WO2002011405A1

WO2002011405A1 - Battery device

Info

Publication number: WO2002011405A1
Application number: PCT/IB2001/001372
Authority: WO
Inventors: André Stuart HALVORSEN
Original assignee: Batlite SA Pty Ltd
Current assignee: Batlite SA Pty Ltd
Priority date: 2000-08-02
Filing date: 2001-08-01
Publication date: 2002-02-07
Anticipated expiration: 2003-02-02
Also published as: AU2001276589A1

Abstract

The invention provides a battery device (28) for a mobile telephone handset, which battery device includes a battery housing (32) with a battery (34) having terminal contacts (58, 60). An illumination member (48) is provided in the battery housing (32); a circuit (62, 64) operatively connects the illumination member (48) to the battery (34); and a switch (50) is located in the circuit (62, 64) to control flow of electricity from the battery (34) to the illumination member (48) for illumination thereof. Furthermore a mobile telephone handset (10) including a handset housing (12), conventional circuitry provided in the handset housing (12), and a number of operational keys (20) operatively provided in the handset housing (12), is provided with such a battery device (28).

Description

Battery device.

FIELD OF INVENTION

The invention relates to a battery device.

BACKGROUND TO INVENTION

It invariably happens that a person requires a torch or a light in darkness, even if only to illuminate a restricted area or over a restricted distance. In cases of emergency such a light sometimes is not available.

Mobile telephones ("handies" or cellphones, as they are called in some countries), or portable or cordless telephones are widely used all over the world. The number of such telephones is increasing at a tremendous rate. These telephones include, in addition to the electronic circuitry, a rechargeable battery. This battery often is charged in a motor vehicle while travelling along.

SOON (US Patent 5,901,206) suggested charging a portable telephone so as to act also as a flash light. This is done by accommodating a bulb and a reflector in the housing of a portable telephone, with a switch provided also in the housing and being adapted to switch die bulb on and off by way of electricity supplied from the battery of the portable telephone.

In US 4,618,917 LEE et al suggest a phone light accessory comprising a light producing element and a conductor element integrated into the hand set of a standard telephone.

ARCHER (US 5,029,205) discloses a telephone handset that has a light bulb disposed on it and having a special switch for lighting automatically on using the telephone. In all the above cases the housing of the cordless or portable telephone has to be adapted to accommodate a light bulb and reflector, circuitry leading to the battery is to be provided and a separate switch is to be accommodated on the housing. This is expensive and cumbersome as a mobile telephone handset has to be handed in to be converted by a person especially trained to effect the required alteration.

It is an object of the invention to suggest a battery device, which can be used with a mobile telephone handset.

In the specification and claims hereinafter the expression "mobile telephone" or "mobile telephone handset" will be used but it must be understood that the terms "mobile telephone" or "mobile telephone handset" are to include all types of telephone handsets, which can be carried by a person away from direct contact with a telecommunication system, such as portable telephones, cordless telephones, "handies" or "cellphones".

SUMMARY OF INVENTION

According to the invention, a battery device for a mobile telephone handset, which battery device includes a battery housing with a battery having terminal contacts, is characterized thereby that an illumination member is provided in the battery housing; a circuit operatively connecting the illumination member to the battery; and a switch located in the circuit to control flow of electricity from the battery to the illumination member for illumination thereof.

The illumination member may be a light emitting diode (LED).

The battery may be rechargeable.

Further according to the invention, a mobile telephone handset including a handset housing, conventional circuitry provided in the handset housing, a number of operational keys operatively provided in the handset housing, a battery device with a battery housing and a battery having terminals for contact with the conventional circuitry provided in the handset housing, is characterized thereby that the battery device is provided with an illumination member; a circuit operatively connecting the illumination member to the battery; and a switch located in the circuit to control flow of electricity from the battery to the illumination member for illumination thereof.

The illumination member may be provided at an end of the battery housing to face away from the telephone handset housing.

The switch may be located close to the illumination member.

The battery may be rechargeable.

The illumination member may be a light emitting (LED).

Yet further according to the invention a mobile telephone handset including a handset housing, conventional circuitry provided in the handset housing, a number of operational keys operatively provided in the handset housing, a battery device with a battery housing and a battery having terminals for contact with the conventional circuitry provided in the handset housing, is characterized thereby that the battery device is provided with an illumination member; a circuit operatively connecting the illumination member to the battery; and an electronic switch operable by way of operational keys of a mobile telephone handset to control flow of electricity from the battery to the illumination member for illumination thereof.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

The invention will now be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying schematic drawings. In the drawings there is shown in:

Figure 1 a perspective front view of a mobile telephone handset provided with a battery device in accordance with the invention;

Figure 2 a perspective rear view of the mobile telephone handset illustrated in Figure 1;

Figure 3 a side view of the battery device used in the mobile telephone handset illustrated in Figures 1 and 2;

Figure 4 a front view of the battery device seen along arrow IV in Figure 3;

Figure 5 a rear view of the battery device seen along arrow V in Figure 3;

Figure 6 an end view of the battery device seen along arrow VI in Figure 5;

Figure 7 an opposite end view seen along arrow VII in Figure 5; and

Figure 8 the battery housing of the battery device illustrated in Figures 3 to 7 being opened to show the battery and circuitry.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Referring to Figures 1 and 2, a mobile telephone handset, generally indicated by reference numeral 10 is shown. This mobile telephone handset 10 includes a handset housing 12 having a front panel 14 and a rear panel 16.

