Abstract: Apparatus for charging a NiCd battery in a portable electronic apparatus, specifically a radio telephone. A charger includes a trickle charge circuit and fast charge circuit which can be selectively enabled by a switch under the control of a signal V.sub.c generated by a voltage generator within the telephone. The charge mode may be selected automatically from within the telephone, e.g. depending on the charge state of the battery as detected by the charge state sensor. Additionally or alternatively the charge mode may be selected manually by depressing appropriate keys on the telephone. Preferably the charge mode is enabled by selecting an appropriate menu which is indicated visually on the display area of the telephone. This charging apparatus facilitates the adoption of a battery charging regime which optimizes battery life.

Abstract: A portable radio telephone has a keypad including a plurality of externally accessible keys. The keys can be disabled (i.e. the keypad can be locked) to prevent accidental actuation thereof by performing a predetermined order of keystrokes using two of the keys which ordinarily have an alternative function associated therewith. Thus, for example, depression of the # key followed by the ON/OFF key temporarily enables the keyboard lock. The lock can be disabled simply by repeating the same keystrokes.

Abstract: A compact portable telephone comprises a housing having a main body and an extending sleeve-like portion mounted for longitudinal slidable movement between a retracted position when not in use (see FIG. 2), and an extended position (see FIG. 1) for use. In a preferred arrangement, the earphone is present in the main body and the microphone is in the extending portion. The telephone includes a plurality of buttons or keys which can be selectively actuated for operating the telephone, and in one embodiment the extending portion is adapted to conceal selected ones of the buttons or keys when it is in the closed position to prevent accidental actuation of these buttons or keys.