Arrangement for handling a communication device

• US 20040087335A1
• Filed: 07/17/2003
• Published: 05/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Andreas Peiker
• Original Assignee: Andreas Peiker
• Inventors: Peiker, Andreas
• Granted Patent: US 7,248,901 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/556.2
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0241 for telephones
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0052 using screws, bolts, rivets or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0071 using latches, clips, clamps, straps or the like
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0073 using key-type connections
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0075 using a containment or docking space
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0078 Quick-disconnect two-parts mounting means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0085 with adjustment by rotation in their operational position
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2011/0276 for rear passenger use
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6075 adapted for handsfree use in a vehicle H04M1/6058 takes precedence; arrangements for holding telephones in a vehicle B60R11/0241
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface

Abstract

An arrangement (1) is proposed for handling a communication device (2), which arrangement (1) comprises an attachment device (4) which can be used universally and is not specific to any given mobile telephone, and a device holder (3) which is specific to a mobile telephone, and which together form the complete arrangement (1) in the assembled state. In this case, the device holder (3) contains the necessary mechanical and electrical and/or electronic matching means to the respective communication device (2) that is to be used.

Claims

1. An arrangement (1) for handling a communication device, such as a mobile telephone (2, 168), personal digital assistant or the like, in particular for use in a vehicle (55), comprising a device holder (3) which holds the communication device (2), and an attachment device (4) which is mechanically and electrically matched to the device holder (3), with the device holder (3) having a geometric and mechanical match to the communication device (2) and being connected to it for communication, characterized in that an electronic circuit (13, 14, 84) is provided within the device holder (3) and comprises at least all the electronic components (13, 14, 84) which are required for operation and/or control of a convenience device, in that universal, mechanical and/or electrical standardization or matching are/is provided for connection of the device holder (3) to the attachment device (4), with the attachment device (4) being followed only by electrical and/or electronic components (97, 98) for inputting and/or outputting speech and/or data.

2. The arrangement as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that the communication connection between the communication device (2) and the device holder (3) is provided by means of a radio link (102, 102a, 102b;

166, 167 and 168), in particular a so-called Bluetooth link or an infrared link.

3. The arrangement as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that different device holders (3) and identical attachment devices (4) are provided for different communication devices (2).

4. The arrangement as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the volume of the attachment device (4) is approximately ⅛

to ⅓

of the volume of the device holder (3).

5. The arrangement as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the electronic circuit (13, 14, 84) in the device holder (3) carries out matching, which is specific for the mobile telephone (2), to the electrical and/or electronic components which are contained in the motor vehicle (55), such as a microphone (97), a loudspeaker (98), a power supply (96) and a databus (99).

6. The arrangement as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device holder (3) has an upper accommodation area (5) which, in particular, is variable, is in the form of a shell and is matched to the shape of a communication device (2) which may in each case be used.

7. The arrangement as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the board (13, 14) in the device holder (3) for the mobile telephone (2) has an associated plug element (15) for connection to a connecting plug (16) of the mobile telephone (2).

8. The arrangement as claimed in claim 7, characterized in that the plug element (15) which is associated with the board (13), for connection to the mobile telephone (2) is arranged on a further board (14), which is connected to the first board (13), preferably at right angles.

9. The arrangement as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device holder (3) has a connecting plug (15, 104) for an antenna connection for the mobile telephone (2), in which case, a separate cable (32) preferably leads via the device holder (3) and via the attachment device (4) to the motor vehicle (55) or to an antenna connection.

10. The arrangement as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device holder (3) has a charger (86) for an energy source for the mobile telephone (2).

11. The arrangement as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device holder (3) contains all the necessary electrical and electronic components (84), such that only a loudspeaker (98) and a microphone (97) are required in the vehicle (55), with, in addition, an antenna (95) and a power supply (96) being available in particular.

12. The apparatus as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device holder (3) holds the communication device (2) in an interlocking and/or force-fitting manner.

13. The apparatus as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device holder (3) has a plug element (15) for power supply and/or antenna connection.

14. The apparatus as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the communication device (2) is held on the device holder (3) by means of at least one moving clamping jaw (106).

15. An arrangement for handling a communication device, such as a mobile telephone (2), a personal digital assistant (PDA) or the like, in particular for use in a vehicle (55), comprising an integration unit (3a) which is connected to the communication device (2), and an attachment device (4) which is mechanically and electrically matched to the integration unit (3a) in particular as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that an electronic circuit (13, 14, 84) is provided within the integration unit (3a) and comprises at least all the electronic components (13, 14, 84) which are required for operation and/or control of a hands-free device or convenience device, in that universal, mechanical and/or electrical standardization and/or matching are/is provided for connection of the integration unit (3a) to the attachment device (4), with the attachment device (4) being followed only by electrical and/or electronic components for inputting and/or outputting speech and/or data, and with the communication connection between the communication device (2) and the device holder (3) being provided by means of a radio link (102;

166, 167 and 168), in particular a so-called Bluetooth link or an infrared link.

16. The arrangement as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the convenience device is in the form of a hands-free device and/or telematics application.

