Electrical devices

• US 7,373,170 B2
• Filed: 08/10/2005
• Issued: 05/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• 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:
  US11/200,166
• Publication Number:
  US 20050269403A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,007 Days
• Field of Search: 455/550.1, 455/558, 455/557, 235/375, 348/734
• 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 vending system comprising:

a vending device operable to enable at least one product or service to be supplied to a user, the vending device carrying a passive data storer having a memory storing data relating to the at least one product or service; and

a portable communications device having a communicator operable to communicate over a network and a signal supplier operable to supply a carrier signal,

the passive data storer carried by the vending device having a power deriver operable to derive a power supply for the passive data storer from the carrier signal when the portable communications device is in the vicinity of the passive data storer and a modulator operable to modulate the carrier signal in accordance with data read from the memory in response to derivation of a power supply by the power supply deriver, the portable communications device having a data extractor operable to extract data from a modulated carrier signal and a controller operable to enable the user to be supplied with the at least one product or service.

2. A vending system according to claim 1, wherein the controller is operable to cause the communicator to access a location on the network identified by data extracted by the data extractor to enable the user to be supplied with the at least one product or service.

3. A vending system according to claim 2, wherein the vending device has a user input to enable a user to input authorisation data to enable the vending of the at least one product or service.

4. A vending system according to claim 3, wherein the location on the network is associated with a service provider and wherein the service provider is operable to debit an account in response to the communicator accessing the location on the network.

5. A vending system according to claim 2, wherein the vending device has a user input to enable a user to input authorisation data received by the communicator to enable the vending of the at least one product or service.

6. A vending system according to claim 2, wherein the location on the network is associated with a service provider and wherein the service provider is operable to debit an account in response to the communicator accessing the location on the network.

7. A vending system according to claim 1, wherein the vending device has a vending outlet operable to supply the at least one product or service or an item relating to the at least one product or service directly to the user.

8. A vending system according to claim 1, wherein the vending device carries plural passive data storage devices each associated with a different product or service.

9. A vending system according to claim 1, wherein the vending device has a user interface presenting to the user information relating to the or each product or service.

10. A vending system according to claim 1, wherein the vending device carries plural passive data storage devices each associated with a different product or service and the vending device has a respective description of the corresponding product or service associated with each passive data storage device.

11. A vending system according to claim 1, wherein the portable communications device comprises at least one of a mobile telephone and a personal digital assistant.

12. A vending system according to claim 1, wherein the passive data storer and the portable communications device are operable to couple inductively when the portable communications device is in the vicinity of the passive data storer.

13. A vending device for use in a vending system according to claim 1 for enabling at least one product or service to be supplied to a user, the vending device carrying a passive data storer having a memory storing data relating to the at least one product or service, the passive data storer carried by the vending device having a power denver operable to derive a power supply for the passive data storer from a carrier signal supplied by a signal supplier of a portable communications device when the portable communications device is in the vicinity of the passive data storer and a modulator operable to modulate the carrier signal in accordance with data read from the memory in response to derivation of a power supply by the power supply deriver so as to enable the read data to be communicated to the portable communications device, the vending device being operable to enable the user to be supplied with the at least one product or service.

14. A vending device according to claim 13, wherein the supply of the at least one product or service is in response to authorisation data received by a network communicator of the portable communications device from a location on the network identified by data read from the memory.

15. A vending device according to claim 13, further comprising a user input that enables a user to input authonisation data received by the communicator to enable the vending of the at least one product or service.

16. A vending system according to claim 13, further comprising a vending outlet for supplying the at least one product or service or an item relating to the at least one product or service to the user in response to authorisation data received by the communicator.

17. A portable communications device for use in a vending system according to claim 1 comprising a vending device carrying a passive data storer having a memory storing data relating to the at least one product or service, the portable communications device having a communicator operable to communicate over a network and a signal supplier operable to supply a carrier signal which, when the portable communications device is in the vicinity of the passive data storer, causes a power denver of the passive data storer to derive a power supply from the carrier signal and to modulate the carrier signal in accordance with data read from the memory, the portable communications device also having a data extractor operable to extract data from a modulated carrier signal to enable the user to be supplied with the at least one product or service.

18. A portable communication device according to claim 17, further comprising a controller operable to cause the communicator to access a location on the network identified by the data extracted by the data extractor to enable the user to be supplied with the at least one product or service in response to authorisation data received by the communicator.

19. A payment system comprising a portable communications device having a communicator operable to communicate over a network and a signal supplier operable to supply a carrier signal which, when the portable communications device is in the vicinity of a passive data storer, causes a power denver of the passive data storer to derive a power supply from the carrier signal and the passive data storer to modulate the carrier signal in accordance with data read from a memory of the passive data storer, the portable communications device also having a data extractor operable to extract data from a modulated carrier signal and a controller operable to use data extracted by the data extractor to enable payment for the at least one product or service to be effected by the portable communications device.

20. A payment system according to claim 19, wherein the controller is operable to use data extracted by the data extractor to enable the communicator to access a location on the network to enable payment to be effected.

21. A vending system comprising:

a vending device for enabling at least one product or service to be supplied to a user, the vending device carrying passive data storage means having a memory storing data relating to the at least one product or service; and

a portable communications device having communication means for communicating over a network and signal supplying means for supplying a carrier signal,

the passive data storage means carried by the vending device having power deriving means for deriving a power supply for the passive data storage means from the carrier signal when the portable communications device is in the vicinity of the passive data storage means and modulation means for modulating the carrier signal in accordance with data read from the memory in response to derivation of a power supply by the power supply deriving means, the portable communications device having data extracting means for extracting data from a modulated carrier signal and control means operable to enable the user to be supplied with the at least one product or service.

22. A payment system comprising a portable communications device having communication means for communicating over a network and signal supplying means for supplying a carrier signal which, when the portable communications device is in the vicinity of passive data storage means, causes power deriving means of the passive data storage means to derive a power supply from the carrier signal and to modulate the carrier signal in accordance with data read from a memory of the passive data storage means, the portable communications device also having data extracting means for extracting data from a modulated carrier signal and control means operable to use data extracted by the data extracting means to enable payment for the at least one product or service to be effected by the portable communications device.