GB2070392A - Personal communications unit - Google Patents

Personal communications unit Download PDF

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Publication number
GB2070392A
GB2070392A GB8005094A GB8005094A GB2070392A GB 2070392 A GB2070392 A GB 2070392A GB 8005094 A GB8005094 A GB 8005094A GB 8005094 A GB8005094 A GB 8005094A GB 2070392 A GB2070392 A GB 2070392A
Authority
GB
United Kingdom
Prior art keywords
unit
portions
plane
personal communications
unit according
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.)
Granted
Application number
GB8005094A
Other versions
GB2070392B (en
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
STC PLC
Original Assignee
Standard Telephone and Cables PLC
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Standard Telephone and Cables PLC filed Critical Standard Telephone and Cables PLC
Priority to GB8005094A priority Critical patent/GB2070392B/en
Priority to BR8004810A priority patent/BR8004810A/en
Publication of GB2070392A publication Critical patent/GB2070392A/en
Application granted granted Critical
Publication of GB2070392B publication Critical patent/GB2070392B/en
Expired legal-status Critical Current

Links

Classifications

    • 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
    • H04M1/0206—Portable telephones comprising a plurality of mechanically joined movable body parts, e.g. hinged housings
    • H04M1/0208—Portable telephones comprising a plurality of mechanically joined movable body parts, e.g. hinged housings characterized by the relative motions of the body parts
    • 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
    • H04B1/3833—Hand-held transceivers
    • 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
    • H04M1/0206—Portable telephones comprising a plurality of mechanically joined movable body parts, e.g. hinged housings
    • H04M1/0241—Portable telephones comprising a plurality of mechanically joined movable body parts, e.g. hinged housings using relative motion of the body parts to change the operational status of the telephone set, e.g. switching on/off, answering incoming call
    • H04M1/0243—Portable telephones comprising a plurality of mechanically joined movable body parts, e.g. hinged housings using relative motion of the body parts to change the operational status of the telephone set, e.g. switching on/off, answering incoming call using the relative angle between housings
    • 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
    • H04M1/03—Constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. telephone hand-sets

Landscapes

  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
  • Telephone Set Structure (AREA)

