Multi-mode smartphone or mobile computing device

• US 10,560,562 B1
• Filed: 06/06/2018
• Issued: 02/11/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 05/09/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Darpan Tandon
• Original Assignee: Darpan Tandon
• Inventors: Tandon, Darpan
• Primary Examiner(s): Yang, Jianxun
• Application Number:
  US16/001,931
• Time in Patent Office: 615 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/243 with built-in antennas
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 21/28 Combinations of substantially independent non-interacting antenna units or systems multiple beam H01Q25/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72469 for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/42 Graphical user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/06 including a wireless LAN interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/06 adapted for operation in multiple networks or having at least two operational modes, e.g. multi-mode terminals

Abstract

Smartphones with multi-mode functionality allowing the given smartphone to connect to and utilize technologically diverse and different networks (e.g., terrestrial based cellular and/or Wi-Fi networks and/or satellite based networks), as well as different networks being operated by different service providers are described. Such smartphones may have at least three different antenna and radio communications integrated circuits, one for cellular and/or Wi-Fi communications, one for satellite communications, and one for communications across the internet. For example, if a cellular and/or Wi-Fi network may not be available, then the smartphone may connect to a satellite network. The dedicated antenna for satellite communications may be extendable and retractable. Such smartphones may have a LED lighting system (Lumminax System) for indicating incoming communications. Such smartphones may also be charged by solar energy due to integrated solar panel(s). Such smartphones may also have integrated proprietary “apps” for managing various devices connected to the internet.

Claims

1. A mobile-computing-device comprising:

a touchscreen occupying a majority of surface area of a front of the mobile-computing-device;

wherein the touchscreen displays content and receives inputs;

at least three different communication circuits, a first-communication-circuit, a second-communication-circuit, and a third-communication-circuit;

wherein the first-communication-circuit is in removable wireless two-way communication with a cellular network, wherein the first-communication-circuit is configured for handling long-term evolution category M1 (LTE-M) communications, a type of low power wide area network (LPWAN) radio standard and wherein the first-communication-circuit is configured for handling narrow-band internet-of-things (NB-IOT) communications, another type of LPWAN radio standard;

wherein the second-communication-circuit is in removable wireless two-way communication with at least one satellite in earth orbit of a satellite-network;

wherein the third-communication-circuit is in removable wireless two-way communication with the internet;

wherein the first-communication-circuit, the second-communication-circuit, or the third-communication-circuit is configured for handling Symphony Link communications or LoRaWAN communications, wherein the Symphony Link and the LoRaWAN are specific types of LPWANs;

at least one baseband processor;

wherein the at least one baseband processor is in communication with the first-communication-circuit;

wherein the at least one baseband processor is in communication with the second-communication-circuit; and

at least one application processor;

wherein the at least one application processor is in communication with the third-communication-circuit;

wherein the at least one application processor is in communication with the at least one baseband processor; and

wherein the touchscreen is in communication with a display-power-management-integrated circuit that is in communication one or more of the at least one baseband processor and the at least one application processor, wherein with respect to a front of the mobile-computing-device, the touchscreen is bound at a top by a top-panel and bound at a bottom by a bottom-panel, wherein both the top-panel and the bottom-panel are shaped as a trapezoid; and

wherein the touchscreen, the first-communication-circuit, the second-communication-circuit, the third-communication-circuit, the at least one baseband processor, and the at least one application processor are non-removable from the mobile-computing-device.

2. The mobile-computing-device according to claim 1, wherein the mobile-computing-device further comprises at least one region of solar panel located on a backside of the mobile-computing-device;

wherein the backside is opposed to the front;

wherein the at least one region of solar panel occupies a majority of surface area of the backside;

wherein the at least one region of solar panel is used to at least partially charge a battery of the mobile-computing-device.

3. The mobile-computing-device according to claim 1, wherein the first-communication-circuit comprises a first radio-frequency transceiver, a first power-amplifier, and a first antenna;

and wherein the second-communication-circuit comprises a second radio-frequency transceiver, a second power-amplifier, and a second antenna for wireless communications with the at least one satellite; and

wherein the third-communication-circuit comprises a third antenna;

wherein the first antenna, the second antenna, and the third antenna are at least partially housed within the mobile-computing-device.

4. The mobile-computing-device according to claim 3, wherein the second antenna is substantially extendable out from an antenna-hole beyond a top of the mobile-computing-device;

wherein when the second antenna is not substantially extended the second antenna is housed substantially internally in the mobile-computing-device.

5. The mobile-computing-device according to claim 1, wherein the mobile-computing-device further comprises one or more light-emitting-diode strips located substantially around an outside edge of the touchscreen, wherein the one or more light-emitting-diode strips is not motion activated, and wherein when the one or more light-emitting-diode strips is activated, light is emitted in a non-random pattern.

