Abstract:
A protective enclosure for protecting and enclosing an electronic device. The protective enclosure provides communication capabilities with the electronic device while the electronic device is enclosed and protected by the protective enclosure. The enclosure also provides an alert upon an unsolicited activation of the electronic device and allows the user to communication with electronic device without removing the electronic device from the enclosure.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to an apparatus for providing environmental protection for an electronic device, more particularly to an enclosure to provide environmental protection for an electronic device operable in a wireless communication system. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     A communication system is operable to communicate information between a transmitting station, also referred to as a calling party, and a receiving station, also referred to as a receiving or called party, by way of a communication network. Operation of a wireless communication system transfers information between the transmitting and receiving stations via one or more base stations. These transmitting and receiving stations are also known as wireless communication devices, cell phones or mobile phones, Personal Digital Assistants (PDA&#39;s), or portable computers. As the capability and sophistication of the wireless communication system has increased, the proliferation of mobile communication devices has led to widespread use in environments detrimental to the operation of electronics within these devices. Consequently, users are expanding the conditions for using the mobile phone to include the active outdoor activities such as running, hiking, bicycle riding, etc. Protecting the wireless communication device from such demanding conditions is important, as environmental conditions such as high moisture and salinity are likely to reduce reliability of the wireless communication device. 
     It would be useful to provide a protective barrier, or enclosure, to minimize conditions deleterious to the wireless communication device where the protection offered is effective as a moisture barrier and also operate the communication device while in the enclosure. In addition, the enclosure should be easily attachable and separable from the mobile communication device. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention encompasses an enclosure to provide environmental protection for an electronic device, such as a mobile station, a personal digital assistant (PDA) or a portable computer. The apparatus of the present invention comprises a protective housing to encapsulate the electronic device, thereby providing environmental protection against the deleterious effects of high moisture, salinity, airborne contaminates such as dust, sand or pollutants. In addition, the enclosure may comprise means for communication with the electronic device, for example to answer an incoming phone call, without having to expose the enclosed electronic device. The enclosure may include a indicator for providing an alert notification of an unsolicited activation of the electronic device. 
     A more complete appreciation of all the advantages and scope of the present invention can be obtained from the accompanying drawings, the following detailed description of the invention and the appended claims. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 illustrates a block diagram representing a prior art mobile station. 
     FIG. 2 is a front perspective view of an enclosure illustrating an embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 3 is a side perspective view of the enclosure illustrating an embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 4 is a rear perspective view of the enclosure illustrating an embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 5 is a side perspective view of an enclosure illustrating an alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 6 is a front perspective view of an enclosure illustrating another alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 7 a  is a perspective view of an open position of the enclosure having an antenna, as an alternative embodiment of the present invention. 
     FIG. 7 b  is a perspective view of an open position of the enclosure of the present invention. 
     FIG. 7 c  is a perspective view of an open position of the enclosure of the present invention having an electronic device therein. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 1 is a block diagram representing the prior art, a mobile station  10 , where the mobile station  10  can be used in conjunction with an embodiment of the present invention. Generally, the mobile station  10  includes a receiver  20 , a transmitter  22  and a controller or processor  24  that is coupled to the receiver  20  and the transmitter  22 . The receiver  20  sends incoming messages to the processor  24  for analysis, whereas outgoing or originating messages are sent from the processor  24  to the transmitter  22 . These incoming and originating messages can be in the form of a voice message, a data message or a combination of voice and data messages. 
     User interface with the mobile station  10  can be accomplished via an input device  26  which may comprise: a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD)  28  which can contain a touch-screen display (not shown), or a Light Emitting Diode (LED) (not shown); a tone generator  30 ; a speaker  32 ; a vibrating device  34 ; and a data entry device  36 . In a preferred embodiment, the data entry device  36  is an alpha-numeric keypad (not shown) and the input device  26  further contains a microphone  38  capable of capturing a voice message. In addition, a timer  40 , also known as a clock chip, can be used for synchronizing the operations of the processor  24  and tracking time, a term well known to those of ordinary skill in the art of mobile stations. Communication between the input device  26 , the tone generator  30  and the vibrating device  34  is assured by coupling these devices to the processor  24 . 
     The mobile station  10  also includes a storage location, illustrated in the embodiment of FIG. 1 as a memory  41 , where the memory  41  is capable of storing a plurality of constants and variables used by processor  24  in the operation of the mobile station  10 . In addition, the memory  41  can store the values of the various feature parameters, operating system used by processor  24 , user provided data entered via the input device  36  and sub-programs or sub-processes for controlling the operation of the mobile station  10 . 
     FIG. 2 illustrates a front perspective view of a protective enclosure  50 , also called a shell, of an embodiment of the present invention. The protective enclosure  50  contains a front portion  52 , a side surface  54 , a rear portion  56 , a first grip  58 , a second grip  60  and an actuator  62 . The actuator  62  communicates with an enclosed electronic device that is operable in a wireless communication system, an exemplary electronic device represented by the mobile station  10 . In one embodiment, the actuator  62  may comprise a flexible diaphragm on a section of the protective enclosure  50 , for example the diaphragm  68  may form a section of the front portion  52  (see FIG. 6) where the user may depress the diaphragm  68  to contact the keypad  36  on the mobile station  10 . 
