Handheld computer with detachable handset

• US 6,952,617 B1
• Filed: 07/17/2000
• Issued: 10/04/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Khyber Technologies Corporation
• Original Assignee: Khyber Technologies Corporation
• Inventors: Kumar, Rajendra
• Primary Examiner(s): Knight, Anthony
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hartman, Jr., Ronald D
• Application Number:
  US09/787,472
• Time in Patent Office: 1,905 Days
• Field of Search: 700/17, 700/1, 700/19, 455/556.1, 455/556.2, 455/557, 455/558, 455/563, 455/575.1, 455/575.2, 455/575.6, 455/90.3, 455/550, 455/573, 455/556, 379/110.01
• US Class Current: 700/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1686 the I/O peripheral being an integrated camera
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0258 for a headset device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality

Abstract

A handheld computing device (10) having voice input and voice output includes a handheld unit (20) having a processor (11) and a display (18) communicating with the processor (11), a handset (30) including means for voice input (43) and means for voice output (42), a mechanism (39, 41) for docking the handset (30) with the handheld unit (20) forming a docked unit, the docked unit dimensioned to be held in one hand while being used for voice input and voice output, and at least one connection (23, 36) for carrying voice-representative signals between the handheld unit (20) and the handset (30). Device (10) allows telephone-style, voice-driven, user-interface communications both when handset (30) is docked with handheld unit (20), and when handset (30) is detached from handheld unit (20). Handset (30) is made lightweight so that it can be held for an extended amount of time during lengthy phone-style conversations, and may be equipped with a formed support such as a flexible loop (26) to let the user wear handset (30) on one of user'"'"'s ears for hands-free use as a handset. Device (10) can also be equipped with an image scanner to serve as a digital camera or videophone.

Claims

1. A handheld device, comprising:

a handheld unit including a processor and a display communicating with said processor, and having a voice-driven interface;

a handset including voice input and voice output, and a wireless communication system;

a mechanism for docking said handset with said handheld unit forming a docked unit, said docked unit dimensioned to be held in one hand while being used for voice input and voice output; and

wherein voice-representative signals between said voice-driven interface of said handheld unit and said handset are communicated wirelessly.

2. The device, as set forth in claim 1, wherein a connection for carrying voice representative signals to said voice-driven interface is one of an optical link and a radio frequency link.

3. The device, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said handset is detachable from the handheld unit and includes a formed support for carrying said handset by a user'"'"'s ear in hands-free operation.

4. The device, as set forth in claim 3, wherein said formed-support is a flexible loop configured for partially surrounding the base of a user'"'"'s ear.

5. The device, as set forth in claim 1, wherein said handset further comprises an image scanner.

6. The device, as set forth in claim 5, wherein said handset further includes a rotatable joint for adjustably carrying said image scanner and scanning in a plurality of directions relative to said handheld unit.

7. The device, as set forth in claim 1, wherein the handheld unit further comprises means for communicating with a remote location.

8. The device, as set forth in claim 7, wherein said means for communicating with a remote location is at least one of means for wireless communication and means for wired communication.

9. The device, as set forth in claim 8, wherein said means for wireless communications is at least one of means for cellular communication and means for satellite communication.

10. The device, as set forth in claim 8, wherein said means for wired communication is means for telecommunication.

11. A communication device comprising:

a handheld unit having a wireless communication circuit for communicating with remote locations;

a handset having voice input and voice output;

a mechanism for docking said handset with said handheld unit forming a docked unit, said docked unit dimensioned to be held in one hand while being used for voice input and voice output; and

at least one connection for carrying voice-representative signals between said handheld unit and said handset, both when said handset is docked with said handheld unit and when said handset is separate from said handheld unit.

12. The device, as set forth in claim 11, wherein said handset includes a rechargeable handset power-source, said handheld unit further including means to recharge said handset power-source when said handset is docked with said handheld unit.

13. The device, as set forth in claim 11, wherein said connection for carrying voice-representative signals is one of an optical link, a radio frequency link and a wired cable.

14. The device, as set forth in claim 11, wherein said handset includes a formed support for carrying said handset by a user'"'"'s ear in hands-free headset operation.

15. The device, as set forth in claim 14, wherein said formed-support is a flexible loop configured for partially surrounding the base of a user'"'"'s ear.

16. A handheld computing and communication device, including:

a handheld unit including a processor and a display communicating with said processor;

a card-shaped peripheral that communicates with remote locations, said handheld unit having a slot for accepting said card-shaped peripheral;

a handset including means for voice input and means for voice output;

a mechanism for docking said handset with said handheld unit forming a docked unit, said docked unit dimensioned to be held in one hand while being used for voice input and voice output;

at least one connection for carrying voice-representative signals between said handheld unit and said handset, and said card-shaped peripheral carrying at least one of said connection for carrying voice-representative signals and said mechanism for docking said handset to said handheld unit.

17. The device, as set forth in claim 16, wherein said connection for carrying voice-representative signals is one of an optical link, a radio frequency link and a wired cable.

18. The device, as set forth in claim 16, wherein said card-shaped peripheral communicates with a remote location by at least one of means for wireless communication and means for wired communication.

19. The device, as set forth in claim 18, wherein said means for wireless communications is at least one of means for cellular communication and means for satellite communication.

20. The device, as set forth in claim 18, wherein said means for wired communication is means for telecommunication.

21. The device, as set forth in claim 16, wherein said card-shaped peripheral includes an image scanner.

22. The device as set forth in claim 21, wherein said handset further includes a rotatable joint for adjustably carrying said image scanner and scanning in a plurality of directions relative to said handheld unit.

23. A handset adapted to be removably attached to a handheld host computer of the type having connection for peripherals, the handset comprising:

a microphone for voice input and a speaker for voice output;

a mechanism for docking said handset with said handheld computer forming a docked unit, said docked unit dimensioned to be held in one hand while being used for voice input and voice output; and

at least one wireless connection for carrying voice-representative signals between said handset and said handheld computer, both when said handset is docked with said handheld computer and when said handset is separate from said handheld computer.

24. The device, as set forth in claim 23, wherein said wireless connection for carrying voice-representative signals is one of an optical link and a radio frequency link.

25. The device, as set forth in claim 23, wherein said handset includes a formed support for carrying said handset by a user'"'"'s ear in hands-free operation.

26. The device, as set forth in claim 25, wherein said formed-support is a flexible loop configured for partially surrounding the base of a user'"'"'s ear.