Patent US1916711A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US5881156A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5881156A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Portable, multi-functional, multi-channel wireless conference microphone
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1996-06-19
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Granted: 1999-03-09
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Expires: 2016-06-19
Abstract
Abstract A wireless conference microphone has a conical base housing with a downward-mounted microphone. A single circuit board is mounted above the microphone, and its circuits transmit the microphone output using infrared diodes on the circuit board, positioned around the periphery of the housing. A battery pack is mounted above the circuit board, and a decorative octagonal cover is provided over the battery pack. A three-position power switch selects either of two transmitting frequencies, and a multi-functional connector selectively interfaces the microphone with external devices, including a mute switch, audio level inputs and outputs, and slave modulators. The microphone can be connected to a like microphone for master-slave operation for use in larger conference rooms.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael Treni
- 👤 Norman Hirschberg
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 15:59
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04R; H04R1/00; H04R1/20; H04R1/32; H04R1/40; H04R1/406
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
255 words
A wireless conferencing apparatus adapted for placement on a surface, comprising: a base housing comprising a circuit board mounting portion, and a frustoconical portion with a cross-sectional diameter increasing along a central axis of said frustoconical portion from a minimum point at an aperture located on said central axis to a maximum point adjacent said circuit board mounting portion; means for supporting said base housing to position it proximate to and above the surface, with said aperture facing said surface, and said circuit board mounting portion above said frustoconical portion; a microphone mounted in said aperture of said base housing; a circuit board connected to said microphone and mounted in said circuit board mounting portion, said circuit board having mounted thereon amplifier means for amplifying an output of said microphone to produce an amplified output, modulating means connected to said amplifier means for modulating said amplified output to produce a modulated output; and infrared transmitting means mounted on said circuit board and protruding through at least one aperture in said circuit board mounting portion for infrared transmission of said modulated output; battery mounting means located above the circuit board mounting portion for supporting at least one battery in a position above the circuit board; battery means connected to the circuit board for powering the amplifier means, the modulating means, and the infrared transmitting means; and a removable decorative cover mounted above said base housing adjacent to said circuit board mounting portion of said base housing to cover said battery mounting means and said battery means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
255 words
A wireless conferencing apparatus adapted for placement on a surface, comprising: a base housing comprising a circuit board mounting portion, and a frustoconical portion with a cross-sectional diameter increasing along a central axis of said frustoconical portion from a minimum point at an aperture located on said central axis to a maximum point adjacent said circuit board mounting portion; means for supporting said base housing to position it proximate to and above the surface, with said aperture facing said surface, and said circuit board mounting portion above said frustoconical portion; a microphone mounted in said aperture of said base housing; a circuit board connected to said microphone and mounted in said circuit board mounting portion, said circuit board having mounted thereon amplifier means for amplifying an output of said microphone to produce an amplified output, modulating means connected to said amplifier means for modulating said amplified output to produce a modulated output; and infrared transmitting means mounted on said circuit board and protruding through at least one aperture in said circuit board mounting portion for infrared transmission of said modulated output; battery mounting means located above the circuit board mounting portion for supporting at least one battery in a position above the circuit board; battery means connected to the circuit board for powering the amplifier means, the modulating means, and the infrared transmitting means; and a removable decorative cover mounted above said base housing adjacent to said circuit board mounting portion of said base housing to cover said battery mounting means and said battery means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
69 words
The apparatus of claim 1 wherein, in said circuit board mounting portion, said at least one aperture through which the infrared transmitting means protrudes comprises a plurality of apertures, each open at a top part of the aperture so that the circuit board can be installed in the circuit board mounting portion by aligning the infrared transmitting means with said plurality of apertures and dropping the board into place.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising: external connection means for providing an electrical connection between external devices and said circuit board; and a modulated audio input line connected between said modulation means and said external connection means.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
49 words
The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising slave operating means connected to said modulation means and said modulated audio input line for controlling the conference microphone in a slave mode to receive a modulated signal from an external source and retransmit the modulated signal using said infrared transmission means.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 3 further comprising an audio output line connected between said circuit board and said external connection means for transmitting an audio microphone signal to an external infrared emitting device.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising multi-functional connector means for providing a single external jack having connections for: a microphone muting control line, modulated audio output, and audio input.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
74 words
The apparatus of claim 6 further comprising an accessory unit, a cable connecting said accessory unit to the multi-functional connector means via connections for the microphone muting control line, modulated audio output, and audio input, wherein said accessory unit has mute switching means connected to the microphone muting control line for selectively inhibiting microphone input, and jack means for providing audio cable connections to each of the modulated audio output and audio input lines.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
179 words
A compact wireless conferencing unit adapted for placement on a surface, comprising: a housing with a circuit board mounting portion; a microphone mounted in said housing; a circuit board connected to said microphone, said circuit board having amplifier means for amplifying an output of said microphone to produce an amplified output, modulating means connected to said amplifier means for modulating said amplified output to produce a modulated output; and infrared transmitting means mounted on said circuit board and protruding through at least one aperture in said circuit board mounting portion for infrared transmission of said modulated output; slave operating means for linking the unit to a similar unit so that both units will synchronously transmit infrared signals representing the sum of sounds picked up by the microphones of both units, the slave operating means including: external connection means for providing an electrical connection between external devices and said circuit board; a modulated audio input line connected between said modulation means and said external connection means; and an audio output line connected between said microphone and said external connection means.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
179 words
A compact wireless conferencing unit adapted for placement on a surface, comprising: a housing with a circuit board mounting portion; a microphone mounted in said housing; a circuit board connected to said microphone, said circuit board having amplifier means for amplifying an output of said microphone to produce an amplified output, modulating means connected to said amplifier means for modulating said amplified output to produce a modulated output; and infrared transmitting means mounted on said circuit board and protruding through at least one aperture in said circuit board mounting portion for infrared transmission of said modulated output; slave operating means for linking the unit to a similar unit so that both units will synchronously transmit infrared signals representing the sum of sounds picked up by the microphones of both units, the slave operating means including: external connection means for providing an electrical connection between external devices and said circuit board; a modulated audio input line connected between said modulation means and said external connection means; and an audio output line connected between said microphone and said external connection means.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
162 words
The unit of claim 8 wherein the housing has a frustoconical portion with a cross-sectional diameter increasing along a central axis of said frustoconical portion from a minimum point at an aperture located on said central axis to a maximum point adjacent said circuit board mounting portion, with said microphone mounted in said aperture; and further comprising: means for supporting said base housing to position it proximate to and above the surface, with said aperture facing said surface, and said circuit board mounting portion above said frustoconical portion; battery mounting means located above the circuit board mounting portion for supporting at least one battery in a position above the circuit board; battery means connected to the circuit board for powering the amplifier means, the modulating means, and the infrared transmitting means; and a removable decorative cover mounted above said base housing adjacent to said circuit board mounting portion of said base housing to cover said battery mounting means and said battery means.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2002-03-08 | 2002-09-07 | 2003-03-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2006-03-08 | 2006-09-07 | 2007-03-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2010-03-08 | 2010-09-07 | 2011-03-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |