GB2354755A

GB2354755A - Cable storage arrangement for electronic apparatus

Info

Publication number: GB2354755A
Application number: GB9924726A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Azam Khan; Jose Eusebio Vieira
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1999-09-28
Filing date: 1999-10-19
Publication date: 2001-04-04
Anticipated expiration: 2019-10-19
Also published as: GB9924726D0; GB9922976D0; GB2354755B

Abstract

A mobile telephone or personal stereo has a cable carrying eg one or more earpieces and possibly a microphone, which can be withdrawn from and retracted into the body of the telephone or stereo. In one embodiment the casing of a mobile telephone has an aperture A through which a cable L enters the casing and passes around pulleys P5, PW and optionally P2, P3, and P4 before being wound in a single coil on pulley P1. The pulleys P5, PW and P1 may be driven to pay out or withdraw the cable, their drive motors being controlled by in/out keys on the telephone keypad. The inner end of the cable 1 is linked electrically to the telephone electronics via brushes and slip-rings. In a second embodiment in the form of a personal stereo the lead for the earpieces passes through a slidable guide and is helically coiled around a driven rod. In each embodiment a funnel shaped stop F is provided to engage a component on the cable. The cable may be in two sections provided with longitudinal formations which can be brought into engagement by a sliding collar.

Description

2354755 Electronic Maratus with cable storage arrangement The present

invention relates to a portable electronic apparatus with an internal cable storage arrangement.

JP 62082749 discloses an internal cable storage arrangement in which a coil of telephone lead is located in the base unit of a conventional fixed telephone. The coil can be unwound and is apparently tensioned by a spring. The coil is located in the middle of the base unit and extends upwardly from the base.

US 5,655,726 discloses an external reel arrangement between a conventional fixed telephone and its handset to allow slack to be taken up.

US 5,421,530 discloses a sliding pulley arrangement for storage of an electric lead, and also refers to a telephone handset.

However all the above arrangements are intended for use in relatively bulky apparatus in which there is plenty of space for cable storage.

The external headsets supplied, for mobile telephones particularly, are often made by third parties and sometimes do not work well or even risk damaging the mobile telephone. This is often blamed on the manufacturer of the telephone.

Furthermore as far as we are aware, the external audio cable (carrying earpiece(s) and/or a microphone) cannot be stored internally in any known personal stereo or mobile telephone and therefore has to be disconnected when not in use.

External headsets for mobile telephones are nevertheless highly desirable despite the inconvenience, in view of the perceived health hazards of the microwave radiation transmitted by the aerial.

An object of the present invention is to overcome or alleviate the above disadvantages and to provide a space-saving arrangement for internal cable storage in a relatively compact apparatus such as a mobile telephone or a personal stereo unit for example.

2 In one aspect the present invention provides a portable electronic apparatus, for example a mobile telephone or a personal stero unit, having an audio cable which can be withdrawn from and retracted into the apparatus.

In one embodiment the apparatus has an elongate internal cable storage arrangement within its casing for the retracted cable, the casing having facing major surfaces and a sidewall connecting the peripheries of the major surfaces, the internal cable storage arrangement extending in the peripheral direction adjacent the sidewall.

This results in a compact arrangement which can be fitted into existing unused space made within the casing.

Preferably the internal cable storage arrangment is folded adjacent a comer region of the apparatus by pulley means arranged to convey the withdrawable and retractable cable.

Preferably the internal cable storage arrangement is provided with stop means arranged to catch a predetermined portion of the cable near the free end of the cable, the stop means being spaced apart from an aperture in the casing through which the cable is retracted and withdrawn. This feature enables a length of the free end(s) of the cable to be stored within the casing without being wound or unwound, which results in a space saving and avoids damaging the often fragile free end(s) of the cable.

Other preferred features are defined in the dependent claims.

In another aspect the invention provides a personal stereo or mobile telephone apparatus having a cable which can be withdrawn from and retracted into the casing of the apparatus.

