Universal connection for cellular telephone interface

• US 5,535,274 A
• Filed: 04/19/1994
• Issued: 07/09/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cellport Systems Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Cellport Labs Inc.
• Inventors: Kennedy, Patrick J., Volan, Gregory D., Braitberg, Michael F., Andrea, Davide, Hatcher, Lester B.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hofsass, Jeffery
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chiang, Jack
• Application Number:
  US08/229,956
• Time in Patent Office: 812 Days
• Field of Search: 379/445, 379/454, 379/455, 379/446, 379/426, 379/59, 379/63, 655/89, 655/90, 248/224.1, 248/223.4, 248/224.2, 248/221.3, 248/222.1
• US Class Current: 379/446
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/16 for telephony
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 31/06 Intermediate parts for linking two coupling parts, e.g. adapter with a holder adapted for supporting apparatus to which its counterpart is attached H01R33/94
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00036 Charger exchanging data with battery
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/00047 with provisions for charging different types of batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0042 characterised by the mechanical construction
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0044 specially adapted for holding portable devices containing batteries H02J7/0045 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02J 7/0045 concerning the insertion or the connection of the batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3816 Mechanical arrangements for accommodating identification devices, e.g. cards or chips; with connectors for programming identification devices
• 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: H04B 1/3883 Arrangements for mounting batteries or battery chargers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0249 Details of the mechanical connection between the housing parts or relating to the method of assembly
• 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 1/738 Interface circuits for coupling substations to external telephone lines H04M1/78 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

A cellular telephone is interconnected to a host assembly via a cable. The cable contains both appropriate interdisciplinary connections for attachment to the telephone at one end and to the host assembly at the other end via a universal connector. The identity of the particular cellular telephone can be provided to the host assembly by a number of different protocols including the downloading of function-related parameters to the host assembly that are unique to the particular telephone. Accordingly the host assembly can function with any one of a variety of cellular telephones having differently configured cable connections. In one embodiment, a pocket adapter holds the cellular telephone and includes the universal connector.

Claims

1. An apparatus for use with a selected one of a plurality of cellular telephones, comprising:

a first pocket device having a body with a receiving section and an electrical interface, said receiving section for use in holding a first cellular telephone and having a first physical configuration including first dimensions, said electrical interface including a number of signal output conductors that have a predetermined physical arrangement;

a second pocket device having a body with a receiving section and an electrical interface, said receiving section for use in holding a second cellular telephone and having a second physical configuration including second dimensions that are different from said first physical configuration and said dimensions of said receiving section of said first pocket device and in which said receiving section of said second pocket device is unable to properly hold the first cellular telephone and said receiving section of said first pocket device is unable to properly hold the second cellular telephone, said electrical interface of said second pocket device including a number of signal output conductors that have a predetermined physical arrangement that is the same as said predetermined physical arrangement of said signal output conductors of said electrical interface of said first pocket device;

a common connector connectable to each of said electrical interfaces of each of said first and said second pocket devices, with said common connector being selected for connection to said electrical interface of said first pocket device using said predetermined physical arrangement of said signal output conductors;

a common device for providing at least a first predetermined function associated with a plurality of cellular telephones including the first cellular telephone and the second cellular telephone, said common device being detachably connected to said body of said first pocket device; and

communication means for providing electrical communication between said common device and said electrical interface of said first pocket device using said common connector;

wherein when said body of said first pocket device, while properly holding the first cellular telephone, is detached from said common device, said number of signal output conductors are also detached with said body while said communication means maintains electrical communication between said first pocket device and said common device.

2. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

one of said first pocket device and said common device includes a latching assembly and the other one of said common device and said first pocket device includes a retaining clip and in which said latching assembly and said retaining clip are joined together to detachably connect said body of said first pocket device and said common device together.

3. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 2, wherein:

PG,48 said retaining clip has a movable spring member and said latching assembly has a channel for receiving said spring member.

4. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 3, wherein:

said latching assembly includes a catch member adjacent to said channel for engaging said spring member.

5. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 2, wherein:

said latching assembly includes a movable release member.

6. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 2, wherein:

said latching assembly includes at least one lip for use in preventing movement of said spring member.

7. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 2, wherein:

said retaining clip has at least one flange for use in engaging a lip of said latching assembly to limit movement of said spring member.

8. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said first pocket device includes means for providing information related to an identity of the first cellular telephone.

9. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 8, wherein:

said means for providing information includes a memory device.

10. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 9, wherein:

said memory device provides function-related parameters that differ among different cellular telephones and said function-related parameters are used in identifying the first cellular telephone when it is connected to said first pocket device.

11. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said receiving section of said first pocket device includes a recessed area and first and second side walls for use in properly holding the first cellular telephone and said receiving section of said second pocket device includes a recessed area and first and second side walls for use in properly holding the second cellular telephone and in which said recessed area and first and second side walls of said second pocket device have a greater size than said recessed area and first and second side walls of said first pocket device.

12. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said first predetermined function includes charging a battery of the first cellular telephone.

13. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 12, wherein:

said common device is located at one of the following;

(a) adjacent to a wall mounted electrical outlet; and

(b) supported on a laterally extending surface.

14. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said first pocket device includes a conductor cable communicating with said electrical interface and a connector housing having electrical contacts in communication with said conductor cable, said connector housing for electrically communicating with the first cellular telephone.

15. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said electrical interface of said first pocket device has a first set of input conductors having a first physical arrangement for use with the first cellular telephone and said electrical interface of said second pocket device has a second set of input conductors having a second physical arrangement different from said first physical arrangement for use with the second cellular telephone wherein said first set of input conductors communicates with the first cellular telephone and not the second cellular telephone and said second set of input conductors communicates with the second cellular telephone and not the first cellular telephone.

16. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said first pocket device includes means for storing information and said common device includes processing means and in which said information is controllable to be downloaded to said processing means.

17. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said first predetermined function includes charging a battery of the first cellular telephone and in which a source of power for charging the battery of the first cellular telephone is separate from each of said first pocket device, said second pocket device, said common device, said common connector and said communication means.

18. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said signal output conductors include at least one conductor electrically communicating with a speaker that is provided as part of said common device for hands-free operation of the first cellular telephone.

19. An apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein:

said first pocket device includes an antenna coupler contained in said body and being different from any antenna separate from said first pocket device.