Telecommunications – Radiotelephone system – Including private cordless extension system
Reexamination Certificate
1998-08-03
2001-10-23
Trost, William (Department: 2683)
Telecommunications
Radiotelephone system
Including private cordless extension system
C455S575100, C455S090300, C455S573000, C455S557000, C455S351000, C455S100000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06308074
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to cordless phone systems.
2. State of the Art
Cordless phone systems are popular for household use. Cordless phone systems typically have a handset which communicates by wireless communication to a base unit. The base unit is connected to phone lines and to power and is used to provide a connection to a public switched telephone system and to recharge the handset battery. The communication between the handset and the base unit, for example, can use 900 MHZ spread spectrum radio frequency signals to communicate distances of up to about 1000 ft.
It is desired to have an improved cordless phone system.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The cordless phone system of the present invention provides a continuously portable cordless phone. Unlike other cordless phone systems that are designed to be returned to a base unit for recharging after each use, the present invention provides a handset that can be carried along with the user for continuous use, especially with a headset or earpiece.
In one preferred embodiment, the handset has an internal antenna for wireless communication with the base unit and the handset is less than 5 inches long, fully extended. The small size of the handset means that the handset can be conveniently carried by the user. For example, the handset can be carried in the user's pocket, at the user's belt or in a lanyard around the user's neck. The internal antenna aids in the ease of carrying the handset. External antennas, even extendable external antennas, can accidentally poke the user when carried near the user's body. By combining the small size and the internal antenna, the handset of the present invention can be comfortably carried by the user for long periods of time.
The handset preferably has a connection port to operably connect the handset to a headset or an earpiece microphone/speaker. The headset or earpiece can be worn all day long as the user receives and makes phone calls. In one embodiment, the connection port is a jack connection port that allows connection to a jack of the headset or earpiece. Prior cordless phones have been relatively bulky and thus would be cumbersome to use with a jack connection to a headset or earpiece. In another embodiment, the connection port is a wireless connection port that provides for wireless communication between the handset and the headset or earpiece.
In another embodiment, a handset is designed so that it can fit into a small carrier which can be connected to the user's belt. The carrier aids in the portability of the handset. The carrier is preferably adapted so that the phone can fit upside-down in the carrier. The connection port is positioned so that it sticks out the top of the carrier when the phone is placed in the carrier upside-down. The user can tip the carrier upward in order to make phone calls, while keeping the handset in the belt carrier. In one preferred embodiment, the carrier is such that the on/off button of the handset can be easily selected when the handset is in the carrier. The carrier is preferably scooped out so that buttons near the on/off button are-covered by the carrier and has a curved portion to direct the user's fingers to the on/off button. When a call is received, the user can quickly press the on/off button without looking at the handset. In a preferred embodiment, indicator lights are positioned on the same end of the handset as the connection port so that the indicator lights are visible when the handset is in the carrier. The indicator lights are preferably positioned both along the bottom and along the front of the handset so that the indicator lights can be seen both by the user looking down at the handset, and by another person looking at the user.
The cordless telephone system also preferably has other features that aid in the continuous portable use of the handset. For example, the handset batteries preferably provide for a long period of use between recharges. The battery pack of the handset is preferably easily replaceable because of this heavy battery use between recharges. The handset also preferably produces tones when the buttons are pressed so that a display need not be provided or used. The on/off button is preferably centrally located on the handset, for left- or right-handed use, and larger than the other handset buttons, or easily identifiable by touch, to make it easy to locate the on/off button without looking at the handset. The handset is also preferably light-weight to aid in the handset's portability.
In another embodiment, the handset can be cradled on the base unit with the handset's keyboard facing outward. This allows for the recharging of the handset battery in the base unit while the phone is used. This embodiment is especially valuable when the handset is used with a headset or earpiece. The connection port of the handset is preferably easily accessible while the handset is cradled in the base unit.
REFERENCES:
patent: 5259020 (1993-11-01), Hirano
patent: 5793865 (1999-07-01), Leifer
patent: 5930719 (1999-07-01), Babitch et al.
Radio Shack American Technology Store 1992 Catalog, pp. 85, 86.
Astrin Arthur W.
Chandra Sunil
Fairbanks John P.
Mavrakis Patrick A.
Puthuff Steven H.
Burns Doane Swecker & Mathis
ReSound Corporation
Sobutka Philip J.
Trost William
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