Adjunct device for use with a handheld wireless communication device as a screen pointer

• US 8,884,871 B2
• Filed: 02/26/2010
• Issued: 11/11/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: THL Holding Company, LLC
• Original Assignee: THL Holding Company, LLC
• Inventors: Howard, John W., Cutler, Richard, Kennard, Robert M.
• Primary Examiner(s): MARINELLI, PATRICK
• Application Number:
  US12/713,350
• Publication Number:
  US 20110210959A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,719 Days
• Field of Search: 345156-184
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 13/76 wherein pulse-type signals are transmitted
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 5/12 by co-ordinating position lines of different shape, e.g. hyperbolic, circular, elliptical or radial
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/04 including near field communication means, e.g. RFID

Abstract

An adjunct device includes a case for enclosing at least a portion of a handheld wireless communication device. A plug coupled to a communication port of the handheld wireless communication device. A plurality of infrared emitters emits a corresponding plurality of infrared signals to a sensor coupled to a screen for use in generating a screen pointer graphic on the display screen.

Claims

1. An adjunct device for operation in conjunction with a handheld wireless communication device, the adjunct device comprising:

a case for enclosing at least a portion of the handheld wireless communication device, wherein the case enables the use of the handheld wireless communication device for communication of voice and data via a long range network when enclosing the at least a portion of the handheld wireless communication device and is removably attached to the at least a portion of the handheld wireless communication device;

a plug, coupled to the case, for coupling the adjunct device to the handheld wireless communication device via a communication port of the handheld wireless communication device;

a plurality of infrared emitters, coupled to the communication port, that emit a corresponding plurality of infrared signals to a sensor coupled to a display screen for use in generating a screen pointer graphic on the display screen, wherein the handheld wireless communication device includes a processor that executes a screen pointer application that is downloaded to the handheld wireless communication device via the long range network, wherein the plurality of infrared emitters are controlled based on application data from the screen pointer application received by the case via the communication port of the handheld wireless communication device, and wherein the sensor and the display screen are separate and distinct from the adjunct device and the handheld wireless communication device;

a battery, coupled to provide power to the plurality of infrared emitters, wherein the battery is separate from a battery of the handheld wireless communication device and wherein the plug couples the power from the battery of the adjunct device to the handheld wireless communication device via the communication port of the handheld wireless communication device to charge the battery of the handheld wireless communication device; and

a charging port, coupled to the case, for coupling a power signal from an external power source to charge the battery of the adjunct device.

2. The adjunct device of claim 1 wherein the plug operates in an auxiliary power mode to couple the power from the battery of the adjunct device to the handheld wireless communication device via the communication port of the handheld wireless communication device to charge the battery of the handheld wireless communication device, and wherein the device interface operates in a battery isolation mode to decouple the battery of the adjunct device from the battery of the handheld wireless communication device.

3. An adjunct device for operation in conjunction with a handheld wireless communication device, the adjunct device comprising:

a case for enclosing at least a portion of the handheld wireless communication device, wherein the case enables the use of the handheld wireless communication device for communication of voice and data via a long range network when enclosing the at least a portion of the handheld wireless communication device, and wherein the case is removably attached to the at least a portion of the handheld wireless communications device;

a plug, coupled to the case, for coupling the adjunct device to the handheld wireless communication device via a communication port of the handheld wireless communication device;

an infrared sensor, coupled to the communication port, that receives an infrared location signal from an infrared emitter array coupled to a display screen for use in generating a screen pointer graphic on the display screen, wherein the handheld wireless communication device includes a processor that executes a screen pointer application that is downloaded to the handheld wireless communication device via the long range network, wherein the plurality of infrared emitters are controlled based on application data from the screen pointer application received by the case via the communication port of the handheld wireless communication device, and wherein the sensor and the display screen are separate and distinct from the adjunct device and the handheld wireless communications device;

a battery, coupled to provide power to the plurality of infrared emitters, wherein the battery is separate from a battery of the handheld wireless communication device and wherein the plug couples the power from the battery of the adjunct device to the handheld wireless communication device via the communication port of the handheld wireless communication device to charge the battery of the handheld wireless communications device; and

a charging port, coupled to the case, for coupling a power signal from an external power source to charge the battery of the adjunct device.

4. The adjunct device of claim 3 wherein the plug operates in an auxiliary power mode to couple the power from the battery of the adjunct device to the handheld wireless communication device via the communication port of the handheld wireless communication device to charge the battery of the handheld wireless communication device, and wherein the device interface operates in a battery isolation mode to decouple the battery of the adjunct device from the battery of the handheld wireless communication device.