CN1375154A - Handsfree set for mobile phone - Google Patents

Abstract

An accessory device for remote talking and/or listening to a mobile telephone comprising a microphone and/or earpiece or headset unit on a pull-out conductor having means for connection to an associated mobile telephone, said conductor being electrically connected to said connection means and adapted to be received within said unit. A spool with spring means mounted thereon is included in the unit, the spool having a wire wound on the outer surface thereof. When the microphone and/or earpiece or headset is pulled out of the unit for use, the spring is tensioned due to the rotation of the reel. The microphone and/or the earpiece or headset is rolled back by the spring means by operating a catch to release the stored pulling force. Preferably, the pullout conductor is wound around the spool when not in use, and a pawl or the like is mounted to the spool which prevents rotation in the opposite direction to the spool rotation due to pullout of the audio unit conductor, and when the audio unit is not in use, the latch is operated to stop the function of the pawl or the like and the audio unit conductor is rewound. The pull-out wires are connected to the body of the mobile phone via auxiliary contacts on the power supply unit, which cooperate with contacts on the body of the phone, which body comprises a rechargeable battery. It is also possible that the unit replaces the removable back of the mobile phone covering the battery. The unit may take the form of a pendant or thin card-like package with a short auxiliary lead connecting it to the associated mobile telephone.

Description

Headsets for mobile phones

The present invention relates to headsets and similar auxiliary devices for mobile phones and similar devices.

Many mobile phones have a microphone and earphone integrated with the transmitter/receiver unit, keypad and battery. In most mobile phones, power is supplied by a battery pack. The battery pack usually uses rechargeable cells, and in some models, the battery pack is removable so that when the charge is exhausted, the battery pack can be replaced with another charged battery pack. When in use, this type of phone needs to be lifted to the head in the same manner as a conventional PSTN (Public Switched Telephone Network) wired telephone handset.

Holding a mobile phone up to the head to listen and speak has several disadvantages. Radiation from the antenna near the brain may cause damage to the brain. While driving, it is dangerous to hold a phone in your hand when called or when you want to make a call, because it reduces the driver's ability to control the vehicle. Some mobile phones are equipped with detachable earphones and/or headsets with microphones. These auxiliary devices are referred to below as separate audio units. Such auxiliary devices are usually connected by a mating wire to a conventional electrical connector, such as a multi-contact plug. Such detachable audio units can overcome some of the above-mentioned disadvantages of phones with an integrated microphone and earphone, however, due to their small size and easy unplugging characteristics, they are easily lost and the connecting cord is easy to disconnect. Knot.

The invention provides a mobile phone, or an accessory device for said phone, capable of accommodating the detachable audio unit.

The invention provides an auxiliary device for remote talking and/or answering of a mobile phone, which is characterized in that it comprises a microphone and/or earphone or headset unit on a pullout wire, the unit having means for connection to an associated mobile telephone, to which connection means is electrically connected and adapted to be housed in said unit, and also comprising a reel equipped with spring means, the reel having coils wound on its outer surface so that when the microphone and/or earphone or headset is pulled out of the unit for use, the spring is tensioned due to the rotation of the spool and released by operating a locking mechanism , the microphone and/or earphone or headset are rolled back.

The retracting means is preferably a spring loaded spool rotatably mounted within said unit. When not in use, the wires of the separate audio unit are wound around the reel. When required for use, the audio unit can be pulled out of its housing, and as it is pulled the audio wire uncoils from the spool, creating tension in the associated spring mechanism. A pawl or similar device is provided which prevents back-turning against the direction of rotation of the reel by pulling out the audio unit wire so that the pulled wire is not reeled in when the outward pull is released to the scroll. When the audio unit is out of service, the pawl or other device is released and the wires of the audio unit are reeled as the reel rotates releasing the tension stored in the spring. Spring-loaded spools with an associated one-way system and latches to control the unwinding of the unwound wire are well known and widely used in magnetic tape devices and the like.

The attachment of the detachable audio unit to the body of the associated mobile phone can be done in a number of ways. In one embodiment, the wires of the audio unit are connected to the body of the mobile phone through auxiliary contacts located on the power unit, which cooperate with contacts on the body of the phone. In this case, the power supply unit may also include a rechargeable battery as a power source for the phone and have additional mating contacts for connecting the power supply to the electrically operated parts of the phone. Such power supplies and battery packs tend to be specific to a particular type of mobile phone. In yet another alternative embodiment, the unit may replace the removable back of the mobile phone that covers the battery. This type of replacement back unit is also dedicated to a particular type of mobile phone.

