Compact modular wireless telephone

• US 6,351,629 B1
• Filed: 09/12/2000
• Issued: 02/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Dynamic Technologies (Canada) Corp.
• Original Assignee: Dieceland Technologies Corp.
• Inventors: Altschul, Randice-Lisa, Volpe, Lee S.
• Primary Examiner(s): MAUNG, NAY AUNG
• Application Number:
  US09/660,130
• Time in Patent Office: 532 Days
• Field of Search: 455/90, 455/550, 455/568, 455/569, 455/572, 455/575, 379/428.01, 379/428.02, 379/428.04, 379/429, 379/430, 379/431, 379/433.01, 379/433.03, 379/433.05, 379/433.09, 379/434
• US Class Current: 455/90.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/15 Protecting or guiding telephone cords
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6041 Portable telephones adapted for handsfree use
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6058 involving the use of a headset accessory device connected to the portable telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/00 Prepayment of wireline communication systems, wireless communication systems or telephone systems using a coded card to authorise calls from a telephone set H04M1/675
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/005 Disposable prepaid communication devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/026 Constructional features
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/103 using SIMs (USIMs) or calling cards
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/106 using commercial credit or debit cards
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 17/20 with provision for recharging the prepaid account or card, or for credit establishment
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2017/12 using calling, telephone credit/debit cards
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2017/14 using commercial credit/debit cards, e.g. VISA, AMEX
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A compact modular wireless telephone includes a telephonic module having a compact body member within which there is integrated basic wireless telephonic circuitry, and a remote modular arrangement having at least an earphone for connection to the telephonic module through an elongate cable which places the earphone at a remote location relative to the body member of the telephonic module. In addition to the earphone, the remote modular arrangement can include a microphone and a power source, both of which are removed from the body member to the remote modular arrangement. A loop antenna can be incorporated into the body member so that manipulation of the telephonic module will optimize reception of a wireless telephonic signal without disturbing the placement of the earphone at the ear of a user of the wireless telephone.

Claims

1. A compact modular wireless telephone comprising:

a telephonic module consisting essentially of a body member having compact boundaries including a limited length, a limited width and a limited thickness, wireless telephonic operation circuitry within the body member for effecting the transmission and reception of wireless telephonic communications, selector apparatus integral with the body member for selective operation of the wireless telephonic operation circuitry, and body member electrical connector elements integral with the body member and electrically connected to the wireless telephonic operation circuitry; and

a remote modular arrangement including an earphone, a power source, remote electrical connector elements complementary to the body member electrical connector elements, and elongate electrical conductors electrically connecting the earphone and the power source to the remote electrical connector elements, such that upon connection of the remote electrical connector elements to the body member electrical connector elements, the modular wireless telephone is enabled for wireless telephonic communications, with the earphone and the power source located remote from the telephonic module.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein the remote modular arrangement includes a microphone and further elongate electrical conductors electrically connecting the microphone to the remote electrical connector elements.

3. The invention of claim 1 wherein the remote modular arrangement includes a battery case, and the power source comprises at least one battery for placement within the battery case.

4. The invention of claim 1 wherein the remote modular arrangement includes a storage device for selective storing of the elongate electrical conductors in a compact, coiled arrangement.

5. The invention of claim 4 wherein the storage device comprises a storage reel.

6. A compact modular wireless telephone comprising:

a telephonic module consisting essentially of a body member having compact boundaries including a limited length, a limited width and a limited thickness, wireless telephonic operation circuitry within the body member for effecting the transmission and reception of wireless telephonic communications, selector apparatus integral with the body member for selective operation of the wireless telephonic operation circuitry, the wireless telephonic operating circuitry including a loop antenna integral with the body member within the confines of the compact boundaries of the body member, and body member electrical connector elements integral with the body member and electrically connected to the wireless telephonic operation circuitry; and

a remote modular arrangement including an earphone, a power source, remote electrical connector elements complementary to the body member electrical connector elements, and elongate electrical conductors electrically connecting the earphone and the power source to the remote electrical connector elements, such that upon connection of the remote electrical connector elements to the body member electrical connector elements, the modular wireless telephone is enabled for wireless telephonic communications, with the earphone and the power source located remote from the telephonic module.

7. The invention of claim 6 wherein the remote modular arrangement includes a microphone and further elongate electrical conductors electrically connecting the microphone to the remote electrical connector elements.

8. The invention of claim 6 wherein the remote modular arrangement includes a battery case, and the power source comprises at least one battery for placement within the battery case.

9. A compact modular wireless telephone comprising:

a telephonic module consisting essentially of a body member having compact boundaries including a limited length, a limited width and a limited thickness, wireless telephonic operation circuitry within the body member for effecting the transmission and reception of wireless telephonic communications, selector apparatus integral with the body member for selective operation of the wireless telephonic operation circuitry, a power source within the body member, and body member electrical connector elements integral with the body member and electrically connected to the telephonic operation circuitry; and

a remote modular arrangement including an earphone, remote electrical connector elements complementary to the body member electrical connector elements, and elongate electrical conductors electrically connecting the earphone to the remote electrical connector elements, such that upon connection of the remote electrical connector elements to the body member electrical connector elements, the modular wireless telephone is enabled for wireless telephonic communications, with the earphone located remote from the telephonic module.

10. The invention of claim 9 wherein the remote modular arrangement includes a microphone and further elongate electrical conductors electrically connecting the microphone to the remote electrical connector elements.

11. A compact modular wireless telephone comprising:

a telephonic module consisting essentially of a body member having compact boundaries including a limited length, a limited width and a limited thickness, wireless telephonic operation circuitry within the body member for effecting the transmission and reception of wireless telephonic communications, selector apparatus integral with the body member for selective operation of the wireless telephonic operation circuitry, the wireless telephonic circuitry including a loop antenna integral with the body member within the confines of the compact boundaries of the body member, a power source within the body member, and body member electrical connector elements integral with the body member and electrically connected to the wireless telephonic operation circuitry; and

a remote modular arrangement including an earphone, remote electrical connector elements complementary to the body member electrical connector elements, and elongate electrical conductors electrically connecting the earphone to the remote electrical connector elements, such that upon connection of the remote electrical connector elements to the body member electrical connector elements, the modular wireless telephone is enabled for wireless telephonic communications, with the earphone located remote from the telephonic module.

12. The invention of claim 11 wherein the remote modular arrangement includes a microphone and further elongate electrical conductors electrically connecting the microphone to the remote electrical connector elements.