Patent US5790679A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US5790679A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Communications terminal having a single transducer for handset and handsfree receive functionality
Assignee: Apple Inc
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Filing: 1996-06-06
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Granted: 1998-08-04
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Expires: 2016-06-06
Abstract
Abstract A wireless terminal for personal communication systems is provided with selective handsfree or handset receive mode of operation utilizing a single transducer. The transducer is mounted within a specially designed enclosure having front and back chambers each with strategically located acoustic ports for shaping the frequency response and providing good quality audio in each mode. Electronic equalization may be employed to further adjust the amplifier gain and shape the frequency response for dual mode operation.
Inventors
- 👤 Larry Edward Hawker
- 👤 Andre John Van Schyndel
- 👤 Christopher Michael Forrester
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-09 17:23
CPC Classifications
H; H04; H04M; H04M1/00; H04M1/60; H04M1/6033; H04M1/6041; H04M1/605; H04M1/02; H04M1/0202; H04M1/03; H04M1/035; H04R; H04R1/00; H04R1/20; H04R1/22; H04R1/28; H04R1/2807; H04R1/2811; H04R1/2869; H04R1/2876; H04R1/288; H04R2499/00; H04R2499/10; H04R2499/11
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
123 words
A communications device having a casing defined by a front face, a back face and respective side walls, a transducer enclosure between said front face and said back face with a transverse partition separating said enclosure into first and second chambers, and a receive transducer for providing handset and handsfree receive functionality mounted on said partition, said first chamber having a plurality of acoustic ports comprising a first set thereof exiting from the front face in approximately co-axial alignment with said transducer and a second set of acoustic ports concentrically spaced from said first set of acoustic ports and exiting from the front face in an area not in alignment with the transducer and said second chamber having at least one acoustic port.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
123 words
A communications device having a casing defined by a front face, a back face and respective side walls, a transducer enclosure between said front face and said back face with a transverse partition separating said enclosure into first and second chambers, and a receive transducer for providing handset and handsfree receive functionality mounted on said partition, said first chamber having a plurality of acoustic ports comprising a first set thereof exiting from the front face in approximately co-axial alignment with said transducer and a second set of acoustic ports concentrically spaced from said first set of acoustic ports and exiting from the front face in an area not in alignment with the transducer and said second chamber having at least one acoustic port.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
126 words
A transducer enclosure for use in a communication device adapted to provide handset and handsfree receive functionality, said enclosure having first and second chambers separated by a partition with a transducer mounted on said partition and facing into the first chamber wherein said second chamber has at least one acoustic port communicating with the exterior of the enclosure, said first chamber having a side wall and a face wall and having a plurality of acoustic ports comprising a first set thereof exiting through the face wall and located in an area approximately aligned with the transducer, and a second set of acoustic ports concentrically spaced from said first set of acoustic ports and exiting through the face wall in an area not aligned with the transducer.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
126 words
A transducer enclosure for use in a communication device adapted to provide handset and handsfree receive functionality, said enclosure having first and second chambers separated by a partition with a transducer mounted on said partition and facing into the first chamber wherein said second chamber has at least one acoustic port communicating with the exterior of the enclosure, said first chamber having a side wall and a face wall and having a plurality of acoustic ports comprising a first set thereof exiting through the face wall and located in an area approximately aligned with the transducer, and a second set of acoustic ports concentrically spaced from said first set of acoustic ports and exiting through the face wall in an area not aligned with the transducer.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
46 words
A communications device as defined in claim 1 wherein the acoustic ports of the first set are all located within a circular area of the front face such that they are within a circle circumscribed by the knife-edge of a standard frequency response testing artificial ear.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
35 words
A communications device as defined in claim 3 wherein the acoustic ports of the second set exit on the front face in an area outside said circular area of the first set of acoustic ports.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
37 words
A communications device as defined in claim 4 wherein the acoustic ports of the second set exiting to a pair of slots one on each side of said circular area of the first set of acoustic ports.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
41 words
A communications device as defined in claim 1, wherein the plurality of acoustic ports further comprises a third set of acoustic ports located on the walls of the first chamber and exiting on at least one side wall of the device.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
23 words
A communications device as defined in claim 6 wherein the third set of acoustic ports exit on the end wall of the device.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
46 words
A transducer enclosure as defined in claim 2 wherein the acoustic ports of the first set are all located within a circular area of the front face such that they are within a circle circumscribed by the knife-edge of a standard frequency response testing artificial ear.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
35 words
A transducer enclosure as defined in claim 8 wherein the acoustic ports of the second set exit on the front face in an area outside said circular area of the first set of acoustic ports.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
31 words
A transducer enclosure as defined in claim 2, wherein the plurality of acoustic ports further comprises a third set of acoustic ports located along the side wall of the first chamber.
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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) | 2001-08-03 | 2002-02-02 | 2002-08-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-08-03 | 2006-02-02 | 2006-08-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-08-03 | 2010-02-02 | 2010-08-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |