Abstract:
This invention includes a speakerphone accessory suitable for connection to either a battery charger having a phone in its pocket or to a cellular telephone. The speakerphone module includes a hemispherical upper housing. The upper housing includes a circular dimple aperture and a wave directing cap. The hemispherical shape, aperture and cap all contribute to directing acoustic waved generated by a speaker disposed within the housing radially from the module in all directions. One embodiment of the module includes a second terminal for passing data and power through the module, allowing the module to be coupled serially between devices. The module also includes a bottom housing having a generally hemispherical shape. The bottom housing provides stability to the connection between the module and a peripheral device in that it reduces the mechanical advantage given to forces incident upon the upper housing acting upon the main terminal.

Description:
BACKGROUND  
         [0001]    1. Technical Field  
           [0002]    This invention relates generally to speakerphones, and more particularly, to a speakerphone module having a universally accommodating form factor that is connectible to either a cellular telephone or battery charger.  
           [0003]    2. Background Art  
           [0004]    Conference calls have become an everyday occurrence in business. Speakerphones are often used during these conference calls. Due to their relatively small size, cellular telephones are generally not well suited for use as speakerphones. As the normal audio output from a cellular phone is designed for single-user, close range only, it is difficult for large numbers of people to huddle around a cellular phone and hear the caller on the other end. People attempting to do this often bump heads with each other and become quite grouchy.  
           [0005]    To alleviate this problem, manufacturers have developed speakerphone accessories. These speakerphones couple electrically and mechanically to the cellular telephone to provide speaker phone functionality. The units often involve speakerphone circuitry that is built into a cellular battery-charging unit. Sometimes the recharging units are desktop chargers (meaning they charge a battery on the phone only) or multi-chargers (meaning that they also charge a spare battery). As the user must buy a desktop charger just to get a speaker phone accessory, this design greatly limits a consumer&#39;s choice. Additionally, the user must aim the speaker of the speakerphone in his or her direction for maximum effectiveness. This “aiming” is cumbersome and time consuming.  
           [0006]    There is thus a need for an improved speakerphone accessory. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0007]    [0007]FIG. 1 is an isometric view of a speakerphone module having a universally accommodating form factor in accordance with the invention.  
         [0008]    [0008]FIG. 2 is an elevated side view of a speakerphone module having a universally accommodating form factor in accordance with the invention.  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 3A is a speakerphone module having a square bottom housing.  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 3B is a cross-sectional view of a speakerphone module having a universally accommodating form factor in accordance with the invention illustrating decreased dislodging mechanical advantage.  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 4A is a speakerphone module having a universally accommodating form factor coupled to a charger in accordance with the invention.  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 4B is a speakerphone module having a universally accommodating form factor coupled to a cellular phone in accordance with the invention.  
         [0013]    FIGS.  5 A-C are cross-sectional views of a speakerphone module having a universally accommodating form factor illustrating the circular dimple aperture and wave directing cap in accordance with the invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0014]    A preferred embodiment of the invention is now described in detail. Referring to the drawings, like numbers indicate like parts throughout the views. As used in the description herein and throughout the claims, the following terms take the meanings explicitly associated herein, unless the context clearly dictates otherwise: the meaning of “a,” “an,” and “the” includes plural reference, the meaning of “in” includes “in” and “on.” 
         [0015]    This invention includes a speakerphone housing having a universally accommodating form factor. The unique form factor allows the speakerphone to be both aesthetically and aurally pleasing regardless of the device to which it is coupled. In one embodiment, the invention may be coupled to cellular telephones having a variety of form factors. The invention may also be coupled to desktop chargers and/or power supplies.  
         [0016]    Referring now to FIG. 1, illustrated therein is a preferred embodiment of a speakerphone module  100  having a universally accommodating form factor in accordance with the invention. The speakerphone module  100  includes a main terminal  101  and an optional secondary terminal  102 .  
         [0017]    The main terminal  101  comprises an electrical and mechanical connector designed to suit a particular type of cellular telephone (not shown). The main terminal  101  includes pins  103  for coupling audio signals, and alternatively power and data, to and through the speakerphone module  100 .  
         [0018]    In one preferred embodiment, the main terminal  101  comprises a 17-pin CE bus data plug. In this particular embodiment, data passes along 14 pins, while three are reserved for power and ground. Audio signals are included in the “data” carried along the 14 data pins.  
         [0019]    In the standard operating mode, the main terminal  101  delivers audio from the phone to the speaker (not shown) disposed within the speakerphone module  100 . When the optional secondary terminal  102  is employed, the pins  103  of the main terminal  101  may couple and transmit audio, data, power and control signals from the phone, through the speakerphone module  100 , to another accessory coupled serially to the speakerphone module.  
         [0020]    The speakerphone module  100  includes numerous advantages over the prior art, as will become evident from the following discussion. Two particular advantages are worthy of note here: First, the speakerphone module  100  includes an upper housing  104  that is generally hemispherically shaped. The housing  104  also includes a circular dimple aperture  105 , with a wave-directing cap  106  coupled thereon. The spherical shape of the housing  104  helps broadcast audio sounds from the speaker uniformly in all directions. The circular dimple aperture  105  and wave directive cap  106  assist in this function, in that they serve as audio waveguides for sound waves emanating from the speaker. Thus, the user need not “aim” a flat-faced speaker towards his ear to be able to hear effectively. When the speakerphone module  100  (coupled to a phone) is placed on a desk, audio sounds are transmitted radially in 360 degrees, allowing each user to hear an aurally pleasing sound.  
