Communication terminal apparatus

• US 5,715,311 A
• Filed: 07/25/1996
• Issued: 02/03/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Sato, Yutaka, Sudo, Fukuharu
• Primary Examiner(s): Cumming, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ferguson, Keith
• Application Number:
  US08/632,440
• Time in Patent Office: 558 Days
• Field of Search: 379/433, 379/428, 379/368, 379/369, 379/355, 379/356, 379/455, 455/403, 455/553, 455/566, 455/575
• US Class Current: 379/433.01
• 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 1/03 Constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. telephone hand-sets
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/233 including a pointing device, e.g. roller key, track ball, rocker switch or joystick constructional details of pointing devices per se G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/236 including keys on side or rear faces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2746 Sorting, e.g. according to history or frequency of use
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2747 Scrolling on a display
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72469 for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons

Abstract

A communication terminal apparatus having a speech input module arranged movable from a position adjacent to a main shell to a position distanced from the main shell for calling. The communication terminal apparatus includes a transmitter/receiver circuit for modulating and transmitting an output signal from the speech input module, and demodulating and reproducing an input signal, an input control mechanism composed of a plurality of operating keys, a detector mechanism for detecting the position of the speech input module; and a controller device responsive to a detection signal from the detector mechanism for controlling the action of the input control module as well as conducting the transmission and receiving actions of the transmitter/receiver circuit. The controller device is arranged to enable the action of the input control mechanism when a particular one of the operating keys of the input control mechanism is actuated. When the position of the movable speech input module relative to the main shell in a call mode has been detected, its signal is used to control the action of the input control mechanism thus carrying out each control operation correctly without unnecessary steps and also allowing a greater number of functions without increasing the number of operating keys.

Claims

1. A communication terminal apparatus comprising:

a main shell;

speech input means mounted to the main shell and movable from a position adjacent the main shell for storage to a position distanced from the main shell for capturing a speech signal;

transmitter means for transmitting the speech signal from the speech input means;

input control means composed of a plurality of operating keys disposed within the main shell for receiving an input command from a user;

detector means disposed proximate the speech input means for detecting the position of the speech input means; and

controller means for altering an operational mode of the input control means to reject said input command when the speech input means is in a position adjacent to the main shell in response to a detection signal from the detector means, whereby inadvertent actuation of said input control means is prevented, and for controlling the transmission functions of the transmitter means.

2. A communication terminal apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controller means enables the input control means to receive the input command when a particular operating key of the input control means is actuated and when the detection signal from the detector means indicates that the speech input means is located at the position adjacent the main shell.

3. A communication terminal apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the controller means disables the input control means from receiving the input command when the particular operating key of the input control means is actuated a second time.

4. A communication terminal apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the controller means disables the input control means from receiving the input command if the input control means remains unactuated for a predetermined period of time after the input control means has been enable by operating the particular operating key of the input control means.

5. A communication terminal apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the particular operating key is a menu key for switching an input mode of the input control means.

6. A communication terminal apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the speech input means comprises an arm pivotally mounted to the main shell for movement between an on-hook position adjacent the main shell and a call position distanced from the main shell, and a microphone unit mounted to the arm.

7. A communication terminal apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the detector means comprises a detection target mounted to either the arm of the speech input means or the main shell, and a detector mounted to either the main shell or the arm of the speech input means, respectively.

8. A communication terminal apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising:

memory means for storage of data entered through the input control means; and

display means for displaying data entered through the input control means and data retrieved by the input control means from the memory means.

9. A communication terminal apparatus comprising:

a main shell;

a microphone module pivotally mounted to the main shell and movable between an on-hook position adjacent the main shell and a call position distanced from the main shell;

transmitter means for transmitting an output signal from the microphone module;

receiver means for demodulating an input signal;

a speaker module for emitting an audible sound corresponding to the input signal from the receiver means;

input control means including a plurality of operating keys for receiving a data input from a user;

detector means for detecting the position of the microphone module;

display means for displaying at least the data input entered through the input control means; and

controller means for controlling transmission and receiving functions of the transmitter means, receiver means, and the display means in response to the data input, the controller means being responsive to a detection signal from the detector means for determining that the data input from the input control means is valid.

10. A communication terminal apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the controller means disables the input control means from receiving the data input from any of the plurality of operating keys except a particular key when the detection signal from the detector means indicates that the microphone module is in the on-hook position.

11. A communication terminal apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the controller means enables the input control means to receive the data input from all of the plurality of operating keys when the particular operating key of the input control means is actuated.

12. A communication terminal apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the controller means disables the input control means from receiving the data input when the particular operating key of the input control means is actuated a second time.

13. A communication terminal apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the controller means disables the input control means from receiving the data input if the input control means remains unactuated for a predetermined period of time after the input control means has been enable by operating the particular operating key of the input control means.

14. A communication terminal apparatus according to claim 11, wherein the particular operating key is a menu key for switching a display screen on the input control means.