WO2000005855A1

WO2000005855A1 - A cellular phone

Info

Publication number: WO2000005855A1
Application number: PCT/SE1999/001234
Authority: WO
Inventors: Amir Mokhtari Fard
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1998-07-07
Filing date: 1999-07-07
Publication date: 2000-02-03
Anticipated expiration: 2001-01-07
Also published as: AU5076399A; SE9802443D0

Abstract

A cellular phone (1) comprising a first body (5), which comprises first means for communication with another telephone unit via a telephone network, and a second body (6), which comprises a microphone member and a loudspeaker member, and second means for communication between the first body (5) and the second body (6), wherein the second body (6) is detachably connected to the first body (5). The second body (6) defines an elongated rod, which is telescopically extendible in its direction of length and extends in the first body (5) in its direction of length.

Description

A cellular phone

THE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION AND PRIOR ART

The present invention refers to a cellular phone comprising a first body, which comprises first means for communication with an other telephone unit via a telephone net-work, and a second body, which comprises a microphone member, a loudspeaker member and second means for communication between the first body and the second body, wherein the second body is detachably connected to the first body.

Today, the cellular phone is an aid for communication, which is used by many people all over the world. However, conventional cellular phones have the drawback to be comparatively heavy, which is a result of the fact that they have to comprise inter alia batteries of significant capacity. However, there is an aim at producing as light-weight cellular phone as possible with a maintained or even improved performance. By dividing a cellular phone into two bodies, one of which carries a battery and the electronics which enable communication via a cellular phone network, and the other only carries a load speaker member, a microphone member and electronics for communication at short distances between the first and the second bodies, it is possible to make the part, which a user needs to carry when she speaks in the phone, comparatively light-weight. Thus, this part is formed of said second body. The communication between the respective bodies may be achieved by providing a link, for example a wireless radio frequency link, between the both bodies. Phone devices which comprise so-called headsets are an example of practical application of this technique. In connection with headsets, said headset defines the second body, which may be designed comparatively light-weight and be attached to or in the immediate vicinity of the head of a user, while the main body of the phone, which may comprise batteries, the main electronics, key set etc. may be provided at an other location. Thereby, the user may be released from the need of holding the phone in his or her hand when he or she speaks in the same. Moreover, the part of the phone device, which emits the strongest radiation, may hereby be removed from the head of a user in connection with the use of the phone device. With reference to the different reports which recently have been published and from which it appears that said radiation may seriously influence the human body, it is of course an advantage to be able to remove the source of radiation as far away as possible from vital parts of the human body, in particular the head.

A phone device of the type mentioned above is for example known from the document US-A-5 590 417. This document shows a phone, which comprises two bodies, which are detachably connected to each other. The first of these bodies comprises the battery of the phone, the main electronics, key set, display etc, while the second body comprises a loudspeaker member and a microphone member and means for transmission of voice signals via a RF-link between the both bodies. The second body may be used as a headset when it is detached from the first body. Both the bodies may comprise contacts, which electrically connect the headset part with the first body. These contacts may convey communication signals when the both bodies are attached to each other. They may also be used for recharging a battery in the second body, i.e. the headset part.

In connection with some occasion of application it is desirable to minimise the number of manual operations which are required to establish or interrupt the communication of the cellular phone via a telephone net-work, i.e. the connection to an other phone via said net-work. A typical such occasion may be when the user drives a car and has to receive a phone call. Thereby, it is at least required that the user presses some for this purpose intended key of the phone for initiating a connection to a calling phone unit. Since said key may be one of a plurality of keys, this measure often requires that the user at the same time looks at the key set in order to make sure of that he presses the right key. In many situations, such as traffic situations, as being exemplified in this case, such attention requiring measures are not desirable.

In connection with cellular phones which comprise a first body and one from this detachable second body as set forth above, the second body is either provided in a relatively unprotected manner at the side of the first body or housed in the first body in a way which makes it difficult to reach or, unnecessarily, space-requiring in the first body. It is known to provide a telescopical extendible second body in a first body. However, a drawback of this known construction is that the second body is positioned in such a way in the first body that it requires that the user extends the second body after it has been removed from the first body and that, in reality, it is difficult to reach since it is positioned along one of the long sides of the first body.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide a cellular phone which in connection with initiating and interruption of a phone call only requires a reduced attention from the user when he/she is to initiate a call, connect the phone to the calling phone or interrupt such a connection. The second body is to be within easy reach and, moreover, provided in such a way that it is protected from outer influence when it is attached to the first body. Moreover, a protected position will enable a weak and light-weight construction of the second body, for example as a pen-shaped body. The second body is to have a construction, which only takes up a limited space and thereby, it may be combined with a small and compact first body.

