WO2002098167A2

WO2002098167A2 - Device and apparatus for use with a portable communications device

Info

Publication number: WO2002098167A2
Application number: PCT/GB2002/002507
Authority: WO
Inventors: Adrian John Heywood
Original assignee: Earvolution Limited
Priority date: 2001-05-29
Filing date: 2002-05-29
Publication date: 2002-12-05
Also published as: AU2002310600A1; GB0112937D0; WO2002098167A3

Abstract

In or for use with a portable communications device, a device which comprises an earpiece having a loudspeaker and a microphone mounted thereon. An apparatus for use with a portable communication device, said apparatus having a compartment therein which accommodates a flex which connects said portable communications device to an earpiece.

Description

Device and Apparatus for use with a portable communications device

This invention relates to a device and an apparatus for use with a portable communications device and, more particularly but not exclusively, is concerned with a device and an apparatus for use with a mobile phone and a device and an apparatus for use with a portable computer. It is quite common for users of mobile phones to use an earpiece to enable them to hear a message. In use, such earpieces are typically connected to the mobile phone by a length of flex which terminates in a connector which is plugged into the base of the mobile telephone.

Typically, a microphone is also provided to enable the user to hold a conversation. Such microphones are typically mounted on the flex 15 to 25cm from the earpiece and are provided with a clip so that they can be secured to an article of clothing adjacent the user's mouth.

Whilst such arrangements undoubtedly work it is tedious repeatedly positioning and removing the microphone. It is also extremely easy for the user to displace the microphone or pull the earpiece from the ear if he or she turns his or her head.

One solution to this problem is to provide a frame which clips over the user's head. The earpiece is held against the user' s ear while the microphone is supported adjacent the user's mouth by a stalk which is mounted on the frame. This arrangement is quite bulky. It is also known to provide a lightweight handset comprising an earpiece and a microphone connected to the earpiece via a lightweight stalk. In such lightweight handsets the loudspeaker faces the user's ear whilst the microphone either faces in the same direction or is angled towards the user's mouth. The present invention provides, in or for use with a portable communications device, an earpiece having a loudspeaker and a microphone mounted thereon. It will be appreciated that this is totally contrary to the prior art which has taught that the microphone must be in close proximity to the user's mouth

In the presently preferred embodiment, the loudspeaker and the microphone face in substantially completely opposite directions and, advantageously, lie on the same, or substantially the same, axis. However, it is also envisaged that the microphone could face away from the loudspeaker at any angle up to 90° to the axis of the loudspeaker, or even be disposed at 90° to the axis of the loudspeaker.

Preferably, an acoustic partition is provided between said loudspeaker and said microphone.

Advantageously, the microphone and the loudspeaker will be separated at their closest points by less than 5cm, preferably less than 3cm, advantageously less than lcm and most preferably by less than 0.5cm.

The device may be provided with a length of flex and a plug to enable it to be connected to a portable communications device such as a mobile phone or a computer. Alternatively, the device may be provided with its own transmitter/receiver unit so that it can communicate with its associated portable communications device without the use of flex. Preferably, said transmitter/receiver unit is positioned between said microphone and said loudspeaker.

Advantageously, said device includes a battery compartment which extends in an axis generally perpendicular to the axis of said loudspeaker. In one embodiment, the microphone is mounted at the free end of said battery compartment.

Preferably, devices in accordance with the present invention are provided with a volume control for adjusting the sound level at said loudspeaker. Advantageously, devices in accordance with the invention are provided with noise cancellation circuitry for reducing interference caused by ambient noise. If desired, the device may be provided with electronic circuitry to automatically adjust the volume at the earpiece in response to the ambient noise. The present invention also provides a portable communications device having a device in accordance with the present invention associated therewith.

The portable communications device may comprise, for example a mobile telephone, a portable computer or a card which can be fitted into a portable computer.

Returning now to earpieces in general, when an earpiece is not in use it, and its associated flex and connector, are typically stored a short distance from the mobile phone, for example in the glove compartment of a car, or the same compartment of a handbag as the mobile phone.

This can present several problems. In particular the earpiece can become separated from the mobile phone.

Alternatively, the flex can become tangled and it can take several minutes to untangle the knots before it can be used.

To help overcome this problem the present invention provides an apparatus for use with a portable communication device, said apparatus having a compartment therein which accommodates a flex which connects said portable communications device to an earpiece.

The portable communications device may comprise, for example a mobile telephone, a portable computer, such as a lap-top computer or a personal organizer, provided with an integral telecommunications adaptor, or a card, for example a PCMCIA card, which can be plugged into a portable computer to enable the user to communicate with a local telephone system.

Conveniently, the flex may be stored on a rotatable drum which is mounted on, or more preferably in, the portable communications device.

Preferably, the rotatable drum has a mechanical mechanism associated therewith which is energized when the flex is withdrawn from the rotatable drum and which, when actuated, rotates the drum to retract the flex onto the drum. Such a mechanical mechanism would preferably comprise a coil spring. Alternatively (or additionally) the rotatable drum could be manually rotatable or rotatable by a small electric motor, this later embodiment being more practical for laptop computers.

When the apparatus is intended for use with a mobile phone the compartment is, advantageously, located within the battery compartment

This is a particularly preferred arrangement since many mobile phones share a common design of battery compartment and it is a simple matter to exchange an existing battery compartment with a new one when the old battery fails.

If desired the earpiece may be allowed to hang free on the flex. However, it is much preferred that provision is made to cradle the earpiece do inhibit damage thereto. In the case of a mobile phone a suitably shaped cradle may be incorporated in the surface of the housing of the battery compartment.

In the case of a PCMCIA or similar card the drum is preferably mounted in a suitably thickened area in part of the card which, in use, projects from the slot in the portable computer. Advantageously, this area may also be provided with a cradle to support the earpiece when not in use. If desired this area may also be provided with a cover to completely protect the earpiece when it is not in use.

Advantageously, means are provided so that when said flex is extended the audio output from said portable communications device is directed to said earpiece and isolated from any loudspeaker associated with said portable communications device. For a better understanding of the present invention reference will now be made, by way of example, to the accompanying drawings in which:-

Figure 1 is a schematic section through a first embodiment of a device in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 2 is a front view thereof;

Figure 3 is a schematic section through a second embodiment of a device in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 4 is a schematic section through a third embodiment of a device in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 5 is a front view of one embodiment of an apparatus in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 6 is a rear view of the apparatus shown in Figure 5;

Figure 7 is a section on line VII-VII of Figure 5;

Figure 8 shows, on an enlarged scale, part of the apparatus shown in Figure 7;

Figure 9 is a front view of a second embodiment of an apparatus in accordance with the present invention;

Figure 10 is a front view of a third embodiment of an apparatus in accordance with the present invention; and

Figure 11 is a front view of a fourth embodiment of an apparatus in accordance with the present invention.

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Referring to Figures 1 and 2, there is shown a first embodiment of a device in accordance with the present invention. The device, which is generally identified by reference numeral 101 comprises an earpiece 102 which fits within the ear and accommodates a loudspeaker 103 and a microphone 104. The loudspeaker 103 and the microphone 104 are arranged on a common axis X-X (Figure 1) and face in opposite directions.

When the earpiece 101 was in use the user could clearly hear incoming messages through the loudspeaker 103 whilst the caller could hear messages spoken by the user and transmitted through the microphone 104. This came as a complete surprise since previous designs have concentrated on bringing the microphone into close proximity to the user's mouth with a view to obtaining a clear signal and avoiding feedback.

In the prototype the microphone 104 was mounted on a printed circuit board 105 with an interference suppression circuit embodied in a chip and it is thought that the printed circuit board 105 and the chip may have acted as an acoustic partition inhibiting sound waves from the back of the loudspeaker 103 impinging on and generating noise on the microphone 104. The device 101 is provided with flex 106 which enables the device 101 to be connected to a mobile phone.

The device 101 may be provided with a volume control to adjust the volume of the loudspeaker 103 and a switch which can be activated to allow the user to accept incoming calls. The interference suppression circuit includes noise canceling circuitry to reduce the effect of ambient noise.

If desired the printed circuit board may be provided with electronic circuitry to automatically adjust the volume at the earpiece in response to the ambient noise. Thus, if the mobile telephone is being used in a quiet room the volume will be sent to a relatively low level. However, if the mobile telephone is being used in a noisy area, for example on the pavement alongside a busy road, the volume control is automatically raised to a much higher level.

Figure 3 shows a second embodiment of a device in accordance with the present invention.

The device, which is generally identified by reference numeral 201 is generally similar to the device 101 and parts having similar functions have been identified by the same reference numeral in the 200' series .

The device differs from the device shown in Figure 1 in that it is a wireless device. In particular, flex 106 has been replaced by a ^Λblue tooth' transmitter/receiver 206 which is powered by a battery 207 which is accommodated in a battery compartment 208. The battery compartment 208 forms an integral part of the earpiece 202 and extends along an axis which is substantially perpendicular to the axis of the loudspeaker 203. Figure 4 shows a third embodiment of a device in accordance with the present invention.

The device, which is generally identified by reference numeral 301 is generally similar to the device

101 and parts having similar functions have been identified by the same reference numeral in the 300' series .

The device differs from the device shown in Figure 3 in that the microphone 304 is positioned beneath the battery 307 in an axis perpendicular to the axis of loudspeaker 303.

