Combination microphone, speaker, and control unit for a radio transceiver

Claim 2

A combination transducer and control unit adapted to be coupled by a multi-conductor cable to a separate radio transceiver chassis which is capable of transmitting and receiving a plurality of radio signals at preselected frequencies, comprising: a housing of a size which is conveniently held by one hand; a multi-conductor cable secured to said housing and adapted to electrically connect said combination unit to said radio transceiver chassis; multi-position switch means mounted in said housing and connected to said cable, said switch means being operable to select individually said preselected frequencies; illuminated channel indicating means mounted on said housing and responsive to said switch means for indicating the frequency to which said transceiver is turned; an electromechanical transducer mounted in said housing and connected to said cable transmit/receive switch means mounted on said housing and coupled to said cable and said transducer for selectively enabling said transceiver to transmit or receive said radio signals; and volume control means mounted on said housing and coupled to said cable and said transducer for varying the amplitude of the audio frequency electrical signals produced by said transceiver; said frequency-selecting switch means, transmit/receive switch means, and volume control means each being located on said housing so as to be operable by the finger of the same hand of the operator which is holding the unit.

Claim 3

A combination control unit in accordance with claim 1, which further comprises squelch control means mounted on said housing and coupled to said cable, said squelch control means having a variable electrical characteristic and being operable to apply said characteristic by means of said cable to said radio transceiver to adjust the squelch level of said transceiver, said squelch control means further being located on said housing so as to be conveniently operable by the fingers of the same hand of the operator which is holding the unit.

Claim 4

A combination control unit in accordance with claim 1, which further includes a rotary dial attached to said multi-position switch, said dial carrying light transmissive indicia respectively associated with said preselected frequencies, with said indicia being surrounded by a portion of said dial which is substantially the same color as said housing; said combination unit further comprising lamp means mounted on said housing adjacent to the indicia carrying a portion of said dial and coupled to said cable, said lamp means adapted to be energized when said radio transceiver is operative to illuminate one of the indicia on said dial adjacent to said lamp means, whereby said indicia are substantially invisible except when selectively rotated to the position adjacent the lamp to thus indicate the channel to which the transceiver is tuned.

Claim 5

A combination control unit in accordance with claim 3, in which said lamp means comprises a light-emitting diode, whereby indication of both the operative condition of the transceiver and the frequency to which the transceiver is tuned may be achieved while conserving electrical energy.

Claim 6

A combination control unit in accordance with claim 3, in which said dial has a peripheral portion which is knurled and extends substantially to the outer edge of said housing, whereby one-hand rotation of the dial by the operator while he is holding the unit in his hand is facilitated.

Claim 7

A combination control unit in accordance with claim 1, which further comprises an impedance matching transformer, connected between said transducer and said cable, and coupled to said transmit/receive switch means for enhancing the conversion characteristics of said transducer.

Claim 8

A combination control unit in accordance with claim 1, in which said volume control means further includes on/off switch means connected to said cable, whereby the operator may use the control unit to turn the transceiver on and off.

Claim 9

A control unit in accordance with claim 1, in which said tranducer operates as a microphone and a loudspeaker.

Claim 10

A radio transceiver comprising: a chassis; receiver circuitry mounted on said chassis for receiving a plurality of radio frequency signals at preselected frequencies and converting them into output audio frequency electrical signals; transmitter circuitry mounted on said chassis for converting input audio frequency electrical signals into transmitted radio signals at any one of said preselected frequencies; a separate combination transducer and control unit housing of a size which is conveniently held by one hand; a multi-conductor cable secured to said housing and said chassis for electrically connecting said combination unit to said receiver and transmitter circuitry; multi-position switch means mounted in said housing and connected to said cable, said switch means being operable to select individually said preselected frequencies; illuminated channel indicating means mounted on said housing and responsive to said switch means for indicating the frequency to which said transducer is tuned; an electromechanical transducer mounted in said housing and connected to said receiver and transmitting circuitry by said cable and operable to convert said output audio frequency electrical signals into corresponding audible sound wave signals and audible sound wave signals into corresponding input audio frequency electrical signals; transmit/receive switch means mounted on said housing and coupled between said transducer and said receiver and transmitter circuitry by said cable for selectively enabling said transducer to convert audible sound wave signals into said corresponding input audio frequency electrical signals and said output audio frequency electrical signals into corresponding audible sound wave signals; and, volume control means mounted on said housing and coupled between said transducer and said receiver and transmitter circuitry for varying the amplitude of the output audio frequency electrical signals applied to said transducer; said frequency-selecting switch means, transmit/receive switch means, and volume control means each being located on said housing so as to be operable by the finger of the same hand of the operator which is holding the unit.

