Cellular telephone personal digital assistant, and pager unit with capability of short range radio frequency transmissions

Abstract

A cellular telephone system, including a cellular telephone transceiver unit, an ear piece which receives the voice vibrations of a user, and a wireless linkage operatively connecting the ear piece to the cellular telephone transceiver unit, allows a user to be in a hands-free mode when using a cellular telephone. The cellular telephone transceiver unit includes a personal digital assistant and a pager with a vibration module. The ear piece generally uses a bone sensor along with an air sensor placed in the external auditory canal of the user to detect the voice vibrations of the user. Further, a speaker is included in the ear piece to allow the user to hear incoming data from the cellular telephone transceiver. The wireless linkage uses low power radio frequency waves to send and receive signals between the ear piece and the cellular telephone transceiver unit. Both the ear piece and the cellular telephone transceiver unit require power which is supplied by batteries. Both the ear piece and the cellular telephone transceiver may be recharged by simply placing them in a docking station.

1 . A hand-held personal communications device, comprising: 
 a two-piece housing;    a voice transceiver disposed within the housing for use in cellular communications;    a hinge operatively connecting each piece of the two-piece housing such that a portion of the housing moves in an arcuate path when the device transitions from a closed position to an open position;    an external display to allow a user of the device to view information without opening the device;    an external display image associated with the external display, the external display image having a top portion and a bottom portion and being orientated such that the top portion of the external display image is nearer the hinge than the bottom portion of the external display image when the device is in the closed position;    an internal display to allow the user to view information when the device is in the open position; and    an internal display image associated with the internal display, the internal display image having a top portion and a bottom portion and being orientated such that the bottom portion of the internal display image is nearer the hinge than the top portion of the internal display image when the device is in the open position.    
     
     
         2 . The hand-held personal communications device of  claim 1  further comprising touch-operable inputs usable when the device is in an open position, the touch-operable inputs being used for controlling the device.  
     
     
         3 . The hand-held personal communications device of  claim 1  further comprising touch-operable inputs usable when the device is in the closed position, the touch-operable inputs being used for controlling the device.  
     
     
         4 . The hand-held personal communications device of  claim 1  wherein the external display image indicates presence of an incoming call.  
     
     
         5 . The hand-held personal communications device of  claim 1  wherein the internal display allows for internet browsing.  
     
     
         6 . The hand-held personal communications device of  claim 1  wherein the internal display allows for access to email.  
     
     
         7 . The hand-held personal communications device of  claim 1  wherein the internal display allows for access to calendar information.  
     
     
         8 . The hand-held personal communications device of  claim 1  wherein the internal display allows for internet browsing, access to email, and access to calendar information.  
     
     
         9 . The hand-held personal communications device of  claim 1  further comprising a short range transceiver disposed within the housing.  
     
     
         10 . The hand-held personal communications device of  claim 9  wherein the short range transceiver is an RF transceiver.  
     
     
         11 . The hand-held personal communications device of  claim 9  wherein said device is capable of hands-free operation with a remote earpiece.  
     
     
         12 . The hand-held personal communications device of  claim 11  wherein the earpiece contains a remote short-range transceiver.  
     
     
         13 . The hand-held personal communications device of  claim 1  wherein the earpiece is shaped so as not to occlude the external auditory canal of the user.  
     
     
         14 . The hand-held personal communications of device  claim 13  wherein the remote short-range transceiver of the earpiece and the short-range transceiver of the device are operably linked.  
     
     
         15 . A hand-held personal communications device, comprising: 
 a two-piece housing;    a voice transceiver disposed within the housing for use in cellular communications;    a hinge operatively connecting each piece of the two-piece housing such that a portion of the housing moves in an arcuate path when the device transitions from a closed position to an open position;    an external display associated with the device when the device is in the closed position to permit a user of the device to view information on the external display without opening the device;    an external display image associated with the external display, the external display image having a top portion and a bottom portion and being orientated such that the top portion of the external display image is nearer the hinge than the bottom portion of the external display image;    an internal display associated with the device when the device is placed in an open position to allow the user to view information when the device is in the open position;    an internal display image associated with the internal display, the internal display image having a top portion and a bottom portion and being orientated such that the bottom portion of the internal display image is nearer the hinge than the top portion of the internal display image when the device is in the open position;    touch-operable inputs usable when the device is in the open position, the touch-operable inputs used for controlling the device; and    wherein the external display image is used to indicate presence of an incoming call.    
     
     
         16 . The hand-held personal communications device of  claim 15  wherein the internal display allows for internet browsing.  
     
     
         17 . The hand-held personal communications device of  claim 15  wherein the internal display allows for access to email.  
     
     
         18 . The hand-held personal communications device of  claim 15  wherein the internal display allows for access to calendar information.  
     
     
         19 . The hand-held personal communications device of  claim 15  wherein the internal display allows for internet browsing, access to email, and access to calendar information.  
     
