Communication device with multiple detachable communication modules

• US 8,437,813 B2
• Filed: 05/11/2012
• Issued: 05/07/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/07/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Griffin, Jason Tyler, Lazaridis, Mihal, Infanti, James Carl, Edmonson, Peter J.
• Primary Examiner(s): BALAOING, ARIEL A
• Application Number:
  US13/469,602
• Publication Number:
  US 20120225699A1
• Time in Patent Office: 361 Days
• Field of Search: 455/575.2, 455/569.1, 455/575.1, 455/552.1, 379/420.04, 379/433.01
• US Class Current: 455/575.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/385 Transceivers carried on the body, e.g. in helmets
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3877 Arrangements for enabling portable transceivers to be used in a fixed position, e.g. cradles or boosters
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0258 for a headset device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6066 including a wireless connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6091 including a wireless interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface

Abstract

A wireless communication device has a docking cavity, a short-range transceiver, and a long-range transceiver for long-range wireless communication with a wireless network. A wireless communication module includes a speaker and a microphone, and a short-range transceiver for short-range wireless communication with the device'"'"'s short-range transceiver. The module is configured to operate in first and second modes. In the first mode, the module is separated from the communication device. In the second mode, the module is mounted in the cavity. In both modes, communication between a user and the network is conducted through the module'"'"'s microphone and speaker, both short-range transceivers and the long-range transceiver.

Claims

1. A communication apparatus comprising:

a wireless communication device including an internal transceiver; and

a detachable module that includes a speaker and a microphone and is configured to be detachable and separable from the wireless communication device and to have a mounted operative mode and a mounted inoperative mode;

in the mounted operative mode, the detachable module is mounted on the wireless communication device and oriented with the speaker facing away from the wireless communication device, for voice communication to be conducted through the speaker and the microphone and the wireless communication device'"'"'s transceiver; and

in the mounted inoperative mode, the module is mounted on the wireless communication device and oriented with the speaker facing toward the wireless communication device and is inoperative for conducting communication, such that orientation of the module automatically selects between the mounted operative mode and the mounted inoperative mode.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the detachable module is further configured to have an unmounted operative mode in which the detachable module is detached and separated from the wireless communication device and operative for voice communication to be conducted through the speaker and the microphone and the wireless communication device'"'"'s transceiver.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the wireless communication device is a handheld mobile communication device.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the communication device'"'"'s internal transceiver is configured to transmit and receive over a cellular network.

5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the wireless communication device includes a computer.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the wireless communication device includes a docking cavity into which the detachable module'"'"'s speaker is inserted when the detachable module is in the mounted inoperative mode.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein, in the mounted inoperative mode, the detachable module is recharged by the wireless communication device.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 wherein, also in the mounted operative mode, the detachable module is recharged by the wireless communication device.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 wherein the detachable module has a first set of charging terminals on one side of the detachable module and a second set of charging terminals on an opposite side of the detachable module, to enable recharging the detachable module through the first set when the detachable module is in the mounted inoperative mode position and through the second set when the detachable module is in the mounted operative mode position.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the wireless communication device includes a microphone and a speaker for use in voice communication through the wireless communication device'"'"'s transceiver.

11. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a wired communication device configured for wired communication with a wired network, the wired communication device including a short range transceiver for short range communication with the detachable module, for communication to be conducted through the detachable module'"'"'s microphone and speaker, the wired communication device'"'"'s short-range transceiver and through the wired communication device to the wired network.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a wired communication device configured for wired communication with a wired network, the wired communication device including a short range transceiver for short range communication with the wireless communication device'"'"'s transceiver, so that in the mounted operative mode, communication can be conducted through the detachable module'"'"'s microphone and speaker, the wireless communication device'"'"'s transceiver and the wired communication device'"'"'s short-range transceiver and through the wired communication device to the wired network.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the wired communication device includes charging terminals for charging the wireless communication device, and the wireless communication device is configured to be in a mounted position mounted on the wired communication device while being charged through the wired communication device'"'"'s terminals.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein the wireless communication device is configured to charge the detachable module while the wireless communication device is mounted on and charged from the wired communication device.

15. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the detachable module'"'"'s speaker is configured to be placed in an ear.

16. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the detachable module is configured to turn off automatically when moved, from being separated from the wireless communication device, into a mounted position corresponding to the mounted inoperative mode.

17. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the detachable module is configured to turn on automatically when becoming separated from the wireless communication device after being in a mounted position corresponding to the mounted inoperative mode.

18. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the wireless communication device is enabled for data communication and would be, if not for the detachable module, not enabled for voice communication.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the apparatus is configured to enable a user to, in a single phone call, communicate voice using the detachable module and communicate data using the wireless communication device.

20. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the wireless communication device includes a camera component and the date conveys images captured by the camera component.