Abstract:
An earphone and microphone adapter consists of a housing, with a cellular telephone interface on the housing connecting a cellular telephone with an audio circuit. Audio input to the audio circuit received via the cellular telephone interface passes through the audio circuit to an earphone interface where it can be heard by a user. Audio input to the audio circuit received via a microphone interface passes through the audio circuit to the cellular telephone interface where it can be heard by a remote listener.

Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to an adapter, and in particular to apparatus and method to facilitate the proper connection and operation of broadcast quality lavalier microphones and in-ear audio clarifiers, commonly used in the television industry, to the hands-free socket of a cellular telephone or analog land line device that accepts an external 2.5 mm universal earphone/microphone set.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     The current practice in the television industry is for the camera operator to use a cell phone breakout box. The cell phone break out box consists of a medium sized suitcase in which the cellular telephone is placed in a cradle and a plug inserted into the hands free socket. The incoming signal is then connected to a wireless IFB transmitter. The television reporter and the camera operator wear the associated wireless receivers on the waist, which allows them to connect broadcast quality industry standard in ear audio clarifiers. The reporter and the camera operator are able to hear the IFB audio signal from the television station over a cellular telephone using a high quality, discreet and comfortable in ear audio clarifier designed to present a professional image and built to withstand the rigors of remote broadcasting. The disadvantages of the aforementioned cell phone breakout box are the size, expense and A/C power requirements for a wireless transmitter. By using only one cellular telephone for the IFB signal from the television station both the camera operator and the reporter share the same audio feed. This limits the effectiveness of the communication between the control room of the television studio and the remote site because the director can&#39;t speak to the camera operator or reporter individually. For example when the reporter is on-air the director can&#39;t relay additional commands to the camera operator because the on-air reporter would hear the same thing and possibly become distracted by these instructions and loose their train of thought on while on-air. While the cell phone breakout box allows the camera operator and the reporter to hear the IFB audio signal from the television studio, if a camera operator wants to talk back to the control room they must depress a switch and speak into a microphone located at the cell phone breakout box. This can limit a camera operator&#39;s ability to move to far from the cell phone breakout box, or cause delays in responding to the control room in a business where seconds count.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0003]     According to the present invention there is provided an earphone and microphone adapter that enables an audio input received via a cellular telephone to be heard in an earphone worn by a user, while permitting an audio input received via a microphone to be communicated to the cellular telephone where it can be heard by a remote listener. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0004]      FIG. 1A  PRIOR ART is a diagram showing a conventional hands free earphone/microphone set.  
         [0005]      FIG. 1B  PRIOR ART is a diagram showing the electrical connections within the earphone/microphone set as shown in FIG  1 A.  
         [0006]      FIG. 2  PRIOR ART is a diagram showing a cell phone break out box.  
         [0007]      FIG. 3A  is a diagram of the front view of the present invention according to the first preferred embodiment.  
         [0008]      FIG. 3B  is a diagram of the rear view of the present invention according to the first preferred embodiment.  
         [0009]      FIG. 4  is a diagram of an Audio Implements ear piece  
         [0010]      FIG. 5  is a diagram of a Sony ECM-77B lavalier microphone.  
         [0011]      FIG. 6  is a diagram showing a Sony ECM-77B microphone, a Audio Implements ear piece, a cellular telephone with a hands free socket and the present invention according to the first preferred embodiment.  
         [0012]      FIG. 7  is a circuit diagram showing the electrical connections within the adapter and associated plug according to the first preferred embodiment.  
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF PRIOR ART  
       [0013]     Telephone calls are normally conducted while holding a handset or cellular phone with one hand to the side of the head. This can sometimes make it difficult or possibly dangerous for a user to continue working or driving with just one hand free for the duration of the call. Therefore most mobile telephones and many analog landline devices have a socket for connecting an external hands free earphone/microphone set. Conventional hands free earphone/microphone sets typically consist of a headset or earpiece that rests on the head or outer ear and a microphone that must be placed near the mouth of the user.  
         [0014]      FIG. 1A  is a drawing of a mobile cellular telephone and a conventional earphone/microphone set.  
         [0015]      FIG. 1B  is a circuit diagram illustrating the electrical connections of  FIG. 1A .  
         [0016]     As shown in  FIGS. 1A &amp; 1B  the earphone microphone  100  set consists of an earpiece  110 , a microphone  120 , and a 2.5 mm plug  130 . The plug  130  contains  3  terminals  131 ,  132 , and  133 . One end of the earphone  110  is connected to terminal  132  of plug  130  while the other end of the earphone is connected to terminal  133  of plug  130 . One end of the microphone is connected to terminal  131  of the plug  130  while the other end of the microphone is connected to terminal  133  of the plug  130 . The plug  130  fits into the hands free socket  141  of a mobile cellular telephone  140 . The hands free socket  141  has internal contact points for connecting with the three corresponding terminals of the plug  130 . When the plug  130  is plugged into the socket  141 , the external microphone  120  and earphone  110  are connected to the internal circuit of the mobile cellular phone  140 . Once the plug  130  is connected to the mobile cellular phone  140  the user can place the earphone  110  onto one&#39;s ear. The microphone  120  is placed so it is close to the users mouth when the earphone  110  is placed on the ear. The user can then have both hands free for the duration of the telephone call. Although the aforementioned conventional earphone/microphone set  100  allows most users to continue working or driving with a greater degree of safety, there are some professions whose needs are not being met by the variety of conventional earphone/microphone sets  100  currently available. For example a camera operator and a reporter working at a remote location during a live television broadcast. Television broadcasting is normally conducted from a production studio within a television station. During a live newscast from the studio it is often desired to broadcast a signal that originates from a remote location. Examples include weather reports, sporting events; traffic updates and live news coverage. The camera operator and reporter at the remote location listen to the audio signal from the television studio over a mobile cellular telephone or landline device. In the television industry this audio signal is referred to as fold back and is usually the voice of a news anchor at the news desk in the television studio introducing and asking questions to the reporter in the field. This fold back audio signal can also be interrupted by the director in the television studio control room to deliver real time instructions to the remote camera operator and or the reporter about how to frame a shot or how many seconds a reporter has to wrap up their report. In the television industry this audio signal fed from the television studio to the remote site is known as an IFB line for interrupt fold back. Mobile cellular telephones  140  and landline devices are used everyday to facilitate the communication between television studios and remote location sites yet camera operators and reporters are reluctant to use the aforementioned conventional style of hands free earphone/microphone sets  100 . Camera operators find the fit and quality of conventional hands free earphone/microphone sets  100  troublesome because the earphone pieces  110  are uncomfortable to wear for a long period of time or tend to require constant adjusting to keep from falling out of the ear. Conventional hands free microphones  120  often hang from the earpiece  110  or are attached to a mini boom arm that clips over the ear or head of the user. The microphone  120  which must be placed near the mouth of the user can also interfere with the camera operator&#39;s ability to position their face tight to the camera body and viewfinder. Camera operators are sometimes required to put on a second set of headphones to temporarily listen to the incoming audio signal from the reporter going into his equipment, this task is awkward to perform when using a conventional hands free earphone/microphone set  100 . Television reporters who appear live from remote locations during a news broadcast are reluctant to use conventional earphone/microphone sets  100  for cellular IFB communication because not only do they find the earpieces  110  uncomfortable, but the microphone  120  which must be placed near the users mouth makes for an awkward appearance on the television screen at home which can compromise the image the reporter is trying to achieve in their presentation.  
