US 6,510,325 B1Granted

Convertible portable telephone

OwnerGawins A. Mack, II, R. Eugenia Mackinventors

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Abstract

A communications and entertainment device in which a cellular telephone is unfolded to form a headset which allows the user to wear the headset in a manner similar to conventional telephone headsets. The device includes an AM/FM radio receiver. The subsystems are prioritized such that one system is automatically interrupted based on higher priority activity. A display unit allows the user to display graphic information such as facsimile data or other graphic information such as that obtained from computer networks. A speaker phone function allows the user to hear audio output while the user has the device folded into the portable telephone configuration and hand-held. An integrated camera allows the device to be used for video phone telephone calls. An integral GPS receiver is built into the device to allow the location of the device to be automatically determined. The GPS receiver can be used in conjunction with the video phone function if the device is stolen by capturing a picture of the thief while the thief is dialing the stolen telephone and relaying that information along with GPS position information to local police such that the thief may be more easily captured and the device recovered.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A portable communications device, comprising:

a telephone transmitter/receiver, the telephone transmitter/receiver further comprising:
means to transmit telephone data;
means to receive telephone data;
a speaker;
a microphone;
a keypad for entering data;
a base segment having a lower hinge and an upper hinge;
an upper segment attached to the upper hinge, the upper segment hingedly attached to the upper hinge such that it can be folded substantially against the base segment in a folded position or unfolded in an unfolded position such that it extends outward from the base segment at a preselected angle;
a lower segment attached to the lower hinge, the lower segment hingedly attached to the lower hinge such that it can be folded substantially against the base segment in a folded position or unfolded in an unfolded position such that it extends outward from the base segment at a preselected angle;
the lower segment and the upper segment sized such that when they are in the folded position, the upper segment, the lower segment, and the base segment collectively are shaped in the form of a cellular telephone handset;
and
the lower segment and the upper segment further sized such that when they are in the unfolded position, the upper segment, the lower segment, and the base segment collectively are shaped in the form of a telephone headset;
whereby the portable communications device can be converted from a handheld telephone into a telephone headset.

10 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 09/406,454Filed 27 Sep 1999 · continuation in part
Priority: 19 Apr 1996
Granted: 21 Jan 2003
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification16 codes

H04B 1/3805
Transceivers, i.e. devices in which transmitter and receiver form a structural unit and in which at least one part is used for functions of…: with…
H04B 1/38
Details of transmission systems, not covered by a single one of groups H04B3/00 - H04B13/00; Details of transmission systems not characterised…
H04B 1/3888
Portable transceivers: arrangements for carrying or protecting transceivers
H04M 1/0247
Portable telephones comprising a plurality of mechanically joined movable body parts, e.g. hinged housings: comprising more than two body parts