WO2003036923A1 - Housing for a portable electronic device - Google Patents
Housing for a portable electronic device Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- WO2003036923A1 WO2003036923A1 PCT/NL2001/000788 NL0100788W WO03036923A1 WO 2003036923 A1 WO2003036923 A1 WO 2003036923A1 NL 0100788 W NL0100788 W NL 0100788W WO 03036923 A1 WO03036923 A1 WO 03036923A1
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- connector
- back part
- electronic circuit
- housing
- module
- Prior art date
Links
Classifications
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
- H04M1/00—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
- H04M1/02—Constructional features of telephone sets
- H04M1/0202—Portable telephone sets, e.g. cordless phones, mobile phones or bar type handsets
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
- H04M1/00—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
- H04M1/72—Mobile telephones; Cordless telephones, i.e. devices for establishing wireless links to base stations without route selection
- H04M1/724—User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
- H04M1/72448—User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions
- H04M1/7246—User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions by connection of exchangeable housing parts
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
- H04M1/00—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
- H04M1/02—Constructional features of telephone sets
- H04M1/0202—Portable telephone sets, e.g. cordless phones, mobile phones or bar type handsets
- H04M1/0254—Portable telephone sets, e.g. cordless phones, mobile phones or bar type handsets comprising one or a plurality of mechanically detachable modules
Definitions
- the invention relates to a housing of a portable electronic device according to the preamble of claim 1, in particular a housing of a portable telephone device.
- An external device which is connectable to the telephone device can be an accessory from a wide range of accessories, such as a FM radio module, a GPS ("Global Positioning System") module, a battery charger, a hands-free support, a Bluetooth module for a radio link with another Bluetooth device, such as a telephone headset, a keyboard and a vibrator module.
- a disadvantage of the prior art housing is that it does not allow the connection thereto of more than one external device.
- a user is limited to the use of one accessory at a time only. For example, a user will not be able to use a GPS function by one module and, at the same time, listening to a radio broadcast provided by a different module or using the telephone device with a Bluetooth headset. Since many types of accessories are conceivable and therefore many combinations thereof one could wish to use it is likely that one will be disappointed often in not having such opportunity .
- Another disadvantage of the prior art housing is that, while it is easy to plug into an external device, the external device may easily be dislocated by accident such that electrical connections between the electronic circuits of the portable device and that of the external device get disrupted and even the external device may fall off from the housing to which it was connected. This may imply loss of service and loss of the external device without noticing this timely by the user thereof.
- a housing according to claim 1 When applying the invention, a normal back part, being a component of the portable electronic device as manufactured, is replaced by the back part comprising an extension with a connector which mates to the connector of the front part of the portable device, and with the substitute back part containing electronic circuitry on either or both sides of said connector of the back part which circuitry may make the use of the external device obsolete. Since the substitute back part is mounted to the front part in the same way as the original back part was it is practically impossible to loose electrical connection between the electronic circuitry of the front and back parts and/or to loose added circuitry of the back part and its functionality for its user.
- fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a combination of a prior art portable electronic device and an accessory external device
- fig. 2 shows a perspective view of a substitute back part of the housing of the portable electronic device of fig. 1 and an accessory electronic module
- fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a combination of a prior art portable electronic device and an accessory external device
- fig. 2 shows a perspective view of a substitute back part of the housing of the portable electronic device of fig. 1 and an accessory electronic module
- fig. 2 shows a perspective view of a substitute back part of the housing of the portable electronic device of fig. 1 and an accessory electronic module
- FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a combination of a front part of the housing of the portable electronic device of fig. 1 and the substitute back part of fig. 2 during attachment to or removal from each other; and fig. 4 shows a perspective view as of fig. 1 but with the back part of the housing of the portable electronic device of fig. 1 being replaced by the substitute back part of fig. 2.
- Fig. 1 shows a prior art portable (or cellular, or the like) telephone device 1 as an example of a portable electronic device.
- a housing of the portable device 1 comprises a front part 2 and a back part 3.
- the front part 2 of the housing contains a first electronic circuit which comprises an antenna 6, a display 7 and a plurality of keys or buttons 8.
- said electronic circuitry of the front part 1 also comprises a first connector 11 at a lower minor side of the front part 2.
- the prior art portable device 1 may be combined with an external accessory device 12 containing a second electronic circuit with a second connector 13 along one of its outer sides.
- Connectors 11 and 13 are mating, for example connector 11 being a female connector and connector 13 being a male connector.
- Said second electronic circuit of the external device 12 may provide any of many functions to the user of the portable device 1, such as that of a FM radio, a GPS ("Global Positioning System") device, a battery charger, hands-free support, a Bluetooth radio link to a Bluetooth device, such as a telephone headset, a keyboard and a vibrator.
- a FM radio FM radio
- GPS Global Positioning System
- a battery charger hands-free support
- Bluetooth radio link to a Bluetooth device, such as a telephone headset, a keyboard and a vibrator.
- back part 3 of the portable device 1 as usually manufactured and purchased is replaced by a substitute back part 20, shown in fig. 2.
- substitute back part 20 can be mounted to and detached from front part 2 of portable device 1 in the same way original back part 3 was and still is.
- Substitute back part 20 comprises an extension 21 which contains a third electronic circuit, which comprises at least a third connector 22 which can mate with the first connector 11 of the front part 2 and which may therefore be identical to the second connector 13 of the external device 12.
- substitute back part 20 differs from that of original back part 3, by the addition of extension 21, it may also be deeper at a centre portion opposite the front part 2, thus providing room and a location, indicated by dotted lines 23, for placing there a fourth electronic circuit, which may be attached permanently at the inside of the substitute back part 20.
- the deepened centre has smooth transitions to edges which engage front part 2, so that portable device 1 remains comfortably to hold.
- the fourth electronic circuit is a module. More preferably, module 24 is card-shaped and comprises the fourth electronic circuit moulded in insulating material, such as plastic or resin.
- a major inner side 25 of substitute back part 20 has some additional recesses 26 and notches such as notch 27 when required to maintain module 24 substantially immovable in between.
- the function of notch 27 may be provided by a piece of resilient foam which supports against a battery pack (not shown) contained in the front part 2 after assembling the front part 2 and substitute back part 20.
- module 24 has electrical connection pads 28a shown in dashed lines.
- substitute back part 20 has electrical connection pads 28b which are opposite to and in contact with the electrical connection pads 28a of module 24 after placing module 24 in substitute back part 20.
- Pads 28b are electrically connected to third connector 22 by electrical conductors 29. It will be obvious that several types of pads, such as resilient ones, or terminals may be used to provide reliable connections between same.
- the fourth electronic circuit possibly contained in exchangeable module 24, may replace the third electronic circuit apart from its connector 22 contained in extension 21.
- extension 21 of substitute back part 20 may comprise a fourth connector 31 which may be suitable for receiving the second connector 13 of the external accessory device 12.
- the fourth connector 31 may have parallel connections to the third connector 22 and/or may be connected to electrical conductors (not shown) leading to the fourth electronic circuit, such as of module 24.
- the housing of a portable electronic device according to the invention allows the user of the device to apply many combinations of different accessory functions at the same time without the necessity of using a prior art external, loss susceptible device, but without excluding the use of such external device.
- the device may still have small dimensions and be comfortably to hold.
Abstract
Housing of a portable electronic device, comprising a front part (2) and a back part (20), which parts (2, 20) being mountable onto and detachable from each other, the front part (2) containing a first electronic circuit which has a first connector (11) at one side of the front part (2) adjacent to the back part (20), the first connector (11) being connectable to a second connector (13) of a second electronic circuit of an external device (12). The back part (20) comprises an extantion (21) containing a third electronic circuit having a third connector (22) at an inner side of the back part (20), such that the first connector (11) and the third connector (22) are connected when mounting the front part (2) and the back part (20).
Description
HOUSING FOR A PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE
The invention relates to a housing of a portable electronic device according to the preamble of claim 1, in particular a housing of a portable telephone device.
A housing of the above mentioned type of a portable telephone device is known from practice and available from applicant. An external device which is connectable to the telephone device can be an accessory from a wide range of accessories, such as a FM radio module, a GPS ("Global Positioning System") module, a battery charger, a hands-free support, a Bluetooth module for a radio link with another Bluetooth device, such as a telephone headset, a keyboard and a vibrator module.
A disadvantage of the prior art housing is that it does not allow the connection thereto of more than one external device.
Therefore a user is limited to the use of one accessory at a time only. For example, a user will not be able to use a GPS function by one module and, at the same time, listening to a radio broadcast provided by a different module or using the telephone device with a Bluetooth headset. Since many types of accessories are conceivable and therefore many combinations thereof one could wish to use it is likely that one will be disappointed often in not having such opportunity .
Another disadvantage of the prior art housing is that, while it is easy to plug into an external device, the external device may easily be dislocated by accident such that electrical connections between the electronic circuits of the portable device and that of the external device get disrupted and even the external device may fall off from the housing to which it was connected. This may imply loss of service and loss of the external device without noticing this timely by the user thereof.
It is an object of the invention to solve the above mentioned drawbacks .
Said object is obtained according to the invention by providing a housing according to claim 1.
When applying the invention, a normal back part, being a component of the portable electronic device as manufactured, is replaced by the back part comprising an extension with a connector which mates to the connector of the front part of the portable device, and with the substitute back part containing electronic circuitry on either or both sides of said connector of the back part which circuitry may make the use of the external device obsolete. Since the substitute back part is mounted to the front part in the same way as the original back part was it is practically impossible to loose electrical connection between the electronic circuitry of the front and back parts and/or to loose added circuitry of the back part and its functionality for its user.
In a preferred embodiment at least a portion of the electronic circuitry of the back part of the housing according to the invention is configured as a module which is exchangeable by the user. By this the back part according to the invention can be used with different modules providing different functions to the user. Since the back part is thus becoming -widely applicable its costs will be reduced remarkably. Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description with reference to the drawings, in which: fig. 1 shows a perspective view of a combination of a prior art portable electronic device and an accessory external device; fig. 2 shows a perspective view of a substitute back part of the housing of the portable electronic device of fig. 1 and an accessory electronic module; fig. 3 shows a perspective view of a combination of a front part of the housing of the portable electronic device of fig. 1 and the substitute back part of fig. 2 during attachment to or removal from each other; and fig. 4 shows a perspective view as of fig. 1 but with the back part of the housing of the portable electronic device of fig. 1 being replaced by the substitute back part of fig. 2. Fig. 1 shows a prior art portable (or cellular, or the like) telephone device 1 as an example of a portable electronic device. A housing of the portable device 1 comprises a front part 2 and a back part 3. With the portable device 1 being a telephone device the
front part 2 of the housing contains a first electronic circuit which comprises an antenna 6, a display 7 and a plurality of keys or buttons 8. Although not discernible in fig. 1 said electronic circuitry of the front part 1 also comprises a first connector 11 at a lower minor side of the front part 2.
The prior art portable device 1 may be combined with an external accessory device 12 containing a second electronic circuit with a second connector 13 along one of its outer sides. Connectors 11 and 13 are mating, for example connector 11 being a female connector and connector 13 being a male connector.
Said second electronic circuit of the external device 12 may provide any of many functions to the user of the portable device 1, such as that of a FM radio, a GPS ("Global Positioning System") device, a battery charger, hands-free support, a Bluetooth radio link to a Bluetooth device, such as a telephone headset, a keyboard and a vibrator.
According to the invention back part 3 of the portable device 1 as usually manufactured and purchased is replaced by a substitute back part 20, shown in fig. 2. As shown in fig. 3 substitute back part 20 can be mounted to and detached from front part 2 of portable device 1 in the same way original back part 3 was and still is.
Substitute back part 20 comprises an extension 21 which contains a third electronic circuit, which comprises at least a third connector 22 which can mate with the first connector 11 of the front part 2 and which may therefore be identical to the second connector 13 of the external device 12.
While the shape of substitute back part 20 differs from that of original back part 3, by the addition of extension 21, it may also be deeper at a centre portion opposite the front part 2, thus providing room and a location, indicated by dotted lines 23, for placing there a fourth electronic circuit, which may be attached permanently at the inside of the substitute back part 20. Preferably the deepened centre has smooth transitions to edges which engage front part 2, so that portable device 1 remains comfortably to hold. Preferably, however, the fourth electronic circuit is a module. More preferably, module 24 is card-shaped and comprises the fourth electronic circuit moulded in insulating material, such as plastic or resin.
A major inner side 25 of substitute back part 20 has some additional recesses 26 and notches such as notch 27 when required to maintain module 24 substantially immovable in between. In fact, the function of notch 27 may be provided by a piece of resilient foam which supports against a battery pack (not shown) contained in the front part 2 after assembling the front part 2 and substitute back part 20.
At its bottom side module 24 has electrical connection pads 28a shown in dashed lines. At its inside substitute back part 20 has electrical connection pads 28b which are opposite to and in contact with the electrical connection pads 28a of module 24 after placing module 24 in substitute back part 20. Pads 28b are electrically connected to third connector 22 by electrical conductors 29. It will be obvious that several types of pads, such as resilient ones, or terminals may be used to provide reliable connections between same. The fourth electronic circuit, possibly contained in exchangeable module 24, may replace the third electronic circuit apart from its connector 22 contained in extension 21. In addition, as shown by fig. 4, extension 21 of substitute back part 20 may comprise a fourth connector 31 which may be suitable for receiving the second connector 13 of the external accessory device 12. The fourth connector 31 may have parallel connections to the third connector 22 and/or may be connected to electrical conductors (not shown) leading to the fourth electronic circuit, such as of module 24.
The housing of a portable electronic device according to the invention and as explained herein before allows the user of the device to apply many combinations of different accessory functions at the same time without the necessity of using a prior art external, loss susceptible device, but without excluding the use of such external device. In spite of the presence of the extension of the substitute back part of the portable device according to the invention, the device may still have small dimensions and be comfortably to hold.
