Abstract: A wireless communication device (10) is provided for maintaining acceptable acoustic coupling, increasing display and data input device capability and increasing antenna performance to encourage further miniaturization and weight reduction thereof. Two moveable housing portions (12) and (14) are moveable between a closed (18) and an open (20) housing position and matively engage to provide an expandable housing while aligning earpiece (26) and microphone (28) transducers on a center axis (30) of the device (10). Paging and radiotelephone functions of the device are configured responsive to the position of the housing portion (12). The radiotelephone (10) allows communication in both a private mode and a hands-free mode, which enables a user to answer a call without opening the radiotelephone (10).

Abstract: A wireless communication device (10) is provided for maintaining acceptable acoustic coupling, increasing display and data input device capability and increasing antenna performance to encourage further miniaturization and weight reduction thereof. Two moveable housing portions (12) and (14) are moveable between a closed (18) and an open (20) housing position and matively engage to provide an expandable housing while aligning earpiece (26) and microphone (28) transducers on a center axis (30) of the device (10). Paging and radiotelephone functions of the device are configured responsive to the position of the housing portion (12). The housing portion has a lens for viewing a display (46) thereunder and keycaps for actuating a keypad (54) thereunder when the housing portion (12) is in the closed housing position (18). An antenna (56) is extendable beyond the moveable housing portion (12).

Abstract: A portable communication device (100, 300, 400, 500) comprises a fingerprint identification system (709) including a scanner (115) for scanning a fingerprint (123) of a finger (121) to generate an image of the fingerprint (123). In a first embodiment, the scanner (115) is positioned relative to a switch (201) on the device (100, 300, 400, 500) to permit the finger (121) to generate the actuation force for the switch (201) when the fingerprint (123) is positioned on the scanner (115). In a second embodiment, the scanner (115) is ergonomically positioned on a housing (113, 117, 119) of the device (100, 300, 400, 500) where the finger (121) or a thumb naturally rests on the housing (113, 117, 119) when the person holds the housing (113, 117, 119) while the device (100, 300, 400, 500) is in use.

Abstract: A telephone set (10) comprises a housing (12), a microphone (16) and a keypad (20). The microphone (16) is carried by the housing (12) and is adapted to convert an acoustic input signal (26) into an electric input signal (28). The keypad (20) is carried by the housing (12) and has an aperture (32) extending therethrough. The microphone (16) is disposed behind the keypad (20) essentially opposite to the aperture (32) of the keypad (20) to permit the acoustic input signal (26) to be ported through the aperture (32) of the keypad (20) to be received by the microphone (16). The present invention advantageously permits the telephone set (10) to be made shorter by integrating the microphone (16) with the keypad (20).

Abstract: A cordless telephone system (300) comprises a portable station (305), a first base station (301) and a second base station (310). The first base station (301) communicates with the portable station (305) over a communication channel (441) when the portable station (305) is located within a first geographic coverage area (311). The second base station (310) communicates with the portable station (305) over a communication channel (441) when the portable station (305) is located within a second geographic coverage area (313). The first base station (301) includes a controller (302) adaptively configured to be a master controller (302). The second base station (310) includes a controller (308) configured to be slave controller (308) responsive to the controller (302) of the first base station (301) being adaptively configured to be the master controller (302).

Abstract: A telephone set (10) comprises a first housing (12), a second housing (14), a rotate (54) or a slide (34) mechanism, a microphone (16), an earpiece (18) and a keypad (20). The rotate (54) or the slide (34) mechanism couples the first housing (12) to the second housing (14) and permits the first housing (12) to be moveable relative to the second housing (14) between a first, closed or contracted, position (22) and a second, open or expanded, position (24). The microphone (16) is carried by the first housing (12) and is adapted to convert an acoustic input signal (26) into an electric input signal (28). The earpiece (18) is carried by the second housing (14) and is adapted to convert an electric output signal (30) into an acoustic output signal. The keypad (20) is carried by one of the first housing (12) and the second housing (14) and has an aperture (32) extending therethrough.

Abstract: A hand adaptive telephone (10) comprises a glove member (12) adapted to be worn on a person's hand (14) and carries a user interface mechanism including an earpiece transducer (18) and a microphone transducer (20). The earpiece transducer (18) is adapted to be coupled to a receiver (30) and is carried by the glove member (12) at a location on an inside (22) of the person's hand (14) when the glove member (12) is worn on person's hand (14) to permit the person's ear (26) to listen to acoustic signals (25) generated by the earpiece transducer (18) when the person's hand (14) is held against the person's head (16). The microphone transducer (20) is adapted to be coupled to a transmitter (32) and is carried by the glove member (12) at a location on the inside (22) of the person's hand (14) when the glove member (12) is worn on person's hand (14) to permit the person's mouth (28) to speak acoustic signals (23) into the microphone transducer (20) when the person's hand (14) is held against the person's head (16).

Abstract: A keypad apparatus (100) with integral display indicator bars (102-104) provides input to a device while displaying the status of the device on the display indicator bars (102-104). The apparatus is comprised of a matrix of data input keys (101). The indicator bars (102-104) are coupled to the matrix of keys (101), the apparatus (100) being manufactured as a single unit. Both the data input keys (101) and the indicator bars (102-104) are comprised of substantially the same material; a flexible and translucent silicone material. This material enables the keypad apparatus, that is backlit by the device, to diffuse the light, thereby lighting the data keys. Each indicator bar (102-104) has an individual backlight (108) from the device, allowing a particular indicator bar to be lit individually.