         [0017]     To overcome the aforementioned problems and limitations of conventional hands free earphone/microphone sets  100 , one current practice in the television industry is for the camera operator to use a cell phone breakout box. Referring to  FIG. 2  the cell phone break out box  300  consists of a medium sized suitcase in which the cellular telephone  140  is placed in a cradle and a plug inserted into the hands free socket  141 . The incoming signal is then connected to a wireless IFB transmitter  301  such as that made by Shure Bros. The television reporter and the camera operator wear the associated wireless receivers  302  on the waist, which allows them to connect broadcast quality industry standard in ear audio clarifiers  210  such as those made by Audio Implements. The advantage of this system is that the reporter and the camera operator are able to hear the IFB audio signal from the television station over a cellular telephone using a high quality, discreet and comfortable in ear audio clarifier designed to present a professional image and built to withstand the rigors of remote broadcasting. The disadvantages of the aforementioned cell phone breakout box  300  are the size, expense and A/C power requirements for a wireless transmitter  301 , and by using only one cellular telephone  140  for the IFB signal from the television station both the camera operator and the reporter share the same audio feed. This limits the effectiveness of the communication between the control room of the television studio and the remote site because the director can&#39;t speak to the camera operator or reporter individually. For example when the reporter is on-air the director can&#39;t relay additional commands to the camera operator because the on-air reporter would hear the same thing and possibly become distracted by these instructions and loose their train of thought on while on-air. While the cell phone breakout box  300  allows the camera operator and the reporter to hear the IFB audio signal from the television studio, if a camera operator wants to talk back to the control room they must depress a switch  303  and speak into a microphone  304  located at the cell phone breakout box  300 . This can limit a camera operator&#39;s ability to move to far from the cell phone breakout box  300 , or cause delays in responding to the control room in business where seconds count. Hence the aforementioned cell phone breakout box  300  and conventional hands free earphone/microphone sets  100  are not ideal for this application. In light of the foregoing there is a need for an adapter to improve hands free cellular communication in the television broadcast industry.  
       DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0018]     With reference to the drawings and, in particular, with reference to  FIGS. 3A  &amp; B, the apparatus of the present invention is comprised of a small plastic electronic enclosure, indicated generally at  200 , housing a 3.5 mm earpiece jack  290 , a volume potentiometer  250 , a push to talk switch  260  and a microphone receptacle  270 . The volume pot  250  has a power on/off switch and a power on indicator is provided in the form of a light emitting diode  280 . The plastic enclosure body features a belt clip  201 , and an easy access battery door  202 . The enclosed printed circuit board  400  and a nine-volt battery are not shown. A 2.5 mm plug  230  along with a length of three-conductor cable is provided for electrical mating between the printed circuit board  400  enclosed within the adapter body  200  and the hands free socket of a cellular telephone. The plug  230  provides the electrical connection between the adapter  200  and the internal contacts of the cellular phone.  
         [0019]     Referring to  FIGS. 3A and 4 , the earpiece jack  290  is a 3.5 mm mono chassis jack mounted to the apparatus body  200 . The jack  290  is utilized to connect an external broadcast quality audio clarifier  210  such as that made by Audio Implements. Audio Implements has supplied in ear audio clarifiers to the television broadcasting industry for over 20 years. As shown in  FIG. 4  the in ear audio clarifier consists of a 3.5 mm mono plug  211  attached by a length of cable to the earpiece  210 . The audio clarifier comes with seven different sizes of ear tips that can be quickly changed to fit different sized ears.  
         [0020]     Audio Implements also supplies custom molded earpieces made from an impression of the individual users ear. Referring to  FIGS. 3A and 5 , the microphone receptacle  270  mounted on the apparatus body  200  is a 9 mm bayonet lock connector made by Hirose Electric Ltd. The microphone receptacle  270  is utilized to facilitate the proper connection and operation of a broadcast quality lavalier microphone  220  such as an ECM-77B made by Sony Ltd. As shown in  FIG. 5  the lavalier microphone consists of a plug  221  attached by a length of cable to the microphone  220 . A broadcast quality lavalier microphone such as an ECM-77B,  220  is designed to deliver a high quality voice signal while being worn on the chest of the user. Sony Electronics is a major supplier of lavalier microphones normally used for wireless applications in the television broadcast industry.  
         [0021]     The aforementioned microphone  220  and in ear audio clarifier  210  are not supplied with the adapter  200  but are readily available at most television stations and require no modifications for use with the present adapter  200 .  FIG. 6  is a diagram showing a Sony ECM-77B lavalier microphone  220 , an Audio Implements in ear audio clarifier  210 , a cellular telephone  140  with a hands free socket  141 , and the present adapter  200  according to the first preferred embodiment. In advance of using the present adapter, the adapter body  200  is attached to the users hip by the supplied belt clip  201 . The microphone  220  is attached to the users chest and the wire dressed or concealed in clothing. The attached plug  221  is inserted into the microphone receptacle  270  mounted on the adapter body  200 . The earpiece  210  is inserted into the users ear and the wire dressed or concealed in clothing. The attached plug  211  is inserted into the 3.5 mm chassis jack  290  mounted on the apparatus body  200 . Once a cellular telephone call has been established the user can insert the 2.5 mm plug  230  into the hands free socket  141  of the mobile cellular phone  140 . The mobile cellular phone  140  will recognize the adapter  200  as a headset and disable its internal microphone and speaker. The cellular telephone  140  can then be attached to the waist of the user with a belt clip next to the adapter body  200 . Thereby, when in use, the adapter  200  can transmit the voice signals from the external microphone  220  to the mobile cellular telephone  140  via the tip  231  of the plug  230 . Pressing the on/off switch  260  mounted on the adapter body  200  mutes the voice signal from the microphone  220 . The received signals from the mobile cellular phone are linked to the printed circuit board  400  enclosed within the adapter body  200  via the ring  232  of the plug  230  and directed to the in ear audio clarifier  210 . The potentiometer knob  250  mounted on the adapter body  200  controls the volume of the received signal being fed to the earpiece  210 . Hence once a cellular connection has been established and the plug  230  inserted into the hands free socket  141  the present adapter  200  as so described provides a hands free system for communicating over a cellular connection without handling the cellular phone  140  for the duration of the call. Similarly, the electrical and mechanical features of the adapter  200  enable the user to maximize the benefits of adapting a broadcast quality earpiece  210  and lavalier style microphone  220  for use in hands free cellular communication. As depicted in  FIG. 7 , and according to the first preferred embodiment, the supplied microphone receptacle  270  is a 9 mm bayonet lock connector made by Hirose Electric Ltd. The microphone receptacle  270  contains four terminals  271 ,  272 ,  273 ,  274 . Terminals  272  and  273  are connected by a wire. Terminal  274  is connected by a wire to the ground plane of the printed circuit board  400 . Terminal  271  is connected by a wire to the printed circuit board and the signal directed thru a 1 uF capacitor  502 , and a 1 K resistor  503 , to pin  6  of a dual low noise operational amplifier,  500 -B such as a NE5532 produced by Texas Instruments. Pins  1 - 4  of the operational amplifier are depicted at  500 -A, and pins  5 - 8  at  500 -B. Terminal  272  of the microphone receptacle  270  is connected by a wire to the printed circuit board  400  and the signal directed thru a 1 uF capacitor  504 , and a 1K resistor  505 , to pin  5  of the operational amplifier  500 -B. A 1K resistor  506  is connected between pin  7  and pin  6  of the operational amplifier  500 -B. A 1K resistor  507  is connected between pin  7  and pin  2  of the dual low noise operational amplifier  500 -A. A 10K variable resistor  508  is connected between pin  1  and pin  2  of the dual low noise operational amplifier  500 -A. The user can adjust the variable resistor  508 , with a small screwdriver to optimize the output level of the external lavaliere microphone  220 . This can improve the voice quality by minimizing the effect of the automatic gain control circuitry within the mobile cellular telephone  140 . A push on/off switch  260  is connected between pin  1  and pin  2  of the operational amplifier  500 -A. The push on/off switch  260  allows the user to mute the output of the microphone  220 . Consequently the user is free to talk to someone nearby without having to worry about being overheard by someone on the telephone, and the intercom system in the control room of the television station is free of unwanted background noise from the remote location. The output of the dual low noise operational amplifier  500 -A is directed via pin  1  thru a 33 ohm resistor  509  and a 1 uF capacitor  510 . The signal is then directed to a common point with one path passing thru a 10K resistor  511  to ground, and a second path attached by a wire to the tip  231  of the 2.5 mm plug  230 . The incoming signal of the mobile cellular phone  140  is connected by a wire from the ring  232  of the plug  230  to the printed circuit board  400  and directed thru a 1 uF capacitor  512 , a 1K resistor  513  and into pin  2  of a second dual low noise operational amplifier  501 . Pins  1 - 4  are indicated at  501 -A and pins  5 - 8  are indicated at  501 -B. A 10K volume potentiometer  250  is connected between pin  1  and pin  2  of the operational amplifier  501 -A. The output of the operational amplifier  501 -A is directed via pin  1  thru a 33 ohm resistor  514  and a 1 uF capacitor  515 . The signal is then connected by a wire to terminal  292  of the 3.5 mm earpiece jack  290 . Terminal  291  of the jack  290  and the terminal  233  of the plug  230  are both connected by a wire to the ground plane of the printed circuit board. The operational amplifier  501 -A provides gain to the received signal from the mobile cellular phone  140  while the potentiometer  250  allows the user to control the volume level directed to the earpiece via the 3.5 mm chassis jack  290 . The positive terminal of a 9 volt battery is connected by a wire to the normally open terminal of the on/off switch within the potentiometer  250 . The negative terminal of the 9-volt battery is connected by a wire to the ground plane of the printed circuit board  400 . The normally closed terminal of the on/off switch within the potentiometer  250  is connected by a wire to the power plane of the printed circuit board  400 . A path of 9-volts dc is directed thru a 3.3K resistor  516  and connected to the positive terminal of a light emitting diode  280 . The second terminal of the LED  280  is connected by a wire to ground. The user is thus provided with a visual indicator of the on/off status and battery strength of the present adapter  200 . Another path of 9-volts dc is directed thru a 1K resistor  517  to the positive polarity of a 5.1 volt zener diode  518 , with the other end connected to ground. The 5.1 volts is then directed thru a 1K resistor  519  and connected by a wire to terminal  271  of the microphone receptacle  270 . Thus the present adapter  200  as so described provides the microphone receptacle  270  and supplies the voltage required to facilitate the proper connection and operation of a broadcast quality lavalier microphone such as a Sony ECM-77B 220. With further reference to  FIG. 7 a  path of 9-volts dc is directed to pin  8  of both dual low noise operational amplifiers indicated at  500 -B and  501 -B. Another path of 9-volts dc is directed thru a 10K resistor  520  to common point, with one of the paths directed to pin  5  of the operational amplifier  501 -B and the other thru a second 10K resistor  521  and directed to pin  4  of both dual operational amplifiers indicated at  500 -A and  501 -A. Pin  6  and  7  of the operational amplifier  501 -B are directed to a common point with one of the paths directed to pin  3  of both operational amplifiers indicated at  500 -A and  501 -A, and the other path directed thru a 10K resistor  522  to pin  5  of operational amplifier  500 -B According to a second preferred embodiment a series TB5M connector made by Switchcraft Ltd. is substituted in place of the 9 mm bayonet lock microphone receptacle made by Hirose Electric Ltd, indicated at  270  in the drawings. With reference to  FIG. 7  and substituting the Switchcraft TB5M microphone receptacle at  270  the pin assignment would be as follows, pin  1  of the Switchcraft TB5M is connected to ground as indicated at  274 , pin  2  is connected to the path indicated at  271 , and pin  3  to the path indicated at  272 . A wire is connected between pins  3  and  4 . Pin  5  is not used. The aforementioned Switchcraft TB5M microphone receptacle mates to the plug commonly found attached to lavalier microphones used with wireless transmitters made by Lectrosonics Ltd. Lectrosonics wireless microphone transmitters and receivers are widely used in the television production industry and accommodate lavalier microphones from a variety of manufacturers including Sennhieser, Voice Technologies and Sony. By supplying two versions of the present adapter  200 , the first using a 9 mm bayonet lock connector made by Hirose Electric Ltd as the microphone receptacle indicated at  270  in the drawings and the second providing the Switchcraft TB5M as the microphone receptacle  270 , the present adapter  200  is compatible with the majority of broadcast quality lavalier microphones used in the television production industry. The aforementioned lavalier microphones require no modifications for use with the present adapter. The purpose of the present invention is to improve hands free cellular telephone communication in the television broadcast industry by providing an adapter that allows workers in the field to utilize readily available industry standard earpieces  210  and lavalier microphones  220  that are superior in fit and function to those supplied with a conventional earphone/microphone set  100 . With reference to  FIG. 6 , an example of the intended use of the present adapter would be maintaining a cellular IFB connection between the control room of a television studio and a camera operator and a reporter working at a remote location during a live television newscast. In advance of establishing the cellular connection, the camera operator would attach the adapter  200  to the waist with the supplied belt clip  201 . The lavalier microphone  220  is attached to the chest area and the in ear audio clarifier  210  is inserted into the ear. The wires can be dressed or concealed in clothing in such a manner as not to impede movement, and the plugs  221  and  211  are inserted into the receptacles  270  and  290  provided by the adapter  200 . Once a cellular connection has been established by hand, the user can insert the supplied 2.5 mm plug  230  into the hands free socket  141  of the cell phone  140 . The cell phone  140  can then be placed on the hip next to the present invention  200 . The external lavalier microphone  220  and in ear audio clarifier  210  are now electrically mated to the internal electrical contacts of the cell phone. The user is thus able to have both hands free for the duration of the call.  
         [0022]     The present invention relates to an adapter, and in particular to apparatus and method to facilitate the proper connection and operation of broadcast quality lavalier microphones and in-ear audio clarifiers commonly used in the television broadcasting industry to the hands free socket of a mobile cellular telephone or analog land line device that accepts an external 2.5 mm universal earphone/microphone set. The purpose of the invention is to improve hands free cellular telephone communication in the television broadcasting industry by providing an adapter that allows workers in the field to utilize readily available industry standard ear pieces and microphones that are superior in fit and function to those supplied in a conventional hands free earphone/microphone set.  
         [0023]     To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, the invention provides a 9 mm bayonet lock microphone receptacle that mates to the plug commonly found attached to a lavalier style microphone such as an ECM-77B made by Sony Ltd. Broadcast quality lavalier microphones are normally used for wireless microphone applications in the television broadcast industry. Unlike a conventional earphone/microphone set  100  where the microphone must be placed close to the users mouth, a lavalier style microphone such as a Sony ECM-77B is designed to deliver a high quality voice signal while being worn on the chest. According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a 3.5 mm earpiece receptacle that mates with the plug found attached to an audio clarifier such as that made by Audio Implements. Audio Implements has supplied custom molded in ear audio clarifiers to all the major networks in the television broadcasting industry for over  20  years. The user is thus able to benefit from listening to the incoming audio from the cellular telephone with a high quality, discreet and comfortable in ear audio clarifier built to withstand the rigors of remote broadcasting. In addition to the foregoing attributes the present adapter possesses numerous other electrical and mechanical benefits over the aforementioned cell phone break out box  300  and conventional hands free earphone/microphone sets  100 . Mechanical features of the adapter include a push to talk switch that allows the user to mute the lavalier microphone at the touch of the switch and a rotary potentiometer with an on-off switch to adjust the volume of the incoming audio signal being fed from the cellular telephone to the in ear audio clarifier. Electrical features of the adapter include utilizing a first operational amplifier to provide gain to the incoming audio signal from the cell phone being directed to the in ear audio clarifier. The adapter also utilizes a second audio operational amp for microphone gain and a variable resistor that the user can adjust with a screwdriver to optimize the output level of the external microphone going into the cellular telephone. Moreover the present invention also supplies the voltage required to power a broadcast quality lavalier style microphones such as that made by Sony, Lectrosonics, and Sennhieser.  
         [0024]     The aforementioned microphone receptacle, earpiece receptacle, volume pot and push to talk switch along with the printed circuit board and nine volt battery are all housed within a small plastic enclosure worn on the hip of the user. According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a 2.5 mm plug and a length of three-conductor cable for electrical mating between the adapter and the hands free socket of a cellular telephone. When the 2.5 mm plug is inserted into the hands free socket the cell phone will recognize the present invention as a headset and disable its internal microphone and speaker. The external broadcast quality lavalier microphone and in ear audio clarifier are now electrically mated to the internal electrical contacts of the cell phone. The user is thus able to have both hands free for the duration of the call. The present invention solves several problems associated with using conventional hands free earphone/microphone sets  100  or a cell phone breakout box  300  for cellular communication in the television broadcasting industry. Camera operators find the fit and quality of conventional hands free earphone/microphone sets troublesome because the earpieces are uncomfortable and require too much adjusting to keep in place. In addition the microphone that must be placed near the users mouth can get in the way when positioning their face tight to the camera body and viewfinder. The present invention overcomes these problems by providing an adapter that enables the camera operator to utilize a lavalier microphone such as a Sony ECM-77B, that is designed to deliver a high quality voice signal while being worn on the chest. The operator is thus able to avoid the situation of a microphone placed close to the mouth interfering with the operation of the camera. The microphone and wire can be concealed in the clothing in such a manner as not to impede movement thereby avoiding the situation of becoming entangled in a wire. There is also provided a push on/off switch to mute the microphone when it is not in use to minimize unwanted noise in the intercom system back at the television station. The present adapter enables the operator to utilize an in ear audio clarifier such as that made by Audio Implements. This provides the operator with the benefit of being able to hear the IFB audio signal from the television studio over a cellular telephone using a high quality, discreet and comfortable custom molded earpiece built to withstand the rigors of remote broadcasting.  
         [0025]     This affords the operator an increased level of confidence in maintaining the vital communication link with the television studio control room and avoids the problem of using an uncomfortable earpiece that requires constant adjustment. Since the camera operator is now wearing a microphone on the chest and a cell phone on the hip next to the present adapter they no longer have to stay near or make their way back to the cell phone break out box to respond to a question from the control room. The operator is able to respond immediately by simply depressing the supplied push to talk switch. The operator is thus able to realize the benefit of increased mobility in the performance of their duties and the control room benefits from an immediate response when directing a question to a camera operator in the field. It can thus be seen that the present invention provides a novel adapter that is ideally suited for the preceding application.  
         [0026]     In conclusion the adapter of this invention  200  in combination with a broadcast quality lavalier microphone  220  and in ear audio clarifier  210  provides at least the following advantages for hands free cellular communication in the television broadcast Industry: 
        1. The adapter  200  provides the dc voltage and the microphone receptacle  270  to facilitate the proper connection and operation of industry standard broadcast quality lavalier microphones such as Sony, Lectrosonics, Sennhieser and Voice Technologies with no modifications required.     2. Unlike a conventional earphone/microphone set  100  where the microphone  120  must be placed near the users mouth, lavalier microphones are designed to deliver a high quality voice signal while being worn on the chest. The camera operator is thus able to avoid the situation of a microphone placed close to the mouth interfering with the operation of the camera or having to stay close to the cell phone breakout box  300  to respond to questions from the studio     3. The adapter  200  provides gain circuitry that can be adjusted by the user with a small screwdriver to optimize the output level of the microphone  220 . This can improve voice quality on the receiving end of the cellular connection by minimizing the undesirable effects of the automatic gain control circuitry within the cellular telephone.     4. The push on/off switch  260  mutes the output of the microphone when not in use.        
 
         [0031]     Consequently the user is free to talk without having to worry about being overheard, and the intercom system in the control room is free of unwanted noise from the remote location 
        5. The adapter provides an earpiece receptacle  290  to accommodate the connection of a broadcast quality in ear audio clarifier such as that made by Audio Implements. The operator is thus able to hear the cellular IFB audio signal from the television station using a high quality discreet and comfortable in ear audio clarifier designed to withstand the rigors of remote broadcasting.     6. The adapter  200  provides gain circuitry to increase the level of the incoming audio signal from the cell phone  140  and a rotary potentiometer with an on/off switch to adjust the volume of the signal directed to the earpiece.     7. If the camera operator and reporter were both to be equipped with the current adapter  200 , a cell phone  140 , an earpiece  210 , and a microphone  220 , the director in the control room of the television station would be able to issue important instructions separately to either the camera operator or the reporter during a remote broadcast and the need for a cell phone breakout box  300  would be eliminated. This would not only improve communication between the control room and the remote site but would save valuable set up time, minimize the demand for A/C power and save the expense of the wireless IFB transmitter  301  and receivers  302 .        
 
         [0035]     In light of the above description, a number of advantages of the present invention are apparent. Preferably the adapter  200  works with any cellular telephone equipped with a universal 2.5 mm hands free jack that accepts a generic third party headset  100 . Although the invention has been described in connection with preferred embodiments, it should be understood that various modifications, additions and alterations may be made to the invention by one skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as defined in the following claims.