WO2002084894A1

WO2002084894A1 - Hands free device configured to receive power through external charge terminal of cellular phone

Info

Publication number: WO2002084894A1
Application number: PCT/KR2002/000497
Authority: WO
Inventors: Myong-Ho Song
Original assignee: Myong-Ho Song
Priority date: 2001-03-28
Filing date: 2002-03-25
Publication date: 2002-10-24
Also published as: KR100429412B1; KR20020076489A

Abstract

Disclosed is a hands-free device for a mobile communication handset. The device comprises a transmitter. The transmitter has a transmitter body housing which is detachably attached to a battery of the mobile communication handset by magnetic force and in which a transmitting module is embedded to transmit RF signals corresponding to audio signals inputted through a phone jack of the mobile communication handset, a terminal housing rotatably coupled to the transmitter body housing to allow power pickup terminals disposed in the terminal housing to be brought into contact with external charge terminals of the battery, the power pickup terminals capable of sliding leftward and rightward with respect to the terminal housing so that the power pickup terminals can be adjusted in their positions in conformity with positions of the external charge terminals, and a hinge unit for rotatably coupling the terminal housing to the transmitter body housing.

Description

HANDS FREE DEVICE CONFIGURED TO RECEIVE POWER THROUGH EXTERNAL CHARGE TERMINAL OF CELLULAR PHONE

Technical Field

The present invention relates to a hands-free device, and more particularly, the present invention relates to a hands-free device for cellular phones in which a transmitter is configured to receive power through external charge terminals of a cellular phone battery, and power pickup terminals of the transmitter can be adjusted in their positions in conformity with positions of the external charge terminals, varying depending upon a kind of a cellular phone.

Background Art

With the development of a radio communication technology, mobile communication instruments are widely used -throughout the world. Specifically, demand for cellular phones has been explosively increased in a short period of time.

As cellular phones are widely distributed, various types of hands-free devices for ensuring convenient and safe use of the cellular phones have been disclosed in the art.

The conventional hands-free devices for cellular phones are largely divided into wired and wireless ones.

In one type of the wired hands-free devices for cellular phones, an earphone plug is fitted into a phone jack of a cellular phone to enable communication. Also, in another type of the wired hands-free devices, a holder having an external speaker and a microphone is mounted to a panel, and a cellular phone is installed on the holder to enable communication using the external speaker and microphone.

However, the former type of hands-free device suffers from defects in that a cord of the earphone causes inconvenience to a user. Also, when the hands-free device is used in an automobile, the earphone cord obstructs a driver's motions or is apt to be entangled by adjacent arrangements.

The latter type of hands-free device encounters a problem in that, since power should be necessarily supplied to circuits which implement amplification for the external speaker and microphone, the hands-free device must be used, with a power cord connected to a lighter jack of an automobile. Therefore, inconvenience is caused due to a tedious nature of a cord connection work. Further, because the holder can perform its function only when it is mounted to an object or establishment capable of being supplied with power, it is impossible to use the holder while carrying it.

In one type of the wireless hands-free devices for cellular phones, a transmitter is mounted to a panel of an automobile and configured to implement radio frequency

(RF) communication with a cellular phone. Thus, as the transmitter outputs audio information of a call received by the cellular phone to an FM tuner, the audio information is reproduced through speakers of a car stereo system.

Nevertheless, this type of wireless hands-free device still has a drawback in that, since the transmitter is supplied with power through a lighter jack of the automobile, installation of the device is involved and the device cannot be used while carried.

Meanwhile, there is disclosed a prior patent document which is directed to a wireless hands-free device for cellular phones capable of being used while carried.

That is to say, a local area wireless communication device is described in Korean Utility Model Registration No. 190040. In this wireless communication device, in order to enable wireless intercommunication between a mobile communication handset and an earphone in accordance with a Bluetooth intercom profile, a wireless communication module is built in a space defined for a battery pack such that it uses power of the handset.

In mobile communication handsets, attempts have been made to extend a battery service run time. Also, in the course of commercializing an IMT-2000

(International Mobile Telecommunication-2000) radio communication system, research and development activities are continuously performed to improve performance of a battery and to thereby reduce power consumption of the radio communication system.

In consideration of this situation, in the above-described prior patent document, a predetermined volume cannot be used for battery cells and instead is assigned to the wireless communication module. Hence, as a volume for accommodating battery cells is decreased, a battery service run time is shortened.

In the technical field of mobile communication handsets, all component parts trend toward light, thin and compact configurations. In this regard, since a connector for connecting the battery and the wireless communication module, as described in various embodiments of the prior patent document, is frequently brought into or out of contact with the battery, malfunction of the connector can be caused.

As a result, the wired hands-free devices for cellular phones have problems related with structural complexity, and the wireless hands-free devices have problems related with limitation in use while carried or shortness of battery service run time. Disclosure of the Invention

Accordingly, the present invention has been made in an effort to solve the problems occurring in the related art, and an object of the present invention is to provide a hands-free device for cellular phones in which a transmitter is configured to be attached to and detached from a battery of a cellular phone and has power pickup terminals for receiving power through external charge terminals of the battery, thereby capable of being easily coupled to the cellular phone.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a hands-free device for cellular phones configured to receive power through external charge terminals of a cellular phone battery, which has power pickup terminals capable of being adjusted in inclination angle and horizontal distance measured therebetween to accommodate a structure of the external charge terminals, the structure varying depending upon a manufacturer of a cellular phone, the device thereby accomplishing compatibility with diverse cellular phones. Still another object of the present invention is to provide a hands-free device for cellular phones configured to receive power through external charge terminals of a cellular phone battery, which can be used without changing an existing construction of a cellular phone, thereby improving economic efficiency.

According to the present invention, there is provided a hands-free device for a mobile communication handset, comprising: a transmitter having a transmitter body housing which is detachably attached to a rear surface of a battery of the mobile communication handset by magnetic force and in which a transmitting module is embedded to transmit RF signals corresponding to audio signals inputted through a phone jack of the mobile communication handset, a terminal housing rotatably coupled to a lower end of the transmitter body housing to allow power pickup terminals disposed in the terminal housing to be brought into contact with external charge terminals of the battery, the power pickup terminals being able to slide leftward and rightward with respect to the terminal housing so that the power pickup terminals can be adjusted in their positions in conformity with positions of the external charge terminals, and a hinge unit for rotatably coupling the terminal housing to the transmitter body housing.

Brief Description of the Drawings

The above objects, and other features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent after a reading of the following detailed description when taken in conjunction with the drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a partially broken-away side view illustrating a state wherein a hands- free device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention is attached to a battery of a cellular phone;

FIG. 2 is a side cross-sectional view independently illustrating a transmitter constituting the hands-free device according to the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a partial enlarged side cross-sectional view illustrating a main part of the transmitter shown in FIG. 2; FIG. 4 is a rear view explaining movement of terminals when attaching the transmitter to the battery of the cellular phone;

FIG. 5 is a front view independently illustrating a hinge unit used in the transmitter;

FIG. 6 is a side cross-sectional view illustrating a state wherein another hinge unit is used in the transmitter; and

FIG. 7 is a partially broken-away rear view schematically illustrating the hinge unit of FIG. 6.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

Reference will now be made in greater detail to a preferred embodiment of the invention, an example of which is illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Wherever possible, the same reference numerals will be used throughout the drawings and the description to refer to the same or like parts.

As shown in FIG. 1, a hands-free device according to the present invention includes a transmitter 20 which can be attached to and detached from a rear surface of a battery 12 of a cellular phone 10. The transmitter 20 has a transmitter body housing 210 which is composed of a front body cover 200 and a rear body cover 200a. The front body cover 200 is defined at a center portion thereof with a first coupling groove 213 inward of which a magnet 212 is positioned, and the rear body cover 200a is defined at a center portion thereof with a second coupling groove 216. The transmitter body housing 210 has embedded therein a jack 218 which is connected with a phone jack of the cellular phone 10 and a transmitting module 214 which re-transmits audio information inputted through the jack 218. A lower end of the transmitter body housing 210 is opened to allow a terminal housing 230 to be rotatably coupled thereto by a hinge unit 219. The hinge unit 219 functions to initially maintain the terminal housing 230 at right angle with respect to the transmitter body housing 210 and allows the terminal housing 230 to be elastically rotated relative to the transmitter body housing 210 when a pair of power pickup terminals 242 of a pair of terminal units 240 are brought into contact with external charge terminals 14 of the cellular phone 10. Therefore, the terminal housing 230 coupled to the opened lower end of the transmitter body housing 210 is rotatably supported by the hinge unit^" 219.^' The terminal housing 230 has a front terminal cover 220 and a rear terminal cover 220a which is assembled to the front terminal cover 220. The front terminal cover 220 is horizontally defined on an inner surface thereof with a plurality of fixing grooves 234 in which the pair of terminal units 240 slidably intervened between the front and rear terminal covers 220 and 220a can be engaged to be fixedly maintained. The front terminal cover 220 is further defined with a pair of slots 222.

