| Fm transmitter and power supply / charging assembly for mp3 player -> Monitor Keywords |
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Fm transmitter and power supply / charging assembly for mp3 playerFm transmitter and power supply / charging assembly for mp3 player description/claimsThe Patent Description & Claims data below is from USPTO Patent Application 20070114974, Fm transmitter and power supply / charging assembly for mp3 player. Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION [0001] This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/615,108 filed on Jul. 8, 2003, which application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/197,367 filed on Jul. 17, 2002, and now issued as U.S. Pat. No. 6,591,085. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] 1. Field of the Invention [0003] This invention relates to accessories for MP3 players used for on-line downloading, storage and playing of music. More specifically, the invention relates to an FM transmitter and power supply/charging assembly for such MP3 players, and to a kit comprising such assembly in combination with other mounting/power/charging accessories. [0004] 2. Description of the Related Art [0005] Music players of widely varying type are ubiquitous throughout the world, and have evolved through various forms over the years, from portable single transistor radios in the 1950's to tape cassette players to compact disc players and more recently to MP3 players, which enable a user to download digital media (e.g., audio) material from an internet site and store same in storage medium of a player in a digital format (such as MPEG-1 audio layer 3, or "MP3") format for subsequent selective listening. [0006] A number of MP3 players have been developed and are commercially available, including the Nomad jukebox commercially available from Creative Labs, SonicBlue's Rio volt, jukebox recorder commercially available from Archos Technology, and numerous others. A high-capacity MP3 player of such type is the iPod.RTM. MP3 player commercially introduced by Apple Computer, Inc. (Cupertino, Calif.) in 2001. The Apple iPod.RTM. has a capacity for approximately 1000 songs of commercial play length. [0007] MP3 players of the aforementioned type rely on batteries for their portability, and are typically provided with a headset for user listening. [0008] One problem associated with the small size and light-weight characteristics of such MP3 players, as requisite to their portability and ease of use, is battery life. Another problem is the personal character of the headphone-equipped MP3 player. The MP3 player may be equipped with a speaker, but its small size and light-weight characteristics limit the size of the speaker, making it less than desirable when it is desirable to transmit music to a group of persons, such as in a vehicle passenger compartment, or a room. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0009] The present invention relates in certain embodiments to an FM transmitter and power supply/charging assembly for an MP3 player. [0010] In one aspect, a FM transmitter and power supply/charging assembly comprises a unitary and modular docking unit, in which the MP3 player is reposable in electrical communication therewith. The docking unit in a specific embodiment accommodating the iPod.RTM. MP3 player, the docking unit interconnects with the MP3 player via the MP3 player headphone and firewire ports. In other embodiments, accommodating MP3 players without firewire ports, the docking unit may interconnect with the MP3 player via the headphone and power port. The base docking unit contains within the unitary housing an FM transmitter and firewire power plug for the MP3 player. The base docking unit is provided with a matable plug coupling, for joining of the base docking unit to any of suitable power/charging components attachable thereto. [0011] In another aspect, a base docking unit of the FM transmitter and power supply/charging assembly is provided as a component of a multi-accessory kit. The kit comprises, in addition to the base docking unit, a ratcheting arm coupleable with a cigarette lighter power socket, e.g., a conventional 12 volt socket, in which the arm also functions as a mounting device which is pivotably adjustable to spatially position the MP3 player and affixed docking unit in any of a variety of spatial positions, relative to the user. The kit optionally also includes a short adaptor coupleable with a power supply, e.g., in a desk mount or wall mount plate. The kit optionally further includes a desk mount that is engagable with the short adaptor, to provide a desk mountable conformation of the MP3 player, and/or a wall mount plate for wall mounting of the FM transmitter and power supply/charging assembly, so that the MP3 player may be disposed in the modular docking unit as wall mounted. [0012] In another aspect, a docking and power supply/charging assembly electrically coupleable with a portable digital media player having a storage medium adapted to receive and store digital media files comprises: structure defining a docking cavity for receipt therein of a portable digital media player; at least one electrical coupling disposed in the docking cavity and adapted to engage the portable digital media player when the portable digital media player is received by the docking cavity; at least one power/charging circuit element connectable with said portable digital media player via the at least one electrical coupling element for transmission of electrical power therethrough to charge and/or power the portable digital media player; and an adjustable mounting element affixed to a plug connector engageable with a cigarette lighter socket of a motor vehicle and adapted to maintain the portable digital media player in any of a plurality of spatial positions, the plug connector being in electrical communication with the at least one power/charging circuit element. [0013] In another aspect, an audio transmitter and power supply/charging assembly electrically coupleable with a portable digital media player having a storage medium adapted to receive and store digital media files comprises: a cavity-defining body structure adapted to receive at least a portion of the portable digital media player, the body having at least one associated electrical connector adapted to engage the portable digital media player when the portable digital media player is received by the body structure; an audio transmitter connectable with said portable digital media player via the electrical connector and adapted to transmit audio content played by said portable digital media player to a separate audio player that is independent of said portable digital media player; and at least one power/charging circuit element connectable with said portable digital media player via the at least one electrical connector and adapted to transmit electrical power therethrough to charge and/or power the portable digital media player. [0014] In another aspect, a docking assembly electrically coupleable with a portable digital media player having a storage medium adapted to receive and store digital media files comprises: a body defining a docking cavity sized and shaped to receive at least a portion of the portable digital media player; at least one electrical coupling disposed in the cavity and adapted to engage the portable digital media player when the player is received by the body; at least one electrical circuit element adapted to conduct power from an external power source to the at least one electrical coupling; and a transmitter connectable with the portable digital media player via the at least one electrical coupling and adapted to wirelessly transmit media content from the portable digital media player to an external receiving device. [0015] In another aspect, a method for broadcasting signals from a portable digital media player to an external receiving device is provided, the method comprising the steps of: providing a docking assembly comprising (a) a cavity-defining body adapted to receive the portable digital media player, (b) a transmitter adapted to transmit media content from the portable digital media player to the external receiving device, (c) an electrical coupling disposed in the cavity and adapted to engage the portable digital media player when the portable digital media player is received by the body, and (d) at least one electrical circuit element to conduct power from an external power source to the electrical coupling; inserting at least a portion of the portable digital media player into the cavity, wherein the electrical coupling engages the portable digital media player during the inserting step; and wirelessly transmitting a signal containing media content played by the portable digital media player to the external receiving device. [0016] In another aspect, a method for broadcasting signals from a portable digital media player to an external receiving device is provided, the method comprising the steps of: providing a docking assembly comprising (a) a body adapted to retain the portable digital media player, (b) a transmitter adapted to transmit audio content from the portable digital media player to the external receiving device, (c) an electrical coupling disposed in or on the body and adapted to engage the portable digital media player when the player is received by the body, and (d) at least one electrical circuit element to conduct power from an external power source to the electrical coupling; operatively coupling the portable digital media player and the docking assembly in a single step of depressing at least a portion of the portable digital media player into or against the body to simultaneously engage the electrical coupling; and wirelessly transmitting a signal containing media content played by the portable digital media player to the external receiving device. [0017] Other aspects, features and advantages of the present invention will be more fully apparent from the ensuing disclosure and appended claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS [0018] FIG. 1 is a front elevation view of an FM transmitter and power supply/charging assembly according to one embodiment of the present invention. [0019] FIG. 2 is a rear elevation view of the FM transmitter and power supply/charging assembly of FIG. 1. [0020] FIG. 3 is a right-hand side view, in elevation, of the assembly of FIGS. 1-2. Continue reading about Fm transmitter and power supply / charging assembly for mp3 player... 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