Combined and stand-alone hand held mobile communication system

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0001] (a) Field of the Invention

[0002] The present invention is related to a combined and standalone hand held mobile communication system, and more particularly, to one that the main unit and the input and output interface unit of the system are separately provided to allow combined or standalone hand held use.

[0003] (b) Description of the Prior Art

[0004] Conventional mobile communication system, such as a cell phone, usually has its main unit and the input and output interface unit to be integrated in one. Though a wireless earphone, or a wired earphone is provided for RF communication between two sets of cell phone to avoid direct contact of one's cheek with the cell phone, the handset is built in the cell phone, the talking function is compromised when the distance between the handset and the talker get longer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0005] The primary purpose of the present invention is to provide a hand held mobile communication system that allows combined or standalone use. To achieve the purpose, the main unit and input and output interface unit, are separated for combined or standalone hand held use. Both units are respectively provided with a portable battery source, an optional wireless video, audio, A/V, control signals receiving and transmission device, or a transmission interface comprised of a transmission conductor and a plug and socket set to serve as the source or signal for linking the main unit and the input and output interface unit. In addition to functioning as a cell phone for voice communication, the present invention may provide at the same time other functions normally provided by a mobile communication system or by a information process device including a camera-recorder, a tape recorder, transmission and receiving of AV messages, or a PDA.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0006]FIG. 1 is a block chart showing a basic structure of the present invention.

[0007]FIG. 2 is a block chart showing a system of wireless intercom handset added with a secondary receiver and a secondary transmitter, and related circuit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0008] A hand held mobile communication system containing a main unit and an input and output interface unit that can be combined for operation or operated separately. When the present invention is applied to a cell phone, the cell phone is designed to such that both of the main unit and the input and output interface unit can be combined or separately provided for hand use. A portable battery source is each provided to, or is provided only to either of both the main unit and the input and output interface unit. A conductor and a plug and socket set are provided for mutual messaging between both units, or an interface for transmission of wireless video, or audio, or A/V signals, or control and operation signals that executes one-way or two-way RF, IR or ultrasonic communication is provided, so that both units when combined or separately provided are capable of functioning as a cell phone to execute external two-2ay communication, audio and/or video recording.

[0009] The mobile communication system containing the main unit and the input and output interface unit either combined or separately provided for hand held use as applicable. When separately provided, if either unit is provided with a portable battery source, then such unit serves as the source and an interface for the transmission of video, or audio, or A/V signals, or control and operation signals by means of a conductor. If both units are each provided with the portable battery source, a direct transmission is made possible with the transmission conductor or the plug and socket set as the transmission interface; meanwhile, both units may be each respectively provided with a wireless transmission interface comprised of a transmission and receiving device. Wherein, the transmission interface works with an RF electromagnetic wave, or infrared, or ultrasonic at a single frequency, multiple-frequency, switched or coded frequency that is same as or different from the frequency used for external communication by the main unit, so to execute wireless transmission of video, audio, A/V, or control and operation signals between two units; or transmission to another hand held communication system provided with identical transmission and receiving device, or another hand-held mobile communication system that can be combined or separately provided for operation, or another communication system. The frequency may be freely selected or a protocol, such as Blue Tooth frequency can be use. Any mechanism allowing easy attachment of one unit to and detachment from the other unit is provided to combine both units by insertion, clicking locking, rotating, or magnetism. When combined, both units are applied for transmission via the transmission conductor, or linked to the plug and socket set to transmit source, video, audio, A/V or control and operation signals; or having the transmission and receiving device as a transmission interface. Wherein, the transmission interface works with an RF electromagnetic wave, or infrared, or ultrasonic at a single frequency, multiple-frequency, switched or coded frequency that is same as or different from the frequency used for external communication by the main unit, so to execute wireless transmission of video, audio, A/V, or control and operation signals between two units; or transmission to another hand held communication system provided with identical transmission and receiving device, or another hand-held mobile communication system that can be combined or separately provided for operation, or another communication system. The frequency may be freely selected or a protocol, such as Blue Tooth frequency can be use.

[0010] The configuration of the structure of the combined or standalone hand-held communication system is described as follows.

