Abstract:
A communication device including control circuitry with transceiver capabilities, input keys coupled to the circuitry for entering information, a display coupled to the circuitry for visual presentation of information, a chassis for securely holding the circuitry and the display, a sound generation unit coupled to the circuitry for providing audio presentation of information, and an interface unit including a speaker unit and an antenna unit, wherein the interface unit is removable. The interface unit can be removed and replace with other interface units including various other functions and features, such as multimedia, gaming, storage, and interface specific activation of devices.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE  
       [0001]    This is a continuation in part of U.S. Pat. application 09/703,021, filed on Oct. 31, 2000. 
     
    
     
       BACKGROUND  
         [0002]    This invention relates to portable communication devices, and more specifically to a multimedia portable communication device with a modular attachable units.  
           [0003]    In general, portable communication devices have several common components, such as a transmission and receiving units, which may also be referred to as a transceiver unit, that are controlled by circuitry, an input device coupled to the circuitry, a display unit coupled to the circuitry, and a microphone type receiver unit and a sound generation units working in conjunction with the transceiver unit. For example, known forms of generating sound in a portable communications device include the use of a speaker fixed in position, typically above the display unit, with the microphone unit located at an opposite end from the sound generating unit. Each speaker unit requires a minimum volume of air for proper operation.  
           [0004]    In addition to the common elements that exist in the portable communication devices, there are various other features that user desire. For example, some users prefer to have internet access while other users prefer gaming features; some user prefer to store and listen to music while others prefer to store personal management information. Thus, one challenger that manufactures of these devices is how to provide all of these features and functions in a single device while still creating a compact and slim device.  
           [0005]    Therefore, what is need is a portable communication device that is capable of providing all of the features and functions desired by the spectrum of users through one portable device.  
         SUMMARY  
         [0006]    A slim and compact portable communication device is disclosed that provides users with a variety of features and functions.  
           [0007]    A communication device including control circuitry with transceiver capabilities, input keys coupled to the circuitry for entering information, a display coupled to the circuitry for visual presentation of information, a chassis for securely holding the circuitry and the display, a sound generation unit coupled to the circuitry for providing audio presentation of information, and an interface unit including a speaker unit and an antenna unit, wherein the interface unit is removable. The interface unit can be removed and replace with other interface units including various other functions and features, such as multimedia, gaming, storage, and interface specific activation of devices. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]    [0008]FIG. 1 is a perspective elevation of a device in accordance with the teachings of the present invention.  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 2 is a perspective elevation of the opposite side of the device of FIG. 1 showing an ear bud.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 3 is a more detailed perspective view of the device of FIG. 1 with the ear bud in the inactive or closed position.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 4 is a more detailed perspective view of the device of FIG. I with the ear bud in the active or open position.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 5 is a perspective illustration of another embodiment of the device as shown in FIG. 1.  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 6 is a perspective illustration of another embodiment of the device as shown in FIG. 1.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 7 is a perspective illustration of another embodiment of the device as shown in FIG.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 8 is a perspective illustration of another embodiment of the device as shown in FIG. 1. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
       [0016]    Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, a portable communication device  10  includes a display unit  12  coupled to control circuitry and a keypad style input device  14  fixed to a chassis  16 .  
         [0017]    An interface unit  18  is removably attached to the chassis  16 . The interface unit  18  can be made of a variety of materials, including elastomeric type materials to provide improved gripping features. In addition to providing improved gripping features, the interface unit  18  is coupled to the control circuitry, which is internal to the device  10 , and contains a sound generating or speaker unit  20  and an antenna unit  21 . Although the speaker unit  20  is shown in a circular pattern and at a specific location, the scope of the invention, as set forth herein and claimed hereafter, is not limited thereby. Likewise, the location, shape, and orientation of the antenna unit  21  is for illustrative purposes and not intended as a limitation. For example, the antenna unit  21  can have various different locations, shapes, and orientations.  
         [0018]    Soft keys  22  are included in close proximity to the display  12 . The soft keys  22  derive their function from the information displayed on the screen. The information can be varied so that in one instant any particular soft key  22  can be pressed for one function and then at another instant that same soft key  22  can be pressed for an entirely different function as determined by the information displayed on the display  12 .  
         [0019]    Referring specifically to FIG. 2, a deployable speaker unit or ear bud  30  is movably secured to the chassis  16  of the device  10 . The ear bud  30  is shown in the parked position. The term “parked position” refers to or means that the ear bud  30  is in the closed position or the inactive position; this is the position in which the ear bud  30  is stored when not in use. The chassis  16  further defines an opening  32 . The opening  32  allows the ear bud  30  to move from the parked position to the activated position, as shown in FIG. 4 and discussed in detail below. Thus, when the user of the device  10  receives and incoming call or desires to make an outgoing call, then the user has a choice of either using the speaker unit  20  or the ear bud  30 . If the user chooses to use the ear bud  30  to carry out the call, then the user presses a release button  34  to cause the ear bud  30  to move from the parked position of FIG. 2 to a deployed or an active position of FIG. 4. The term “deployed” refers to or means that the ear bud  30  is in the open or active position; this is the position of the ear bud  30  when the ear bud  30  is being used to conduct a call.  
         [0020]    Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4, in an embodiment of the present invention, the ear bud  30  rotates or pivots about hinge arms  40 ,  42 , and  44  and retainably pivots about guide arms  46  and  48 . Although the terms “rotating” or “pivoting” is used in reference to the motion from the parked position to the deployed position, the invention is not limited thereby; the intent is to set forth and describe the concept of moving the ear bud  30  from a first position to a second position or as already mentioned to move from the parked position to the active position and back again irrespective of the label used or describe the motion. The chassis  16  defines an indentation  50  for matingly retaining the ear bud  30  in the parked position. The indentation  50  further defines a recess  52  for receiving the arms  40 ,  42 ,  44 ,  46 , and  48 . It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the defined shape of the recess  52  can be varied. Furthermore, the defined shape of the recess  52  is defined by the geometry of the arms of the ear bud and not limited to the shape disclosed herein.  
         [0021]    With the ear bud  30  in the parked position, the user will depress the button  34  to cause the ear bud  30  to move from the parked position to the deployed position. In one embodiment, the button  34  can be specifically designated for the deployment and the retraction of the of the ear bud  30 . In an alternative embodiment the function of the button  34  can be incorporated into or as a part of the function of another button. For example, the function of the button  30  can be incorporated into the function of a typical “send” or “talk” key such that when the user presses the “send” or “talk” key the ear bud  30  is deployed from the parked position. It will be apparent, based on the teachings of the present invention, that the disclosure set forth herein is not limited by the key or the type of function of a key with which the function of the button  34  is combined.  
         [0022]    For clarity the discussion herein will focus on the button  34  specifically designated to deploy the ear bud  30  from the parked position to the deployed position. Once the user presses the button  34 , the ear bud  30  moves from the parked position to the deployed position. In one embodiment, the ear bud  30  moves from the parked position to the deployed position under spring tension. As the user moves the ear bud  30  from the deployed position to the parked position, the guide arms  46  and  48  cause a spring or tension rod to be compressed. Alternatively or additionally, the hinge arms  40 ,  42 , and  44  can also be spring-loaded. Once the ear bud  30  is moved to the parked position a latch mechanism  54 , which is coupled to and operated by the button  34 , is engaged to retain the ear bud  30  in the parked position under tension. Thus, when the button  34  is pressed, the latch mechanism  54  is activated to release the ear bud  30  and the ear bud  30  is released such that the tension of the spring or rod forces the ear bud  30  to move from the parked position to the deployed position. In addition to spring loading the ear bud  30 , a dampening unit can be included to control the speed at which the ear bud  30  moves from the parked position to the deployed position under tension.  
         [0023]    Alternatively or additionally, a motor unit can be included to move the ear bud  30  from the parked position to the deployed position. The motor unit is activated when the user presses the button  34  thereby causing the ear bud to be released from the parked position and then moved, under the control of the motor unit, from the parked position to the deployed position. The motor unit can be coupled to guide arms  46  and  48 . Alternatively or additionally, the motor unit may be coupled to the hinge arms  40  and  44 .  
