CELL PHONE DEVICE

• US 20070135182A1
• Filed: 12/11/2006
• Published: 06/14/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: NXP USA, Inc. (NXP Semiconductors NV)
• Original Assignee: Freescale Semiconductor, Inc. (NXP Semiconductors NV)
• Inventors: Ui Islam, Ehsan, Hanif, Sadeque, Tokunaga, Masanori
• Granted Patent: US 7,783,321 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/575.100
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0214 Foldable telephones, i.e. with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position combined with translation movement H04M1/0235
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0256 wherein the modules are operable in the detached state, e.g. one module for the user interface and one module for the transceiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/52 including functional features of a camera

Abstract

A cell phone device having a camera, an imaging unit and a display unit, which are joined with each other. The imaging unit and the display unit may be separated and used in a separated state. A display housing includes the display unit, a speaker, and a microphone. A keypad housing includes the imaging unit. The display housing and the keypad housing each include a local communication IF unit for performing wireless communication and a battery for supplying power to each function block. When the display housing and the keypad housing are separated, the image generated by the imaging unit is output to the display unit via the local communication IF units. A recording instruction is then generated by operating the display housing while checking the image on the display unit.

Claims

1. A cell phone device comprising:

a first housing; and

a second housing separable from the first housing;

wherein the first housing includes a display means, an imaging operation means, a first local communication means, and a first control means;

the second housing includes an imaging means, a second local communication means, and a second control means;

the second control means transmits image data generated by the imaging means to the first location communication means via the second local communication means and outputs the image to the display means; and

the first control means records the image data generated by the imaging means based on an imaging instruction input to the imaging operation means.

2. The cell phone device according to claim 1, wherein the second housing includes a data storage means, and wherein when the imaging instruction is input to the imaging operation means, the first control means transmits a recording instruction to the second local communication means via the first local communication means to record the image data generated by the imaging means on the data storage means of the second housing.

3. The cell phone device according to claim 1, wherein:

the first housing includes a voice output means and a voice input means;

the second housing includes a public network communication means for performing communication with a base station of a cell phone network; and

the second control means transfers a call received from the base station by the public network communication means to the first local communication means via the second local communication means to enable conversation using the voice output means and the voice input means.

4. The cell phone device according to claim 1, wherein:

the first housing and the second housing respectively include a first battery and a second battery;

the first control means acquires a charge state of the first battery, and the second control means acquires a charge state of the second battery and calculates a charge ratio of each battery; and

when the first and second housings are connected to each other, the charge ratio of the first battery and the charge ratio of the second battery are maintained to be substantially the same.

5. The cell phone device according to claim 4, wherein power is supplied from the battery having a high charge ratio to the battery having a low charge ratio.

6. A cell phone device, comprising:

a first housing including a display unit, an imaging operation unit, a first local communication unit, and a first controller; and

a second housing, separable from the first housing, including an imaging unit, a second local communication unit, and a second controller;

wherein the second controller transmits image data generated by the imaging unit to the first local communication unit via the second local communication unit and outputs the image to the display unit; and

the first controller stores the image data generated by the imaging unit based on an imaging instruction input to the imaging operation unit.

7. The cell phone device according to claim 6, wherein the second housing includes a memory, and wherein when the imaging instruction is input to the imaging operation unit, the first controller transmits a record instruction to the second local communication unit via the first local communication unit to record the image data generated by the imaging unit in the memory.