Electrical devices

• US 7,248,892 B2
• Filed: 05/14/2002
• Issued: 07/24/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: NXP B.V. (NXP Semiconductors NV)
• Original Assignee: Innovision Research & Technology PLC (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: White, Andrew David, Borrett, Marc Adrian, Mapleston, David Bernard
• Primary Examiner(s): Feild; Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): DOAN, KIET M
• Application Number:
  US10/477,733
• Publication Number:
  US 20050026643A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,897 Days
• Field of Search: 455/550.1, 455/575.1, 455/556.1, 455/558, 455/550, 455/406, 379/446, 379/58, 320/107, 361/814, 235/380, 235/451, 235/492, 235/383, 235/494, 375/239, 375/130
• US Class Current: 455/550.1
• CPC Class Codes: B23Q 1/0009 Energy-transferring means or control lines for movable machine parts; Control panels or boxes; Control parts control handles for driving or feeding mechanisms B23Q5/54
• 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 1/0283 for providing a decorative aspect, e.g. customization of casings, exchangeable faceplate
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72406 by software upgrading or downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72427 for supporting games or graphical animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72445 for supporting Internet browser applications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7246 by connection of exchangeable housing parts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041

Abstract

An electrical device such as a portable communications device, domestic or personal care appliance has a main body adapted to couple to an accessory which may be in the form of a tool attachable to the main body or a housing portion. The accessory carries a passive data storage device having a memory (59) storing control data for controlling an operation or affecting a function of the device. The passive data storage device is arranged to derive a power supply from the main body when a first coupler carried by the main body is placed in proximity to a second coupler carried by the accessory (3). Where the electrical device is a portable communications device, then the accessory may be, for example, a fascia. The coupling between the first and second couplers may be inductive or capacitive.

Claims

1. A portable communications device comprising a main body having a removable housing portion;

the main body having;

a transceiver operable to enable transmission and reception of communications over a mobile telecommunications network;

a first controller operable to control operation of the device; and

a radio frequency signal supplier operable to supply a radio frequency carrier signal; and

a first inductive coupler operable to couple the radio frequency carrier signal inductively to a second inductive coupler of the removable housing portion when the removable housing portion is connected to the main body,

the removable housing portion having;

a memory;

a power supply deriver operable to derive a power supply from the radio frequency signal supplied by the portable communications device when the first and second inductive couplers are inductively coupled;

a second controller operable to read data from the memory in response to derivation of a power supply by the power supply deriver;

a radio frequency signal modulator operable to modulate a radio frequency carrier signal supplied by the radio frequency signal supplier of the main body and inductively coupled to the second inductive coupler in accordance with the data read from the memory; and

the main body having;

a detector operable to detect the effect of the radio frequency signal modulator on the radio frequency carrier signal to affect the operation of the portable communications device.

2. A system comprising a portable communications device and a data storage device;

the data storage device having;

a power supply deriver operable to derive a power supply from a radio frequency signal supplied by the portable communications device, a controller operable to read data from a memory in response to derivation of a power supply by the power supply deriver, and a modulator operable to modulate the radio frequency signal in accordance with the data stored by the memory; and

the portable communications device comprising;

a transceiver operable to enable transmission and reception of communications over a mobile telecommunications network;

a device controller operable to control operation of the device;

a radio frequency signal supplier that, when a first inductive coupler of the portable communications device is inductively coupled to a second inductive coupler of any article carrying said data storage device, causes the data storage device to derive a power supply from the radio frequency signal supplied by the portable communications device and to modulate the radio frequency signal in accordance with data read from the memory; and

a data extractor operable to extract the data from the modulated radio frequency signal to affect the operation of the portable communications device.

3. A system comprising a portable communications device and a data storage device;

the data storage device having a power supply deriver operable to derive a power supply from a radio frequency signal supplied by the portable communications device, a controller operable to read data from a memory in response to derivation of a power supply by the power supply deriver, and a modulator operable to modulate the radio frequency signal in accordance with the data stored by the memory; and

the portable communications device comprising;

a transceiver configured to enable transmission and reception of communications over a mobile telecommunications network;

a device controller operable to control operation of the device;

a reader having a radio frequency signal supplier and a first inductive coupler operable to couple inductively to a second inductive coupler of said data storage device, when the portable communications device is in close proximity to an article carrying the data storage device, to cause the data storage device to derive a power supply from a radio frequency signal supplied by the radio frequency signal supplier and to modulate the radio frequency signal supplied by the radio frequency signal supplier in accordance with data read from the memory; and

a data extractor operable to extract the data from the modulated radio frequency signal to affect an operation or service of the portable communications device.

4. A system according to claim 3, wherein the device controller is arranged to cause transmission of a communication over the mobile telecommunications network to a location on the network determined in accordance with the data received from the data storage device.

5. A system according to claim 3, wherein the radio frequency signal supplier comprises the transceiver.

6. A system according to claim 3, wherein the radio frequency signal supplier is independent of the transceiver.

7. A system according to claim 3, wherein the reader is provided in a reader unit on part of the portable communications device.

8. A system according to claim 3, wherein the portable communications device has a removable and/or exchangeable portion.

9. A system according to claim 8, wherein the portion comprises a fascia of the device.

10. A system according to claim 3, wherein the portable communications device further comprises a second data storage device having a memory storing data, wherein the portable communications device is operable to communicate data from the memory to the article.

11. A system according to claim 7, wherein the portable communications device further comprises a second data storage device having a memory storing data, wherein the portable communications device is operable to communicate data from the memory to the article, and wherein the second data storage device forms part of the reader.

12. A system according to claim 10, wherein the memory is a read-writable memory.

13. A system according to claim 3, wherein the portable communications device is arranged to communicate with an article having a read-writable memory and comprises a signal supplier operable to modulate the radio frequency signal in accordance with data to be written to the memory.

14. A system according to claim 3 wherein the portable communications device is in the form of a mobile telephone or cell phone or PDA.

15. A system comprising a portable communications device and a data storage device;

the data storage device having a data storage device inductive coupler, a power supply deriver operable to derive a power supply from a radio frequency signal supplied by the portable communications device, a controller operable to read data from a memory in response to derivation of a power supply by the power supply deriver, and a modulator operable to modulate the radio frequency signal in accordance with the data stored by the data storage device; and

the portable communications device comprising;

a telecommunications radio frequency transceiver operable to enable transmission and reception of communications over a mobile telecommunications network;

a controller operable to control operation of the portable communications device; and

a reader having;

a reader inductive coupler operable, when the portable communications device is in close proximity to an article carrying said data storage device, to inductively couple a radio frequency signal provided by a radio frequency signal supplier of the portable communications device to the data storage device inductive coupler, to cause the data storage device to derive a power supply from the radio frequency signal and to modulate the radio frequency signal in accordance with data read from the memory of the data storage device in response to derivation of a power supply by the power supply deriver and

a data extractor operable to extract the data from the modulated radio frequency signal to affect an operation or service of the portable communications device.

16. A system comprising a cellular telephone device and a data storage device;

the data storage device having a data storage device inductive coupler, a power supply deriver operable to derive a power supply from a radio frequency signal supplied by the portable communications device, a controller operable to read data from a memory in response to derivation of a power supply by the power supply deriver, and a modulator operable to modulate the radio frequency signal in accordance with the data stored by the data storage device; and

the cellular telephone device comprising;

a telecommunications radio frequency transceiver operable to enable transmission and reception of communications over a cellular telecommunications network;

a display operable to display data to a user;

a keypad to enable a user to input data to the cellular telephone;

a microphone operable to receive spoken user input;

a loudspeaker;

a controller operable to control operation of the cellular telephone device; and

a reader having;

a reader inductive coupler operable, when the portable communications device is in close proximity to an article carrying said data storage device, to inductively couple a radio frequency signal provided by a radio frequency signal supplier of the portable communications device to the data storage device inductive coupler, to cause the data storage device to derive a power supply from the radio frequency signal and to modulate the radio frequency signal in accordance with data read from the memory of the data storage device in response to derivation of a power supply by the power supply deriver and

a data extractor operable to extract the data from the modulated radio frequency signal to affect an operation or service of the cellular telephone device.