通信工程文献翻译——摘要

FM发射器和与MP3播放器电耦合的电源/充电组件。该组件包括具有其中具有对接腔的主体部分的模块化对接单元，其中主体部分包含FM发射器和电源/充电电路，在对接腔中具有用于将MP3播放器与FM发射器连接的耦合装置，功率/充电电路，以适应FM发射机在模块化对接单元的对接腔中的MP3播放器播放时的音频内容的FM传输，并适于通过模块化对接单元和其中的电源/充电电路传输电功率，用于MP3播放器的电池的充电和/或MP3播放器的供电。

描述

技术背景

1.技术领域

本发明涉及用于在线下载，存储和播放音乐的MP3播放器的附件。更具体地，本发明涉及用于这种MP3播放器的FM发射器和电源/充电组件，以及包括与其它安装/电源/充电附件组合的这种组件的套件。

2.背景技术

广泛变化类型的音乐播放器在世界各地普遍存在，并且已经通过多种形式演变，从1950年代的便携式单晶体管无线电装置到磁带盒式播放器到光盘播放器，以及最近到MP3播放器，使得用户能够从互联网网站下载音频材料并以MP3（MPEG-1音频层3）格式将其存储在播放器的存储介质中，用于随后的选择性收听。

已经开发了许多MP3播放器并且是可商购的，包括可从Creative Labs商购的Nomad自动点播机，可从Archos Technology商购的SonicBlue的rio伏特，自动点唱机记录器，以及许多其它。这种类型的大容量MP3播放器是由Apple Computer，Inc。（Cupertino，CAlif。）在2001年商业上引入的iPOD TM MP3播放器。苹果iPOD具有大约1000首商业播放长度的歌曲的容量。上述类型的MP3播放器由于其便携性而依赖于电池，并且通常设置有用于用户收听的耳机。

与这种MP3播放器的小尺寸和轻重量特性相关联的一个问题是电池寿命，这是它们的便携性和易用性的必要条件。另一个问题是配备耳机的MP3播放器的个人特性。 MP3播放器可以配备有扬声器，但是其小尺寸和轻重量特性限制了扬声器的尺寸，使得当期望将音乐传送到一组人时，例如在车辆乘客中隔间或房间。

发明内容

本发明在一个实施例中涉及一种用于MP3播放器的FM发射器和电源/充电组件。

在一个实施例中，FM发射器和电源/充电组件包括单一的模块化对接单元，其中......

Abstract

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.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

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.

2. Description of the Related Art

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 audio material from an internet site and store same in storage medium of a player in an MP3 (MPEG-1 audio layer 3) format for subsequent selective listening.

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? MP3 player commercially introduced by Apple Computer, Inc. (Cupertino, CAlif.) in 2001. The Apple iPOD has a capacity for approximately 1000 songs of commercial play length. MP3 players of the aforementioned type rely on batteries for their portability, and are typically provided with a headset for user listening.

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......