On the front panel a display window 18, control buttons 20 and slots 22 and 24 for a microphone and a loudspeaker respectively are provided.

The rear panel 16 has a rectangular cut-out 26 to locate a battery device 28 in accordance with the invention. This battery device 28 is fitted to the handset housing 12 by sliding it in the direction indicated by arrow 30. The battery device 28 is illustrated in Figures 3 to 7 and in its folded open condition in Figure 8.

The battery device 28 includes a battery housing 32. The battery housing 32 includes a base 32.1 and, pivotally or otherwise connected thereto, a cover 32.2. A battery 34 is fitted to the base 32.1 and is covered by the cover 32.2 when fitted onto the base 32.1. The battery housing further has a front face 36, a rear face 38, elongated side faces 40 and 42, and end faces 44 and 46.

An illumination element in the form of a light emitting diode (LED) 48 is fitted to the end face 44. On the front face a switch 50 is located. The rear face 38 has longitudinal side formations 52, 54 to allow the battery device 28 to be fitted to the handset housing 12 of the mobile telephone handset 10. At the end 46 opposite to the end 44 contacts 56, 58 for connection to associated contacts in the handset housing 12 are provided.

In use the LED 48 is illuminated by depressing the switch 50.

The battery device 28 is recharged in conventional manner by insertion into a charging device or by inserting a standard type of plug into the socket 60 as indicated. The battery device 28 can also be recharged separately, i.e. when not fitted to a handset housing 12, by way of a conventional charging device.

Figure 8 shows the battery device 28 with the battery housing 32 opened to show the base 32.1 and the cover 32, which are hingedly connected together. The conductors 62, 64 lead to the LED 48 from the battery 34 and the switch 50 is provided in series with the LED 48. The conductors 62, 64 are respectively connected to the conductors leading to the terminals 56, 58.

In stead of using a switch 50, the LED 48 may be illuminated by operation of one of operational keys 20 of the telephone handset 10. The switch. 50 therefore would be replaced by an electronic switch which is not shown as it is incorporated in the circuitry of the mobile telephone handset 10. Thus the mobile telephone handset 10 can be programmed such that any number of operational keys 20 are to be depressed to cause closure of the electronic switch resulting in current flow to the LED 48 from a circuit leading from the battery 34 to the LED 48 for illumination thereof.

The invention therefore provides a battery device provided with an LED 48, which can be used as a torch whilst simultaneously acting as the battery of a mobile telephone 10. Therefore no change to the handset housing 12 nor to the circuitry of the mobile telephone handset 10 is required.

Reference numer l list

10 mobile telephone handset

12 handset housing

14 front panel

5 16 rear panel

18 display window

20 operational keys

22 slots

24 slots

10 26 cut-out

28 battery device

30 sliding direction

32 battery housing

34 battery

15 36 front face

38 rear face

40 side face

42 side face

44 end face

20 46 end face

48 light emitting diode (LED)

50 switch

52 longitudinal side formation

54 longitudinal side formation

25 56 contacts

58 contacts

60 socket

62 conductor

64 conductor

30

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS

1. A battery device (28) for a mobile telephone handset, which battery device includes a battery housing (32) with a battery (34) having terminal contacts (58, 60), characterized thereby that an illumination member (48) is provided in the battery housing (32); a circuit (62, 64) operatively connecting the illumination member (48) to the battery (34); and a switch (50) located in the circuit (62, 64) to control flow of electricity from the battery (34) to the illumination member (48) for illumination thereof.

2. A device as claimed in claim 1, characterized thereby that the illumination member is a light emitting diode (LED) (48).

3. A device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 2, characterized thereby the battery (34) is rechargeable.

4. A mobile telephone handset (10) including a handset housing (12), conventional circuitry provided in the handset housing (12), a number of operational keys (20) operatively provided in the handset housing (12), a battery device (28) with a battery housing (32) and a battery (34) having terminals (62, 64) for contact with the conventional circuitry provided in the handset housing (12), characterized thereby that the battery device (28) is provided with an illumination member (48); a circuit (62, 64) operatively connecting the illumination member (48) to the battery (34); and a switch (50) located in the circuit (62, 64) to control flow of electricity from the battery (34) to the illumination member (48) for illumination thereof.

5. A mobile telephone handset as claimed in claim 4, characterized thereby that the illumination member (48) is provided at an end of the battery housing (32) to face away from the telephone handset housing (12).

6. A mobile telephone handset as claimed in claim 4 or claim 5, characterized thereby that the switch (50) is located close to the illumination member (48).

7. A mobile telephone handset as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 6, characterized thereby that the battery (32) is rechargeable.

8. A mobile telephone handset as claimed in any one of claims 4 to 7, characterized thereby that the illumination member (48) is a light emitting (LED) (48).

9. A mobile telephone handset (10) including a handset housing (12), conventional circuitry provided in the handset housing (12), a number of operational keys (20) operatively provided in the handset housing (12), a battery device (28) with a battery housing (32) and a battery (34) having terminals (62, 64) for contact with the conventional circuitry provided in the handset housing (12), characterized thereby that the battery device (28) is provided with an illumination member (48); a circuit (62, 64) operatively connecting the illumination member (48) to the battery (34); and an electronic switch operable by way of operational keys of a mobile telephone handset (10) to control flow of electricity from the battery (34) to the illumination member (48) for illumination thereof.