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

• US 7,693,546 B1
• Filed: 02/09/2006
• Issued: 04/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Palm, Inc. (TCL Technology Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Gioscia, Rich, Udagawa, Masamichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Lee
• Application Number:
  US11/352,392
• Time in Patent Office: 1,517 Days
• Field of Search: 455 412- 413, 4555561-5562, 455/557, 455/575.2, 455/569.1, 455/418
• 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 data communication module adapted to communicatively couple to a computing device, said data communication module comprising:

a microphone;

a speaker adapted to present auditory information;

a wireless transceiver coupled to said microphone and said speaker, said wireless transceiver adapted to receive data from said computing device;

a display device coupled to said wireless transceiver and adapted to display data received from said computing device, wherein said data comprises display information such that said wireless transceiver is adapted to transform said data received from said computing device into said display information for display at said display device; and

a control element coupled to said wireless transceiver;

wherein said data communication module is detachable from and attachable to a housing of said computing device while maintaining the form factor of said housing, wherein said control element comprises a database access control for accessing a database of said computing device and for selecting said information from said database for display on said display device.

2. The data communication module of claim 1 wherein said wireless transceiver is a Bluetooth transceiver.

3. The data communication module of claim 1 wherein said control element is adapted to transmit a command to said computing device.

4. The data communication module of claim 1 wherein said control element comprises a button adapted to initiate a data transmission from said computing device.

5. The data communication module of claim 1 wherein said control element comprises a button adapted to disconnect a data transmission received at said computing device.

6. The data communication module of claim 1 wherein said data communication module and said computing device work in combination to provide voice communications to other devices using a component of said computing device, wherein said data communication module does not comprise said component.

7. The data communication module of claim 1 wherein said data comprises auditory information such that said wireless transceiver is adapted to transform said data received from said computing device into said auditory information for presentation at said speaker.

8. The data communication module of claim 1 wherein said control element comprises navigation controls.

9. The data communication module of claim 1 wherein said control element further comprises a menu control.

10. The data communication module of claim 1 wherein said speaker provides a receiving unit for said computing device when said data communication module is attached to said housing.

11. The data communication module of claim 1 wherein functionality provided by said computing device is accessible via said data communication module.

12. The data communication module of claim 1 wherein said control element is operable for remotely controlling browsing of information residing in memory on said computing device, wherein during said browsing information residing in said memory is selectively displayed on said display device.

13. A system of electronic devices comprising:

a first device comprising a microphone, a display, at least one button, a wireless transceiver, and a speaker, wherein said first device does not comprise telephony hardware for providing independent telephony functionality; and

a second device comprising a processor, a memory unit coupled to said processor, electronics for wireless communications coupled to said processor, a display coupled to said processor, and a telephony chipset for providing telephony functionality;

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, and wherein a button of said first device is operable for remotely controlling browsing of information residing in said memory unit of said second device, wherein during said browsing information residing in said memory unit is selectively displayed on said display of said first device;

wherein said first device is attachable to and detachable from said second device while maintaining the outline of said second device.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein functionality provided by said second device is accessible via said first device.

15. The system of claim 13 wherein said first and second devices exchange data via said wireless connection.