CELLULAR TELEPHONE PERSONAL DIGITAL ASSISTANT, AND PAGER UNIT WITH CAPABILITY OF SHORT RANGE RADIO FREQUENCY TRANSMISSIONS

• US 20080051138A1
• Filed: 10/31/2007
• Published: 02/28/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/1999
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Peter V Boesen
• Original Assignee: Peter V Boesen
• Inventors: BOESEN, PETER
• Application Number:
  US11/931,595
• Publication Number:
  US 20080051138A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/556.2
• 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 1/6066 including a wireless connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/16 including more than one display unit
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/1016 Earpieces of the intra-aural type
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2201/107 Monophonic and stereophonic headphones with microphone for two-way hands free communication
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/13 Hearing devices using bone conduction transducers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A cellular telephone system, including a cellular telephone transceiver unit, an ear piece which receives the voice vibrations of a user, and a wireless linkage operatively connecting the ear piece to the cellular telephone transceiver unit, allows a user to be in a hands-free mode when using a cellular telephone. The cellular telephone transceiver unit includes a personal digital assistant and a pager with a vibration module. The ear piece generally uses a bone sensor along with an air sensor placed in the external auditory canal of the user to detect the voice vibrations of the user. Further, a speaker is included in the ear piece to allow the user to hear incoming data from the cellular telephone transceiver. The wireless linkage uses low power radio frequency waves to send and receive signals between the ear piece and the cellular telephone transceiver unit. Both the ear piece and the cellular telephone transceiver unit require power which is supplied by batteries. Both the ear piece and the cellular telephone transceiver may be recharged by simply placing them in a docking station.

Claims

1. A hand-held personal communications device, comprising:

a two-piece housing;

a voice transceiver disposed within the housing for use in cellular communications;

a hinge operatively connecting each piece of the two-piece housing such that a portion of the housing moves in an arcuate path when the device transitions from a closed position to an open position;

an external display to allow a user of the device to view information without opening the device;

an external display image associated with the external display, the external display image having a top portion and a bottom portion and being orientated such that the top portion of the external display image is nearer the hinge than the bottom portion of the external display image when the device is in the closed position;

an internal display to allow the user to view information when the device is in the open position; and

an internal display image associated with the internal display, the internal display image having a top portion and a bottom portion and being orientated such that the bottom portion of the internal display image is nearer the hinge than the top portion of the internal display image when the device is in the open position.

2. The hand-held personal communications device of claim 1 further comprising touch-operable inputs usable when the device is in an open position, the touch-operable inputs being used for controlling the device.

3. The hand-held personal communications device of claim 1 further comprising touch-operable inputs usable when the device is in the closed position, the touch-operable inputs being used for controlling the device.

4. The hand-held personal communications device of claim 1 wherein the external display image indicates presence of an incoming call.

5. The hand-held personal communications device of claim 1 wherein the internal display allows for internet browsing.

6. The hand-held personal communications device of claim 1 wherein the internal display allows for access to email.

7. The hand-held personal communications device of claim 1 wherein the internal display allows for access to calendar information.

8. The hand-held personal communications device of claim 1 wherein the internal display allows for internet browsing, access to email, and access to calendar information.

9. The hand-held personal communications device of claim 1 further comprising a short range transceiver disposed within the housing.

10. The hand-held personal communications device of claim 9 wherein the short range transceiver is an RF transceiver.

11. The hand-held personal communications device of claim 9 wherein said device is capable of hands-free operation with a remote earpiece.

12. The hand-held personal communications device of claim 11 wherein the earpiece contains a remote short-range transceiver.

13. The hand-held personal communications device of claim 1 wherein the earpiece is shaped so as not to occlude the external auditory canal of the user.

14. The hand-held personal communications of device claim 13 wherein the remote short-range transceiver of the earpiece and the short-range transceiver of the device are operably linked.

15. A hand-held personal communications device, comprising:

a two-piece housing;

a voice transceiver disposed within the housing for use in cellular communications;

a hinge operatively connecting each piece of the two-piece housing such that a portion of the housing moves in an arcuate path when the device transitions from a closed position to an open position;

an external display associated with the device when the device is in the closed position to permit a user of the device to view information on the external display without opening the device;

an external display image associated with the external display, the external display image having a top portion and a bottom portion and being orientated such that the top portion of the external display image is nearer the hinge than the bottom portion of the external display image;

an internal display associated with the device when the device is placed in an open position to allow the user to view information when the device is in the open position;

an internal display image associated with the internal display, the internal display image having a top portion and a bottom portion and being orientated such that the bottom portion of the internal display image is nearer the hinge than the top portion of the internal display image when the device is in the open position;

touch-operable inputs usable when the device is in the open position, the touch-operable inputs used for controlling the device; and

wherein the external display image is used to indicate presence of an incoming call.

16. The hand-held personal communications device of claim 15 wherein the internal display allows for internet browsing.

17. The hand-held personal communications device of claim 15 wherein the internal display allows for access to email.

18. The hand-held personal communications device of claim 15 wherein the internal display allows for access to calendar information.

19. The hand-held personal communications device of claim 15 wherein the internal display allows for internet browsing, access to email, and access to calendar information.

20. The hand-held personal communications device of claim 15 further comprising a short range transceiver disposed within the housing.

21. The hand-held personal communications device of claim 20 wherein the short range transceiver is an RF transceiver.

22. The hand-held personal communications device of claim 21 wherein said device is capable of hands-free operation with a remote earpiece.

23. The hand-held personal communications device of claim 22 wherein the earpiece contains a remote short-range transceiver.

24. The hand-held personal communications device of claim 23 wherein the earpiece is shaped so as not to occlude an external auditory canal of the user.

25. The hand-held personal communications of device claim 22 wherein the remote short-range transceiver of the earpiece and the short-range transceiver of the device are operably linked.

26. A hand-held personal communications device, comprising:

a two-piece housing;

a voice transceiver disposed within the housing for use in cellular communications;

a hinge operatively connecting each piece of the two-piece housing;

a portion of the housing movable in an arcuate path to allow the device to transition from a closed position to an open position;

an external display to permit a user of the device to view information on the external display without opening the device;

an external display image associated with the external display, the external display image having a top portion and a bottom portion and being orientated such that the top portion of the external display image is nearer the hinge than the bottom portion of the external display image;

wherein the external display image is used to indicate presence of an incoming call;

an internal display to permit the user to view information when the device is in the open position;

an internal display image associated with the internal display, the internal display image having a top portion and a bottom portion and being orientated such that the bottom portion of the internal display image is nearer the hinge than the top portion of the internal display image when the device is in the open position;

touch-operable inputs usable when the device is in an open position, the touch-operable inputs used for controlling the device;

a short range RF transceiver disposed within the housing.

27. The personal communication device of claim 26 further comprising a button adapted for opening the personal communication device upon pressing the button.

28. The personal communication device of claim 26 further comprising an access port in the housing.

29. The personal communication device of claim 26 in combination with an earpiece having a short range RF transceiver in operative communication with the short range RF transceiver of the personal communication device to provide for handsfree communication.

30. The personal communication device of claim 29 wherein the earpiece further comprises a speaker and at least one input sensor.

31. The personal communication device of claim 30 wherein the at least one input sensor includes an air conduction sensor.

32. The personal communication device of claim 30 wherein the at least one input sensor includes a bone conduction sensor.

33. The personal communication device of claim 30 wherein the at least one input sensor includes both an air conduction sensor and a bone conduction sensor.

34. A personal communication system, comprising:

(1) a cell phone, comprising;

(a) a two-piece housing;

(b) a voice transceiver disposed within the housing for use in cellular communications;

(c) a hinge operatively connecting each piece of the two-piece housing such that a portion of the housing moves in an arcuate path when the device transitions from a closed position to an open position;

(d) an external display to allow a user of the device to view information without opening the device;

(e) an external display image associated with the external display, the external display image having a top portion and a bottom portion and being orientated such that the top portion of the external display image is nearer the hinge than the bottom portion of the external display image when the device is in the closed position;

(f) an internal display to allow the user to view information when the device is in the open position;

(g) an internal display image associated with the internal display, the internal display image having a top portion and a bottom portion and being orientated such that the bottom portion of the internal display image is nearer the hinge than the top portion of the internal display image when the device is in the open position; and

(h) a short range transceiver disposed within the housing; and

(2) an earpiece adapted for operative communication with the cell phone, the earpiece comprising a remote short range transceiver in operative communication with the short range transceiver of the cell phone.

35. The personal communication system of claim 34 wherein the earpiece further comprises a microphone in which the microphone is sufficiently sensitive to capture voice sound output of the user.

36. The personal communication system of claim 35 wherein the earpiece is shaped so as not to occlude an external auditory canal of an ear of the user.

37. The personal communication system of claim 35 wherein the earpiece further comprises an arcuate support structure to permit the earpiece to be securely held in a position adjacent the ear.

38. The personal communication system of claim 37 wherein the earpiece is shaped so as not to occlude the external auditory canal of an ear of the user upon which the earpiece is worn.

