JPH0897888A - Portable telephone allowing a plurality of telephone outer appearances differentiated - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a mobile phone that can provide multiple distinctive telephone appearances. SOLUTION: A mobile phone 100 is constituted so that it can adopt multiple distinctive telephone appearances. The mobile phone 100 is provided with a faceplate 102 and a housing 101. The faceplate 102 has a distinctive user interface appearances. The housing 101 is equipped with a body appearance, is constituted so that it received the faceplate 102 as one of the multiple faceplates and is equipped with a distinctive user interface appearance for mobile phones. Thus, the housing 101 gives the mobile phone 100 a distinctive telephone appearance. The face plate 102 is appropriately mounted after a functional mobile phone is produced for rationalizing the production and gives them very diverse, original appearances.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

FIELD OF THE INVENTION This invention relates generally to mobile phones, and more specifically to multiple distinctions (di).
The present invention relates to a mobile phone configured so that it can incorporate a telephone appearance.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Mobile phones are generally well known in the art. Cellular phones include wireless phones, such as cellular wireless phones, cordless wireless phones and personal communication devices. Cellular phones traditionally communicate with remote base stations or base stations to provide wireless communication for users. Mobile phones have become a well-accepted type of wireless communication device in the market of home cordless and cellular radiotelephones, and are finding rapid use in new types of communication systems, such as personal communication systems (PCS). I have found it.

Because of such wide acceptance both within and between communication systems, distinguishing the appearance of mobile phones is an important requirement for customers, manufacturers and mobile phone vendors. Is becoming. Customers use their personal hobbies and tastes.
s and preferences) is desired to have a noticeable appearance. Manufacturers want a distinctive or distinctive look to provide their customers with a variety of phone appearances as well as a distinctive look for their own products. Sellers want a striking look to distinguish themselves from each other in the market to promote their brand. The desire for all manufacturers, sellers and users to have a mobile phone with a distinctive appearance will eventually be passed on to the manufacturer, which will allow them to manufacture a mobile phone with a particular distinctive appearance. .

Portable telephones are traditionally manufactured by assembling telephone circuitry within a housing, including transceiver circuitry and user interface circuitry. The user interface circuit includes a display device, a keypad, an earpiece and a microphone. The housing has traditionally been combined with a front housing having a striking appearance,
It includes a back housing having a standard mold shape.
The front housing is configured to provide a variety of distinctive appearances by changing its molded profile, texture or color. Typically, the user interface elements are mounted inside the front housing and electrically connected to transceiver circuitry mounted in the back housing. Display devices and keypads also each have a distinct or distinctive appearance. A front housing with a striking look to create one of numerous look combinations,
A distinctive display device and a distinctive keypad are selected to thereby give the mobile phone an overall distinctive or distinctive appearance.

[0005]

The disadvantages of the conventional methods of producing the salient appearance of a portable wireless telephone are known by the manufacturer before the salient appearance of a particular portable telephone is manufactured. That's what you have to do. A suitable front housing to produce a suitable striking appearance for the mobile phone at selected locations across the production line,
Keypads and displays, etc. must be properly assembled. While this manufacturing technology was acceptable in the past, where a relatively small number of distinctive appearances for portable radiotelephones was needed, the great growth of the telecommunications industry has led to the very large number The demand for distinctive appearances is emerging. Today, typical manufacturers are required to track literally hundreds of mobile phone models, each with their own unique look. The task of managing such demands has driven the need for new methods of manufacturing mobile phones to achieve various distinguishable appearances that meet market demands without burdening the manufacturing flow. ing.

[0006] Furthermore, once manufactured or purchased, a conventionally manufactured mobile phone cannot be modified by the user of the mobile phone to change the appearance of the mobile phone. Aftermarket Company (After m)
The arket companies try to meet the customer's demands that require their own unique look by providing accessories, such as a case for holding a mobile phone. However, these cases are unsightly, add weight and only have a limited effect on the appearance of the mobile phone.

Therefore, there is a need for a mobile phone configured to incorporate multiple distinct phone appearances that overcomes the disadvantages of previously manufactured mobile phones.

[0008]

According to the present invention, the above-mentioned needs are met by a portable telephone adapted to incorporate substantially a plurality of distinct telephone appearances. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a portable radio telephone includes a face plate or face plate and a housing.
The faceplate has a unique or distinguishable user interface appearance. The housing has a body appearance and receives the faceplate as one of a plurality of faceplates to provide a unique user interface appearance for a mobile phone, thereby providing a phone appearance unique to the mobile phone. give. The face plate is preferably attached to the housing after streamlining a functional mobile phone to streamline manufacturing and provide a more diverse and unique appearance.

