EP1362469A1 - Miniaturized telecommunication device - Google Patents
Miniaturized telecommunication deviceInfo
- Publication number
- EP1362469A1 EP1362469A1 EP02706633A EP02706633A EP1362469A1 EP 1362469 A1 EP1362469 A1 EP 1362469A1 EP 02706633 A EP02706633 A EP 02706633A EP 02706633 A EP02706633 A EP 02706633A EP 1362469 A1 EP1362469 A1 EP 1362469A1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- housing
- telecommunication device
- base plate
- fastening element
- sensor
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Withdrawn
Links
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04B—TRANSMISSION
- H04B1/00—Details of transmission systems, not covered by a single one of groups H04B3/00 - H04B13/00; Details of transmission systems not characterised by the medium used for transmission
- H04B1/38—Transceivers, i.e. devices in which transmitter and receiver form a structural unit and in which at least one part is used for functions of transmitting and receiving
- H04B1/3827—Portable transceivers
- H04B1/385—Transceivers carried on the body, e.g. in helmets
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
- H04M1/00—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
- H04M1/02—Constructional features of telephone sets
- H04M1/0202—Portable telephone sets, e.g. cordless phones, mobile phones or bar type handsets
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
- H04M1/00—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
- H04M1/26—Devices for calling a subscriber
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
- H04M2250/00—Details of telephonic subscriber devices
- H04M2250/12—Details of telephonic subscriber devices including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion
Definitions
- the present invention relates to a miniaturized telecommunication device.
- miniaturization of these devices is desirable in itself to make it as convenient as possible for users to carry the devices with them.
- One problem with miniaturization arises from operability: To be able to activate the functions of a telecommunications device, i.e. accepting a call, initiating a call, dialing the number of a conversation partner, etc., the user must press the buttons on such a device. The miniaturization therefore reaches a limit when the size of these keys and their distance becomes smaller than the fingertips of a user, so that the user can no longer easily control which of several adjacent keys he presses.
- the housing While in a conventional mobile telecommunication device, when selecting a function, the housing is held in the hand of the user and can be regarded as at rest while the keys are moved in relation to the housing, in the telecommunication device according to the invention the housing itself can function as a key take on a generalized sense in that a force acting between the housing and the fastening element or a torque acting between the housing and the fastening element is detected by a sensor and evaluated by a processor in order to control the function of the telecommunication device according to the wishes of a user.
- the detection of a force also includes the detection of a movement.
- the fastening element has a base plate with which the housing is connected, and the sensors used are a sensor for detecting a torque about an axis perpendicular to the base plate and / or one or more sensors for detecting a torque about one or more several axes parallel to the base plate are provided.
- sensors can also be provided for detecting a displacement of the housing with respect to the base plate, preferably for Detect displacements in one or more directions parallel to the base plate.
- means are preferably provided for blocking the displacement of the housing.
- a sensor can be implemented as a switching contact, which closes an electrical contact after displacement by a predetermined distance or when a predetermined torque is exceeded.
- it can also be advantageous to equip the telecommunications device with a plurality of sensors delivering a quantitative signal and a processor which is set up to determine a quantitative ratio of the signals delivered by the sensors. This enables a large number of functions to be controlled with a relatively small number of sensors.
- the markings 0 to 9 are associated with the numbers.
- the displacement or the torque which are exerted on the housing by pressing such a marking can be detected with the aid of the sensors and can be assigned to a selected number by the processor.
- the fastening element is preferably designed as a bracelet, so that the telecommunication device according to the invention can be worn on the wrist by the user.
- Figure 1 is a perspective view of a miniaturized telecommunications device intended to be worn on a user's wrist.
- FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of the telecommunication device from FIG. 1;
- FIG. 3 shows an enlarged section through the connection area between the housing and the base plate of the telecommunications device from FIG. 1;
- FIG. 4 is a view of the telecommunications device of FIG. 1, showing the detectable forces according to a first embodiment
- FIG. 5 is a view analogous to FIG. 4, which shows the detectable forces according to a second embodiment
- FIG. 6 shows a plan view of a second exemplary embodiment of a telecommunication device according to the invention.
- FIG. 7 shows a schematic horizontal section through the telecommunication device from FIG. 6 along an intermediate space 11 that is analogous to that shown in FIG. 3;
- FIG. 9 shows a plan view of a third embodiment of a telecommunication device according to the invention.
- FIG. 10 shows a horizontal section through the telecommunication device from FIG. 9 analogous to the section from FIG. 7;
- FIG. 11 shows a section along the line XI-XI from FIG. 10 in a state of the telecommunication device which is secured against actuation; and
- FIG. 12 shows a section analogous to that of FIG. 11 in a state in which actuation of the telecommunication device is possible.
- FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of the telecommunication device according to the invention. It comprises a bracelet 1 (only partially shown in the figure) which corresponds in structure and function to a conventional watch strap.
