Patent Publication Number: US-11050868-B2

Title: Internet phone system

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     This non-provisional application claims priority of Application No. 104143165 filed in Taiwan on Dec. 22, 2015 under 35 U.S.C. § 119, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Technology Field 
     The present invention relates to an internet phone system; more particularly, the present invention relates to an internet phone system can reduce electromagnetic interference. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Voice over IP (VoIP) is a network technology which allows a user to talk to other people via the internet. VoIP telecommunication is very convenient and allows the user to talk to other people in foreign areas with low or no cost. Therefore, VoIP telecommunication is welcomed by users, and products employing VoIP technology are also provided by some manufacturers. As shown in  FIG. 1 , an internet phone  500 , an expansion module  600 , and a wire  700  are devices employing VoIP technology. The internet phone  500  can execute digital processing of audio signals. After the digital processing, the audio signals can be transferred to another user via the internet. The internet phone  500  can be connected to the wire  700  to transfer signals to another device. The expansion module  600  has a monitor which can display information of an interlocutor (such as the name, the telephone, etc.). The expansion module  600  can be connected the internet phone  500  by the wire  700  and receive a signal transferred from the internet phone  500 . Whereby, when a user uses the internet phone  500  to talk to at least one interlocutor, the internet phone  500  will transfer signals to the expansion module  600  via the wire  700 , and the monitor of the expansion module  600  will display the information of the at least one interlocutor. 
     The internet phone  500  and the expansion module  600  both include the RJ45 ports for connecting the wire  700 . However, the impedance conversion is existed between the RJ45 ports and the circuits of the board such that strong electromagnetic interference (EMI) in signals may be generated. In addition, the wire  700  exposed to the outside is easily removed from the internet phone  500  or the expansion module  600  the by external force. Therefore, this wire connection is unstable, and a certain space is occupied by the exposed wire  700 . 
     SUMMARY 
     It is an object of the present invention to provide an internet phone system which does not require the traditional wire connection and can reduce electromagnetic interference. 
     To achieve the abovementioned object, the internet phone system of the present invention includes an internet phone main body, an expansion device and a multiple-layer connecting card. The internet phone main body includes a first connecting port. The at least one expansion device includes a second connecting port. One end of the multiple-layer connecting card is connected to the first connecting port, and the other end of the multiple-layer connecting card is connected to the second connecting port, such that the internet phone main body is electrically connected to the expansion device via the multiple-layer connecting card, wherein the expansion device is capable of combining with another expansion device by another multiple-layer connecting card. 
     According to one embodiment of the present invention, the multiple-layer connecting card includes a circuit board and two metal plates, the circuit board is electrically connected to the internet phone main body and the expansion device, and the circuit board is located between the two metal plates. 
     According to one embodiment of the present invention, the multiple-layer connecting card further includes a fastening hole, and the expansion device further includes a fastening unit. The fastening unit passes through the fastening hole such that the multiple-layer connecting card is fastened to the expansion device. 
     According to one embodiment of the present invention, the multiple-layer connecting card further includes two contacts. The two contacts are electrically connected to the circuit board and respectively located at two opposite ends of the multiple-layer connecting card. 
     According to one embodiment of the present invention, the internet phone main body further includes at least one first holding unit, and the expansion device further includes at least one holding plate. The holding plate and the first holding unit are fastened to each other. 
     According to one embodiment of the present invention, the quantities of the expansion device and the multiple-layer connecting card are plural numbers. The internet phone main body and one of the expansion devices are combined with each other by one of the multiple-layer connecting cards. The one of the expansion devices and another expansion device are combined with each other by another multiple-layer connecting card. 
     According to one embodiment of the present invention, each expansion device further includes a third connecting port, and the third connecting port is provided for connecting the another multiple-layer connecting cards. 
     According to one embodiment of the present invention, two opposite ends of the another multiple-layer connecting card are respectively connected to the third connecting port of the expansion devices and the second connecting port of the another expansion device. 
     According to one embodiment of the present invention, each expansion device further includes at least one second holding unit, and the second holding unit and the holding plate of another expansion device are fastened to each other. 
     According to one embodiment of the present invention, the fastening unit is a screw, and the fastening hole is a screw hole. 
     The multiple-layer connecting card of the present invention replaces the traditional wire to connect the internet phone main body and the expansion device in cost and space saving way. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  illustrates a schematic drawing of the internet phone, the expansion module and the wire of the prior art. 
         FIG. 2  illustrates a schematic drawing of the first embodiment of the internet phone system of the present invention. 
         FIG. 3  illustrates an exploded perspective view of the first embodiment of the internet phone system of the present invention. 
         FIG. 4  illustrates a schematic drawing of the multiple-layer connecting card of the first embodiment of the present invention. 
         FIG. 5  illustrates a schematic drawing of the expansion device and the multiple-layer connecting card of the first embodiment of the present invention fastened to each other. 
         FIG. 6  illustrates a partial cross-sectional view of the first embodiment of the internet phone system of the present invention. 
         FIG. 7  illustrates a system drawing of the first embodiment of the internet phone system of the present invention. 
         FIG. 8  illustrates a partial cross-sectional view of the second embodiment of the internet phone system of the present invention. 
         FIG. 9  illustrates a system drawing of the second embodiment of the internet phone system of the present invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
     These and other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following descriptions of the accompanying drawings, which disclose several embodiments of the present invention. It is to be understood that the drawings are to be used for purposes of illustration only and not as a definition of the invention. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 2  to  FIG. 7  regarding the first embodiment of the internet phone system of the present invention.  FIG. 2  illustrates a schematic drawing of the first embodiment of the internet phone system of the present invention.  FIG. 3  illustrates an exploded perspective view of the first embodiment of the internet phone system of the present invention.  FIG. 4  illustrates a schematic drawing of the multiple-layer connecting card of the first embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 5  illustrates a schematic drawing of the expansion device and the multiple-layer connecting card of the first embodiment of the present invention fastened to each other.  FIG. 6  illustrates a partial cross-sectional view of the first embodiment of the internet phone system of the present invention.  FIG. 7  illustrates a system drawing of the first embodiment of the internet phone system of the present invention. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , in the first embodiment of the present invention, the internet phone system  1  is a device employing Voice over IP (VOIP) function for allowing a user to talk with at least one interlocutor via the internet. The internet phone system  1  includes an internet phone main body  10 , an expansion device  20  and a multiple-layer connecting card  30 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 ,  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 7 , in the first embodiment of the present invention, the internet phone main body  10  is used for allowing the user to talk to at least one interlocutor via the internet. The internet phone main body  10  includes a first connecting port  11 , two first holding units  12 , a telephone handset  13  and a first processing unit  14 . The first connecting port  11  is provided for connecting the first end of the multiple-layer connecting card  30 . The first connecting port  11  can be a slot where the multiple-layer connecting card  30  plugged into. A metal contact (not shown in the figure) is located in the first connecting port  11 , the metal contact is electrically connected to the first processing unit  14 , and the metal contact is used for electrically connecting to the multiple-layer connecting card  30  when the multiple-layer connecting card  30  is plugged into the first connecting port  11 . It is to be noted that the metal contact for providing the electrically connection function is already disclosed in the field of electronic devices, so there is no need for further description. Two first holding units  12  are used for fastening to the expansion device  20 . However, the quantity of the first holding unit  12  is not limited to two; the quantity can be changed according to design requirements. The telephone handset  13  is used for receiving the voice of the user and for playing the voice of the at least one interlocutor to the user such that the user can talk with the at least one interlocutor. The first processing unit  14  is electrically connected to the metal contact of the first connecting port  11  and the telephone handset  13  so as to transfer the electronic signal to the first connecting port  11  and telephone handset  13 , and to control the first connecting port  11  and the telephone handset  13 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 3 ,  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 7 , in the first embodiment of the present invention, the expansion device  20  is used for electrically connecting to the internet phone main body  10  to provide an assisting communication function to the internet phone main body  10 . In the first embodiment, the expansion  20  has a monitor to display communication information, such as the phone number, the talking time, etc. However, the type of the assisting communication function is not limited to. The expansion device  20  further includes a second connecting port  21 , a third connecting port  22 , a fastening unit  23 , two holding plates  24 , two second holding units  25 , a displaying module  26  and a second processing unit  27 . The second connecting port  21  is provided for connecting the other end of the multiple-layer connecting card  30 . There is a metal contact (not shown in the figure) located in the second connecting port  21 , the metal contact is electrically connected to the second processing unit  27 . The metal contact is used for electrically connecting to the multiple-layer connecting card  30  when the other end of the multiple-layer connecting card  30  is connecting to the second connecting port  21 . The third connecting port  22  is provided for connecting another device; for example, the third connecting port  22  of the expansion device  20  is capable of connecting another multiple-layer connecting card for combining with another expansion device. A metal contact (not shown in the figure) is located in the third connecting port  22 , and the metal contact is electrically connected to the second processing unit  27 . The second connecting port  21  and the third connecting port  22  can both be slots for plugging the multiple-layer connecting card  30 . The fastening unit  23  can be a screw for fastening to the multiple-layer connecting card  30  when the other end of the multiple-layer connecting card  30  is plugged into the second connecting port  21 . Two holding plates  24  are used for fastening to the two first holding units  12  such that the internet phone main body  10  and the expansion device  20  can be stably combined. However, the quantity of the holding plates  24  is not limited to two; the quantity of the holding plates  24  can be changed according to the quantity of the first holding units  12 . Two second holding units  25  are used for fastening to other external devices. However, the quantity of the second holding units  25  is not limited to two; the quantity can be changed according to design requirements. The displaying module  26  is a monitor for displaying communication information so that the user can view the communication information while using the internet phone main body  10  to talk. The second processing unit  27  is electrically connected to the metal contact of the second connecting port  21 , the metal contact of the third connecting port  22  and the displaying module  26  to transfer electronic signals and control thereto. 
     As shown in  FIG. 4 ,  FIG. 6  and  FIG. 7 , in the first embodiment of the present invention, the two ends of the multiple-layer connecting card  30  are used for respectively connecting the first connecting port  11  and the second connecting port  21  such that the internet phone main body  10  can be electrically connected to the expansion device  20  via the multiple-layer connecting card  30 . The multiple-layer connecting card  30  includes a circuit board  31 , two metal plates  32 , a fastening hole  33 , two contacts  34  and two opposite ends (such as the first end  35  and the second end  36  shown in  FIG. 4 ). It is to be known that the number of the layers of the multiple-layer connecting card  30  can be changed according to design requirements. 
     The circuit board  31  is electrically connected to the metal contact of the first connecting port  11  of the internet phone main body  10 , the metal contact of the second connecting port  21  of the expansion device  20  and two contacts  34  such that the internet phone main body  10  and the expansion device  20  can be electrically connected to each other. The circuit board  31  is located between the two metal plates  32 , and the two metal plates  32  are used for shielding the circuit board  31  to reduce the electromagnetic interference (EMI) generated by the circuit board  31 . Actual experiments have shown that the shielding of the two metal plates  32  can drastically decrease the electromagnetic interference generated by the circuit board  31  to comply with the safety standards of electromagnetic interference. The fastening hole  33  can be a screw hole which penetrates the two metal plates  32  and the circuit board  31 . The screw hole is used for fastening to the screw when the other end of the multiple-layer connecting card  30  is plugged into the second connecting port  21 . However, the types of the fastening unit  23  and the fastening hole  33  are not limited to the abovementioned description; they can also be other kinds of units with a fastening function. The two contacts  34  are protruding metal sheets. The two contacts  34  are respectively located at the first end  35  and the second end  36  of the multiple-layer connecting card  30 , and the two contacts  34  are electrically connected to the circuit board  31 . The circuit board  31  is electrically connected to the first processing unit  14  and the second processing unit  27  by the contacts  34  contacting the metal contact of the second connecting port  21  and the metal contact of the first connecting port  11 . Therefore, the internet phone main body  10  and the expansion device  20  can be electrically connected to and transferred electrical signals to each other. The first end  35  and the second end  36  are two opposite ends. The first end  35  is provided for plugging into the first connecting port  11 , and the second end  36  is provided for plugging into the second connecting port  21 . 
     When the user needs to combine the internet phone main body  10 , the expansion device  20  and the multiple-layer connecting card  30  of the present invention, as shown in  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 5 , first of all, the second end  36  of the multiple-layer connecting card  30  is plugged into the second connecting port  21  of the expansion device  20 . Then the fastening unit  23  (such as a screw) is fasten to the fastening hole  33  (such as a screw hole). Therefore, the second end  36  of the multiple-layer connecting card  30  and the second connecting port  21  can be stably combined such that the second end  36  cannot easily be removed from the second connecting port  21  by an external force. At this moment, the combination of the multiple-layer connecting card  30  and the expansion device  20  is completed. Then, as shown in  FIG. 3  and  FIG. 6 , the first end  35  of the multiple-layer connecting card  30  is plugged into the first connecting port  11  of the internet phone main body  10  and the two first holding units  12  are fastened to the two holding plates  24 . Therefore, the first end  35  of the multiple-layer connecting card  30  and the first connecting port  11  can be combined such that the internet phone main body  10  and the expansion device  20  can be stably combined via the fastening of the two first holding units  12  and the two holding plates  24 . Therefore, the internet phone main body  10 , the expansion device  20  and the multiple-layer connecting card  30  can be stably combined. 
     When the internet phone main body  10 , the expansion device  20  and the multiple-layer connecting card  30  are stably combined with each other, if the user uses the internet phone main body  10  to talk to at least one interlocutor, the first processing unit  14  of the internet phone main body  10  can transfer the electronic signals about talking to the at least one interlocutor to the contact  34  on the first end  35  of the multiple-layer connecting card  30 , which is plugged into the first connecting port  11 . Via the circuit board  31  of the multiple-layer connecting card  30 , the electronic signal is transferred to another contact  34  on the second end  36  of the multiple-layer connecting card  30 , which is plugged into the second connecting port  21 . Then the another contact  34  on the second end  36  of the multiple-layer connecting card  30 , which is plugged into the second connecting port  21 , will transfer the electronic signal to the second processing unit  27  of the expansion device  20 . After the second processing unit  27  of the expansion device  20  receives the electronic signal sent from the internet phone main body  10 , the second processing unit  27  can control the displaying module  26  to display the communication information. 
     Please refer to  FIG. 8  and  FIG. 9  regarding the second embodiment of the internet phone system of the present invention.  FIG. 8  illustrates a partial cross-sectional view of the second embodiment of the internet phone system of the present invention.  FIG. 9  illustrates a system drawing of the second embodiment of internet phone system of the present invention. 
     The difference between the second embodiment and the first embodiment is that, as shown in  FIG. 8  and  FIG. 9 , in the second embodiment, the internet phone system  1   a  includes an internet phone main body  10 , two expansion devices  20 ,  20   a  and two multiple-layer connecting cards  30 ,  30   a . The first end  35  and the second end  36  of the multiple-layer connecting card  30  are respectively plugged into the first connecting port  11  of the internet phone main body  10  and the second connecting port  21  of the expansion device  20  such that the multiple-layer connecting card  30 , the internet phone main body  10  and the expansion device  20  can be combined. The first end  35   a  and the second end  36   a  of the other multiple-layer connecting card  30   a  are respectively plugged into the third connecting port  22  of the expansion device  20  and the second connecting port  21   a  of the other expansion device  20   a  such that the multiple-layer connecting card  30   a , the expansion device  20  and the other expansion device  20   a  can be combined. Meanwhile, the second holding unit  25  of the expansion device  20  and the holding plate  24   a  of the other expansion device  20   a  are fastened to each other such that the two expansion devices  20 ,  20   a  can be combined with each other stably. Although in this description of the second embodiment of the present invention, the quantities of the expansion devices  20 ,  20   a  and the multiple-layer connecting cards  30 ,  30   a  are limited to two, the quantity can be changed according to the design requirements, and the third connecting port  22   a  and the second holding unit  25   a  of the expansion device  20   a  can also be connected to other multiple-layer connecting cards or expansion devices. The structures of the expansion devices  20 ,  20   a  can be different, and the structures of the multiple-layer connecting cards  30 ,  30   a  can also be different. 
     Via the design of the internet phone system of the present invention, there is no need to use the traditional wire and RJ45 ports in the internet phone system, so the occupied space of the wire are eliminated and the electromagnetic interference is reduced. Furthermore, the expansion device of the present invention can be stably fastened to the multiple-layer connecting card and the internet phone main body. Therefore, the internet phone main body, the expansion device and the multiple-layer connecting card can be stably combined with each other. 
     It is noted that the embodiments described above are only for illustration. It is intended that the present invention cover modifications and variations of this invention provided they fall within the scope of the following claims and their equivalents. Therefore, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made to the structure of the present invention without departing from the scope or spirit of the invention.