[0009]

1 is a perspective view showing a portable telephone 100 according to the present invention. This mobile phone 10
0 is a housing 101 and a face plate 10
2, including battery 103 and antenna 104. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, mobile phone 100 is a cellular radiotelephone for operation within a large area cellular network. Alternatively, the mobile phone 100 can be a cordless wireless phone, a personal communication device, or any other two-way communication device. Mobile phone 100 is portable or portable in that it is hand-held by a user and technically can be used anywhere within its corresponding communication system.

The mobile phone 100 has a user interface 109 for allowing a user to interface with the mobile phone 100. The user interface 109 of the mobile phone 100 generally includes an earpiece interface 105, a display interface 106, a keypad interface 107, a microphone interface 108, and an alert interface 110. The user interface 109 operates in the traditional way to provide wireless communication to a user.

In accordance with the present invention, mobile phone 100 is configured to provide a plurality of distinct phone appearances.
In the preferred embodiment of the invention, this is distinguished (di
Achieved by the faceplate 102 having a stint user interface appearance. As for the user interface appearance to be distinguished, the face plate is the earpiece interface 105 and the display interface 1
06, keypad interface 107, microphone interface 108, and alarm interface 11
It is indicated by a striking appearance, or a unique appearance, that gives to 0. In the preferred embodiment, the striking appearance is achieved by selecting the contour or shape, shape, dimensions, texture, material and color of the faceplate. Other methods for distinguishing the appearance of face plates are also industrial designs,
It can be easily found by those skilled in mechanical engineering or material engineering. Therefore, the mobile phone 100
Since users of FIG. 1 typically determine the appearance of the mobile phone based on the user interface 109, the faceplate 102 provides a convenient way to substantially change the appearance of the mobile phone 100 with minimal effort.

The housing 101 has an appearance as a main body. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the body appearance is a traditional molded housing having a standard appearance. The standard appearance of the housing 101 cannot be easily changed except for cosmetic appearance features such as texture and color. The underlying reason for this is that the mechanical structure of a mobile phone is carefully designed to optimize the mobile phone for steric effects, weight, styling, etc. Changing the appearance of the housing 101 to some extent to some extent is a mobile phone 1
00 will impose an unrealistic burden on designers and manufacturers.

The housing 101 is configured to receive the faceplate 102 as one of many faceplates to provide a distinctive user interface look of the mobile phone 100, thereby giving the mobile phone 100 a distinctive phone look. give. The underlying reason for this is that the housing 101 can easily change appearance by simply attaching different faceplates. Thus, any one of a number of faceplates 102 can be easily received by the housing 101, giving the mobile phone 100 a distinctive appearance. Still other advantages and features of the present invention are described in further detail below with reference to FIGS.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the portable telephone 100 of FIG. 1 according to the present invention. The mobile phone of FIG. 2 generally includes a housing 101, a keypad 200, and a faceplate 102. Housing 101 includes user interface elements such as earpiece 304, microphone 308, display 305, keypad circuitry 306 (all shown in FIG. 3), and alarm transducer 501 (shown in FIG. 5). . Housing 101 is first
202, second 203, third 204, fourth 20
5 and the fifth 217 apertures
Have. First placed on opposite side of earpiece 304
Aperture 202 provides an acoustic interface or connection for earpiece 304. A second opening 203 located on the opposite side of the display device 305 provides a visual interface for the display device 305. A third opening 204 located on the opposite side of the keypad circuit 306 provides a tactile interface for the keypad circuit 306. A fourth opening 205 located on the opposite side of microphone 308 provides an acoustic interface for microphone 308. A fifth opening 217 located on the opposite side of the alarm transducer 501 provides an acoustic interface for the alarm transducer. The housing 101 also has a volume switch 201 that allows the user to adjust the volume signal sent to the earpiece 304 or to the alert transducer 501.

Housing 101 is configured to receive faceplate 102 as one of a plurality of faceplates and provides a distinctive user interface look for user interface elements, thereby providing a distinctive phone look to the mobile phone. The face plate is the first 2
It has openings 08, second 209, third 210, fourth 211 and fifth 218. The first opening 2 arranged on the side of the housing 101 opposite to the first opening 202.
08 provides an acoustic interface for earpiece 304. The second opening 203 of the housing 101
The second opening 209 disposed on the opposite side of the display device 30 is
Provide a visual interface for 5. A third opening 210 located on the opposite side of the third opening 204 in the housing 101 provides a tactile interface for the keypad circuit 306. The fourth opening 21 arranged on the side of the housing 101 opposite to the fourth opening 205.
1 provides an acoustic interface for microphone 308. The fifth opening 216 of the housing 101
The fifth opening 218 located on the opposite side of the
Provides an acoustic interface for 01.