Each terminal unit 240 has a base 241 which is defined with a first sliding groove 249 and a second sliding groove 249a. A stopper 246 is slidably fitted into the first sliding groove 249 and elastically biased by a first spring 247 in a direction where the stopper 246 is engaged into a selected one of the fixing grooves 234 of the front terminal cover 220. Each power pickup terminal 242 is slidably fitted into the second sliding groove 249a and elastically biased by a second spring 243 in a direction where the power pickup terminal 242 projects to the outside through each slot 222. A lead 248 electrically connects the power pickup terminal 242 and the transmitting module 214 with each other in a manner such that power is supplied from the power pickup terminal 242 to the transmitting module 214.

Meanwhile, the first and second coupling grooves 213 and 216 which are respectively defined on the front and rear body covers 200 and 200a have a heart- shaped contour so that movement of the transmitter 20 is prevented after the transmitter body housing 210 is attached to the battery 12 by magnetic force. A person skilled in the art will readily recognize that the coupling grooves 213 and 216 may have a polygonal contour or other contours such as of a clover, exclusive of a circular one. By this fact, once the transmitter 20 is attached to the cellular phone 10, the power pickup terminals 242 of the terminal units 240 are prevented from being removed from contact with the external charge terminals 14 of the battery 12, and an aesthetic outer appearance is rendered.

The terminal housing 230 which is rotatably supported by a first hinge shaft of the hinge unit 219 and a second hinge shaft 226, is, as shown in FIG. 2, maintained at an inoperative position perpendicularly to the transmitter body housing 210 by virtue of elastic force of the hinge unit 219. The hinge unit 219 is configured in a manner such that, when the transmitter 20 is attached to the cellular phone 10, one cam 2192 and the other opposing cam 2194 of the hinge unit 219 are rotated relative to each other and separated from each other by elastic force of a third spring 2196 (see FIG.5).

The hinge unit 219 is built in the terminal housing 230 in a manner such that a distal end of one cam 2192 is joined by way of the hinge shaft to a wall of the transmitter body housing 210, which wall defines an opening adjacent to the lower end of the transmitter body housing 210. The hinge unit 219 is constructed in the same manner as a hinge unit employed in the conventional cellular phone to allow a folder to be opened and closed.

A variation of the hinge unit as shown in FIGs. 6 and 7 can be adopted according to the present invention.

The hinge unit comprises first and second hinge shafts 224 and 226 which are respectively formed at both sides of an upper portion of the front terminal cover 220 of the terminal housing 230. A torsional spring 228 is wound around the first hinge shaft 224 in a manner such that one end of the torsional spring 228 is rested on an inner surface of the front body cover 220 and the other end of the torsional spring 228 is fitted into a pin hole 227 which is defined in the front body cover 220 of the terminal housing 230 at a predetermined separation from the first hinge shaft 224.

Unexplained reference numeral 250 designates friction protrusions for decreasing a frictional coefficient of the terminal unit 240, 252 an adjustment volume, 254 a transmitter operating switch, and 256 a microphone for inputting voice of a user to the cellular phone. Hereafter, operations of the hands-free device for cellular phones according to the present invention, constructed as mentioned above, will be described in detail.

The hands-free device according to the present invention is used in a manner such that it is attached to and detached from the rear surface of the battery 12 of the cellular phone 10. As is well known in the art, a magnet is mainly used to mount a cellular phone to a holder. In the present invention, a steel piece 16 is fastened to the rear surface of the battery 12. The steel piece 16 has a contour corresponding to that of the first coupling groove 213 in a manner such that the steel piece can be precisely fitted into the first coupling groove 213. Here, before attaching the transmitter 20 to the battery 12, the user grasps and moves projected portions of the power pickup terminals 242 to adjust positions of the power pickup terminals 242 in conformity with those of the external charge terminals 14 of the battery 12.

