Telecommunications – Transmitter and receiver at same station – Radiotelephone equipment detail
Reexamination Certificate
1998-05-29
2001-05-22
Trost, William G. (Department: 2681)
Telecommunications
Transmitter and receiver at same station
Radiotelephone equipment detail
C455S572000, C455S041300, C379S433020
Reexamination Certificate
active
06236868
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to mobile communications, and more particularly, to an apparatus for sensing the presence of a mobile telephone in its holder, e.g., during use in a moving vehicle, and optionally for delivering power to electronics within the holder.
Current mobile telephones, also commonly referred to as radiotelephones, cellular telephones, mobile stations, and personal communicators, typically include a connector port to permit the mobile phone to be temporarily hardwired to a base unit when the mobile phone is used in an automobile or other moving vehicle. The base unit forms part of a “car kit”, which includes accessories such as a speakerphone, answering machine, data communications electronics, car-mounted antenna, etc. A mobile phone holder (or “cradle”) is mounted to the dashboard, central glove compartment or pedestal mount. The holder retains the mobile phone when not in use or during speakerphone (hands-free) operation.
FIG. 1
illustrates a typical car kit set-up. A mobile phone
10
is retainable within a central slot
17
of a plastic holder
16
mounted to the automobile's dashboard
12
. Mobile phone
10
is electrically connected via plug
14
and cord
18
to a portable base unit
20
, which is typically mounted to the central glove compartment of the vehicle. Base unit
20
is connected to the vehicle's +12V power supply which powers the base unit and recharges the mobile phone's battery via leads within cable
18
. Base unit
20
is usually connected to a car-mounted antenna. Battery charger/eliminator
24
and speakerphone electronics
22
are typically built into the base unit. Speakerphone electronics
22
includes an audio pickup as well as amplification electronics for driving an external speaker. The audio pickup may be located external to base unit
20
, such as in the sun visor, by means of another hard wire connection from the base unit. A manually operated switch on the base unit is usually provided to activate the speakerphone and allow hands-free phone operation.
A concern of ubiquitous cell phone use while driving is driver distraction and its impact on vehicle safety. While current car kit designs, such as those employing hands-free operation or voice-activation electronics capable of performing automatic dialing, are intended to curtail driver distraction, new designs are sought to provide further improvement in this area.
In addition, there is a need for mobile phone devices for moving vehicles with improved ergonomics to facilitate use and enhance enjoyment of these devices.
SUMMARY AND OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a mobile telephone apparatus with improved ergonomics.
It is another object of the invention to provide a means of sensing when an externally powered mobile telephone is placed within its holder.
It is an additional object of the invention to automatically deliver power to a mobile telephone holder whenever the mobile telephone is placed therein.
It is yet another object of the invention to sense the placement of a plug-connected object in a holder for the object.
Various other objects and advantages of the invention will become readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art, and the novel features thereof will be particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
In an illustrative embodiment of the invention, there is provided an apparatus for sensing the presence of a mobile telephone within a holder for the telephone. The apparatus includes a winding located within either the telephone, the telephone's battery or a plug connected to the telephone. A magnetic element capable of coupling to the winding is disposed within a portion of the holder that is proximate to the winding when the telephone is placed within the holder. Detection circuitry is coupled to the winding and detects, based on changes to the alternating current flow through the winding, if the winding is in proximity to the magnetic element, which indicates that the telephone is present within the holder.
When the telephone is present within the holder, the system may automatically enter a speakerphone (hands-free) mode, thereby freeing the user from activating a special switch to implement the same.
Optionally, the winding may be wrapped around a magnetic element within the holder to form a transformer secondary. In this case, power can be delivered to electronics within the holder via the transformer whenever the telephone is present on the holder. The holder electronics may include, for example, light emitting elements and/or a dialer integrated with the holder. The arrangement allows for signaling between the telephone electronics and the holder electronics via magnetic coupling.
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patent: 5542105 (1996-07-01), Finch et al.
patent: 5544227 (1996-08-01), Blust et al.
patent: 5588041 (1996-12-01), Meyer, Jr. et al.
patent: 5596567 (1997-01-01), deMuro et al.
patent: 5600547 (1997-02-01), Kim
patent: 5706000 (1998-01-01), Fukuzaki et al.
patent: 5754962 (1998-05-01), Griffin
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Frommer William S.
Frommer & Lawrence & Haug LLP
Savit Glenn F.
Sony Corporation
Trost William G.
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