Portable wireless equipment

• US 6,731,951 B1
• Filed: 04/05/2000
• Issued: 05/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Takebe, Hiroyuki, Kouchi, Itsuki, Miyazaki, Masao
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Congvan
• Application Number:
  US09/543,556
• Time in Patent Office: 1,490 Days
• Field of Search: 455/571, 455/572, 455/573, 455/574, 455/575, 455/403, 455/407, 455/408, 455/556, 455/557, 455/404
• US Class Current: 455/557
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/3805 with built-in auxiliary receivers
• 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 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/725 Cordless telephones user interfaces specially adapted therefor H04M1/724
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4622 Retrieving content or additional data from different sources, e.g. from a broadcast channel and the Internet web site content organization and management for information retrieval from the Internet G06F16/958; transmission by internet of broadcast information H04H60/82; stock exchange data over packet-switching network H04L12/1804; push services including data channel over packet-switching network H04L12/1859
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 5/38 Transmitter circuitry for the transmission of television signals according to analogue transmission standards H04N5/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

An object of the present invention is to provide a portable terminal suitable for a videophone using a multicall and a portable wireless equipment which communicate voice and data at the same time, and which is small and thin and has excellent portability, without being affected by a human body, at the time of conversation.

Therefore, a radio unit which requires large power for the communication with the base station and hence is difficult to be made small and a user interface unit which is actually operated by a user are separated, and connected by radio communication with small power.

Claims

1. A portable wireless equipment, comprising:

a portable radio unit section for performing radio communication information with a base station; and

a portable user interface unit section comprising an input/output interface used for the radio communications by an operator, wherein

said portable radio unit section comprises a first radio communication section used for radio communications with the base station, a second radio communication section used for radio communications with said user portable interface unit section, a radio unit control section for controlling said first and second radio communication sections, and a first power supply section for driving said radio unit section,

said portable user interface unit section comprises a third radio communication section used for radio communications with said portable radio unit section, with less power than said first radio communication section, a user interface unit control section for controlling said third radio communication section and said input/output interface, and a second power supply section for driving said portable user interface section, using less power or being smaller than said first power supply section, and

said portable user interface unit section being capable of being separated from said portable radio unit section for performing radio communications.

2. A portable wireless equipment according to claim 1, wherein said portable radio unit section and said portable user interface unit section are detachable.

3. A portable wireless equipment according to claim 1, wherein said portable radio unit section has a communication modem capable of connecting the portable radio unit section with an image data processing apparatus which can display images or data.

4. A portable wireless equipment according to claim 1, wherein said portable radio unit section has a first electric contact portion, and said portable user interface unit section has also a second electric contact portion, and when said portable radio unit section and said portable user interface unit section are combined into one, said first and second contact portions are connected.

5. A portable wireless equipment according to claim 3, wherein said portable radio unit section has a first electric contact portion, and said portable user interface unit section has also a second electric contact portion, and when said portable radio unit section and said portable user interface unit section are combined into one, said first and second contact portions are connected.

6. A portable wireless equipment according to claim 4, wherein said first and second contact portions include a power supply line, and when said portable radio unit section and said portable user interface unit section are combined into one, said portable user interface unit section is driven by said first power supply section.

7. A portable wireless equipment according to claim 5, wherein said first and second contact portions include a power supply line, and when said portable radio unit section and said portable user interface unit section are combined into one, said portable user interface unit section is driven by said first power supply section.

8. A portable wireless equipment according to claim 4, wherein said first and second contact portions include a power supply line, and when said portable radio unit section and said portable user interface unit section are combined into one, said second power supply section is charged by said first power supply section.

9. A portable wireless equipment according to claim 5, wherein said first and second contact portions include a power supply line, and when said portable radio unit section and said portable user interface unit section are combined into one, said second power supply section is charged by said first power supply section.

10. A portable wireless equipment according to claim 1, wherein said portable radio unit section is built in an image data processing apparatus beforehand, which can display an image or data.

11. A portable wireless equipment according to claim 3, wherein said portable radio unit section is built in an image data processing apparatus beforehand, which can display an image or data.

12. A portable radio communication apparatus, comprising:

a portable radio unit; and

a portable user interface, wherein

the portable user interface unit is configured for selective attachment to and detachment from the portable radio unit and comprises a user operable data input section, a display section, a microphone, a speaker and an antenna for radio communication with the portable radio unit, and

the portable radio unit has no user operable input section and comprises a first antenna for radio communication with the portable user interface unit and a second antenna for radio communication with a base station of a radio telecommunication network.

13. The portable radio communication apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the portable user interface unit and the portable radio unit are each generally box-shaped.

14. The portable radio communication apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the portable radio unit further comprises a modem.

15. The portable radio communication apparatus according to claim 14, wherein a housing of the portable radio unit comprises a flip portion hinged thereto and movable between an open and closed position, the flip portion being adapted for insertion into a slot of an image data processing system when moved to the open position so that data can be communicated between the portable radio unit and the image data processing system via the modem.

31. The portable radio communication apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the portable user interface unit and the portable radio unit are both portable.

16. A portable radio communication apparatus, comprising:

a portable radio unit; and

a portable user interface unit, wherein

the portable radio unit comprises a first antenna for radio communication with a base station of a radio telecommunication network and a second antenna for radio communication with the portable user interface unit,

the portable user interface unit is configured for selective attachment to and detachment from the portable radio unit and comprises a user operable data input section, a display section, a microphone, a speaker and an antenna for radio communication with the portable radio unit,

the apparatus is operable in a first configuration in which the portable user interface unit and the portable radio unit are attached and in a second configuration in which the portable user interface unit and the portable radio unit are detached, and

the antenna of the portable user interface unit and the second antenna of the portable radio unit are built into the portable user interface unit and the portable radio unit, respectively, so that when the apparatus is operated in the first configuration, the portable user interface unit and the portable radio unit are electrically connected via electromagnetic coupling.

17. The portable radio communication apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the portable user interface unit and the portable radio unit are each generally box-shaped.

18. The portable radio communication apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the portable radio unit further comprises a modem.

19. The portable radio communication apparatus according to claim 18, wherein a housing of the portable radio unit comprises a flip portion hinged thereto and movable between an open and closed position, the flip portion being adapted for insertion into a slot of an image data processing system when moved to the open position so that data can be communicated between the portable radio unit and the image data processing system via the modem.

20. The portable radio communication apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the portable radio unit has no user operable data input section.

32. The portable radio communication apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the portable user interface unit and the portable radio unit are both portable.

21. A portable radio communication apparatus, comprising:

a portable radio unit; and

a portable user interface unit, wherein

the portable user interface unit has a substantially circular cross-section and comprises a user operable input section, a display section, a microphone, a speaker and an antenna for radio communication with the portable radio unit, and

the portable radio unit has a curved portion for receiving the portable user interface unit and comprises a first antenna for radio communication with the portable user interface unit and a second antenna for radio communication with a base station of a radio telecommunication network.

22. The portable radio communication apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the apparatus is operable in a first configuration in which the portable user interface unit and the portable radio unit are attached and in a second configuration in which the portable user interface unit and the portable radio unit are detached.

23. The portable radio communication apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the portable user interface unit comprises a battery compartment having a longitudinal axis aligned with the longitudinal axis of the portable user interface unit.

24. The portable radio communication apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the portable radio unit has no user operable data input section.

33. The portable radio communication apparatus according to claim 21, wherein the portable user interface unit and the portable radio unit are both portable.

25. A portable radio communication apparatus, comprising:

a portable radio unit; and

a portable user interface unit, wherein

the portable radio unit comprises a first antenna for radio communication with a base station of a radio telecommunication network, a second antenna for radio communication with the portable user interface unit, and an electric contact portion,

the portable user interface unit is configured for selective attachment to and detachment from the portable radio unit and comprises a user operable input section, a display section, a microphone, a speaker, an antenna for radio communication with the portable radio unit, and an electric contact portion,

the apparatus is operable in a first configuration in which the portable user interface unit and the portable radio unit are attached and in a second configuration in which the portable user interface unit and the portable radio unit are detached, and

the portable user interface unit and the portable radio unit communicate via the electric contact portions when the apparatus is operated in the first configuration and the portable user interface unit and the portable radio unit communicate via radio communication when the apparatus is operated in the second configuration.

26. The portable radio communication apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the electric contact portions of the portable radio unit and the portable user interface unit each include a power supply line and the portable radio unit powers the portable user interface unit in the first configuration.

27. The portable radio communication apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the electric contact portions of the portable radio unit and the portable user interface unit each include a power supply line and the portable radio unit charges the portable user interface unit in the first configuration.

28. The portable radio communication apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the portable radio unit has no user operable data input section.

34. The portable radio communication apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the portable user interface unit and the portable radio unit are both portable.

29. A portable radio communication apparatus, comprising:

a portable radio unit; and

a portable user interface unit, wherein

the portable user interface unit is configured for selective attachment to and detachment from the portable radio unit and comprises a user operable data input section, a display section, a microphone, a speaker and radio circuitry for radio communication with the portable radio unit, and

the portable radio unit has no user operable data input section and comprises radio circuitry for radio communication with the portable user interface unit and with a base station of a radio telecommunication network.

35. The portable radio communication apparatus according to claim 29, wherein the portable user interface unit and the portable radio unit are both portable.

30. A portable radio communication apparatus, comprising:

a portable radio unit; and

a portable user interface unit, wherein

the portable user interface unit has a substantially circular cross-section and comprises a user operable input section, a display section, a microphone, a speaker and radio circuitry for radio communication with the portable radio unit, and

the portable radio unit has a curved portion for receiving the portable user interface unit and comprises radio circuitry for radio communication with the portable user interface unit and with a base station of a radio telecommunication network.

36. The portable radio communication apparatus according to claim 30, wherein the portable user interface unit and the portable radio unit are both portable.

37. A portable radio communication apparatus, comprising:

a portable radio unit; and

a portable user interface unit selectively detachable from the portable radio unit, wherein

the portable user interface unit comprises a user operable data input section, a display section, a microphone, a speaker, and radio circuitry for radio communication with the portable radio unit,

the portable radio unit comprises radio circuitry for radio communication with a base station of a radio telecommunication network and for radio communication with the portable user interface unit, and

when the portable radio unit and the portable user interface unit are detached from each other, the portable user interface unit is usable to place and receive radio telecommunication network calls via first radio communications between the portable user interface unit and the portable radio unit and second radio communications between the portable radio unit and the base station.