17. The arrangement as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the attachment device (4) has a rest (49, 107) with a first plug element (19), with the first plug element (19) interacting with a second plug element (18) which is arranged on the device holder (3) or on the integration unit (3a), and with the attachment device (4) being in the form of a universal, standardized, mechanical rest (49) for holding the device holder (3) or the integration unit (3a), and in the form of a universal, standardized plug element (19) for making contact with the plug element (18) of the device holder (3) or the integration unit (3a).

18. The arrangement as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the attachment device (4) is connected firmly, in particular by means of a screw connection and/or adhesive bonding and/or latching, to the vehicle (55), in particular to a dashboard (0.54) or to a center console or a roof area.

19. The arrangement as claimed in one of the preceding claims 1 to 14 or 15 to 18, characterized in that the device holder (3) or the integration unit (3a) at least partially engages over the attachment device (4) by means of a recess (47, 132).

20. The arrangement as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device holder (3) or the integration unit (3a) has a projection (78) which engages in a depression (81) in the attachment device (4).

21. The arrangement as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the attachment device (4) completely covers the device holder (3) and/or the integration unit (3a) when seen in a plan view in the assembled state.

22. The arrangement as claimed in one of the preceding claims 7, 8, 13, 17, characterized in that the first plug element (19) in particular has lines (57) through which antenna signals (88), a supply current (89), microphone signals (90) and loudspeaker signals (91) are passed.

23. The arrangement as claimed in one of the preceding claims 7, 8, 13, 17, 22, characterized in that the first plug element (19) has lines (57) through which serial or parallel control signals are passed.

24. The arrangement as claimed in claim 23, characterized in that the serial or parallel control signals or data signals are passed via one or more lines (92) which originate from the attachment plate (4), from and to a bus system (99) which is arranged in the vehicle (55), in order to allow communication between the mobile telephone (2) and the databus (99) in the vehicle (55), and to functionally integrate the mobile telephone (2) in the vehicle electronics.

25. The arrangement as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device holder (3) or the integration unit (3a) preferably contains the mobile telephone circuit for a hands-free device on the board (13, 14).

26. The arrangement as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device holder (3) or the integration unit (3a) has an apparatus and/or software (84, 85) for matching the level of the speech signals.

27. The arrangement as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device holder (3) or the integration unit (3a) has an interface (87) for the attachment device (4), which has an apparatus and/or software which operates as a protocol module for the network (99) of the vehicle (55), and as a protocol module for the mobile telephone (2), and has an initialization routine for matching to the databus of the mobile telephone (2).

28. The apparatus as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device holder (3) and/or the integration unit (3a) and the attachment device (4) are additionally connected to one another by a detachable latching connection (114) when they are in the coupled state.

29. The arrangement as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device holder (3) or integration unit (3a) which is connected between the attachment device (4) and the mobile telephone (2) has a replaceable memory medium (84) which can be used to store user-specific functions such as a hands-free facility and/or a connection for the vehicle bus (99), and/or noise cancellation and/or echo cancellation and/or speech recognition and/or text conversion to speech and/or speech conversion to text.

30. The arrangement as claimed in claim 29, characterized in that the memory medium (84) provides user-specific functions, which are available in the mobile telephone (2), such as speech recognition and/or noise cancellation and/or echo cancellation, for operation of the mobile telephone (2) in the vehicle (55).

31. The arrangement as claimed in one of the preceding claims 29, 30, characterized in that the memory medium (84) is in the form of a removable and/or rewritable memory medium, such as a memory board or plug-in module.

32. The arrangement as claimed in one of the preceding claims 29 to 31, characterized in that the memory medium (84) is rewritable via a radio link.

33. The arrangement as claimed in one of the preceding claims 29 to 32, characterized in that the memory medium (84) holds supplementary data for user-specific functions of the mobile telephone (2) and/or of the device holder (3), or the integration unit (3a), in particular an extended dictionary for text conversion to speech and/or speech conversion to text.

34. The arrangement as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the attachment device (4) has lines (57, 137) for a loudspeaker (98) and/or for a microphone (97) and/or for an antenna (95) and/or for a power supply (96) and/or for an ignition contact, and/or for a mute circuit for the audio system and/or data interchange for interchanging data between said communication device (2) and a bus system (99) which is part of the vehicle (55).

35. The arrangement as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device holder (3) and/or the integration unit (3a) and the attachment device (4) jointly form a unit (1) whose dimensions are essentially the same as the dimensions of the device holder (3) and/or of the integration unit (3a), with mechanical connecting means (27, 28, 72, 73;

129, 130;

114) preferably connecting the arrangement components (3 or 3a, 4) to one another.

36. The arrangement as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the attachment device (4) is in the form of an attachment housing (4) or lower part (4) which has a U-shaped cross section and whose side walls (23, 24) are preferably used for mechanical connection to the device holder (3) or the integration unit (3a).

37. The arrangement as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the attachment device (4) and the device holder (3) and/or the integration unit (3a) can be mechanically and/or electrically connected to one another by means of a longitudinal movement (arrow 17, arrow x′

).

38. The arrangement as claimed in one of the preceding claims 7, 8, 13, 17, 22, 23, characterized in that the plug elements (18, 19) in the device holder (3) and/or the integration unit (3a) and in the attachment device (4) are preferably in the form of D-sub plugs.

39. The arrangement as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the electronic circuit (13, 14) for the mobile telephone (2) is arranged in the device holder (3) or in the integration unit (38) and at least one board (13, 14) has electronic components (84), with the board (13, 14) preferably having a plug element (18) which interacts with an associated plug element (19) on the attachment device (4).

40. The apparatus as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mechanical coupling elements (27, 130) and the electrical plug element of the device holder (3) and/or integration unit (3a) are arranged in the recess (47, 132), and engage over the electrical plug element (19) and the mechanical coupling elements (28;

72, 73;

129) of the attachment device (4) in the coupled state.

41. The apparatus as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device holder (3) and/or the integration unit (3a) and the attachment device have electrical plug elements (18, 19) which are recessed in the operating direction (x or x′

) with respect to the mechanical coupling elements (28, 29;

72, 73;

129, 130).

42. The apparatus as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the mechanical coupling elements (28, 29;

73, 73 [sic];

129, 130) can be moved with respect to one another essentially at right angles to an opening direction (y′

) of the recess (47, 132).

43. The apparatus as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device holder (3) or the integration unit (3a) is connected to the attachment device (4) by placing the device holder (3) or the integration unit (3a) on the attachment device in the opposite direction to the opening direction (y′

) of the recess (41, 132), and by subsequently moving the device holder (3) or the integration unit (3a) at right angles to the direction in which it was fitted.

44. The apparatus as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the recess (47, 132) is preferably arranged on a lower face of the device holder (3) or of the integration unit (3a), with the lower face being opposite an accommodation area (5) for the communication device (2).

45. The apparatus as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the recess (47, 132) opens toward the lower face (131) and, in particular, toward a side surface (9) of the device holder (3) or of the integration unit (3a).

46. The apparatus as claimed in one of the preceding claims 1 [sic], characterized in that the recess (47, 132) can be closed in particular by a slide and/or a flap and/or a cover.

47. The apparatus as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the attachment device (4) is formed from two or more parts, with at least two parts (107, 108) forming a cage (144), in the assembled state, for holding or fixing the electrical plug element (19), and with a further part (109) being provided for connection of the cage (144) to the vehicle.

48. The arrangement as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device holder (3) and/or the integration unit (3a) and/or the attachment device (4) have indicating means (173), in particular a display, a light-emitting diode (174, 175) or an optical conductor (176), which provide information in particular about operating states of the mobile telephone (2) and/or of the device holder (3) and/or of the integration unit (3a).

49. The arrangement as claimed in claim 48, characterized in that the indicating means (173) of the attachment device (4) are preferably arranged at the side (171), in an area which is visible despite the device holder (3) and/or the integration unit (3a) being fitted.

50. The arrangement as claimed in claim 48 or 49, characterized in that the indicating means (173) describe different events, such as an incoming call or received message, by blinking and/or illuminating at a different frequency and/or with a different intensity and/or color and/or sequence.

51. The arrangement as claimed in claim 48 to 50, characterized in that the indicating means (173) are arranged in the form of a crown or ring on the attachment device (4).

52. The arrangement as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the device holder (3) and/or the integration unit (3a) and/or the attachment device (4) have/has push button switches (180-183) and/or sensors (184, 185) which are used to initiate special facilities, such as emergency call, breakdown call or vehicle locking.

53. The arrangement as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized by a plug element (4) which can be attached in a fixed position to a wall, in particular to the inner lining of a vehicle interior, with the plug element (4) and the hand shell rear face (46) having mutually matching coupling parts for detachable mechanical and electrical connection, and the hand shell (3) being designed such that, when the handheld radio telephone (2) is inserted, its contour is not exceeded in the area above the center of the handheld radio telephone (2), and is exceeded only insignificantly in the lower area at the side, and the hand shell contour is lengthened by a projection (187) which forms the lower hand shell area, as a result of which the hand shell (3) has a pleasing, slim shape, which can be gripped well, and for the handheld radio telephone (2) to be removed from it.

54. The arrangement as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the hand shell (3) has an accommodation area (5) for the handheld radio telephone (2), whose edge (189) is designed to be only sufficiently high that it always remains under the upper face (which preferably has keys) of the handheld radio telephone (2) when the latter is inserted.

55. The arrangement as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that one of the coupling parts 47 is arranged in the upper area of the rear face (46) of the hand shell (3) for the plug element (4), and the contour of the plug element (4) is preferably designed such that it does not extend beyond the contour of the hand shell (3) when the latter is latched in.

56. The arrangement as claimed in one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an upper face of the appendix (187) has a cover (188) which can be removed during installation in order, when the cover (188) is removed, a plug (15) and an electronic circuit (13, 14) can be matched for a predetermined handheld radio telephone (2).