Feature Pack For A Portable Device
A feature pack coupled to and interfaced with a cellular phone, which is able to relieve the cellular telephone from performing tasks associated with several of battery power draining features of the cell phone thus preserving the power of the battery of the cellular telephone. The feature pack, while interfaced and coupled to the cellular telephone, uses its own circuitry and battery to perform these tasks. The feature has a compartment within which the cellular telephone (or other device with which it is coupled) is disposed. The feature pack has circuitry separate from the coupled device, but is able to use audio and other types of signals from the coupled device to perform such tasks as using speakers, microphones, recording voice and audio signals and communicating with external devices via a Blue Tooth interface.
The present invention generally relates to the field of electronic devices. In particular, the present invention provides a feature pack coupled to a portable device to enhance many of the features of the device during operation.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTIONIn the past decade, manufacturers of portable communication devices (e.g., smart cellular phones, tablets, laptops, notebooks) have been designing and manufacturing these devices with increasing amounts of new features. While many of the relatively new features are quite useful, the main and most important features are the standard features that existed in the earliest version of such devices and are still resident in virtually all of these devices. These features are a device's ability to provide relatively high quality of voice signal processing, the ability to play music and the ability to record voice and audio signals. In particular, the audio output power and the quality of the audio output signals when playing music, or when conversing in a telephone conversation or recording a conversation during a meeting are key features.
It is well known by many users of such portable communication devices that the constant use of such main features necessarily results in the drainage of battery power. A portable device operating under reduced battery power inevitably leads to a reduction in the quality of voice, audio related features and other features whose usage tend to significantly drain the battery power of such devices. Also, the range of the volume of the output speakers are necessarily lowered, which makes it difficult to use the device as a speaker phone especially for users who are hearing impaired. Even though the batteries can be recharged to full level (assuming the user has his/her battery charger available), in many cases users are caught with low battery power during inopportune moments such as during important phone calls. Further, after discovering a relatively low battery level, users will often opt to refrain from listening to music and/or opt to switching off the device to save battery power. Neither one of these two options is desirable as each severely limits the usefulness of such devices and are in conflict with the main reasons for which they were designed.
It is therefore a desire of users of such devices to use the features provided by such devices without having to drain the battery power thus avoiding lowered quality of operation of such devices.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTIONThe present invention provides a feature pack device which when coupled to and interfaced with a portable device is able to perform a plurality of tasks typically performed by the portable device thus helping to preserve the energy level of the battery of the portable device. The feature pack comprises circuitry controlled by a microprocessor that can be interfaced with a user via user accessible actuators where such circuitry and associated components are able to process the signals from the portable device to perform the plurality of tasks. The feature pack of the present invention uses a power source for its circuits, components, and user accessible actuators that are separate and distinct from any power source used by the portable device.
In one embodiment, the feature pack of the present invention comprises a compartment within which a cellular telephone can be snugly disposed allowing said telephone to couple to and interface with the feature pack. The cellular phone provides a plurality of signals to the feature pack, which processes said signals using a plurality of circuitry, electrical and electronic components and user accessible actuators all of which are separate from the cellular telephone.
The features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the detailed description set forth below when taken in conjunction with the drawings in which like reference numbers indicate identical or functionally similar elements.
The present invention provides a feature pack device, which when coupled to and interfaced with a portable device is able to perform a plurality of tasks or many of the features typically performed by the portable device thus helping to reduce the burden on the battery of the portable device and, therefore, helps to preserve the energy level of the battery of the portable device. The feature pack device comprises user accessible actuators coupled to a plurality of circuits to facilitate processing of received portable device signals and to perform tasks heretofore performed by the portable device. The circuitry of the feature pack is controlled by a microprocessor that can be interfaced with a user via the user accessible actuators where such circuitry and associated components are able to process signals from the portable device to perform the tasks and/or provide the features previously done by the portable device, but which are now done by the feature pack. The performance of tasks and/or provision of features by the feature pack using its own power source separate and distinct from any power source of the portable device where such tasks and features were heretofore done by the portable device significantly relieves the power burden on the portable device. The portable device may be electrically, electronically and mechanically coupled to and interface with the feature pack which performs many of the features using its own power source (e.g., a rechargeable battery), that it uses to power its own circuits and components to process voice, audio, and other types of signals that would normally be processed by the portable device. The feature pack may be coupled and interfaced with the portable device so that both devices may be physically combined into a unit where the feature pack is able to receive signals from the portable device.
In one embodiment, the feature pack of the present invention comprises a compartment within which a portable device such as a cellular telephone can be snugly disposed allowing said telephone to couple to and interface with the feature pack. The cellular phone provides a plurality of signals to the feature pack, which processes said signals using a plurality of circuitry, electrical and electronic components and user accessible actuators all of which are separate from the cellular telephone and all of which are powered by the battery of the feature pack. Thus, the feature pack, using its own battery, takes on the burden of many of the processing tasks that would normally be performed by the portable device thus reducing the burden on the battery of the portable device.
