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

• US 8,428,648 B2
• Filed: 04/06/2010
• Issued: 04/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Gioscia, Rich, Udagawa, Masamichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Safaipour, Bobbak
• Application Number:
  US12/755,204
• Publication Number:
  US 20100197346A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,113 Days
• Field of Search: 455/556.1, 455/41.2, 455/557, 455/575.2, 455/569.1
• 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, a control element, a first display and a speaker; and

a second device residing in a second housing, said second device comprising a processor, a memory unit coupled with said processor to store contact information, electronics for wireless communications coupled with said processor, and a second display coupled to said processor, said second housing comprising a means for coupling said first device with said second device;

wherein said first device is communicatively coupled by a wireless connection with said second device,

wherein said first device and said second device work in combination to provide wireless communications with one or more other devices,

wherein the control element of the first device to activate access to the contact information of the second device, the first device to display the contact information of the second device on the first display and permit browsing the contact information on the first device.

2. The system as recited in claim 1, the control element to control the volume of said speaker.

3. The system as recited in claim 2, wherein information regarding said volume is displayed on said second display.

4. The system as recited in claim 1, the control element to allow access to database information located in said memory unit.

5. The system as recited in claim 4, wherein said database information is displayed on said second display.

6. The system as recited in claim 1, the control element to activate said wireless communications.

7. The system as recited in claim 1, the control element to terminate said wireless communications.

8. The system as recited in claim 1, the first device further comprising a Bluetooth-enabled transceiver and the second device further comprising a Bluetooth-enabled transceiver.

9. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein said control element is a button.

10. The system as recited in claim 9 wherein said button is a configurable button.

11. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein said means for coupling said first device with said second device is a receiving slot.

12. The system as recited in claim 1 wherein said means for coupling said first device with said second device is a magnet.

13. 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; and

a personal digital assistant residing in a second housing, said personal digital assistant comprising a processor, a memory unit coupled with said processor and to store contact information, electronics for wireless communications coupled with said processor, a display coupled to said processor, a handwriting recognition pad coupled with said processor, and a cursor control device, said second housing comprising a means for coupling said first device with said second device;

wherein said first device is communicatively coupled with said personal digital assistant and wherein said first device and said personal digital assistant work in combination to provide wireless communications with one or more other devices,

wherein the control element of the first device to activate access to the contact information of the personal digital assistant, the first device to display the contact information of the personal digital assistant on the first display and permit browsing the contact information on the first device.

14. The system as recited in claim 13 wherein said first device and said personal digital assistant are communicatively coupled by a wireless connection.

15. The system as recited in claim 14 wherein said first device further comprises a Bluetooth-enabled transceiver and said personal digital assistant further comprises a Bluetooth-enabled transceiver.

16. The system as recited in claim 13 wherein said first device and said personal digital assistant are communicatively coupled by a wired connection.

17. The system as recited in claim 13, the control element to control the volume of said speaker.

18. The system as recited in claim 17 wherein volume information is displayed on said first display.

19. The system as recited in claim 13, the control element to allow access to database information located in said memory unit.

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

21. The system as recited in claim 13, the control element to activate said wireless communications.

22. The system as recited in claim 13, the control element to terminate said wireless communications.

23. The system as recited in claim 13 wherein said control element is a button.

24. The system as recited in claim 23 wherein said button is a configurable button.

25. The system as recited in claim 13 wherein said means for coupling said first device with said second device is a receiving slot.

26. The system as recited in claim 13 wherein said means for coupling said first device with said second device is a magnet.

27. 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; and

a personal digital assistant residing in a second housing, said personal digital assistant comprising a processor, a memory unit coupled to said processor and to store contact information, 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 Bluetooth transceiver, said second housing comprising a receiving slot for accepting said first device;

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,

the control element of the first device to activate access to the contact information stored in the memory of the personal digital assistant, the first device to display the contact information of the personal digital assistant on the first display and permit browsing the contact information on the first device.

28. A portable electronic device comprising:

a portable computer system comprising;

a processor coupled with a bus;

a memory coupled with said bus for containing database applications, database information, and contact information for at least one contact;

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

a first wireless transceiver unit coupled with said bus;

a wireless telephone communications device; and

a communication device removably attached to said portable computer system, the communication device comprising;

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

a microphone;

a plurality of buttons, wherein one of the buttons is for activating access to the contact information and browsing the contact information stored on the portable computer system;

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.

29. The portable electronic device as described in claim 28 wherein at least one of the plurality of buttons is for displaying different information on said second display unit in response to user control.

30. The portable electronic device as described in claim 28 wherein one of said buttons is a talk/end button for, when activated, causing said automatic dialing process to call a number related to a specific contact of the at least one contact.

31. The portable electronic device as described in claim 28 wherein said first and second wireless transceivers are Bluetooth enabled devices.

32. The portable electronic device as described in claim 28 wherein said communications device has a length dimension that is substantially the same as a length dimension of said portable computer system.