Compact removable voice handset for an integrated portable computer system/mobile phone

• US 7,054,659 B2
• Filed: 05/14/2001
• Issued: 05/30/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Palm, Inc. (TCL Technology Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Udagawa, Masamichi, Gioscia, Rich
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Lee
• Application Number:
  US09/855,250
• Publication Number:
  US 20020168939A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,842 Days
• Field of Search: 455/556.1, 455/556.2, 455/41.2, 455/41.3, 455/557
• US Class Current: 455/556.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1698 the I/O peripheral being a sending/receiving arrangement to establish a cordless communication link, e.g. radio or infrared link, integrated cellular phone details of antennas disposed inside a computer H01Q1/2266
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0256 wherein the modules are operable in the detached state, e.g. one module for the user interface and one module for the transceiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface

Abstract

A compact removable voice handset for an integrated palmtop computer system/mobile phone is presented. The present invention is used in conjunction with a personal digital assistant (PDA). The PDA comprises electronics for wireless communications and a contact information database and a means for coupling the handset to the PDA. The present invention is compact such that when coupled to the PDA, there is minimal increase to the overall size and weight of the PDA. The present invention comprises a microphone and a speaker, and is communicatively coupled, via either a wireless connection or a wired connection, to the PDA. The handset comprises control elements such that the handset can be operated independent of the PDA. In one embodiment, the handset comprises a display and control elements configured for accessing the contact information database of the PDA, adjusting the volume of the handset, and for initiating or ending wireless communications.

Claims

1. A system of electronic devices comprising:

a first device residing in a first housing, said first device comprising a microphone and a speaker, wherein said first device does not comprise telephony hardware for providing independent telephony functionality; and

a second device residing in a second housing, said second device comprising a processor, a memory unit coupled to said processor, electronics for wireless communications coupled to said processor, a first display coupled to said processor, a telephony chipset for providing telephony functionality, said second housing comprising a connection means for removably connecting said first device to said second device, said connection means integrated directly into said second housing;

wherein said first device is communicatively coupled by a wireless connection to said second device and wherein said first device and said second device work in combination to provide the capability for wireless communications with one or more other devices using said telephony chipset of said second device.

2. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein said first device further comprises a second display.

3. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein said first device further comprises a control element.

4. The system as recited in claim 3 wherein said control element is operable to control the volume of said speaker.

5. The system as recited in claim 4 wherein said first device further comprises a second display wherein information regarding said volume is displayed on said first display.

6. The system as recited in claim 3 wherein said control element is operable to allow access to database information located in said memory unit.

7. The system as recited in claim 6 wherein said first device further comprises a second display wherein said database information is displayed on said first display.

8. The system as recited in claim 3 wherein said control element is operable to activate said wireless communication.

9. The system as recited in claim 3 wherein said control element is operable to terminate said wireless communication.

10. The system as recited in claim 3 wherein said control element is a button.

11. The system as recited in claim 3 wherein said control element is a jog dial.

12. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein said first device further comprises a Bluetooth-enabled transceiver and said second device further comprises a Bluetooth-enabled transceiver.

13. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein said connection means for removably connecting said first device to said second device is a receiving slot.

14. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein said connection means for removably connecting said first device to said second device is a magnet.

15. A system of electronic devices comprising:

a first device residing in a first housing, said first device comprising a microphone, a speaker, a first display, and a control element, wherein said first device does not comprise telephony hardware for providing independent telephony functionality; and

a personal digital assistant residing in a second housing, said personal digital assistant comprising a processor, a memory unit coupled to said processor, electronics for wireless communications coupled to said processor, a display coupled to said processor, a handwriting recognition pad coupled to said processor, a cursor control device, and a telephony chipset for providing telephony functionality, said second housing comprising a connection means for removably connecting said first device to said second device, said connection means integrated directly into said second housing;

wherein said first device is communicatively coupled to said personal digital assistant and wherein said first device and said personal digital assistant work in combination to provide the capability for wireless communications with one or more other devices using said telephony chipset of said second device.

16. The system as recited in claim 15 wherein said first device and said personal digital assistant are communicatively coupled by a wireless connection.

17. The system as recited in claim 16 wherein said first device further comprises a Bluetooth-enabled transceiver and said personal digital assistant further comprises a Bluetooth-enabled transceiver.

18. The system as recited in claim 15 wherein said first device and said personal digital assistant are communicatively coupled by a wired connection.

19. The system as recited in claim 15 wherein said control element is operable to control the volume of said speaker.

20. The system as recited in claim 19 wherein volume information is displayed on said first display.

21. The system as recited in claim 15 wherein said control element is operable to allow access to database information located in said memory unit.

22. The system as recited in claim 21 wherein said database information is displayed on said first display.

23. The system as recited in claim 15 wherein said control element is operable to activate said wireless communication.

24. The system as recited in claim 15 wherein said control element is operable to terminate said wireless communication.

25. The system as recited in claim 15 wherein said control element is a button.

26. The system as recited in claim 15 wherein said control element is a jog dial.

27. The system as recited in claim 15 wherein said connection means for removably connecting said first device to said second device is a receiving slot.

28. The system as recited in claim 15 wherein said connection means for removably connecting said first device to said second device is a magnet.

29. A system of electronic devices comprising:

a first device residing in a first housing, said first device comprising a microphone, a speaker, a first display, a control element, and a Bluetooth transceiver, wherein said first device does not comprise telephony hardware for providing independent telephony functionality; and

a personal digital assistant residing in a second housing, said personal digital assistant comprising a processor, a memory unit coupled to said processor, electronics for wireless communications coupled to said processor, a display coupled to said processor, a handwriting recognition pad coupled to said processor, a cursor control device, a Bluetooth transceiver, and a telephony chipset for providing telephony functionality, said second housing comprising a receiving slot for directly accepting said first device; and

said first device communicatively coupled to said personal digital assistant by a wireless connection wherein said first device and said personal digital assistant working in combination provide the capability for wireless communications using said telephony chipset of said personal digital assistant.

30. A portable electronic device residing in a portable computer system housing and comprising:

a portable computer system comprising;

a processor coupled to a bus;

a memory coupled to said bus for containing database applications and database information;

a display unit coupled to said bus for displaying portions of said database information;

a first wireless transceiver unit coupled to said bus; and

a wireless telephone communication device coupled to said bus; and

a communication device residing in a communication device housing and removably attachable directly to said portable computer system housing and comprising;

a second wireless transceiver for communicating with said first wireless transceiver;

a microphone;

a speaker; and

a second display unit for displaying a portion of said database information thereon and for facilitating an automatic dialing process, based on user input, using said wireless telephone communication device of said portable computer system, wherein said communication device does not comprise telephony hardware for providing independent telephony functionality and requires said wireless telephone communication device of said portable computer system to provide telephony functionality.

31. A portable electronic device as described in claim 30 wherein said communication device further comprises buttons for displaying different information on said second display unit in response to user control.

32. A portable electronic device as described in claim 31 wherein one of said buttons is a talk/end button for, when activated, causing said automatic dialing process to call a number defined by selected information within said second display.

33. A portable electronic device as described in claim 30 wherein said first and second wireless transceivers are Bluetooth enabled devices.

34. A portable electronic device as described in claim 30 wherein said communications device has a length dimension that is substantially the same as a length dimension of said portable computer system.