[0011]FIG. 1 shows a block chart of the basic structure of the present invention. Wherein, the present invention is essentially comprised of a main unit and an input and output interface unit, and each unit is respectively provided with a portable battery source device, a transmission conductor, or a wireless transmission interface to transmit video, audio, A/V, or control and operation signals, and a mechanism to combine or separate both units characterized by that:

[0012] In the hand held communication system comprised of the main unit and the input and output interface unit that allows combined use or standalone use, the input and output interface unit is separately provided with a portable battery source so that the structure of the main unit and that of the input and output interface unit allow standalone hand held operation. Meanwhile when both structures are linked with the transmission conductor as the transmission interface, or having the transmission and receiving device as a transmission interface; wherein, the transmission interface works with an RF electromagnetic wave, or infrared, or ultrasonic at a single frequency, multiple-frequency, switched or coded frequency that is same as or different from the frequency used for external communication by the main unit, so to execute wireless transmission of video, audio, A/V, or control and operation signals between two units. The structure of the main unit and that of the input and output interface unit can be combined into one for hand held operation while the transmission conductor, or the plug and socket set is used as the transmission interface to transmit source, video, audio, A/V, or control and operation signals between two units.

[0013] The combined and standalone hand held mobile communication system as illustrated in FIG. 1 is essentially comprised of:

[0014] a main unit <b>100</b>: related to a hand held mobile communication system of the prior art, or it is further provided with A/V recording function, audio recording function, transmission and receiving A/V message, or structured into a mobile communication system such as a PDA, or into a hand held mobile communication system with normal functions for information process; to be provided inside an standalone casing <b>101</b>. The standalone casing <b>101</b> is provided also to accommodate a circuit <b>150</b> that matches the function of the main unit <b>100</b>. As applicable, an operation interface <b>102</b>, a text or image display <b>120</b>, a circuit <b>103</b> for external communication, a memory <b>104</b>, a portable battery source <b>105</b> and a wireless transmission interface comprised of a wireless transmission and receiving device <b>110</b>, wherein, the wireless transmission interface works with an RF electromagnetic wave, or infrared, or ultrasonic at a single frequency, multiple-frequency, switched or coded frequency that is same as or different from the frequency used for external communication by the main unit, so to execute wireless transmission of video, audio, A/V, or control and operation signals between two units; or to another hand held communication system provided with identical transmission and receiving device, or another hand-held mobile communication system that can be combined or separately provided for operation, or another communication system. The frequency may be freely selected or a protocol, such as Blue Tooth frequency can be use. Alternatively, a wired transmission interface comprised of a transmission conductor <b>108</b> or a plug and socket set <b>109</b>, adapted with either or both of the wireless or wired transmission to provide a transmission interface <b>116</b> for the transmission of video, audio, A/V, or control and operation signals. Furthermore, a mechanism allowing easy attaching or detaching an input and output transmission unit <b>200</b> to or from the main unit <b>100</b> by insertion, clicking, locking, rotating or magnetism;

[0015] the input and output interface unit <b>200</b>: provided with a standalone casing <b>214</b> accommodating an input receiver <b>201</b> of a conventional hand held mobile communication system, an output loudspeaker <b>202</b>, or as applicable, a display <b>220</b>, and a matching local circuit <b>206</b>.In addition to providing the audio input, audio output or video or text display functions, the standalone casing <b>214</b> is further provided with an A/V recorder <b>231</b> and its related circuit <b>205</b> for taking picture, or continuous image recording, or taking picture and audio recording, and/or continuous image recording and audio recording.

[0016] A memory <b>204</b> and a portable battery source <b>207</b> or a transmission conductor <b>208</b> or a plug and socket set <b>209</b> as the source to lead in the transmission interface are adapted as options to the input and output interface unit <b>200</b>. When the portable battery source <b>207</b> is separately provided, an option of wireless transmission interface comprised of a wireless transmission and receiving device <b>210</b>, or a wired transmission interface comprised of the transmission conductor <b>208</b> or the plug and socket set <b>209</b> may be provided. When the wireless transmission interface is selected, the frequency used by the main unit for external communication may be of the same frequency or a single frequency, multi-frequency, or variable frequency of different frequency, or coded RF electromagnetic wave, or infrared or ultrasonic may be selected. A transmission interface <b>216</b> for video, or audio or A/V or control signal transmission comprised of either or both of the wireless transmission interface or the wired transmission interface is provided to execute transmission by a transmission interface <b>116</b> on the main unit <b>100</b> via the wired transmission interface comprised of the plug and socket set or the conductor, or to execute relative transmission via the wireless transmission interface.

[0017] A standalone casing <b>214</b> containing the input and output interface unit <b>200</b> is provided with a mechanism to facilitate attaching or detaching the standalone casing <b>214</b> to or from the main unit <b>100</b> by insertion, clicking, locking, rotating or magnetism.

