GB2365265A

GB2365265A - A transformation device for converting a cellular phone call into one receivable by a fixed network phone

Info

Publication number: GB2365265A
Application number: GB0018450A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stephen Chen
Original assignee: E Lead Electronic Co Ltd
Current assignee: E Lead Electronic Co Ltd
Priority date: 2000-05-30
Filing date: 2000-07-27
Publication date: 2002-02-13
Anticipated expiration: 2020-07-27
Also published as: DE10039456A1; JP2001339486A; GB2365265B; GB0018450D0

Abstract

A transformation device for switching a cellular phone call into a phone call receivable by a fixed-network telephone includes a cellular phone mounting base, an acoustic frequency signal amplifying unit, a fixed-network phone signal transforming unit, a fixed-network phone/cellular phone switching unit, an incoming call detecting unit and a charger unit. By way of connection of this transformation device to a fixed-network telephone, a cellular phone call can be converted into communication via the fixed-network telephone and the battery of a stand-by cellular phone can also be automatically charged.

Description

<Desc/Clms Page number 1> TRANSFORMATION DEVICE FOR CONVERTING CELLULAR PHONE CALL INTO ONE RECEIVABLE BY A FIXED NETWORK TELEPHONE BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a transformation device for converting a cellular phone call into one receivable by a fixed-network telephone. It mainly includes a cellular phone mounting base, an acoustic frequency signal amplifying unit, a fixed-network phone signal transforming unit, a fixed-network phone/cellular phone switching unit, an incoming call detecting unit, a charger unit. By way of connection of this-transformation device to a fixed-network telephone, a cellular phone call can be converted into communication via the fixed-network telephone in one aspect and the battery of a standby cellular phone can also be automatically charged in another aspect.

Cellular phones have been widely and popularly used by people in modern cities all over the world because they make instant communication possible at any places and any time, facilitating people in everyday life. However, the frequent use of cellular phones do cause bad effect on people's health, especially microwaves can cause people's brains damaged without notice. So, the use of cellular phones brings crisis to people's health. In such a situation, people aware of the danger of using cellular phones try to reduce the frequency of use of cellular phones indoors, they will

use cellular phones only outdoors. But many important personal contacts are generally made via cellular phones at homes or in offices, and turning off cellular phones can cause personal communication inconvenient. In that case, people are forced to make use of cellular phones all the time even inside houses with common telephones. To make cellular phones adapted to be operable on an indoor fixed-network telephone, such as at homes and in offices, has been a major concern by people. Such a fixed- network telephone can transform cellular phone calls into communication via the fixed-network telephone.

SUMMARY OF TAE INVENTION Therefore, the primary object of the present invention is to provide a transformation device for converting a cellular phone call into communication via a fixed-network telephone whereby people can be better protected from being physically influenced by microwaves produced by cellular phones by reducing the frequency of use of cellular phones.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a transformation device adaptable for converting a cellular phone call into a fixed-network phone call, and charging a battery of a standby cellular phone.

To turn the present invention into a practical embodiment, a cellular phone mounting base is used to hold a cellular phone whose signal terminals are coupled to the operation circuit of the transformation device of the present invention. Such operation circuit includes an acoustic frequency signal amplifying unit, a fixednetwork phone signal transforming unit, a fixed-network phone/cellular phone switching unit, an incoming call detecting unit, a charger unit whereby a cellular phone call can be converted into communication via a fixed-network telephone and the battery of a standby cellular phone can also be automatically charged in use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a diagram showing the present invention in connection to a fixed-network telephone; Fig. 2 shows the block diagram of the electric circuit of the first embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 3 shows the block diagram of the electric circuit of the second embodiment of the present invention; Fig.4 shows the block diagram of the partial electric circuit of the second embodiment of the present invention;

Fig.5 shows the block diagram of the electric circuit of the third embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 6 shows the block diagram of the electric circuit of the fourth embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to Fig. 1, 2, the transformation device 1 of the present invention mainly has a cellular phone mounting base 10 internally having a signal terminal 102 for cellular phone, which is coupled to a connecting socket 301 of a cellular phone 3 so as to permit of connection of the cellular phone 3 to the transformation device 1.

The transformation device 1 is comprised of the cellular phone mounting base 10, an acoustic frequency signal amplifying unit 11, a fixed-network phone signal transforming unit 12, a fixed-network phone/cellular phone switching unit 13, an incoming call detecting unit 14, a charger unit 15 and a cellular phone antenna 16.

The acoustic frequency signal amplifying unit 11 is used to properly amplify the output or input acoustic frequency signals of a cellular phone.

The fixed-network phone signal transforming unit 12 is used to converting input and output acoustic frequency signals of a cellular phone into acoustic frequency

signals compatible with specifications of a fixed-network telephone.

The fixed-network phone/cellular phone switching unit 13 is responsible for switching connection between a fixed-network communication or cellular phone communication via fixed-network telephone 9 and is subject to the control of the incoming call detecting unit 14.

The incoming call detecting unit 14 is used to detect if an incoming call is received and intercommunication of a cellular phone is carried out so as to control the operational connection position of the fixed-network phone/cellular phone switching unit 16.

The charger unit 15 is used to supply electrical power to a battery of the cellular phone 3.

The antenna 16 is associated with a cellular phone.

Thereby when the cellular phone 3 is placed inside the cellular phone mounting base 10 with the cellular phone signal receiving terminal 102 engaged with the socket 301 of the cellular phone 3, the cellular phone 3 is then connected to the transformation device lof the present invention.

In a standby state, the battery of the cellular phone 3 is charged by the charger unit 15 via an electrical cord 19 connected to a power supply rectifier 191. Besides, the transformation device 1 is coupled to an antenna 16 serving to reinforce

the reception of signals indoors by a cellular phone so as to reduce the interference to a fixed-network telephone.

When an incoming call is being received by the cellular phone 3, the incoming call detecting unit 14 checks if it is a cellular phone call and it is connected or not so as to control the fixed-network phone switching unit 13 to put the switch at points of Al, A2. If it is a phone call in a fixed-network network system, the switch is put at points of B1, B2. At the same time, the output and input acoustic frequency signals of the cellular phone 3 are amplified by the acoustic frequency signal amplifying unit 11. Then the amplified signals are converted into acoustic frequency signals meeting specifications of a fixed-network telephone by way of the fixed-network phone signal transforming unit 12 whereby a phone call of a cellular phone 3 can be received and operated by a fixed-network telephone 2.

Referring to Fig. 3, the second embodiment of the present invention is illustrated wherein the transformation device 2 of the present invention is comprised of cellular phone mounting base 20, an acoustic frequency signal amplifying unit 21, a fixed-network phone signal transforming unit 22, a fixed-network phone/cellular phone switching unit 23, an incoming call detecting unit 24, a charger unit 25 and a cellular phone antenna 26. These components are identical to those shown in Fig. 2. The only difference lies in that a digital control signal generating unit 27 and a phone

picking up/hanging up device 28 are added into the system. By way of the two additional components, simulated vibration ring signals can be provided when an incoming call is being received by the cellular phone 3, the incoming call detecting unit 24 checks if it is a cellular phone call and it is connected or not and switches the fixed-network telephone into connection to the fixed-network phone signal transforming unit 22 by way of the fixed-network phone/cellular phone switching unit 23; i.e., connecting to points Al, A2 and separating from the network of the fixed- network system.

Referring further to Fig. 4, at the same time, a vibration ring signal generating unit 223 of the a fixed-network phone signal transforming unit 22 produces an imitation high voltage vibration ring signal, generally produced by a switching equipment at stations of a fixed-network company, to actuate the fixed-network telephone 9 to produce ring sound to attract a user's attention accordingly. In the meantime, the phone picking up/hanging up detecting unit 28 detects if the ,phone is picked up by a user, if yes, the high voltage ring signal is not generated and the digital control signal generating unit 27 issues a picking up control code to the cellular phone to put the cellular phone in a receiving state. If the phone picking up/hanging up detecting unit 28 detects the phone is hung up (put down) by a user, the digital control signal generating unit 27 will send out a standby control code to the cellular phone 3

to end up the receiving state and put the phone in a standby state.

Referring to Fig. 3, in case the fixed-network phone signal transforming unit 22 is used in PSTN system which has only two cords, one for ground line and the other for signal line, the signal output and input takes place in the same line, an output signal will feed back to the input terminal. As a result, when it is connected to a cellular phone, the caller at the remote end will hear the echo of his or her sound. To overcome the problem, an echo eliminator 2 is used. Referring to Fig. 4, when applied to PSTN system, the fixed-network phone signal transforming unit 22 includes a voltage transforming unit 224, a vibration ring signal generating unit 223, a vibration ring/connection switching unit 222 and an echo eliminator 221. As the incoming call detecting unit 24 detects an incoming call being received by the cellular phone, the voltage transforming unit 224 controls the vibration ring signal generating unit 223 to produce a corresponding signal, causing the vibration ring/connection switching unit 222 to switch into connection to point A4. Thereby, the fixed-network telephone 2 is put in a ringing state to cause the user's attention to pick up the phone. When no incoming call is detected, the vibration ring/connection switching unit is put into connection to point A3.