This object is achieved by a cellular phone of the initially defined type, which is characterised in that the second body defines an elongated rod, which is telescopically extendible in its direction of length and extends into the first body in its direction of length. By such a construction, the second body may be easy to reach from a short side of the first body. Consequently, the second body preferably extends into the first body in the direction of length of the latter, preferably from the upper side of the latter in order to make the second body as easy as possible to reach for a user. Thanks to the fact that the second body is telescopically provided, it may be made short, wherein it only takes up a limited space in the first body, which is an advantage with regard to the need of battery space etc. in the latter. However, it may have a total length, which is satisfactory from a user's point of view and which at least corresponds to the distance between the ear and the mouth of a user. The first body preferably comprises a recess in the form of a hole, the inner walls of which surround and protect the second body when the latter is positioned in the first body.

According to a preferred embodiment of the cellular phone according to the invention, a retaining engaging force is available between the telescopic parts of the second body, which counteracts relative telescopic displacement of these, and the second body is in engagement with the first body when the second body extends into the first body, wherein the engaging force between the telescopic parts is less than the engaging force between the first and the second bodies, which counteracts displacement of the second body out from the first body. Said engaging forces may be friction forces or the or these forces which are required for detaching a snap joint between said telescopic parts or the first and second bodies. By this ratio of force, it is guaranteed that a telescopic extension of the second body always takes place before it is completely removed from the first body. Thus, the user does not need to extend telescopically the second body to its full length in a later stage.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the cellular phone comprises means for initiating a function of connection of the first body for communication with said other telephone unit via said telephone net-work in connection with the detaching of the second body from the first body and for initiating a hang-up function of the first body in connection with repositioning of the second body at the first body. Thereby, a user does not need to perform any particularly attention requiring operation for initiating the call after the number to the telephone unit, which is to be called up, has been given. In connection with an incoming phone call, the user initiates the connection by only detaching the second body from the first body. After the call, the user initiates a hang-up function of the phone by only reattaching the second body to the first body.

According to a preferred embodiment, said initiating means comprise members which at a given mechanical contact between the first and the second bodies initiate said function of connection and said hang-up function, respectively. Said members may comprise some type of connection members. The second body preferably also comprises a battery, and said battery may be rechargeable via said connection members. However, the main battery, which guarantees the function of the cellular phone, is provided in the first body. The mechanical contact between the both bodies which is required for initiating said functions may easily be made reliable by a suitable construction of the first and the second bodies.

The second body is elongated and the first body comprises a recess for receiving the second body.

Thereby, it becomes possible to design the second body as a stick or pen, which may be pushed into the first body and be housed in the latter when the second body is not used for a call. The second body, which shall be comparatively light-weight and consequently is comparatively weak, may owing to this arrangement, be protected within the first body. The second body preferably protrudes a distance from the first body in order to be easy to reach for the user.

According to a further preferred embodiment, said mechanical contact prevails when the second body is inserted in said recess. Preferably, said contact is only achieved when the second body is inserted into the first body as far as possible. Thereby, the initiating of the function of connection and the hang-up function becomes very distinct. The probability that the user is to not succeed with the insertion of the second body within the first body is minimal and the insertion requires a very small attention from the user's point of view.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the second body comprises at least two elongated parts, which are mutually movably connected to each other and are arranged to take a first position, in which the second body has a minimal length, and a second position, in which the second body has a maximal length. The maximal length is preferably such that it permits optimal positioning of the microphone member and the loudspeaker member in relation to the expected distance between the mouth and the ear of a user. In the first position, the second body is preferably somewhat longer than the depth of the recess of the first body, so that, when the second body is in the first position, it will protrude a distance from the recess when it is maximally inserted into the latter. Thereby, the recess has such dimensions that it is capable of housing substantially the whole second body when the latter is in the first position. Consequently, the length of the first body does not have to be adapted to a suitable distance between the ear and the mouth of the user, as in a conventional manner, but may in substance have an arbitrary shape, only with the restriction that the second body may be pushed into the recess when it is in its first position.

According to a further preferred embodiment, the microphone member is provided at one end of the second body and the loudspeaker member is provided at one opposite end of the second body. Thereby, one avoids an unnecessary long second body considering the expected distance between the ear and the mouth of the user. The arrangement of the parts of the body in such a way that they may be telescopically displaced relative each other is also facilitated since said microphone member and loudspeaker member are provided in this way at opposite ends of the body and do not have to constitute any direct obstacle for such a displacement. According to a further preferred embodiment, the loudspeaker member is provided at one end of one of said at least two parts and the microphone member is provided at one opposite end of an other of said at least two parts when the second body is in the second position. Thereby, a maximal use of the length of the second body may be achieved, as well as a minimised material consumption and thereby, a reduced weight of the second body since the same does not have to be longer than the optimal distance between the loudspeaker member and the microphone member considering the distance between the ear and the mouth of the user.

