GB2402292A

GB2402292A - Radiotelephone communications handset

Info

Publication number: GB2402292A
Application number: GB0312435A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Christophe Jean Bataillard
Original assignee: INQUAM
Current assignee: INQUAM
Priority date: 2003-05-30
Filing date: 2003-05-30
Publication date: 2004-12-01
Also published as: GB2402293A; GB0317885D0; GB0312435D0

Abstract

A push-to-talk radiotelephone communication device handset 1 has front and rear faces 60, 62, and side surfaces 5, 6 located between the front and rear faces 60, 62. A keypad 13 is located on the front face 60, a push-to-talk switch 23 is located on or adjacent one of the side surfaces 6, and a group selector means 22 is located on or adjacent another of the side surfaces 5, such that the push-to-talk switch 23 and the group selector means 22 are operable using a respective digit of a hand holding the handset 1. This can allow a user to operate the handset 1 with only one hand.

Description

COMMUNICATION HANDSET

The present invention relates to a push-to-talk communication device handset, and to a method of operating a push-to-talk communication device.

A conventional push-to-talk communication device is shown in EP-A21168777. The handset has front and rear faces, and left and right sides. The front face and left side carry functional elements for a digital radio telephone. The rear face and right side carry lo push-to-talk (PTT) functional elements. Specifically, the right side carries a push-ro-talk switch, and the rear face carries centrally a group selector switch together with a push-to- talk microphone and a push-to-talk speaker.

A first problem with the user interface of EP-A2-1168777 is that it is not suited for operation while the handset is carried in the hand. As a result, the device is carried in a cradle attached to a shoulder strap, particularly when operated in push-to-talk mode.

A second problem with the user interface of EP-A2-1168777 is that it is not convenient to operate the group selector switch with the hand which is carrying the handset. 2()

A third problem with the user interface of EP-A2- 1168777 is that it is not convenient to operate the group selector switch while the handset is being held adjacent to the head.

It is an object of this invention to at least partially alleviates some of these problems.

In accordance with a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a push-to-talk communication device handset having front and rear faces, a display and/or keypad located on one of said faces, and side surfaces between the front and rear faces, a push- to-talk switch being located on or adjacent one of the side surfaces, and group selector so means being located on or adjacent another of the side surfaces, each of said switch and said selector means being operable using a respective digit of a hand holding the handset.

Thus, the push-to-talk switch and group selector means may be easily operated by the hand which is holding the handset, as, for example, the thumb of the user will rest against the group selector means and at least one finger ol the hand will rest against the s PTT switch.

Preierably, the group selector means is mounted on the rear face adjacent to the side surface opposite said one of the side surfaces.

lo Preferably, the group selector means protrudes at least partially beyond said another of said side surfaces.

Preferably, the handset comprises an opening on the rear face of the handset, wherein the group selector means is mounted in the opening. This provides a more slimline design than the design of EP-A2- 168777.

Preferably, the opening is a seat having a first opening on the rear face of the handset, and a second opening on said another of said side surfaces.

Preferably, the group selector means is a rotary switch. In this case the rotary switch may be operable to positively select a particular group when rotated. In an alternative embodiment, the group selector means may be a rotary dial, in which case a particular group may only be positively selected by activating the PTT button or another function key. In an alternative embodiment, the group selector means may be a push button switch.

Preferably, the push-to-talk switch is located on said one of the side surfaces.

Preferably, the push-to-talk switch is located on a side surface opposite to the side lo surface on which, or adjacent to which, the group selector means is located.

Preferably, the handset includes ergonomically profiled side surfaces.

Preferably, the push-to-talk switch follows the profile of said one of said side surfaces.

In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a push-to-talk communication device handset comprising first and second sides, the first side being broader than the second side; a push-to-talk switch; and group selector means mounted on or adjacent to the relatively narrow second side of the handset.

Thus, the group selector means may be operated while the first side of the handset is being held adjacent to the head of the user, to be close to the speaker and/or microphone.

Preferably, the first and second sides may be opposite sides (for instance, front and rear is faces of the handset), but preferably are adjacent sides (such as a rear and left side of the handset).

The handset may not include a speaker and/or microphone. In this case, the speaker and/or microphone can be provided as a separate headset.

In accordance with another aspect of the invention, there is provided a push-to-talk communication device handset comprising front and rear faces, a microphone, a push-to- talk speaker located on the front face of the handset, and group selector means located on or adjacent to the rear face of the handset.

Thus, the group selector switch may be operated easily while the broad side of the handset is being held in the palm of the hand.

In accordance with a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of so operating a push-to-talk communication device handset having front and rear faces, a display and/or keypad located on one of said faces, and side surfaces between the front and rear faces, a push-to-talk switch being located on or adjacent one of the side surfaces, and group selector means being located on or adjacent another of the side surfaces, the method comprising holding the handset in one hand; and operating each of said switch and said selector means using a respective digit of the hand which holding the handset.

Preferably, the group selector means is operated while the handset is being held in the palm of the hand.

Preferably, the group selector means is operated by one of a finger and a thumb of the hand which is carrying the handset.

Preferably, the group selector means is operated by a scrolling action of said one of a finger and a thumb against the switch.

Preferably, the push-to-talk switch is operated while the handset is being held in the palm of the hand.

Preferably, the push-to-talk switch is operated with the other of a finger and a thumb of the hand which is carrying the handset.

Preferably, the push-to-talk switch is operated with a thumb or an index finger of the hand which is carrying the handset.

In accordance with yet a further aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of operating a push-to-talk communication device having front and rear faces, a microphone, a push-to-talk speaker located on the front face of the handset, and group selector means located on or adjacent to the rear face of the handset, the method comprising operating the group selector means while the handset is being held adjacent to the head.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a schematic front view of a radio telephone; Figure 2 is a schematic rear view of the radio telephone of Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a schematic perspective view of the radio telephone of Figure 1 from the rear and left side.

A radio telephone handset 1 has a front side shown in Figure 1, a rear side shown in Figure 2; opposed left and right sides 5, 6; and opposed top and bottom sides 7, 8.

The handset shown in Figure 1 carries functional elements associated with a conventional digital radio telephone. These include a display 10, speaker 12, and keypad 13. The handset also includes a dummy microphone 11. The actual input to the microphone is via an opening (not shown) in the bottom side 8 of the handset 1.

The handset also provides access to functional elements associated with a Push-To-Talk telephone, including a second speaker in the form of a loudspeaker 21, group selector means in the form of a group select wheel 22 and push-to-talk button 23. The speaker output grill is on the rear side of the handset 1, the group select wheel 22 is on the left side 5, and the push-to-talk button 23 is on the right side 6.

The body of the handset is formed by a housing made of various parts which form a closed shell, for example, front part 9 and rear part 13. The rear part 13 is formed with a seat with a front wall 40, upper wall 41, lower wall 42, right wall 43, and open left and rear sides. The group select wheel 22 is partially recessed into the seat, with the left side of the group select wheel 22 protruding slightly from the open left side of the seat. The rear face 24 of the group select wheel is fully recessed below the level of' the rear face of the housing, but can be accessed through the open rear side of the seat. Thus the group s select wheel 22 is easily accessible from the let's side of the handset I and the rear face of the handset I which enables the group select wheel 22 to be operated as a rotary switch.

From Figure 2, it can be seen that the group select wheel 22 has been located in a readily accessible position on the side of the handset. In an alternative embodiment (not shown), the group select wheel 22 may be located more centrally, as long as the wheel remains at least adjacent to one side of the rear face of the handset 1.

The right side 6 of the handset has a projection formed by an upper ramp portion 30 and a lower ramp portion 31. The upper ramp portion 30 has a recess (not labelled) through ] s which the PTT button 23 protrudes slightly. The ramp portions 30,31 follow the profiled shape of the sides of the handset 1 and provide a profile which sits comfortably against the fingers of a right handed user, or the thumb of a left handed user, when the handset 1 is held face up.

The handset 1 is also provided with a group select button 54, provided below the PTT button 23, and a speaker on/off switch 50 which selectively switches audio output from the speaker 12 to the loudspeaker 21.

In use, when the handset 1 is carried in the right hand of a user with the rear side 2s engaging the palm, the index finger of the right hand rests over the PTT button 23 and the thumb of the right hand rests over the group select wheel 22. Thus the PTT button 23 and group select wheel 22 can be actuated by the index finger and thumb respectively of the same hand that is carrying the phone. Also, the PTT button 23 and group select wheel 22 are easily accessible from the left and right sides of the phone respectively.

This enables the PTT button 23 and group select wheel 22 to be operated easily whilst the handset 1 is held with speaker 12 near the ear of the user.

Similarly, when the handset 1 is carried in the left hand of a user with the rear side engaging the palm, the thumb of the left hand rests over the PTT button 23 and the index finger of the left hand rests over the group select wheel 22. Thus the PTT button 23 and group select wheel 22 can be actuated by the thumb and index fingers respectively of the same hand that is carrying the phone. Also, the PTT button 23 and group select wheel 22 can be operated easily whilst the handset I is held with speaker 12 near to the ear of the lo user.

The group select whee] 22 is used to select a group of devices that the user wishes to talk to. The user can switch between groups by rotating the wheel. Thus for example the user can talk/listen to a first group of devices with the wheel in a first rotary position, and to a second group of devices with the wheel in a second rotary position.

Pushing the PTT button 23 establishes a voice connection with other devices in the currently selected group.

In another example, the group select wheel 22 does not actually positively switch between different groups, and the PTT button 23 is used to positively switch to a particular group presently indicated by the group select wheel 22. In this case, the available groups may be indicated on the display lo as the user scrolls the group select wheel 22.

In another example, a particular group may be positively selected using the group select button 54, which is conveniently located below the PTT button 23. Thus, a user can scroll between different groups using the group select wheel 22 and then select a group using the group select button 54, by pressing the group select button 54. A PTT connection is then established using the PTT button 23.

The user may receive PTT voice messages through the speaker 12, with the handset positioned adjacent the user's ear. Alternatively, the user can switch to the loudspeaker 21 using the speaker on/off switch 50. Thus, the handset I can be used while away from the ear of the user.

It will be understood that the present invention has been described above purely by way of example, and modifications of detail can be made within the scope of the invention.

lo Each feature disclosed in the description, and (where appropriate) the claims and drawings may be provided independently or in any appropriate combination.

Reference numerals appearing in the claims are by way of illustration only and shall have no limiting effect on the scope of the claims.

Claims

1. A push-to-talk communication device handset having front and rear faces, a display and/or keypad located on one of said faces, and side surfaces between the front and rear faces, a push-to-talk switch being located on or adjacent one of the side surfaces, and group selector means being located on or adjacent another of the side surfaces, each of said switch and said selector means being operable using a respective digit of a hand holding the handset.

lo

2. A handset according to claim l, wherein the group selector means is mounted on the rear face adjacent to the side surface opposite said one of the side surfaces.

3. A handset according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the group selector means protrudes at least partially beyond said another of said side surfaces.

4. A handset according to any of the preceding claims comprising an opening on the rear face of the handset, wherein the group selector means is mounted in the opening.

5. A handset according to Claim 4 wherein the opening is a seat having a first opening on the rear face ot the handset, and a second opening on said another of said side surfaces.

6. A handset according to any of the preceding claims wherein the group selector means is a rotary switch.

7. A handset according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the pushto-talk switch is located on said one of the side surfaces.

8. A handset according to any preceding claim, wherein the push-to-talk switch is located on a side surface opposite to the side surface on which, or adjacent to which, the group selector means is located.

9. A handset according to any preceding claim, wherein the handset includes ergonomically profiled side surfaces.

10. A handset according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the pushto-talk switch follows the profile of said one of said side surfaces.

11. A push-to-talk communication device handset comprising first and second sides, the first side being broader than the second side; a pushto-talk switch; and group selector means mounted on or adjacent to the relatively narrow second side of the handset.

12. A handset according to Claim 11, wherein the first and second sides are adjacent sides.

13. A push-to-talk communication device handset comprising front and rear faces, a microphone, a push-to-talk speaker located on the front i:ace of the handset, and a group selector means located on or adjacent to the rear face of the handset.

14. A method of operating a push-to-talk communication device handset having front and rear faces, a display and/or keypad located on one of said faces, and side surfaces 2s between the front and rear faces, a push-to-talk switch being located on or adjacent one of the side surfaces, and group selector means being located on or adjacent another of the side surfaces, the method comprising holding the handset in one hand; and operating each of said switch and said selector means using a respective digit of the hand which holding the handset. .

IS. A method according to Claim 14, wherein the group selector means is operated while the handset is being held in the palm of the hand.

16. A method according to Claim 14 or 15, wherein the group selector means is operated by one of a finger and a thumb of the hand which is carrying the handset.

17. A method according to Claim 16 wherein the group selector switch is operated by a scrolling action of said one of a finger and a thumb against the switch.

lo

18. A method according to any of Claims 14 to 17 wherein the push-totalk switch is operated while the handset is being held in the palm of the hand.

19. A method according to Claim 18 wherein the push-to-talk switch is operated with the other one of a finger and a thumb of the hand which is carrying the handset.

20. A method according to Claim 19 wherein the push-to-talk switch is operated with a thumb or an index finger of the hand which is carrying the handset.

21. A method of operating a push-to-talk communication device having front and rear 2() faces, a microphone, a push-to-talk speaker located on the front face of the handset, and group selector means located on or adjacent to the rear face of the handset, the method comprising operating the group selector means while the handset is being held adjacent to the head.

22. A push-to-talk communication device handset substantially as herein described and illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings.

23. A method of operating a push-to-talk communication device handset substantially as herein described and illustrated with reference to the accompanying drawings.