Communications device with movable element control interface

• US 5,175,759 A
• Filed: 11/20/1989
• Issued: 12/29/1992
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Krolopp, Robert K., Metroka, Michael P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): CUMMING, WILLIAM D
• Application Number:
  US07/439,983
• Time in Patent Office: 1,135 Days
• Field of Search: 379/58, 379/63, 379/433, 379/62, 379/67, 379/56, 379/61, 362/24, 364/707, 455/90, 455/89, 455/73, D14/138, 340/825.44, 340/825, 340/825.36, 371/66, 381/43, 381/40, 381/110, 381/41
• US Class Current: 455/569.1
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 3/162 associated with a hinge of the closing member
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0216 Foldable in one direction, i.e. using a one degree of freedom hinge
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0245 using open/close detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6083 by interfacing with the vehicle audio system
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0254 detecting a user operation or a tactile contact or a motion of the device
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A portable radiotelephone with a keypad, alphanumeric character display, and hands free function is disclosed. A movable flip element of the housing covers a keypad and other control buttons when in a closed, on-hook, position and activates the illumination of the keypad, enables the display, and enables the hands free function when in an open, off-hook, position. The duration of keypad illumination and display activation are timed to reduce battery drain and the hands free function may be deactivated with a hookswitch flash.

Claims

1. A radiotelephone apparatus having a portable unit with a movable housing element having an extended position and a contracted position, and a decouplable hands free apparatus, the radiotelephone apparatus comprising:

means for producing an off-hook signal in the portable unit when the movable housing element is placed in the extended position and for producing an on-hook signal in the portable unit when the movable housing element has been placed in the contracted position;

first means for detecting an occurrence of said on-hook signal and a subsequent off-hook signal within a predetermined period of time;

second means for detecting a coupling of the decouplable hands free apparatus to the portable unit; and

means, responsive to said first means for detecting and said second means for detecting, for activating the decouplable hands free apparatus.

2. A radiotelephone apparatus in accordance with claim 1 further comprising means for deactivating an activated decouplable hands free apparatus when said first means for detecting detects a second occurrence of said on-hook signal and a subsequent off-hook signal within a predetermined period of time.

3. A method of control of a decouplable hands free apparatus in a radiotelephone apparatus including a portable unit with a movable housing element having an extended position and a contracted position, the method comprising the steps of:

producing an off-hook signal in the portable unit when the movable housing element is placed in the extended position;

producing an on-hook signal in the portable unit when the movable housing element has been placed in the contracted position;

detecting an occurrence of said on-hook signal and a subsequent off-hook signal within a predetermined period of time;

detecting a coupling of the decouplable hands free apparatus to the portable unit; and

activating the decouplable hands free apparatus in response to said detection of said on-hook signal and subsequent off-hook signal within a predetermined period of time and said detection of the coupling of the decouplable hands free apparatus to the portable unit.

4. A method in accordance with claim 3 further comprising the step of deactivating an activated decouplable hands free apparatus in response to detection of a second occurrence of said on-hook signal and a subsequent off-hook signal within a predetermined period of time.