WIRELESS COMMUNICATOR JACKET WITH MULTIPLE OPERATIONAL STAGES

• US 20100210308A1
• Filed: 02/11/2010
• Published: 08/19/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Modu Limited (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Cohen, Yohan Yehouda, Sherman, Itay
• Granted Patent: US 8,249,656 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/558
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1684 Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1698 the I/O peripheral being a sending/receiving arrangement to establish a cordless communication link, e.g. radio or infrared link, integrated cellular phone details of antennas disposed inside a computer H01Q1/2266
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0254 comprising one or a plurality of mechanically detachable modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0283 for providing a decorative aspect, e.g. customization of casings, exchangeable faceplate
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7246 by connection of exchangeable housing parts

Abstract

A method of communication between a modular wireless communicator and a jacket device that is connected to the modular wireless communicator via a connector a connector that connects a plurality of signal transmission lines, the jacket device including a keypad for operating the modular wireless communicator, including receiving a multi-bit signal over multiple signal transmission lines, one bit of which indicating whether the jacket device includes a serial NOR flash memory, if the jacket device includes a serial NOR flash memory, then reading a jacket ID from the serial NOR flash memory, if the jacket device does not include a serial NOR flash memory, then reading the jacket ID from other bits of the multi-bit signal, receiving jacket keypad signals over multiple signal transmission lines, and decoding the jacket keypad signals based on the jacket ID.

Claims

1. A method of communication between a modular wireless communicator and a jacket device that is connected to the modular wireless communicator via a connector that connects a plurality of signal transmission lines, the jacket device including a keypad for operating the modular wireless communicator, comprising:

receiving a multi-bit signal over multiple signal transmission lines, one bit of which indicating whether the jacket device includes a serial NOR flash memory;

if the jacket device includes a serial NOR flash memory, then reading a jacket ID from the serial NOR flash memory;

if the jacket device does not include a serial NOR flash memory, then reading the jacket ID from other bits of the multi-bit signal;

receiving jacket keypad signals over multiple signal transmission lines; and

decoding the jacket keypad signals based on the jacket ID.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said receiving jacket keypad signals comprises receiving keypad row signals and receiving keypad column signals.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

receiving a one-bit signal over one of the signal transmission lines, the one-bit signal indicating whether the jacket device is of a simple type or of a complex type, prior to said receiving the multi-bit signal; and

if the jacket device is of a complex type, then decoding the jacket keypad signals based on a pre-designated protocol over the plurality of signal transmission lines, where multiple signal transmission lines are used as data transmission lines.

4. A communication system, comprising:

a modular wireless communicator comprising;

a connector for connecting the communicator to any one of a plurality jacket devices via a plurality of signal transmission lines;

a controller, communicatively coupled with said connector, for receiving signals, over multiple transmission lines, that identify a jacket device that is connected to the communicator, and for receiving signals, over multiple transmission lines, generated by keypad presses from the identified jacket device; and

a modem, communicatively coupled with said controller, for transmitting data over the air in response to the keypad presses; and

a plurality of jacket devices, each jacket device comprising;

a keypad for receiving user input via keypad presses; and

a connector, communicatively coupled with said keypad, for connecting the jacket device to said communicator via the plurality of signal transmission lines.

5. The communication system of claim 4 wherein the signals generated by keypad presses comprise row and column signals for a keypad array.

6. The communication system of claim 4 wherein the plurality of signal transmission lines comprises 12 signal transmission lines, and wherein said keypad comprises 5 rows and 4 columns.

7. The communication system of claim 4 wherein at least one of said plurality of jacket devices comprises a backlight for the keypad, the backlight being activated via one of the signal transmission lines.

8. The communication system of claim 4 wherein at least one of said plurality of jacket devices comprises a vibrator, the vibrator being activated via one of the signal transmission lines.

9. The communication system of claim 4 wherein at least one of said plurality of jacket devices comprises a serial NOR flash memory, and wherein said controller receives a signal that indicates whether the jacket device that is connected to the communicator comprises a serial NOR flash memory.

10. The communication system of claim 9 wherein one of the plurality of transmission lines is used as a chip select, to select between said communicator and said serial NOR flash memory, wherein said serial NOR flash memory stores a jacket ID that identifies the jacket device, and wherein said modem identifies said jacket device by reading the jacket ID from said NOR flash memory.

11. The communication system of claim 4 wherein each of said plurality of jacket devices comprises a battery for supplying power to said jacket device, and for supplying power to said communicator when said communicator is connected to said jacket device.

12. The communication system of claim 4 wherein at least one of said plurality of jacket devices comprises a display screen for displaying input from said keypad and output from said modem.