US5535274A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Universal connection for cellular telephone interface
Assignee: Cellport Systems Inc
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Filing: 1994-04-19
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Granted: 1996-07-09
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Expires: 2014-04-19
Abstract
Abstract A cellular telephone is interconnected to a host assembly via a cable. The cable contains both appropriate interdisciplinary connections for attachment to the telephone at one end and to the host assembly at the other end via a universal connector. The identity of the particular cellular telephone can be provided to the host assembly by a number of different protocols including the downloading of function-related parameters to the host assembly that are unique to the particular telephone. Accordingly the host assembly can function with any one of a variety of cellular telephones having differently configured cable connections. In one embodiment, a pocket adapter holds the cellular telephone and includes the universal connector.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael F. Braitberg
- 👤 Patrick J. Kennedy
- 👤 Lester B. Hatcher
- 👤 Davide Andrea
- 👤 Gregory D. Volan
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-02 10:11
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M1/00; H04M1/738; H02; H02J; H02J7/00; H02J7/485; H01; H01R; H01R31/00; H01R31/06; H02J7/40; H02J7/44; H02J7/70; H02J7/731; H02J7/751; H04B; H04B1/00; H04B1/38; H04B1/3816; H04B1/3827; H04B1/385; H04B1/3877; H04B1/3883; H04M1/02; H04M1/0202; H04M1/0249; H04M1/60; H04M1/6033; H04M1/6041; H04M1/6075; H04W; H04W88/00; H04W88/02; H01R2201/00; H01R2201/16
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
366 words
An apparatus for use with a selected one of a plurality of cellular telephones, comprising: a first pocket device having a body with a receiving section and an electrical interface, said receiving section for use in holding a first cellular telephone and having a first physical configuration including first dimensions, said electrical interface including a number of signal output conductors that have a predetermined physical arrangement; a second pocket device having a body with a receiving section and an electrical interface, said receiving section for use in holding a second cellular telephone and having a second physical configuration including second dimensions that are different from said first physical configuration and said dimensions of said receiving section of said first pocket device and in which said receiving section of said second pocket device is unable to properly hold the first cellular telephone and said receiving section of said first pocket device is unable to properly hold the second cellular telephone, said electrical interface of said second pocket device including a number of signal output conductors that have a predetermined physical arrangement that is the same as said predetermined physical arrangement of said signal output conductors of said electrical interface of said first pocket device; a common connector connectable to each of said electrical interfaces of each of said first and said second pocket devices, with said common connector being selected for connection to said electrical interface of said first pocket device using said predetermined physical arrangement of said signal output conductors; a common device for providing at least a first predetermined function associated with a plurality of cellular telephones including the first cellular telephone and the second cellular telephone, said common device being detachably connected to said body of said first pocket device; and communication means for providing electrical communication between said common device and said electrical interface of said first pocket device using said common connector; wherein when said body of said first pocket device, while properly holding the first cellular telephone, is detached from said common device, said number of signal output conductors are also detached with said body while said communication means maintains electrical communication between said first pocket device and said common device.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
366 words
An apparatus for use with a selected one of a plurality of cellular telephones, comprising: a first pocket device having a body with a receiving section and an electrical interface, said receiving section for use in holding a first cellular telephone and having a first physical configuration including first dimensions, said electrical interface including a number of signal output conductors that have a predetermined physical arrangement; a second pocket device having a body with a receiving section and an electrical interface, said receiving section for use in holding a second cellular telephone and having a second physical configuration including second dimensions that are different from said first physical configuration and said dimensions of said receiving section of said first pocket device and in which said receiving section of said second pocket device is unable to properly hold the first cellular telephone and said receiving section of said first pocket device is unable to properly hold the second cellular telephone, said electrical interface of said second pocket device including a number of signal output conductors that have a predetermined physical arrangement that is the same as said predetermined physical arrangement of said signal output conductors of said electrical interface of said first pocket device; a common connector connectable to each of said electrical interfaces of each of said first and said second pocket devices, with said common connector being selected for connection to said electrical interface of said first pocket device using said predetermined physical arrangement of said signal output conductors; a common device for providing at least a first predetermined function associated with a plurality of cellular telephones including the first cellular telephone and the second cellular telephone, said common device being detachably connected to said body of said first pocket device; and communication means for providing electrical communication between said common device and said electrical interface of said first pocket device using said common connector; wherein when said body of said first pocket device, while properly holding the first cellular telephone, is detached from said common device, said number of signal output conductors are also detached with said body while said communication means maintains electrical communication between said first pocket device and said common device.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