Further features and advantages with the present invention will be clear from the following, detailed description and from the remaining dependent claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention is now to be more closely described, in exemplified but not in a limited way, with reference to the attached drawings, in which:

Fig 1 is a front view of a cellular phone according to an embodiment of the invention, Fig 2 is a view from above of the cellular phone according to

Fig 1 , Fig 3 shows a second body according to the invention, in a first position, and Fig 4 shows the body according to Fig 3, but in a second position.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

The invention refers to a cellular phone 1 , which comprises a key set 2 for inputting different data, such as telephone number, name, etc to the memory of the phone. Moreover, the phone comprises a display unit 3 for showing information to a user. Regarding these aspects, the cellular phone according to the invention may be of a traditional type. It also comprises an aerial 4, which in a manner known per se, may be displaced between different outer positions.

Said components mentioned above, as well as a battery for the operation of the cellular phone, are all provided within or on the first body 5, which defines a main body of the cellular phone 1 . Moreover, the cellular phone 1 comprises a second body 6, which is detachably connected to the first body 5. For this purpose, the first body 5 comprises a recess 7, which is intended to house the main part of the second body 6. The first body is elongated in a traditional manner, and the recess 7 extends from the upper side of the first body and into the same in the direction of length of the same. The recess 7 extends aiong substantially the whole length of the first body 5.

The second body 6 is elongated and is arranged to be pushed into and pulled out from the recess 7. The cross section of the second body 6 has such shape and such dimensions that it is supported by at least some inner surfaces of the recess 7 with such a force that it is prevented from falling out from the recess 7 if the phone should be turned upside-down or be shaken. The second body 6 is somewhat longer than the recess 7, so that it protrude a distance from the first body 5 when it is maximally inserted into the recess 7.

The second body 6 comprises a microphone member 8 arranged at one end of the body, and a loudspeaker member 9 arranged at one opposite end of the body. The second body also comprises electronics and a battery (not shown), which together define means for communication of voice data between the first and the second bodies. Said communication may take place by the transmission of RF-signals or for example IR-signals. That is to be noted that the first body comprises corresponding means for said communication with the second body 6, and that the first body also comprises further means in the form of electronic components known per se (not shown) for further communication of said voice data between the cellular phone 1 and some further telephone unit via a cellular phone net-work.

The second body 6 comprises two elongated parts 10, 11 , which are movable provided relative each other in such a way that the second body 6 may take a first position, such as in Fig 3, in which the second body is maximal short, and a second position, such as in Fig 4, in which the second body is maximal long. The parts 10, 1 1 are preferably telescopically displaceable relative each other in order to enable the change in length of the second body 6. The second body 6 is intended to be positioned in the first body 5 when being in the first position, the short position. The telescopic extension is counteracted by an engaging force, in this case a friction force, between the parts 10, 1 1 . This force is less than an engaging force, for example a friction force, which prevails between the first body 5 and the second body 6 and which counteracts removal of the second body 6 from the first body 5.

Moreover, the cellular phone comprises means 12, 13 for initiating a function of connection of the first body 5 in connection with detachment of the second body 6 from the first body 5 and for initiating a hang-up function of the first body 5 in connection with reattaching of the second body 6 to the first body 5. With function of connection, a function is concerned which corresponds to the function, which ordinary telephones are arranged to perform when the receiver of the latter is removed and one desires to initiate a phone call or interrupt a communication with an other telephone unit. Usually, cellular phones show two separate keys, which have to be pressed in order to bring about both of these different functions. Nothing prevents that the cellular phone according to the invention also shows such keys, but it is a significant advantage that these functions may be initiated by only detaching the second body 6 from the first body 5, as in this case by pulling the second body 6 out from the recess 7, and by reattaching the second body 6 to the first body 5, in this case, by pushing back the second body 6 in the recess 7 of the first body 5. Said initiating means 12, 13 comprise members which at a given mechanical contact between the first body 5 and the second body 6 initiate said function of connection and hang-up function, respectively. The members 12, 13 are only schematically indicated in Figs 1 , 3 and 4 and are arranged to activate an electronic circuit of the first body 5 in order to bring about said functions. The initiating means 12, 13 preferably comprise electrical conductive connection members, such as plate metals or the like. When contact establishes between the member 12 of the second body 6 and corresponding member 13 of the first body 5, the given mechanical contact between the first body 5 and the second body 6 which is needed for initiating said functions is available.

