Transmitting/receiving unit for use with a mobile communication device

• US 6,243,578 B1
• Filed: 12/19/1997
• Issued: 06/05/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/24/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Kunihiko Koike
• Original Assignee: Kunihiko Koike
• Inventors: Koike, Kunihiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Hunter, Daniel S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Thuan T.
• Application Number:
  US08/994,968
• Time in Patent Office: 1,264 Days
• Field of Search: 455/424, 455/412, 455/413, 455/414, 455/556, 455/558, 379/93.24, 379/424
• US Class Current: 455/557
• 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: H04M 1/0254 comprising one or a plurality of mechanically detachable modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6041 Portable telephones adapted for handsfree use
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones

Abstract

A telephone transmitting/receiving unit comprising an electronic circuit having a function of converting a signal received by an antenna to signal to be outputted by a speaker, a function of converting a signal inputted by a microphone to a signal to be outputted by the antenna, a function of performing prescribed processing, based on a signal from an operational unit, a function of generating a signal to a display unit, a cartridge removably loaded in a slot formed in the mobile communication terminal, and an input/output unit for inputting/outputting a signal to/from the mobile communication terminal is loaded in the mobile communication terminal. The telephone transmitting/receiving unit is loaded in the mobile communication terminal, whereby mobile communication can be performed by the use of the mobile communication terminal. The telephone transmitting/receiving unit is applicable to various types of mobile communication terminals, so that comfortable mobile communication can be provided corresponding to a time, place and occasion without contracting a plurality of circuits but by contracting one circuit.

Claims

1. A telephone transmitting/receiving unit, comprising:

an electronic circuit adapted to convert a signal received by an antenna to a voice signal to be outputted by a speaker, said electronic circuit being adapted to convert a voice signal inputted to a microphone to a transmitted signal to be outputted by the antenna, said electronic circuit being adapted to conduct prescribed processing based on an operational signal from an operational unit, said electronic circuit also being adapted to generate a display signal to be displayed in a display unit and said electronic circuit providing a single contracted circuit for a telephone system, wherein the single contracted circuit is associated with a unique identifier such that the identity of the telephone transmitting/receiving unit is known within the telephone system;

a cartridge which includes the electronic circuit, wherein the cartridge is adapted to be removably loaded in a slot formed in a mobile communication terminal such that the electronic circuit is coupled to the mobile communication terminal, and wherein the cartridge must be loaded in the slot in order for the mobile communication terminal to perform a transmitting and receiving function using the contracted circuit, wherein said cartridge is formed so that said slot could receive the overall length of the cartridge to conceal the cartridge of the telephone transmitting/receiving unit from the outside; and

an input/output unit included in the cartridge, said input/output unit being adapted to input/output a signal to/from said mobile communication terminal.

2. A mobile communication terminal comprising:

an antenna for transmitting/receiving a signal to/from a base station;

a speaker for outputting a voice signal;

a microphone for inputting a voice signal;

an operational unit for generating an operational signal, based on an operation;

a display unit for display based on a display signal;

a slot for receiving the overall length of the cartridge of the telephone transmitting/receiving unit according to claim 1 to conceal the cartridge of the telephone transmitting/receiving unit from the outside; and

an input/output unit included in said slot for inputting/outputting a signal to/from the telephone transmitting/receiving unit, wherein

said mobile communication terminal performs a transmitting and receiving function using the contracted circuit when the telephone transmitting/receiving unit is loaded in the slot.

3. A mobile communication relay terminal comprising:

an antenna for transmitting/receiving a signal to/from a base station;

a slot for receiving the telephone transmitting/receiving unit according to claim 1, wherein said telephone transmitting/receiving unit must be inserted in the slot in order for the mobile communication relay terminal to perform a transmitting and receiving function;

an input/output unit disposed in said slot for inputting/outputting a signal to/from the telephone transmitting/receiving unit; and

a unit for transmitting/receiving a signal to/from a mobile communication terminal.

4. A mobile communication terminal comprising:

a microphone for inputting a voice signal;

a speaker for outputting a voice signal; and

a unit for transmitting/receiving a signal to/from said mobile communication relay terminal according to claim 3.

5. A mobile communication terminal according to claim 2, wherein the mobile communication terminal is in the form of one of a portable telephone, a personal handy phone, a personal digital assistant and a mobile computer.

6. A mobile communication terminal according to claim 4, wherein the mobile communication terminal is in the form of one of a fountain pen, a key holder, a lighter and a pendant.

7. A communication system comprising:

a receiving unit for receiving transmitted electronic mail data;

a processing unit for converting the received electronic mail data to a voice signal;

a memory unit for temporarily storing the voice signal, said voice signal being transmitted from said memory unit to a mobile communication terminal in response to a command from the mobile communication terminal; and

a transmitter for transmitting the voice signal to said mobile communication terminal,

said mobile communication terminal comprising;

an antenna for transmitting/receiving a signal to/from a base station;

a speaker for outputting a voice signal;

a microphone for inputting a voice signal;

an operational unit for generating an operational signal, based on an operation;

a display unit for display based on a display signal;

a slot for receiving an overall length of a cartridge of a telephone transmitting/receiving unit to conceal the cartridge of the telephone transmitting/receiving unit from the outside; and

an input/output unit included in said slot for inputting/outputting a signal to/from the telephone transmitting/receiving unit, wherein

said mobile communication terminal performs a transmitting and receiving function using a single contracted circuit for a telephone system when the telephone transmitting/receiving unit is loaded in the slot, wherein the single contracted circuit is associated with a unique identifier such that the identity of the telephone transmitting/receiving unit is known within the telephone system.

8. A method for processing communicated data, comprising:

transmitting electronic mail data;

receiving said electronic mail data at a receiving unit;

converting said received electronic mail data to a voice signal; and

transmitting the voice signal to a mobile communication terminal, said mobile communication terminal comprising;

an antenna for transmitting/receiving a signal to/from a base station;

a speaker for outputting a voice signal;

a microphone for inputting a voice signal;

an operational unit for generating an operational signal, based on an operation;

a display unit for display based on a display signal;

a slot for receiving an overall length of a cartridge of a telephone transmitting/receiving unit to conceal the cartridge of the telephone transmitting/receiving unit from the outside; and

an input/output unit included in said slot for inputting/outputting a signal to/from the telephone transmitting/receiving unit, wherein

said mobile communication terminal performs a transmitting and receiving function using a single contracted circuit for a telephone system when the telephone transmitting/receiving unit is loaded in the slot, wherein the single contracted circuit is associated with a unique identifier such that the identity of the telephone transmitting/receiving unit is known within the telephone system.

9. The method as in claim 8 further comprising:

temporarily storing the voice signal; and

receiving a command from the mobile communication terminal and in response thereto transmitting the stored voice signal to the mobile communication terminal.