Communication accessory and method of telecommunicating for a PDA

• US 5,606,594 A
• Filed: 01/27/1994
• Issued: 02/25/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/1994
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dell USA LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell USA LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: O'Connor, Clint H., Register, David S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Coles, Sr., Edward L.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Williams, Kimberly A.
• Application Number:
  US08/187,931
• Time in Patent Office: 1,125 Days
• Field of Search: 379/58, 379/357, 379/428, 379/429, 379/433, 379/434, 379/447, 379/454, 379/419, 455/89, 455/90, 455/347, 455/66
• US Class Current: 455/556.2
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/38 Transceivers, i.e. devices in which transmitter and receiver form a structural unit and in which at least one part is used for functions of transmitting and receiving
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0254 comprising one or a plurality of mechanically detachable modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60

Abstract

Disclosed are a telephone accessory and method of telecommunicating for a personal digital accessory ("PDA"). The PDA includes a chassis of particular dimensions and input/output ("I/O") circuitry on a front surface of the chassis, the chassis containing processing circuitry coupled to the I/O circuitry. The telephone accessory comprises: (1) a body portion having a concave surface adapted to receive the chassis and first and second body extensions coupled to opposite ends of the body portion and (2) communications circuitry capable of being coupled to the processing circuitry in the chassis when the chassis is received into the concave surface on the body portion, the communications circuitry including a communications transceiver capable of coupling the processing circuitry to remote processing circuitry via a communications link.

Claims

1. A wireless communication accessory for use with a personal digital assistant (PDA), said PDA having a chassis of particular dimensions and input/output (I/O) circuitry on a front surface of said PDA chassis, said PDA chassis containing processing circuitry coupled to said I/O circuitry, said communication accessory comprising:

a body portion having an external surface adapted to removably receive said PDA chassis; and

communications circuitry capable of being coupled to said processing circuitry in said PDA chassis when said PDA chassis is removably received by said external surface on said body portion, said communications circuitry including a communications transceiver capable of coupling said processing circuitry to remote processing circuitry via a communications link.

2. The accessory as recited in claim 1 wherein said body portion includes first and second body extensions coupled to opposite ends of said body portion;

and

wherein said first body extension contains microphone circuitry for converting acoustical energy into electrical energy and said second extension contains speaker circuitry for converting electrical energy into acoustical energy, said microphone and speaker circuitry coupled to said communications circuitry to allow transmission and reception of voice.

3. The accessory as recited in claim 1 wherein said body portion includes first and second body extensions coupled to opposite ends of said body portion;

and

wherein said first and second body extensions are pivotally attached to said body portion to allow relative rotation therebetween, said first and second extensions able to assume a stowed position wherein said first and second body extensions are substantially parallel to said body portion and an operating position wherein said first and second body extensions are folded inward so as to form an acute angle with respect to said body portion.

4. The accessory as recited in claim 1 wherein said body portion includes first and second body extensions coupled to opposite ends of said body portion;

and

wherein said first and second body extensions are privotally attached to said body portion to allow relative rotation therebetween, said first and second body extensions able to assume a stowed position wherein said first and second body extensions are folded inward so as to overlap said concave surface of said body portion and an operating position wherein said first and second body extensions are unfolded outward so as to extend from said body portion to allow said concave surface to receive said chassis.

5. The accessory as recited in claim 1 wherein said external surface of said body portion conforms to said particular dimensions of said chassis to thereby allow said chassis to be received into a recess bounded by said external surface of said body portion.

6. The accessory as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

a first connector located on a surface of said chassis and a corresponding second connector located on said external surface of said body portion, said first and second connectors capable of removably and electrically coupling said processing circuitry to said communications circuitry when said external surface receives said chassis.

7. The accessory as recited in claim 1 further comprising storage circuitry located within said chassis and coupled to said processing circuitry for storing data for use by said processing and communications circuitry.

8. The accessory as recited in claim 1 wherein said body portion has a surface capable of removably receiving a battery pack, batteries within said battery pack capable of being coupled to said communications circuitry.

9. The accessory as recited in claim 1 wherein said communication accessory contains a permanent battery capable of supplying electric power to said processing circuitry.

10. The accessory as recited in claim 1 further comprising accessory detection circuitry capable of detecting when said communications circuitry is coupled to said processing circuitry.

11. The accessory as recited in claim 1 wherein said processing circuitry is capable of displaying information to a user via said I/O circuitry regarding an operation of said accessory.

12. A method of providing communications for a personal digital assistant (PDA), said PDA having a chassis of particular dimensions and input/output (I/O) circuitry on a front surface of said PDA chassis, said chassis containing processing circuitry coupled to said I/O circuitry, comprising the steps of:

removably receiving an external surface of said PDA chassis onto an external surface of a body portion of a wireless communication accessory, said communication accessory having first and second body extensions coupled to opposite ends of said body portion; and

coupling communications circuitry within said communication accessory to said processing circuitry in said PDA chassis when said PDA chassis is removably received by said external surface on said body portion, said communications circuitry including a communications transceiver capable of coupling said processing circuitry to remote processing circuitry via a communications link.

13. The method as recited in claim 12 further comprising the steps of:

converting acoustical energy into electrical energy with microphone circuitry within said first body extension;

converting electrical energy into acoustical energy with speaker circuitry within said second body extension; and

coupling said microphone and speaker circuitry to said communications circuitry to allow transmission and reception of voice.

14. The method as recited in claim 12 further comprising the step of pivoting said first and second body extensions with respect to said body portion, said first and second body extensions able to assume a stowed position wherein said first and second body extensions are substantially parallel to said body portion and an operating position wherein said first and second body extensions are folded inward so as to form an acute angle with respect to said body portion.

15. The method as recited in claim 12 further comprising the step of pivoting said first and second body extensions with respect to said body portion, said first and second body extensions able to assume a stowed position wherein said first and second body extensions are folded inward so as to overlap said external surface of said body portion and an operating position wherein said first and second body extensions are unfolded outward so as to extend from said body portion to allow said external surface to receive said chassis.

16. The method as recited in claim 12 wherein said external of said body portion surface conforms to said particular dimensions of said chassis to thereby allow said chassis to be received into a recess bounded by said external surface.

17. The method as recited in claim 12 further comprising the step of:

electrically and removably coupling said processing circuitry to said communications circuitry with a first connector located on a surface of said chassis and a corresponding second connector located on said external surface of said body portion when said external surface receives said chassis.

18. The method as recited in claim 12 further comprising the step of coupling storage circuitry located within said chassis to said processing circuitry, said storage circuitry capable of storing data for use by said processing and communications circuitry.

19. The method as recited in claim 12 further comprising the steps of:

removably receiving a battery pack onto a surface of said body portion; and

coupling batteries within said battery pack to said communications circuitry.

20. The method as recited in claim 12 further comprising the step of supplying electric power to said processing circuitry with a permanent battery within said communication accessory.

21. The method as recited in claim 12 further comprising the step of detecting when said communications circuitry is coupled to said processing circuitry with accessory detection circuitry.

22. The method as recited in claim 12 further comprising the step of displaying information to a user via said I/O circuitry regarding an operation of said accessory.

23. A wireless telephone accessory for use with a personal digital assistant (PDA), the PDA having a chassis of particular dimensions and a display device on a front surface of said chassis, said chassis containing processing circuitry coupled to said display device, said telephone accessory comprising:

a body portion having a recessed, external surface adapted to removably receive an external surface of said PDA chassis and first and second body extensions coupled to opposite ends of said body portion and pivotally attached to said body portion to allow relative rotation therebetween, said first and second body extensions able to assume a stowed position wherein said first and second body extensions are folded outward so as to be substantially parallel to said body portion and an operating position wherein said first and second body extensions are folded inward so as to form an acute angle with respect to said body portion;

a microphone circuit capable of converting acoustical energy into electrical energy located in said first body extension;

a speaker circuit capable of converting electrical energy into acoustical energy located in said second body extension; and

communications circuitry capable of being removably coupled to said processing circuitry in said PDA chassis when said external surface of said PDA chassis is received into said recessed, external surface on said body portion, said communications circuitry including a communications transceiver capable of coupling said microphone, speaker and processing circuitry to a remote transceiver via a wireless telephone link.

