Modular keypad with wireless arrangement for a mobile device

• US 7,831,218 B2
• Filed: 05/22/2007
• Issued: 11/09/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Symbol Technologies, LLC (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Symbol Technologies, Inc. (Zebra Technologies Corporation)
• Inventors: Degiovine, Carl, Wulff, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Anderson; Matthew D
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tsvey; Gennadiy
• Application Number:
  US11/751,760
• Publication Number:
  US 20080293367A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,267 Days
• Field of Search: 455/558, 455/550.1, 455/90.3, 455/566, 455/575.1
• US Class Current: 455/90.3
• 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 1/23 Construction or mounting of dials or of equivalent devices; Means for facilitating the use thereof by improving visibility H04M1/22
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7246 by connection of exchangeable housing parts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041

Abstract

Described is a mobile device comprising a base unit and a keypad detachably coupled to the base unit. The keypad includes an input arrangement and a first wireless arrangement operating in accordance with a first wireless protocol.

Claims

1. A mobile device, comprising:

a base unit including a second wireless transceiver operable in accordance with a second wireless protocol;

a keypad operable to be detachably coupled to the base unit, the keypad including an input arrangement and a first wireless transceiver operable in accordance with a first wireless protocol; and

a second keypad operable to be detachably coupled to the base unit and having a third wireless transceiver operable in accordance with a third wireless protocol, wherein

if the mobile device is unable to establish a communication link with a remote device and obtain service with either the first or second wireless transceiver, the second keypad is exchanged with the first keypad to provide service with the third wireless transceiver operable in accordance with the third wireless protocol.

2. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the first wireless arrangement includes both a first wireless communications arrangement and a first RFID arrangement.

3. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the first wireless arrangement is also detachable from the keypad.

4. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the base unit includes a processor, and wherein the keypad includes a first wireless protocol for the first wireless arrangement in the keypad, and wherein the processor is operable to receive the first wireless protocol to control the first wireless arrangement in the keypad.

5. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein a choice between operating using the first wireless arrangement of the base unit and the second wireless arrangement of the keypad is user-selectable.

6. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the mobile device automatically chooses between operating using the first wireless arrangement of the base unit and the second wireless arrangement the keypad.