Systems and methods for recycling of cell phones at the end of life

• US 20040235513A1
• Filed: 05/23/2003
• Published: 11/25/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: OʼConnell, Donal
• Granted Patent: US 7,251,458 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/550.1
• 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 1/0287 being disposable or recyclable
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/005 Disposable prepaid communication devices

Abstract

The present invention provides systems and methods for transforming cell phones at end of life into new electronic devices, such as clocks, calculators, PDAs, remote controls, etc. Importantly, the systems and methods of the present invention salvage many of the features and electronics of the cell phone that are not associated with the placement and reception of telephone calls. The electronics of the cell phone are repackaged and/or configured to hide the telecommunications options associated with the phone, leaving intact or upgrading other features of the phone, such as clock, calculator, storage device, etc. In doing so, all or most of the components of the cell phone are successfully recycled over more conventional methods that scavenge the phones for precious metals and reusable components.

Claims

1. A method for recycling cell phones having a plurality of features some of which are related to placement and reception of phone calls, said method comprising disabling the operation of the communication section of the cell phone used for placement and reception of phone calls and redistributing the cell phone for use of features of the cell phone not related to placement and reception of telephone calls.

2. A method according to claim 1 further comprising disabling of the features of the cell phone that are related to placement and reception of phone calls.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein said disabling comprises disabling a transmitter and a receiver circuit of the cell phone.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein said cell phone includes a keypad and key membrane for receiving input from a user, and wherein said method further comprises replacement of the key membrane of the cell phone with a key membrane that hides features of the cell phone related to placement and reception of phone calls.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein the cell phone includes features related to clock functions in addition to features related to placement and reception of telephone calls, wherein said disabling disables the features related to placement and reception of phone calls to thereby transform the cell phone into a clock.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein the cell phone includes features related to calculator functions in addition to features related to placement and reception of telephone calls, wherein said disabling disables the features related to placement and reception of phone calls to thereby transform the cell phone into a calculator.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein the cell phone includes features related to a personal digital assistant in addition to features related to placement and reception of telephone calls, wherein said disabling disables the features related to placement and reception of phone calls to thereby transform the cell phone into a personal digital assistant.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein the cell phone includes features related to games in addition to features related to placement and reception of telephone calls, wherein said disabling disables the features related to placement and reception of phone calls to thereby transform the cell phone into a game device.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein said cell phone comprises a controller and software operated by the controller to implement features of the cell phone, wherein said method further comprises reprogramming the software to remove unwanted features from the cell phone.

10. A method according to claim 1, wherein said cell phone comprises a controller and software operated by the controller to implement features of the cell phone, wherein said method further comprises reprogramming the software to add additional features to the cell phone.

11. A method according to claim 1, wherein said cell phone includes a transmitter and a receiver circuit and features related to placement and reception of telephone calls, wherein said disabling disables features of the cell phone that are related to placement and reception of phone calls while leaving the transmitter and receiver circuits in tact for use in other forms of wireless communication.

12. A method according to claim 1, wherein said cell phone includes an outer housing, said method further comprising replacing the housing with a new housing.

13. A method according to claim 1, wherein said cell phone includes an outer housing, said method further comprising reshaping the housing into a desired shape.

14. A method according to claim 1, wherein said cell phone includes an outer housing, said method further comprising replacing the housing with a new housing that hides features of the cell phone related to placement and reception of phone calls.

15. A method for recycling a cell phone comprising:

providing a cell phone having features related to placement and reception of phone calls and features related to at least one other function of the cell phone;

disabling the features of the cell phone related to placement and reception of phone calls, thereby providing a recycled device including features related to at least one other function of the cell phone.

16. A method according to claim 15, wherein disabling comprises disabling a transmitter and a receiver circuit of the cell phone.

17. A method according to claim 15, wherein the features related to at least one other function of the cell phone are features related to clock functions.

18. A method according to claim 15, wherein the features related to at least one other function of the cell phone are features related to calculator functions.

19. A method according to claim 15, wherein the features related to at least one other function of the cell phone are features related to a personal digital assistant.

20. A method according to claim 15, wherein the features related to at least one other function of the cell phone are features related to a games.

21. A method according to claim 15, wherein the cell phone further comprises a controller and software operated by the controller to implement features of the cell phone, wherein said method further comprises reprogramming the software to remove unwanted features from the cell phone.

22. A method according to claim 15, wherein the cell phone comprises a controller and software operated by the controller to implement features of the cell phone, wherein said method further comprises reprogramming the software to add additional features to the cell phone.

23. A method according to claim 15, wherein the cell phone includes a transmitter and a receiver circuit and features related to placement and reception of telephone calls, wherein said disabling disables features of the cell phone that are related to placement and reception of phone calls while leaving the transmitter and receiver circuits in tact for use in other forms of wireless communication.

24. A method according to claim 15, wherein said cell phone includes an outer housing, said method further comprising replacing the housing with a new housing.

25. A method according to claim 15, wherein said cell phone includes an outer housing, said method further comprising reshaping the housing into a desired shape.

26. A method according to claim 15, wherein said cell phone includes an outer housing, said method further comprising replacing the housing with a new housing that hides features of the cell phone related to placement and reception of phone calls.

27. A device formed from a cell phone comprising:

features related to placement and reception of phone calls; and

features related to at least one other function of the cell phone,

wherein the features of the cell phone related to placement and reception of phone calls is disabled, thereby providing a recycled device including features related to at least one other function of the cell phone.

28. A device according to claim 27, wherein a transmitter and a receiver circuit of the cell phone are disabled.

29. A device according to claim 27, wherein the features related to at least one other function of the cell phone are features related to clock functions.

30. A device according to claim 27, wherein the features related to at least one other function of the cell phone are features related to calculator functions.

31. A device according to claim 27, wherein the features related to at least one other function of the cell phone are features related to a personal digital assistant.

32. A device according to claim 27, wherein the features related to at least one other function of the cell phone are features related to a games.

33. A device according to claim 27, wherein the cell phone further comprises a controller and software operated by the controller to implement features of the cell phone, wherein said the software is reprogrammed to at least one of remove unwanted features from the cell phone and add additional features to the cell phone.

34. A device according to claim 27, wherein the cell phone includes a transmitter and a receiver circuit and features related to placement and reception of telephone calls, wherein features of the cell phone that are related to placement and reception of phone calls are disabled while the transmitter and receiver circuits are left operable for use in other forms of wireless communication.

35. A device according to claim 27 further comprising an outer housing that has been reshaped from the cell phone housing.