         [0024]    Generally stated, when in the deployed position the tension of the spring or the gearing of the motor unit is used to prevent motion of the ear bud  30  back toward the parked position. However, various locking mechanisms can be used to securely lock the ear bud  30  in the deployed position and prevent motion toward the parked position until the locking mechanism for the deployed position is released. The locking mechanism for the deployed position can be coupled to the button  34 . Alternatively, the locking mechanism for the deployed position can be coupled to the “end” key, such that when the user presses the “end” key the call session is terminated and the ear bud is released for return to the parked position; this can be set up to allow one press to terminate the call and release the locking mechanism for the deployed position or, alternatively, have a first press to terminate the call and a second consecutive presses to release the locking mechanism for the deployed position, which is similar to the double clicking feature of a mouse for a computer.  
         [0025]    Referring now to FIG. 5, in another embodiment, the antenna unit  21  and the speaker unit  20 , of FIG. 1, may be co-located so that the speaker unit  20  and the antenna unit  21  share a common air/space volume resulting in a antenna-speaker unit  25 . In addition to containing the antenna-speaker unit  25  or the antenna  21  and the speaker unit  20 , the interface unit  18  may be replaced by another interface unit, as discussed in detail below, to provide a variety of features and functions.  
         [0026]    Referring now to FIG. 6, the interface unit  18  is replaced by the interface unit  18   a . In addition to a speaker unit  20   a  and an antenna unit  21   a , the interface unit  18   a  includes a driver unit  19 . The driver unit  19  is capable of accepting and reading a compact disk (CD) type of storage medium, such as a CD-ROM. Furthermore, the driver unit  19  can record information on a CD type device as needed. Although the function or reading and recording are discussed as a part of a single unit, it is contemplated that the device will be capable of performing these functions independently or individually. Additionally, it is contemplated that the interface unit  18  can be replaced by other interface units that include features such as special entertainment modules that interface with the control circuitry for enhance entertainment, such as gaming or DVD type interfaces.  
         [0027]    Referring now to FIG. 7, the device  10  includes an interface unit  18   b  that includes a speaker unit  20   b  and an antenna unit  21   b . The interface unit  18   b  also includes a player unit  19   b . The player unit  19   b  is capable of receiving, recording, and playing audio data files, such as musical data files, voice data, and any other form of audio file. The player unit  19   b  is coupled to the control circuitry of the device  10  and allows the user to select, record, and/or play audio-type of data.  
         [0028]    Referring now to FIG. 8, an interface unit  18   c  includes a speaker unit  20   c  and an antenna unit  21   c . The interface unit  18   b  also includes a gaming unit  19   c . The gaming unit  19   c  includes a omni-directional input device  100  and a plurality of input buttons  102 ,  104 ,  106 , and  108 . The gaming unit  19   c  can store a variety of gaming features. Additionally, the gaming unit  19   c  is capable of interfacing with various gaming devices.  
         [0029]    Although the interface units are discussed in terms of specific functions, the interface unit can be used to activate special features and functions of the device  10 . For example, if the device  10  was shares among several users, then each user could have an interface unit that is specially coded for that specific users. Thus, when the user engages her or his interface unit, the device  10  can recognize the user and, hence, bring up a special menu or feature unique to that user. Furthermore, access to the unique features can be limited to the specific interface unit. Alternatively, the a user can have several interface units, each of which incorporate a unique feature or function. Furthermore, the interface unit may incorporate some power source to extend the talk time and standby time of the device  10 .  
         [0030]    Various other devices or mechanisms are contemplated for the motion of the ear bud  30  from the parked position to the deployed position.  
         [0031]    Although described in the context of particular embodiments, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that a number of modifications to these teachings may occur. Thus, while the invention has been particularly shown and described with respect to one or more preferred embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that certain modifications or changes, in form and shape, may be made therein without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as set forth above and claimed hereafter.