smartphone  18  (e.g., iPhone). 
     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , a guitar effects board  16  is shown. The board  16  is not wireless enabled in that the board  16  cannot communicate with a wireless enabled device  18 ,  20 . In order to enable the board  16  for wireless communication, the user may connect the auxiliary wireless device  10  to the board  16 . In particular, the user may insert the audio connector  40  of the auxiliary wireless device  10  into an audio jack  42  of the board  16 . Upon doing so, the user now needs to link the auxiliary wireless device  10  with the wireless enabled device  20 , for example, a headphone  20 . To do so, the user depresses the button  23  on the auxiliary wireless device  10  to make the auxiliary wireless device  10  findable. After depressing the button  23 , the user depresses a button on the headphone  20  in order to search for the auxiliary wireless device  10 . Once found, the auxiliary wireless device  10  can now wirelessly communicate with the headphone  20 . Instead of outputting the guitar output to a speaker, the guitar sound is wirelessly outputted to the headphone  20 . 
     Moreover, the auxiliary wireless device  10  may be operative to make two different non-wireless enabled devices such as the board  16  and a guitar  48  to be in wireless communication with each other. By way of example and not limitation, the board  16  may have a guitar jack  50 . The guitar jack  50  normally receives a wire connector of an audio cable to provide a wired audio communication with the guitar  48 . In lieu of the physical cabled communication, the audio connector  40  of a first auxiliary wireless device  10  may be inserted into the guitar jack  50  of the board  16 . Moreover, a second auxiliary wireless device  10  may be connected to the guitar  48 . In particular, the audio connector  40  of the second auxiliary wireless device  10  may be plugged into an output jack  52  of the guitar  48 . The buttons  23  of the first and second auxiliary wireless devices  10  may be depressed so that the devices can find each other and to establish a wireless communication therebetween. The auxiliary wireless devices  10  may be programmed to establish wireless communication with the headphone  20  and/or the auxiliary wireless device  10  plugged into the guitar  48  whenever the headphone  20  or the auxiliary wireless device  10  mounted to the guitar  48  are within the wireless ranges of the auxiliary wireless devices  10  connected to the board  16 . Alternatively, the auxiliary wireless devices  10  in this setup may be programmed so that wireless communications can only be reestablished after the wireless communication is broken by re-depressing the button  23  on the auxiliary wireless devices  10 . 
     As discussed herein, a plurality of non-wireless enabled devices such as an automobile stereo  12 , home stereo  14  or a guitar effects pedal board  16  have been described in relation to the auxiliary wireless device  10 . However, other types of non-wireless enabled devices are also contemplated. The examples provided herein are not meant to limit application of the auxiliary wireless device  10  but are merely examples of use of the auxiliary wireless device  10  for enabling a previously non-wireless enabled device  12 ,  14 ,  16  to be in enabled wireless communication with another wireless enabled device  18 ,  20 . Moreover, the wireless enabled devices were discussed in relation to the smartphone  18  and headphone  20 . However, other wireless enabled devices are also contemplated. By way of example and not limitation, other wireless enabled devices may include a wireless tablet computer, etc. The examples provided herein for the wireless enabled device are merely examples and are not meant to limit the application of the auxiliary wireless device  10 . 
     Referring now to  FIG. 5 , a second embodiment of the auxiliary wireless device  10   a  is shown. In this embodiment, the audio connector  40  has been replaced with a USB connector  40   a.  In this manner, the auxiliary wireless device  10   a  can be connected to a computer USB port  60  or USB port  60  of an electronic device. The auxiliary wireless device  10   a  may provide wireless communication with another wireless enabled device. By way of example and not limitation, a computer may be wirelessly enabled but not Bluetooth enabled. The auxiliary wireless device  10   a  may provide the electronic device with Bluetooth capabilities. Conversely, if the computer is enabled to communicate wirelessly through a different standard other than Wi-Fi (e.g., Bluetooth standard), the auxiliary wireless device  10   a  may enable communication over a Wi-Fi network. In this regard, the auxiliary wireless device  10   a  provides Wi-Fi and/or Bluetooth capabilities to a non-Wi-Fi and/or non Bluetooth enabled device. 
     The USB port  24  is optional for the auxiliary wireless device  10   a.  If the USB port  24  is provided, cable  28  functions in the same manner as described above in relation to the auxiliary wireless device  10 . However, if the USB port  24  is not incorporated into the auxiliary wireless device  10   a,  then cable  28   a  is provided in which the connector  30   a  is operative to provide a physical connection with the USB connector  40   a.  The battery pack  26  is recharged with the cable  28   a  through a physical connection between the USB connector  40   a  and the USB port  30   a . Moreover, the communication link may be established with a headphone through cable  28   a  in connection with the USB connector  40   a.    
     The auxiliary wireless device  10   a  may be implemented in the following manner. If the automobile stereo  12   a  has a USB port  60  (see  FIG. 2 ), the USB connector  40   a  of the auxiliary wireless device  10   a  may be physically connected into the USB port  60  of the automobile stereo  12 . The auxiliary wireless device  10   a  provides wireless capabilities to the automobile stereo  12  based on the standard to which the auxiliary wireless device  10   a  is built. The auxiliary wireless device  10   a  may provide Wi-Fi and/or Bluetooth capabilities to the automobile stereo  12 . The auxiliary wireless device  10   a  functions in the same manner as discussed above in relation to auxiliary wireless device  10  except that the audio connector  40  is replaced with the USB connector  40   a.  Moreover, power can be supplied to the auxiliary wireless device  10   a  through the physical connection between the USB port  60  of the automobile stereo  12  and the audio connector  40   a  of the auxiliary wireless device  10   a  to power the transceiver of the auxiliary wireless device  10   a  and also to recharge the battery  26  of the auxiliary wireless device  10   a.  Similarly, the auxiliary wireless device  10   a  may be connected to a USB port  60  (see  FIG. 3 ) of a home stereo  14  to provide wireless capabilities (e.g., Bluetooth and/or Wi-Fi capabilities) to the home stereo  14 . 
     Furthermore, the auxiliary wireless device  10   a  may be plugged into a guitar effects pedal board  16  provided that the pedal board  16  has USB ports  60  for communication with the headphone  20  and/or the guitar  48 . 
     The auxiliary wireless device  10 ,  10   a  described herein may have a circuit board, embedded software and circuits operative to operate the auxiliary wireless device  10 ,  10   a  as described above. 
     The above description is given by way of example, and not limitation. Given the above disclosure, one skilled in the art could devise variations that are within the scope and spirit of the invention disclosed herein, including various ways of configuring the form factor of the auxiliary wireless device  10 . Further, the various features of the embodiments disclosed herein can be used alone, or in varying combinations with each other and are not intended to be limited to the specific combination described herein. Thus, the scope of the claims is not to be limited by the illustrated embodiments.