SPEAKERPHONE BASE FOR AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE

• US 20150110324A1
• Filed: 10/21/2013
• Published: 04/23/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Logitech Europe S A (Logitech International SA)
• Original Assignee: Logitech Europe S A (Logitech International SA)
• Inventors: Moayer, Ali, Feng, Sam, Smith, Alan, Hsu, Eric, Kip, Timucin
• Granted Patent: US 9,520,737 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/334
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1613 for portable computers cooling arrangements therefor G06F1/203; constructional details or arrangements for pocket calculators, electronic agendas or books G06F15/0216; constructional details of portable telephone sets: with several bodies H04M1/0202
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 5/005 with inductive power transfer for charging H02J7/025
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 50/10 using inductive coupling
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 1/028 associated with devices performing functions other than acoustics, e.g. electric candles
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2205/021 Aspects relating to docking-station type assemblies to obtain an acoustical effect, e.g. the type of connection to external loudspeakers or housings, frequency improvement
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2499/11 Transducers incorporated or for use in hand-held devices, e.g. mobile phones, PDA's, camera's
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49826 Assembling or joining

Abstract

An apparatus comprising a housing having a front portion and a slot formed in the housing, the slot having a plurality of different widths along a length of the slot. The slot includes a first width configured to support a first type of electronic mobile device in a first upright configuration at a first angle relative to the front portion of the housing, and a second width configured to support a second type of electronic mobile device in a second upright configuration at a second angle relative to the front portion of the housing. The first width has a first depth in the slot, the second width has a second depth in the slot, where the first angle is based on the first width and first depth, and the second angle is based on the second width and the second depth.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a housing having a front portion; and

a slot formed in the housing, the slot having a plurality of different widths along a length of the slot, including;

a first width configured to support a first type of electronic mobile device in a first upright configuration at a first angle relative to the front portion of the housing; and

a second width configured to support a second type of electronic mobile device in a second upright configuration at a second angle relative to the front portion of the housing.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first width has a first depth in the slot, wherein the second width has a second depth in the slot, wherein the first angle is based on the first width and first depth, and wherein the second angle is based on the second width and the second depth.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first angle is configured to align a camera associated with the first type of electronic mobile device with a predetermined elevation at a predetermined distance from the apparatus, and wherein the second angle is configured to align a camera associated with the second type of electronic mobile device with the predetermined elevation at the predetermined distance from the apparatus.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first type of electronic mobile device is a mobile phone and the second type of electronic mobile device is a tablet computer.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the housing further comprises a speakerphone, wherein the speakerphone is wirelessly coupled to the electronic mobile device in the slot, and wherein the speakerphone is operable to receive and play back audio data from the electronic mobile device configured in the slot.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the wireless coupling is based on Bluetooth, Near Field Communication (NFC), or Wi-Fi communication standards.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the housing further comprises a power source operable to be wirelessly coupled to the electronic mobile device, wherein the power source is configured to recharge a battery in the electronic mobile device.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the housing is configured to open and close such that the slot is obscured when the housing is closed, and wherein the slot is exposed when the housing is open.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the slot includes an adjustable wall operable to change the width of the slot.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the housing further comprises a bottom portion with one or more feet disposed thereon, wherein the one or more feet are configured to rest on a surface, and wherein the one or more feet are adjustable and operable to raise or lower a portion of the housing to affect an angle of the housing with respect to the surface.

11. A method comprising:

receiving a first type of electronic mobile device in a slot formed in a housing, wherein the slot includes a plurality of different widths along a length of the slot, including;

a first width configured to support the first type of electronic mobile device in a first upright configuration at a first angle; and

a second width configured to support a second type of electronic mobile device in a second upright configuration at a second angle; and

configuring the first type of electronic mobile device in the first upright configuration.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the first and second angle are relative to a front portion of the housing.

13. The method of claim 11 wherein the first width has a first depth in the slot, wherein the second width has a second depth in the slot, wherein the first angle is based on the first width and first depth, and wherein the second angle is based on the second width and the second depth.

14. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

aligning a camera disposed in the first type of electronic mobile device with a predetermined elevation and a predetermined distance from the housing, wherein the slot is operable to align both a camera associated with the first type of electronic mobile device and a camera associated with the second type of electronic mobile device at the predetermined elevation at the predetermined distance from the housing.

15. The method of claim 11 wherein the first type of electronic mobile device is a mobile phone and the second type of electronic mobile device is a tablet computer

16. The method of claim 11 wherein the housing further comprises a speakerphone, the method further comprising:

establishing electronic communication with the first type of electronic mobile device;

receiving audio data from the first type of electronic mobile device configured in the slot; and

playing the audio data through the speakerphone.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the audio data is received by the speakerphone via wireless coupling based on Bluetooth, Near Field Communication (NFC), or Wi-Fi communication standards.

18. The method of claim 11 further comprising charging the electronic mobile device configured in the slot with a local power source, the power source configured to power the electronic mobile device via wireless coupling.

19. A system comprising:

a housing having a front portion;

a processor disposed in the housing;

a slot formed in the housing, the slot having a plurality of different widths along a length of the slot, including;

a first width configured to support a first type of electronic mobile device in a first upright configuration at a first angle relative to the front portion of the housing; and

a second width configured to support a second type of electronic mobile device in a second upright configuration at a second angle relative to the front portion of the housing; and

a speakerphone disposed in the housing, wherein the speakerphone is operable to be wirelessly coupled to the electronic mobile device in the slot, and wherein the speakerphone is operable to receive and play back audio data from the electronic mobile device configured in the slot.

20. The system of claim 19 wherein the first type of electronic mobile device is a mobile phone and the second type of electronic mobile device is a tablet computer.