Patent Publication Number: US-2009233547-A1

Title: Cradle for a media player

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     This invention relates to a cradle for a media player and refers particularly, though not exclusively, to a cradle for a media player for enabling a wireless connection with a media reproduction apparatus. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Media players such as, for example, portable MP3 players, normally require a physical connection between the player and a reproduction apparatus for the media to be reproduced. For example, an MP3 player can be physically connected to a host computer, speakers, or like system to enable the audio to be sent to the host and thus the audio reproduced by the host. Alternatively, headphones or the like can be physically connected to the player and the audio reproduced using the headphones. 
     There is no facility for wireless connectivity for such players. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In accordance with a first aspect there is provided a cradle for a media player, the cradle comprising a base and at least one side wall extending upwardly from the base and extending around the periphery of the base. The base and the at least one side wall define a hollow interior for releasably receiving therein the media player. A retainer is provided for assisting in releasably retaining the media player in the hollow interior. The cradle has a signal receiver for receiving a media signal from the media player when the media player is in the hollow interior and in a reproduction mode. The cradle also has an antenna for receiving the media signal from the signal receiver and transmitting the media signal by use of a wireless system for enabling reproduction of the media signal by a wireless-enabled reproduction apparatus. 
     The at least one side wall may have an opening therethrough for enabling access to at least one function of the media player when the media player is in the hollow interior. The opening may extend into the base for enabling the passage therethrough of a finger for assisting removal of the media player from the cradle. The retainer may extend across a part of the hollow interior. The retainer may extend from a first end wall of the plurality of side walls towards a second, opposite end wall; and between two opposed and parallel side walls. 
     The signal receiver may be an input for wirelessly receiving the media signal from an output of the media player when the media player is in the hollow interior and in the reproduction mode. The wireless reception may be one of: wireless induction, radio frequency, and infrared transmission. Alternatively, the signal receiver may be a jack mounted to the at least one side wall for engaging a headphone socket of the media player. 
     The at least one side wall may have mounted thereon a seal, the seal being mounted on an internal surface of the at least one side wall adjacent an upper periphery thereof for assisting in releasably retaining the media player in the hollow interior in the manner of a snug fit. 
     The cradle may further comprise a clip attached to the base for enabling the releasable attachment of the cradle to a support. The clip may be releasably attached to the base. 
     The cradle may further comprise a converter for converting an analog media signal to a digital media signal. 
     According to a second preferred aspect there is provided a method of transmitting an output from a media player to a wireless-enabled reproduction apparatus. The method comprises inserting the media player into a hollow interior of a cradle and placing the media player into a reproduction mode. The output of the media player is sent from the media player to a signal processing system forming a part of the cradle. The signal processing system of the cradle receives the output of the media player and wirelessly sends the output to the reproduction apparatus. 
     The signal processing system of the cradle may comprise an input for wirelessly receiving output of the media player, the wirelessly receiving being selected from wireless induction, radio frequency, and infrared transmission. 
     Alternatively, the signal processing system may receive the output of the media player as an analog output and converts the analog output to a digital output before sending the digital output to the reproduction apparatus. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       In order that the invention may be fully understood and readily put into practical effect, there shall now be described by way of non-limitative example only a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the description being with reference to the accompanying illustrative drawings in which: 
         FIG. 1  is an illustration of an example of an existing system for media reproduction; 
         FIG. 2  is a top perspective view of a preferred embodiment; 
         FIG. 3  is an underneath perspective view of the preferred embodiment; 
         FIG. 4  is a side view of the preferred embodiment; 
         FIG. 5  is a partial cross sectional view is an enlarged scale along the lines and in the direction of arrows  5 - 5  on  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  is a partial cross-sectional view along the lines and in the direction of arrows  6 - 6  or  FIG. 4  but of an alternative embodiment; 
         FIG. 7  is a perspective view of a media player in the preferred embodiment; 
         FIG. 8  is a block diagram of both the preferred and alternative embodiments; and 
         FIG. 9  is a flow chart for the operation of the preferred embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
     To first consider  FIG. 1 , there is shown a media player  10  such as an MP3 player. It is able to be connected to a computer system generally shown as  20  by a USB connector  12  of the player  10  or, if player  10  does not have a connector  12 , by use of a USB cable  14  able to connect to the player  10  and the computer system  20 . The computer system  20  is not limiting and may be an amplified, powered speaker system, automobile sound system, headphones, or other form of media reproduction. Furthermore, the USB connection may be of any other suitable physical connection such as, for example, IEEE 1394. 