     
         20 . The hand-held personal communications device of  claim 15  further comprising a short range transceiver disposed within the housing.  
     
     
         21 . The hand-held personal communications device of  claim 20  wherein the short range transceiver is an RF transceiver.  
     
     
         22 . The hand-held personal communications device of  claim 21  wherein said device is capable of hands-free operation with a remote earpiece.  
     
     
         23 . The hand-held personal communications device of  claim 22  wherein the earpiece contains a remote short-range transceiver.  
     
     
         24 . The hand-held personal communications device of  claim 23  wherein the earpiece is shaped so as not to occlude an external auditory canal of the user.  
     
     
         25 . The hand-held personal communications of device  claim 22  wherein the remote short-range transceiver of the earpiece and the short-range transceiver of the device are operably linked.  
     
     
         26 . A hand-held personal communications device, comprising: 
 a two-piece housing;    a voice transceiver disposed within the housing for use in cellular communications;    a hinge operatively connecting each piece of the two-piece housing;    a portion of the housing movable in an arcuate path to allow the device to transition from a closed position to an open position;    an external display to permit a user of the device to view information on the external display without opening the device;    an external display image associated with the external display, the external display image having a top portion and a bottom portion and being orientated such that the top portion of the external display image is nearer the hinge than the bottom portion of the external display image;    wherein the external display image is used to indicate presence of an incoming call;    an internal display to permit the user to view information when the device is in the open position;    an internal display image associated with the internal display, the internal display image having a top portion and a bottom portion and being orientated such that the bottom portion of the internal display image is nearer the hinge than the top portion of the internal display image when the device is in the open position;    touch-operable inputs usable when the device is in an open position, the touch-operable inputs used for controlling the device;    a short range RF transceiver disposed within the housing.    
     
     
         27 . The personal communication device of  claim 26  further comprising a button adapted for opening the personal communication device upon pressing the button.  
     
     
         28 . The personal communication device of  claim 26  further comprising an access port in the housing.  
     
     
         29 . The personal communication device of  claim 26  in combination with an earpiece having a short range RF transceiver in operative communication with the short range RF transceiver of the personal communication device to provide for handsfree communication.  
     
     
         30 . The personal communication device of  claim 29  wherein the earpiece further comprises a speaker and at least one input sensor.  
     
     
         31 . The personal communication device of  claim 30  wherein the at least one input sensor includes an air conduction sensor.  
     
     
         32 . The personal communication device of  claim 30  wherein the at least one input sensor includes a bone conduction sensor.  
     
     
         33 . The personal communication device of  claim 30  wherein the at least one input sensor includes both an air conduction sensor and a bone conduction sensor.  
     
     
         34 . A personal communication system, comprising: 
 (1) a cell phone, comprising: 
 (a) a two-piece housing;  
 (b) a voice transceiver disposed within the housing for use in cellular communications;  
 (c) a hinge operatively connecting each piece of the two-piece housing such that a portion of the housing moves in an arcuate path when the device transitions from a closed position to an open position;  
 (d) an external display to allow a user of the device to view information without opening the device;  
 (e) an external display image associated with the external display, the external display image having a top portion and a bottom portion and being orientated such that the top portion of the external display image is nearer the hinge than the bottom portion of the external display image when the device is in the closed position;  
 (f) an internal display to allow the user to view information when the device is in the open position;  
 (g) an internal display image associated with the internal display, the internal display image having a top portion and a bottom portion and being orientated such that the bottom portion of the internal display image is nearer the hinge than the top portion of the internal display image when the device is in the open position; and  
 (h) a short range transceiver disposed within the housing; and  
   (2) an earpiece adapted for operative communication with the cell phone, the earpiece comprising a remote short range transceiver in operative communication with the short range transceiver of the cell phone.    
     
     
         35 . The personal communication system of  claim 34  wherein the earpiece further comprises a microphone in which the microphone is sufficiently sensitive to capture voice sound output of the user.  
     
     
         36 . The personal communication system of  claim 35  wherein the earpiece is shaped so as not to occlude an external auditory canal of an ear of the user.  
     
     
         37 . The personal communication system of  claim 35  wherein the earpiece further comprises an arcuate support structure to permit the earpiece to be securely held in a position adjacent the ear.  
     
     
         38 . The personal communication system of  claim 37  wherein the earpiece is shaped so as not to occlude the external auditory canal of an ear of the user upon which the earpiece is worn.  
     
     
         39 . The personal communication system of  claim 37  wherein the arcuate support structure is flexible.  
     
     
         40 . The personal communication system of  claim 39  wherein the arcuate support structure is adapted to be located medial to the helix of the ear of the user.  
     
     
         41 . The personal communication device of  claim 35  wherein the earpiece further comprises a flexible arcuate ear attachment portion to permit the earpiece to be securely held in a position adjacent the ear so as not to occlude the external auditory canal of the user.  
     
     
         42 . The personal communication device of  claim 35  wherein the earpiece further comprises a rechargeable battery to power the remote short range transceiver.  
     
     
         43 . The personal communication device of  claim 42  wherein the earpiece further comprises a speaker adapted to reproduce sound received from the short range transceiver of the phone.  
     
     
         44 . The personal communication device of  claim 43  further comprising a processor located in the earpiece.  
     
     
         45 . The personal communication device of  claim 42  wherein the earpiece further comprises a speaker adapted to reproduce sound received from the short range transceiver of the phone, the earpiece positioning the speaker sufficiently close to the ear canal such that sound can be transmitted into the external auditory canal of the user.  
     
     
         46 . The personal communication device of  claim 34  wherein the earpiece comprises a housing containing a transceiver, a speaker, an input sensor, and an internal antenna.  
     
     
         47 . The personal communication device of  claim 46  wherein the speaker is located proximate to an opening of the external auditory canal of the user such that the speaker is substantially directed toward a tympanic membrane of the user.  
     
     
         48 . The personal communication device of  claim 46  wherein the speaker is substantially aligned with the opening of the external auditory canal of the user.  
     
     
         49 . A personal communication system comprising: 
 (1) a phone, comprising: 
 (a) a two-piece housing;  
 (b) a voice transceiver disposed within the housing for use in cellular communications;  
 (c) a hinge operatively connecting each piece of the two-piece housing such that a portion of the housing moves in an arcuate path when the device transitions from a closed position to an open position;  
 (d) an external display to allow a user of the device to view information without opening the device;  
 (e) an external display image associated with the external display, the external display image having a top portion and a bottom portion and being orientated such that the top portion of the external display image is nearer the hinge than the bottom portion of the external display image when the device is in the closed position;  
 (f) an internal display to allow the user to view information when the device is in the open position;  
 (g) an internal display image associated with the internal display, the internal display image having a top portion and a bottom portion and being orientated such that the bottom portion of the internal display image is nearer the hinge than the top portion of the internal display image when the device is in the open position;  
 (h) touch-operable inputs usable when the device is in the open position; and  
 (i) a first short range RF transceiver disposed within the housing;  
   (2) an earpiece adapted for operative communication with the phone, the earpiece comprising: 
 (a) a second short range RF transceiver for communication with the first short range RF transceiver of the phone;  
 (b) a speaker operatively connected to the second short range RF transceiver; and  
 (c) at least one input sensor operatively connected to the second short range RF.  
   
     
     
         50 . The personal communication system of  claim 49  wherein the ear piece further comprises a processor operatively connected to the second short range transceiver, the speaker, and the at least one input sensor.  
     
     
         51 . The personal communication system of  claim 49  wherein the at least one sensor includes an air conduction sensor.  
     
     
         52 . The personal communication system of  claim 49  wherein the at least one sensor includes a bone conduction sensor.  
     
     
         53 . The personal communication system of  claim 49  wherein the at least one sensor includes an air conduction sensor and a bone conduction sensor.  
     
     
         54 . A hand-held personal communication device, comprising: 
 a housing;    a voice transceiver disposed within the housing for use in cellular communications;    at least one hinge adapted for operatively connecting a first portion of the housing to a second portion of the housing such that the first portion of the housing flips relative to the second portion of the housing in transitioning from the closed position to the open position;    the first portion of the housing having an internal side and an opposite external side, the internal side accessible in the open position and the external side accessible in the closed position;    an internal display disposed on the internal side of the first body;    an external display disposed on the external side of the first body and associated with the device when the device is in the closed position to permit the user to view information without opening the device;    the external display having an associated external display image having a top and a bottom, with the associated display image being orientated such that the top of the display image is nearer the at least one hinge than the bottom when the device is in the closed position; and    a plurality of touch-operable inputs usable when the device is in the open position, the touch-operable inputs being used for controlling the device.    
     
     
         55 . The handheld personal communication device of  claim 54  further comprising a short range RF transceiver disposed within the housing.  
     
     
         56 . The hand-held personal communications device of  claim 54  wherein the external display image indicates presence of an incoming call.  
     
     
         57 . The hand-held personal communications device of  claim 54  wherein the internal display allows for internet browsing, access to email, and access to calendar information.  
     
     
         58 . The hand-held personal communications device of  claim 54  wherein said device is capable of hands-free operation in association with a remote earpiece.  
     
     
         59 . The hand-held personal communications device of  claim 58  wherein the earpiece contains a remote short-range transceiver and the earpiece is shaped so as not to block an external auditory canal of the user.  
     
     
         60 . The hand-held personal communications of device  claim 58  wherein the remote short-range transceiver of the earpiece and the short-range transceiver of the device are operably linked.