Adapter to convert cell phone to desktop telephone

• US 20020090919A1
• Filed: 01/23/2001
• Published: 07/11/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 01/09/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sital Technology And Hardwear Develoment (1997)
• Original Assignee: Sital Technology And Hardwear Develoment (1997)
• Inventors: Hofman, Ofer
• Application Number:
  US09/766,668
• Publication Number:
  US 20020090919A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/575.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/02 Constructional features of telephone sets
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0202 Portable telephone sets, e.g. cordless phones, mobile phones or bar type handsets constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. of speakers or microphones H04M1/03
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/04 Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/725 Cordless telephones user interfaces specially adapted therefor H04M1/724

Abstract

An adapter to convert a mobile cell phone having a battery-powered transceiver and a key pad into a desktop telephone, the adapter including a console that rests on a desk top and is provided with a cradle to nest the cell phone. Next to the cradle is a socket to accommodate a hand set whose microphone and speaker are connected by a cord extending from the hand set to a plug inserted into a console jack. The console jack is connected by an interface network to a plug mounted on the cradle. The cell phone is provided with a jack having contacts which are connectable to an external microphone and speaker to supplant those in the cell phone connected to thc transceiver. Insertion of the cell phone in the cradle causes the cradle plug to engage the cell phone jack, thereby connecting the microphone and speaker of the hand set via the interface network to the transceiver of the cell phone whose key pad now functions as the dialing pad of the desktop telephone.

Claims

1. An adapter for converting into a desktop telephone a cell phone provided with a keypad, a rechargeable battery and an internal microphone and speaker coupled to a microwave transceiver, said adapter comprising:

A. A console having a cradle thereon in which to nest die cell phone so that its keypad is exposed;

B. A socket on the console adjacent the cradle to accommodate a hand set provided with a microphone arid a speaker, and a cord connected to the microphone and speaker extending from the hand set;

C. An interface network coupling the cell phone in the cradle to the cord of the hand set whereby the microphone and the speaker in. the hand set supplant those in the cell phone; and

D. Switching means governing the operation of te network and responsive to the placement of te hand set by a user whereby when the hand set is placed in the socket, the transceiver is then rendered inactive except to receive a signal indicative of an incoming call, and when the hand set is lifted from the socket to take the call, this action activates the transceiver.

2. An adapter as set forth in claim 1, in which the cord terminates in a plug that is insertable in a jack mounted on the console which is connected to said network to couple the hand set thereto.

3. An adapter as set forth in claim 1, in which the switching means includes a depressible switch located in said socket which is depressed when the hand set is placed therein.

4. An adapter as set forth in claim 1, in which said hand set includes a microphone section and a speaker section, and said socket is formed by corresponding lower and upper sections.

5. An adapter as set forth in claim 4, in which the switch is mounted in the upper section of the socket.

6. An adapter as in claim 1, in which the cradle is U-shaped to define a pair of arms which embrace the cell phone inserted therein and are jointed by a yoke.

7. An adapter as set forth in claim 6, further including a plug mounted in said yoke and connected to the interface network, the plug being inserted into a jack at one end of the cradle when the cell phone is inserted into the cradle whereby the cell phone is then connected to the network.

8. An adapter as set forth in claim 1, in which there is interposed in a line extending from the microphone in the hand set to the transceiver in the cell phone a noise filter that filters out noise components in the sounds being sensed by the microphone.

9. An adapter as set forth in claim 1, further including a retractable latch in said socket adapted to retain the hand set placed in the socket when the desktop telephone is being carried.

10. An adapter as set forth in claim 1, wherein said interface circuit includes means responsive to the placement of the hand set by the user to produce in the transceiver when the hand set is placed in the socket a current surge which acts to render the transceiver inactive, and when the hand set is lifted from the socket, a current surge which reactivates the transceiver.

11. An adapter as set forth in claim 10, in which the circuit means includes a first capacitor connected by the switching means to said transceiver to be charged by a voltage derived from the battery when the hand set is placed in the socket to produce a current surge which renders the transceiver inactive.

12. An adapter as set forth in claim 11, in which the circuit means includes a second capacitor connected by the switching means to said transceiver to be charged by a voltage derived from the battery when the hand set is lifted from the socket to produce a current surge which reactivates the transceiver.

13. An adapter as set forth in claim 12, in which the interface circuit includes a resistor which acts when the first capacitor is being charged to then discharge the second capacitor, and when the second capacitor is being charged to then discharge the first capacitor.

14. An adapter as set forth in claim 1, in which the console has a rectangular form and said cradle is mounted adjacent one side thereof and the socket is formed adjacent the opposite side.

15. An adapter as set forth in claim 1, in which the console has a circular form and said cradle and said socket are mounted within a circular area concentric with the periphery of tie console.

16. An adapter as set forth in claim 15, in which surrounding the circular area is an annular LCD time scale associated with an electronic timepiece disposed within, the console to produce a pointer which traverses the scale.

17. An adapter as set forth in claim 1, in which the cell phone cradled therein is a video cell phone provided with a microphone to pick up the voice of a speaker, a video camera to pick up an image of tde speaker, a video screen to display an image of tic party being spoken to, and a television transceiver to transmit the voice and image of the speaker and to receive the image and the voice of die party.

18. An adapter as set forth hi claim 17, having an upwardly inclined face on which the cradle is mounted, the face having an angle of inclination at which the video camera is properly trained off the head of the speaker to obtain a clear image thereof.