Claims
1. Housing of a portable electronic device, comprising a front part (2) and a back part (20), which parts (2, 20) being mountable onto and detachable from each other, the front part (2) containing a first electronic circuit which has a first connector (11) at one side of the front part (2) adjacent to the back part (20), the first connector (11) being connectable to a second connector (13) of a second electronic circuit of an external device (12) , characterized in that the back part (20) comprises an extension (21) containing a third electronic circuit having a third connector (22) at an inner side of the back part (20), such that the first connector (11) and the third connector (22) are connected when mounting the front part (2) and the back part (20) .
2. Housing according to claim 1, characterized in that the back part (20) contains a fourth electronic circuit which is connected to the third connector (22) and which is arranged against a major inner side of the back part (20) .
3. Housing according to claim 2, characterized in that the fourth electronic circuit is arranged as an exchangeable module (24).
4. Housing according to claim 3, characterized in that the module (24) is of a card-shape and the back part (20) provides room for arranging the module (24) therein with major sides of the card- shaped module plane-parallel to the major side of the back part (20) .
5. Housing according to a preceding claim, characterized in that the extension (21) of the back part (20) comprises a fourth connector (31) which is connected to an electronic circuit of the back part (20) and which is connectable to the second connector (13) of the second electronic circuit of the external device (12).
6. Housing according to claim 5, characterized in that the fourth connector (31) is arranged at an outer side of the back part (20) such, that after mounting the front and back parts (2, 20) the first, third and fourth connectors (11, 22, 31) are in line.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/NL2001/000788 WO2003036923A1 (en) | 2001-10-26 | 2001-10-26 | Housing for a portable electronic device |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/NL2001/000788 WO2003036923A1 (en) | 2001-10-26 | 2001-10-26 | Housing for a portable electronic device |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| WO2003036923A1 true WO2003036923A1 (en) | 2003-05-01 |
Family
ID=19760775
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/NL2001/000788 WO2003036923A1 (en) | 2001-10-26 | 2001-10-26 | Housing for a portable electronic device |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| WO (1) | WO2003036923A1 (en) |
Cited By (2)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO2005081500A1 (en) * | 2004-01-30 | 2005-09-01 | Nokia Corporation | Function specific interchangeable cover piece for a mobile communication device |
| EP1508814A3 (en) * | 2003-08-19 | 2006-11-15 | LG Electronics Inc. | Accessory-type GPS receiver |
Citations (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WO1997049077A1 (en) * | 1996-06-17 | 1997-12-24 | Nokia Mobile Phones Limited | An add-on unit for connecting to a mobile station and a mobile station |
| US5752205A (en) * | 1995-02-27 | 1998-05-12 | Motorola, Inc. | Adaptable portable radio |
| US5786789A (en) * | 1994-11-14 | 1998-07-28 | Trimble Navigation Limited | GPS and cellphone unit having add-on modules |
| WO2001022695A1 (en) * | 1999-09-21 | 2001-03-29 | Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson (Publ) | A portable communication apparatus having first and second user interfaces, and an accessory device comprising a keypad and a display for a portable radio telephone |
-
2001
- 2001-10-26 WO PCT/NL2001/000788 patent/WO2003036923A1/en active Application Filing
Patent Citations (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US5786789A (en) * | 1994-11-14 | 1998-07-28 | Trimble Navigation Limited | GPS and cellphone unit having add-on modules |
| US5752205A (en) * | 1995-02-27 | 1998-05-12 | Motorola, Inc. | Adaptable portable radio |
| WO1997049077A1 (en) * | 1996-06-17 | 1997-12-24 | Nokia Mobile Phones Limited | An add-on unit for connecting to a mobile station and a mobile station |
| WO2001022695A1 (en) * | 1999-09-21 | 2001-03-29 | Telefonaktiebolaget L M Ericsson (Publ) | A portable communication apparatus having first and second user interfaces, and an accessory device comprising a keypad and a display for a portable radio telephone |
Non-Patent Citations (1)
| Title |
|---|
| CONSTABLE M: "REMOTE ACCESSORY PACK", MOTOROLA TECHNICAL DEVELOPMENTS, MOTOROLA INC. SCHAUMBURG, ILLINOIS, US, vol. 39, September 1999 (1999-09-01), pages 253 - 255, XP000930992 * |
Cited By (5)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP1508814A3 (en) * | 2003-08-19 | 2006-11-15 | LG Electronics Inc. | Accessory-type GPS receiver |
| CN100386966C (en) * | 2003-08-19 | 2008-05-07 | Lg电子株式会社 | Accessory-type GPS receiver |
| US7493216B2 (en) | 2003-08-19 | 2009-02-17 | Lg Electronics Inc. | Accessory-type GPS receiver |
| WO2005081500A1 (en) * | 2004-01-30 | 2005-09-01 | Nokia Corporation | Function specific interchangeable cover piece for a mobile communication device |
| US7305260B2 (en) | 2004-01-30 | 2007-12-04 | Nokia Corporation | Function specific interchangeable cover piece for a mobile communication device |
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