Mobile terminal interface

• US 6,615,059 B1
• Filed: 01/20/2000
• Issued: 09/02/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Optis Wireless Technology, LLC (Brevet Capital)
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Pehrsson, Claes Göran, Nordström, Johan, Wendelrup, Heino Jean, Sallenhag, Ola Martin, Engelin, Lars, Uggmark, Johan Georg Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): VUONG, QUOCHIEN B
• Application Number:
  US09/487,240
• Time in Patent Office: 1,321 Days
• Field of Search: 455/90, 455/552, 455/553, 455/556, 455/557, 455/575, 455/568, 455/569
• US Class Current: 455/569.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0214 Foldable telephones, i.e. with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position combined with translation movement H04M1/0235
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0245 using open/close detection
• 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 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion

Abstract

A microphone is provided in a mobile terminal and is connected to a current source when the flip portion of the mobile terminal is open and is disconnected from the current source when the flip portion of the phone is closed. The mobile terminal can then infer the position of the flip portion of the housing, e.g., opened or closed, based upon the state of the microphone'"'"'s current supply circuit, for example by detecting the current flowing through the circuit or a voltage drop across a supply resistor. In addition, an on-hook/off-hook button can be provided to a hands-free accessory without increasing a number of signal lines/connections between the hands-free accessory and the mobile terminal. This can be accomplished, for example, by connecting the on-hook/off-hook button to a switch in the microphone signal line. The switch selectively creates an open in the microphone signal line, which can be detected by the mobile terminal, thereby resulting in an off-hook condition. In addition, an interface between a mobile terminal and other auxiliary or accessory devices can be generalized to accommodate either digital or analog signaling without an increase in the number of pins/signal lines associated with the interface.

Claims

1. An interface between a mobile terminal and an accessory equipment comprising:

a sensory device connected to an output port of said mobile terminal for monitoring a logic level of said output port; and

means for switching an input port of said interface from a digital configuration to an analog configuration in response to said monitored logic level remaining at a substantially constant value for a predetermined time threshold.

2. The interface of claim 1, wherein said constant value is a logical low level.

3. The interface of claim 1, wherein said interface comprises:

a first port coupled to an analog output circuit; and

a second port coupled to a digital output circuit and said sensory device.

4. The interface of claim 3, wherein an analog device is coupled to said first and second port during said analog configuration and wherein a digital device is coupled to said first and second port during said digital configuration.

5. A method for switching an electronic device from a digital mode to an analog mode comprising:

monitoring a logic level of an output port of said electronic device;

switching an input port of an interface of said electronic device from a digital configuration to an analog configuration in response to said monitored logic level remaining at a substantially constant value for a predetermined time threshold.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said constant value is a logical low level.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein said monitoring is performed by a sensory device, wherein said interface comprises a first port coupled to an analog output circuit and a second port coupled to a digital output circuit and said sensory device, and wherein said monitored logic level remains at a substantially constant value for a predetermined time threshold in response to a coupling of an analog device to said first and second port during said analog configuration.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said monitored logic level does not remain at said substantially constant value for said predetermined time threshold when a digital device is coupled to said first and second port.

9. An interface between a mobile terminal and an accessory equipment comprising:

a sensory device connected to an output port of said mobile terminal for monitoring a logic level of said output port; and

means for switching an input port of said interface from a digital configuration to an analog configuration in response to said monitored logic level remaining at a substantially constant value for a time exceeding a maximum logic time duration for said digital configuration.

10. A method for switching an electronic device from a digital mode to an analog mode comprising:

monitoring a logic level of an output port of said electronic device; and

switching an input port of an interface of said electronic device from a digital configuration to an analog configuration in response to said monitored logic level remaining at a substantially constant value for a time exceeding a maximum logic time duration for said digital configuration.