Telephone with a capacitive environment sensor

• US 20040105538A1
• Filed: 01/03/2003
• Published: 06/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/03/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Siemens AG
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Goebel, Klaus
• Application Number:
  US10/332,098
• Publication Number:
  US 20040105538A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/387.01
• 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 1/6041 Portable telephones adapted for handsfree use
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10

Abstract

A telephone is provided which includes a capacitive sensor via which the environment of the telephone'"'"'s loudspeaker is monitored continuously to determine whether the operator of the telephone is located close to the loudspeaker.

Claims

1. A telephone having

an appliance upper shell (6),

loudspeaker for emitting an audible signal,

a device for adjustable the volume of the loudspeaker,

a sensor (5) for monitoring whether an operator is located in an area close to the loudspeader, and

having an evaluation circuit (8), which is associated with the sensor (5)and by means of which the volume of the loudspeaker can be adjusted as a function of the detected proximity of the operator,

with the sensor (5) being in the form of a capacitive sensor (5), characterized

in that the sensor (5) is fitted on the rear face of the appliance upper shell (6)

in that the sensor (5) has a spring contact (7), and

in that the sensor (5) is electrically connected to the evaluation circuit (8) via the spring contract (7).

2. The telephone as claimed in claim 1, characterized in that an ear piece (2) is provided as the loudspeaker, and in that the sensor is arranged in the area of the ear piece (2).

3. The telephone as claimed in claim 2, characterized in that the sensor (5) is arranged at least in the form of a partial ring around the ear piece (2).

4. The telephone as claimed in claim 1 or 3, characterized in that the sensor (5) is arranged on the surface of the telephone.