WO2001086917A2

WO2001086917A2 - Expandable mobile telephone

Info

Publication number: WO2001086917A2
Application number: PCT/US2001/013991
Authority: WO
Inventors: Joseph Nir; Baruch Shayevits; Hanoch Cohen; Asaf Taub
Original assignee: Cellguide Ltd.; Friedman, Mark, M.
Priority date: 2000-05-09
Filing date: 2001-05-01
Publication date: 2001-11-15
Also published as: AU2001261106A8; AU2001261106A1; WO2001086917A3

Abstract

The system of the present invention is an expandable mobile telephone unit of a cellular network. Stackable add on modules attached to the telephone unit (10) enhance the functionality of the unit. The terminal module in the stack is a battery (16) that supplies power to the transceiver and to the other modules. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, an add on unit is a location determination module, receiving and processing navigation signals from satellites.

Description

EXPANDABLE MOBILE TELEPHONE

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to personal mobile electronic appliances. More specifically the present invention relates to utility appliances operative in connection with mobile telephones.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

With cellular telephony turning to be a widespread personal communications means, the mobile units of such networks have become a focus of development of add - on systems. The extent of the integration of an add - on system depends on several factors, but obviously, the amount of re - design and re - engineering required is a limiting factor. This is true especially if the developer of the add - on is a different business entity than the producer of the mobile telephone unit itself. Existing mobile telephones bear connectors for appliances that help in the handling and usage of terminals. Notable are connectors for charging the battery, and connectors for a vehicular adaptors.

US 5,786,789 discloses a device for adding functionality to GPS navigation unit and to cellular telephones. According to the patent, an add - on unit containing a battery is connected to the mobile unit for enhancing the functionality of the mobile unit. In this disclosure, the connection of an add - on unit requires the displacement of the original battery from the mobile unit, replacing it by the battery of the add - on unit.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An object of the present invention is to provide an expandable mobile telephone unit employing stackable modules. A further object of the present invention is to provide a method for enhancing the functionality of mobile transceiver units.

In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, stackable add - on units are mounted on a mobile cellular transceiver unit, with the battery as the last module of the stack. A flow of electrical power from the battery to the transceiver is maintained, whereby the connections being provided through each add - on unit. Accessories connection to the mobile transceiver unit is facilitated by extending the connector to each add - on unit, leaving at least one add - on unit in the stack accessible to accessories.

Furthermore, in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a location finding add - on unit is provided, such that signals from navigation satellites are received and processed.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Fig. 1A is a schematic exploded view of a mobile telephone unit having two add - on units according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention; Fig. 1 B is schematic view of a mobile telephone unit with two add - on units and a battery stacked, in assembled position.

Fig. 2 is scheme of the electric power supply circuitry feeding the transceiver and two add - on units.

Fig. 3 is schematic description of the match between the back side of the transceiver of the mobile unit, and the first module in the stack of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION

The present invention is about expandable mobile telephone units. An add - on unit of the invention interfaces the mobile transceiver device on the one hand and the battery supplying power to that device on the other hand. The interface system of the invention maintains a flow of current from the power supply. Fig. 1 A to which reference is now made, is a schematic exploded view

of a mobile telephone unit of the invention. Transceiver unit 10 of a cellular network, is equipped with a receiving and transmitting antenna (not shown). On the front side of the transceiver 10 are disposed a dial pad and display screen (not shown). Add - on device 12 is juxtaposed at the back side of transceiver

10, connected mechanically and electrically to it, as will be elaborated later on. Another add - on unit 14 is juxtaposed at the back side of add - on unit 12,

connected to it both electrically and mechanically. Still further, battery unit 16 is

juxtaposed at the back side of add - on unit 14, to which it is connected

electrically and mechanically. Although Fig. 1A describes an embodiment of the invention in which two add - on units are provided, an embodiment employing only a single add - on unit still retains all the essential features of the invention.

As regards the power supply to each component of such a mobile telephone unit, the arrows in Fig. 1 A represent schematically the power flow in

the system. Transceiver unit 10, and battery unit 16 are separated by two add - on units, i.e. add - on unit 12, and add - on unit 14. Arrow 24 represents the power supply that is provided by battery 16 to add - on unit 14, arrow 26

represents the power supply furnished from add - on unit 14 to add - on unit 12. Arrow 28 represents the power supply furnished from add - on unit 12 to

transceiver unit 10. In this case, the two add - on units and the battery form a stack of three modules connected to the transceiver unit. The first and second modules, in the order as described above, have front side and back side connections whereas the last module, i.e. the battery has only a front side connection, and it therefore a terminal module in the stack. In Fig. 1B to which

reference is now made, a mobile unit with two add - on units connected is shown in assembled position. On the transceiver unit are stacked add - on unit 12, add - on unit 14, and terminally, battery 16.

In Fig. 2 to which reference is now made, a power supply scheme is shown for an embodiment of a mobile telephone unit similar to the one outlined above. Battery 20 is connected in parallel to three units, i.e. add - on unit 22, add - on unit 24 and transceiver unit 26.

The accessories connectors in the add - on units can be used in two ways. First as a mere extension of the connector to the back side of the unit to allow the connector to be used in the regular manner, e.g. in a car adapter cradle. In a second manner, the accessories connectors are used for gaining access by the add - on unit to the circuitry of the transceiver, or vice versa, gaining access of the transceiver unit to the add - on unit. In Fig. 3, to which reference is now made, is shown transceiver unit

10 bearing accessories connector 30. A separate part shown is the add - on unit 32. The front side of the add - on unit 32 matches the back - side of the

transceiver unit 10. On the front side of the add - on unit, a connector 34 is borne which provides electrical connection between the add - on unit 32 and

the transceiver's accessories connector 30. If more than one add - on units are stacked, the accessories connectors form a continuum such that at least the connector of the last add - on unit is available for connecting accessories to the add - on units or to the transceiver unit 10. A pair of DC power supply

connectors 36 on the back side of the transceiver unit 10, has a matching pair of DC power supply connectors 38 on the add - on unit 32. When the

transceiver unit 10 and the add - on unit 32 are brought together into aligned

juxtaposition as indicated by the two - headed arrow 40, electrical contact is

formed between the two units. Accessories connector 30 comes into contact

with the matching connector 34 as indicated by arrow 42 and the DC connector

pair 36 is brought into contact with the connector pair 38 on the add - on unit

32. Finally, the juxtaposition between units 10 and 32 is secured by any mechanism existing in the art, such as by hooks, latches or any joining method that provides for intentional release of the firm contact between the units. If more than one add - on unit is employed, the same mechanical and electrical connecting mechanisms are implemented for connecting the back side of the first add - on unit and the matching front side of the second add - on, as were implemented between the back side of the transceiver and the matching front side of the first add - on unit.

In one embodiment of the present invention, an add - on unit is a satellite navigation system. In other embodiments, an add - on unit is another navigation system, such as cellular based navigation system, or an hybrid navigation system using signals from both the cellular network and a navigation satellite system. Other add - on are an FM radio receiver, or a music player of stored digital musical data. An add - ion unit that enhances the communications aspects of the mobile unit is a cordless phone module. In some of the cases, connecting an add - on unit automatically takes over the display of the transceiver, or a part of it, for the benefit of an application associated with the add - on unit connected.

In accordance with the present invention, increased functionality bestowed upon the mobile transceiver by the add - on units, does not require replacement of the original battery of the mobile unit.

Claims

1. An expandable mobile telephone unit of a cellular communications networks system, comprising:

• a transceiver unit of said cellular system,

• at least one add - on unit connected to said transceiver electrically and mechanically, and

• a battery for supplying power to said transceiver unit and to said at least one add - on unit, wherein said battery is connected electrically and mechanically to an add - on unit.

2. An expandable mobile telephone unit as in claim 1, and wherein two add - on units are stacked on said transceiver unit.

3. An expandable mobile telephone unit as in claim 1 , and wherein said electrical connection of said add - on unit provides electrical power to said add - on unit.

4. A method for enhancing the functionality of a mobile telephone unit of a cellular network, comprising the steps of:

• stacking on a back side of a transceiver of said mobile telephone a stack containing at least two modules,

• using a battery for a terminal module of said stack, and

• establishing electric connections between said transceiver unit and said modules.

A method for enhancing the functionality of a mobile telephone unit of a cellular network as in claim 4, and wherein one module in

said stack is a navigation module.

A method for enhancing the functionality of a mobile telephone unit of a cellular network as in claim 4, and wherein a module in

said stack is a stored music player.

7. A method for enhancing the functionality of a mobile telephone unit of a cellular network as in claim 4, and wherein a module in

said stack is a FM radio receiver.

A method for enhancing the functionality of a mobile telephone

8. unit of a cellular network as in claim 4, and wherein a module in

said stack is a cordless - phone.

9. A method for enhancing the functionality of a mobile telephone unit of a cellular network as in claim 5, and wherein said

navigation is a satellite based system.