- a housing 2 is attached, which accommodates the electronic components of the telecommunications device and an accumulator.
- a display screen 3 On the visible side of the housing 2 facing the user are a display screen 3, e.g. a liquid crystal display, for displaying the operating state, for a telephone number dialed by the user or the telephone number of a calling party, telephone numbers stored in an internal directory of the telecommunication device, etc. are arranged.
- a housing opening for a microphone 4 and two function keys 5 are shown.
- a loudspeaker can be integrated into the housing 2; there is also the possibility of connecting a headphone or earphone to the telecommunication device via a connector (not shown).
- the function keys 5 can e.g. are used to switch the device on and off and to answer an incoming call.
- the housing 2 is connected via a short shaft 6 to an area of the bracelet, which is shown thicker here than the laterally adjacent sections 7 of the bracelet 1 and in its shape to the cross section of the Arm of the user is adjusted so that it is secured on the arm against unimpeded tilting.
- This section is referred to as base plate 8.
- FIG. 3 shows an example of a possible structure of the shaft 6 on an enlarged scale.
- the shaft 6 here comprises a central, slightly bendable pin 9, which connects the base plate 8 and the housing 2.
- the pin 9 is surrounded by a hollow cylinder ring 10, which is here firmly connected to the housing 2 and separated from the base plate 8 by a gap 11.
- the ring 10 could equivalent to the base plate 8 and be spaced from the housing 2.
- the pin 9 and the ring 10 carry pairs of opposing electrodes 12, each of which forms a capacitor, the capacitance of which depends on the width of an air gap 13 between the pin 9 and the ring 10. If the user exerts a force to the left in the figure on the housing 2, this leads to a widening of the air gap 13 to the left of the pin 9 and to a narrowing of the air gap 13 to the right of the pin 9 Can be detected with the aid of a suitable measuring circuit 30.
- the measuring circuit 30 thus forms, together with the electrodes 12, a sensor for a force exerted on the housing 2 to the left (or to the right) in FIG. 3.
- Electrodes 14 are arranged on the ring 10 and the base plate 8 facing each other.
- a force is exerted, this leads to a torque and a bending of the pin 9, with the result that the distance between the right pair of electrodes 14 decreases and between the left pair of electrodes 14 increases.
- the resulting change in capacitance can also be detected by the measuring circuit 30 or a second, similar measuring circuit, which thus forms a torque sensor together with the electrodes 14.
- a torque exerted on the housing 2 also leads to a change in the distances between the electrodes 12, but this change is smaller than when one tangential to the base plate 8 results in a displacement of the housing 2 force is exerted.
- a processor 29, which receives the output signals of the measuring circuits 30, is able to convert between a torque exerted by the user about an axis of rotation parallel to the base plate 8 and a displacement force parallel to the base plate 8 differ. That is, the processor 29 is able, on the basis of the signals supplied by the measuring circuit 30, to distinguish whether the user exerts a displacement force FI or F2 (see FIG.
- the capacitor pairs forming electrodes 12, 14 can be replaced by piezo elements in connection with a suitable measuring circuit. Switch contacts can also be used.
- Fig. 3 shows a section along the line designated by III-III in Fig. 1.
- An analog arrangement of electrodes 12 or 14 can also be used, e.g. rotated by 90 °, can be provided in a section along the line III-III of FIG. 1.
- This enables the processor to distinguish at least eight different actuation forces, namely, as shown in FIG. 4, forces FI, F2, F5, F6 respectively exerted on side surfaces of the housing and forces F3 exerted on four different quarters of the visible side of the housing 2, F4, F7, F8.
- FIG. 6 shows a top view of a second exemplary embodiment of the telecommunication device according to the invention.
- the housing 2 has a display screen 3, a microphone 4 and two function keys 5.
- twelve times or markings 15 are regularly distributed in the region of the outer edge.
- the markings 15 can be designed as small projections or depressions of the housing, they can be contrasted in color from the rest of the housing 2, or they can also be formed simply by a symbol 16 printed on them.
- the symbols 16 denote the numbers 0 to 9 and two symbols, asterisk and rhombus, which are also common on conventional telephone keyboards.
- the arrangement of the digits 0 to 9 corresponds to the arrangement of the numbers on the dial of a watch, with the digit 0 at the 12 o'clock position.
- FIG. 7 shows a section through the telecommunication device of FIG. 6 at the level of this space 11 (analogous to the one shown in FIG. 3).
- Twelve electrodes 14 are on the base plate 8 circle- arranged in a shape and evenly distributed. In the center of the circular arrangement of the electrodes 14 there is a ring 17, the outer contour of which is in the form of a uniform dodecagon and in the hollow interior of which a strong spiral spring 18 or another suitable, flexibly flexible element is accommodated.
- the twelve straight sections of the circumference of the ring 17 each face one of the electrodes 14.
- FIG. 8 shows a section along the line VIII-VIII from FIG. 7 in a state in which a user presses on the marking 15 of the housing 2 labeled “0”.
- the housing 2 is tilted from a rest position, in which the base plate 8 and the housing 2 are parallel to one another and the housing 2 rests on the entire circumference of the ring 17, into a position in which the electrodes 14 adjacent to the “0 * mark” approach each other are the electrodes 6 adjacent to the "6 * mark, the housing 2 only touches the ring 17 in the area of the edge 19 facing the" 0 * mark and the coil spring 18 is stretched.
- the twelve-sided outer shape of the ring 17 ensures that the housing 2 tilts only around one of a total of twelve possible axes, so that, in the case shown here, the approach of the electrodes 14 adjacent to the “0 , ⁇ mark is measurably stronger is than that of the neighboring electrodes assigned to the “ ⁇ marking or the“ # * marking.
- the processor can reliably determine which of the various markings 15 a user has pressed.
- FIG. 9 shows a third embodiment of the telecommunication device according to the invention in a top view analogous to that of FIG. 6.
- the elements 3, 4, 5 on the visible side of the housing 2 are the same as in the embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 6.
- the housing 2 is constructed from a main body 20 and a ring 21 surrounding the main body, which is displaceable perpendicular to the plane of FIG. 9 or up and down in FIG. 12.
- the ring 21 has twelve oblique facets 22 on its outer surface. Like the markings 15 of the embodiment from FIG. 6, each of these facets 22 is assigned either one of the digits 0 to 9, * or # function.
- FIG. 10 shows a section through the telecommunication device of FIG. 9 along the line X-X from FIG. 11. It can be seen that the main body 20 is one in its lower region
- the inside of the ring 24 is formed by twelve rectilinear segments 25, which are each separated by inwardly directed prongs 26.
- the ring 21 surrounds both the main body 20 and the ring 24 connected to the base plate 8 essentially without play. In this position, a movement of the main body 20 against the base plate 8 is not possible.
- Fig. 12 shows the ring 21 in a raised position in which it no longer surrounds the ring 24.
- the housing 2 is displaceable parallel to the base plate 8, as indicated by an arrow in the figure.
- Main body 20 are brought into contact with an opposite rectilinear segment 25 of the ring 24 and thus establish an electrical contact between prongs 23 and segment 25.
- Prongs 23 and segment 25 thus form a sensor for a displacement of the housing 2 with respect to the fastening element 1.
- the width and length of the inwardly directed tines 26 of the ring 24 are defined such that only one blunt prong 23 can touch the opposite segment 25 at any time. For example, a user can successively press several facets 22 to close several contacts and thereby dial a telephone number, for example.
- a spring element is present which, after closing a contact and releasing the housing 2, returns the housing 2 to a central position in which it does not touch the ring 24, but is not shown in the figure for the sake of clarity.
- the housing 2 is not only displaceable parallel to the base plate 8, but can also be rotated about an axis perpendicular to the base plate 8 against the force of a spring. Such rotation causes the sides of the blunt prongs 23 of the main body 20 to come into contact with one or the other flanks of the inward prongs 26 of the ring 24 and in this way close an electrical contact of a switch, which acts as a sensor serves for a rotation.
- a switch or sensor can be constructed from two conductively connected flanks 27 of diametrically opposite prongs 26 of ring 24 on the one hand and voltage-applied electrodes 28 on flanked prongs 23 opposite these flanks.
- flanks or electrodes 27, 28 With the aid of the sensor formed by these flanks or electrodes 27, 28, a clockwise rotation can be detected; a mirror-symmetrical arrangement of flanks and electrodes (not shown for the sake of clarity) serves to detect a counterclockwise rotation.
