Personal communicator

• US 7,065,381 B2
• Filed: 05/15/2001
• Issued: 06/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: XYBERNAUT CORPORATION
• Inventors: Moynahan, John F., Jenkins, Michael D.
• Primary Examiner(s): BEAMER, TEMICA M
• Application Number:
  US09/858,082
• Publication Number:
  US 20010036840A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,862 Days
• Field of Search: 455/552.1, 455/556.1, 455/556.2, 455/557, 455/572, 455/573, 455/575.1, 455/575.3
• US Class Current: 455/556.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1601 Constructional details related to the housing of computer displays, e.g. of CRT monitors, of flat displays constructional details related to flat displays integrated in a portable computer, e.g. laptop, handheld computer G06F1/1637; constructional details related to television receivers H04N5/64
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1612 Flat panel monitor
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0254 comprising one or a plurality of mechanically detachable modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0256 wherein the modules are operable in the detached state, e.g. one module for the user interface and one module for the transceiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones

Abstract

This invention provides a single unit called a personal communicator that combines the functions of a cell phone (or mobile phone), a body-supported computer and a pager. The personal communicator has three detachable modules: a communications module; a display module; and a core computer module. The core computer module has all of the components of a general purpose computer. Each of the modules when detached can be used in other systems such as with larger display screens.

Claims

1. A personal communicator comprising in combination three modules, said modules have means that allow each to be removable and have means to keep each module connected to each other, said modules being a communications module, a display module and a core module, said communications module having an ear piece with means to cooperate and function with a microphone located in said personal communicator in or outside said communications module to act thereby as a mobile telephone, said personal communicator having activation means selected from the group consisting of touch activation, audio activation and mixtures thereof, each of said detachable modules when detached having means to function when connected to or with other enclosures or attachments, said core module having a single completely closed housing having internally therein components of a fully functional conventional general purpose computer, including internal non-volatile mass storage means, said core module not functional as a computer when standing alone or when detached from said personal communicator, said core module only functional as a computer when in electrical contact with an enclosure, said core module having means to be used with totally new and different type structures other than said personal communicator, and wherein all of said components in said core housing are completely enclosed therein and may not be removed, said core module devoid of any power means, said power means only supplied by said personal communicator or other enclosures.

2. The personal communicator of claim 1 wherein said core computer module has at least the following:

At least a 16 bit microprocessor with a memory of at least 32 Mbytes of RAM; and

A mass storage memory of at least 80 Mbytes.

3. The core computer module of claim 1 with all of the components of a general purpose computer and having when detached, activation means selected from the group consisting of audio activation means, eye-tracking activation means, electroencephalography activation means, head and arm-tracking means, touch activation means and mixtures thereof.

4. The personal communicator of claim 1 wherein said core computer module comprises a pager and e-mail means.

5. The personal communicator of claim 1 wherein said core computer module comprises means selected from the group consisting of a pager, facsimile means, personal organizer or mixtures thereof.

6. The personal communicator of claim 1 having means to be docked mechanically or through wireless means into a monitor having a display substantially larger and with greater resolution than the display in said display module.

7. The core computer module of claim 1 having means to be docked into a monitor having a display substantially larger and with greater resolution than the display in said display module.

8. The personal communicator of claim 1 having means for attachment to the body of the user.

9. The personal communicator of claim 1 when assembled with each of said detachable modules connected having an antenna mouth piece and an ear piece in said communications module and a means to connect to said core computer module in an outside positioned keypad on the outside surface of said communication module, thereby having means to function as a mobile phone when all modules are connected.

10. The personal communicator of claim 1 having incorporated therein a member selected from the group consisting of a television means, a radio means, a still camera means, a video camera means and mixtures thereof.

11. The personal communicator of claim 1 having at least two display means, a first in said display module and a second in said communications module or said core module.

12. The personal communicator of claim 1 where all of the said modules are removably connected to each other.

13. The personal communicator of claim 1 where the communications and core computer modules are permanently connected to each other.

14. A personal communicator comprising:

a communications module enabling the personal communicator to function as a mobile telephone;

a core module detachably coupled to the communication module; and

a display module detachably coupled to the core module,

wherein the core module lacks an independent power supply and is not functional as a computer when decoupled from the communications module.