Abstract:
A phone mount system includes a slot installer that installs into a slot of a CD player or cassette player. A controller and circuitry assembly includes a plurality of connector plugs. Each connector plug in the plurality of connector plugs has a different charger interface than other connector plugs in the plurality of connector plugs.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    Smart phones provide a versatile wealth of functionality including the functionality of a personal digital assistant, a portable media player, a digital camera, a web browser, a global positioning system (GPS) and so on. 
         [0002]    There are restrictions, however, on smart phone usage while driving. For example, in California it is unlawful to drive a motor vehicle while using a wireless telephone unless the telephone is specifically designed and configured to allow hands free listening and talking, and is used in that manner while driving. Even handheld use of a smart phone for GPS navigation has been found to violate the California Vehicle Code. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0003]      FIG. 1  shows a phone mount system in place on a car dashboard in accordance with an embodiment. 
           [0004]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the phone mount system shown in  FIG. 1  in accordance with an embodiment. 
           [0005]      FIG. 3  is an exploded view of a portion of the phone mount system shown in  FIG. 1  in accordance with an embodiment. 
           [0006]      FIG. 4  and  FIG. 5  show implementation detail of a portion of the phone mount system shown in  FIG. 1  in accordance with an embodiment. 
           [0007]      FIG. 6  is a simplified block diagram illustrating functionality of the phone mount system shown in  FIG. 1  in accordance with an embodiment. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0008]      FIG. 1  shows a phone mount system  12  mounted on a vehicle dashboard  12 . Phone mount system  12  is securely holding a smart phone  11 . For example, smart phone  11  is in communication with phone mount system  12  through the Bluetooth wireless technology standard. Alternatively, smart phone  11  may be in communication with phone mount system  12  through another wireless or wired communication protocol. Phone mount system  12  is connected to the vehicle speakers and has an integrated microphone. This connection allows users of smart phone  11  to utilize the speakers of the vehicle and the internal microphone of phone mount system  12  to make phone calls, play music and other content, give verbal instructions and receive GPS navigation directions and so on. Phone mount system  12  has a selection of smart phone interfaces allowing a mounted smart phone to be charged via power phone mount system  12  obtains from plugging into a standard  12  volt DC receptacle of the vehicle. 
         [0009]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of phone mount system  12 . A button housing  21  provides housing for a control button  36 . A clip portion  22  and a clip portion  27  are used to hold smart phone  11  firmly in position. Clip portion  27  can be pushed backward and left un-rebounded. The design of clip portion  22  and clip portion  27  allow a user to mount a phone with a single hand and rotate a charging interface into position with a single hand. 
         [0010]    A controller and charger  35  includes charging and control circuit  24  contained within a housing portion  23  and a housing portion  25 . Controller and charger  35 , clip portion  22  and clip portion  27  are all connected to axel  26 . As explained more fully below, controller and charger  35  rotates around an axel  26  to allow a connector that matches smart phone  11  to be placed in a vertical orientation. This allows phone  11  to be mounted in an upright position for charging and ease of use by a driver or passenger of the vehicle. 
         [0011]    As shown in both  FIG. 2  and  FIG. 3 , a slot installer  37  includes an insert section  33  connected to a connection structure  30 . A washer  29  is used to hold connection structure  30  against a cap  28  adjacent to clip portion  27 . Cap  32  attaches to an end  38  of axel  26  so there is tension between connection structure  30 , washer  29  and a washer  31  and the tightness of viewer angle adjustment is tunable. An insert section  33  and an insert section  34  are inserted into a CD slot or a cassette slot of vehicle dashboard  10 , shown in  FIG. 1 . By changing an opening angle between insert section  33  and insert section  34 , slot installer  37  is wedged tightly in the CD slot or the cassette slot of vehicle dashboard  10 . For example, a knob  39  is used to adjust an opening angle between insert section  33  and insert section  34 . Turning knob  39  in a first direction (e.g., clockwise) increases the opening angle and turning knob  39  in an opposite direction (e.g., counter-clockwise) decreases the opening angle. The larger the opening angle between insert section  33  and insert section  34 , the stronger the force holding slot installer  37  in the CD slot or the cassette slot. 
         [0012]    A large opening  38  within connection structure  30  allows adjustment of position of washer  29  and a washer  31  with respect to connection structure  30 . This allows adjustment of a viewing angle of smart phone  11  when mounted on phone mount system  12 . 
