Telephonic communications – Terminal – Housing or housing component
Reexamination Certificate
1998-10-16
2001-09-18
Chiang, Jack (Department: 2642)
Telephonic communications
Terminal
Housing or housing component
Reexamination Certificate
active
06292563
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to radio and wireless telephone communications, particularly in the automatic attenuation of speaker volume when the radio or wireless telephone is opened to the operating position.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
In recent years, portable communications devices for use by the general public have been developed and their usage has become widespread. The cellular telephone systems have become a ubiquitous mode of communication in our society, but cellular phones are not the only widely used form of communications. Recently new UHF frequencies, in the 462 to 467 MHZ range, have been opened for the “Family Radio Service”. The Family Radio Service (FRS) is a 14 channel, UHF, low power, two-way radio service designed to allow communications between multiple users, such as family members at an amusement park or groups on outings. Use of cellular telephones has become very common and socially accepted in most public areas such as shopping malls, amusement parks, and athletic events. However, many people feel uncomfortable using a two-way radio, such as FRS, to communicate in such surroundings. A solution is to make the two-way radio appear to be a cellular telephone. Small, inexpensive component parts are available to produce portable radio sets which are the same size as most mobile telephones.
One disadvantage of modifying a two-way radio to appear as a wireless telephone is the speaker volume must be sufficient to be heard when the radio is some distance from the ear, such as when the radio is stored or attached to a belt or in a handbag but not too loud when the radio is held to the ear as is done with wireless telephones. If the volume is audible enough to be heard when the person is not actually listening to the radio, it may be too loud when the speaker is placed near the ear. This is also true for cellular telephones, where the “ringing” tone must be loud enough to alert the user that a call is waiting and yet may be too loud if not attenuated once the receiver is placed near the ear. This invention is directed to a low cost, simple solution to this problem.
DESCRIPTION OF THE RELATED ART
Many people desire their cellular telephones be as small as possible. The smallest designs are usually divided in two, with the housings joined by a hinge whereby the two housings fold parallel to one another, decreasing the length of the unit by one half. The first housing and the second housing are connected rotatably to each other by a hinge. The telephone is unfolded from the stored position to allow access to the keypad and place the microphone and speaker far enough apart to correspond to the distance between the ear and mouth of the user. Other telephones use a cover which rotates open and closed to cover and protect the keypad and microphone when the telephone is not in use. This movement of a hinge can be used to activate a switch to attenuate the volume of the radio.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide a portable communication device which adjusts the volume of the speaker in which a switch is activated by moving an electrical connecting member in the hinge of a folding type communication device.
The folding radio of the present invention accomplishes the above recited objects by having an electrical switch that connects a first housing to a second housing. The first and second housings, which are attached at a hinge, each have one end of the electrical switch. The movement of the hinge either opens or closes an electrical switch causing the volume of the speaker to increase or decrease.
The wireless telephone has an electrical connecting member which connect related electrical components in the housings. In many cases of folding type telephones, the electrical connecting member is wired through the hinge of the telephone.
REFERENCES:
patent: D. 326092 (1992-05-01), Kikuchi et al.
patent: D. 369598 (1996-05-01), Nagele et al.
patent: 4899368 (1990-02-01), Krohn et al.
patent: 5027394 (1991-06-01), Ono et al.
patent: 5260998 (1993-11-01), Takagi
patent: 5818924 (1998-10-01), King et al.
Clark John M.
Wilson Wayne
Chiang Jack
McGowan John F.
RadioShack Corporation
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