Cordless phone data transfer

• US 6,339,695 B1
• Filed: 05/05/1999
• Issued: 01/15/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/05/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Tandy Corporation (RS Legacy Corp.)
• Original Assignee: RadioShack Legacy Corporation
• Inventors: Clark, John M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Trost, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ferguson, Keith
• Application Number:
  US09/305,607
• Time in Patent Office: 986 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41, 455/550, 455/462, 455/464, 455/517, 455/561, 455/412, 455/410, 340/7.2, 340/7.21, 340/7.24
• US Class Current: 455/41.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/727 Identification code transfer arrangements

Abstract

A method and apparatus for transferring identification codes using magnetic coupling. A matching code is established by a microprocessor and is stored in the memories of a communications base unit and a mobile unit. When the mobile unit is placed in the base unit the central processing unit sends pulsed current to a coil in the base unit inducing a magnetic field. A Hall effect transistor in the mobile unit detects the induced changes in the magnetic field and transmits the pulse pattern to the base unit (handset) memory where it is entered as a new identification code.

Claims

1. An identification code transmission system for communications devices of the type having a base station unit and at least one mobile unit comprising:

means for generating an identification code in said base unit;

means for storing said identification code in said base unit;

means for storing said identification code in said mobile unit; and

means for encoding said identification code as variations in magnetic flux in said base unit;

means for measuring Hall effect in said mobile unit, and wherein

said means for measuring Hall effect is aligned with the magnetic flux produced by said means for encoding and is operable to detect and couple said identification code to said means for storing in said mobile unit.

2. An identification code transmission system as defined in claim 1 wherein said transmission system further includes sensing means for sensing when said mobile unit is proximate to said base unit.

3. An identification code transmission system as defined in claim 1 wherein said means for measuring Hall effect is a Hall effect transistor.

4. An identification code transmission system as defined in claim 1 wherein said base unit is a means for telephone communications base unit and said mobile unit is a cordless telephone handset.

5. An identification code transmission system as defined in claim 1 wherein said base unit is a means for pager communications base unit and said mobile unit is a pager.

6. An identification code transmission system as defined in claim 1 wherein said base unit is a radio transceiver base unit and said mobile unit is a radio transceiver.

7. An identification code transmission system for use in systems of the type having a base station unit and at least one mobile unit comprising:

means for generating an identification code in said base unit;

means for storing said identification code in said base unit;

means for storing said identification code in said mobile unit;

means for encoding said identification code as variations in magnetic flux in said base unit;

means for measuring Hall effect in said mobile unit, and wherein said means for measuring Hall effect is aligned with the magnetic flux produced by said means for encoding and is operable to detect and couple said identification code to said means for storing in said mobile unit, and means for sensing when said mobile unit is proximate to said base unit thereby activating said means for encoding.

8.An identification code transmission system for use in electronic message transmission systems of the type having a base station unit and at least one mobile unit comprising;

an identification code generator in said base unit;

an identification code detector in said moble unit;

identification code memory in said base unit;

identification code memory in said mobile unit; and

a transmitter for sending said identification code from said base unit identification code memory to said mobile unit identification code memory wherein said transmitter varies magnetic flux, and said identification code detector senses magnetic flux according to Hall effect.

8. An identification code transmission system as defined in claim 8 wherein said encoding system farther includes a sensor to determine when said mobile unit is proximate to said base unit.

9. An identification code transmission system as defined in claim 8 wherein said identification code detector is a Hall effect transistor for determing changes in magnetic flux of the base unit.

10. An identification code transmission system as defined in claim 8 wherein said base unit is a telephone communications base unit and said mobile unit is a cordless telephone handset.

11. An identification code transmission system as defined in claim 8 wherein said base unit is a means for pager communications base unit and said mobile unit is a pager.

12. An identification code transmission system as defined in claim 8 wherein said base unit is a radio transceiver base unit and said mobile unit is a radio transceiver.

13. An identification code transmission system for use in electronic message transmission systems of the type having a base station unit and at least one mobile unit comprising:

a base unit microprocessor code memory;

14. A method for transmitting identification codes for electronic message transmission systems of the type having a base unit, with electronic memory, and one or more mobile units, with electronic memory, comprising:

selecting an identification code in said base unit;

replacing any existing identification codes in said base unit memory; and

copying the identification code from the base unit to the mobile unit by means of Hall effect and magnetic flux detection.

15. A method as defined in claim 15 further comprising selecting a random number as said identification code.

16. A method as defined in claim 15 further comprising using a Hall effect transistor to magnetically receive said identification code.

17. An encoding system for use in an electronic message transmission system of the type having a base unit and one or more mobile units comprising:

an identification code generator;

a base unit having an electronic memory for storing said identification code;

a magnetic field generator for transmitting said identification code to said mobile unit, and

a Hall effect detector for receiving said identification code in said mobile unit.