24. The accessory as recited in claim 23 wherein said recessed surface conforms to said particular dimensions of said chassis to thereby allow said chassis to be received into a recess bounded by said recessed surface.

25. The accessory as recited in claim 23 further comprising:

a first connector located on a surface of said chassis and a corresponding second connector located on a surface of said body portion, said first and second connectors capable of electrically coupling said processing circuitry to said communications circuitry when said recessed surface receives said chassis.

26. The accessory as recited in claim 23 further comprising storage circuitry located within said chassis and coupled to said processing circuitry for storing data for use by said processing and communications circuitry.

27. The accessory as recited in claim 23 wherein said body portion has a surface capable of removably receiving a battery pack, batteries within said battery pack capable of being coupled to said communications circuitry.

28. The accessory as recited in claim 23 wherein said telephone accessory contains a permanent battery capable of supplying electric power to said processing circuitry.

29. The accessory as recited in claim 23 further comprising accessory detection circuitry capable of detecting when said communications circuitry is coupled to said processing circuitry.

30. The accessory as recited in claim 23 wherein said processing circuitry is capable of displaying information to a user via said display device regarding an operation of said accessory.

31. The accessory as recited in claim 23 wherein said processing circuitry is capable of transmitting dialing signals to said communications circuitry, said dialing signals capable of causing said communications circuity to open said wireless telephone link and dial a telephone number.

32. The accessory as recited in claim 23 wherein said communications circuitry is capable of receiving a portion of a content of storage circuitry within said PDA for communication via said wireless telephone link.

33. A method of providing communications for a personal digital assistant (PDA), said PDA having a chassis of particular dimensions and a display device on a from surface of said chassis, said chassis containing processing circuitry coupled to said display device, comprising the steps of:

removably receiving an external surface of said PDA chassis into a concave, external surface of a body portion of a telephone accessory, said telephone accessory having first and second body extensions coupled to opposite ends of said body portion and pivotally attached to said body portion to allow relative rotation therebetween, said first and second body extensions able to assume a stowed position wherein said first and second body extensions are folded outward so as to be substantially parallel to body portion and an operating position wherein said first and second body extensions are folded inward so as to form an acute angle with respect to said body portion;

removably coupling communications circuitry to said processing circuitry in said PDA chassis when said PDA chassis is received into said concave, external surface on said body portion;

converting acoustical energy into electrical energy with a microphone circuit located in said first body extension; and

converting electrical energy into acoustical energy with a speaker circuit located in said second body extension, said communications circuitry including a communications transceiver capable of coupling said microphone, speaker and processing circuitry to a remote transceiver via a wireless telephone link.

34. The method as recited in claim 33 wherein said concave surface conforms to said particular dimensions of said chassis to thereby allow said chassis to be received into a recess bounded by said concave surface.

35. The method as recited in claim 33 further comprising the step of:

electrically coupling said processing circuitry to said communications circuitry with a first connector located on a surface of said chassis and a corresponding second connector located on said concave surface when said concave surface receives said chassis.

36. The method as recited in claim 33 further comprising the step of coupling storage circuitry located within said chassis to said processing circuitry, said storage circuitry capable of storing data for use by said processing and communications circuitry.

37. The method as recited in claim 33 further comprising the steps of:

removably receiving a battery pack onto a surface of said body portion; and

coupling batteries within said battery pack to said communications circuitry.

38. The method as recited in claim 33 further comprising the step of supplying electric power to said processing circuitry with a permanent battery within said telephone accessory.

39. The method as recited in claim 33 further comprising the step of detecting when said communications circuitry is coupled to said processing circuitry with telephone accessory detection circuitry.

40. The method as recited in claim 33 further comprising the step of displaying information to a user via said display device regarding an operation of said telephone accessory.

41. The method as recited in claim 33 further comprising the step of transmitting dialing signals to said communications circuitry with said processing circuitry, said dialing signals capable of causing said communications circuity to open said wireless telephone link and dial a telephone number.

