Portable communication terminal charger system

• US 6,928,309 B2
• Filed: 03/15/2002
• Issued: 08/09/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/16/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Jinnouchi, Kohki
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Duc M.
• Application Number:
  US10/097,833
• Publication Number:
  US 20020132651A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,243 Days
• Field of Search: 455/569, 455/572, 455/573, 455/41.1, 455/41.2, 455/41.3, 455/344, 455/345, 455/346, 455/347, 455/352, 455/353, 455/90.1, 455/90.2, 455/90.3, 455/575.6
• US Class Current: 455/572
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3888 Arrangements for carrying or protecting transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6041 Portable telephones adapted for handsfree use
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72415 for remote control of appliances
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72442 for playing music files

Abstract

When a portable communication terminal is being charged by a charger, a control signal according to a command entered into the charger is fed from the charger to the portable communication terminal so that, according to this control signal, the portable communication terminal reads out data from a recording medium. Meanwhile, of the data thus read out, data representing additional information (information such as the duration and title of a piece of music that is added to substantial information) is fed from the portable communication terminal to the charger, and this makes it possible to output the additional information, as by displaying it, on the part of the charger. Thus, the user can read out data from the recording medium by using the portable communication terminal in the middle of being charged without feeling awkward, and in addition can recognize the additional information easily even when the portable communication terminal is being charged.

Claims

1. A portable communication terminal charger system comprising

a portable communication terminal having a function of reading out data stored on a recording medium and a charger for charging a power source incorporated in the portable communication terminal,

wherein the portable communication terminal comprises a control signal input portion for receiving a control signal from outside, a controller portion for controlling according to the control signal received by the control signal input portion the function of reading out data from the recording medium, and an additional data output portion for extracting from the data read out from the recording medium, which includes substantial data representing substantial information and additional data representing additional information added thereto, the additional data and outputting the extracted additional data to outside,

wherein the charger comprises a control signal output portion for outputting according to a command entered by a user a control signal to outside and an additional data input portion for receiving the additional data output from the portable communication terminal by the additional data output portion, and

wherein, when the portable communication terminal is connected to the charger and is thereby brought into a state in which the portable communication terminal is ready to be charged by the charger, the control signal output from the charger by the control signal output portion thereof becomes ready to be input to the portable communication terminal by the control signal input portion thereof, and the additional data output from the portable communication terminal by the additional data output portion thereof becomes ready to be input to the charger by the additional data input portion thereof.

2. A portable communication terminal charger system as claimed in claim 1, wherein the charger further comprises a display portion for displaying the information represented by the additional data input thereto by the additional data input portion thereof.

3. A portable communication terminal charger system as claimed in claim 2, further comprising:

a remote control unit that permits the user to enter a command into the charger from a remote place,

wherein the charger further comprises an additional data output portion for outputting the additional data input thereto by the additional data input portion thereof to the remote control unit, and

wherein the remote control unit comprises an additional data input portion for receiving the additional data output from the charger by the additional data output portion thereof.

4. A portable communication terminal charger system as claimed in claim 3, wherein the remote control unit further comprises a display portion for displaying the information represented by the additional data input thereto by the additional data input portion thereof.

5. A portable communication terminal charger system of claim 1, wherein the charger comprises a control signal output portion for outputting according to a command entered by a user a control signal to outside, and is so configured that a charge voltage and a charge current fed to the portable communication terminal are adjustable, and wherein, when the portable communication terminal is connected to the charger and is thereby brought into a state in which the portable communication terminal is ready to be charged by the charger, the control signal output from the charger by the control signal output portion thereof becomes ready to be input to the portable communication terminal by the control signal input portion thereof.

6. A portable communication terminal charger system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the charger sets the charge voltage and the charge current fed to the portable communication terminal according to a command entered by a user.

7. A portable communication terminal charger system as claimed in claim 5, wherein the portable communication terminal is so configured as to feed the charger with charge information representing the charge voltage and the charge current, and the charger sets the charge voltage and the charge current fed to the portable communication terminal according to the charge information fed from the portable communication terminal.

8. The portable communication terminal charger system of claim 1, wherein the substantial information comprises sound and/or video data, and the extracted additional data comprises information indicative of the duration and/or title of music being read out from the recording medium.

9. The portable communication terminal charger system of claim 1, wherein the recording medium is located in the portable communication terminal.

10. The portable communication terminal charger system of claim 1, wherein the extracted additional data from the recording medium comprises information relating to music being read from the recording medium, and wherein the extracted additional data is displayed at the charger and/or at a remote control while music is being played during charging.