The keypad 200 is a keypad circuit 306.
On the opposite side of the housing 101 and the face plate 1
02 to provide a tactile interface for the keypad circuit 306. Therefore, a portion of the face plate 102 forms a bezel around the keypad 200. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the keypad 200 is formed of an elastomeric material or elastic rubber as is well known in the art. Alternatively, the keypad 200 is the face plate 1
Molded with 02, one-piece
e) Structures can also be formed. In this format,
The keypad keycap is formed of molded plastic and is molded with the faceplate 102 in a hinge structure within each key opening of the faceplate 102. Alternatively, the keypad 200 may include the faceplate 102 to form an integrated structure.
Can be combined with. In this form, the keypad 200 and faceplate 102 are formed separately and then combined together. An example of this structure is a membrane structure where the faceplate 102 and keypad 200 are fabricated in a stacked sandwich structure to obtain an integrated faceplate / keypad structure.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the keypad 200 has a distinctive key appearance that distinguishes it from others, thereby also providing a faceplate 1 for a mobile phone.
Gives a distinctive phone look in addition to that provided by 02. The key appearance of the keypad 200 can be changed by changing its shape, size, color, texture, lighting type (positive or negative image), and so on. Other key appearances will be readily possible for those skilled in the keypad design art.

In the preferred embodiment of the invention, face plate 102 is generally a head or top plate 207 separated from a bottom or bottom plate 206.
Formed by a separate unit represented by. This structure will increase the variety of combinations that faceplate 102 can provide, as well as the styling of faceplate 102. Generally, the face plate 10
The two can be separated into as many units as desired, or at any desired location. Alternatively, the faceplate 102 can be formed as a one-piece unit.

According to the present invention, the keypad circuit 306,
The keypad 200 and the display device 305 can be configured with a touch screen module. The touch screen module connects the area currently occupied by the keypad 200 and the display device 306, and the front housing 302.
And facing one large opening in the face plate 102. Thus, the faceplate 102 can provide a striking look for the mobile phone 100 with a variety of user interfaces.

As can be easily seen from FIG. 2, the mobile phone 100 includes a keypad 200 and a face plate 10.
Essentially fully functional without the addition of 2. A person can hear through the earpiece 304, the microphone 30
8 can be seen, the display 305 can be viewed, and tools or instruments such as keys can be used to enter data via the keypad circuit 306. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, there is no electronic functionality with the keypad 200 or faceplate 200. This structure is the manufacturer of the mobile phone 100,
Great benefits to sellers and users. The configuration of the present invention allows a manufacturer to assemble mobile phone 100 into a fully functional phone without knowing the final appearance of the mobile phone.

This concept can be implemented in a similar manner with software providing commands to the telephone circuitry. The mobile telephone 100 is the mobile telephone 100 after the telephone is assembled.
Are "flexed" or formed by specific software programs or characteristic features to provide unique operating characteristics. Similarly, the mobile phone 100 is the mobile phone 1 at the last possible time.
00 can be mechanically formed to provide a noticeable appearance. Appropriate times to install the faceplate 102 and keypad 200 in the housing 101 are when the phone reaches the end of the production line, when the phone is at the factory distribution center, at the wholesaler warehouse, at the retail showroom. At or even by the user himself. The combination of providing software and assembling the faceplate 102 and keypad 200 provides a unique combination of elements and feature features for making a particular model of the mobile phone 100. Therefore, the manufacturer no longer has to manage the distinctive look of hundreds of mobile phones while the mobile phone 100 is being manufactured.

The faceplate 102 may be removably attachable to the housing 101, or may be permanently attached to the housing 101, depending on the manufacturer's intent. In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the face plate 102 includes a lip portion 212 and a snap portion on the face plate 102.
Housing 101 by means of latch holes 215 and 216 of housing 101;
Removably mounted on. Alternatively, the faceplate 102 is Velcro ^{TM (Velcro TM)} adhesives, other, or any other suitable to facilitate removable by firmly fixed state in the fastening and more user during use to the mobile phone 100 It can be mounted using mounting means. Alternatively, the faceplate 102 can be permanently attached to the housing 101 using permanent adhesive, ultrasonic welding, a permanent latching mechanism, or the like. Therefore, the face plate 1
02 gives a fixed and distinctive look using the faceplate 102 permanently attached to the mobile phone 100, or a distinctive look that can be changed using the removably attachable faceplate 102. give.

