Telephone handset operating as an independent unit

Abstract: The object of the description is the construction of a telephone handset operating as an independent unit. The handset is formed from the operating unit of a mobile phone by placing between the upper half (1) and the lower half (2) of the operating unit an intermediate body (3) containing the rf-part, the antenna (12) and the batteries. The antenna and the batteries are preferably located at the opposite ends of the rectangular intermediate body.

Description: The present invention relates to the construction of a telephone handset, more specifically the construction of a handset operating as an independent telephone unit. Handsets of this type are battery-powered, small-sized portable telephone units working like mobile (car) phones and using a mobile phone system. Such a handset thus comprises all parts including the antenna required for a mobile station. The handset comprises basically the same parts as for example the operating unit of a mobile phone, though the operating unit does not include the rf-parts, antenna and the batteries of the telephone. An approach for the more independent operating of a mobile phone is known from EP-A-0 282 597. There, instead of always transmitting the voice signals between main unit and operating unit of the mobile phone by means of a cord, wireless transmitting of the voice signals between the operating unit and the main unit was accomplished by a wireless system. This system contains wireless transmitters and wireless receivers in both the operating unit and the main unit of the mobile phone. It is obvious that the system described in EP-A-0 282 597 is consisting of two units working in different places. The operating unit moves with the user while the main unit, which is necessary for the connection of the system to the telephone network, stays fixed at a distinctive place, e.g. in a car where it can be provided with electric power. An approach which offers more possibilities, such as to receive at any place a signal from the telephone network, would be to incorporate the main unit (which is receiving such signals from the telephone network) with all its functions and including the electric power supply into the operating unit to form an independent handset. A stand-alone portable radio telephone unit is known from EP-A-0 276 403. Into this unit a chip card may be introduced either on the front part or rear part of the handset in order to enable the holder of this portable radio telephone unit to use it as he may insert his own card for identification. The parts of this portable radio telephone unit which is designed to take up the identification card has to be newly fabricated for the specific structure. New design and fabrication in order to fit the components in the housing requires accurate and time consuming design work. Therefore it was now realized regarding the manufacture and assembly, that it is most advantageous to utilize existing parts of an operating unit and in addition, to design the appearance of the handset to correspond to the operating unit as far as possible, whereby these two instruments readily can be identified as instruments from the same manufacturer. According to the present invention all parts of an existing handset (operating unit) can remain unchanged and therefore can be reused together with the new intermediate module part 3 according to the invention so as to achieve a stand-alone portable radio telephone unit from an existing handset of a mobile phone. The features of the invention will be apparent from the enclosed claims. The invention will be described further by way of an example with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which : Figure 1 shows the operating unit of a mobile phone; and Figure 2 shows a handset constructed utilizing parts of the operating unit. The operating unit according to figure 1 comprises generally an upper half 1 and a lower half 2, each being rectangular and joined together along the center line. The upper part 1 includes a key set 4 and a display 5. The lower part 2 includes a microphone 6 and an earphone 7. If required, the instrument can be equipped with a sliding lid 8, which is provided with a prepared surface 8 and can be pushed over the key set 4 to cover it. The operating unit is connected to the main unit of the mobile phone with a spiral cord 10. The cable clamp part at 11 is closely attached to the microphone end of the operating unit. In figure 2 there is shown a handset construction according 15 to the invention. This handset utilizes the above mentioned parts of 1 and 2 the operating unit. Between these parts there is provided in a sandwiched fashion an intermediate body 3 including the rf-part of the handset, the antenna 12 and the case for the batteries. At 14 is a connector, through which the handset also can be connected to e.g. the main unit of a mobile phone or to other auxiliaries. In the case of the operating unit, the cable clamp 11 covers this connector 14. As a result of the construction according to the invention it is possible to use as many common parts as possible, thereby naturally saving in the costs of molds and other manufacturing costs. When required, the intermediate module part 3 may be provided with such contact means that it will automatically connect to the upper part 1 and the lower part 2 when the handset is assembled. It is quite obvious that the appearance of the operating unit and the handset may vary considerably from that shown in the drawing, without departing from the inventive idea.

Claims: A telephone handset operating as an independent unit, comprising: means for an upper half (1) of an operating unit, means for a lower half (2) of an operating unit; the upper and lower half being joinable along a center line and comprising all parts to form an operating unit of a mobile phone; and means for an intermediate module (3) placeable in a sandwiched fashion between said upper and lower halves (1, 2) along said center line, said intermediate module (3) including radio frequency components, an antenna and battery means thus the assembly of said upper and lower halves (1, 2) with said intermediate module (3) comprising all parts to form a telephone handset operating as an independent unit. A telephone handset according to claim 1, characterized in that the intermediate module (3) is in the shape of a rectangular plate placeable to said center line and joinable to said upper and lower halves (1, 2) of said operating unit. A telephone handset according to claim 2, characterized in that the intermediate module (3) comprises the antenna (12) at one end and the battery case at the other end. A telephone handset according to claim 1, characterized in that the lower half (2) of said operating unit comprises a microphone (6) and an earphone (7). A telephone handset according to claim 1, characterized in that the upper half (1) of said operating unit comprises a key set (4) and a display (5). A telephone handset according to claim 5, characterized in that the telephone handset comprises a sliding lid (8) that can be pushed over the key set (4). A telephone handset according to claim 1, characterized in that the telephone handset comprises a connector (14) through which the handset can be connected to a main unit of a mobile phone or to other auxiliaries and that the connector (14) is coverable by a cable clamp (11). A telephone handset according to claim 1, characterized in that the intermediate module (3) is provided with such contact means that it is automatically connectable to the upper half (1) and to the lower half (2) when the handset is assembled. Method for the construction of a telephone handset operating as an independent unit, characterized in that an intermediate module (3) is placed in a sandwiched fashion between an existing upper half (1) and an existing lower half (2) of an operating unit of a mobile phone, the upper and lower halves comprising all parts to form an operating unit of a mobile phone and joining along a center line; said intermediate module (3) including radio frequency components, an antenna and battery means so that an assembly is constructed which comprises all components required for said telephone handset operating as an independent unit.

Inventors: TATTARI JOUKO, TATTARI, JOUKO
Applicants: NOKIA MOBILE PHONES LTD, NOKIA MOBILE PHONES LTD.
Application year: 1990
Main classification: H04M1
IPC codes: H04M1, H04B1