Abstract

A personal communications unit or "cordless telephone" has an elongate body 1 divided into two portions 1a and 1b at a plane 2 oblique to the major axis of the body. The portion 1a contains a receiver 4 and the portion 1b contains a microphone 5 on the opposite side. The two portions pivot relative to one another about an axis 3 which is perpendicular to the plane 2. When the portion 1b is rotated 180 DEG relative to portion 1a the portion 1b assumes a projecting position relative to portion 1a, and the microphone and receiver are then in the correct position for use. The pivot mechanism also operates a switch to change the unit from an "on-hook" condition to an "off-hook" condition. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Personal communications unit This invention relates to a personal communications unit, which may be, for example, a so-called "cordless telephone" or personal mobile radio transceiver.
Such personal communications units are ideally compact and shaped to be conveniently carried in a pocket, or in a lady's handbag, and should readily indicate by sight or by touch whether the unit is in a first or second operating condition. In the telephone art the two basic operating conditions are referred to as "on-hook" and "off-hook" respectively. In the conventional telephone, either free-standing or wallmounted, these two conditions are readily indicated by the handset either resting in the cradle on top of the telephone body or being removed therefrom. In a personal communications unit there is generally only a single body containing both the electroacoustic transducers and all the associated circuitry.In the so-called "cordless telephone" in addition to the microphone and receiver there are the call-making arrangements, such as a keypad or dial, and some form of acoustic (and/or optical) call alarm device to alert the user to an incoming call. There is no separate removable handset.
According to the present invention there is provided a personal communications unit comprising an elongated body divided into first and second portions on a plane oblique to the longitudinal axis of the body, said portions being pivoted relative to one another about an axis perpendicular to said oblique plane.
In a preferred embodiment the first and second portions are unequal in length, the first or major portion being provided on one side of the body towards its end remote from said oblique plane with a first electroacoustic transducer, the second or minor portion being provided on the other side of the body with a second electroacoustic transducer such that when the second portion is rotated about the pivot axis through substantially 1800 the second portion projects at an angle from the longitudinal axis of the body and the two transducers are effectively on the same side of the body, said same side being that which includes the iesser angle between the two portions.
Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure lisa side view of a personal communications unit, and Figures 2 ond 3 are perspective views of the unit of Figure 1.
The same reference numerals are used for the same items in all three Figures.
The drawings illustrate a personal communications unit housed in a substantially elongated rectangular body 1 which is divided at a plane 2 into two portions, a major portion la and a minor portion 1b.
The plane 2 is oblique to the longitudinal axis of the body 1. The two portions la and lb are pivotally connected together about a pivot mechanism (not shown), the pivotal axis 3 being perpendicular to the plane 2 and intersecting the cental longitudinal axis of the body. The major portion la is provided on one side of the body towards its end remote from the dividing plane 2 with a first electroacoustic transduc er 4, typically a receiver. The minor portion 1 b is provided on the other side of the body with a second electroacoustic transducer 5, typically a microphone.
When the two portions are aligned, as shown in Figure 2, the unit is in a first operating condition. In the case of a cordless telephone this would be the "on-hook" equivalent position. When in this condition the unit is particularly adapted for carrying in a pocket or handbag. If now the minor portion is rotated through 180 on its pivotal axis 3 it is no longer in alignment with the major portion but projects angularly with respect to the major portion, as shown by the dotted line in Figure 1 and in the perspective view of Figure 3. It will be noted that in this operating condition, the equivalent of the telephone "off-hook" condition, the two transducers 4 and 5 are now effectively on the same side of the unit.Moreover, the dimensions of the unit and the angle of the dividing plane 2 can be chosen such that in the condition illustrated in Figure 3 the unit is substantially the same functional size and shape as a telephone handset, with the receiver 4 and microphone 5 being positioned for use when the unit is held adjacent the human face.
The pivoting mechanism can be readily designed so that the two portions are limited in rotation to one 180" freedom of movement, to prevent the two parts being rotated through 360" or more and thereby damage any flexible electrical connection between the two parts. Moreover, the pivotal mechanism may include some detent means to ensure that in use the two parts are kept stable relative to one another in both of the operating conditions.
The unit may have other cross-section shapes than the fiat rectangular shape illustrated. For example it may be triangular, oval or circular in cross-section.
The unit, when constructed as a cordless telephone, may include call making facilities (not shown) such as a dial or push button keypad which are conve nientlyfitted into a suitable face of the major portion, Similarly one of the portions can be fitted with an electroacoustic and/or electrooptic alarm means to alert the user when an incoming call is made.
The unit by its very nature indicates both visually and by touch which of the two operating conditions it is in. A switch mechanism is incorporated in the pivot so that the unit is automatically switched to the appropriate condition by the rotation of the minor portion.
1. A personal communications unit comprising an elongated body divided into first and second portions on a plane oblique to the longitudinal axis of the body, said portions being pivoted relative to one another about an axis perpendicular to said oblique plane.
2. A unit according to claim 1 wherein said first and second portions are unequal in length.
**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims (15)

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Personal communications unit This invention relates to a personal communications unit, which may be, for example, a so-called "cordless telephone" or personal mobile radio transceiver. Such personal communications units are ideally compact and shaped to be conveniently carried in a pocket, or in a lady's handbag, and should readily indicate by sight or by touch whether the unit is in a first or second operating condition. In the telephone art the two basic operating conditions are referred to as "on-hook" and "off-hook" respectively. In the conventional telephone, either free-standing or wallmounted, these two conditions are readily indicated by the handset either resting in the cradle on top of the telephone body or being removed therefrom. In a personal communications unit there is generally only a single body containing both the electroacoustic transducers and all the associated circuitry.In the so-called "cordless telephone" in addition to the microphone and receiver there are the call-making arrangements, such as a keypad or dial, and some form of acoustic (and/or optical) call alarm device to alert the user to an incoming call. There is no separate removable handset. According to the present invention there is provided a personal communications unit comprising an elongated body divided into first and second portions on a plane oblique to the longitudinal axis of the body, said portions being pivoted relative to one another about an axis perpendicular to said oblique plane. In a preferred embodiment the first and second portions are unequal in length, the first or major portion being provided on one side of the body towards its end remote from said oblique plane with a first electroacoustic transducer, the second or minor portion being provided on the other side of the body with a second electroacoustic transducer such that when the second portion is rotated about the pivot axis through substantially 1800 the second portion projects at an angle from the longitudinal axis of the body and the two transducers are effectively on the same side of the body, said same side being that which includes the iesser angle between the two portions. Embodiments of the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure lisa side view of a personal communications unit, and Figures 2 ond 3 are perspective views of the unit of Figure 1. The same reference numerals are used for the same items in all three Figures. The drawings illustrate a personal communications unit housed in a substantially elongated rectangular body 1 which is divided at a plane 2 into two portions, a major portion la and a minor portion 1b. The plane 2 is oblique to the longitudinal axis of the body 1. The two portions la and lb are pivotally connected together about a pivot mechanism (not shown), the pivotal axis 3 being perpendicular to the plane 2 and intersecting the cental longitudinal axis of the body. The major portion la is provided on one side of the body towards its end remote from the dividing plane 2 with a first electroacoustic transduc er 4, typically a receiver. The minor portion 1 b is provided on the other side of the body with a second electroacoustic transducer 5, typically a microphone. When the two portions are aligned, as shown in Figure 2, the unit is in a first operating condition. In the case of a cordless telephone this would be the "on-hook" equivalent position. When in this condition the unit is particularly adapted for carrying in a pocket or handbag. If now the minor portion is rotated through 180 on its pivotal axis 3 it is no longer in alignment with the major portion but projects angularly with respect to the major portion, as shown by the dotted line in Figure 1 and in the perspective view of Figure 3. It will be noted that in this operating condition, the equivalent of the telephone "off-hook" condition, the two transducers 4 and 5 are now effectively on the same side of the unit.Moreover, the dimensions of the unit and the angle of the dividing plane 2 can be chosen such that in the condition illustrated in Figure 3 the unit is substantially the same functional size and shape as a telephone handset, with the receiver 4 and microphone 5 being positioned for use when the unit is held adjacent the human face. The pivoting mechanism can be readily designed so that the two portions are limited in rotation to one 180" freedom of movement, to prevent the two parts being rotated through 360" or more and thereby damage any flexible electrical connection between the two parts. Moreover, the pivotal mechanism may include some detent means to ensure that in use the two parts are kept stable relative to one another in both of the operating conditions. The unit may have other cross-section shapes than the fiat rectangular shape illustrated. For example it may be triangular, oval or circular in cross-section. The unit, when constructed as a cordless telephone, may include call making facilities (not shown) such as a dial or push button keypad which are conve nientlyfitted into a suitable face of the major portion, Similarly one of the portions can be fitted with an electroacoustic and/or electrooptic alarm means to alert the user when an incoming call is made. The unit by its very nature indicates both visually and by touch which of the two operating conditions it is in. A switch mechanism is incorporated in the pivot so that the unit is automatically switched to the appropriate condition by the rotation of the minor portion. CLAIMS
1. A personal communications unit comprising an elongated body divided into first and second portions on a plane oblique to the longitudinal axis of the body, said portions being pivoted relative to one another about an axis perpendicular to said oblique plane.
2. A unit according to claim 1 wherein said first and second portions are unequal in length.
3. A unit according to claim 1 or 2 wherein each portion is fitted with an electroacoustic transducer.
4. A unit according to claim 1 or 2 which includes switch means associated with the pivoting of the two portions relative to one another.
5. A unit according to any preceding claim including means for limiting the rotation of one portion relative to the other portion to a maximum of 1800.
6. A unit according to claim 3 or either of claims 4 and 5 when dependent on claim 3 wherein one electroacoustic transducer is a microphone and the other transducer is a receiver.
7. A unit according to any preceding claim including a dial or keypad fitted into one of the portions.
8. A unit according to any preceding claim including in one of the portions an electroacoustic alarm means.
9. A unit according to any one of claims 1 - 7 including in one of the portions an electro-optical alarm means.
10. A unit according to any preceding claim wherein the body is substantially of rectangular cross-section.
11. A unit according to any one of claims 1 - 9 wherein the body is substantially of oval crosssection.
12. A unit according to any one of claims 1 - 9 wherein the body is substantially of circular crosssection.
13. A unit according to any one of claims 1 - 9 wherein the body is substantially of triangular cross-section.
14. A personal communications unit substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
15. A cordless telephone substantially as described with reference to the accompanying drawings.
GB8005094A 1980-02-14 1980-02-14 Personal communications unit Expired GB2070392B (en)

Priority Applications (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB8005094A GB2070392B (en) 1980-02-14 1980-02-14 Personal communications unit
BR8004810A BR8004810A (en) 1980-02-14 1980-07-31 PERSONAL COMMUNICATIONS UNIT

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
GB8005094A GB2070392B (en) 1980-02-14 1980-02-14 Personal communications unit

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
GB2070392A true GB2070392A (en) 1981-09-03
GB2070392B GB2070392B (en) 1984-03-14

Family

ID=10511372

Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
GB8005094A Expired GB2070392B (en) 1980-02-14 1980-02-14 Personal communications unit

Country Status (2)

Country Link
BR (1) BR8004810A (en)
GB (1) GB2070392B (en)

Cited By (8)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0120418A1 (en) * 1983-03-18 1984-10-03 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Wireless telephone
FR2563673A1 (en) * 1984-04-27 1985-10-31 Brandenstein Erwin WIRELESS TELEPHONE DEVICE
WO1996027914A1 (en) * 1995-03-08 1996-09-12 Ericsson Inc. Canted antenna for a cellular radiotelephone
WO1998058421A1 (en) * 1997-06-17 1998-12-23 Ericsson Inc. A housing assembly for a portable radio that communicates within a satellite communication system
GB2348077A (en) * 1999-03-16 2000-09-20 Nec Corp Portable telephone with angularly adjustable microphone
SG86299A1 (en) * 1988-06-13 2002-02-19 Motorola Inc Portable radiotelephone with control switch disabling
EP1638162A1 (en) * 2004-09-21 2006-03-22 Hirschmann Electronics GmbH Roof antenna with swinging mechanism for a vehicle
EP1659700A2 (en) * 2004-11-19 2006-05-24 LG Electronics Inc. Mobile communication terminal and operating method thereof

Cited By (16)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
EP0120418A1 (en) * 1983-03-18 1984-10-03 Siemens Aktiengesellschaft Wireless telephone
FR2563673A1 (en) * 1984-04-27 1985-10-31 Brandenstein Erwin WIRELESS TELEPHONE DEVICE
GB2158328A (en) * 1984-04-27 1985-11-06 Erwin Brandenstein Cordless telephone
SG86299A1 (en) * 1988-06-13 2002-02-19 Motorola Inc Portable radiotelephone with control switch disabling
WO1996027914A1 (en) * 1995-03-08 1996-09-12 Ericsson Inc. Canted antenna for a cellular radiotelephone
AU694009B2 (en) * 1995-03-08 1998-07-09 Ericsson Inc. Canted antenna for a cellular radiotelephone
US5590416A (en) * 1995-06-08 1996-12-31 Ericsson Inc. Canted antenna for a cellular radiotelephone
WO1998058421A1 (en) * 1997-06-17 1998-12-23 Ericsson Inc. A housing assembly for a portable radio that communicates within a satellite communication system
GB2348077A (en) * 1999-03-16 2000-09-20 Nec Corp Portable telephone with angularly adjustable microphone
GB2348077B (en) * 1999-03-16 2003-09-17 Nec Corp Portable Telephone
US6731912B1 (en) 1999-03-16 2004-05-04 Nec Corporation Portable telephone
EP1638162A1 (en) * 2004-09-21 2006-03-22 Hirschmann Electronics GmbH Roof antenna with swinging mechanism for a vehicle
EP1659700A2 (en) * 2004-11-19 2006-05-24 LG Electronics Inc. Mobile communication terminal and operating method thereof
EP1659700A3 (en) * 2004-11-19 2007-05-30 LG Electronics Inc. Mobile communication terminal and operating method thereof
US7711396B2 (en) 2004-11-19 2010-05-04 Lg Electronics Inc Mobile communication terminal and operating method thereof
CN1777203B (en) * 2004-11-19 2010-05-26 Lg电子株式会社 Mobile communication terminal and operating method thereof

Also Published As

Publication number Publication date
GB2070392B (en) 1984-03-14
BR8004810A (en) 1981-08-25

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Legal Events

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PCNP Patent ceased through non-payment of renewal fee