[0018] As applicable, the input and output interface unit <b>200</b> is further provided with a display <b>203</b>, the A/V recorder <b>231</b>, and related structure and circuit that provide audio input, audio output, and any function of taking picture, continuous image recording and/or taking picture and audio recording.

[0019] In the hand held mobile communication system that allows separate or combined use is included with a mechanism to combine or separate both standalone casings, and the transmission interface <b>116</b> and another transmission interface <b>216</b> respectively provided for both units for video, audio, A/V, or control and operation signals when the system is in the state of being integrated for combined or standalone hand held use; the selection of the associated video, audio, A/V, or control and operation signals is made depending on function setup and circuit characteristics applicable to the main unit <b>100</b> and the input and output interface unit <b>200</b>, and on whether both units are combined or separated for use. Transmission mode and device for video, audio, A/V or control and operation signals include:

[0020] (1) a transmission interface comprised of a plug and socket set is each adapted to both units that are mutually matching to each other for standalone hand held use, or for combined hand held use to transmit source energy, video, audio, A/V or control and operation signals;

[0021] (2) a transmission conductor with one end fixed adapted with a retractable structure to be provided to the main unit <b>100</b>, or the input and output interface unit <b>200</b> while the unit not provided with the transmission conductor is provided with a plug and socket set to form a transmission interface with the matching plug and socket set provided on the other end of the transmission conductor for functioning as a transmission power or a transmission conductor in the transmission of video, audio, A/V, or control and operation signals. The transmission conductor is further included with a conductor set that can be automatically retracted for storage.

[0022] (3) a detachable transmission conductor: related to a conductor with both ends each provided with a plug and socket set to form a transmission interface with that provided to the main unit <b>100</b> or the input and output interface unit <b>200</b>, so that when both units are separated for use, two plug and socket sets respectively provided on both ends of the conductor are plugged into both of the main unit <b>100</b> and the input and output interface unit <b>200</b> for the transmission of video, audio, A/V, or control and operation signals.

[0023] (4) When the transmission mode described in the preceding subparagraphs (1), (2) or (3), a portable battery source is separately provided to any device that can be combined to another device or separated for use, or to any one or more than one of the device;

[0024] (5) a wireless transmission interface among the devices works with an RF electromagnetic wave, or infrared, or ultrasonic at a single frequency, multiple-frequency, switched or coded frequency that is same as or different from the frequency used for external communication by the main unit <b>100</b>, so to execute wireless transmission of video, audio, A/V, or control and operation signals between two units; or transmission to another hand held communication system provided with identical transmission and receiving device, or another hand-held mobile communication system that can be combined or separately provided for operation, or another communication system. The frequency maybe freely selected or a protocol, such as Blue Tooth frequency can be use.

[0025] The basic structure of the mobile communication system of the present invention that allows combined or standalone hand held use is further characterized by that:

[0026] (1) a manual control and operation switch is provided as applicable to control and operate the source device each provided to the main unit <b>100</b> and the input and output interface unit <b>200</b>;

[0027] (2) a transmission interface of one-way transmission or two-way transmission and receiving structure that works with an RF electromagnetic wave, or infrared, or ultrasonic at a single frequency, multiple-frequency, switched or coded frequency that is same as or different from the frequency used for external communication by the main unit; or

[0028] (3) two transmission interfaces <b>116</b>, <b>216</b> that are directly and mutually plugged in and conducted respectively to the plug and socket set provided to the main unit <b>100</b> and the input and output interface unit <b>200</b>, or via a transmission conductor connected to both of the main unit <b>100</b> and the input and output interface unit <b>200</b>; and

[0029] (4) a conduction contact, and a sensor switch comprised of a dynamo-electronic or solid state electronic device are provided on where the main unit <b>100</b> is combined to the input and output interface unit <b>200</b> to automatically cut off the source for the receiving and transmission circuit provided between both of the main unit <b>100</b> and the input and output interface unit <b>200</b> while directly conducting the input and output interface circuit between both units.