One embodiment of the feature pack of the present invention is shown in
Referring to
Referring now to
Sliding control actuator (or volume control actuator) 130 has a sliding button, which can be slid right or left by a user to control the volume of speakers 348 and 346, which may be stereo speakers. Volume control actuator 130 can be used to control the volume of speaker 350 (see
Continuing with the various actuators shown in
Actuator 128 is a two-position switch and is used to switch ON or OFF a tone generator circuit (see
Actuator 122 is used to store the ring tones as will be discussed infra Components 352 and 354 are not actuators but are indicators of the status of the memory card 338 and the amount of power left in the battery (326; see
Referring now to
In a first mode of operation a device such as a cellular telephone is disposed in compartment 104 of the feature pack and thus such device is coupled to the feature pack via the male RCA jack 300 and a corresponding female RCA jack (not shown) of the cellular telephone. Also, in this mode of operation, the external headset/mic shown in
Continuing with this first mode of operation, in the embodiment shown and considering the discussion above, there are three signals that can be received by the feature pack of the present invention. They are (i) signals from audio line 306 which are audio signals being received by RCA jack 300 from the cellular telephone disposed in compartment 104 of the feature pack; (ii) signals from microphone 304 of the feature pack; because the headset/microphone is not connected to the feature pack, there are no microphone signals on line 318 (no energy detected by detector 314) and thus microprocessor 360 sends a control signal via control line 402 to select microphone 302 to allow signals from microphone 302 to pass through Mic Select circuit 316 to path 320 and onto the input of Audio/Mic select circuit 324; and (iii) Blue Tooth signals received wirelessly by Blue Tooth circuit 332.
In particular, microphone signals from male RCA jack 300 and female RCA jack 310 are fed to Mic Select circuit 316. Because no energy is detected by Detection circuit 314 Microprocessor 360 receives a signal from circuit 314 indicating that the headset and microphone are not connected (no energy is detected on the microphone line 318; i.e., no signal from female RCA jack 310) and thus keeps switch S1 open and selects the microphone 302 of the feature pack; that is, signals from microphone 302 appear on microphone line 304 and are caused to be routed through microphone select circuit 316 onto path 320 to one of the inputs of Audio/Mic Select circuit 324. Signals on Audio line 306, which may be audio signals from the cellular phone disposed in compartment 104 of the feature pack, are present at the input to Audio/Mic select circuit 324 on path 306. Finally, signals received wirelessly by Blue Tooth circuit 332 appear on path 372 and are thus present at the input to Audio/Mic Select circuit 324
Therefore, the input to Audio/Mic Select circuit 324 may be (i) a signal from the external device coupled and interfaced with the feature pack, (ii) a wireless signal received by the Blue Tooth circuit 332 or (iii) a signal from the microphone 302 of the feature pack.
Depending on the setting selected by a user of the feature pack for actuator 136, one of the inputs to Audio/Mic select circuit 324 will be selected by microprocessor 306 with the use of a control signal sent by the microprocessor via control line 368. For example, if the user sets the Blue Tooth actuator 124 to its ON position, and the Select Input actuator 136 is set to BT (i.e., Blue Tooth) then the Blue Tooth signal on path 372 will be selected (recorded and stored if actuator 114 is set to ON) and played on either speakers 346, 348 or speaker 350 depending on the set of speakers selected by the user using actuator 132. If, however, actuator 124 is set to the MIC (microphone) position, the signal from microphone 302 is selected (recorded and stored if actuator 114 is set to ON) and played on either speakers 346, 348 or speaker 350 depending on the set of speakers selected by the user through the user of actuator 132. Finally, if actuator 136 is set to AUD (audio), then the signal on path 306 is passed through circuit 324 to path 382 (recorded and stored if actuator 114 is set to ON) and played on either speakers 346, 348 or speaker 350 depending on the set of speakers selected by the user through the use of actuator 132. The selection of the input is done by microprocessor 360, which transmits the proper control signal to Audio/Mic Select circuit 324 via control line 368.
It should be noted that in this first mode of operation, the broadcasting of Blue Tooth signals by Blue Tooth circuit 332 is received by any device having Blue Tooth capability and where said device is paired with the Blue Tooth circuit 332 of the feature pack. The feature pack will automatically pair with nearby Blue Tooth devices, which have been loaded with a code associated with the feature pack. In this first mode, signals received wirelessly are presented onto path 372, recorded, stored and played in real time through the front speaker 350 or the rear stereo speaker 346 and 348. Also, either audio signals on path 306 or microphone signals (from headset microphone or microphone 302) on path 320 are transmitted to nearby external Blue Tooth-enabled devices. The feature pack can be designed so that audio signals from path 306 are transmitted to nearby Blue Tooth devices and that the microphone signals are not transmitted by the Blue Tooth circuit 332; this can be a default setting, which can be changes based on user preference.
In the case of interruptions where the feature pack is operating in the first mode and an interrupting signal of relatively high priority is received, the feature pack may be programmed to a default setting for such occurrences. For example, when the device disposed in compartment 104 of the feature pack is a cellular phone or any other device with communication capabilities and an incoming call has been detected, a ring detect circuit 322 will detect the ring and temporarily postpone whatever task, if any, was being performed by the feature pack and answer the call. The feature pack is able to detect a ring because the ring signal will be present on audio line 306, which is directly connected to ring detect circuit 322. The various ring signals of the device disposed in compartment 104 can be stored in ring detect circuit 322 as follows.
