Portable computer stored removable mobile telephone

• US 5,907,815 A
• Filed: 12/07/1995
• Issued: 05/25/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/07/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Texas Instruments, Inc.
• Inventors: Smith, Ronald L., Watts, LaVaughn F. Jr., Grimm, Thomas R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Wellington
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ferguson, Keith
• Application Number:
  US08/568,709
• Time in Patent Office: 1,265 Days
• Field of Search: 455/556, 455/557, 455/558, 455/575, 455/551, 455/552, 455/422, 395/893, 395/156, 395/200.01, 340/825.44, D14/138, D14/140, D14/144
• US Class Current: 455/557
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1698 the I/O peripheral being a sending/receiving arrangement to establish a cordless communication link, e.g. radio or infrared link, integrated cellular phone details of antennas disposed inside a computer H01Q1/2266
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/38 Transceivers, i.e. devices in which transmitter and receiver form a structural unit and in which at least one part is used for functions of transmitting and receiving
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3816 Mechanical arrangements for accommodating identification devices, e.g. cards or chips; with connectors for programming identification devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 5/16 Half-duplex systems; Simplex/duplex switching; Transmission of break signals non-automatically inverting the direction of transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6033 for providing handsfree use or a loudspeaker mode in telephone sets arrangements for preventing acoustic echo H04M9/08
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

The present invention provides a solution to the dual problems of mobility and portability associated with using a portable telephone in combination with a portable computer. A portable telephone (166) is constructed to fit within a cavity (210) in a portable computer (164). When fully inserted into the computer (166), the portable telephone (166) is physically connected to the portable computer (164) by a latching mechanism and communicates with the portable computer by means of a computer/portable telephone interface (172, 192, 204 that electrically connects the portable telephone to the portable computer. Physically and electrically connecting the portable telephone to the portable computer eliminates the need for a cable or tethered connection between a portable computer and a portable telephone. In one embodiment of the invention, the portable telephone serves as the portable computer'"'"'s modem and function while installed in the computer. Thus, the portable phone facilitates the transmission and reception of data between the portable computer and another computer connected to the telephone system. In another embodiment of the invention, the portable computer (and not the portable telephone), contains the modem that is utilized for telephonic data communications. In yet another embodiment of the invention, a modem is omitted altogether for digital data communications. An operator of the portable computer/portable telephone also has the option of using the portable telephone for voice transmission independently of the computer, or may enjoy hands free voice operation by using the portable computer'"'"'s internal speaker and microphone. The portable telephone operates on the computers internal battery/power system while installed in the portable computer and on it'"'"'s own battery (charged while in the portable computer) when used independently of the portable computer.

Claims

1. A portable telephone, comprising:

a housing dimensioned to fit completely within a cavity in a computer;

a radio frequency (RF) transceiver within said housing;

a microprocessor coupled to said transceiver;

a power source coupled to said microprocessor;

a telephone interface coupled to said processor;

a keypad coupled to said telephone interface;

a microphone and speaker coupled to said telephone interface;

an interface coupled to said microprocessor, said interface being directly connectable to a corresponding interface in a computer; and

a mechanism on said housing that cooperates with a corresponding latching mechanism in said computer for removably securing said portable telephone to said computer.

2. The portable telephone of claim 1, wherein said computer is a portable computer.

3. The portable telephone of claim 1, wherein said portable telephone is a cellular telephone.

4. The portable telephone of claim 1, wherein said corresponding interface in said computer is located within said cavity in said computer.

5. The portable telephone of claim 1, further including a modem coupled to said microprocessor.

6. The portable telephone of claim 5, wherein said portable telephone is capable of transmitting and receiving voice and data signals while connected to said computer.

7. The portable telephone of claim 1, wherein said portable telephone is capable of transmitting and receiving voice and data signals while connected to said computer.

8. The portable telephone of claim 1, further including a cellular interface coupled to said microprocessor.

9. The portable telephone of claim 1, wherein an analog switch couples said telephone interface to said microprocessor.

10. The portable telephone of claim 1, wherein said interface coupled to said microprocessor comprises:

at least one voice channel lead, one command channel lead and a ground/reference lead for connection to corresponding leads in said interface in said computer.

11. The portable telephone of claim 10, wherein said at least one voice channel lead facilitates a bidirectional half duplex mode.

12. The portable telephone of claim 10, wherein said at least one command channel lead facilitates a bidirectional half duplex mode.

13. The portable telephone of claim 10, wherein said interface coupled to said microprocessor further includes a power lead.

14. The portable telephone of claim 10, wherein voice and data are transmitted on said at least one voice channel lead.

15. The portable telephone of claim 10, wherein said interface coupled to said microprocessor further includes at least one data channel lead.

16. The portable telephone of claim 15, wherein said at least one data channel lead facilitates a bidirectional half duplex mode.

17. The portable telephone of claim 16, wherein said interface coupled to said microprocessor further includes a second command channel lead.

18. The portable telephone of claim 17, wherein each of said voice channel leads facilitates a unidirectional full duplex mode.

19. The portable telephone of claim 10, wherein said interface coupled to said microprocessor further includes a second voice channel lead.

20. The portable telephone of claim 19, wherein each of said voice channel leads facilitates a unidirectional full duplex mode.

21. The portable telephone of claim 20, wherein voice and data are transmitted on said voice channel leads.

22. The portable telephone of claim 10, wherein said interface coupled to said microprocessor further includes a second command channel lead.

23. The portable telephone of claim 22, wherein each of said voice channel leads facilitates a unidirectional full duplex mode.

24. The portable telephone of claim 10, wherein said interface coupled to said microprocessor is further coupled to said telephone interface.

25. The portable telephone of claim 1, wherein the dimensions of said housing are the same as the dimensions of a housing of another device that may be inserted into said cavity in lieu of said portable telephone.

26. The portable telephone of claim 25, wherein said another device is a battery.

27. A portable telephone, comprising:

a housing dimensioned to fit completely within a cavity in a computer such that only a single surface of said housing is exposed to a user of said computer when said portable telephone is fully inserted into said cavity;

a radio frequency (RF) transceiver within said housing;

a microprocessor coupled to said transceiver;

a power source coupled to said microprocessor;

a telephone interface coupled to said processor;

a keypad coupled to said telephone interface;

a microphone and speaker coupled to said telephone interface;

an interface coupled to said microprocessor, said interface being directly connectable to a corresponding interface in a computer; and

a mechanism on said housing that cooperates with a corresponding latching mechanism in said computer for removably securing said portable telephone to said computer.

28. The portable telephone of claim 27, wherein the dimensions of said housing are the same as the dimensions of a housing of another device that may be inserted into said cavity in lieu of said portable telephone.

29. The portable telephone of claim 28, wherein said another device is a battery.