Abstract:
A method and apparatus for combining an attachment and acoustic port on a housing of a mobile device is disclosed herein. The mobile device includes a speaker disposed within the housing. A combined attachment and acoustic port disposed on the housing is configured to project audible sound from the speaker, via an acoustic channel, and includes an attachment member for attaching an external member to the mobile device. The mobile device may comprise any personal electronic device, such as a portable radio, cassette player, CD player, or MP3 player. Further, the mobile device may comprise a mobile communication device, such as a cellular telephone, pager, or PDA.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to mobile devices and more particularly to mobile devices that combine external features to reduce mobile device size. 
   The increasing popularity of mobile devices, such as cellular telephones, Portable Digital Assistants (PDA), MP3 players, etc., is due in part to their small size and portability. Despite the significant reductions in mobile device size over the past decade, consumers still demand increasingly smaller mobile devices. To address this demand, manufacturers spend considerable resources each year exploring new ways to reduce the size of their mobile devices. 
   One solution includes reducing the number of external ports positioned on the housing of a mobile device by combining the functionality of two or more ports into a single port. By eliminating one or more external ports, designers may be able to conserve space, and therefore, may be able to reduce the size of the mobile device. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention discloses a method and apparatus for combining an attachment and acoustic port on a housing of a mobile device. The mobile device includes a speaker disposed within the housing. A combined attachment and acoustic port disposed on the housing is configured to project audible sound from the speaker. Further, the combination attachment and acoustic port includes an attachment member for attaching an external member to the mobile device. 
   In one embodiment, the mobile device comprises a combination attachment and acoustic port formed at least partially in the housing. The combination attachment and acoustic port includes at least one attaching bar extending across the port for connecting an external member. The attaching bar is spaced with respect to the port such that an open area is defined around the attaching bar that is of sufficient size to allow the external member to be attached around the attaching bar. The combination and acoustic port also projects sound from a speaker positioned within the mobile device. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       FIG. 1  illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary mobile device according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 2A  illustrates various mobile communication devices according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 2B  illustrates various portable electronic devices according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 3  illustrates a perspective view of an exemplary mobile device as seen from the front. 
       FIG. 4A  illustrates a top view of an exemplary combination port according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 4B  illustrates a cross-sectional view of the combination port of  FIG. 4A . 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
   Mobile devices utilized with the present invention may comprise any known mobile communication device or portable electronic device.  FIG. 1  illustrates a block diagram of an exemplary mobile communication device  100  according to the present invention. As used herein, the term “mobile communication device” may include cellular telephones  100   a , satellite telephones, personal communication services (PCS) devices, personal data assistants (PDAs)  100   b , palm-top computers, pagers, and the like, some of which are illustrated in  FIG. 2A . While the present invention is described in terms of a mobile communication device  100 , those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention is not limited to mobile communication devices  100 . For example, the present invention may also be embodied in other mobile devices, such as portable electronic devices  102 , including portable radios, cassette players  102   a , compact disc players and/or mini-disc player  102   b , MP3 players, and the like (see  FIG. 2B ). As such, those skilled in the art will understand that mobile devices, as described herein, include mobile communication devices  100  and portable electronic devices  102 . 
   Mobile communication device  100  comprises an antenna  110  and a communication circuit  120 . Antenna  110  transmits and receives radio signals according to any means known in the art. Communication circuit  120  comprises input/output circuit  134 , transceiver  122 , memory  124 , microprocessor  132 , audio processing circuit  136 , and user interface  140 . Input/output circuit  134  interfaces microprocessor  132 , transceiver  122 , audio processing circuit  136 , and user interface  140  according to any means known in the art. Audio processing circuit  136  provides basic analog output signals to speakers  148 ,  150  and accepts analog audio inputs from microphone  146 . Transceiver  122 , coupled to antenna  110 , is a fully functional cellular radio transceiver, which may operate according to any known standard, including the standards known generally as the Global System for Mobile Communications (GSM), TIA/EIA-136, cdmaOne, cdma2000, UMTS, and Wideband CDMA. 
   Microprocessor  132  controls the operation of mobile communication device  100  according to programs stored in memory  124 . The control functions of microprocessor  132  may be implemented in a single microprocessor or in multiple microprocessors. Suitable microprocessors may include, for example, both general purpose and special purpose microprocessors and digital signal processors. Memory  124  represents the entire hierarchy of memory in a mobile communication device  100 , and may include both random access memory (RAM) and read-only memory (ROM). Computer program instructions and data required for operation are stored in non-volatile memory, such as EPROM, EEPROM, and/or flash memory, which may be implemented as discrete devices, stacked devices, or integrated with microprocessor  132 . As shown in  FIG. 1 , microprocessor  132 , input/output circuit  134 , and/or audio processing circuit  136  may be incorporated into a specially designed application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC)  130 . While not shown, ASIC  130  may also include memory  124   
   User interface  140  includes keypad  142 , display  144 , microphone  146 , primary speaker  148 , secondary speaker  150 , a combination attachment and acoustic port, herein referred to as combination port  152 , and an acoustic channel  154 . Keypad  142  enables the user to dial numbers, enter commands, and select options via an alphanumeric keypad and, optionally, a navigation control, such as a joystick control, as is known in the art. Display  144  allows the user to see dialed digits, images, called status, menu options, and other service information. 
