Telecommunications – Transmitter and receiver at same station – Radiotelephone equipment detail
Reexamination Certificate
1997-02-21
2001-08-28
Le, Thanh Cong (Department: 2684)
Telecommunications
Transmitter and receiver at same station
Radiotelephone equipment detail
C455S090300
Reexamination Certificate
active
06282436
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a portable telephone, suitably a portable radio telephone.
There is a general drive in the field of mobile telephony to produce more compact telephone arrangements particularly for ease of transportation. There is, however, a conflicting, mainly psychological, requirement for a telephone to bridge the gap between the user's tear and mouth to approximate the feel of using a portable radio telephone handset to that of a traditional landline telephone.
One of the ways in which -this has been achieved is by providing a hinged flap attached to the main body of the telephone that is pivoted to a position in which it overlaps the main body when stowed but extends the overall length of the phone when in use. One example of such a phone is found in U.S. Pat. No. 4,845,772. Such phones do, however, tend to be relatively flimsy and prone to damage especially when the flap is open since it is then extremely prone to accidental knocks or other rough treatment. The hinged flap also presents the difficulty of implementing a reliable conductive path from the microphone to the main body of the telephone across the hinge.
Another arrangement that overcomes some of the disadvantages inherent with a hinged flap is described in EP 0 414 365. The compact telephone or handset described in this patent comprises a main body and a cover portion arranged for longitudinal sliding movement relative to the main body. In the retracted position the phone is compact and easy to store. In the extended position the phone is dimensioned such that it comfortably bridges the gap between the user's ear and mouth. The design can be made both compact and relatively robust.
In the handset described in EP 0 414 365 the connection enabling the call answer/send mode is only made when the cover portion is in its fully extended position. Hence the handset can only be used for making or answering a call when the cover is in its fully extended position.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with the present invention there is provided a portable telephone comprising a set of keys; a cover portion movable between a first position covering the set of keys and a second position not covering the set of keys; and a further key not covered by the cover portion in either position, which has a first function when the cover is in the first position and a second function when the cover is in the second position.
The first function and the second function are suitably different. Both functions preferably include causing the telephone to perform one or more actions, preferably dependent on the status and/or configuration of the telephone. Preferably, at least one, and most preferably both, of the first and second functions includes causing the telephone to perform at least one action that is not part of the other function.
The first function preferably includes putting the telephone in an off-hook condition, suitably to answer incoming calls detected by the telephone. The first function preferably includes putting the telephone off hook only during the period when an incoming call is detected. The first function may also include volume control, suitably ringer volume control and preferably only whilst an incoming call is not detected.
The second function preferably does not include putting the telephone in an off-hook condition; suitably at least not whilst an off-hook key of the set of keys is exposed. The second function may include volume control, suitably ringer volume control.
The first function and the second function are preferably associated with different actions.
The function of the further key is suitably dependent on the position of the cover, and preferably also on other aspects of the telephone's configuration and/or status, such as whether an incoming call is detected. This is suitably achieved by the telephone having a processor which is responsive to activation of the further key and to aspects of the configuration and/or status of the phone (such as user settings, the position of the cover and/or whether an incoming call is detected) and is programmed to act and/or control the telephone accordingly.
The cover portion is preferably slidable between the first position and the second position. The cover portion may be a cover with a wall which can bar access to the set of keys when the cover is in the first position. The cover portion may be an extendible portion. Each “key” may be any user actuable key-type input means, preferably a touch-, pressure- or contact-sensitive input means, preferably actuable by a user's digit.
The processor means is preferably operable to perform the predetermined actions corresponding to sequences of actuations of the exposed ones of the keys for each position of the cover. By allowing exposed keys to be used to control operation of the microprocessor at each position of the cover, there is no difficulty in ensuring that the cover is properly positioned at a particular location before a particular action can be performed. Provided the relevant keys are exposed, an action can be performed. This aims to simplify the operation of the handset. The cover can preferably occupy any position intermediate the first and second positions. The cover preferably can never cover the further key.
The main body preferably comprises a first transducer and the cover a second transducer, the first and second transducers being operational when the cover is in the first and second positions and positions intermediate the first and second positions. The first transducer is typically a speaker or ear piece and the second transducer a microphone. The portable telephone is suitably a portable radio telephone.
Movement of the cover from the first position preferably causes a call to be answered. Movement of the cover to the first position preferably causes a call to be terminated. This provides the user with options other than actuation of keys for answering and terminating calls.
By enabling the handset to be placed in the off-hook condition in the first and second positions and at least one intermediate position, answering a call is not unduly restricted by the position of the cover. This again simplifies operation of the handset.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4845772 (1989-07-01), Metroka et al.
patent: 5436625 (1995-07-01), Kubo
patent: 5761610 (1998-02-01), Sorensen et al.
patent: 5884185 (1999-03-01), Kim
patent: 5907615 (1999-05-01), Kaschke
patent: 0414365 A2 (1991-02-01), None
patent: 0588210 A1 (1994-03-01), None
patent: 0 647 037 A1 (1995-04-01), None
patent: 2 698 747 A1 (1994-06-01), None
patent: 2235606 (1991-03-01), None
patent: 2 275 587 (1994-08-01), None
patent: 2 308 938 (1997-09-01), None
patent: WO 95/03642 (1995-02-01), None
Schembri, Colleen et al., “User Configured Side Buttons”, Motorola Technical Developments, vol. 24, Mar. 1995, p. 85-86.
Cong Le Thanh
Nokia Mobile Phones Ltd.
Perman & Green LLP
LandOfFree
Portable telephone does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Portable telephone, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Portable telephone will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2551347