Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US5463687?ie=ISO-8859-1
Timestamp: 2014-03-16 01:48:55
Document Index: 397791629

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 11', 'arts 11', 'art 12', 'art 11', 'art 11', 'art 11', 'art 11']

Patent US5463687 - Foldable portable telephone with control of audio circuitry based on the ... - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inAdvanced Patent SearchPatentsA portable telephone having a first and a second box-like casing part which are foldably connected by a hinge. The first casing part accommodates at least a display and a speaker while the second casing part accommodates at least a microphone. When the two casing parts are folded, a control circuit interrupts...http://www.google.com/patents/US5463687?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US5463687 - Foldable portable telephone with control of audio circuitry based on the folded/unfolded positionAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS5463687 APublication typeGrantApplication numberUS 08/180,214Publication dateOct 31, 1995Filing dateJan 12, 1994Priority dateJan 12, 1993Fee statusPaidAlso published asCA2112709A1, CA2112709C, DE69421947D1, DE69421947T2, EP0607038A1, EP0607038B1Publication number08180214, 180214, US 5463687 A, US 5463687A, US-A-5463687, US5463687 A, US5463687AInventorsHiroshi TakizawaOriginal AssigneeNec CorporationExport CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (5), Non-Patent Citations (2), Referenced by (8), Classifications (14), Legal Events (4) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetFoldable portable telephone with control of audio circuitry based on the folded/unfolded positionUS 5463687 AAbstract A portable telephone having a first and a second box-like casing part which are foldably connected by a hinge. The first casing part accommodates at least a display and a speaker while the second casing part accommodates at least a microphone. When the two casing parts are folded, a control circuit interrupts power supply to the display, microphone, and speaker.
What is claimed is: 1. A foldable portable telephone comprising:a first box-like casing part accommodating at least a display and a first speaker; a second box-like casing part accommodating at least a first microphone; hinge means connecting said first and second casing parts foldably to each other; detecting means for determining whether or not said first and second casing parts are folded; switch means for connecting a second speaker and a second microphone to the telephone; and control means for (a) interrupting, when said first and second casing parts are folded or when said second speaker and said second microphone are connected to said telephone, power supply to said first microphone and said first speaker, (b) for providing power supply to said second speaker and said second microphone when said second speaker and said second microphone are connected to said telephone whether or not said first and second casing parts are folded, and (c) for interrupting power supply to said display when said first and second casing parts are folded. 2. A telephone as claimed in claim 1, wherein said detecting means comprises a magnet affixed to one of said first and second casing parts, and a reed switch mounted on the other of said first and second casing parts.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a foldable portable telephone and, more particularly, to a foldable portable telephone whose operation is adequately controlled on the basis of the folded/unfolded position thereof.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide a foldable portable telephone which eliminates howling when a microphone and a speaker thereof are brought close to each other.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings, a foldable portable telephone embodying the present invention is shown. As shown, the telephone is generally made up of a first and a second box-like member or casing part 11 and 12, respectively. The casing parts 11 and 12 are foldably connected to each other by a hinge 13. A microphone 24 is built in the casing part 12. The casing part 11 accommodates therein a speaker 21, an amplifier 22 for driving the speaker 21, a switch 23 for selectively connecting or disconnecting the speaker 21 to or from a power source VDD, a switch 25 for selectively turning on or turning off the microphone 24, and a transmitter/receiver 26. A jack 33 is provided on the casing part 11 to allow an extra speaker 31 and an extra microphone 32 to be connected to the telephone, as desired. A display 41 is provided on the casing part 11. Also accommodated in the casing part 11 are a driver 42 for driving the display 41, and a switch 43 for selectively connecting or disconnecting the driver 42 to or from the power source VDD. The switches 23, 25 and 43 are controlled on and off by software.
Patent CitationsCited PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS4897873 *Nov 4, 1988Jan 30, 1990Motorola, Inc.Multipurpose hinge apparatus for foldable telephonesEP0473402A2 *Aug 28, 1991Mar 4, 1992Nec CorporationFoldable portable telephoneGB2158328A * Title not availableWO1991007836A1 *Nov 1, 1990May 21, 1991Motorola IncCommunications device with movable element control interfaceWO1992017974A1 *Mar 3, 1992Sep 29, 1992Motorola IncHinge apparatus for foldable radiotelephones* Cited by examinerNon-Patent CitationsReference1 *Patent Abstracts of Japan, vol. 16, No. 354 (E 1242) Jul. 30, 1992; JP A 04 111 655 (NEC Corporation).2Patent Abstracts of Japan, vol. 16, No. 354 (E-1242) Jul. 30, 1992; JP A-04 111 655 (NEC Corporation).* Cited by examinerReferenced byCiting PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS5608793 *Jun 20, 1995Mar 4, 1997Nec CorporationSpeech control apparatus used in a folding telephoneUS5991644 *Nov 29, 1995Nov 23, 1999Nec CorporationFolding portable communications deviceUS6073027 *Aug 29, 1996Jun 6, 2000Bellsouth CorporationPortable radiotelephone with sliding cover and automatic antenna extensionUS6269256 *Jun 23, 1998Jul 31, 2001Nec CorporationFoldable portable telephone set with automatic off-hook functionUS6469891 *Mar 1, 2000Oct 22, 2002Hitachi, Ltd.Information processorUS7376447 *Jul 1, 2002May 20, 2008Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Mobile telephoneUS7424272Aug 3, 2001Sep 9, 2008Nec CorporationFoldable portable cellular phoneUSRE43370 *Sep 4, 2001May 8, 2012Nokia CorporationCommunication device with two modes of operation* Cited by examinerClassifications U.S. Classification379/433.13, 379/433.1, 379/433.6, 379/434International ClassificationH04W52/02, H04M1/02, H04M1/03Cooperative ClassificationH04M1/0245, H04M1/6041, H04W52/027, H04M2250/12, H04M1/0214European ClassificationH04W52/02T8C2, H04M1/02A2F2Legal EventsDateCodeEventDescriptionApr 6, 2007FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 12Apr 9, 2003FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 8Apr 19, 1999FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 4Mar 21, 1994ASAssignmentOwner name: NEC CORPORATION, JAPANFree format text: ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNORS INTEREST;ASSIGNOR:TAKIZAWA, HIROSHI;REEL/FRAME:006909/0312Effective date: 19940216RotateOriginal ImageGoogle Home - Sitemap - USPTO Bulk Downloads - Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - About Google Patents - Send FeedbackData provided by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services©2012 Google