Universal console for portable telephones

• US 8,078,241 B2
• Filed: 12/01/2006
• Issued: 12/13/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Modulprodukter AS
• Original Assignee: Modulprodukter AS
• Inventors: Magnussen, Per
• Primary Examiner(s): Brandt, Christopher M
• Application Number:
  US12/086,261
• Publication Number:
  US 20090163252A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,838 Days
• Field of Search: 455/569.1, 455/575.1, 455/569.2, 455/575.9, 455/573, 379/455
• US Class Current: 455/575.9
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/0241 for telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/04 Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers

Abstract

A universal console for portable telephones with electrical connection points is disclosed, where the connecting part in the console is arranged to adapt to the design of the telephone connections.

Claims

1. A universal console connectable to a vehicle'"'"'s electrical system and operable with different specific portable telephones of which each has a set of electrical connection points in its own grid pattern and each has its own scannable product-specific code that identifies the specific grid pattern of electrical connection points associated with that particular telephone, comprising:

a. a holder adapted to receive and hold different ones of said telephones,

b. an electronic scanner capable of reading the product-specific code on each of said different portable telephones when it is viewed by said scanner,

c. a computer controller electrically coupled to said scanner and having a memory containing data of grid patterns of said different telephones corresponding to said product-specific codes thereon,

d. an electrical contact box mounted to said holder,

e. a plurality of electrical contacts in said contact box, with selected ones of said electrical contacts being positionable between,

i. an active position where said electrical contacts form a grid pattern corresponding to the grid pattern of contact points of a telephone that is received in said holder and whose product-specific code has been scanned and identified by said scanner, and

ii. an inactive position where said electrical contacts will not electrically couple with any connection points of said received telephone, and

f. a drive unit controlled by said computer controller that selectively positions said electrical contacts in said contact box into a grid pattern that electrically matches the grid pattern of connection points of said received portable telephone for connection therewith when said portable telephone is inserted into said holder and for operating said portable telephone and console together.

2. The universal console according to claim 1 where said portable telephone received in holder both include microphone and speaker elements, and said central computer controller operates said microphone and speaker elements of said holder in place of said microphone and speaker elements in said portable telephone.

3. The universal console according to claim 1 where said received portable telephone has a battery that is chargeable through selected ones of said electrical contacts in said contact box.

4. The universal console according to claim 1 where said electrical contacts are positioned for contact with said portable telephone'"'"'s connection points by moving said contact box until said electrical contacts engage said connection points.

5. The universal console according to claim 1, wherein said electrical contacts comprise connection pins are moved in or out of the contact box by means of electromagnetic spools that move said connection pins in their axial direction.

6. The universal console according to claim 5, wherein said connecting pins are arranged in parallel rows and are moved in or out of the contact box by turning the connection pins up from a flat position.

7. The universal console according to claim 1, wherein said computer controller is arranged to transfer audio data from at least one microphone and one speaker of said telephone to said at least one microphone and speaker respectively of said console.

8. The universal console according to claim 1, wherein said contact box is adapted to operate only with one of said specified portable telephones.

9. The universal console according to claim 1, wherein said console further comprises operating keys, a display, internal speakers and microphone, or other suitable operational means.

10. The universal console according to claim 1, wherein each of said portable telephones is equipped with a ID chip, and said console comprises a ID chip reader for identification of the portable telephone type.

11. The universal console according to claim 1, where the data regarding the available types of portable telephones includes the form of their electrical contact points and circuit diagrams.

12. The universal console according to claim 1, where said scanner is situated on said holder in a location where it can scan said product-specific code of a phone as the phone is inserted into said holder.