Abstract: A radiotelephone (100) comprises a user interface module (102) including a membrane sheet layer (302), user interface circuitry (304) and a flexible circuit sheet layer (306), and a radio circuitry module (104) including radio circuitry (308) and a radio housing (310). The user interface circuitry (304) includes an earpiece electroacoustic transducer (322), microphone electroacoustic transducer (324), a keypad (326) and an electronic display (328) being disposed between the membrane sheet layer (302) and the flexible circuit sheet layer (306). The radio circuitry (308) is electrically coupled to the user interface circuitry (304) via electrical conductors (330-344) on the flexible circuit sheet layer (306) permitting many marketing options for the user interface module (102) and efficient manufacturing of the radiotelephone (100). The radio housing (310) encloses the radio circuitry (308) and is mechanically coupled to the user interface module (102).

Abstract: Prior to placing a call, a receiver (24) in a radio (10) receives a phone number transmitted by a calling party to produce a received phone number (38). The received phone number (38) is stored in a memory unit (16) of the radio (10). Numeric digits forming a prefix number (40) are inserted before the received phone number (38) in the memory unit (16) responsive to a number of digits in the received phone number (38) to produce an edited phone number (39). A transmitter (20) in the radio (10) transmits the edited phone number (39) to place the call to the received phone number (38). This method for editing a received phone number (38) prior to placing a call to the received phone number (38) advantageously simplifies the dialing process when placing the call to the received phone number (38).

Abstract: A wireless communication device (101), such as a radiotelephone or a pager, comprises a signal generator (200), a radiator (202), a sensor (204) and a controller (206) to form an electromagnetic wave proximity sensor (201). The signal generator (200) generates a signal (210). The radiator (202) radiates the signal (210) to produce an electromagnetic field (212) near the radiator (202). The electromagnetic field (212) changes by a predetermined amount responsive to the proximity (214) of the radiator (202) to a predetermined object (216), such as a human body (232), external to the wireless communication device (101). The sensor (204) provides an indication (218) of the predetermined amount of change in the electromagnetic field (212). The controller (206) controls circuitry (208), such as a tactile alert device (416) and an audible alert device (418), in the wireless communication device (101) responsive to the indication (218) of the predetermined amount of change in the electromagnetic field (212).

Abstract: A wireless communication device (10) is provided for maintaining acceptable acoustic coupling, increasing display and data input device capability and increasing antenna performance to encourage further miniaturization and weight reduction thereof. Two moveable housing portions (12) and (14) are moveable between a closed (18) and an open (20) housing position and matively engage to provide an expandable housing while aligning earpiece (26) and microphone (28) transducers on a center axis (30) of the device (10). Paging and radiotelephone functions of the device are configured responsive to the position of the housing portion (12). The housing portion has a lens for viewing a display (46) thereunder and keycaps for actuating a keypad (54) thereunder when the housing portion (12) is in the closed housing position (18). An antenna (56) is extendable beyond the moveable housing portion (12).

Abstract: A portable radiotelephone (200) adjusts its transmit power responsive to the position of a movable antenna (213). The antenna (213) is movable between a retracted (313) and an extended position (314). The portable radiotelephone (200) transmits at low power when the antenna (213) is retracted and at high power when the antenna (213) is extended. Additionally, the portable radiotelephone (200) can notify a remote base station of the change in transmit power at any time during transmission.

Abstract: A keypad apparatus (100) with integral display indicator bars (102-104) provides input to a device while displaying the status of the device on the display indicator bars (102-104). The apparatus is comprised of a matrix of data input keys (101). The indicator bars (102-104) are coupled to the matrix of keys (101), the apparatus (100) being manufactured as a single unit. Both the data input keys (101) and the indicator bars (102-104) are comprised of substantially the same material; a flexible and translucent silicone material. This material enables the keypad apparatus, that is backlit by the device, to diffuse the light, thereby lighting the data keys. Each indicator bar (102-104) has an individual backlight (108) from the device, allowing a particular indicator bar to be lit individually.

Abstract: An optical fiber light emitting apparatus (200) comprises at least one optical fiber (201) arranged in a repeating, recurrent pattern extending substantially throughout a predetermined area (206). The optical fiber (201) has a plurality of locations along the length thereof permitting light entering at least one end of the optical fiber (201) for transmission therein to be selectively emitted by the optical fiber (201) at the plurality of locations (210) for producing substantially uniform illumination substantially throughout the predetermined area (206). The repeating, recurrent pattern may form a spiral or serpentine pattern, for example. The repeating, recurrent pattern eliminates the space required for the fan-in arrangement (115) of prior art optical fiber light emitting panels (100). The optical fiber light emitting apparatus (200) is beneficial for illuminating keypads (613) and displays (611) in electronic devices (600), such as portable radio telephones, having limited space available.

Abstract: A leaded electrical component 101 for surface mount applications having a receptacle 107 attached to the component 101 which renders the resultant assembly 127 capable of mounting to the top surface of the substrate 129. The top of the receptacle 111 provides an opaque, smooth surface enabling the assembly to be picked up and placed using automatic equipment with a vision system. The bottom of the receptacle 113 rests on the top surface of the substrate 129 to provide stability for the surface mount assembly 127. The receptacle 107 captures the component 101 in a secure position. The captured component 101 provides a specific orientation until the leads 109 are coupled to the substrate.

Abstract: Improved backlighting apparatus evenly illuminates positive and negative LCDs under all ambient lighting conditions. Incandescent lamps (301-304) provide light for distribution by a light pipe (101). The bottom of the light pipe (101) is selectively painted white to reflect light to the top of the light pipe (101) while the unpainted areas reflect light internal to the light pipe (101), controlling hot and dim spots. The corners of the light pipe (101) near the lamps (301-304) are dual angled to reflect the light into the center of the display. The burn-out of a lamp (301-304) will not substantially affect the even lighting capabilities of the apparatus.