   Microphone  146  converts the user&#39;s speech into electrical audio signals. Primary speaker  148  converts electrical audio signals, such as speech signals from a far-end user, into audible signals that can be heard by the user. Secondary speaker  150  converts electrical audio signals, such as high-level voice audio, and/or notification signals, i.e., a ring or an alarm, to audible signals that are routed to the user via the acoustic channel  154  and combination port  152 , as described further below. While  FIG. 1  illustrates primary speaker  148  and secondary speaker  150  as two separate speakers, those skilled in the art will understand that primary and secondary speakers  148 ,  150  may be combined into a single speaker. 
     FIG. 3  illustrates an exemplary mobile communication device  100  according to the present invention. Mobile communication device  100  includes a housing  160  having a front  162 , a back (not shown), and an outer edge that connects front  162  to the back and includes top and bottom ends  164  and right and left sides  166 . Further, mobile communication device  100  includes keypad  142 , display  144 , an input port for microphone  146 , an output port for primary speaker  148 , and a combination port  152 . Keypad  142 , display  144 , the output port for primary speaker  148 , and the input port for microphone  146  are disposed on the front  162  of housing  160 , and operate as described above. 
   Combination port  152  operates as an output port for secondary speaker  150 , as described above, and may be disposed anywhere on housing  160 . In preferred embodiments, combination port  152  is at least partially formed on an outer edge of housing  160 . As shown in  FIG. 3 , an exemplary mobile communication device  100  may include a combination port  152  on a top end  164  of a mobile device. Alternatively, as shown in  FIG. 2A , combination port  152  may be formed on a side  166  of a mobile device. 
     FIGS. 4A and 4B  provide further details of an exemplary combination port  152  according to the present invention. In the illustrated embodiment, combination port  152  comprises an opening or recess  156  formed in the housing  160 . The opening typically includes one or more speaker holes  157  for projecting audible sound. Further, combination port  152  includes a support member  158 . While  FIG. 4A  illustrates a single rigid support member  158  positioned in combination port  152 , those skilled in the art will appreciate that multiple rigid support members  158  may be positioned in combination port  152 . Further, the present invention is not limited to the rigid support member  158  shown; other types of attachment members or attaching bars suitable for attaching external members may be included in combination port  152 . 
     FIG. 4B  shows a cross-section of the combination port  152  of  FIG. 4A . Support member  158  is positioned within recess  156  such that the support member  158  spans recess  156  and is spaced from the edges  159  of recess  156 . As shown in  FIG. 4B , the spacing between the edges  159  of recess  156  and support member  158  provides sufficient space for an end of an external member, such as a spring clip  172  on a lanyard  170 , to extend around support member  158 . While  FIG. 4B  illustrates a spring clip  172  secured around support member  158 , those skilled in the art will recognize that support member  158  may be spaced from the edges  159  of the recess  156  to accommodate any known strap, clip, or the like. Further, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the support member  158  may be used to attach any known external member to the mobile device. Such external members may include lanyards, straps, clips, key rings, handles, and the like. 
     FIG. 4B  also shows an acoustic channel  154  disposed between secondary speaker  150  and combination port  152 . As discussed above, combination port  152  projects audible sound from secondary speaker  150 . Further, acoustic channel  154  routes the audible sound projected by secondary speaker  150  to combination port  152 . While not shown, acoustic channel  154  may include acoustic impedance matching elements to match the acoustic impedance of secondary speaker  150  to the acoustic impedance of the environment external to combination port  152 . 
   Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the present invention is not limited to the acoustic channel configurations shown in  FIGS. 1 and 4B ; any configuration known in the art may be utilized. For example, acoustic channel  154  may assume a conical shape to better project audible sounds from the speaker  150  to combination port  152 . Further, as shown in  FIG. 1 , the acoustic channel  154  may include one or more bends to better accommodate spacing requirements. 
   The present invention may, of course, be carried out in other ways than those specifically set forth herein without departing from essential characteristics of the invention. The present embodiments are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and all changes coming within the meaning and equivalency range of the appended claims are intended to be embraced therein.