Electrical devices

• US 7,392,059 B2
• Filed: 08/10/2005
• Issued: 06/24/2008
• 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:
  US11/200,174
• Publication Number:
  US 20070001005A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,049 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 system comprising:

a portable communications device having communicator operable to communicate over a network, a signal supplier operable to supply a carrier signal and a controller operable to control operation of the portable communications device; and

an item carrying a passive data storer having a memory storing functional data having a function other than identification of the item or the passive data storer, a power deriver operable to derive a power supply for the data storage device from the carrier signal when the item is in the vicinity of the portable communications device, and a modulator operable to modulate the carrier signal in accordance with functional 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 functional data from a modulated carrier signal and the controller being operable to enable at least one operation to be carried out in accordance with the function of the extracted functional data.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the item comprises cardboard or paper.

3. A system according to claim 2, wherein the communicator of the portable communications device is operable to communicate with another device in order to enable the at least one operation to be carried out in accordance with the function of the extracted functional data.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein the item comprises at least one of a promotional item, promotional literature, an advertising hoarding or similar advertising material, a poster, a ticket, product packaging such as a product box or wrapping.

5. A system according to claim 4, wherein the communicator of the portable communications device is operable to communicate with another device in order to enable payment to be effected to enable the at least one operation to be carried out in accordance with the function of the extracted functional data.

6. A system according to claim 1, wherein the functional data comprises functional data relating to at least one of:

a function of or associated with the portable communications device; and

a function of or associated with the item.

7. A system according to claim 1, wherein the communicator of the portable communications device is operable to communicate with another device in order to enable the at least one operation to be carried out in accordance with the function of the extracted functional data.

8. A system according to claim 1, wherein the communicator of the portable communications device is operable to communicate with another device in order to enable payment to be effected to enable the at least one operation to be carried out in accordance with the function of the extracted functional data.

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

10. A system according to claim 1, wherein the signal supplier is operable to supply a radio frequency signal as the carrier signal.

11. A 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.

12. A system according to claim 1, wherein the item comprises cardboard or paper and the item comprises at least one of a promotional item, promotional literature, an advertising hoarding or similar advertising material, a poster, a ticket, product packaging such as a product box or wrapping.

13. A system according to claim 1, wherein the item comprises cardboard or paper and the functional data comprises functional data relating to at least one of:

a function of or associated with the portable communications device; and

a function of or associated with the item.

14. A system according to claim 1, wherein the item comprises cardboard or paper, the item comprises at least one of a promotional item, promotional literature, an advertising hoarding or similar advertising material, a poster, a ticket, product packaging such as a product box or wrapping and the functional data comprises functional data relating to at least one of:

a function of or associated with the portable communications device; and

a function of or associated with the item.

15. An item for use with a portable communications device having a communicator operable to communicate over a network and a signal supplier operable to supply a carrier signal, the item carrying a data storer, the data storer having a memory storing functional data having a function other than identification of the item or the passive data storer, a power deriver operable to derive a power supply for the data storage device from a carrier signal supplied by signal supplier of the portable communications device when the item is in the vicinity of the portable communications device, and a modulator operable to modulate the carrier signal in accordance with functional data read from the memory in response to derivation of a power supply by the power supply deriver.

16. An item according to claim 15, wherein the item comprises a cardboard or paper item.

17. An item according to claim 15, wherein the item comprises at least one of a promotional item, promotional literature, an advertising hoarding or similar advertising material, a poster, a ticket, product packaging such as a product box or wrapping.

18. An item according to claim 15, wherein the functional data comprises functional data relating to at least one of:

a function of or associated with the portable communications device; and

a function of or associated with the item.

19. A system comprising:

a portable communications device having communication means for communicating over a network, signal supplying means for supplying a carrier signal and control means for controlling operation of the portable communications device; and

an item carrying data storage means having a memory storing functional data having a function other than identification of the item or the passive data storage means, power deriving means for deriving a power supply for the data storage device from the carrier signal when the item is in the vicinity of the portable communications device, and modulation means for modulating the carrier signal in accordance with functional 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 functional data from a modulated carrier signal and the control means being operable to enable at least one operation to be carried out in accordance with the function of the extracted functional data.

20. An item for use with a portable communications device having communication means for communicating over a network and signal supplying means for supplying a carrier signal, the item carrying data storage means, the data storage means having a memory storing functional data having a function other than identification of the item or the passive data storage means, power deriving means for deriving a power supply for the data storage device from a carrier signal supplied by signal supplying means of the portable communications device when the item is in the vicinity of the portable communications device, and modulation means for modulating the carrier signal in accordance with functional data read from the memory in response to derivation of a power supply by the power supply deriving means.