Another embodiment could be a "stand alone" unit comprising a cord dispenser with reel as described above, which connects to the mobile phone via a short lead and branches out to a long lead with the audio unit. These self-contained audio unit modules can come in the form of a pendant worn around the neck or a thin card-like package that fits easily in a wallet pocket. In either case, a short auxiliary lead connects them to the mobile phone through a male plug that fits into a female socket located on the face of the phone.

The housing of the unit, in embodiments containing a rechargeable battery or adapted to replace the battery cover, is preferably fabricated from a thermoplastic synthetic polymer color matched to the associated mobile phone. In the case of pendants and card-like units, the housings can be made in a variety of colors and bear the name of the manufacturer and/or a logo advertising the company associated with the product, such as the supplier of a mobile phone.

In order to understand the present invention more clearly, some specific embodiments will be described below in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of the invention wherein the unit is connected to a battery,

2 is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of the battery unit of the present invention,

Figure 3 is a front view of yet another embodiment in which the unit is connected to a battery,

Figures 4a, 4b and 4c are side views showing how the earphones are housed in the unit,

Figure 5 is a front view of another alternative embodiment of the unit shown in Figure 3,

Figure 6 is a rear view of the unit in the form of a battery cover,

Figures 7a and 7b are front and side views of a pendant unit according to the present invention,

Figures 8a and 8b are front and side views of a card-like unit according to the invention.

Referring to FIG. 1 , a battery pack unit includes a housing 1 containing a battery pack 2 and a handset 3 . The battery pack 2 includes a plurality of rechargeable batteries. The handset 3 includes a microphone 4 and an earphone 5 . The handset 3 is connected to the unit by a wire 6 wound on a reel 7 . The spool 7 is spring loaded so that when the spool 7 rotates as the wire 6 is pulled out, a tension is created in the spring. After the wire 6 is pulled out, a pawl or other one-way device (not shown) prevents the reel 7 from rewinding the wire 6 again. A manual lock 8 can release the one-way device, which after operation of the lock will cause the reel 7 to rotate and rewind the wire 6 around it. A switch 9 allows "hands-free" operation of the telephone.

The spool 7 in this embodiment includes a set of rotating contacts (not shown) which provide an electrical path from the conductor 6 to a set of auxiliary contacts which, when the battery pack is connected to the phone, are in contact with the phone. A matching set of contacts on the body mates.

Referring to FIG. 2 , in another embodiment of the present invention, a set of rotary contacts 11 is connected to an auxiliary wire 12 , and the wire is connected to a protruding plug 13 . The connection and the dimensions of the plug 13 are the same as for a conventional detachable handset. The battery pack unit shown in FIG. 2 may be configured as a drop-in replacement for existing battery packs that do not include a handset. The handset 3 is electrically connected to the body of the telephone by means of a plug 13 and its associated wire 12 .

Referring to Fig. 3, in another embodiment of the present invention, housing 20 accommodates battery pack and spring-loaded reel (not shown), and reel has a wire 21 that is connected to earphone 22, and earphone 22 is connected from cavity 23. stick out. When the unit is to be recharged, the unit can be released through the first lock 24 . As mentioned above, the second locking catch 25 can release the one-way mechanism, make the spool rotate and rewind the wire 21 .

Figures 4a, 4b and 4c show the steps in which the earphone 22 is inserted into the cavity 23 for storage. When fully inserted, the outer surface of the earphone 22 is completely flush with the housing 20 of the unit.

Referring to FIG. 5 , a unit 30 according to the invention is arranged to replace the detachable back of a mobile phone 31 . The unit 30 includes a spring loaded reel 32 around which a wire 33 is coiled when the auxiliary device is not in use. One end of the wire 33 has an earphone 34, the other end is connected to a rotary contact (not shown), and the feeding end 35 is connected to a short auxiliary wire 36a or 36b. The lead wire 36a or 36b has a male plug 37 which is positioned upwards so that it can be inserted into a socket 38 on the side of the telephone 31 when the lead wire is positioned as 36a. Plugs may also be stored, plug 37 may be seated in a recess molded into the outer surface of unit 30, in the position shown as wire 36b.

Earphone 34 has a stem 39 which is insertable into a cavity (not shown) in the outer surface of unit 30 . When the earphone 34 is pulled out of the unit 30, the wire 33 will cause the spool 32 to rotate, thereby creating a tension in the spring, however a one-way mechanism (not shown) is provided which prevents the rotation of the shaft caused by the tension. Rotate so that the pulling force does not act on the wire 33 . The function of the one-way mechanism can be disabled by operation of the catch 40, causing the spool to rotate and rewind the length of wire 33 that has been drawn. The edge (not shown) of unit 30 is designed to conform to the battery cover it replaces. For this reason, the extent of the unit must be manufactured to match the extent of the mobile phone cover structure.

The embodiment described in connection with Fig. 5 shows that the unit 30 is arranged in combination with the structure of a telephone 31, wherein the socket 38 is provided on one side. To include the location of the jack 38 at the bottom of the phone 31, see FIG. A cavity 31 into which a stem 39 of an earphone 34 is inserted is clearly shown. When placed in cavity 41 , the outer surface of earpiece 34 is flush with the outer surface of unit 30 .

An embodiment usable with any mobile phone is shown in Figures 7a and 7b in the form of a pendant 50 having a lead wire 51 with a male plug that can be plugged into a matching female socket on any mobile phone. The connecting wire 51 needs to be longer than those used in the previously described embodiments, because the pendant may be separated from the mobile phone connected to it by up to one meter. For this reason, the lead wire 51 is preferably in the form of a pre-wound helical coil in order to prevent it from becoming tangled with the user's clothing. The pendant 50 houses an earphone 53 having a wire 54 that is substantially stored on a spring-loaded reel (not shown) in the manner described for other embodiments of the invention. In use, the earpiece can be pulled out to expand the available length of lead wire 54 . When not in use, depressing the catch 55 will cause the lead 54 to be rewound onto the spool inside the pendant housing. A pendant unit of the type depicted in Figure 7 can be manufactured in a compact structure. The oval housing of pendant 50 may have a maximum dimension of 44mm, a minimum dimension of 38mm, and a thickness of 12mm (except for the attached 12 earphones).

A further embodiment that can be used with any mobile phone is shown in Figures 8a and 8b, which can take the form of a card-like housing 60 comprising a pre-wound connecting wire 61 with a plug 62 adapted to be inserted into any Fitting recessed socket on mobile phone. The coiled wire 61 is connected to a spring loaded reel 63 through a set of terminals 64 . The wire 65 has an earphone 66 at one end and is connected at the other end to a rotary joint (not shown) that feeds a terminal 64 . Lead wire 65 may be stored on reel 63 when the unit is not in use. As with the previously described embodiments of the invention, the reel 63 has a one-way drive system which prevents tension stored in the spring from rewinding the wire 65 back to the spring reel 63 when the earpiece 66 is used. When out of use, the catch 69 releases the restraint imposed by the one-way system, and spring tension causes the spring reel 63 to rotate and rewind the wire 65 . In the exemplary embodiment shown, the line 65 carries a microphone 67 connected in series close to the earpiece 66 . When the earphone 66 is worn on the ear, the microphone 67 will be close to the mouth so that the combination can be used as a handset of a conventional telephone. When not in use, earphone 66 and microphone 67 are stored within a molded cavity in housing 68 of unit 60 .

Claims (12)

1. An auxiliary device for remote talking and/or answering of a mobile phone, characterized in that it comprises a microphone and/or earphone or headset unit positioned on a pullout wire, the unit having means for connection to an associated mobile telephone, said wire being electrically connected to said connection means and adapted to be received within said unit, and also comprising a reel fitted with spring means, the reel winding the wire on its outer surface , so that when the microphone and/or earphone or headset is pulled out of the unit for use, the spring is tensioned due to the rotation of the reel, and by operating a catch to release the stored tension, the microphone and/or earphones or headsets are retracted by spring means. 2. The accessory device of claim 1, wherein the pullable wire is wound around the reel when not in use. 3. Auxiliary device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, characterized in that a pawl or similar device is mounted on the reel, which prevents the opposite direction of rotation along the reel caused by pulling out the audio unit wire. direction of rotation. 4. Auxiliary device as claimed in claim 3, characterized in that when the audio unit is out of use, operation of the catch causes the detent or similar function to be deactivated, then when the reel rotates releases the spring stored When pulled, the audio unit is rolled back. 5. Auxiliary device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the pull-out lead is connected to the body of the phone by means of auxiliary contacts located on the power supply unit, said auxiliary contacts being in contact with the body of the phone. contact fit. 6. An auxiliary device as claimed in claim 5, characterized in that it comprises a rechargeable battery as a power source for the mobile phone, and in that it comprises mating contacts for connecting the power source to the electrically operated part of the phone. 7. An auxiliary device according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that said unit can replace a detachable back of a mobile phone covering said battery. 8. The auxiliary device according to any one of claims 1-5, wherein the unit module is in the form of a pendant. 9. An auxiliary device according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that the unit modules are in the form of a thin card-like package. 10. Auxiliary device as claimed in one of claims 8 or 9, characterized in that a short auxiliary lead connects the unit to the associated mobile phone via a protruding plug which fits into the phone into the recessed socket on the surface. 11. Various devices for remote speaking and/or answering of mobile phones as claimed in claim 1 and described herein. 12. Apparatus for remote talking and/or answering of a mobile phone as herein described and shown in the accompanying drawings.

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