At this time, as the terminal units 240 which have embedded therein the power pickup terminals 242 are moved along the slots 222, respectively, the stoppers 246 formed above the power pickup terminals 242 are also moved along the plurality of fixing grooves 234. If desired positions of the power pickup terminals 242 are adjusted, as the stoppers 246 are snap-fitted into corresponding ones of the fixing grooves 234 by the elastic force of the first spring 247, the power pickup terminals 242 are fixedly maintained at the adjusted positions.

If positions of the power pickup terminals 242 are completely adjusted in conformity with those of the external charge terminals 14 of the battery 12, as described above, in a state wherein the transmitter 20 is attached to the battery 12 by the magnetic force, the terminal housing 230 is rotated about the hinge unit 219 while the front terminal cover 220 of the terminal housing 230 is brought into contact with the external charge terminals 14. Due to this fact, as an angle defined between the transmitter body housing 210 and the terminal housing 230 is increased, the terminal housing 230 is changed in its angle to correspond to that of an inclined surface of the external charge terminals 14. At this time, as the power pickup terminals 242 are inserted into the second sliding grooves 249a against the elastic force of the second springs 243, the power pickup terminals 242 are biased to be forcefully pressed against the external charge terminals 242 by the elastic force of the springs 243 and 2196, whereby the power pickup terminals 242 and the external charge terminals 14 are brought into tight contact with each other. In this way, power of the battery 12 is supplied to the transmitter 20 through the external charge terminals 14.

Since the transmitter 20 consumes only a small amount of power, it does not influence battery power, and thereby a battery service run time is almost unchanged.

After the transmitter 20 is attached to the battery 12 with the power pickup terminals 242 brought into contact with the external charge terminals 14, by connecting the phone jack of the cellular phone 10 and the jack 218 of the transmitter 20, the cellular phone 10 comes to the ready for use.

In the case of using the cellular phone 10, by putting the receiver 30 of the hands-free device according to the present invention in the ear and turning on the switch 254 of the transmitter 20, RF signals corresponding to voice of reception call is re- transmitted by the transmitting module 214, and the receiver 30 receives and reproduces the received RF signals.

Voice of the user is inputted into the microphone 256 and transmitted to the phone jack of the cellular phone 10.

Here, as can be readily seen from FIG. 4, due to the fact that the pair of terminal housings 230 can horizontally siide leftward and rightward, an angle and positions of the power pickup terminals 242 can be adjusted in conformity with those of the external charge terminals 14, which vary depending upon a kind of a cellular phone. Also, due to the presence of the first coupling groove 213 having the heart- shaped contour, when the transmitter 20 is attached to the battery 14, positions of the terminals 242 and 14 are prevented from being changed. Accordingly, even when the combination of the cellular phone and the hands-free device according to the present invention is carried, stable use of the cellular phone 10 is ensured.

The transmitter used in the present invention is configured to be used within several meters. In the case that the present hands-free device is used in an automobile, it is sufficient to prepare a magnetic holder (not shown) in a manner such that a steel piece can be precisely fitted into the second coupling groove 216 in the same way as the first coupling groove 213. Hence, it is possible to use the cellular phone 10 while carrying the cellular phone 10 or in a state wherein the cellular phone 10 is mounted to a holder. Meanwhile, in the case of the hinge unit shown in FIGs. 6 and 7, as the torsion spring 228 is wound around the first hinge shaft 224 of the front terminal cover 220 to afford elastic force between the front body cover and the front terminal cover 200 and 220, the covers 200 and 220 are maintained at right angle with respect to each other. When the transmitter 20 is attached to the battery 14, the power pickup terminals 242 are brought into tight contact with the external charge terminals 14 by the elastic force of the torsional spring 228, as in the case of the hinge unit 219. In this variation, due to the simple structure, it is possible to reduce a manufacturing cost.

Industrial Applicability

As apparent from the above description, the hands-free device according to the present invention provides advantages in that a transmitter can be attached to a cellular phone battery without changing an existing construction of a cellular phone to receive power through external charge terminals of the battery, and in particular, power pickup terminals can be adjusted in inclination angle and horizontal distance measured therebetween in conformity with those of the external charge terminals to allow the present hands-free device to be compatible with various kinds of cellular phones.