     An indicator  70  is also provided for indicating activation (such as an incoming call) of the mobile station  10 . The indicator  70  provides an alert to the user of an unsolicited activation of the mobile station  10 , for example an incoming phone call, whereby the user may activate the actuator  62  (as shown in FIG. 2) to answer the incoming phone call. 
     The front portion  52  combines with the rear portion  56  to form a housing and provides environmental protection to the electronic device contained therein. The bonding of the front portion  52  with the rear portion  56  may be accomplished using any known mechanical devices such as screws, hinges, clips, snaps, fittings, etc. In other words, any bonding which provides a seal providing at least the level of barrier properties of the front and rear portions,  52  and  56  respectively. The first grip  58  and the second grip  60  can optionally be employed to assist the user in carrying the protective enclosure  50 . In an exemplary embodiment, the first and second grip,  58  and  60 , may be constructed of a high tactile rubber to provide increased adhesion between the user and the protective enclosure  50 . The actuator  62  provides communication between the protective enclosure  50  and the electronic device carried therein. A connector  78  provides a connection between the electronic device and the protective enclosure  50 . Specifically, the connector  78  providing a connection for the actuator  62  for controlling preset functionality of the mobile station  10  via the connector  78 , such as answering an incoming phone call on the mobile station  10  while the mobile station  10  is enclosed within the protective enclosure  50 . The connector  78  also provides a connection for the indicator for displaying an activation of the enclosed electronic device. The connection, generally between the actuator  62  and the mobile station  10  and between the indicator  70  and the mobile station  10 , provided by the connector  78  may be a direct connection or a wireless connection. Options for the direct connection include an electrical, a wire, a pin or a serial connection, whereas the wireless connection may comprise a standard defined by Bluetooth technology or an infrared technology. It should be noted that one skilled in the art might use the any wireless technologies and other standards operating using various frequencies without departing from the invention. 
     FIGS. 3,  4  and  5  illustrate various perspective views of the protective enclosure  50 , including an optional belt loop, or clip  64  to assist the user in attaching the protective enclosure  50  to clothing during outdoor activities such as walking, running, cycling, etc. FIG. 5 additionally illustrates an alternative feature, an access port  66  may be used to connect peripheral units (i.e. charger, headset, battery pack, etc.) to the electronic device contained within the protective enclosure  50 . 
     FIG. 6 illustrates a front perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the present invention. The diaphragm  68  is provided to communicate the mobile terminal  10 . The diaphragm  68  is generally of a lower flexural modulus than the enclosure  50 . Within the alternative embodiment, the indicator  70  comprises a liquid crystal display (LCD)  70   a , generally provided at the front portion  52  of the protective enclosure  50 . In additional alternative embodiments the indicator  70  may comprise a light emitting diode (LED), an intermittent illumination as the alert, or may comprise a multicolor display capability, with distinct colors representing specific Calling Line Identification (CLI) or Calling Number Identification (CNI) signals. 
     FIG. 7 a  illustrates the enclosure  50  in an open position where the front portion  52  and the rear portion  56  are joined at a first hinge  72  and a second hinge  74 . Not illustrated is an embodiment having one or more covers to seal the enclosure, where the cover may be mechanically attached to the housing via a threaded fitting, friction fit, screws, hinges, clips, snaps, etc. 
     As an alternative embodiment of the present invention the rear portion  56  contains an antenna  76  capable of communicating with an electronic device via the connector  78  attached to the rear portion  56 . FIG. 7 b  illustrates another embodiment of the enclosure  50  in an open position with the connector  78  attached to the front portion  52 . FIG. 7 c  illustrates the enclosure  50  in an open position where the enclosure  50  contains a mobile terminal  80 , whereby the actuator  62  is in communication with mobile terminal  80  via the connector  78 . 
     In an exemplary operation of the invention, the mobile station  10  is enclosed in the protective enclosure  50 . Upon an unsolicited activation of the mobile station  10 , the user is alerted via the indicator  70 . Upon the user being alerted, the user may communicate with the enclosed mobile terminal  10  by actuating the actuator  62  of the protective enclosure  50 , thereby communicating with the enclosed mobile station  10  without removing the mobile station  10  from the protective enclosure  50 . 
     It is understood that various modifications can be made to the mobile station apparatus and method of operation and remain within the scope of the present invention. For example, the protective enclosure may comprise an external or internal antenna to assist transmission and reception of wireless signals. The protective enclosure may also contain a battery pack to prolong operation of the enclosed electronic device operable in a wireless communication system. 
     While preferred embodiments have been discussed and illustrated above, the present invention is not limited to these descriptions or illustrations, and includes all such modifications, which fall within the scope of the invention and claim language presented below.