Wireless communicator jacket with multiple operational stages

• US 8,494,586 B2
• Filed: 07/20/2012
• Issued: 07/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Sherman, Itay, Cohen, Yohan Yehouda
• Primary Examiner(s): HTUN, SAN A
• Application Number:
  US13/553,928
• Publication Number:
  US 20120289288A1
• Time in Patent Office: 368 Days
• Field of Search: 455/407, 455418-420, 455/550.1, 455/552.1, 455/553.1, 455/556.1, 455/556.2, 455557-559, 455/575.6, 455/575.8, 455344-350, 710/13, 710/3, 710/4, 710/21, 710/25, 710/52, 710/62, 710/67, 710/71, 710/72, 710/84, 710/100, 710300-313, 710104-108, 341 22- 34
• US Class Current: 455/558
• 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 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1684 Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675
• 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 1/0254 comprising one or a plurality of mechanically detachable modules
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0283 for providing a decorative aspect, e.g. customization of casings, exchangeable faceplate
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7246 by connection of exchangeable housing parts

Abstract

A communication system, including a modular wireless communicator including a connector for connecting the communicator to any one of a plurality jacket devices, a controller for receiving identification signals that identify a jacket device that is connected to the communicator, for receiving user input signals generated by input controls from the identified jacket device, and for decoding the received user input signals based on the received identification signals, and a modem for transmitting data over the air in response to the decoded user input signals, and a plurality of jacket devices, each jacket device including input controls for receiving user input and generating corresponding user input signals, and a connector for connecting the jacket device to the communicator and for transmitting the identification signals and the user input signals to the communicator controller, wherein the communicator does not include input controls when a jacket device is not connected thereto.

Claims

1. A communication system, comprising:

a modular wireless communicator comprising;

a connector for connecting the communicator to any one of a plurality of jacket devices via a plurality of signal transmission lines, whereby the communicator receives its inputs from the jacket device that is currently connected thereto;

a controller, communicatively coupled with said connector, for receiving and identifying jacket identification signals that identify a jacket device that is connected to the communicator, for receiving and identifying user input signals generated by input controls from the identified jacket device, and for decoding the user input signals based on the jacket identification signals, wherein the jacket identification signals represent an n-bit encoded jacket identifier where n is no greater than the number of signal transmission lines; and

a modem, communicatively coupled with said controller, for transmitting data over the air in response to the decoded user input signals; and

a plurality of jacket devices, each jacket device comprising;

a vibrator controlled by a signal received from said communicator over one of the signal transmission lines;

a backlight driver controlled by a signal received from said communicator over another one of the signal transmission lines;

input controls for receiving user input and generating corresponding user input signals; and

a connector, communicatively coupled with said input controls, for connecting the jacket device to said communicator and for transmitting, over others of the signal transmission lines, the jacket identification signals and the user input signals to said communicator controller, wherein the jacket identification signals are transmitted over the same signal transmission lines as at least some of the input signals.

2. The communication system of claim 1 wherein the plurality of signal transmission lines comprises at most 12 lines.

3. The communication system of claim 1 wherein said jacket input controls comprise a keypad, and wherein the user input signals comprise row and column signals for a keypad array.

4. The communication system of claim 1 wherein at least one of said plurality of jacket devices comprises a battery for supplying power to the jacket device, and for supplying power to said communicator when said communicator is connected to the jacket device.

5. The communication system of claim 1 wherein at least one of said plurality of jacket devices comprises a display screen for displaying input from said input controls and output from said modem.

6. A modular wireless communicator, comprising:

a connector for connecting the communicator to any one of a plurality jacket devices via a plurality of signal transmission lines, whereby the communicator receives its inputs from the jacket device that is currently connected thereto;

a controller, communicatively coupled with said connector, for sending respective control signals over respective ones of the signal transmission lines to a jacket vibrator and to a jacket backlight driver, for receiving, over others of the signal transmission lines, and for identifying jacket identification signals that identify a jacket device that is connected to the communicator, for receiving and identifying user input signals generated by input controls from the identified jacket device, and for decoding the user input signals based on the jacket identification signals, wherein the jacket identification signals represent an n-bit encoded jacket identifier where n is no greater than the number of signal transmission lines, and wherein the jacket identification signals are received over the same signal transmission lines as at least some of the input signals; and

a modem, communicatively coupled with said controller, for transmitting data over the air in response to the decoded user input signals.

7. The modular wireless communicator of claim 6 wherein the plurality of signal transmission lines comprises at most 12 lines.

8. The modular wireless communicator of claim 6 further comprising a subscriber identity module (SIM) card.

9. The modular wireless communicator of claim 6 further comprising:

an antenna; and

a power amplifier connected to said antenna.

10. The modular wireless communicator of claim 6 further comprising:

a battery; and

a power management system for charging said battery.

11. The modular wireless communicator of claim 6 further comprising a level shifter from 3V to 1.8V.