Preferred embodiments of the invention are described below by way of example only with reference to Figures 1 to 2 of the accompanying drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 is a diagrammatic sketch perspective view of a mobile telephone in accordance with the invention; 3 Figure IA is a plan view of the brush and slip ring arrangement of Figure 1; Figure 1B is a sketch perspective view of a collar arrangement for combining the earpiece leads of an audio cable and Figure 2 is a diagrammatic plan view of a personal tape player in accordance with the invention.

Referrring to Figure 1, the mobile phone is provided with an integral "hands free" headset comprising an earpiece E and a microphone M on a lead L. A stop in the form of a funnel member F retains the microphone when the lead (maintained under slight tension) is in the retracted condition as shown.

Preferably the lead L runs on a pulley P5 (which cooperates with a pinch wheel PW) to a take-up pulley P1 (where the lead terminates and its four conductors are connected to respective tracks of a slip ring arrangement). If there is insufficient room in the casing, the lead can run over further pulleys P4, P3, P2 (which are each disposed adjacent respective edges of the sidewall of the 'phone casing) as indicated at L'. As shown in Figure 1A, the four tracks TR are contacted by respective brushes BR which in turn lead to conventional 'phone electronics (not shown). In order to prevent jamming of the lead L on pulley Pl, this pulley has a peripheral channel for receiving the lead whose width is only sIghtly greater than the diameter of the lead (somewhat similar to the reel of a yo-yo). One or both of pinch wheel PW and pulley P5 are powered directly from their own drive motors (not shown) and provide the main power for retracting and playing out the lead L. A motor M provides appropriate tension in the lead by generating a slight torque to wind in the lead augmenting that of the pulley P5 and pinch wheel PW. When the lead is fed out the motor M is switched off and only pulley P5 and/or pinch wheel PW are driven. The motors can for example be induction motors in order to avoid any dynamo effects (eg if the lead L is pulled manually).

Electric motor M drives pulley P1 by a belt B. This motor and the drive motor(s) driving pulley P5 and pinch wheel PW are controlled by suitable IN or OUT keys K of the keypad (shown in phantom in Figure 1) so that the lead can slowly be withdrawn from and retracted back into the mobile phone casing under the control of the user. When an IN or OUT key is depressed the power to the speaker and earpiece 4 of the 'phone is cut in order to prevent any crackling noises from being generated by the slip ring arrangement. An aperture A is provided in the casing which is shaped and dimensioned to allow the microphone M to pass through.

A suitable recess or clip (not shown) can be provided to retain the earpiece E in its home position on the upper exterior portion of the sidewall adjacent the antenna. A microswitch S is provided for detecting the presence of the earpiece E in its home position. When the earpiece E is in its home position, a conventional telephone earpiece on the front (uppermost) major surface of the 'phone is active and the 'phone can be used without the "hands free" headset. When the microswitch S detects that the earpiece E has been unclipped, the "hands free" headset is activated.

This feature can be overridden. If necessary, one or more of the pulleys P2 to P5 (or pinch wheel PW) can be powered in order to tension the lead L appropriately. The retraction of the lead is stopped when the motor M detects an appropriate level of mechanical resistance.

It will be noted that the cable storage arrangement can extend adjacent the sidewall of the casing around the inner region EL of the 'phone which accommodates the user's card and associated electronic circuitry.

Figure 1B shows a collar arrangement for combining the bifurcated portions of a lead for a minidisc personal stereo unit or other stereo unit. The lead L is provided with a collar CL which can slide freely along the lead and force together a projection PR (running along the inwardly facing portion of one earpiece lead) and a complementary recess RE (running along the inwardly facing portion of the other earpiece lead) so that the projection is forced into the recess rather in the manner of a zipper. The earpiece leads are shown cut at the front end to reveal the respective pairs of conductors CN carrying stereo audio signals to the respective earpieces (not shown). Collar Cl allows all of the cable to be drawn into the personal stereo unit.

This is ideal on a minidisc player; all the cable can be drawn into the apparatus leaving only the earpieces out which can be clipped to the exterior of the casing.

Figure 2 shows a personal cassette player having a stereo headset comprising earpieces El and E2 connected to leads LI and L2 which bifurcate from a lead L at a small stop member S. A fixed funnel-shaped stop member F retains the headset lead against a slight tension. The lead L runs over drive pulley P6 (which cooperates with a pinch wheel PW) and further pulleys P7 and PS before running through a passage in a guide G, whence it is formed into a coil C on a rod SR. Rod SR is coupled directly to a tensioning motor M and carries a gear wheel G2 which drives a gear wheel G I on a screwed rod WR.