67 words
An apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein: one of said first pocket device and said common device includes a latching assembly and the other one of said common device and said first pocket device includes a retaining clip and in which said latching assembly and said retaining clip are joined together to detachably connect said body of said first pocket device and said common device together.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
An apparatus, as claimed in claim 2, wherein: PG,48 said retaining clip has a movable spring member and said latching assembly has a channel for receiving said spring member.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
An apparatus, as claimed in claim 3, wherein: said latching assembly includes a catch member adjacent to said channel for engaging said spring member.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
An apparatus, as claimed in claim 2, wherein: said latching assembly includes a movable release member.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
An apparatus, as claimed in claim 2, wherein: said latching assembly includes at least one lip for use in preventing movement of said spring member.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
An apparatus, as claimed in claim 2, wherein: said retaining clip has at least one flange for use in engaging a lip of said latching assembly to limit movement of said spring member.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
An apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said first pocket device includes means for providing information related to an identity of the first cellular telephone.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
17 words
An apparatus, as claimed in claim 8, wherein: said means for providing information includes a memory device.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
41 words
An apparatus, as claimed in claim 9, wherein: said memory device provides function-related parameters that differ among different cellular telephones and said function-related parameters are used in identifying the first cellular telephone when it is connected to said first pocket device.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
99 words
An apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said receiving section of said first pocket device includes a recessed area and first and second side walls for use in properly holding the first cellular telephone and said receiving section of said second pocket device includes a recessed area and first and second side walls for use in properly holding the second cellular telephone and in which said recessed area and first and second side walls of said second pocket device have a greater size than said recessed area and first and second side walls of said first pocket device.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
21 words
An apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said first predetermined function includes charging a battery of the first cellular telephone.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
An apparatus, as claimed in claim 12, wherein: said common device is located at one of the following: (a) adjacent to a wall mounted electrical outlet; and (b) supported on a laterally extending surface.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
45 words
An apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said first pocket device includes a conductor cable communicating with said electrical interface and a connector housing having electrical contacts in communication with said conductor cable, said connector housing for electrically communicating with the first cellular telephone.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
107 words
An apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said electrical interface of said first pocket device has a first set of input conductors having a first physical arrangement for use with the first cellular telephone and said electrical interface of said second pocket device has a second set of input conductors having a second physical arrangement different from said first physical arrangement for use with the second cellular telephone wherein said first set of input conductors communicates with the first cellular telephone and not the second cellular telephone and said second set of input conductors communicates with the second cellular telephone and not the first cellular telephone.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
38 words
An apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said first pocket device includes means for storing information and said common device includes processing means and in which said information is controllable to be downloaded to said processing means.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
60 words
An apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said first predetermined function includes charging a battery of the first cellular telephone and in which a source of power for charging the battery of the first cellular telephone is separate from each of said first pocket device, said second pocket device, said common device, said common connector and said communication means.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
39 words
An apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said signal output conductors include at least one conductor electrically communicating with a speaker that is provided as part of said common device for hands-free operation of the first cellular telephone.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
32 words
An apparatus, as claimed in claim 1, wherein: said first pocket device includes an antenna coupler contained in said body and being different from any antenna separate from said first pocket device.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1999-07-09 | 2000-01-08 | 2000-07-09 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2003-07-09 | 2004-01-08 | 2004-07-09 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2007-07-09 | 2008-01-08 | 2008-07-09 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |