Radio system with wireless remote module of press button for enabling transmission

The present invention relates to a radio system, and in particular, but not exclusively, to a system using what is commonly known as the radio personal use, typically worn by members of the armed forces or organizations such as the police. In these cases, it is often necessary to man the station had a personal appointment for two-way communication.

Conventional two-way radios operate in either duplex or simplex mode, wherein the duplex mode is similar to a telephone system where the receive and transmit channels are both included and both parties can speak to each other without any other required conditions.

The more common operation is simplex mode, wherein each radio bearer only works when the transmitter is driven by a "push-button transmission" (IBOC). Types of pushbuttons used vary and can be either part of a microphone as in the case in hand held type, are in wide use, or to be a switch on a wire between the radio and a headset, as used in commercial and working headsets.

Operators often have to work with on the transfer station, at the same time using his hands for other cases, and some systems use voice control when the radio is switched upon detection of a microphone voice users. In some applications, this method is not reliable, and the presence of the push-button actuated by the user is still the only reliable means of radio control.

In accordance with the present invention, a radio system comprising a radio having a transmit mode, wherein the system further comprises a wireless remote unit, which accommodates a push button switch gear (IBOC) and is used for setting the radio to the transmission mode, the remote module comprises a transmitter short range action compared with the radio station, the system further comprises a receiver associated with the radio for receiving signals from the remote module to set the radio in transmit mode.

Using the present invention allows the operator to position the remote unit in a convenient location, such as a rifle stock, the steering wheel of the car, the steering wheel motorcycle or management bodies of a speedboat, while at the same time possessing a radio station in another place. Thus, the operator can click on IBOC and reply to any received message, without necessity of leaving controls, or without detracting substantially from its real activity.

Transmitter short range transmitter is advantageously a radio station, but it may be an infrared transmitter, which may be suitable for some applications.

When the operator must establish a connection on two radio networks that can take place in military applications where the operator needs to establish a local connection through the radio personal use, but may also want to have access to the military the power station, it is desirable that the remote unit comprises two IBOC, respectively associated with different radio networks. It is particularly advantageous that a signal transmitted from the remote module comprises code, and the receiver responds to the code, thereby avoiding unintended activation of the transmitters near the remote module which may not be associated with a remote module.

It may be desirable for the receiver to respond to a plurality of codes corresponding to different remote modules. Thus, the operator may have a plurality of remote units associated with different pieces of equipment, such as a motorcycle, a car or a rifle. Everyone can be a remote host, set semi-permanent way on these pieces of equipment.

A very important problem with the code corresponding to the remote unit, and the receiver, which receives only the signal with the same code occurs if lost or damaged by the remote unit, which can be small and can easily be put in an inappropriate place. However, this problem can be solved by using a receiver that has a mode of "learning", in which it can learn the code of the remote unit. This is possible because, unlike other remotely actuated key rings on vehicles and the like. D., It does not include a safety issue. Therefore permissible for a radio station or a receiver associated with the radio station, learning code remote module. It is also particularly advantageous in applications where remote modules are permanently attached to the elements of equipment such as a car or a motorcycle. Taking as an example a police motorcycle, then, if it is equipped with a remote module, any police motorcyclist can ride on this bike and use your own personal radio station, you only need to when they first sit on the motorcycle, they programmed their receiver code remote module on this motorcycle.

The system advantageously employs a receiver which is associated actuatable magnet switch and the remote module comprises a magnet, the magnet and is driven by a magnet switch is arranged so that the actuated magnet switch assumes the position learning mode, when the remote unit comprising said magnet, It is held in an appropriate position relative to the magnet sensitive switch, in which position activation of IBOC on the remote module causes training at the remote receiver the code module. Although this function could equally be achieved by pushing a screwdriver possibly via a small vent hole, a device with a magnet is particularly advantageous for the installation code it does not require additional tools, only the remote module.

Advantageously, pressing the remote module IBOC several times or for a period exceeding a predetermined period of time, causing removal of any code receiver from the receiver so that the receiver is no longer responsive to those codes. Thus, the receiver can respond to multiple codes, for example, allowing multiple police motorcyclists ride common motorbikes. However, when two motorcyclists who share the two motorcycles rode along on patrol, they can reset the receivers associated with their respective radio stations to ensure that the actuation of the remote unit on a particular motorcycle activates only the station that is connected with a man riding a motorcycle instead of his radio colleagues.

Receiver for a signal from the remote module may be located in the radio itself but alternatively the receiver may be disposed separately from the radio station, but the conductors coupled to the transceiver.

The station preferably has an additional IBOC in electrical contact with the radio station, and an additional button is designed to operate in parallel IBOC remote module. This may provide the usual reservations when the remote unit will become faulty or lost. Referring again to the use of a police motorcycle, it allows the rider to leave the motorcycle with his radio personal appointment with IBOC on themselves associated with this radio station personal purposes, so that the station can be operated, while he retired from the remote unit located on a motorcycle .

Additional IBOC may be located in a node with a removable radio receiver while signals from the remote module also located in the removable unit. Thus, the station can be removed from a removable assembly. This may be advantageous where an operator may wish to leave a personal destination station, for example, fixed location on the vehicle, but the connection of the wires with an interface connected to the detachable unit by IBOC. Removable unit, then, can be installed next to the usual place for the driver's seat inside the vehicle. The operator can thus use the removable IBOC node, which also may have a connection to his headphones. Furthermore, an additional remote module smaller sizes can be installed directly on the controls used to control the vehicle, so that the operator does not need to take off your hands with these controls.

The following describes one embodiment of the present invention by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

1A is a perspective view of a personal station of destination in accordance with the present invention;

1B is a perspective view of the universal communication interface (UCI) in accordance with the present invention;

2 is a perspective view of a remote radio interface;

3 is an assembled device of Figure 1B and 2;

Figure 4 shows the assembled apparatus of Figures 1A and 1B with additional components;

Figure 5 shows an alternative universal communication interface with built-in speaker and microphone;

6 is a different communications equipment that interfaces with a universal communication interface for 1B;

7A schematically shows the main components within the remote module shown in Figure 6; and

7B shows the main components of the ASE at 1B and Figure 6 which relate to remote operation using a remote SPM module 7A.

1 illustrates a radio personal use, generally designated by the numeral 1, having a casing 2, a cover 3 of the battery compartment, the bodies 4 and 5 and the end front face constituting a radio interface 6. The interface 6 has a connecting element 7, a connecting thread 8 and electrical interconnects 9, 10 and 11.

Radio 1 personal purpose comprises an antenna (which is internal to the illustrated embodiment), the transmitter and receiver, by which it can transmit and receive radio signals. The radio personal assignment intended to be worn by the operator and is typically carried on a belt or could be mounted in close proximity to the operator, for example on a vehicle associated with the operator.

The radio interface 6 is designed to fit a universal communication interface (UCI) indicated generally by reference numeral 12 in Figure 1B. ASE 12 comprises a stud not shown and screw 13 which cooperate respectively with coupling 7 and groove 8 connecting thread, for holding in a predetermined position of the housing 14 of the ASE. ASE 12 comprises a headset connector 15, push buttons 16 and 17 enable transmission (IBOC), respectively associated with two different radio networks and two slots, only one 18 of which is shown, to install additional cabling.

Buttons 16 and 17 are pressed to talk to respective communication network through the respective stations, one button 16 is associated with one radio personal destination by 1A, while button 17 is associated with an external radio network, which may be a military radio network, where the radio system used military applications.

The universal communication interface comprises circuitry to ensure that when a signal is received on one communication network, then can not be actuated enable transmission function controlled by the button associated with the other network. This ensures that the signal is received and transmitted to the user, perhaps using the headset can not be perceived by negligence included microphone and transmitted simultaneously to the other radio.

When the radio of Figure 1 is mounted on the SII and 1B corresponding to a headset or a speaker / microphone is connected to the SPM, it turns fully equipped radio personal use, which can be tolerated by the operator, with the radio interfaces with a universal communication interface through contacts 9 and corresponding contacts (not shown) on the universal communication interface 12.

There are applications where the operator uncomfortable transfer destination of the personal station, or when an operator may wish to use another radio, perhaps mounted in a vehicle. The operator, in fact, may wish to establish a radio station personal purpose vehicle. This is facilitated by the remote radio interface 19 of Figure 2, which is identical to the interface 6 on the personal radio station of destination by 1A, but instead of being part of that personal destination station, it is now a stand-alone interface which may be connected to another station, which can be installed on board a vehicle, aircraft, ship, etc., or large infantry radio worn by one person using a connecting cable 20.

The remote radio interface 19 comprises similar physical and electrical connections as the interface 6 and thus the ASE can be installed on the remote radio interface 19 as shown in Figure 3. Regarding taken together 1B and 3, the groove 18 in the ASE cable 12 may be installed with the contacts on the flat tip that connect to contacts 10. A corresponding slot (not shown) on the other side of the SPM allows connection of the cable with the same contacts to the contacts 11 on the interface 6 or 19. These additional conductors are depicted in Figure 4, the conductor 21 is connected, and the conductor 22 is disconnected to illustrate flat tip 23 contacts, which is connected to pins 11 in Figures 1A and 2.

In the arrangement shown in Figure 4, the SPM 12 is mounted on one radio personal purpose, but could equally be connected to the remote radio interface 19 of Figure 2, as shown in Figure 3. Conductor 21 may be connected to the additional radio stations depending on the application, while the conductors 22 connected to remote push buttons 24 and 25 corresponding to the push buttons 16 and 17 enable transmission, to the SPM 12. Additional pushbuttons 24 and 25 may be disposed at a position convenient for the operator, for example, on the steering wheel motorcycle or ATV, or rifle stock. This allows operation with a radio station without surgical removal of their hands with the controls of the vehicle or weapons he carries. Alternatively, depending on the application, this function may be accomplished simply by setting the SPM 12 at the remote radio interface 19 as shown in Figure 3, and then installing the assembled unit in a suitable position on a vehicle or perhaps on a chest holster worn by operator. It is clear that there are plenty of accommodation that allows for remote universal communication interface 12.

As for now the 5, then it shows a variant of the universal communications interface for 1B. In this case ASE 26 includes microphone 27 and speaker 28 so that it can be operated without a headset. In the illustrated embodiment, there is only one push button 29 enable transmission, but it is a matter of design choice. ASE 26 mates with one personal destination radio of Figure 1 or the remote radio interface shown in Figure 2, exactly the same as ASE 12 shown in Figure 1B.

As ASE 12, ASE and 26, respectively depicted in Figure 1B and 5 include a receiver station (which could equally be an infrared receiver). The purpose of this receiver is described below with reference to Figure 6 where, for illustrative purposes only, ASE 12 and 1B is shown connected to a headset, illustrated generally at 30 having headphones 31 and a microphone 32 located on a support which When worn on the operator, the operator is placed in front of his mouth.

In the embodiment illustrated in Figure 6, the ASE 12 is mounted on the remote radio interface 19 previously described with reference to Figure 2. A radio system further comprises a wireless remote unit 33 pushbutton switching transmission (IBOC) IBOC has on it 34 and the magnet 35 is located next to the wall of the housing 36 remote unit 33. The remote unit 33 includes a low-power transmitter, positioned so that the actuation of the IBOC 34 causes the transmission signal 37 on the ASE 12 which, when received by a receiver (not shown) ASE 12 acts as if it were pressed IBOC (16).

Assigning a remote module is described below in more detail with reference to Figures 7A and 7B, however it should be noted that although only one IBOC 34 depicts a remote control unit 33 to simplify the description, the module 33 may comprise two buttons corresponding to button 16 and the SPM 17, if desirable to use SPM module designed to operate with two networks.

With regard to Figure 7A, the remote unit 33 is shown schematically and comprises a battery 37, a hook 34 for IBOC transmission circuit 38. When push button 34 is pressed, the battery is connected to a transmission scheme that extracts the code from the erasable programmable read only memory (EPROM) 39. This code is effectively unique to the remote module and is transmitted via the signal antenna 40 to the receiving antenna 41 disposed in the SPM 12 schematically depicted in Figure 7B, and, for clarity, shows only one function IBOC 16.

As shown in Figure 7B, IBOC 16 connects the microphone to the radio 32 1 personal use. (For clarity, the channel has been omitted headphone 31). While the headset is shown connected via ASE 12 to the personal station 1 destination can be any radio station. The microphone 32 may be connected to one personal destination station by using the push button 16 or by using the signal received by the receiver 42 via antenna 41. The receiver 42 when receiving the correctly coded signal closes switch 43. It should be noted that in this case, although 7 and its description when talking about opening and closing switches and the switches are depicted as physical switches making up the SPM 12, in practice this function may be achieved electronically and indeed may be achieved by generating an appropriate signal to transmitter contained in the station 1.

In order that the receiver 42 may learn the code which the remote module 33 transmits the remote unit 33 can be held close to the SPM 12 while the magnet 35 is located near the magnetic sensitive reed switch 44 in the receiver. When the location of the magnet 35 near the reed switch 44 closes the reed switch contacts, setting the receiver circuit in the mode of "learning." Operational depression IBOC 34 remote module 33 causes the transmission code stored therein from a remote unit 33 to the receiver 42 with the code, and then, stored in the memory of the receiver circuit 42 and subsequently recognized as an appropriate code.

The receiver 42 may be trained in several codes, so that it responds to signals from a corresponding number of remote nodes. To reset the receiver and purification from all stored codes the magnet is held next to the reed switch 34 and IBOC remote module 33 pressed five times in quick succession. Receiver circuit 42 is programmed to signal the recognition of it as "cleaning of all the codes." Alternatively, the receiver may be programmed to signal recognition, continued over the set duration.

It is understood that the device according to the invention may have any number of applications and the particular applications are outside the scope of the present disclosure. However, for purposes of illustration, here is a brief reference to one application of the invention with reference to the motorcyclist on a police motorcycle.

Police motorcyclist station typically has a personal purpose, mounted thereon and staffed headset and SII, and SII installed either on the radio or strapped to his chest. The advantage of this is that, whether it is a motorcycle, or descended from him, a police motorcyclist bears its manned radio system. However, while riding on a motorcycle is not desirable to leave the controls, and therefore, the remote unit 33 can be installed in a convenient location on the handlebars of a motorcycle. Thus, when the rider wants to reply to the message, he can simply press the button 34 and speak into the microphone. Leaving the bike, it leaves the remote unit 33 on a motorcycle, but may be included in the connection by pressing the IBOC 16 to 12 SPM.

The motorcyclist can ride several bikes, and on the particular motorcycle can travel several motorcyclists. In this case, the rider can program your receiver SII code of motorcycles or vehicles on which it rides (cars that he drives), so that the remote unit is installed on any of these vehicles, it will work with a particular station. When he sits down on the motorcycle, which he had not yet traveled, he simply places his ASE 12 next to the remote unit 33 of the motorcycle, so that the code for the remote unit while it is stored in the receiver SII.

It is possible that the remote unit 33 has received and the receiver codes transmitted by the ASE, but this requires an extra receiver in the remote module 33 and transmitter in the SPM 12. It is also understood that a learning mode may be generated other than the magnet 35, such as a screwdriver can be inserted into the small hole to activate the switch, similar to a magnet 35 for actuating the reed switch 43.

The above represents one way that can be accomplished the present invention. However, one skilled in the art will recognize many other embodiments and applications without departing from the scope of the appended claims.