Mobile telephone with metal sensor

• US 20060133633A1
• Filed: 12/17/2004
• Published: 06/22/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Hyvonen, Lassi, Jarvinen, Esko
• Application Number:
  US11/015,518
• Publication Number:
  US 20060133633A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/315
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 25/558 Remote control, e.g. of amplification, frequency

Abstract

A mobile telephone including a hearing aid compatible system for coupling an output of the mobile telephone to a hearing aid device of a user; and a metal detector system adapted to detect a metal object brought into proximity relative to the mobile telephone.

Claims

1. A portable electronic device comprising:

a hearing aid compatible (HAC) system for coupling an output of the portable electronic device to a hearing aid device of a user; and

a metal detector system adapted to detect a metal object brought into proximity relative to the portable electronic device.

2. A portable electronic device as in claim 1 wherein the hearing aid compatible system and the metal detector system comprise a common coil.

3. A portable electronic device as in claim 2 wherein the common coil comprises a telecoil.

4. A portable electronic device as in claim 3 further comprising a switch for switching use of the telecoil between use by the hearing aid compatible system and the metal detector system.

5. A portable electronic device as in claim 2 wherein the metal detector system comprises a frequency detector coupled to the coil.

6. A portable electronic device as in claim 5 further comprising a display screen and wherein the frequency detector is coupled to the display screen.

7. A portable electronic device as in claim 5 wherein the frequency detector comprises a limiter and a counter.

8. A portable electronic device as in claim 1 wherein the metal detector system comprises a single coil.

9. A portable electronic device as in claim 1 further comprising means for automatically sending a wireless signal from the portable electronic device based upon the metal detector system sensing metal.

10. A portable electronic device as in claim 1 wherein the portable electronic device comprises a mobile telephone with a transceiver.

11. A portable electronic device comprising:

a telecoil; and

a system for using the telecoil for at least two different functions.

12. A portable electronic device as in claim 11 wherein the at least two different functions comprise a hearing aid compatible system function and a metal detector system function.

13. A portable electronic device as in claim 11 wherein the system for using the telecoil comprises a switch for switching the use of the telecoil between the at least two different functions.

14. A portable electronic device as in claim 11 wherein the system for using the telecoil comprises a metal detector system adapted to detect a metal object brought into proximity relative to the portable electronic device, and wherein the metal detector system comprises a frequency detector coupled to the coil.

15. A portable electronic device as in claim 14 further comprising a display screen and wherein the frequency detector is coupled to the display screen.

16. A portable electronic device as in claim 11 wherein the system for using the telecoil for at least two different functions comprises a radio frequency identification (RFID) system comprising the telecoil, wherein the radio frequency identification (RFID) system is adapted to function as a radio frequency identifier.

17. A portable electronic device as in claim 11 wherein the system for using the telecoil for at least two different functions comprises a power line detecting system comprising the telecoil, wherein the power line detecting system is adapted to differentiate detection of a power line from a non-power line metal object.

18. A portable electronic device as in claim 11 wherein the portable electronic device comprises a mobile telephone with a transceiver.

19. A method of manufacturing a telephone comprising:

providing the telephone with a hearing aid compatible system comprising a telecoil; and

coupling the telecoil to a switch for switching use of the telecoil from use as a function of the hearing aid compatible system to use as a different function of the telephone.

20. A method as in claim 19 wherein coupling the telecoil comprises coupling the telecoil by the switch to a metal detector system for functioning as a coil in the metal detector system.

21. A method as in claim 19 further comprising coupling the telecoil to a frequency detector.

22. A method as in claim 21 further comprising coupling the frequency detector to a display screen of the telephone.

23. A method as in claim 19 further comprising providing a radio frequency identification (RFID) system comprising the telecoil.

24. A method as in claim 19 further comprising providing a power line detecting system comprising the telecoil which is adapted to differentiate detection of a power line from a non-power line metal object.