Accessory part for a mobile station

• US 7,512,416 B2
• Filed: 03/14/2002
• Issued: 03/31/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/14/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Intellectual Ventures I LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Spyder Navigations LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Elomaa, Timo, Arell, Kati, Eroma, Valtteri
• Primary Examiner(s): Pérez-Gutiérrez; Rafael
• Assistant Examiner(s): Patel; Nimesh
• Application Number:
  US10/508,097
• Publication Number:
  US 20050219843A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,574 Days
• Field of Search: 455/557, 455/556.1, 455/556.2, 455/575.2, 455/559, 455/66.1, 348/414.1, 348/374, 348/375
• US Class Current: 455/557
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/05 specially adapted for use on head, throat or breast
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6058 involving the use of a headset accessory device connected to the portable telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/52 including functional features of a camera constructional features concerning the integration of cameras in portable phones H04M1/0264

Abstract

The invention relates to an accessory part for a mobile station. In order to facilitate the use of the mobile station, it is proposed that the accessory part comprises a headset 8, 9 as well as a digital camera 3. Both can be connected simultaneously via a connector 1 of the accessory part to a mobile station. Thus, a user only has to handle a single accessory part in order to make use of two different functions enabled by a mobile station. The invention equally relates to a mobile station with which such an accessory part can be employed.

Claims

1. An accessory part for a mobile station comprising:

a first earphone and a second earphone;

a first cable configured to connect the first earphone to a first portion of a connecting element and a second cable configured to connect the second earphone to a second portion of the connecting element, wherein the first portion of the connecting element is detachable from the second portion of the connecting element;

a third cable configured to connect the first portion of the connecting element to a camera and a fourth cable configured to connect the second portion of the connecting element to the camera;

a microphone mounted to at least one of the first cable, the second cable, the third cable, or the fourth cable;

the camera;

a fifth cable configured to connect the camera and a connector; and

the connector, wherein the connector is configured to simultaneously plug the first earphone, the second earphone, the microphone, and the camera into a mobile station.

2. The accessory part of claim 1, wherein the connector is configured to receive image data from the camera, provide the received image data to the mobile station, and exchange audio data with the first earphone, the second earphone, and the microphone.

3. The accessory part of claim 1, wherein the third cable, the fourth cable, and the connecting element form a loop-like structure configured to be placed around a neck of a user.

4. The accessory part according to claim 1, wherein the fifth cable is downstream relative to the camera such that the fifth cable extends between the camera and the connector, and further wherein the third cable is upstream relative to the camera such that the third cable extends between the camera and the connecting element.

5. The accessory part according to claim 1, wherein the third cable is downstream relative to the connecting element such that the third cable extends between the connecting element and the camera, and further wherein the first cable is upstream relative to the connecting element such that the first cable extends between the connecting element and the first earphone.

6. The accessory part according to claim 1, wherein said camera comprises at least a lens and a shutter for said lens.

7. The accessory part according to claim 1, wherein said camera is a digital camera and comprises at least a lens and an image sensor.

8. The accessory part according to claim 7, wherein said camera comprises a hatch movable between a first position in which said hatch covers said lens, and a second position in which said hatch does not cover said lens.

9. The accessory part according to claim 1, wherein said camera comprises a hatch movable between a first position and a second position, and wherein moving said hatch from said first position to said second position alternates an electronic connection of the mobile station.

10. The accessory part according to claim 1, wherein said camera is a digital camera, wherein said digital camera comprises a hatch movable between a first position and a second position, and wherein moving said hatch from said first position to said second position causes said digital camera to turn on.

11. The accessory part according to claim 1, wherein said camera includes a view finder.

12. The accessory part according to claim 1, wherein said camera comprises operating means for enabling a user to take a picture with said camera.

13. The accessory part according to claim 1, wherein said camera is a digital video camera comprising operating means for enabling a user to make a video.

14. The accessory part according to claim 13, wherein said operating means enable the user to switch said digital video camera between a still mode for capturing still images and a video mode for capturing the video.

15. The accessory part according to claim 1, wherein said camera further comprises a memory for storing the image data taken with said camera.

16. The accessory part according to claim 1, wherein said camera further comprises means for transmitting the image data from said camera to the mobile station.

17. The accessory part according to claim 1, wherein said camera further comprises an LED (light emitting diode) for indicating a current state of said camera.

18. The accessory part according to claim 1, wherein said camera is integrated into at least one of the third cable, the fourth cable, or the fifth cable.