Moreover, the second body 6 comprises a writing member 14, which is provided at one end of the second body 6, see Fig 4. The writing member 14 is insertable and removable from an opening 15 of the second body 6. The opening 15 extends in the direction of length of the second body 6 from said end of the second body 6. The writing member 14 is intended to take two different positions, viz. a first, in which it is housed in the opening 15 of the second body 6, and thereby, protected from outer influence, and a second, in which it is exposed outside the second body. Consequently, the writing member 14 is displaceable in relation to the second body 6 in the direction of length of the latter. According to a first embodiment, the writing member 14 is arranged in the first position when the second body 6 is inserted into the first body 5. According to a first alternative of the first embodiment, the writing member is automatically moved to the second position in connection with detachment of the second body 6 from the first body 5. This may be realised by the aid of for example a spring member.

According to a second alternative, the writing member is manually moved between the two positions. According to a first performance, the writing member 14 is rotary connected to the second body, wherein the writing member is brought between said two positions by a rotary relative motion between the writing member 14 and the second body 6. According to a second performance, the writing member is telescopically connected to the second body 6. According to a first alternative of the second performance, the second body comprises a key 16, which is connected to the writing member, for bringing the writing member between the two positions. The key 16 is preferably provided at the opposite the writing member located end of the second body. The key 16 preferably protrude from the second body 6 in its direction of length.

Thanks to the fact that the second body 6 comprises the writing member 14, it is possible for a user of the cellular phone to write during the conversation going on without the user needing to use a further writing aid such as a pen. Hereby, the number of operations in relation to previously technique is reduced when the user wants to note something during the conversation.

Of course, it is to be realised that a number of variants or alternative embodiments of the cellular phone according to the invention will be obvious for a person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention such as the invention is defined in the attached claims.

Moreover, it is worth noticing that the performance according to the invention of a cellular phone makes it possible to construct the first body very small and compact since the length of the latter does not need to be adapted to the distance between the ear and the mouth of a user.

Claims

1. A cellular phone comprising a first body (5), which comprises first means for communication with an other telephone unit via a telephone net-work, and a second body (6), which comprises a microphone member (8) and a loudspeaker member (9), and second means for communication between the first body (5) and the second body (6), wherein the second body (6) is detachably connected to the first body (5), characterised in that the second body defines an elongated rod, which is telescopically extendible in its direction of length and extends into the first body (5) in its direction of length.

2. A cellular phone according to claim 1 , characterised in that a retaining engaging force is available between the telescopic parts

(10, 1 1 ) of the second body, which counteracts relative telescopic displacement of these and that the second body (6) is in engagement with the first body (5) when it is pushed into the latter, wherein the engaging force between the telescopic parts (10, 1 1 ) is less than the engaging force between the first body (5) and the second body (6), which counteracts displacement of the second body (6) out from the first body (5).

3. A cellular phone according to claims 1 or 2, characterised in that it comprises means (12, 13) for initiating a function of connection of the first body (5) for communication with said other telephone unit via said telephone net-work in connection with detaching of the second body (6) from the first body (5) and for initiating a hang-up function of the first body (5) in connection with repositioning of the second body (6) at the first body (5).

4. A cellular phone according to claim 3, characterised in that said initiating means (12, 13) comprise members which at a given mechanical contact between the first and the second bodies (5, 6) initiate said function of connection and said hang-up function, respectively.

5. A cellular phone according to any one of claims 1 - 4, characterised in that the second body (6) is elongated and that the first body (5) comprises a recess (7) extending from its upper side for receiving the second body (6).

6. A cellular phone according to claim 5, characterised in that said mechanical contact prevails when the second body (6) is inserted in said recess (7).

7. A cellular phone according to claims 5 or 6, characterised in that the recess (7) defines a hole, which extends into the first body (5), and that substantially the whole second body (6) is arranged to be pushed into and pulled out from said hole.

8. A cellular phone according to any one of the claims 1 - 7, characterised in that the second body (6) comprises at least two elongated parts (10, 11 ), which are mutually movably connected to each other and arranged to take a first position, in which the second body (6) has a minimal length, and a second position, in which the second body (6) has a maximal length.

9. A cellular phone according to claims 8 and 6, or 7, characterised in that the recess (7) is capable of housing substantially the whole second body (6) when the latter takes the first position.

10. A cellular phone according to any one of the claims 1 - 9, characterised in that the microphone member (8) is provided at one end of the second body (6) and that the loudspeaker member (9) is provided at one opposite end of the second body.

1 1 . A cellular phone according to any one of the clams 6 - 9, characterised in that the loudspeaker member (9) is provided at one end of one of said at least two parts (10, 11 ) and the microphone member (8) is provided at one opposite end of an other (10) of said at least two parts (10, 1 1 ) when the second body (6) is in the second position.

12. A cellular phone according to any one of the claims 1 - 1 1 , characterised in that the second body (6) comprises a writing member (14).

13. A cellular phone according to claim 12, characterised in that the writing member (14) is arranged to take two different positions, viz. a first, in which it is housed in an opening (15) in the second body (6), and a second, in which it is exposed outside the second body (6).