Foldable portable telephone set

• US 5,493,690 A
• Filed: 06/28/1994
• Issued: 02/20/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lenovo Innovations Ltd Hong Kong (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Shimazaki, Mamoru
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Wolinsky, Scott
• Application Number:
  US08/266,569
• Time in Patent Office: 602 Days
• Field of Search: 379/422, 379/421, 379/433, 379/434, 379/387, 379/67, 379/58, 379/61, 379/63
• US Class Current: 455/575.3
• 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 1/0245 using open/close detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72513 On hold, intercom or transfer communication modes

Abstract

A foldable portable telephone set which allows switching between a speech holding condition and a speaking condition without the necessity of an operation of a key thereby to prevent an operation in error. An open or closed condition of a cover section relative to a body section is detected by means of a reed switch provided on the cover section, a magnet provided on the body section, and a detection circuit for detecting an on- or off-state of the reed switch. A speech holding condition is established when it is detected that the cover section is closed during speech. In the speech holding condition, manually operable keys are covered with the body section and not exposed outside.

Claims

1. A foldable portable telephone set, comprising:

a body section;

a cover section hinged to said body section for opening and closing movement relative to said body section;

a magnetic field responsive switch provided on one of said body section and said cover section;

a magnet provided on the other of said body section and said cover section such that said magnet is positioned adjacent to said magnetic field responsive switch when said cover section is in a closed position; and

means connected to said magnetic field responsive switch for establishing a speech holding condition when said cover section is in said closed position.

2. A foldable portable telephone set as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a microphone, means for generating a speech holding message, and a switch circuit for switching between said microphone and said speech holding message generation means, said switch circuit being switched to said speech holding message generation means when it is detected that said cover section is in said closed position.

3. A foldable portable telephone set as claimed in claim 1, wherein said body section has a first predetermined length, width and thickness, and said cover section has a second predetermined length, width and thickness, and wherein said first predetermined thickness of said body section is substantially equal to said second predetermined thickness of said cover section.

4. A foldable portable telephone set, comprising:

a body section having a receiver and a radio section built therein;

a cover section having a transmitter built therein;

a hinge mechanism connecting said body section to said cover section for allowing opening and closing pivotable movement of said cover section with respect to said body section to an open and closed position, respectively;

a display device provided on said body section which is covered by said cover section when said cover section is in said closed position;

a power source switch provided on said body section;

an antenna provided on said body section, said antenna being electrically coupled to said radio section;

a plurality of operation means provided on said cover section;

detection means provided on one of said body section and said cover section for detecting whether said cover section is in said open position or said closed position, and outputting a signal indicative of whether said cover section is in said open position or said closed position; and

control means for receiving the signal from said detection means controlling said display device between an on-state and an off-state, and for connecting said transmitter to said radio section when said cover section is in said open position to establish a speaking condition, and for disconnecting said transmitter from said radio section to establish a speech holding condition when said cover section is in said closed state, and thereafter connecting said transmitter back to said radio section when said cover section is placed back into said open state, to thereby restore the speaking condition.

5. A foldable portable telephone set as claimed in claim 4, wherein said detection means comprises a reed switch provided on one of said body section and said cover section, a magnet provided on the other of said body section and said cover section, such that said magnet is positioned adjacent to said reed switch when said cover section is closed, and a detection circuit for detecting an on or off condition of said reed switch.

6. A foldable portable telephone set as claimed in claim 4, further comprising:

speech generation means for generating a speech holding message; and

switch means for connecting and disconnecting said transmitter and said speech generation means to and from said radio section under control of said control means,

wherein when said cover section is in said open position, said transmitter is connected to said radio section and said speech generation means is disconnected from said radio section, and when said cover section is in said closed position, said speech generation means is connected to said radio section and said transmitter is disconnected from said radio section.

7. A foldable portable telephone set as claimed in claim 4, wherein said detection means comprises:

a limit switch provided on one of said body section and said cover section, said limit switch being in an on condition when said cover section is in said closed position and said limit switch being in an off condition when said cover section is in said open position; and

a detection circuit for detecting said on or off condition of said limit switch.

8. A foldable portable telephone set as claimed in claim 4, further comprising a memory means for storing a sound in digital form to be output through said transmitter when said cover section is in said closed position, said sound being indicative of said speech holding condition.

9. A foldable portable telephone set as claimed in claim 4, wherein said plurality of operation means are covered by said body section when said cover section is in said closed position, thereby maintaining said speech holding condition as long as said cover section is in said closed position.