     The computer system  20  has a monitor  22 , processor  24 , keyboard  26  and mouse  28 . The monitor  22 , keyboard  26  and mouse  28  are connected with processor  24  by cables  23 ,  27  and  29  respectively. 
     To refer now to  FIGS. 2 to 5 , there is shown a cradle  30  having a base  32 , four mutually perpendicular side walls  34 ,  36 ,  38 ,  40  extending around the periphery of base  32  and extending generally upwardly therefrom. The base  32  and side walls  32 ,  36 ,  38 ,  40  define a hollow interior  42  into which the player  10  may be releasably inserted. The size and shape of base  32  and walls  34 ,  36 ,  38  and  40 , is intended to closely match the size, and shape of player  10  such that when player  10  is in the hollow interior  42  of cradle  30  it substantially fills hollow interior  42  in the manner of a snug fit. 
     At one end wall  34  there is a generally T-shaped opening  44  through wall  34  and base  32 . The portion  46  of opening  44  through wall  34  is to align with functional controls and/or connection plugs and/or sockets of player  10  to enable access to them when player  10  is in cradle  30 . The portion  48  of opening  44  through base  32  is to enable a projection (such as human finger) to pass therethrough to assist in removing player  10  from cradle  30 . 
     At the other end  38  (the end opposition end  34 ) there is provided a retainer  50  extending between side walls  36 ,  40  and from end wall  38  towards end wall  34 . The retainer  50  partially covers hollow interior  42  and serves to assist in retaining player  10  in cradle  30 . 
     Around the upper, internal periphery of side walls  34 ,  36 ,  38 ,  40  is a seal  52  that also assists in retaining player  10  in the cradle  30 , and that provides protection to both cradle  30  and player  10  during the insertion into and removal from cradle  30  of player  10 . 
     Mounted underneath base  32  is a holding clip  54  that is biased to the position shown in  FIGS. 3 and 4 . The clip  54  is mounted on a stem  56  for pivotal movement about stem  56  to enable clip  54  to be opened for enabling cradle  30  to be releasably attached to, for example, a belt or the like of a user. Stem  56  is mounted to or integral with a base plate  58  that is preferably securely yet releasably received in a generally U-shaped mounting  60  that is in turn securely attached to or integral with base  32 . 
       FIG. 8  schematically shows the principal components in the signal processing system when the player  10  is an MP3 player and is inserted in cradle  30  and fills hollow interior  42 . For the sake of simplicity many components (e.g. controllers) have been omitted. The general operation is shown is  FIG. 9 . However, other forms of media players may be used such as, for example, audio/visual players. 
     In player  10  there is a non-volatile memory  58  operatively connected to a digital-to-analog converter  60  that provides an analog output  62  normally in the form of a headphone socket. In this way digital audio from the memory  58  ( 102 ) is converted in converter  62  passed to output  64  ( 104 ). Unconverted digital audio is output at  64  by use of wireless inductance output  66  ( 104 ) and is passed by wireless induction ( 106 ) to cradle  30 . 
     Cradle  30  has an inductance input  68  that, when in close proximity to inductance output  66 , will receive the digital audio signal  64  ( 108 ) and pass it to an antenna  70  for transmission wirelessly  72  (140) to a reproduction apparatus  74  such as, for example, wireless enabled headphones computer  20 , or the like. The wireless transmission  72  may be by use of any suitable system including, but not limited to, Bluetooth, WiFi, WiFiMax, and so forth. Rather than wireless induction, radio frequency or infrared transmission may be used. 
     Upon the signal  64  being received at apparatus  74  it is received by antenna  76  ( 112 ), converted from digital to analog by digital to-analog converter  78  ( 114 ) and output as an analog signal  80  ( 116 ). The signal  64  may be other than audio. For example, it may be audio/visual, image data such as photographs or streaming video, or remote control commands. The nature of the signal will depend on the nature of the media player  10 . 
     Alternatively, and as shown in  FIGS. 6 and 8 , cradle  30  may have mounted therein a jack  82  for engaging in a headphone socket  62  of player  10  for providing an analog audio input to cradle  30 . The analog input  82  is then converted to digital in analog-to-digital converter 84 and the digital audio passed to antenna  70 . In other respects the system is the same as described above. 
     Whilst there has been described in the foregoing description preferred embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the technology that many variations or modifications in details of design or construction or operation may be made without departing from the present invention.