Modular mobile communication system

• US 6,219,560 B1
• Filed: 10/01/1997
• Issued: 04/17/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: WSOU Investments, LLC (WSOU Holdings, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Mobile Phones UK Limited (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Isotalo, Mika, Haavisto, Jouko, Peuhu, Arto, Erkkila, Marko
• Primary Examiner(s): Trost, William G.
• Application Number:
  US08/942,074
• Time in Patent Office: 1,294 Days
• Field of Search: 348/14, 348/17, 348/207, 348/373, 348/552, 455/550, 455/556-558, 455/66, 455/566, 235/380
• US Class Current: 455/557
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0202 Portable telephone sets, e.g. cordless phones, mobile phones or bar type handsets constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. of speakers or microphones H04M1/03
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72406 by software upgrading or downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/14 including a card reading device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/52 including functional features of a camera constructional features concerning the integration of cameras in portable phones H04M1/0264
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00538 Modular devices, i.e. allowing combinations of separate components, removal or replacement of components
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 2007/145 Handheld terminals

Abstract

A mobile communications device is constructed to receive an expansion card which provides to the mobile communications device the capability of generating images. The expansion card contains the basic devices, utilities, and control for the imaging function.

Claims

1. A system for communication and data processing having a portable host device and a control unit in the host device for controlling the functions of the host device comprising:

a cellular telephone unit in the host device connected to said control unit;

at least one connector socket in the host device for connecting an expansion card to said control unit, said socket adapted to receive the expansion card, wherein, in the received position, a surface of the expansion card cooperates with a surface of the host device to define an exterior surface for the system;

at least one expansion card for adding image acquisition in the function selection of the host device, the expansion card having elements required to realize said image acquisition;

a control program in the expansion card required to control said elements;

said control program being adapted for execution via the user interface of the host device.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein said expansion card is adapted to be installed inside the host device.

3. The system of claim 1, comprising more than one control program in the expansion card for connection to host devices of various types, the host device being designed to use that particular version of the expansion card control program which is adapted to that particular host device.

4. The system of claim 1, comprising a digital camera fitted on said expansion card, which digital camera has in addition to an expansion card also an optical unit.

5. The system of claim 4, comprising a memory element in the host device, the host device being arranged to store the pictures produced by said digital camera in said memory element of the host device.

6. The system of claim 4, comprising a memory element in said expansion card, the host device being arranged to store the pictures produced by said digital camera in said memory element of said expansion card.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said expansion card is an expansion card complying with the Miniature Card standard.

8. An expansion card adapted to be fitted into a connector socket in a portable device, said portable device having a control unit and a cellular telephone connected to said control unit, said expansion card comprising:

a housing having a shape which enables said expansion card to fit into said socket, said socket adapted to receive the expansion card, wherein, in the received position, the expansion card is connected to said control unit and a surface of said housing of said expansion card cooperates with a surface of said portable device to define an exterior surface for said portable device;

elements for realizing image acquisition for said portable device; and

a memory element for storing software required for controlling said elements, wherein said software is adapted for execution via the user interface of the host device.

9. The expansion card of claim 8, comprising:

a digital camera;

a picture-sensing element in said camera;

an optical unit in said camera; and

a memory element for storing the software controlling the functions of said digital camera.

10. The expansion card of claim 8, comprising:

a connector socket for additional expansion cards.

11. A portable device for personal communication having a cellular telephone unit and at least one expansion card connector socket for connecting expansion cards to the device for adding image acquisition to the functions of the device:

wherein said socket is adapted to receive the expansion card in a position, such that a surface of the expansion car cooperates with a surface of the host device to define an exterior surface for the device; and

further wherein the device is arranged to read identification information from at least one of said expansion cards when connected to the expansion card connector socket;

the device is arranged to determine whether said identification information indicates that the expansion card comprises a program needed for controlling the expansion card; and

if the expansion card identification information indicates that the expansion card comprises the program needed for controlling the expansion card, to control the functions of the expansion card by means of said program, wherein said program is adapted for execution via the user interface of the host device.