         [0013]    A top view of controller and charger  35 , as assembled, is shown in  FIG. 4 . A top front side perspective view of controller and charger  35 , as assembled is shown in  FIG. 5 . Screws  44  or other attachment mechanisms hold together housing portion  23  and housing portion  25 , encasing charging and control circuit  24 . Charging and control circuit  24  includes three different types of connector plugs allowing controller and charger  35  to plug into and charge smart phones with different charger interfaces. For example, in  FIG. 4  are shown a connector plug  41 , a connector plug  42  and a connector plug  43 . For example connector plug  41  is a micro universal serial bus (USB) plug, connector plug  42  fits a lightning eight-pin connector interface of an Apple iPhone  5  smart phone and connector plug  43  fits a  30  pin connector interface of an Apple iPhone  4  smart phone. While  FIG. 4  shows controller and charger  35  having four sides and three connector plugs, controller and charger  35  can have other shapes and/or other numbers of connector plug. For example, controller and charger  35  can have three sides and two connector plugs or five sides and four connector plugs. Additionally, controller and charger  35  could have connector plugs on every side (not just three out of four sides) or could have connector plugs on only two out of four sides. Alternatively, controller and charger  35  could have more than one connector plug per side. 
         [0014]    Axel  26  fits through hole  45 . Bearings  46  allow rotation of controller and charger  35  around and locks controller and charger into four positions. In a first position, connector plug  42  faces upward allowing a smart phone with a matching connector to be mounted onto connector plug  42  for charging. The smart phone is well position to be used, for example, for GPS navigation and other applications. In a second position, connector plug  41  faces upward allowing a smart phone with a matching connector to be mounted onto connector plug  41  for charging. The smart phone with a plug matching connector plug  41  will be in good position to be used, for example, for GPS navigation and other applications. 
         [0015]    In a third position, connector plug  43  faces upward allowing a smart phone with a matching connector to be mounted onto connector plug  43  for charging. The smart phone with a plug matching connector plug  41  will be in good position to be used, for example, for GPS navigation and other applications. 
         [0016]    In a fourth position, a flat end  47  of controller and charger  35  faces upward. A smart phone will be held firmly in place by clip portion  22  and clip portion  27 , shown in  FIG. 2 . While the smart phone in this position will not be charged by controller and charger  35 , the smart phone will be in good position to be used, for example, for GPS navigation and other applications. 
         [0017]    Once smart phone  11  is in contact with smart phone  12  through the Bluetooth wireless technology standard, or some other connection protocol, a user can receive calls by pressing control button  36 . Likewise, when playing music or other stored content, a user first start a content player in phone  11  and then make additional control selections using control button  36  or by using recognized voice commands. 
         [0018]      FIG. 6  is a simplified block diagram illustrating connectivity of charging and control circuit  24 . Charging and control circuit  24  includes a Bluetooth module for Bluetooth wireless communication with smart phone  11  or some other Bluetooth enabled device such as an MP 3  player, voice command device, etc. A Bluetooth connection enables phone calls, music plays, voice commands and so on. Charging and control circuit  24  provides power to connector plug  41 , connector plug  42  and connector plug  43 . Charging and control circuit  24  also receives user selection through control button  36 . Through a plug adapter and cable, charging and control circuit  24  is connected to a standard  12  volt DC receptacle  62  of vehicle  10 . Charging and control circuit  24  includes a receptacle for an audio cable that allows connection of charging and control circuit  24  to a cable from a vehicle entertainment system  63 . Charging and control circuit  24  also includes a radio signal transmitter for transmittal of radio signals that allows charging and control circuit  24  to transmit radio signals, for example FM radio signals, to the vehicle entertainment system when the vehicle entertainment system does not have audio cable that allows a direct wired connection. Vehicle entertainment system  63  is hardwired to speakers  64  allowing charging and control circuit  24  to utilize speakers  64  via transmissions from charging and control circuit  24  to vehicle entertainment system  63 . 
         [0019]    The foregoing discussion discloses and describes merely exemplary methods and implementations. As will be understood by those familiar with the art, the disclosed subject matter may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or characteristics thereof. Accordingly, the present disclosure is intended to be illustrative, but not limiting, of the scope of the invention, which is set forth in the following claims.