Dual keypad telephone handset for mobile communications
First Claim
1. A telephone having a base and a handset coupled to the base for alternative use as a hand-held instrument and as a hands-free instrument comprising:
- a cradle for holding the handset during standby intervals and during hands-free operation;
the handset having a back which faces outwardly when the handset is installed on the cradle and a front which faces the cradle;
the back of the handset including a back keypad and a back display for hands-free phone operation;
the front of the handset including a front keypad and front display for hand-held operation;
a proximity switch on the handset and a switch operator on the cradle for operating the switch between a hand-held state and a hands-free state when the handset is removed from and returned to the cradle respectively; and
a controller responsive to the switch and coupled to the back and front keypads for enabling only the back keypad and back display when the switch is in the hands-free state and enabling only the front keypad and front display when the switch is in the hand-held state.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A telephone for mobile application affords hands-free operation when the handset is seated in a cradle and hand-held operation when removed from the cradle. The two modes are automatically sensed by a reed switch in the handset operated by a magnet in the cradle. The back of the handset, which is accessible when in the cradle, contains a back keypad and a back display, and the front of the handset contains a front keypad and a front display along with a microphone and an earpiece. When the reed switch senses hands-free mode only the back keypad and display are enabled, along with an external speaker and microphone. When hand-held mode is sensed, the front keypad, display and audio functions are enabled.
78 Citations
4 Claims
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1. A telephone having a base and a handset coupled to the base for alternative use as a hand-held instrument and as a hands-free instrument comprising:
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a cradle for holding the handset during standby intervals and during hands-free operation; the handset having a back which faces outwardly when the handset is installed on the cradle and a front which faces the cradle; the back of the handset including a back keypad and a back display for hands-free phone operation; the front of the handset including a front keypad and front display for hand-held operation; a proximity switch on the handset and a switch operator on the cradle for operating the switch between a hand-held state and a hands-free state when the handset is removed from and returned to the cradle respectively; and a controller responsive to the switch and coupled to the back and front keypads for enabling only the back keypad and back display when the switch is in the hands-free state and enabling only the front keypad and front display when the switch is in the hand-held state. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A telephone having a base and a handset coupled to the base for alternative use as a hand-held instrument and as a hands-free instrument comprising:
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a cradle for holding the handset during standby intervals and during hands-free operation; the handset having a back which faces outwardly when the handset is installed on the cradle and a front which faces the cradle; the back of the handset including a back keypad and a back display for hands-free phone operation; the front of the handset including a front keypad and front display for hand-held operation; and means for enabling only the back keypad and back display for hands-free operation when the handset is installed on the cradle and for enabling only the front keypad and front display for hand-held operation when the handset is removed from the cradle.
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Specification