An FM transmitter and power supply/charging assembly electrically coupleable with an MP3 player. The assembly includes a modular docking unit having a main body portion with a docking cavity therein, wherein the main body portion contains the FM transmitter and power/charging circuitry, with coupling means in the docking cavity for connecting the MP3 player with the FM transmitter and power/charging circuitry, to accommodate FM transmission by the FM transmitter of audio content when played by the MP3 player in the docking cavity of the modular docking unit, and adapted for transmitting electrical power through the modular docking unit and the power/charging circuitry therein, for charging of a battery of the MP3 player and/or powering of the MP3 player.

Claims

73 · 5 independent · depth 3

73 granted claims

›1.independentAn FM transmitter and power supply/charging assembly electrically coupleable with an MP3 player, said assembly comprising a modular docking unit havin…+39

›2.↳ 1The assembly of claim 1, wherein the coupling means in the docking cavity comprises a firewire coupling.d2

›3.↳ 1The assembly of claim 1, wherein the modular docking unit comprises at least one indicator light indicative of the operational state of the unit.d2+2

›6.↳ 1The assembly of claim 1, wherein the modular docking unit comprises a housing formed of polymeric material.d2

›7.↳ 1The assembly of claim 1, wherein the FM transmitter has a transmission range of up to about 6 feet.d2

›8.↳ 1The assembly of claim 1, wherein the FM transmitter produces an output frequency audio signal in a range of from about 85 to about 95 Megahertz.d2

›9.↳ 1The assembly of claim 1, wherein said FM transmitter produces a single output frequency signal.d2

›10.↳ 1The assembly of claim 1, wherein said FM transmitter produces a variable output frequency signal.d2

›11.↳ 1The assembly of claim 1, which is constructed and arranged to dock with an iPODâ„¢ MP3 player.d2

›12.↳ 1A sound system including an FM transmitter and power supply/charging assembly as in claim 1, and an MP3 player docked in the docking cavity of the mod…d2+7

›20.↳ 1An MP3 player accessory kit, comprising an FM transmitter and power supply/charging assembly as in claim 1, and at least one power adaptor/charger for…d2

›21.↳ 1The assembly of claim 1, wherein the retention means comprise side rails on said main body portion, bounding said cavity.d2+1

›23.↳ 1The assembly of claim 1, wherein the retention means comprise a retractable shelf member mounted on said main body portion.d2+2

›26.↳ 1The assembly of claim 1, wherein said coupling means comprise a dock connector that is matably engagable with a connector of the MP3 player adapted fo…d2

›27.↳ 1The assembly of claim 1, further comprising a frequency indicator on the main body portion.d2

›28.↳ 1The assembly of claim 1, further comprising a frequency tuning control on the main body portion.d2

›29.↳ 1The assembly of claim 1, wherein the main body portion has a generally rectangular shape.d2

›30.↳ 1The assembly of claim 1, further comprising a headphones jack on the main body portion and coupled to said circuitry.d2

›31.↳ 1The assembly of claim 1, wherein the main body portion includes a housing comprising a plurality of parts.d2+1

›33.↳ 1The assembly of claim 1, wherein any of the FM transmitter and power/charging circuitry is disposed entirely within the main body portion.d2

›34.↳ 1The assembly of claim 1, wherein the means for transmitting electrical power comprises a plug connector engageable with a cigarette lighter socket of …d2

›35.↳ 1The assembly of claim 1, wherein the power/charging circuitry comprises at least one conductive electrical circuit element.d2

›36.↳ 1The assembly of claim 1, wherein the at least one electrical circuit element comprises any of an electrical contact and a power cord.d2

›37.↳ 1The assembly of claim 1, wherein the power/charging circuitry is adapted to power and/or charge the MP3 player.d2

›38.↳ 1The assembly of claim 1, further comprising an adjustable mounting element adapted to maintain the docking assembly in any of a plurality of spatial p…d2

›39.↳ 1The assembly of claim 1 wherein the MP3 player comprises a storage medium adapted to receive and store digital media files.d2

›40.↳ 1The assembly of claim 1 wherein the transmitter has selectively adjustable digital frequency tuning and the assembly further comprises a digital frequ…d2

›41.independentA radio frequency transmitter and power supply/charging assembly electrically coupleable with an MP3 player, said assembly comprising:na main body por…+12

›42.↳ 41The assembly of claim 41, wherein the radio frequency transmitter produces an output frequency audio signal in a range of from about 85 to about 95 Me…d2

›43.↳ 41The assembly of claim 41, wherein the radio frequency transmitter produces a single frequency modulated output frequency signal.d2

›44.↳ 41The assembly of claim 41, wherein the radio frequency transmitter produces a variable output frequency signal.d2

›45.↳ 41The assembly of claim 41, wherein the means for transmitting electrical power through said power/charging circuitry, and said coupling means comprises…d2

›46.↳ 41The assembly of claim 41, wherein the main body portion comprises a plurality of parts.d2+1

›48.↳ 41The assembly of claim 41, wherein any of the radio frequency transmitter and power/charging circuitry is disposed entirely within the main body portio…d2

›49.↳ 41The assembly of claim 41, wherein the power/charging circuitry comprises at least one conductive electrical circuit element.d2

›50.↳ 41The assembly of claim 41, further comprising an adjustable mounting element adapted to maintain the main body portion in any of a plurality of spatial…d2

›51.↳ 41The assembly of claim 41 wherein the MP3 player comprises a storage medium adapted to receive and store digital media files.d2

›52.↳ 41The assembly of claim 41 wherein the radio frequency transmitter has selectively adjustable digital frequency tuning and the assembly further comprise…d2

›53.↳ 41The assembly of claim 41 wherein the coupling means comprises any of a firewire coupling and a USB coupling.d2

›54.independentAn FM transmitter and power supply/charging assembly electrically coupleable with an MP3 player, said assembly comprising an FM transmitter and power/…+8

›55.↳ 54The assembly of claim 54, wherein the means for transmitting electrical power comprises a plug connector engageable with a cigarette lighter socket of…d2

›56.↳ 54The assembly of claim 54, wherein the means for transmitting electrical power comprises an AC charger.d2

›57.↳ 54The assembly of claim 54, wherein the power/charging circuitry comprises at least one conductive electrical circuit element.d2+1

›59.↳ 54The assembly of claim 54, further comprising an adjustable mounting element adapted to maintain the docking unit in any of a plurality of spatial posi…d2

›60.↳ 54The assembly of claim 54 wherein the MP3 player comprises a storage medium adapted to receive and store digital media files.d2

›61.↳ 54The assembly of claim 54 wherein the FM transmitter has selectively adjustable digital frequency tuning and the assembly further comprises a digital f…d2

›62.↳ 54The assembly of claim 54 wherein the electrical coupling comprises any of a firewire coupling and a USB coupling.d2

›63.independentAn FM transmitter and power supply/charging assembly electrically coupleable with an MP3 player, said assembly comprising an FM transmitter and power/…+5

›69.independentAn FM transmitter and power supply/charging assembly electrically coupleable with an MP3 player, said assembly comprising:na body adapted to receive t…+4

Classifications

7 codes

IPC · International Patent Classification

Section H — Electricity

H04B1/00
H04B7/00

USPC · US Patent Classification

455/42320/107455/99455/93455/66

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4.0 y

1,463 days filing → grant

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Tony T. Nguyen

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Type	Document	Date
related publication	US 20040058649 A1	25 Mar 2004

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