Select ring signal button 122 is depressed twice in quick succession signaling to the feature pack that the user desires to store one or more rings in ring detect circuit 322. The user can then operate the device in compartment 104 to generate different rings and after each ring, the user depresses the ring select button 122. This procedure can be repeated as many times as the number of rings that the user desires to store. The user can then again depress button 122 twice in quick succession to signal end of storing of rings. When any of the stored rings are detected, the feature pack selects path 306 using the proper control signal on control line 368 to allow the user to participate in the telephone call. The user can record the phone call by activating 114 to the ON position and setting actuator 128 to the ON position so that audio tones are injected into the conversation notifying the calling party that the call is being recorded. The user of the feature pack preferably also advises the calling party that the call is being recorded in addition to switching ON the Tone Generator 336.
In the second mode of operation, the headset shown is connected to the feature pack. Still referring to
In a third mode of operation, there is no external device connected to the feature pack. In this mode, the feature pack can be receiving signals via the Blue Tooth circuit 332 and may also be used to record a user's voice when the external headset/microphone is connected to the feature pack. When the headset/microphone is not connected to the feature pack, the microphone 302 of the feature pack can be used to record voice signals and other sounds detected by microphone 302.
Referring temporarily to
Still continuing with
Referring now to
While various aspects of the present invention have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example and not limitation. It will be apparent to persons skilled in the relevant art(s) that various changes in form and detail can be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Thus, the present invention should not be limited by any of the above described exemplary aspects, but should be defined only in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents.
In addition, it should be understood that the figures in the attachments, which highlight the structure, methodology, functionality and advantages of the present invention, are presented for example purposes only. The present invention is sufficiently flexible and configurable, such that it may be implemented in ways other than that shown in the accompanying figures.
Claims
1-6. (canceled)
7. A feature pack comprising:
- one or more circuit positioned within the feature pack to receive signals from at least a portable device connected to and interfaced with the feature pack; and
- a plurality of user accessible actuators coupled to the one or more circuits to enable the one or more circuits to process the received signals instead of the portable device where the one or more circuits use a power source separate and distinct from any power source of the portable device.
8. The feature pack of claim 7 further comprising a microprocessor for controlling operation of the one or more circuits and the plurality of user accessible actuators.
9. The feature pack of claim 1 where the one or more circuits are positioned within voids formed from a material with which the feature pack is made.
10. The feature pack of claim 1 further comprising a first connector to which the portable is connected.
11. The feature pack of claim 1 further comprising a second connector to which an external headset/microphone device can be connected.
12. The feature pack of claim 1 further comprising a second connector to which an external headset/microphone device can be connected.
13. The feature pack of claim 1 where the first connector is a male RCA connector.
14. The feature pack of claim 13 where the second connector is a female RCA connector.
15. The feature pack of claim 1 where the portable device has a compartment within which the portable device is disposed.
16. The feature pack of claim 15 where the portable device is a cellular telephone.
17. The feature pack of claim 1 further comprising an audio recording circuit for recording audio signals from one of an external device, signals from a telephone conversation while using the at least portable device, and audio signal from a user of the feature pack.
18. The feature pack of claim 17 further comprising a tone generator circuit for inserting tones into the telephone conversation while the telephone conversation is being recorded.
19. The feature pack of claim 18 where the tones are inserted in periodic fashion.
20. The feature pack of claim 17 where the audio recording circuit records one or more ringtones of a cellular phone.
21. The feature pack of claim 1 further comprising a volume control actuator, at least first and second set of speakers whose volume can be controlled by the volume control actuator.
22. The feature pack of claim 21 further comprising an actuator for selecting one of the at least first and second set of speakers.
23. The feature pack of claim 22 further comprising a Blue Tooth circuit for transmitting and receiving signals to and from an external device paired with the feature pack.
24. The feature pack of claim 1 wherein a cellular telephone is disposed within a compartment of the feature pack and is coupled to said feature pack to allow said feature pack to operate in a first mode where it receives signals from one of an audio line received by a connector of the feature pack, a microphone of the feature pack, and a Blue Tooth circuit for receiving wireless signals.
25. The feature pack of claim 1 where said feature pack detects an external headset/microphone connected thereto and upon said detection, the feature pack operates in a second mode where it processes signals received by the headset/microphone from an incoming telephone call and signals received by the microphone of the headset/microphone.
26. The feature pack of claim 1 where said feature pack operates in a third mode by processing signals received wirelessly by the feature pack or signals received by the feature pack via its microphone or via a microphone of a headset/microphone connected to said feature pack.
Type: Application
Filed: Jun 18, 2013
Publication Date: Dec 18, 2014
Inventor: Kent S. Charugundla (New York, NY)
Application Number: 13/920,144
International Classification: H04W 52/02 (20060101);