Fm transmitter and power supply / charging assembly for mp3 player

Abstract

An FM transmitter and power supply/charging assembly is 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.

1 . 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, said assembly comprising: 
 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.    
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a radio frequency transmitter connectable with the portable digital media player via the at least one coupling and adapted to transmit media content played by the portable digital media player to an external receiving device.  
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 2 , wherein the radio frequency transmitter has selectively adjustable digital frequency tuning and the assembly further comprises a digital frequency indicator display for displaying the transmission frequency.  
     
     
         4 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one electrical coupling element comprises any of a firewire coupling and a USB coupling.  
     
     
         5 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the portable digital media player is adapted to store and play MP3 format audio files.  
     
     
         6 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the assembly comprises a plurality of removably coupled parts.  
     
     
         7 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a selectively disengageable retention element adapted to retain the portable digital media player in position in the docking cavity.  
     
     
         8 . The assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising an auxiliary jack adapted to receive a male stereo mini plug.  
     
     
         9 . The assembly of  claim 8 , wherein the auxiliary jack is in electrical communication with the at least one electrical coupling.  
     
     
         10 . 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, said assembly comprising: 
 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.    
     
     
         11 . The assembly of  claim 10 , further comprising a plug connector engageable with a cigarette lighter socket of a motor vehicle, and an adjustable mounting element affixed to the plug connector, wherein the adjustable mounting element is adapted to maintain the assembly in any of a plurality of spatial positions.  
     
     
         12 . The assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the audio transmitter has selectively adjustable digital frequency tuning, and the assembly further comprises a digital frequency indicator display for displaying the transmission frequency.  
     
     
         13 . The assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the electrical connector comprises any of a firewire connector and a USB connector.  
     
     
         14 . The assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the portable digital media player is adapted to store and play MP3 format audio files.  
     
     
         15 . The assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the assembly comprises a plurality of removably coupled parts.  
     
     
         16 . The assembly of  claim 10 , further comprising a selectively disengageable retention element adapted to retain the portable digital media player in position in the docking cavity.  
     
     
         17 . The assembly of  claim 10 , further comprising an auxiliary jack disposed in or on the body structure and adapted to receive a male stereo mini plug.  
     
     
         18 . The assembly of  claim 10 , wherein the auxiliary jack is in electrical communication with the at least one electrical coupling.  
     
     
         19 . A docking assembly electrically coupleable with a portable digital media player having a storage medium adapted to receive and store digital media files, the assembly comprising: 
 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.    
     
     
         20 . The assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the body comprises a plurality of removably coupled parts.  
     
     
         21 . The assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the body includes a retention element adapted to retain the portable digital media player in position.  
     
     
         22 . The assembly of  claim 21 , wherein the retention member is selectively disengageable.  
     
     
         23 . The assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the at least one electrical coupling comprises any of a firewire coupling and a USB coupling.  
     
     
         24 . The assembly of  claim 19 , further comprising a plug connector engageable with a cigarette lighter socket of a motor vehicle, and an adjustable mounting element affixed to the plug connector, wherein the adjustable mounting element is adapted to maintain the docking assembly in any of a plurality of spatial positions.  
     
     
         25 . The assembly of  claim 19  wherein the transmitter has selectively adjustable digital frequency tuning and the assembly further comprises a digital frequency indicator display for displaying the transmission frequency.  
     
     
         26 . The assembly of  claim 19 , wherein the portable digital media player is adapted to store and play MP3 format audio files.  
     
     
         27 . The assembly of  claim 19 , further comprising an auxiliary jack disposed in or on the body structure and adapted to receive a male stereo mini plug.  
     
     
         28 . The assembly of  claim 27 , wherein the auxiliary jack is in electrical communication with the at least one electrical coupling.  
     
     
         29 . A method for broadcasting signals from a portable digital media player to an external receiving device, 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.    
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 29 , further comprising the step of conducting power from the electrical power source through the electrical coupling to the portable digital media player to power and/or charge the portable digital media player.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the portable digital media player comprises a storage medium adapted to receive and store digital media files.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the digital media files comprise MP3 format digital media files.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the transmitter has selectively adjustable digital frequency tuning and the assembly has a digital frequency indicator display for displaying the transmission frequency, the method further comprising the steps of: 
 selecting a desired transmission frequency of the transmitter; and    selecting a reception frequency of the external receiving device corresponding to the transmission frequency of the transmitter.    
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 29 , wherein the electrical coupling comprises any of a firewire coupling and a USB coupling, the method further comprising the step of transferring a media signal from the portable digital audio player to the docking assembly through the firewire coupling and/or USB coupling.  
     
     
         35 . A method for broadcasting signals from a portable digital media player to an external receiving device, 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.    
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 35 , further comprising the step of conducting power from the electrical power source through the electrical coupling to the portable digital media player to power and/or charge the portable digital media player.  
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the portable digital media player comprises a storage medium adapted to receive and store digital media files.  
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the digital media files comprise MP3 format digital media files.  
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 35 , wherein the transmitter has selectively adjustable digital frequency tuning and the assembly has a digital frequency indicator display for displaying the transmission frequency, the method further comprising the steps of: 
 selecting a desired transmission frequency of the transmitter; and    selecting a reception frequency of the external receiving device corresponding to the transmission frequency of the transmitter.