Satellite communications adapter for a cellular handset
First Claim
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1. A dual-mode telephone system for communicating either through an orbiting satellite or through a landcellular system, comprising:
- a cellular telephone unit for communicating in a cellular telephone network; and
satellite communications adapter means, separate from said cellular telephone unit, for receiving signals transmitted by said satellite and converting them to information signals for processing by said cellular telephone unit and for receiving information signals from said cellular telephone unit and converting them into transmissions to said satellite, wherein information signals communicated from said cellular telephone unit to said satellite communications adapter means include balanced in-phase and quadrature drive signals, and wherein information signals communicated from said satellite communications adapter means to said cellular telephone unit include an intermediate frequency signal.
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Abstract
A dual-mode telephone with a satellite communication adapter is disclosed. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a cellular-type handportable phone is equipped with a connector for the attachment of accessories. This connector provide a satellite communications adapter accessory access to the handset'"'"'s signal processing resources which may operate in an alternative mode to process signals received from the satellite and converted by the adapter into a suitable form for processing. The processing translates the satellite signals into voice or data, and vice-versa.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A dual-mode telephone system for communicating either through an orbiting satellite or through a landcellular system, comprising:
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a cellular telephone unit for communicating in a cellular telephone network; and
satellite communications adapter means, separate from said cellular telephone unit, for receiving signals transmitted by said satellite and converting them to information signals for processing by said cellular telephone unit and for receiving information signals from said cellular telephone unit and converting them into transmissions to said satellite, wherein information signals communicated from said cellular telephone unit to said satellite communications adapter means include balanced in-phase and quadrature drive signals, and wherein information signals communicated from said satellite communications adapter means to said cellular telephone unit include an intermediate frequency signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A dual-mode satellite/cellular telephone device, comprising:
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a microphone;
an earphone;
a ring indicator;
radio frequency circuitry for communicating with a cellular telephone network; and
an interface for connecting a separate satellite communications converter for converting between information signals processed by said telephone device and satellite signals processed by an orbiting satellite, wherein information signals communicated via said interface from said telephone to said converter include balanced in-phase and quadrature drive signals, and wherein information signals communicated from said converter to said telephone include an intermediate frequency signal. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification