Input-output device with universal phone port

• US 6,999,792 B2
• Filed: 09/19/2002
• Issued: 02/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Exotablet Limited
• Original Assignee: Exobrain Incorporated
• Inventors: Warren, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): D AGOSTA, STEPHEN M
• Application Number:
  US10/247,661
• Publication Number:
  US 20030153355A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,244 Days
• Field of Search: 455/450, 455/556.1, 455/556.2, 455/557, 379/93.05, 379/93.09, 379/435, 379/446, 343/702
• US Class Current: 455/557
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• 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 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1698 the I/O peripheral being a sending/receiving arrangement to establish a cordless communication link, e.g. radio or infrared link, integrated cellular phone details of antennas disposed inside a computer H01Q1/2266
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces

Abstract

A keyboard and a microphone for inputting information, a display screen and a speaker for viewing or hearing information, and a processor, all mounted to or within a housing in the form of a laptop computer or hand-held computer. A phone interface has a slot, channel, or other support member for holding the portable phone, with a phone port electrically connected to the processor. Alternative embodiments include a modem that is electrically connected to the processor and the phone port, and an adapter with a port that mates with the phone port and a port that mates with a selected phone. The phone wirelessly transmits data entered into the input components and transferred to the phone via the phone port, and wirelessly receives data to be transferred to the output components via the phone port for visual or audible output.

Claims

1. An input/output device for use with a portable phone, comprising:

a) a processor;

b) one or more input components electrically connected to the processor and adapted to enter data;

c) one or more output components electrically connected to the processor and adapted to display or audibly output data;

d) a housing with the processor, the input components, and the output components mounted to or generally enclosed within the housing;

e) a phone interface having a support member formed by one or more walls defining a slot or a channel in the housing, the phone interface further having and a phone port adapted to support the portable phone such that the phone port is electrically connected to the processor and adapted to communicate with the phone when supported by the support member, wherein the phone wirelessly transmits data entered into the input components and wirelessly receives data to be displayed or audibly output by the output components; and

f) an adapter sleeve that is substantially coextensive with the slot and slidably received in the slot or channel and that slidably receives the portable phone therein, the adapter sleeve having a first port that electrically connects to the phone port on the portable phone and a second port that electrically connects to the phone port on the housing.

2. The input/output device of claim 1, wherein the input components comprise a keyboard and a microphone.

3. The input/output device of claim 1, wherein the output components comprise a display screen and a speaker.

4. The input/output device of claim 1, further comprising an adapter electrically connectible to the phone port and electrically connectible to predetermined types of phones.

5. The input/output device of claim 1, wherein the support member is formed by a frame defining a receptacle for the phone, the frame mounted to the housing and having a wall with the phone port disposed thereon.

6. The input/output device of claim 5, wherein the frame is pivotally mounted to the housing and moves between an open position extending from the housing so that the phone can be inserted into the receptacle and a closed position retracted into the housing so that the phone can not be inserted into the receptacle.

7. The input/output device of claim 1, wherein the support member is formed by a base plate with the port disposed thereon and that moves between an open position extending from the housing so that the phone can be supported thereon and a closed position retracted into the housing so that the phone can not be supported thereon.

8. The input/output device of claim 7, further comprising an arm that moves between an open position extending from the housing so that the phone can be supported laterally thereby and a closed position retracted into the housing so that the phone can not be supported laterally thereby.

9. The input/output device of claim 1, wherein the housing is sized and shaped for being held in a user'"'"'s hand while in use.

10. An input/output device for use with a portable phone, comprising:

a) a processor;

b) one or more input components electrically connected to the processor and adapted to enter data, wherein the input components include one or more function buttons;

c) one or more output components electrically connected to the processor and adapted to output data, wherein the output components include a display screen;

d) a data storage device electrically connected to the processor and having browser, email, and wireless application protocol programming stored therein;

e) a housing with the processor, the input components, the output components, the data storage device, and the support member mounted to or generally enclosed within the housing, wherein the housing is sized and shaped for being held in a user'"'"'s hand while in use;

f) a phone interface having a support member and at least one phone port, wherein the support member is formed by one or more walls defining a slot or a channel in the housing and is adapted to support the portable phone, and the phone port is disposed on one of the walls of the slot and is electrically connected to the processor and adapted to communicate with the phone when supported by the support member, wherein the phone wirelessly transmits data entered into the input components and wirelessly receives data to be displayed or audibly output by the output components; and

g) an adapter sleeve that is substantially coextensive with the slot and slidably received in the slot or channel and that slidably receives the portable phone therein, the adapter sleeve having a first port that electrically connects to the phone port on the portable phone and a second port that electrically connects to the phone port on the housing.

11. The input/output device of claim 10, wherein the phone port has at least one male connector that is receivable by at least one female connector on the phone.

12. The input/output device of claim 10, further comprising an adapter electrically connectible to the phone port and electrically connectible to predetermined types of phones.

13. The input/output device of claim 10, further comprising at least one tongue extending from the housing or the adapter sleeve, and at least one groove notch in the housing or the adapter sleeve, the tongue slidably received in the groove, wherein the adapter sleeve is slidably received in the housing.

14. The input/output device of claim 10, further comprising at least one notch in the housing or the adapter sleeve, and at least one protrusion extending from the housing or the adapter sleeve, the protrusion removably received in the notch, wherein the adapter sleeve is removably retained in the housing.

15. The input/output device of claim 10, wherein at least a portion of the adapter sleeve and at least a portion of the wall of the slot are spaced apart to form an air-gap.

16. The input/output device of claim 10, wherein the display screen comprises a touchscreen adapted to input and output data.

17. The input/output device of claim 10, further comprising at least one retainer coupled to the housing and adapted to retain the phone in engagement with the phone port.

18. The input/output device of claim 10, further comprising at least one elastic member coupled to the housing and deformable to engage different sized portable phones when connected to the phone port.

19. The input/output device of claim 10, further comprising a modem electrically connected to the processor.

20. The input/output device of claim 10, further comprising a power source and a memory device each electrically connected to the processor.

21. The input/output device of claim 10, wherein the data storage device does not have word processing or spreadsheet application programs stored therein.

22. The input/output device of claim 10, wherein the phone port includes a wireless transmitter and a wireless receiver that send and receive signals to and from the portable phone.