Since the face plate 102 and the keypad 200 can be attached to the mobile phone 100 at various points in time along the distribution chain, it is conceivable that the face plate 102 alone or the keypad 100 can be sold as a kit. To be These kits are available by the user to make specific choices at distribution outlets, retail outlets, or by mail order, so that the user can initially get a noticeable look of mobile phone 100. Selected,
Alternatively, it is possible to change the remarkable appearance of the mobile phone 100 later.

FIG. 3 is a longitudinal sectional view of the portable telephone of FIG. 1 according to the present invention. The housing 101 generally includes a front housing 30 to substantially enclose the radiotelephone circuit.
2 includes a back housing 301 mated with the two. The wireless telephone circuit is an earpiece 304, a microphone 308,
A display device 305 and a keypad circuit 306 are included.
Earpiece 304, display 305, and keypad circuit 306 are mounted on printed circuit board 303 and are fixedly attached to front housing 302 in a conventional manner. Microphone 308 is also mounted in fixed relation to front housing 302 in a conventional manner. Other parts of the radiotelephone circuit, such as transceiver and audio functions, and logic functions are located on other printed circuit boards 313.

Acoustic cavity
ty) 310 is the earpiece 304 and the face plate 1
02 to provide proper resonance for the earpiece 304. An acoustic seal 312 surrounds the acoustic cavity 310 to seal the acoustic cavity 310.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the acoustic seal 3
12 is provided by the adhesive layer. The adhesive layer further surrounds the display device 305 and aids in attaching the faceplate 102 to the housing 101. Alternatively, the acoustic seal 312 can be provided by a thin annular seal made of, for example, rubber. Another acoustic seal 317 is provided on the earpiece 304 and the front housing 302.
Placed in a traditional way between. A liner 311 is provided between the face plate 102 and the front housing 302 over the first opening 208 of the face plate 102 to prevent dust from entering through the first opening 208 but to allow acoustic sound waves to pass through. To do. Thus, the combination of earpiece 304, acoustic seals 312 and 317, front housing 312 and faceplate 102 creates an acoustic cavity for proper operation of earpiece 304.

A lens 309 is arranged on the opposite side of the display device 305 to protect the display device 305. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the lens is mounted in the front housing 312 and covers the second opening 203 in the housing 101 to prevent dust or other external objects from obstructing the view of the display device 304. The display is sealed to the front housing 312 by a seal 319 to prevent dust or other possible external objects from obscuring the view of the display 304. Alternatively, the lens is attached to the face plate 102 and the second of the face plate 102 is
The opening 209 can be covered.

Posts 315 and 318 are disposed between the faceplate 102 and the printed circuit board 303 to prevent the faceplate 102 from bending when pressed between the keys of the keypad 200. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, posts 315 and 318 are provided.
(And others not shown) are formed as part of face plate 102.

Cavities 307 and 320 provide open areas for keypad backlighting 321 and 322. In the preferred embodiment of the invention, the backlighting 321 and 322 of the keypad is provided by light emitting diodes mounted on the surface of the printed circuit board 303. Alternatively, it may be replaced by another light source such as incandescent light.

FIG. 4 shows an enlarged longitudinal section 314 of the mobile phone 100 of FIG. 3 according to the present invention. The printed circuit board has contacts 401 and 403 disposed thereon and coupled thereto and contacts 402 to provide a keypad circuit 306. A conductive dome 406 is disposed above the keypad circuit 306 and bridging the bonded contacts 401 and 403. The conductive dome 406 provides tactile feedback as well as providing an electrical connection between the mated contacts 401 and 403 and the contact 402 when the keypad 200 is pressed to collapse the conductive dome 406. To do. The keypad 200 has a plunger 410 to allow local activation of the conductive dome 406.

A barrier or barrier 407 covers all of the keypad circuitry 306, including all conductive domes 406, to prevent contamination of the keypad circuitry 306 from skin oils, dust, and the like. The barrier is traditionally made of mylar sheet and attached to the printed circuit board 303 by an adhesive or adhesive. The barrier 40
Reference numeral 7 does not cover the backlighting 321 of the keypad or the contact 404 or 405 therefor, but it is also possible for the structure to cover it.

The front housing 312 is positioned between adjacent keypad circuits to provide stability for the keypad 200.

FIG. 5 is a vertical sectional view of the portable telephone 100 of FIG. 1 according to the present invention. This figure particularly shows the alarm converter 501 mounted on the printed circuit board 303. A seal 504 acoustically seals the alarm transducer 501 to the front housing 302. Front housing 3
The fifth opening 217 of No. 02 is aligned with the fifth opening 218 of the face plate 102. An adhesive layer 312 is disposed between the face plate 102 and the front housing 302. Alternatively, the sound pressure from the alarm transducer 501 can be conducted from the front housing 302. FIG. 5 also provides a diagram showing how faceplate 102 mates with front housing 302 to provide a barely noticeable appearance when mated together.

