User interface unit for a telephone

• US 8,195,145 B2
• Filed: 04/16/2004
• Issued: 06/05/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Mobile Communications AB (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Mobile Communications AB (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Angelhag, Anders
• Primary Examiner(s): Batista, Marcos
• Application Number:
  US10/554,771
• Publication Number:
  US 20070042809A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,972 Days
• Field of Search: 455/420, 455/466
• US Class Current: 455/420
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 11/02 for radio sets, television sets, telephones, or the like; Arrangement of controls thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6075 adapted for handsfree use in a vehicle H04M1/6058 takes precedence; arrangements for holding telephones in a vehicle B60R11/0241
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6091 including a wireless interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface

Abstract

A user interface apparatus for remote control of a telephone having an input adapted for inputting telephone control signals; a display for outputting visual information, a communications unit adapted for short distance wireless signal communication; circuitry adapted to convey input telephone control signals and display control signals between the user interface apparatus and the telephone by the short distance wireless signal communication unit; wherein the circuitry is configured to adapt the input and output signals of the user interface apparatus to have the same properties as corresponding signals of the telephone.

Claims

1. A user interface apparatus for remote control of a telephone, comprising:

a user interface unit;

input means configured to input telephone control signals;

a display for outputting visual information,

communications means configured for short distance wireless data or signal communication with the telephone;

circuitry configured to convey input telephone control signals and display control signals between the user interface unit and the telephone by means of the short distance wireless signal communication means;

wherein the circuitry is configured to be transparent for or to imitate the signaling of the telephone for adapting the input and output signals of the user interface unit to have the same properties as corresponding signals of the telephone; and

wherein an electrical connector is coupled to the circuitry and configured to connect to signal lines from peripheral equipment of a vehicle to convey signals between the telephone and the peripheral equipment of the vehicle;

the user interface apparatus further comprising mechanical attachment means configured to detachably attach the user interface unit to corresponding attachment means of a holder, wherein the electrical connector is further configured to connect to a corresponding electrical connector of the holder, wherein the telephone control signals and display control signals comprise key inputs for remotely operating the telephone and wherein the user interface unit is configured to receive, interpret and present on the display visual information that is received from the telephone so as to imitate the signaling, electromechanical and logical properties of the telephone via the display control signal that comprises visual feedback from the telephone unit via the user interface that imitates the signaling, electromechanical and logical properties of the telephone.

2. The user interface apparatus of claim 1, wherein the holder comprises a docking unit.

3. The user interface apparatus of claim 1, wherein the user interface unit is configured to be intermediately coupled between and conveying signals between the telephone and peripheral equipment.

4. The user interface apparatus of claim 3, wherein the peripheral equipment is a hands free system.

5. The user interface apparatus of claim 3, wherein the peripheral equipment is a vehicle information system.

6. The user interface apparatus of claim 3, wherein the peripheral equipment is an entertainment system.

7. The user interface apparatus of claim 3, wherein the user interface apparatus is configured to be coupled to a power supply.

8. The user interface apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a connector slot for a battery, the connector slot being coupled to the circuitry.

9. The user interface apparatus of claim 8, wherein the connector slot is coupled to the electrical connector for connecting to a charging peripheral power supply.

10. The user interface apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a microphone and a loudspeaker coupled to the circuitry.

11. The user interface apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an input connector coupled to the circuitry for connecting a headset.

12. The user interface apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an adapter piece configured to mechanically and electrically fit to first mechanical attachment means and electrical connectors of the user interface unit and to second mechanical attachment means and electrical connectors of a docking unit.

13. The user interface apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an adapter piece having first mechanical attachment means configured to detachably attach to corresponding first mechanical attachment means of the user interface unit and second mechanical attachment means configured to detachably attach to corresponding second mechanical attachment means of a docking unit.

14. The user interface apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an adapter piece having a first electrical connector configured to connect to a corresponding first electrical connector of the user interface unit and a second electrical connector configured to detachably attach to a corresponding second electrical connector of a docking unit.

15. The user interface apparatus of claim 1, further comprising additional circuitry configured to adapt first signals of the user interface unit to second signals of peripheral equipment, and to adapt the second signals of the peripheral equipment to first signals of the user interface.

16. The user interface apparatus of claim 1, further comprising an adapter piece having circuitry configured to adapt first signals of the user interface unit to second signals of a docking unit.

17. The user interface apparatus of claim 1, wherein the display is touch sensitive and together with the circuitry is configured to display input keys for the input means.

18. The user interface apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a portable housing.

19. The user interface apparatus of claim 1, wherein the short distance wireless communication means is based on short distance radio communication.

20. The user interface apparatus of claim 1, wherein the short distance wireless communication means is based on short distance radio communication according to a Bluetooth ®

standard.

21. The user interface apparatus of claim 1, wherein the short distance wireless communication means is based on infrared signal communication.

22. The user interface apparatus of claim 1, further being configured to provide a first mode of operation with a first set of functionality and a second mode of operation with a second set of functionality, the second set of functionality being a subset of the first set of functionality.

23. The user interface apparatus of claim 22, wherein the second mode of operation is activated in response to the user interface being attached to a docking unit.

24. The user interface apparatus of claim 1, wherein the user interface unit includes a housing, and the input means, the display, the communications means and the circuitry are in the housing.

25. The user interface apparatus of claim 1, wherein the display control signal comprises operating parameters of the telephone, and the user interface unit is configured to receive, interpret and present on the display operating parameters of the telephone that are received as feedback from the telephone via the display control signal.