Dual function connector for cellular phones

• US 6,424,842 B1
• Filed: 07/07/1998
• Issued: 07/23/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ericsson, Inc. (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Original Assignee: Ericsson, Inc. (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Inventors: Winstead, Russell
• Primary Examiner(s): Urban, Edward F.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gesesse, Tilahun
• Application Number:
  US09/111,809
• Time in Patent Office: 1,477 Days
• Field of Search: 455/90, 455/575, 455/572, 455/573, 455/574, 455/567, 455/556, 455/351, 455/349, 455/348, 455/89, 455/550
• US Class Current: 455/557
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 13/2442 with a single cantilevered beam
• CPC Class Codes: H01R 2201/16 for telephony
• 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 1/0262 for a battery compartment
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0274 for an electrical connector module

Abstract

A dual function connector for a mobile radio communication device functions as both a system connector for connecting the phone to external devices and a battery connector for establishing contact between the battery and the phone'"'"'s internal circuits. The dual function connector comprises a contact housing having a plurality of slots, two or more dual function contacts, and one or more system contacts. The dual function contacts and system contacts are received in respective slots in the contact housing. The dual function contacts and system contacts each include a system interface portion which serves as a contact for connecting external devices. The dual function contacts also include a battery interface portion for establishing an electrical connection to the battery. The dual function contacts eliminate the need to have separate connections for the battery and system contacts.

Claims

1. A mobile radio communication device comprising:

a) a housing;

b) communication circuits contained within the housing for transmitting and receiving speech and/or data signals via a wireless carrier;

c) a battery associated with said housing for powering the communication circuits; and

d) a dual function connector for directly connecting the communication circuits to said battery and to an external device, said dual function connector comprising at least one system contact shaped in a first configuration for establishing an electrical connection between an external device and the communication circuits, and at least one dual function contact shaped In a second configuration for establishing an electrical connection between the communications circuits, battery, and an external device;

e) the system contact comprises a system interface portion that projects from a first side of the dual function connector to provide a means for connecting an external device to the communication circuits;

a lead to connect the system contact to the communication circuits; and

one or more intermediate portions connecting the lead with the system interface portion.

2. The mobile radio communication device of claim 1 wherein the dual function contact comprises a system interface portion that projects from a first side of the dual function connector to provide a means for connecting an external device to the communication circuits;

a battery interface portion projecting from a second side of the dual function connector to connect the dual function contact with a battery attached to the phone;

a lead to connect the dual function contact to the communication circuits;

one or more first intermediate portions connecting the lead to said system interface portion, and one or more second intermediate portions connecting said system interface portion to said battery interface portion.

3. The mobile radio communication device of claim 1 wherein the dual function contact includes a contact housing comprising a plurality of slots, wherein system contact and dual function contact are disposed in respective slots in the contact housing.

4. The mobile radio communication device of claim 3 further including retention means for retaining said contacts in their respective slots.

5. The mobile radio communication device of claim 3 wherein the system contact comprises a system interface portion that projects from a first side of the dual function connector to provide a means for connecting an external device to the communication circuits;

a lead to connect the system contact to the communication circuits, and one or more intermediate portions connecting the lead with the system interface portion.

6. The mobile radio communication device of claim 3 wherein the dual function contact comprises a system interface portion that projects from a first side of the dual function connector to provide a means for connecting an external device to the communication circuits;

a battery interface portion projecting from a second side of the dual function connector to connect the dual function contact with a battery attached to the phone;

a lead to connect the dual function contact to the communication circuits;

one or more first intermediate portions connecting the lead to said system interface portion; and

one or more second intermediate portions connecting said system interface portion to said battery interface portion.

7. A dual function electrical connector for a mobile radio communication device powered by a battery and having internal communication circuits, said dual function connector comprising;

a) a contact housing having a system side and a battery side;

b) at least one system contact disposed in said housing for establishing an electrical connection between said communication circuits and an external device, said at least one system contact shaped in a first configuration; and

c) at least one dual function contact disposed in said housing for establishing an electrical connection between said communication circuits, said battery, and said external device, said at least one dual function contact shaped in a second configuration different than said first configuration;

d) said dual function contact comprises a system interface portion that projects from the system side of the contact housing to provide a means for connecting an external device to said communication circuits;

a battery interface portion projecting from the battery side of the contact housing to connect the dual function contact with said battery;

a lead projecting from the contact housing to connect the dual function contact to said communication circuits;

a first intermediate portion connecting the lead to said system interface portion; and

a second intermediate portion connecting said system interface portion to said battery interface portion.

8. The dual function connector of claim 7 wherein said system contact comprises a system interface portion that projects from the system side of the contact housing to provide a means for connecting an external device to the communication circuits;

a lead projecting from the contact housing to connect the system contact to said communication circuit; and

one or more intermediate portions connecting the lead with the system interface portion.

9. The dual function connector of claim 7 wherein said contact housing includes a plurality of slots, and wherein said system contacts and dual function contacts are received in respective slots in said contact housing.

10. The mobile radio communication device of claim 9 further including retention means for retaining said contacts in their respective slots.

11. The dual function connector of claim 9 wherein said system contact comprises a system interface portion that projects from the system side of the contact housing to provide a means for connecting an external device to the communication circuits;

a lead projecting from the contact housing to connect the system contact to said communication circuit; and

one or more intermediate portions connecting the lead with the system interface portion.

12. The dual function connector of claim 9 wherein said dual function contact comprises a system interface portion that projects from the system side of the contact housing to provide a means for connecting an external device to said communication circuits;

a battery interface portion projecting from the battery side of the contact housing to connect the dual function contact with said battery;

a lead projecting from the contact housing to connect the dual function contact to said communication circuits;

a first intermediate portion connecting the lead to said system interface portion; and

a second intermediate portion connecting said system interface portion to said battery interface portion.

13. A dual function connector for a mobile radio communication device powered by a battery and having internal communication circuits, said dual function connector comprising:

a) a contact housing having a system side and a battery side;

b) a plurality of system contacts disposed in said housing for establishing an electrical connection between said communication circuits and an external device, said system contacts including;

i) a system interface portion that projects from the system side of the contact housing to provide a means for electrically connecting said external device to said communication circuits;

ii) a lead projecting from the contact housing to electrically connect the system contact to said communication circuits; and

iii) one or more intermediate portions electrically connecting the lead with the system interface portion;

c) a pair of dual function contacts disposed in said housing for establishing an electrical connection between said communication circuits, battery, and said external device, said dual function contacts having a different physical configuration than said system contacts, said dual function contact including;

i) a system interface portion that projects from the system side of the contact housing to provide a means for electrically connecting an external device to said communication circuits;

ii) a battery interface portion projecting from the battery side of the contact housing to electrically connect the dual function contact to said battery;

iii) a lead projecting from the contact housing to electrically connect the dual function contact to said communication circuits;

iv) a first intermediate portion electrically connecting the lead to said system interface portion; and

v) a second intermediate portion electrically connecting said system interface portion to said battery interface portion.

14. The dual function connector of claim 13 wherein said contact housing includes a plurality of slots, and wherein said system contacts and dual function contacts are received in respective slots in said contact housing.

15. The mobile radio communication device of claim 13 further including retention means for retaining said contacts in their respective slots.