[0030] Furthermore, as illustrated in FIG. 2, the main unit <b>100</b> illustrated in FIG. 1 is provided with a device of a wireless intercom handset device <b>340</b> comprised of a secondary receiver <b>310</b>, a secondary transmitter <b>320</b>, and their related circuits <b>330</b>.The wireless intercom handset device <b>340</b> either integrated with the main unit <b>100</b>, or standalone in a dedicated casing <b>314</b> that can be combined to the main unit <b>100</b> is connected to the circuit of the mina unit <b>100</b> with a conductor or a plug and socket set for the wireless intercom handset device <b>340</b> to provide wireless intercom handset function in communicating with the input and output interface unit <b>200</b> via the wireless transmission and receiving device <b>110</b> on the main unit <b>100</b> in the mobile communication system, or to another hand held communication system provided with identical transmission and receiving device, or another hand-held mobile communication system that can be combined or separately provided for operation, or another communication system. The frequency may be freely selected or a protocol, such as Blue Tooth frequency can be use. FIG. 2 shows a block chart showing that the system illustrated in FIG. 1 is further provided with the wireless intercom handset device <b>340</b> comprised of the secondary receiver <b>310</b>, the second transmitter <b>320</b> and their related circuits <b>330</b>.

[0031] An optional switch <b>350</b> is provided to the preferred embodiment given in FIG. 2 for the control of the operation status between the wireless transmission and receiving device <b>110</b> adapted to the main unit <b>100</b> and the additional wireless intercom handset device <b>340</b> in the following applications:

[0032] (1) the wireless intercom handset device <b>340</b> is used to substitute the input and output interface unit <b>200</b> to be incorporated with the main unit <b>100</b> for external communication of transmission and receiving;

[0033] (2) the connection between the wireless intercom handset device <b>340</b> comprised of the secondary receiver <b>310</b>, the secondary transmitter <b>320</b> and their related circuits <b>330</b>, and the wireless transmission and receiving device <b>110</b> of the main unit <b>100</b> is cut off, and the connection to the portable battery source <b>207</b> is also interrupted for power saving purpose;

[0034] (3) the wireless intercom handset device <b>340</b> comprised of the secondary receiver <b>310</b>, the secondary transmitter <b>320</b> and their related circuits <b>330</b> executes short range intercom of wireless one way or two-way communication with the input and output interface unit <b>200</b> by means of the wireless transmission and receiving device <b>110</b> provided in the main unit <b>100</b>, and the wireless transmission and receiving device <b>210</b> provided in the input and output interface unit <b>200</b>;

[0035] (4) A switch <b>350</b> cuts off the operation of external communication circuit in the main unit <b>100</b> for power saving purpose when the wireless intercom handset device <b>340</b> is engaging in one way or two-way intercom with the input and output interface unit <b>200</b>; or

[0036] (5) the switch <b>350</b> provides parallel operation by controlling the main unit <b>100</b> to be reserved for external communication when the wireless intercom handset device <b>340</b> is engaging in one way or two-way intercom with the input and output interface unit <b>200</b>.

[0037] The portable source device provided to each unit in the hand held mobile communication system of the present invention that allows combined or standalone use is recharged by either of the following methods:

[0038] (1) an external charging source dedicated to that unit;

[0039] (2) replacement with another fully charged battery source;

[0040] (3) an external charging source common to both units when combined; or

[0041] (4) mutual recharging between battery source devices of both units.

[0042] The portable source device provided to each unit in the hand held mobile communication system of the present invention that allows combined or standalone use can be applied to a digital or analogy hand held cell phone, and divided into two units respectively of the main unit <b>100</b> and the input and output interface unit <b>200</b>. Additional to that both units rely upon the transmission conductors <b>108</b>, <b>208</b> or the plug and socket sets <b>109</b>, <b>209</b> as the transmission interface for direct transmission, a wireless transmission interface comprised of a transmission and receiving device that works with an RF electromagnetic wave, or infrared, or ultrasonicata single frequency, multiple-frequency, switched or coded frequency that is same as or different from the frequency used for external communication by the main unit, so to execute wireless transmission of video, audio, A/V, or control and operation signals between two units; or transmission to another hand held communication system provided with identical transmission and receiving device, or another hand-held mobile communication system that can be combined or separately provided for operation, or another communication system. The frequency may be freely selected or a protocol, such as Blue Tooth frequency can be use. Any mechanism allowing easy attachment of one unit to and detachment from the other unit is provided to combine both units by insertion, clicking locking, rotating, or magnetism. In addition to being applied to a cell phone that provides at the same time functions of taking picture, audio recording or image transmission, the mobile communication system of the present invention that allows combined or standalone use is characterized by permitting combined or standalone hand held operation to facilitate that either of the input and output interface unit <b>200</b> and the main unit <b>100</b> operates independently, or to separately execute taking picture and display when an integrated mobile communication system is prevented from offering ideal recording and display visual angle. Making the applications of a mobile communication system even more agile is where the innovation of the present invention lies, and this patent application is therefore duly filed.