6. The mobile-computing-device according to claim 5, wherein at least portions of the one or more light-emitting-diode strips emit light in different patterns to distinguish between different types of incoming communications and to distinguish between different senders of the incoming communications.

7. The mobile-computing-device according to claim 1, wherein the mobile-computing-device further comprises a bottom-panel on the front of the mobile-computing-device and towards a bottom region of the mobile-computing-device;

wherein the bottom-panel houses a home-screen-button.

8. The mobile-computing-device according to claim 7, wherein the bottom-panel is substantially shaped as a trapezoid.

9. The mobile-computing-device according to claim 7, wherein the home-screen-button is substantially shaped as a triangle.

10. The mobile-computing-device according to claim 7, wherein the home-screen-button is substantially shaped as a square.

11. The mobile-computing-device according to claim 1, wherein the mobile-computing-device further comprises a top-panel on the front of the mobile-computing-device and towards a top region of the mobile-computing-device;

wherein the top-panel houses a dummy-button with speaker.

12. The mobile-computing-device according to claim 11, wherein the top-panel is substantially shaped as a bottom-panel of the mobile-computing-device.

13. The mobile-computing-device according to claim 11, wherein the dummy-button with speaker is substantially shaped as a home-screen-button of the mobile-computing-device.

14. The mobile-computing-device according to claim 1, wherein one or more of the at least three different communication circuits facilitates data transmission.

15. The mobile-computing-device according to claim 1, wherein one or more of the at least three different communication circuits facilitates voice phone calls.

16. The mobile-computing-device according to claim 1, wherein the touchscreen displays a home screen, wherein the home screen displays a plurality of virtual buttons for launching predetermined functions;

wherein the plurality of virtual buttons is arranged into four rows and four columns;

wherein in a first row, starting at in an upper left direction and moving towards the right is a “

Settings”

virtual button, followed by an “

Apps”

virtual button, followed by a “

Calendar”

virtual button, followed by a “

Clock”

virtual button;

wherein in a second row, below the first row, and moving towards the right is a “

Google Apps”

virtual button, followed by a “

Google Maps”

virtual button, followed by a “

Play Store”

virtual button, followed by a “

Youtube”

virtual button;

wherein in a third row, below the second row, and moving towards the right is a “

Camera”

virtual button, followed by a “

Gallery”

virtual button, followed by a “

Gmail”

virtual button, followed by an “

Email”

virtual button;

wherein in a fourth and final row, below the third row, moving towards the right is a “

Phone Voicemail”

virtual button, followed by a “

Contacts”

virtual button, followed by a “

Text”

virtual button, and followed by an “

Internet”

virtual button.

17. The mobile-computing-device according to claim 1, wherein the touchscreen displays a home screen, wherein the home screen displays a plurality of virtual buttons for launching predetermined functions;

wherein the plurality of virtual buttons is arranged into four rows and three columns;

wherein in a first row, starting at in an upper left direction and moving towards the right is a “

Settings”

virtual button, followed by an “

Apps”

virtual button, followed by a “

Calendar”

virtual button;

wherein in a second row, below the first row, and moving towards the right is a “

Google Apps”

virtual button, followed by a “

Google Maps”

virtual button, followed by a “

Play Store”

virtual button;

wherein in a third row, below the second row, and moving towards the right is a “

Camera”

virtual button, followed by a “

Gallery”

virtual button, followed by an “

Email”

virtual button;

wherein in a fourth and final row, below the third row, moving towards the right is a “

Phone Voicemail”

virtual button, followed by a “

Text”

virtual button, and followed by an “

Internet”

virtual button.

18. The mobile-computing-device according to claim 1, wherein the touchscreen displays a home screen, wherein the home screen display a time, a date, and displays a region of geographic-relevant-information;

wherein the time, the date, and the region of geographic-relevant-information are displayed in a top region of the touchscreen, wherein the geographic-relevant-information displays temperature and closest local city.

19. The mobile-computing-device according to claim 1, wherein the mobile-computing-device further comprises at least one forward facing camera on the front of the mobile-computing-device;

and wherein the mobile-computing-device further comprises at least one rear facing camera located on a backside of the mobile-computing-device.

20. The mobile-computing-device according to claim 1, wherein the mobile-computing-device further comprises a fingerprint scanner located on a backside of the mobile-computing-device.

21. The mobile-computing-device according to claim 1, wherein the mobile-computing-device further comprises a power-button for turning on or off the mobile-computing-device;

wherein the power-button is substantially shaped as a square.

22. The mobile-computing-device according to claim 1, wherein the mobile-computing-device further comprises a pair of volume-buttons for lowering or increasing sounds emitted by the mobile-computing-device;

wherein each of the pair of volume-buttons is substantially shaped as a triangle.