42. The method as recited in claim 33 further comprising the step of receiving a portion of a content of storage circuitry within said PDA for communication via said wireless telephone link.

43. A personal digital assistant (PDA), comprising:

a substantially rectangular chassis;

processing and storage circuitry within said chassis;

a display device located on a front surface of said chassis;

a first electronic link connector on said chassis, said first electronic link connector coupled to said processing and storage circuitry;

a telephone body portion containing wireless communications circuitry and having a concave surface substantially conforming to an exterior dimension of said chassis, said concave surface removably mating with a rear surface of said chassis, a second electronic link connector on said concave surface and coupled to said wireless communications circuitry removably mating to said first electronic link connector to thereby couple said processing and storage circuitry to said communications circuitry, said processing and storage circuitry capable of controlling said wireless communications circuitry to establish a communications link between said processing and storage circuitry and a remote transceiver;

a first body extension hingedly coupled to a first end of said telephone body portion and containing a microphone for convening a voice of a user into a microphone electrical signal, said microphone delivering said microphone electrical signal to said communications circuitry to allow said user to transmit voice information via said communications link;

a second body extension hingedly coupled to a second end of said telephone body portion and containing a speaker for converting a speaker electrical signal into an acoustic signal for transmission to said user, said communications circuitry delivering said speaker electrical signal to said speaker to allow said user to receive voice information via said communications link; and

means for allowing said communications circuit to transmit computer data.

44. The PDA as recited in claim 43 wherein said body portion has a surface capable of removably receiving a battery pack, batteries within said battery pack capable of being coupled to said communications circuitry.

45. The PDA as recited in claim 43 wherein said body portion contains a permanent battery capable of supplying electric power to said processing circuitry.

46. The PDA as recited in claim 43 further comprising detection circuitry capable of detecting when said communications circuitry is coupled to said processing circuitry.

47. The PDA as recited in claim 43 wherein said processing circuitry is capable of displaying information to said user via said display device regarding an operation of said communications circuitry.

48. The PDA as recited in claim 43 wherein said communications circuitry comprises cellular telephone circuitry.

49. A method of deploying a personal digital assistant (PDA) for telecommunication, comprising the steps of:

rotating first and second body extensions hingedly coupled to first and second ends of said telephone body portion from a stowed position wherein said first and second body extensions are folded outward so as to be substantially parallel to said telephone body portion to an operating position wherein said first and second body extensions are folded inward so as to form an acute angle with respect to said telephone body portion;

inserting a substantially rectangular chassis of said PDA into said concave surface of said telephone body portion, said chassis containing processing and storage circuitry, a display device located on a front surface of said chassis and a first electronic link connector on said chassis coupled to said processing and storage circuitry, said first electronic link connector mating with a corresponding second electronic link connector on said telephone body portion, said step of mating coupling said processing and storage circuitry to communications circuitry in said telephone body portion;

establishing a communications link between said communications circuitry and a remote transceiver;

delivering acoustic energy to a microphone within said first body extension, said microphone converting a voice of a user into a microphone electrical signal, said microphone delivering said microphone electrical signal to said communications circuitry to allow said user to transmit voice information via said communications link;

receiving acoustic energy from a speaker within said second body extension, said speaker converting a speaker electrical signal into an acoustic signal for transmission to said user, said communications circuitry delivering said speaker electrical signal to said speaker to allow said user to receive voice information via said communications link; and

transmitting computer data via said communications circuit.

50. The method as recited in claim 49 further comprising the steps of:

removably receiving a battery pack onto a surface of said body portion; and

coupling batteries within said battery pack to said communications circuitry.

51. The method as recited in claim 49 further comprising the step of supplying electric power to said processing and storage circuitry with a permanent battery within said telephone body portion.

52. The method as recited in claim 49 further comprising the step of detecting when said communications circuitry is coupled to said processing and storage circuitry.

53. The method as recited in claim 49 further comprising the step of displaying information to said user via said display device regarding an operation of said communications circuitry.

54. The method as recited in claim 49 wherein said communications circuitry comprises cellular telephone circuitry.