Patent ID: 6782099
Filing Date: 2004-08-24
Classification: H04M

Abstract:
A speaker-phone base for supporting a portable telephone electrical interface, the interface having an interface electrical power connector and an interface audio connector, the speaker-phone base, comprising:a. a base member defining a portable telephone interface receptacle, the receptacle shaped so as to be capable of receiving therein a portable telephone interface; b. a base electrical power connector disposed within the receptacle so as to electrically engage the interface electrical power connector when the interface is placed in the receptacle, the base electrical power connector being complementary to the interface electrical power connector and electrically coupled to an electrical power source; c. a base audio connector disposed within the receptacle so as to electrically engage the interface audio connector when the interface is placed in the receptacle, the base audio connector complementary to the interface audio connector; d. a speaker integral with the base member; e. a microphone integral with the base member; and f. a speaker-phone audio circuit electrically coupled to the base audio connector, the speaker and the microphone, the speaker-phone audio circuit being capable of receiving a telephone audio signal from a portable telephone via the base audio connector and being capable of causing the speaker to generate sound corresponding to the telephone audio signal, the speaker-phone audio circuit also being capable of receiving a voice signal from the microphone and being capable of transmitting a telephone transmit signal to a portable telephone via the base audio connector, further comprising a telephone-specific insert portion for interfacing a cellular telephone to the base member, the insert portion having a first side that defines a cavity, complimentary in shape to a portion of a cellular telephone, and an opposite second side that is complimentary in shape to a portion of the receptacle, wherein the telephone-specific insert may be plugged into either a utility power wall socket or the base member.