US 5,625,673 AGranted

Modular communication apparatus

AssigneeLucent Technologies Inc.

InventorsAnthony J. Grewe, Michael Kerwin, Carl S. Ledbetter, Jr., B. Waring Partridge, III

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Abstract

A versatile device is obtained with a PDA that includes means for cordless connecting to specialized accessories. The PDA can operate in its conventional mode, or it can be enhanced by interconnecting it with some or all of its accessories. In one embodiment, the PDA is combined with a cellular telephone that is adapted to physically mate with the PDA and form thereby a single integrated apparatus. In another embodiment, the PDA is combined with a landline telephone that is adapted to mate with the PDA and form thereby another single integrated apparatus. In a still another embodiment, the PDA (whether or not mated with a telecommunication device) is combined with a keyboard to form a laptop computer.

Claims23

Dependent claims

Apparatus including a personal digital assistant (PDA) that contains a housing, a processor in said housing and an input/output device arrangement in said housing coupled to said processor for inputting data to, and outputting from, said processor, the improvement comprising:

a first connector on a first side of the perimeter of said housing, coupled to said processor, for cordless physical coupling to a mating connector of an external telephone to enable a communication connection to be established between the PDA and said telephone;
and
first means, located on said first side of the perimeter of said housing and integral to said housing, for physically mounting said housing to said telephone so as to support said telephone by said housing and to effectively form a single, substantially rectangular, substantially flat, physical unit that comprises said housing and said telephone to maintain said first connector connection to said telephone connector.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 08/310,297Filed 22 Sep 1994
Granted: 29 Apr 1997
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification8 codes

G06F 1/1632
For portable computers: external expansion units, e.g. docking stations
G06F 1/1626
For portable computers: with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
H04M 1/02
Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers: constructional features of telephone sets
H04M 1/0254
Portable telephone sets, e.g. cordless phones, mobile phones or bar type handsets: comprising one or a plurality of mechanically detachable modules