         [0021]    Second, this invention takes advantage of the microphone embedded in the phone. The speakerphone module  100  does not include a microphone. Rather, when the speakerphone module  100  is coupled to the phone, the phone recognizes the speakerphone module  100  via the main terminal  101 . Once the phone identifies the presence of the speakerphone module  100 , the phone automatically increases the gain of the phone&#39;s internal microphone. By using the microphone in the phone, the invention solves two problems. It reduces part count, thereby reducing cost and manufacturing time, and increasing reliability. Next, it prevents audio feedback issues that cause speakers in close proximity to microphones to “squeal”. Squealing is aurally unpleasant.  
         [0022]    The speakerphone module  100  also includes a link  107  between the main terminal  101  and the housing  104 . While the link  107  may be a connector made of rigid material like polycarbonate, or may be a flexible cable, in one preferred embodiment it comprises a semi-flexible strain relief. The strain relief may be manufactured out of plastics or polymers, but is rigid enough to withstand forces applied in linear directions away from the main terminal. Additionally, a latch  108  with an actuating button  109  may be includes to further withstand such forces.  
         [0023]    As mentioned, the speakerphone module  100  includes a speaker for delivering audio from the phone, through the main terminal  101 , to the user. The speakerphone module  100  may also comprise amplification circuitry. The amplification circuitry may be powered from a single-use or rechargeable battery disposed in the speakerphone module  100 , or it may be powered from a power supply coupled to the optional secondary terminal  102 .  
         [0024]    In use, audio signals from the cellular telephone are received by the main terminal  101  for processing before being supplied to the speaker or optional audio output amplifier circuits. These audio signals are then delivered to the user via the speaker, the circular dimple aperture  105 , the housing  104  and the wave directive cap  106 .  
         [0025]    Referring now to FIG. 2, illustrated therein is an elevated side-view of a preferred embodiment of the invention. From this perspective, the bottom housing  200  can be seen. The bottom housing  200  is generally curved in shape. The curved shape allows the speakerphone module to accommodate devices having varying form factors.  
         [0026]    When the speakerphone module is coupled to a phone or charger, the bottom housing  200  curvature ensures that when the assembly is placed on a flat surface, the flat surface is always tangent to the bottom housing  200 . Thus, when a force is applied to the top housing in a direction perpendicular to the flat surface, e.g. someone drops a hand, book, or other object on the speakerphone module, the curvature of the bottom housing  200  resists rotation as the tangential point aligns the fulcrum and the force. (For exemplary purposes, “effort” and “force” will be used interchangeably, so the “e” in effort may be distinguished from the “f” in fulcrum.)  
         [0027]    This is best illustrated by example. Referring now to FIG. 3A, illustrated therein is a speakerphone module  300  having a square bottom housing  301 . Here, when the speakerphone module  300  is coupled to a phone  302  having a form factor higher than that of the speakerphone module  300 , the speakerphone module  300  becomes a class III lever assembly. The rear portion  303  of the speakerphone module  300  acts as a fulcrum, while the connector  304  acts as the resistance. Effectively, the speakerphone module  300  gives mechanical advantage to the effort to dislodge the speakerphone module  300  from the phone  302 . As dislodging causes the speakerphone module  300  to cease working, it is undesirable.  
         [0028]    By contrast, as illustrated in FIG. 3B, the present invention enhances mechanical stability by reducing or eliminating this mechanical advantage. With the rounded bottom housing  200 , the fulcrum becomes the tangential point, which is directly below the effort  306  where the effort  306  passes through the center of the speakerphone module  100 . Where the effort  306  does not pass through the center, the mechanical advantage is still reduced in that the fulcrum is no longer at the end of the speakerphone module  100 . This greatly enhances the stability and reliability of the module  100 .  
         [0029]    [0029]FIGS. 4A and 4B illustrate the versatility of the invention in that it may be coupled to either a charger or a phone. As the optional secondary terminal mentioned with respect to FIG. 1 can serve as a pass-through port for power, the speakerphone module may be coupled serially between a charger and a power supply. The charger need only have a mating connector similar in form factor to that of the phone. Thus, when a phone is inserted into the pocket of the charger, the charger is able to deliver audio through the charger to the speakerphone module. The connectibility to both chargers and phones adds a degree of freedom to the user, in that the phone&#39;s battery may now be charged while the phone itself is in use as a speakerphone.  
         [0030]    Likewise, as many phones now include internal charging circuitry, the speakerphone module may be coupled serially between a power supply and phone. In this configuration, the phone&#39;s battery may also be charged while the phone itself is in use as a speakerphone.  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 5 is a cross sectional view of a preferred embodiment of the speakerphone module illustrating the shape and contour of the circular dimple aperture and the wave directing cap. The figure has been drawn to scale, thereby best illustrating this preferred embodiment.  
         [0032]    While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it is clear that the invention is not so limited. Numerous modifications, changes, variations, substitutions, and equivalents will occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims. For example, the electrical circuits that may be included with this invention are numerous. One example is U.S. Pat. No. 5,588,041, assigned to Motorola, incorporated herein by reference for all purposes. Another example is the Nextel i1000 phone manufactured by Motorola, which includes a built-in speakerphone circuit. A third example is U.S. Pat. No. 5,802,167, issued to Hong, which is incorporated herein by reference.