It will be appreciated from the drawing that the device 301 differs from prior art devices both in the proximity of the microphone 304 to the loudspeaker 303

(less than 5cm apart) and in that the microphone does not face in the same direction as the loudspeaker 303.

The transmitter/receiver 306 has voice activated 'answer' , 'release' and 'dialing' functions for the user's convenience as well as a volume control (not shown) . Referring to Figures 5 and 6 of the drawings there is shown an apparatus which is generally identified by the reference numeral 1101.

The apparatus 1101 comprises a casing 1102 which accommodates a battery 1103, for example a lithium hydride or nickel hydride battery.

As can be seen from Figure 6, the rear of the battery 1103 is provided with contacts 1104 which transmit power from the battery 103 to the electronic circuitry of a mobile phone (not shown) when the casing 1102 is attached thereto.

The casing 1102 also accommodates a drum 1105 on which is wound 0.75m of flex 1106 (not shown) one end of which is connected to an earpiece 1107 and the other to contacts 1107a (Figure 6) on the rear of the casing 1102.

The earpiece 1107 is located in a recess 1108 in the casing 1102 and is retained therein by a detent which can be retracted by depressing a release button 1109.

As can be seen from Figure 8, the drum 1105 comprises an outer plate 1110 and an inner plate 1111 which are spaced apart and secured together by a cylindrical section 1112. The outer plate 1110 is also provided with a circular guide 1113 which is coaxial with the cylindrical section 1112.

The circular guide 1113 and the cylindrical section

1112 define therebetween an annular space which accommodates a cylindrical contact support member 1114 which extends upwardly from and is secured to a printed circuit board 1115.

A hub 1116 projects upwardly from the printed circuit board 1115 and accommodates a spring 1117 and a retract button 1118. A coil spring 1119 is disposed in the space 1120 between the hub 1116 and the circular guide 1113 and is secured at one end to the hub 1116 and at the other end to the circular guide 1113.

When the flex 1106 is withdrawn from the drum 1105 the drum 1105 rotates relative to the hub 1116 and the coil spring 1119 is tensioned. A small pawl (not shown) inhibits the coil spring 1119 unwinding and retracting the flex 1106 until the retract button 1118 is depressed.

The cylindrical contact support member 1114 is provided with four separate and distinct contact bands

1121, 1122, 1123 and 1124 which are gold plated. The contact bands 1121, 1122, 1123 and 1124 are in electrical contact with spring strips 1125, 1126, 1127 and 1128 which are mounted on cylindrical section 1112 and which are also gold plated.

Spring strips 1126 and 1127 are connected to an earphone in the earpiece 1107 by two separate and distinct wires in the flex 106.

A micro-switch, not shown, is provided which closes when the flex 1106 is withdrawn from the drum 1105 and re-directs the audio output from the mobile phone to the earpiece 1107. In addition the micro-switch may be arranged to change the profile of the mobile phone.

Referring now to Figure 9 there is shown an apparatus which is generally identified by the reference number 1201. The apparatus 1201 is in the form of a PCMCIA card which can be inserted into a corresponding slot in the side of a portable computer. The apparatus 1201 comprises a casing 1202 which has a thickened part 1225. When the card is inserted in the portable computer the thickened part 1225 projects from the side of the portable computer.

The thickened part 1225 accommodates a rotatable drum on which is wound a length of flex which communicates with an earpiece 1207 which is retained in a recess 1208 in the thickened part 1225 of the casing

1202.

A retract button 1218 projects into another recess in the surface of the thickened part 1225 and can be depressed to retract the flex associated with the earpiece 1207 when desired.

The outer extremity of the apparatus 1201 is provided with an aerial 1226 which can communicate with, for example a satellite in a geostatic orbit.

Figure 10 shows an apparatus which is generally identified by reference numeral 1301. The apparatus 1301 comprises a casing 1302 which defines a compartment which accommodates a length of flex on a rotatable drum. One end of the flex is connected to an earpiece 1307 which is releasably retained in a recess 1308 in the casing 1302. A retract button 1318 is provided which can be depressed to withdraw flex into the casing 1302 when desired. The rear (not shown) of the casing 1302 is provided with contacts which, when the apparatus 1302 is mounted on a mobile phone, make an electrical connection with the contacts on the bottom of the mobile phone.

Figure 11 shows an apparatus which is generally identified by reference numeral 1401. The apparatus 1401 comprises a casing 1402 which can be attached to a belt worn by a user. The casing 1402 accommodates a compartment which houses a rotatable drum on which is wound a length of flex. One end of the flex is connected to an earpiece 1407 which is removeably accommodated in a recess 1408 in the casing 1402.

The casing 1402 is provided with a slide member 1427. The casing 1402 is shaped to receive a mobile phone therein. The mobile phone is held in position by the slide member 1427 which is spring biased against the mobile phone to inhibit the mobile phone being inadvertently displaced.

The casing 1402 is provided with contact 1407 which communicate with corresponding contacts on the base of the mobile phone when the mobile phone is placed in the casing 1402.

Claims

Claims :

I. In or for use with a portable communications device, a device which comprises an earpiece having a loudspeaker and a microphone mounted thereon.

2. A device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the loudspeaker and the microphone face in substantially completely opposite directions.

3. A device as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, wherein the loudspeaker and the microphone lie on the same axis .

4. A device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein said microphone faces away from said loudspeaker and the axis of said microphone makes an angle of less than 90° with respect to the axis of said loudspeaker.

5. A device as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the axis of said microphone makes an angle of 90° with respect to the axis of said loudspeaker.

6. A device as claimed in any preceding Claim, including an acoustic partition between said loudspeaker and said microphone.

7. A device as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein the microphone and the loudspeaker are separated at their closest points by less than 5cm.

8. A device as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein the microphone and the loudspeaker are separated at their closest points by less than 3cm.

9. A device as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein the microphone and the loudspeaker are separated at their closest points by less than 1cm.

10. A device as claimed in any preceding Claim, wherein the microphone and the loudspeaker are separated at their closest points by less than 0.5cm.

II. A device as claimed in any preceding Claim, including a length of flex and a plug to enable said device to be connected to a portable communications device.

12. A device as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 11, including a transmitter/receiver unit to enable said device to communicate with its associated portable communications device without the use of flex.

13. A device as claimed in Claim 12, wherein said transmitter/receiver unit is positioned between said loudspeaker and said microphone.

14. A device as claimed in Claim 12 or 13, including a battery compartment which extends in an axis generally perpendicular to the axis of said loudspeaker.

15. A device as claimed in Claim 14, wherein said microphone is mounted at the free end of said battery compartment .

16. A device as claimed in any preceding Claim, including a volume control for adjusting the sound level at said loudspeaker.

17. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, including noise cancellation circuitry for reducing interference caused by ambient noise.

18. A device as claimed in any preceding claim, including electronic circuitry to automatically adjust the volume at the earpiece in response to the ambient noise .

19. A portable communications device and a device as claimed in any preceding claim.

20. A portable communications device and a device as claimed in Claim 18, wherein said portable communications device is a mobile telephone.

21. An apparatus for use with a portable communication device, said apparatus having a compartment therein which accommodates a flex which connects said portable communications device to an earpiece.

22. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 21, wherein said portable communications device comprises a mobile telephone.

23. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 21, wherein said portable communications device comprises a portable computer.

24. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 21, wherein said portable communications device comprises a card which can be plugged into a portable computer to enable the user to communicate with a local telephone system.

25. An apparatus as claimed in any of Claims 21 to 24, wherein said flex is stored on a rotatable drum.

26. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 25, wherein said rotatable drum is mounted on the portable communications device.

27. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 25, wherein said rotatable drum is mounted in the portable communications device.

28. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 25, 26 or 27, wherein the rotatable drum has a mechanical mechanism associated therewith which is energized when the flex is withdrawn from the rotatable drum and which, when actuated, rotates the drum to retract the flex onto the drum.

29. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 28, wherein said mechanical mechanism omprises a coil spring.

30. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 25, wherein the rotatable drum is manually rotatable.

31. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 25, wherein said rotatable drum is connected to and rotatable by an electric motor.

32. An apparatus as claimed in any of Claims 25 to 31, wherein said rotatable drum is located within a battery compartment of a mobile phone.

33. An apparatus as claimed in any one of Claims 20 to

32, wherein said portable communications device is provided with a cradle to accommodate the earpiece to inhibit damage thereto.

34. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 33, wherein the cradle is formed in the surface of the housing of the battery compartment.

35. An apparatus as claimed in Claims 24 and 25, or any claim dependent directly or indirectly thereon, wherein said rotatable drum is mounted in a thickened area in part of the card which, in use, projects from the slot in the portable computer.

36. An apparatus as claimed in Claim 25, wherein said thickened area is provided with a cradle to support the earpiece when not in use.

37. An apparatus as claimed in any of Claims 20 to 36, further including means which, when said flex is extended from the rotatable drum, re-directs audio output from said portable communications device to said earpiece and isolated from any loudspeaker associated with said portable communications device.

38. In combination, an apparatus as claimed in any of Claims 21 to 37 and a device as claimed in any of Claims 1 to 18.

39. In combination, an apparatus as claimed in any of Claims 21 to 37 and a A portable communications device and a device as claimed in Claim 18, 19 or 20.

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