Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04M1/00—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
  • H04M1/72—Mobile telephones; Cordless telephones, i.e. devices for establishing wireless links to base stations without route selection
  • H04M1/724—User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
  • H04M1/72448—User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions
  • H04M1/7246—User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions by connection of exchangeable housing parts
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
  • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
  • H04M2250/00—Details of telephonic subscriber devices
  • H04M2250/12—Details of telephonic subscriber devices including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion

Definitions

• the invention relates to an exchangeable housing part with a sensor element for a portable electronic device, in particular a mobile phone.
• Such housing parts are known from the prior art.
• the published patent application DE 100 18 375 AI discloses an exchangeable upper housing shell for a mobile phone, to which a functional element is attached.
• the functional element can be, for example, an input or output element or a sensor element.
• the mobile telephone and the housing upper shell comprise elements which enable the mobile telephone to recognize which upper shell is located on the mobile telephone. This recognition mechanism also makes it possible to recognize the functional element attached.
• the signals picked up by a sensor attached to the upper shell are forwarded to the mobile phone via electrical contacts and processed there.
• an exchangeable housing part with a sensor element for a portable electronic device, in particular a mobile telephone comprising a control device for controlling the sensor element.
• control device By integrating the control device with the sensor element into the exchangeable housing part, it is possible to take sensor-specific characteristics into account, for example when activating the sensor element or when evaluating sensor signals within the control device and thus in the exchangeable housing part. This enables simplified operation of the sensor element with the portable electronic device. Furthermore, the control of the sensor element and the evaluation of the signals supplied by the sensor element can be carried out in the control device, so that the resources for operating the sensor in the electronic device can be reduced compared to the prior art.
• Portable electronic devices can be, for example, mobile telephones, PDAs (Personal Digital Assistants), mini computers (palm tops), organizers or similar devices.
• a wide variety of analog and / or digital sensors can be used as sensor elements. These can be, for example, temperature sensors, humidity sensors, air pressure sensors, acceleration sensors, tilting sensors, magnetic field sensors, optical sensors or gas sensors.
• optical and / or acoustic input and / or output units can also be attached to or integrated in the exchangeable housing part.
• Output elements can, for example, also be used to output data determined with a sensor element and can also be controlled via the control device.
• Input elements can be, for example, microphones or video cameras.
• an “outdoor * housing part could be offered, which has a temperature sensor, an air pressure sensor (for example, for weather forecast or as an altimeter) and a magnetic field sensor (as a compass) together with the associated control device or control devices includes.
• a common control device can be provided for all sensors. It is also possible to assign a separate control device to each of the sensor elements.
• the housing part could then be configured graphically to correspond to this application in an “outdoor” manner. It could, for example have a landscape or a natural texture (e.g. wood, bark, grass).
• an exchangeable housing part could be designed as an “environmental measurement ⁇ housing part, which can include, for example, an ozone sensor and a UV sensor.
• the design of the exchangeable housing part could, for example, include a midsummer picture.
• the portable electronic device could be functionalized, in particular for measuring typical midsummer environmental influences.
• control device for the sensor element is integrated in the exchangeable housing part enables flexible use of even new sensor elements with an existing portable electronic device, since all sensor-specific features can be covered by the control device. In this way, for example, special customer requests regarding the housing for a portable electronic device can be met without having to take this into account during the development of the portable electronic device.
• interchangeable housing parts according to the present invention also make it possible to provide inexpensive portable electronic devices which can subsequently be customized in a variety of ways, both functionally and in terms of design.
• control device can be set up to process raw sensor data output by the sensor element into digital sensor data. This simplifies, for example, the communication of the control device with digital portable electronic devices, which further simplifies the use of the sensor element with the portable electronic device.
• the tax direction can also be set up to output the digital sensor data to the portable electronic device and / or to receive control data from the portable electronic device for the sensor element.
• the portable electronic device has a device interface for communication with an external electronic device.
• This interface can be designed, for example, as a standardized interface, as a digital interface, as a serial I 2 C interface and / or as a serial RX / TX interface.
• the device interface can be connected, for example, to a plug connection element of the portable electronic device, by means of which a detachable connection can then be established with the external electronic device via an external connecting cable.
• the device interface can be connected to a connection unit of the portable electronic device to form a wireless local area network (for example a Bluetooth or WLAN module).
• a wireless local area network for example a Bluetooth or WLAN module.
• the device interface can itself also be designed as an interface to a wireless local area network (e.g. Bluetooth or WLAN).
• a wireless local area network e.g. Bluetooth or WLAN
• the communication between the portable electronic device and the control device would take place via the wireless network.
• the interchangeable housing part would also have a corresponding interface to the wireless network (e.g. include a Bluetooth or WLAN module).
• the control device can communicate with the portable device.
• Ren electronic device can be formed by means of the device interface. In this way, no special devices for communication with the control device for the sensor element need be provided in the portable electronic device, which further simplifies the planning, development and / or manufacture of the portable electronic device.
• the interface of the portable electronic device for communication with the control device can be either an interface created specifically for this purpose or an interface already present in the portable electronic device for another purpose anyway.
• an RX / TX interface already provided for communication with external accessories could be used in the portable electronic device (e.g. a cell phone) (for reasons of component costs and to keep development costs to a minimum).
• the associated interface lines could then be connected once with an accessory plug and additionally (e.g. by means of a connecting element) to the control device in the exchangeable housing part.
• An advantage of using one of the interfaces mentioned, for example an RX / TX interface is that communication structures that have already been created can be used in the portable electronic device.
• an interface to a Java application stored in a storage device of the device can be provided in the portable electronic device (for example a mobile phone).
• a Java application developed for a sensor and stored in the storage device of the portable electronic device could then, for example, access the sensor data via the interface (for example the RX / TX interface), evaluate them and / or possibly on an electronic one anyway Display device present display device without the portable electronic device would have to be structurally adapted to the sensor. This means that deepest applications possible. Since Java is an open platform, a large number of different providers can also offer applications and services for a special device platform. Different interchangeable housing parts with different combinations of sensor elements can be realized in this way.
• a further advantageous embodiment of the exchangeable housing part is obtained when the power supply to the control device and / or the sensor element is provided by the portable electronic device.
• this makes it possible to avoid having to provide a separate power supply device, such as a battery or a rechargeable battery in the exchangeable housing part, or an external power supply connection for the control device and / or the sensor element.
• the exchangeable housing part, or the corresponding portable electronic device can be further simplified if the control device is set up to control the power supply for the sensor element.
• the control device is set up to control the power supply for the sensor element.
• a separate control of the power supply for the sensor element can be avoided, for example, in the exchangeable housing part and / or in the portable electronic device.
• the exchangeable housing part can comprise a connecting element for the transmission of sensor data from the control device to the portable electronic device or for the transmission of control data from the electronic device to the control device.
• a connecting element can, for example, be designed as a plug element or comprise at least one plug element. It can furthermore be designed as a cable element or comprise a cable element, in particular a ribbon cable.
• a releasable connection between the connecting element and the exchangeable housing part or a releasable connection between the connecting element and the portable electronic device can be produced or produced.
• a releasable connection which can be designed, for example, as a plug-in connection or a clamp connection, simplifies the mechanical separation of the interchangeable housing part from the portable electronic device.
• connection between the connecting element and the exchangeable housing part and the connection between the connecting element and the portable electronic device are detachable connections.
• This enables a simpler manufacture of the interchangeable housing part as well as the connecting element and the portable electronic device, since for example an assembly step of the plug on the housing part and / or on the electronic device is omitted.
• this embodiment enables a particularly inexpensive manufacture of the portable electronic device, since the connecting element does not yet have to be taken into account in the manufacture of the electronic device and the exchangeable housing part and can be manufactured separately, for example as cheap mass-produced goods.
• a connecting element that can be detached both from the exchangeable housing part and from the portable electronic device can have, for example, a plug element or electrically conductive areas suitable for pressure contacting on one or both contact sides.
• the portable electronic device comprises a storage device for storing a computer program, in particular a JAVA program for controlling the control device. Since at least individual functions of the portable electronic device with respect to sensor elements in exchangeable housing parts can later be carried out by software stored in the memory device, the hardware expenditure necessary for operating the sensor elements in the portable electronic device can be further reduced. Such devices can be developed and built with reduced effort.
• Corresponding computer programs or software can, for example, already be stored in the storage device during the manufacture of the portable electronic device. Furthermore, a computer program or software can also be supplied to the storage device via an accessory connection device connected to the device interface.
• an accessory connection device can, for example, be a plug-in element or a wireless connection device such as a Bluetooth module or a WLAN module. In this way, the portable electronic device can be subsequently supplied with computer programs for controlling a sensor element integrated in an exchangeable housing part.
• the portable electronic device can comprise a mobile radio telecommunications module, or can be designed as a mobile radio terminal. In this case, it is also possible for the computer program to be able to be fed to the storage device via an associated mobile radio network.
• the language JAVA which is often used as a software platform in connection with portable electronic devices, can be used as the programming language for the stored computer program.
• an electronic device can include a JAVA application developed for a sensor element, which accesses the sensor data by means of the control device and can evaluate it and display it in various ways or process it further. It is also possible to transmit, synchronize, etc. the sensor data to other electronic devices (for example a computer, a mobile radio station) using HTML and a server accessible via them.
• customers of the portable electronic device could store and / or archive their data, for example via the Internet or a mobile radio network, process and / or exchange with other users.
• This configuration allows a variety of applications, and since JAVA is an open platform, third parties can also offer applications, applications and / or services for this platform. Different interchangeable housing parts with different combinations of sensor elements can thus be implemented, for example.
• a portable electronic device in particular a mobile phone, which comprises an exchangeable housing part with a sensor element and a control device for controlling the sensor element.
• Such electronic devices can be customized more economically and easily, both externally and functionally, since sensor elements that may later be used in the manufacture and development of the portable electronic device have to be taken into account less and at the same time a change in the external appearance is possible with the change in functionality.
• Figure 1 Cross section of the upper, rear part of a mobile phone with a lower shell
• Figure 2 Circuit structure of a first embodiment of a sensor module
• Figure 3 second embodiment of a sensor assembly.
• FIG. 1 shows a cross section of a mobile phone 10, only one upper, rear part of the mobile phone being shown in FIG. fons 10 is shown.
• the mobile phone 10 comprises a circuit board 20 (PCB), which comprises the essential electronic components for operating the mobile phone 10.
• the mobile phone 10 comprises a rechargeable battery 30, which is used to power the mobile phone 10.
• the circuit board 20 is supplied via the voltage supply 32 from the battery 30 with electrical energy.
• FIG. 1 also shows part of the rear housing shell 40 of the mobile telephone 10, which has two projections 42, 44 for receiving a sensor module 50.
• the sensor assembly 50 also comprises further electronic components such as a control device.
• the sensor module 50 is connected to the circuit board 20 of the mobile telephone 10 via a connecting element 60. For example, electrical control signals are transmitted from the circuit board 20 to the sensor module 50 and, for example, sensor data from the module 50 to the circuit board 20 via the connecting element 60.
• FIG. 2 shows a first possible embodiment of a sensor module 100 according to the invention.
• the sensor module 100 comprises an analog sensor 110 and a digital sensor 140.
• the sensors are controlled via a control unit or control device 120.
• FIG. 2 shows a basic mobile telephone device 180, which has an operating voltage output 184 and a ground output 186 for supplying voltage to the sensor module 100.
• the basic mobile telephone device further comprises a reception line 188 for receiving data from the sensor module and a transmission line 190 on which data can be provided for the sensor module.
• the reception line "RX" 188 and the transmission line “TX” 190 are connected to an accessory corner of the cell phone 10 and are operated by a general communication interface of the cell phone 10.
• Operating voltage output 184 and ground 186 can also be connected to the accessory plug. Via the accessory plug or a corresponding Bluetooth module, the mo- biltelefon 10 communicate with other electronic devices, such as a charger, a headset, a car kit or a computer.
• the voltage supply of the sensor module 100 takes place via the operating voltage contact 184 and the ground contact 186 of the basic device 180.
• the operating voltage is supplied to the analog sensor 110 via a voltage regulating device 150, which is regulated by the control unit 120. In this way, the analog sensor 110 can be activated and deactivated via the control unit 120.
• Analog sensor signals determined by the analog sensor 110 are processed in a signal processing unit 130 for the analog-digital conversion in an analog-digital converter 122 of the control unit 120. After digitization in the analog-to-digital converter 122, the now digitized sensor signal is digitally compensated in a compensation unit 123 and subsequently the measurement signal is normalized in the calibration unit 124.
• the control and voltage supply of the digital sensor 140 takes place via a digital interface 128 of the control device 120.
• the communication of the control device 120 of the sensor module 100 with the mobile phone basic device 180 takes place via a serial interface 126 of the control device 120
• Analog sensor 110 or the digital sensor 140 measured values determined are fed to the receiving input 188 of the basic mobile telephone device.
• control commands which are triggered, for example, by a JAVA program stored in the basic mobile phone device, can be fed via the transmission connection 190 of the basic mobile phone device 180 to the serial interface 126 of the control unit 120 and thus, for example, individual measurements or also measurement series of the analog sensor 110 and / or trigger the digital sensor 140.
• the control of the measuring process or the measurement processes are taken over automatically by the control device 120, which transmits the measurement results to the reception input 188 of the basic mobile phone device 180 after the measurement has ended or, for example, between two measurements.
• the receive lines and transmit lines (such as the "RX" 188 and "TX" 190 line in FIG. 1) in the portable electronic device for the sensor assembly may be, for example, interface lines that come from a general communication interface of the portable electronic device 10 are operated and which, for example to an external device plug or a Bluetooth or WLAN module of the portable electronic device. Via these lines and e.g. the device plug or the Bluetooth or the WLAN module, for example, the communication of the portable electronic device with other external electrical devices, such as a charger, a head set, a motor vehicle installation kit or a computer is possible.
• FIG. 3 shows a further embodiment of a sensor module 200 according to the invention.
• the reference symbols in FIG. 3 correspond to those from FIG. 2, except that they have each been increased by 100.
• the sensor module 200 from FIG. 3 corresponds to the sensor module 100 from FIG. 2 and the analog sensor 210 from FIG. 3 corresponds to the analog sensor 110 from FIG. 2, etc.
• control unit or control device 120 While in the sensor module 100 in FIG. 2 the control unit or control device 120 only takes over the actual signal processing and the control of the voltage regulation 150 for the analog sensor 110 with respect to the analog sensor 110, in the exemplary embodiment in FIG. 3 these functionalities are in a single control ASIC 220 integrated. This also contains the conditioning unit 230 for the measured sensor signal as well as the Supply voltage control unit 250 for the voltage supply of the analog sensor 210.
• This embodiment of the invention enables a comparatively inexpensive construction of the sensor module, since in the case shown in FIG. 3 it comprises only three components, namely the analog sensor 210, the digital sensor 240 and the control ASIC 220.
• This solution has great advantages, particularly for large quantities, where the development of a user-oriented circuit (ASIC) is particularly economical.
• the functionality of the sensor module 200 shown in FIG. 3 corresponds to the sensor module 100 shown in FIG. 2.
• the present invention describes an interchangeable housing part with a sensor element for a portable electronic device, the interchangeable housing further comprising a control device for controlling the sensor element.
• an interchangeable housing part allows a simplified individualization of both the external appearance and the functionality of the electronic device. The reason for this is the integration of the control device for the sensor element in the exchangeable housing part, which enables a simplified configuration of the electronic device, since the corresponding functionalities no longer have to be provided in the portable electronic device. This allows, among other things, the provision of a cheaper, portable electronic device which can be customized in a variety of ways, both functionally and in terms of design. LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS
• PCB circuit board
• TX 190/290 connecting transmission line

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

Priority Applications (2)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=32730871

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (5)

Citations (3)

Family Cites Families (7)

• 2003
  • 2003-02-07 DE DE10305090A patent/DE10305090A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2003-12-19 EP EP03815684A patent/EP1590946A1/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2003-12-19 WO PCT/DE2003/004219 patent/WO2004071058A1/de not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2003-12-19 AU AU2003296538A patent/AU2003296538A1/en not_active Abandoned
• 2004
  • 2004-01-16 TW TW093101165A patent/TWI239749B/zh not_active IP Right Cessation

Patent Citations (3)

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