Referring to Fig. 5, in the third embodiment of the present invention, to cut the cost of production of the electric circuit down, the digital control signal generating

unit 27 as shown in Fig. 3 is replaced by a ring responding signal generating unit 47. This transformation device 4 is comprised of the cellular phone mounting base 40, an acoustic frequency signal amplifying unit 41, a fixed-network phone signal transforming unit 42, a fixed-network phone/cellular phone switching unit 43, an incoming call detecting unit 44, a charger unit 45 and a phone picking up/hanging up detecting unit 48. It is identical to the second embodiment of Fig. 3. The only difference is that a user must be set the cellular phone 3 in an automatic receiving state in a hand-free manner. Then, when a cellular phone is receiving a call which is detected by the incoming call detecting unit 44, the fixed-network phone/cellular phone switching unit 43 switches the fixed-network phone to the connection to the fixed-network phone signal transforming unit 42 (i.e. connected to A1,A2 points) to separate it from the fixed network. Further, the vibration ring signal generating unit of the fixed-network phone signal transforming unit 42, referring to the circuit block diagram of Fig. 4, produces a vibration ring high voltage signal to actuate the fixed- network telephone 9 to make ring sound to attract a user's attention to get a phone call. So, after a short period of time (few seconds), the cellular phone 3 automatically turns into a receiving state and the ring responding signal generating unit 47 will echo the ring sound to the remote end of the cellular phone until the caller hang up the phone or the receiver picks up the phone.

Referring to Fig. 6, the block diagram of the electric circuit of a fourth embodiment of the present invention is illustrated, wherein the transformation device 5 of the present is comprised of an acoustic frequency signal amplifying unit 51, a fixed-network phone signal transforming unit 52, a fixed-network phone/cellular phone switching unit 53, an incoming call detecting unit 54, a charger unit 55, a phone picking up/hanging up device 58 and a ring responding sound generating unit 57. These components are identical to those in the third embodiment. The fourth embodiment is a resolution of call interruption in the use of the fixed-network telephone. When the fixed-network telephone ( or cellular phone) is in operation via the fixed-network telephone 9 and another call is coming in via either the cellular phone or the fixed-network telephone, the incoming call detecting unit 54 detects the incoming call from the cellular phone (or the fixed-network vibration ring detecting unit 56 detects the incoming call from the fixed-network telephone), then a user is warned by warning sound, such as buzz sound, by an interruption informing signal generating unit 59. So, the user can either hang up the phone and then re-pick it up or press the FLASH key to receive the call via a fixed-network phone/cellular phone switching unit 510 to perform the switching operation of the fixed-network telephone 9.

In summary, the present invention enables users of cellular phones to make

phone calls in offices or in houses via fixed-network telephones (i.e. cable telephones) so that people can be better protected from bad influence of microwave produced in using cellular phones in one aspect and can make a standby cellular phone constantly charged in another aspect.

Claims

CLAIM I claim: A transformation device for converting cellular phone call into signals receivable by a fixed-network telephone, comprising a cellular phone mounting base and internally having a signal terminal for cellular phone, which is coupled to a connecting socket of a cellular phone so as to permit of connection of the cellular phone to said transformation device; an electric circuit provided in said transformation device including a an acoustic frequency signal amplifying unit, a fixed-network phone signal transforming unit, a fixed-network phone/cellular phone switching unit, an incoming call detecting unit, a charger unit; wherein said acoustic frequency signal amplifying unit is used to properly amplify the output or input acoustic frequency signals of said cellular phone; said fixed-network telephone signal transforming unit is used to converting input and output acoustic frequency signals of a cellular phone into acoustic frequency signals compatible with specifications of a fixed-network telephone; said fixed-network phone/cellular phone switching unit is responsible for switching connection between a fixed-network communication or cellular phone communication via a fixed-network telephone and is subject to the control of said incoming call

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detecting unit; said incoming call detecting unit is used to detect if an incoming call is received and intercommunication of a cellular phone is carried out so as to control the operational connection position of said fixed-network phone/cellular phone switching unit; said charger unit is used to supply electrical power to a battery of the cellular phone; whereby cellular phone calls can be converted into signals receivable by a fixed- network telephone. 2. The transformation device as claimed in claim 1 wherein an additional digital control signal generating unit, a phone picking up/hanging up detecting device is used to detect if a phone is picked up or hanged up for deciding a phone being in use or not so as to control said digital control signal generating unit to transmit a corresponding signal to produce a picking up/hanging up state. 3. The transformation device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said transformation device applied to a PSTN system comprises a voltage transforming unit, a vibration ring signal generating unit, a vibration ring connection switching unit and a echo eliminator unit whereby said incoming call detecting unit checks and confirms an incoming call with said voltage transforming unit actuating said vibration ring signal generating unit to produce a corresponding signal so as to make said vibration ring connection switching unit switched to a fixed-network telephone ring operating state

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to keep a user informed an incoming call. 4. The transformation device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said transformation device is connected to an antenna which is used as an antenna for a cellular phone so that indoor reception of said cellular phone is improved, resulting in reduction of interference of said fixed-network telephone. 5. The transformation device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said digital control signal generating unit is replaced by a ring responding signal generating unit which can produce responding ring sound for a caller at a remote end of a cellular phone, as a vibration ring high voltage signal is produced by said vibration ring signal generating unit of said fixed-network telephone signal transforming unit to actuate a fixed- network telephone to ring, a person at the remote end of said cellular phone can hear responding ring sound. 6. The transformation device as claimed in claim for 5 wherein a fixed-network vibration ring detecting unit is used to detect if a phone call is coming into said fixed- network telephone. 7. The transformation device as claimed in claim for 5, 6, wherein an interruptioninforming signal generator unit which receives incoming call signals issued from either said fixed-network vibration ring detecting unit or incoming call detecting unit can produce warning sound to a user.

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8. The transformation device as claimed in claim 1, 5, 6.amd 7, wherein a fixed- network telephone/cellular phone switching unit is used to permit a user to selectively switch either to a fixed-network telephone or a cellular phone for communication purpose.

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Amendments to the claims have been filed as follows 1. A transformation device for converting a cellular phone call into signals receivable by a fixed-network telephone, comprising a cellular phone mounting base internally having a signal terminal for a cellular phone, which is coupled to a connecting socket of a cellular phone so as to permit connection of the cellular phone to said transformation device; an electric circuit provided in said transformation device including an acoustic frequency signal amplifying unit, a fixed-network phone signal transforming unit, a fixed-network phone/cellular phone switching unit, an incoming call detecting unit and a charger unit; wherein said acoustic frequency signal amplifying unit is used to properly amplify the output or input acoustic frequency signals of said cellular phone; said fixed-network telephone signal transforming unit is used for converting input and output acoustic frequency signals of a cellular phone into acoustic frequency signals compatible with specifications of a fixed- network telephone; said fixed-network phone/cellular phone switching unit is responsible for switching connection between a fixed-network communication or cellular phone communication via a fixed-network telephone and is subject to the control of the said incoming call detecting unit; the said incoming call detecting unit is used to detect if an incoming call is received and intercommunication of a cellular phone is carried out so as to control an operational connection position of said fixed-network phone/cellular phone switching unit; and said charger unit is used to supply electrical power to a battery of the cellular phone; whereby cellular phone calls can be converted into signals receivable by a fixed-network telephone.

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2. The transformation device as claimed in claim 1 wherein an additional digital control signal generating unit, a phone picking up/hanging up detecting device, is used to detect if a phone is picked up or hung up for determining whether a phone is in use or not so as to control the said digital control signal generating unit to transmit a corresponding signal to produce a picking up/hanging up state.
3. The transformation device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said transformation device applied to a PSTN system comprises a voltage transforming unit, a vibration ring signal generating unit, a vibration ring connection switching unit and an echo eliminator unit whereby said incoming call detecting unit checks and confirms an incoming call with said voltage transforming unit and actuates said vibration ring signal generating unit to produce a corresponding signal so as to make said vibration ring connection switching unit switched to a fixed-network telephone ring in an operating state to alert a user to an incoming call.
4. The transformation device as claimed in claim 1 wherein the said transformation device is connected to an antenna which is used as an antenna for a cellular phone so as to improve indoor reception by said cellular phone resulting in reduction of interference of said fixed-network telephone.
5. The transformation device as claimed in claim 1 wherein said digital control signal generating unit is replaced by a ring responding signal generating unit which can produce a responding ring sound for a caller at a remote end of a cellular phone, whereby as a vibration ring high voltage signal is produced by a vibration ring signal generating unit of said fixed- network telephone signal transforming unit to actuate a fixed-network

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telephone to ring, a person at the remote end of said cellular phone can hear a responding ring sound.
6. The transformation device as claimed in claim 1 or claim 5 wherein a fixed-network vibration ring detecting unit is used to detect if a phone call is coming into said fixed-network telephone.
7. The transformation device as claimed in claim 1 or 5, 6, wherein an interruption-informing signal generator unit which receives incoming call signals issued from either said fixed-network vibration ring detecting unit or incoming call detecting unit can produce a warning sound that is audible by a user.
8. The transformation device as claimed in claim 1, 5, 6 and 7, wherein a fixed-network telephone/cellular phone switch unit is used to permit a user to selectively switch either to a fixed-network telephone or a cellular phone for communication purposes.