Although the present invention has been described with respect to its illustrative embodiments, it is not intended that the invention be limited to these particular embodiments. Those skilled in the art will recognize that changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a mobile phone according to the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an exploded view showing the mobile phone of FIG. 1 according to the present invention.

FIG. 3 is a vertical cross-sectional view showing the mobile phone of FIG. 1 according to the present invention.

4 is an enlarged vertical cross-sectional view of the mobile phone of FIG. 3 according to the present invention.

5 is a lateral cross-sectional view showing the mobile phone of FIG. 1 according to the present invention.

[Explanation of symbols]

 100 Mobile Phone 101 Housing 102 Face Plate 103 Battery 104 Antenna 105 Earpiece Interface 106 Display Interface 107 Keypad Interface 108 Microphone Interface 109 User Interface 110 Alarm Interface 200 Keypad 201 Volume Switch 202 First Housing Opening 203 Housing First 2nd opening 204 3rd opening of housing 205 4th opening of housing 217 5th opening of housing 206 Lower plate 207 Upper plate 208 1st opening of face plate 209 2nd opening of face plate 210 Face plate Third opening 211 Fourth face plate opening 218 Face plate fifth opening 30 Earpiece 305 display device 306 keypad circuit 308 microphone 501 alarm transducer

 ─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (72) Inventor David W Trahan, Poples Creek Drive, 1030 Grace Lake, Illinois, Illinois, USA 1037 (72) Inventor Daniel El Williams Bernon Hills, 60061, Illinois, USA , Hoblebush Lane 295

Claims (10)

[Claims] 1. A mobile phone that enables a plurality of distinct phone appearances, a face plate having a distinct user interface appearance, and a housing having a body appearance, the housing comprising: the face plate. To provide a distinctive user interface look for a mobile phone, thereby giving the mobile phone a distinctive look to the other. A mobile phone that allows for multiple distinct phone appearances characterized by. 2. The housing includes an earpiece and a first opening disposed on opposite sides of the earpiece to provide an acoustical interface for the earpiece, and the faceplate of the first opening of the housing. The mobile phone of claim 1 having a first opening located on the opposite side to provide an acoustical interface for the earpiece. 3. An acoustic cavity formed between the earpiece and the face plate, and an acoustic seal member surrounding the acoustic cavity to seal the acoustic cavity. The mobile phone according to claim 2, wherein the mobile phone is a mobile phone. 4. The housing has a display and a second opening disposed on the opposite side of the display to provide a visual interface for the display, and the faceplate of the housing. The mobile phone of claim 2, having a second opening located on the opposite side of the second opening to provide a visual interface for the display device. 5. The housing has a keypad circuit and a third opening disposed on an opposite side of the keypad circuit to provide a tactile interface for the keypad circuit, and the faceplate includes the first opening. 3. The mobile phone of claim 2, having a third opening located on the opposite side of the third opening to provide a tactile interface for the keypad circuitry. 6. The housing has a microphone and a fourth opening disposed on opposite sides of the microphone to provide an acoustic interface for the microphone, and the faceplate includes the fourth opening of the housing. A mobile phone as claimed in claim 2 having a fourth opening located on the opposite side of the opening to provide an acoustic interface for the microphone. 7. The portable according to claim 1, further comprising a keypad having a distinctive key appearance, thereby giving the portable telephone a distinctive phone appearance. phone. 8. The mobile phone of claim 1, wherein the face plate is removably attachable to the housing. 9. A faceplate for a mobile phone that allows a plurality of distinct phone appearances, the faceplate having a distinctive user interface look, the mobile phone being a housing. And a keypad, the keypad having a key appearance and disposed between the housing and a face plate, the housing having a body appearance and the face being one of a plurality of face plates. A face plate for a mobile phone, which is configured to receive a plate and provides a unique user interface appearance, thereby providing a distinctive phone appearance to the mobile phone. 10. A user interface kit for a mobile phone that enables a plurality of distinct phone appearances, the mobile phone including a housing having a body appearance, the user interface kit comprising: One of a plurality of faceplates having a distinct user interface appearance and said housing
Providing a distinctive user interface look for a mobile phone configured to be accepted as one, thereby giving the distinctive phone look to the mobile phone, and having a distinct key look and A user interface kit for a mobile phone, comprising: a keypad disposed between the housing and a face plate.