Accordingly, troublesomeness due to the conventional wired earphone is avoided, and even in the case of using the present hands-free device in an automobile, it is not necessary to connect a power cord of a transmitter to a lighter jack as in the conventional art, whereby inconvenience is not caused to a user and a driver's motions are not obstructed. Also, as the transmitter is conveniently attached to and detached from the battery as occasion demands without changing an existing construction of a cellular phone, even when the cellular phone is replaced with new one, the present hands-free device can be continuously used. While it was described that the transmitter has only a transmitting function to constitute the hands-free device according to the present invention at a reduced cost, a person skilled in the art will readily recognize that the transmitter can adopt a module having transmitting and receiving functions, and a receiver can also be constructed to pickup voice of the user and transmit signals corresponding to the voice. In this way, a body of the hands-free device and an earset can perform both of transmitting and receiving functions. In addition, by assigning specified codes to respective receiving and transmitting modules, interference by another person can be prevented. It is to be noted that these modifications for the transmitting and receiving modules are obvious to persons skilled in the art.

Claims

1. A hands-free device for cellular phones, including a transmitter for retransmitting voice received by a mobile communication handset and a receiver for receiving and reproducing the re-transmitted voice, the transmitter comprising: a transmitter body housing detachably attached to a rear surface of a battery of the mobile communication handset by magnetic force, and having embedded therein a transmitting module for transmitting RF signals corresponding to audio information inputted from a phone jack of the mobile communication handset; a terminal housing rotatably coupled to a lower end of the transmitter body housing to allow power pickup terminals disposed in the terminal housing to be brought into contact with external charge terminals of the battery; and a hinge unit for initially maintaining the terminal housing at right angle with respect to the transmitter body housing and allowing the terminal housing to be elastically rotated relative to the transmitter body housing when the power pickup terminals are brought into contact with the external charge terminals; wherein the power pickup terminals are constructed to be capable of sliding leftward and rightward with respect to the terminal housing so that the power pickup terminals can be adjusted in their positions in conformity with positions of the external charge terminals.

2. The hands-free device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the body housing of the transmitter is composed of a front body cover and a rear body cover, the front body cover is defined at a center portion thereof with a first coupling groove inward of which a magnet is positioned, and the rear body cover is defined at a center portion thereof with a second coupling groove; the transmitter body housing has embedded therein a jack which is connected with the phone jack of the mobile communication handset and the transmitting module which re-transmits audio information inputted through the jack, and the lower end of the transmitter body housing is opened to allow -the terminal housing to be rotatably coupled thereto; the terminal housing coupled to the opened lower end of the transmitter body housing is rotatably supported by the hinge unit and has a front terminal cover and a rear terminal cover which is assembled to the front terminal cover, and the front terminal cover is horizontally defined on an inner surface thereof with a plurality of fixing grooves in which a pair of terminal units slidably intervened between the front and rear terminal covers can be engaged to be fixedly maintained, the front terminal cover being further defined with a pair of slots; and each terminal unit has a base which is defined with a first sliding groove and a second sliding groove, a stopper is slidably fitted into the first sliding groove and elastically biased by a first spring in a direction where the stopper is engaged into a selected one of the fixing grooves, each power pickup terminal is slidably fitted into the second sliding groove and elastically biased by a second spring in a direction where the power pickup terminal projects to the outside through each slot, and a lead electrically connects the power pickup terminal and the transmitting module with each other in a manner such that power is supplied from the power pickup terminal to the transmitting module.

3. The hands-free device as set forth in claim 2, wherein the first and second coupling grooves which are respectively defined on the front and rear body covers have a heart-shaped contour so that movement of the transmitter is prevented after the transmitter body housing is attached to the battery.

4. The hands-free device as set forth in claim 1, wherein the hinge unit comprises first and second hinge shafts which are respectively formed at both sides of an upper portion of the front terminal cover of the terminal housing, and a torsional spring is wound around the first hinge shaft in a manner such that one end of the torsional spring is rested on an inner surface of the front body cover and the other end of the torsional spring is fitted into a pin hole which is defined in the front body cover of the terminal housing at a predetermined separation from the first hinge shaft.