Multi-functional detached mobile phone

• US 7,725,141 B2
• Filed: 01/08/2007
• Issued: 05/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Wang Su
• Original Assignee: Wang Su
• Inventors: Su, Wang
• Primary Examiner(s): Anderson; Matthew D
• Assistant Examiner(s): Safaipour; Bobbak
• Application Number:
  US11/650,652
• Publication Number:
  US 20080167080A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,233 Days
• Field of Search: 455/575.1, 455/575.2, 455/575.3, 455/566
• US Class Current: 455/575.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/088 with parts of the receiver detachable or collapsible
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3827 Portable transceivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0214 Foldable telephones, i.e. with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position combined with translation movement H04M1/0235
• 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 1/72427 for supporting games or graphical animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion

Abstract

An improved portable mobile phone is disclosed wherein the mobile phone comprises two modules and the mobile phone can function properly when the two modules are physically connected as well as when the two modules are detached, and wherein the mobile phone has two modes of operation, one of which is the communication mode of operation and another one of which is the entertainment mode of operation.

Claims

1. A mobile device comprising:

a first module having a display, a first power supply, a first microprocessor, a first radio;

a second module having a keypad, a second microprocessor, a second radio, a motion sensor, a second power supply; and

a first connector belonging to one of the first module and the second module;

wherein the first module and the second module are portable and can be physically attached to each other through the first connector and the mobile device is capable of functioning properly as one working set of units both when the first module and the second module are physically connected and when the two modules are physically detached, and wherein the mobile device is capable of communicating with a remote unit through a first wireless communication link, and wherein the first radio and the second radio are capable of communicating with each other through a second wireless communication link, and wherein the motion sensor is capable of producing an information for the calculation of a movement of the second module.

2. The mobile device of claim 1 wherein the first connector is capable of forming both a mechanical connection and an electrical connection.

3. The mobile device of claim 1 further comprising a second connector wherein the second connector is capable of connecting to the first connector.

4. The mobile device of claim 1 further comprising a third radio.

5. The mobile device of claim 4 wherein the third radio is capable of communicating with a remote device using a first wireless communication protocol, the first radio and the second radio are capable of communicating with each other using a second wireless communication protocol, and the first wireless communication protocol is different from the second wireless communication protocol.

6. The mobile device of claim 5 wherein the first wireless communication protocol is a cellular communication protocol.

7. The mobile device of claim 5 wherein the first wireless communication protocol is IEEE 802.11 communication protocol.

8. The mobile device of claim 5 wherein the second wireless communication protocol is the Bluetooth protocol.

9. The mobile device of claim 1 further comprising an image sensor and a light source, wherein the image sensor and the light source are placed in different housings and wherein the image sensor is capable of producing an additional information for the calculation of a relative movement between the first module and the second module.

10. The mobile device of claim 9 wherein the light source comprises infrared light-emitting diodes.

11. The mobile device of claim 1 further comprising a microphone and a speaker.

12. The mobile device of claim 1 wherein at least one of the first microprocessor and the second microprocessor is adapted to redistribute powers from the first power supply and the second power supply after an electrical connection is detected between the first module and the second module.

13. A method for operating an improved mobile device comprising the steps of:

receiving phone calls with the improved mobile device;

sending out wireless signals with the improved mobile device through a first wireless communication link;

physically detaching a first module having a display and a second module having a keypad, wherein the improved mobile device is capable of functioning properly as one working set of units both when the first module and the second module are physically connected and when the two modules are physically detached turning on a second wireless communication link between the first module and the second module;

displaying images on the display of the first module;

receiving dialing numbers from the keypad of the second module for wireless communication with a remote device;

sensing a motion of the second module with a motion sensor and producing an information for the calculation of a movement of the second module and producing a result on the first module in reaction to the motion of the second module; and

generating a feedback when a phone call is received.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the first wireless communication link uses a first wireless communication protocol and the second wireless communication links uses a second wireless communication protocol, and the first wireless communication protocol is different from the second wireless communication protocol.

15. The method of claim 13 further comprising the step of sensing a light from the first module and producing an additional information for the calculation of a relative movement between the first module and the second module.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein the result on the first module in reaction to the motion of the second module is changing an image on the display of the first module.

17. The method of claim 13 further comprising the steps of detecting a connection between the first module and the second module and turning off the second wireless communication link after the connection is detected.

18. The method of claim 13 further comprising the steps of detecting a connection between the first module and the second module and redistributing powers supplied from a first power supply and a second power supply after the connection is detected.

19. A mobile device comprising:

a first module having a display, a first power supply, a first microprocessor, a first radio means for conducting wireless communications;

a second module having a keypad means for receiving inputs, a second microprocessor, a second radio means for conducting wireless communications, a motion sensor means for detecting motions, a second power supply; and

a first connector means belonging to one of the first module and the second module for forming a connection;

wherein the first module and the second module are portable and can be physically attached to each other through the first connector means and the mobile device is capable of functioning properly as one working set of units both when the first module and the second module are physically connected and when the two modules are physically detached and wherein the mobile device is capable of communicating with a remote unit through a first wireless communication link, and wherein the first radio means and the second radio means are capable of communicating with each other through a second wireless communication link, and wherein the motion sensor means is capable of producing an information for the calculation of a movement of the second module.

20. The mobile device of claim 19 further comprising a third radio means for conducting wireless communications.