39. The personal communication system of claim 37 wherein the arcuate support structure is flexible.

40. The personal communication system of claim 39 wherein the arcuate support structure is adapted to be located medial to the helix of the ear of the user.

41. The personal communication device of claim 35 wherein the earpiece further comprises a flexible arcuate ear attachment portion to permit the earpiece to be securely held in a position adjacent the ear so as not to occlude the external auditory canal of the user.

42. The personal communication device of claim 35 wherein the earpiece further comprises a rechargeable battery to power the remote short range transceiver.

43. The personal communication device of claim 42 wherein the earpiece further comprises a speaker adapted to reproduce sound received from the short range transceiver of the phone.

44. The personal communication device of claim 43 further comprising a processor located in the earpiece.

45. The personal communication device of claim 42 wherein the earpiece further comprises a speaker adapted to reproduce sound received from the short range transceiver of the phone, the earpiece positioning the speaker sufficiently close to the ear canal such that sound can be transmitted into the external auditory canal of the user.

46. The personal communication device of claim 34 wherein the earpiece comprises a housing containing a transceiver, a speaker, an input sensor, and an internal antenna.

47. The personal communication device of claim 46 wherein the speaker is located proximate to an opening of the external auditory canal of the user such that the speaker is substantially directed toward a tympanic membrane of the user.

48. The personal communication device of claim 46 wherein the speaker is substantially aligned with the opening of the external auditory canal of the user.

49. A personal communication system comprising:

(1) a phone, comprising;

(a) a two-piece housing;

(b) a voice transceiver disposed within the housing for use in cellular communications;

(c) a hinge operatively connecting each piece of the two-piece housing such that a portion of the housing moves in an arcuate path when the device transitions from a closed position to an open position;

(d) an external display to allow a user of the device to view information without opening the device;

(e) an external display image associated with the external display, the external display image having a top portion and a bottom portion and being orientated such that the top portion of the external display image is nearer the hinge than the bottom portion of the external display image when the device is in the closed position;

(f) an internal display to allow the user to view information when the device is in the open position;

(g) an internal display image associated with the internal display, the internal display image having a top portion and a bottom portion and being orientated such that the bottom portion of the internal display image is nearer the hinge than the top portion of the internal display image when the device is in the open position;

(h) touch-operable inputs usable when the device is in the open position; and

(i) a first short range RF transceiver disposed within the housing;

(2) an earpiece adapted for operative communication with the phone, the earpiece comprising;

(a) a second short range RF transceiver for communication with the first short range RF transceiver of the phone;

(b) a speaker operatively connected to the second short range RF transceiver; and

(c) at least one input sensor operatively connected to the second short range RF.

50. The personal communication system of claim 49 wherein the ear piece further comprises a processor operatively connected to the second short range transceiver, the speaker, and the at least one input sensor.

51. The personal communication system of claim 49 wherein the at least one sensor includes an air conduction sensor.

52. The personal communication system of claim 49 wherein the at least one sensor includes a bone conduction sensor.

53. The personal communication system of claim 49 wherein the at least one sensor includes an air conduction sensor and a bone conduction sensor.

54. A hand-held personal communication device, comprising:

a housing;

a voice transceiver disposed within the housing for use in cellular communications;

at least one hinge adapted for operatively connecting a first portion of the housing to a second portion of the housing such that the first portion of the housing flips relative to the second portion of the housing in transitioning from the closed position to the open position;

the first portion of the housing having an internal side and an opposite external side, the internal side accessible in the open position and the external side accessible in the closed position;

an internal display disposed on the internal side of the first body;

an external display disposed on the external side of the first body and associated with the device when the device is in the closed position to permit the user to view information without opening the device;

the external display having an associated external display image having a top and a bottom, with the associated display image being orientated such that the top of the display image is nearer the at least one hinge than the bottom when the device is in the closed position; and

a plurality of touch-operable inputs usable when the device is in the open position, the touch-operable inputs being used for controlling the device.

55. The handheld personal communication device of claim 54 further comprising a short range RF transceiver disposed within the housing.

56. The hand-held personal communications device of claim 54 wherein the external display image indicates presence of an incoming call.

57. The hand-held personal communications device of claim 54 wherein the internal display allows for internet browsing, access to email, and access to calendar information.

58. The hand-held personal communications device of claim 54 wherein said device is capable of hands-free operation in association with a remote earpiece.

59. The hand-held personal communications device of claim 58 wherein the earpiece contains a remote short-range transceiver and the earpiece is shaped so as not to block an external auditory canal of the user.

60. The hand-held personal communications of device claim 58 wherein the remote short-range transceiver of the earpiece and the short-range transceiver of the device are operably linked.