Claim 11

A radio transceiver comprising: a chassis; receiver circuitry mounted on said chassis for receiving a plurality of radio frequency signals at preselected frequencies and converting them into output audio frequency electrical signals; transmitter circuitry mounted on said chassis for converting input audio frequency electrical signals into transmitted radio signals at any one of said preselected frequencies; a separate combination transducer and control unit housing of a size which is conveniently held by one hand; a multi-conductor cable secured to said housing and said chassis for electrically connecting said combination unit to said receiver and transmitter circuitry; multi-position switch means mounted in said housing and connected to said cable, said switch means being operable to select individually said preselected frequencies; illuminated channel indicating means mounted on said housing and responsive to said switch means for indicating the frequency to which said transducer is tuned; an electromechanical transducer mounted in said housing and connected to said receiver and transmitting circuitry by said cable and operable to convert said output audio frequency electrical signals into corresponding audible sound wave signals and audible sound wave signals into corresponding input audio frequency electrical signals; transmit/receive switch means mounted on said housing and coupled between said transducer and said receiver and transmitter circuitry by said cable for selectively enabling said transducer to convert audible sound wave signals into said corresponding input audio frequency electrical signals and said output audio frequency electrical signals into corresponding audible sound wave signals; and, volume control means mounted on said housing and coupled between said transducer and said receiver and transmitter circuitry for varying the amplitude of the output audio frequency electrical signals applied to said transducer; said frequency-selecting switch means, transmit/receive switch means, and volume control means each being located on said housing so as to be operable by the finger of the same hand of the operator which is holding the unit.

Claim 12

A combination control unit in accordance with claim 9, which further comprises squelch control means mounted on said housing and coupled to said cable, said squelch control means having a variable electrical characteristic and being operable to apply said characteristic by means of said cable to said radio transceiver to adjust the squelch level of said transceiver, said squelch control means further being located on said housing so as to be conveniently operable by the fingers of the same hand of the operator which is holding the unit.

Claim 13

A combination control unit in accordance with claim 9, which further includes a rotary dial attached to said multi-position switch, said dial carrying light transmissive indicia respectively associated with said preselected frequencies, with said indicia being surrounded by a portion of said dial which is substantially the same color as said housing; said combination unit further comprising lamp means mounted on said housing adjacent to the indicia carrying a portion of said dial and coupled to said cable, said lamp means adapted to be energized when said radio transceiver is operative to illuminate one of the indicia on said dial adjacent to said lamp means, whereby said indicia are substantially invisible except when selectively rotated to the position adjacent the lamp to thus indicate the channel to which the transceiver is tuned.

Claim 14

A combination control unit in accordance with claim 11, in which said lamp means comprises a light-emitting diode, whereby indication of both the operative condition of the transceiver and the frequency to which the transceiver is tuned may be achieved while conserving electrical energy.

Claim 15

A combination control unit in accordance with claim 11, in which said dial has a peripheral portion which is knurled and extends substantially to the outer edge of said housing, whereby one-hand rotation of the dial by the operator while he is holding the unit in his hand is facilitated.

Claim 16

A combination control unit in accordance with claim 9, which further comprises an impedance matching transformer, connected between said transducer and said cable, and coupled to said transmit/receive switch means for enhancing the conversion characteristics of said transducer.

Claim 17

A combination control unit in accordance with claim 9, in which said volume control means further includes on/off switch means connected to said cable, whereby the operator may use the control unit to turn the transceiver on and off.