In use, when the lead L is fed out, driving power is provided by one or more motors (not shown) directly coupled to drive pulley P6 and/or its cooperating pinch wheel PW which feed out the lead. Coil C unwinds by rotating rod SR, causing screwed rod WR to rotate. This engages a correspondingly threaded portion of guide G and 10 draws guide G to the left, thereby reducing the length of coil C and playing out the lead L to enable the earpieces El and E2 and their leads L1 and L2 to be withdrawn from the casing of the tape player. During this operation, motor M is unpowered. 15 When the lead L is drawn in, the main driving power is provided by the motor(s) directly coupled to drive pulley P6 and/or its cooperating pinch wheel PW which draw in the lead. The motor M is powered to augment this pull on the lead. 20 Contact with the player electronics is provided by a slip ring arrangement (similar to that shown in Figure 1A) which is connected to the conductors at the left-hand end of coil C. The wheel carrying the slip rings is preferably mounted on the face of gear G2 facing motor M. The major electro-mechanical and electronic components (not 25 shown) of the player unit are otherwise conventional and lie behind the region of the cassette lid CR. It will be noted that the leads L1 and L2 and an adjacent portion of lead L are wrapped around the exterior of the casing. The earpieces El and E2 hold the lead 30 inplace by being clipped to the exterior of the casing by clips (not shown). The in-line remote control for the personal stereos could suitably be a wireless remote control. 35 40

Claims

6 Claims

1. A mobile telephone or personal stereo unit having a cable which can be withdrawn from and retracted into the apparatus, the apparatus having an elongate internal cable storage arrangement within its casing for the retracted cable.

2. A mobile telephone or personal stereo unit according to claim I wherein the internal cable storage arrangment is folded adjacent a comer region of the apparatus by pulley means arranged to convey the withdrawable and retractable cable. 10 3. A mobile telephone or personal stereo unit according to claim I or claim 2 wherein the internal cable storage arrangement is provided with stop means arranged to catch a predetermined portion of the cable near the free end of the cable, the stop 15 means being spaced apart from an aperture in the casing through which the cable is retracted and withdrawn. 4. A mobile telephone or personal stereo unit according to claim 3 which is a 20 portable radio communication or audio recording apparatus, wherein the cable has at least one earpiece at its free end and a microphone spaced apart from its free end, the aperture being shaped and dimensioned to allow the microphone to pass through the aperture and the stop means being arranged to capture the microphone during retraction of the cable. 25 5. A mobile telephone or personal stereo unit according to claim 3 which is a portable audio recordingor playback apparatus, wherein the cable is bifurcated and terminates in earpieces, the aperture being shaped and dimensioned to allow the 30 bifurcated portion of the cable to pass through the aperture and the stop means being arranged to capture the bifurcated portion during retraction of the cable. 6. A mobile telephone or personal stereo unit according to claim 4 or claim 5 35 wherein the stop means is generally funnel-shaped.

7. A mobile telephone or personal stereo unit according to claim I or claim 2 which is a portable microwave communication apparatus.

8. A mobile telephone or personal stereo unit according to any preceding claim 7 wherein the internal cable storage arrangement comprises one or more slip rings electrically connected to respective cable conductors and brush means arranged to make an electrical connection with the one or more slip rings.

9. A mobile telephone or personal stereo unit according to any preceding claim wherein the internal cable storage arrangement comprises a reel arranged to wind and unwind a helical coil of the cable, one end of the coil being connected to the reel and a cable guide being disposed adjacent the other end of the reel and arranged to move in the axial direction of the helical coil as the coil is wound or unwound.

10. A mobile telephone or personal stereo unit according to claim 9 wherein the length of the reel is at least three times its diameter.

11. A mobile telephone or personal stereo unit according to any preceding claim wherein the internal cable storage arrangement is electrically powered.

12. A mobile telephone or personal stereo unit according to any preceding claim wherein the internal cable storage means is provided with cable tensioning means.

13. A mobile telephone or personal stereo unit according to any preceding claim wherein the internal cable storage means extends around the outside of the major electronic or electro-mechanical components of the apparatus on at least two sides of the apparatus.

14. A mobile telephone or personal stereo unit substantially as described hereinabove with reference to any of Figures 1 to 2 of the accompanying drawings.

15. A personal stereo or mobile telephone apparatus having a cable which can be withdrawn from and retracted into the casing of the apparatus.

16. A collar arrangement for a bifurcated cable, the bifurcated portions of the cable having complementary interegageable and disengageable portions which can be brought into engagement by sliding the collar.

Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows Claims 1. A mobile telephone or personal stereo unit having an internal cable pathway segregated from the telephone or audio mechanism to contain part of the length of the stored round cable, allowing a telephone mouthpiece, audio volume control, cable bifurcation point or similar stop member to be withdrawn from and retracted into the apparatus by electrically powered pinch wheels.

2. A mobile telephone or personal stereo unit according to claim I wherein the internal cable pathway need not be straight, in this arrangement it can be folded adjacent to a comer region of the apparatus by a pulley means arranged to assist the withdrawal and retraction of the cable.

3. A mobile telephone or personal stereo unit according to claim I or claim 2 wherein the internal cable storage arrangement is provided with stop means arranged to catch a predetermined portion of the cable near the free end of the cable, the stop means being spaced apart from an aperture in the casing through which the cable is retracted and withdrawn.

4. A mobile telephone or personal stereo unit according to claim 3 which is a portable radio or microwave communication or audio recording apparatus, wherein the cable has at least one earpiece at its free end and a microphone/stop member spaced apart from its free endl the aperture being shaped and dimensioned to allow the Imicrophone to pass through it and the stop means being arranged to capture the microphone during retraction of the cable.

5. A mobile telephone or personal stereo unit according to claim 3 which is a portable audio recording or playback apparatus, wherein the cable is bifurcated and terminates in earpieces, the aperture being shaped and dimensioned to allow the bifurcated portion of the cable to pass through the aperture and the stop means being arranged to capture the bifurcated portion during retraction of the cable.

6. A Mobile telephone or personal stereo unit according to claim 4 or claim 5 wherein the stop means is generally ftmnel-shaped.

7. A mobile telephone or personal stereo unit according to any preceding claim wherein the internal cable storage arrangement comprises a reel arranged to wind and unwind a helical coil of the cable, one end of the coil being connected to the reel and a cable guide being disposed adjacent the other end of the reel and arranged to move in the axial direction of the helical coil as the coil is wound or unwound.

I 9 8. A mobile telephone or personal stereo unit according to claim 7 wherein the cable is of a round cross-section to present the same shape surface to the controlling pinch wheels at all times to assist in preventing jams.

9. A mobile telephone or personal stereo unit according to any preceding claim wherein the cable storage arrangement is electrically powered.

10. A mobile telephone or personal stereo unit according to any preceding claim wherein the cable storage means is provided with a cable tensioning system using electrically powered pinch wheels to detect a stop member fixed to the cable, or any tangles or snags of the cable and a feed-back loop stopping the motor(s).

11. A mobile telephone or personal stereo unit according to any preceding claim wherein the internal cable storage means extends around the outside of the major electronic or electro-mechanical components of the apparatus on at least two sides of the apparatus. This pathway being used to accommodate a microphone, volume control or other in-line device safely within the unit, the remaining cable being housed in a helical coil or on a rotating rod mechanism.

12. A mobile telephone or personal stereo unit substantially as described hereinabove with reference to any of Figures I to 2 of the accompanying drawings.

13. A mobile telephone or personal stereo apparatus having a round cable which can be withdrawn from and retracted into the casing of the apparatus electrically, using an arrangement of powered pinch wheels and a powered mechanism to coil the slack cable.

14. A mobile telephone or personal stereo unit according to any preceding claim wherein the cable is withdrawn from and retracted into the casing at a steady controlled speed.

15. A mobile telephone or personal stereo unit according to any preceding claim wherein the cable gives no whipping effect on retraction (as experienced on spring loaded inertia systems).