System which automatically disables or switches off a cellphone

• US 7,181,229 B2
• Filed: 09/23/2002
• Issued: 02/20/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Anirudh Singh, Lakinder Singh Verma, Manu Singh, Yash Pal Singh
• Original Assignee: Anirudh Singh, Lakinder Singh Verma, Manu Singh, Yash Pal Singh
• Inventors: Verma, Lakinder Singh, Singh, Manu, Singh, Yash Pal, Singh, Anirudh
• Primary Examiner(s): Eng; George
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cho; Un C.
• Application Number:
  US10/490,833
• Publication Number:
  US 20040198306A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,611 Days
• Field of Search: 455/456.4, 455/550.1, 455/422.1, 455/418, 455/565, 455/421, 455/68
• US Class Current: 455/456.4
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6041 Portable telephones adapted for handsfree use
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/66 with means for preventing unauthorised or fraudulent calling verifying user identity or authority in secret or secure digital communications H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72454 according to context-related or environment-related conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72463 to restrict the functionality of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/027 using movement velocity, acceleration information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/30 Services specially adapted for particular environments, situations or purposes

Abstract

This invention relates to a system for disabling a cellphone in the presence of certain conditions, and for switching it off in the presence of some other conditions, while allowing its use in the normal fashion in the absence of these two sets of conditions. Thus, this system regulates cellphone use in accordance with specified restrictions in specific locations, and allows its normal functioning when these restrictions are not required. Specifically, a first condition is an attempt to operate a cellphone by the driver of a vehicle having its ignition on and/or moving above a certain speed. In such a condition the system would automatically disable the OK switch of a cellphone and may also perform the CALL END function. In the second condition the system automatically switches off any cellphone in the ON condition being carried on the person of an individual occupying a seat in an aircraft, or a committee room, or any other such location where such a restriction is envisaged. The system also makes a provision for automatic sequential dialing of a specified set of numbers like the police, medical services etc. during an emergency by allowing overriding any regulatory restriction. In addition, this invention also relates to control circuits provided in said system for preventing tampering with or bypassing the system by cellphone users.

Claims

1. A device for disabling cellphone use in the presence of a first or a second condition, and enabling its normal functioning upon removal of said conditions, said first condition being that of a signal generated from a vehicle in motion, said second condition being that of a signal generated from a restricted area, said device comprising:

(i) a signal generating circuit adapted to generate a polarity specific signal corresponding to said first or second condition;

(ii) a signal detection and processing circuit provided within said cellphone for receiving and processing the signal from said signal generating circuit, said signal detection and processing circuit coupled to the signal generating circuit through a first capacitive coupling to the signal detection and processing circuit, and a second capacitive coupling provided in the cellphone and linked to the signal detection and processing circuit;

(iii) an OK switch disabling circuit connected to said signal detection and processing circuit, said OK switch disabling circuit connected to the OK switch of the cellphone and disabling it in the presence of a signal corresponding to said first condition to said signal at an input to the signal detection and processing circuit;

(iv) a link and control circuit connected to said OK switch disabling circuit for terminating a call if a cellphone in an operating mode is passed on to a driver by another passenger in the presence of said first condition as well as to said signal detection and processing circuit;

(v) a call end circuit connected to said link and control circuit and also connected to the call end switch of the cellphone, and adapted to perform its function in the presence of a signal corresponding to the first condition at the input of said signal detection and processing circuit, when said OK switch is also disabled;

(vi) said link and control circuit also connected to said signal detection and processing circuit and adapted to initiate the function of the call end circuit in the presence of said first condition; and

(vii) a cellphone switching off circuit, linked to said signal detection and processing circuit, for switching off the cellphone and disabling its ON function in the presence of said second condition at the input to the signal detection and processing circuit.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said second coupling comprises a conducting film disposed within said cellphone and connected to an antenna of said cellphone through a resistance.

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said signal detection and processing circuit is connected to said OK switch disabling circuit, and the call end circuit for blocking cellphone use by adapted to disable its OK switch and adapted to perform the call end function in the presence of said first condition, said call end circuit incorporating a switching circuit connected across the call end switch of the cellphone.

4. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said cellphone switching off circuit is connected to said signal detection and processing circuit, and adapted to perform the switching off function of the cellphone in the presence of said second condition.

5. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said signal generator is adapted to be connected to a power source through a control and switching circuit, and linked to a second control and switching circuit while configured for generating a signal for said first condition.

6. A device as claimed in claim 1 wherein a central signal generator is adapted to be connected to a power source through a main switch, and connected to individual seat foils through pressure actuated switches when configured for generating a signal indicating the presence of said second condition.

8. A device as claimed in claim 1 comprising an emergency switch to allow the dialing of a set of emergency numbers to override said first and second conditions.

7. A device for disabling a cellphone in the presence of a first or a second condition and enabling said cellphone upon removal of said conditions, comprising a signal generating circuit for generating specified binary signature characterizing first or second conditions and connected to a power source through a first control and switching circuit and a second control and switching circuit, said signal generating circuit incorporating a micro-controller and linked to a signal detection and processing circuit through a first and second capacitive coupling for signal demodulation for regulating cellphone use through a micro-controller normally provided in a cellphone.