WO2000005641A1

WO2000005641A1 - Integrated palmtop computer with cellular telephone

Info

Publication number: WO2000005641A1
Application number: PCT/US1999/016200
Authority: WO
Inventors: Richard J. Chutorash
Original assignee: Lear Automotive Dearborn, Inc.
Priority date: 1998-07-24
Filing date: 1999-07-15
Publication date: 2000-02-03

Abstract

The inventive integrated communication and computation device includes a computer for altering data in accordance with a predefined set of instructions, a wireless telephone for transmitting outgoing telephone call signals and receiving incoming telephone call signals, a memory for storing data for use by the computer and the telephone, and a single input/output device for inputting control signals to the telephone and the computer and for displaying output from the telephone and the computer. Preferably, the single input/output device consists of a touch screen for inputting telephone keypad signals to the telephone and computer keyboard signals to the computer and for displaying output from the telephone and the computer.

Description

INTEGRATED PALMTOP COMPUTER WITH CELLULAR TELEPHONE

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to an integrated palmtop computer and a cellular

telephone.

A palmtop computer, sometimes referred to as a hand-held computer, is a portable personal computer whose size enables it to be held in one hand while being operated with the other hand. Due to recent advancements in technology, the functional capabilities of palmtop computers have expanded dramatically. As a result, many business people routinely use a palmtop computer during their work day. A typical palmtop computer may include a telephone and address book, an appointment calendar, a calculator, and a word processing program.

Cellular telephones, sometimes referred to as personal communication systems (PCS), provide a convenient way to place and receive telephone calls. A cellular telephone is a wireless radio transmitter and receiver which communicates through any of a number of antenna towers, each serving a particular "cell" within a given region. Over the past decade, the use of cellular phones and the number of cellular antenna towers have dramatically increased. Due to recent advancements in technology, most cellular phones are of a portable, hand-held size. As a result, many business people now routinely carry both a cellular phone and a palmtop computer. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In a disclosed embodiment of this invention, an integrated communication and computation device includes a computer for altering data in accordance with a predefined set of instructions , a wireless telephone for transmitting outgoing telephone call signals and receiving incoming telephone call signals, a memory for storing data for use by the computer and the telephone, and a single input/output device for inputting control signals to the telephone and the computer and for displaying output from the telephone and the computer.

In a preferred embodiment of this invention, the single input/output device consists of a touch screen for inputting telephone keypad signals to the telephone and computer keyboard signals to the computer and for displaying output from the telephone and the computer.

These and other features of the present invention will be best understood from the following specification and drawings, the following of which is a brief description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an integrated communication and computation device in accordance with the present invention. Figure 2 is an electrical schematic diagram of the integrated communication and computation device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Figure 1 is a perspective view of an integrated communication and computation device 10 in accordance with the present invention. The integrated communication and computation device 10 includes a housing 12, a single input/output device 14, a plurality of application switches 16, and an antenna 18. For storage purposes, the antenna 18 is preferably short or retractable into the housing 12. The integrated communication and computation device 10 is preferably portable and capable of being held in one hand while being operated by the other hand.

Figure 2 is an electrical schematic diagram of the integrated communication and computation device 10. The integrated communication and computation device 10 includes a computer 20 for altering data in accordance with a predefined set of instructions, a wireless telephone 22 for transmitting outgoing telephone call signals and receiving incoming telephone call signals, and a memory 24 for storing data for use by both the computer 20 and the telephone 22. For example, the memory 24 is designed to store data for use by the computer 20, such as a appointment calendar, data for use by the telephone 22, such as the last telephone number dialed, and data for use by both the computer 20 and the telephone 22, such as an address and telephone number list. The telephone numbers, which are entered into the device 10 by a user, can be accessed by the user in the computer 20 mode or used as "speed dial" information in the telephone 22 mode.

The single input/output device 14 is used to input control signals to the computer 20 and the telephone 22 and display output from the computer 20 and the telephone 22. A microphone 26 converts voice signals into electrical signals and transmits the electrical signals to the computer 20 and the telephone 22. In this manner, the user may employ voice signals to prompt voice activated computer functions or talk to a second telephone party. A speaker 28 converts electrical signals from the computer 20 and the telephone 22 into audible sounds. In this manner, the user may receive audible output from the computer 20 or hear the second telephone party. The antenna 18 is connected to the telephone 22 for broadcasting the outgoing telephone call signals and for receiving the incoming telephone call signals. The plurality of application switches 16 may be programmed to activate a specific computer or telephone function or mode. As examples, the switches 16 could choose between different functions such as computer /telephone, or be used to send telephone calls, end telephone calls, select computer options, etc.

In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the single input/output device 14 consists of a touch screen, as shown in Figure 1 , for inputting computer keyboard signals to the computer 20 and telephone keypad signals to the telephone 22 and for displaying output from the computer 20 and the telephone 22. A Windows CE operating system may be installed in the device 10 to provide both a handwritting recognition system and a pop-up keyboard on the touch screen. In this manner, the user could either "write" or "type" input control signals to either the computer 20 or the telephone 22 with a stylus. Further, the touch screen is capable of displaying many forms of computer or telephone output, including alpha-numeric

characters and icons.

Overall, the integration of a computer 20 and a cellular telephone 22

into a single, portable device 10 reduces part cost, capitalizes upon common features, and increase customer convenience. As should be understood, the components of Figure 2 are located in the housing 12.

Preferred embodiments of this invention have been disclosed, however, a worker of ordinary skill in the art would recognize that certain modifications would come within the scope of this invention. For that reason, the following claims should be studied to determine the true scope and content of this invention.

Claims

CLAIMSWhat is claimed is:

1. A device comprising: a computer for altering data in accordance with a predefined set of instructions; a wireless telephone for transmitting outgoing telephone call signals and receiving incoming telephone call signals; a memory for storing data for use by said computer and said telephone; and a single input/output device for inputting control signals to said computer and said telephone and for displaying output from said computer and said telephone.

2. A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said single input/output device consists of a touch screen for inputting computer keyboard signals to said computer and telephone keypad signals to said telephone and for displaying output from said computer and said telephone.

3. A device as set forth in claim 1 including a microphone for converting voice signals into electrical signals and transmitting said electrical signals to said computer and said telephone.

4. A device as set forth in claim 1 including a speaker for converting electrical signals from said computer and said telephone into audible

sounds.

5. A device as set forth in claim 1 including application switches for activating specific computer and telephone functions.

6. A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein said memory includes a telephone number and address data list which is used by both said computer and said telephone.

7. A device as set forth in claim 1 wherein a single housing encloses both said computer and said telephone.