- the detection of a rotation in one of two directions can be used by the processor, for example, to page forward or backward in a directory number displayed on the display screen 3, or also to correct an incorrectly entered digit of a number by incremental increment or decrementing ,
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Signal Processing (AREA)
- Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
- Telephone Set Structure (AREA)
- Force Measurement Appropriate To Specific Purposes (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
DE10107702A DE10107702A1 (en) | 2001-02-19 | 2001-02-19 | Miniaturized telecommunication device |
DE10107702 | 2001-02-19 | ||
PCT/DE2002/000289 WO2002067555A1 (en) | 2001-02-19 | 2002-01-28 | Miniaturized telecommunication device |
Publications (1)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP1362469A1 true EP1362469A1 (en) | 2003-11-19 |
Family
ID=7674562
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP02706633A Withdrawn EP1362469A1 (en) | 2001-02-19 | 2002-01-28 | Miniaturized telecommunication device |
Country Status (5)
Country | Link |
---|---|
US (1) | US20040067785A1 (en) |
EP (1) | EP1362469A1 (en) |
CN (1) | CN100521705C (en) |
DE (1) | DE10107702A1 (en) |
WO (1) | WO2002067555A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US7096048B2 (en) * | 2003-04-01 | 2006-08-22 | Sanders Donald T | Portable communications device |
US20090088230A1 (en) * | 2007-10-01 | 2009-04-02 | John Jeong Park | Watch phone |
US8885851B2 (en) | 2008-02-05 | 2014-11-11 | Sony Corporation | Portable device that performs an action in response to magnitude of force, method of operating the portable device, and computer program |
KR101546774B1 (en) * | 2008-07-29 | 2015-08-24 | 엘지전자 주식회사 | Mobile terminal and operation control method thereof |
Family Cites Families (12)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
FR1529899A (en) * | 1967-05-12 | 1968-06-21 | Yema Sa | Outer rotating bezel locking device |
CH685273B5 (en) * | 1992-10-05 | 1995-11-30 | Andreas Tschannen | PM, in particular wristwatch. |
US5214623A (en) * | 1992-10-16 | 1993-05-25 | Timex Corporation | Wristwatch radiotelephone |
CH702621B1 (en) * | 1998-12-23 | 2011-08-15 | Swatch Group Man Serv Ag | Piece radio telephone watch with a SIM card. |
NO990891L (en) | 1999-02-25 | 2000-08-26 | Steinar Pedersen | Communication tool with singular operation key |
GB2350523B (en) * | 1999-05-26 | 2003-11-26 | Nokia Mobile Phones Ltd | Communication device |
DE10031253B4 (en) | 2000-06-27 | 2014-10-23 | Qualcomm Incorporated | telecommunication terminal |
US6556222B1 (en) * | 2000-06-30 | 2003-04-29 | International Business Machines Corporation | Bezel based input mechanism and user interface for a smart watch |
US6768899B2 (en) * | 2001-04-04 | 2004-07-27 | Motorola, Inc. | Rotational mechanism for a wireless communication device |
CN1316677C (en) * | 2001-07-05 | 2007-05-16 | 伊塔瑞士钟表制造股份有限公司 | Wrist-worn electronic instrument with antenna |
US6801476B2 (en) * | 2002-04-15 | 2004-10-05 | Daniel A. Gilmour | Wrist-worn phone and body-worn data storage device |
US6968508B2 (en) * | 2002-07-30 | 2005-11-22 | Motorola, Inc. | Rotating user interface |
-
2001
- 2001-02-19 DE DE10107702A patent/DE10107702A1/en not_active Withdrawn
-
2002
- 2002-01-28 CN CNB028051750A patent/CN100521705C/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
- 2002-01-28 US US10/468,666 patent/US20040067785A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 2002-01-28 EP EP02706633A patent/EP1362469A1/en not_active Withdrawn
- 2002-01-28 WO PCT/DE2002/000289 patent/WO2002067555A1/en active Application Filing
Non-Patent Citations (1)
Title |
---|
See references of WO02067555A1 * |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
US20040067785A1 (en) | 2004-04-08 |
CN100521705C (en) | 2009-07-29 |
DE10107702A1 (en) | 2002-08-29 |
CN1493150A (en) | 2004-04-28 |
WO2002067555A1 (en) | 2002-08-29 |
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Legal Events
Date | Code | Title | Description |
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PUAI | Public reference made under article 153(3) epc to a published international application that has entered the european phase |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: 0009012 |
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17P | Request for examination filed |
Effective date: 20030725 |
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RAP1 | Party data changed (applicant data changed or rights of an application transferred) |
Owner name: BENQ MOBILE GMBH & CO. OHG |
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19U | Interruption of proceedings before grant |
Effective date: 20070101 |
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19W | Proceedings resumed before grant after interruption of proceedings |
Effective date: 20070702 |
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19W | Proceedings resumed before grant after interruption of proceedings |
Effective date: 20090803 |
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RAP1 | Party data changed (applicant data changed or rights of an application transferred) |
Owner name: PALM, INC. |
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17Q | First examination report despatched |
Effective date: 20091012 |
|
RIC1 | Information provided on ipc code assigned before grant |
Ipc: H04B 1/38 20060101ALI20100521BHEP Ipc: H04M 1/247 20060101AFI20100521BHEP |
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GRAP | Despatch of communication of intention to grant a patent |
Free format text: ORIGINAL CODE: EPIDOSNIGR1 |
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RAP1 | Party data changed (applicant data changed or rights of an application transferred) |
Owner name: HEWLETT-PACKARD DEVELOPMENT COMPANY, L.P. |
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STAA | Information on the status of an ep patent application or granted ep patent |
Free format text: STATUS: THE APPLICATION IS DEEMED TO BE WITHDRAWN |
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18D | Application deemed to be withdrawn |
Effective date: 20101208 |