WO2002037802A2

WO2002037802A2 - Improved radiotelephone cradle

Info

Publication number: WO2002037802A2
Application number: PCT/US2001/045580
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jae H. Shim; Ilwhan Park; Jeff R. Lind
Original assignee: Mobigence, Inc.
Priority date: 2000-10-31
Filing date: 2001-10-31
Publication date: 2002-05-10
Also published as: WO2002037802A3; AU2583602A

Abstract

A system (11) for facilitating use of a radiotelephone in a hands-free environment in a vehicle. The system includes: a flexible arm (15), having an electrically conducting line and having two or more linkages (15L-1 - 15L-4) that allow rotation of the arm (15) around multiple axes; a radiotelephone holder (13), connected to the arm (15), that receives and provides electrical power for a radiotelephone; a cigarette lighter adapter (17), connected to the arm (15), that provides electrical power for the holder (13); and an adjustable and retractable earpiece, connected to the radiotelephone through the holder (13). The radiotelephone speaker and microphone may be disabled when the earpiece is being used. A roller, located at one end of the holder (13) and having multiple cylinder portions, contacts a wall of the radiotelephone and rolls as the radiotelephone is inserted into, or removed from, the holder (13). Spring positioning mechanisms located at an end of the holder (13) holds the radiotelephone at a correct position in the holder (13).

Description

IMPROVED RADIOTELEPHONE CRADLE

Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a cradle that provides mechanical and electrical connections between a radiotelephone and a mount on a vehicle, for hands-free operation and efficient insertion into and removal from the cradle. Background of the Invention

A portable handheld radiotelephone (referred to as a "radiotelephone" herein) has become widely used as a personal communications device. The radiotelephone has a compact form that allows the device to be carried in a user's hand. However, a cradle is often provided to mount the radiotelephone in a fixed location and fixed orientation within a passenger compartment or on a dashboard of a vehicle. By use of the cradle, a user can communicate an audio message in a hands-free environment while the user operates the vehicle. The audio communication is made possible through use of a conventional earpiece (connecting a microphone and a speaker through an extension phone cable) or use of an external loudspeaker embedded in the hands-free electrical unit, which preferably has a shape of a cigarette lighter adapter or other custom shape (collectively referred to as the electrical unit herein), with an external microphone attached to the electrical unit. The electrical unit, which converts and provides the vehicle's electrical power to the radiotelephone, may also be connected to the radiotelephone battery to charge the radiotelephone while the device is mounted in a conventional cradle. Some cradles are attached to a base component that is permanently fixed to the vehicle interior, resulting in damage to the vehicle interior when the cradle is removed. Some workers have attempted to avoid permanent fixation of the cradle to the vehicle interior. For example, a cradle with a very limited physical extension is positioned in or a cigarette lighter aperture.

However, because the cigarette lighter aperture is usually located below a radio and/or cassette tape player compartment, it may be difficult to use the radiotelephone in the cradle. Further, viewing the radiotelephone screen for any text message is often cumbersome, and sometimes dangerous if the user is simultaneously operating the vehicle. A conventional external microphone cable, with no mechanism to retract the cable when the cable is not in use, often gets in the way with a radiotelephone user.

A need exists for an improved mounting cradle whose placement and orientation is adjustable for easy access by a radiotelephone user. Preferably, the cradle should integrate an earpiece that can be easily extracted and retracted while the user operates the vehicle. Preferably, the cradle should allow insertion of the radiotelephone into, and removal of the radiotelephone from, the cradle with one hand and should provide firm seating of the radiotelephone within the cradle. Summary of the Invention

These needs are met by the invention, which provides a cradle with an adjustable arm for electrically charging and adjusting the position and orientation of a radiotelephone. The cradle includes a radiotelephone holder, an arm that is adjustable in each of several angular directions, and a cigarette lighter adapter with built-in charger (referred to as a cigarette lighter charger herein) that is received by a cigarette lighter aperture and that provides mechanical support for the arm, the holder and the radiotelephone. The holder allows use of the radiotelephone in a hands-free environment. The adjustable arm provides two or more kinematic linkages and one or more arm components for positioning and angularly orienting the arm, and provides an electrical connection to charge the radiotelephone battery when the radiotelephone is received into the holder. The cigarette lighter aperture supplies vehicle electrical power to charge the battery and provides mechanical support for the cradle. Optionally, the cradle is configured with a roller so that use of one hand at the cradle is sufficient to insert or remove the radiotelephone.

The invention also provides a foldable earpiece that is integrated into the cradle with a self-retracting device. The earpiece can be folded and stored in association with the cradle and provides an electrical signal-carrying extension from the radiotelephone in the cradle to a position in close proximity to the user's mouth and ear. Brief Description of the Drawings

Figure 1 is a perspective view illustrating a cradle constructed according to the invention. Figure 2 is a perspective view illustrating the kinematics of a linkage that accommodates as many as six degrees of freedom.

Figures 3 and 4 are side views illustrating particular flexible arms that can be used with the invention. Figure 5 is a perspective view of an earpiece integrated into the cradle shown in Figure 1, with electrical adapters in the cradle and electrical outlets on the radiotelephone.

Figure 6 is a perspective view illustrating mounting of a radiotelephone in the cradle shown in Figure 1, in two adjustable orientations.

Figures 7A and 7B are perspective views illustrating a suitable mechanical support system for the invention.

Figure 8 is a schematic view illustrating a conventional radiotelephone system. ' Figure 9 is a schematic view of a conventional radiotelephone cradle with a conventional earpiece.

Figures 10A, 10B, 11, 12 and 13 illustrate a radiotelephone cradle having special components to provide easy insertion and removal of the radiotelephone. Description of Best Modes of the Invention

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a cradle 11, constructed according to the invention, including a flexible or adjustable arm 15, a radiotelephone holder 13 located at a first end of the arm, and a cigarette lighter assembly and charger 17 located at a second end of the arm. The holder 13 receives and securely mounts a radiotelephone (not shown in Figure 1), with an arbitrary location and an arbitrary angular orientation. The cigarette lighter assembly 17 is received into an aperture 19 for a cigarette lighter device (well known in the art) provided in a vehicle or other facility, provides mechanical support for the arm 15 and holder 13, and provides electrical power, through the cigarette lighter, for (re)charging a battery of a radiotelephone (not shown) that is received into the holder.

The adjustable arm 15 has at least one straight or curved armpiece and at least two arm linkages, with a linkage being located at each end of an armpiece. The arm 15 shown in Figure 1 has three armpieces, 15A-1, 15A-2 and 15-A3, and four arm linkages, 15L-1, 15L-2, 15L-3 and 15L-4, located at the ends of the armpieces. The arm linkages 15L-1 and 15L-4 provide adjustment of the orientation of the holder 13 relative to the armpiece 15A-1, and of the armpiece 15A-3 relative to the cigarette lighter assembly 17, respectively. The arm 15 provides an electrical connection between a source of electrical power associated with the cigarette lighter, to which the cigarette lighter assembly 17 connects, and one or more electrical outlets, mounted on or into the holder 13, that connect through the holder to a radiotelephone received into the holder. This electrical connection can be provided through a wire or cable, positioned external to and oriented roughly parallel to the armpieces that are part of the arm 15, or may be provided as an electrically conducting core that is located within the interior of the armpieces and the linkages of the arm.

Figure 2 illustrates some of the kinematics of a flexible arm 15 that provides six degrees of freedom for the holder 13 relative to the cigarette lighter charger (not shown): translation along any three selected orthogonal axes, denoted as x, y and z; and rotation about the x-, y- and z-axes by arbitrary angles, denoted as θyz, θzx and θxy, respectively. Each arm linkage 15L-i (i = 1, 2, ...) in Figure 1 preferably allows rotation about two orthogonal axes so that two consecutive arm linkages and a connecting armpiece allow rotation about three orthogonal axes. Using armpieces and arm linkages of the flexible arm 15, the holder 13 can be positioned at any location, consistent with the constraints imposed by the maximum length of the arm, and at any angular orientation, as illustrated in Figure 7. Figure 3 illustrates a suitable flexible arm 25 that can be used as part of the invention. Hollow core first, second and third armpieces, 25A-i (i = 1, 2,...), preferably constructed of hard plastic or metal, are connected by linkages, 25L-j (j = 2, 3, ...). An armpiece, such as 25A-1 includes a cylindrical housing 21 surrounding a hollow core 22, with the housing connected to a first linkage (not shown) and to a second linkage 25L-2 at first and second ends of the housing. A linkage, such as 25A-2, includes an approximately spherical housing 23 that has at least first and second sectors, 24S-1 and 24S-2, removed and includes a hollow core 24C that communicates with the first and second removed sectors. The spherical housing 23 has first and second sector caps, 26C-1 and 26C-2, that cover the removed sectors, 24S-1 and 24S-2, and that are rigidly attached to the housings that are part of the armpieces, 25 A- 1 and 25A-2, respectively. The sector caps, 26C-1 and 26C-2, are configured to slide over the spherical surface of the linkage 25L-2 to a limited extent, to allow the armpieces, 25 A- 1 and 25A-2, to rotate relative to each other and relative to the linkage 25L-2 by a limited amount in one or two orthogonal directions. Alternatively, one or more of the "armpieces, such as 25A-2, is provided with a rotating handle 27a that is pivoted about a handle pin 27b. When the handle 27a is rotated in a first angular direction, the associated armpiece is loose and moves easily relative to the spherical housing 23 at either end of the armpiece. When the handle 27a is rotated in a second angular direction, the associated armpiece is pressed tightly against the spherical housing 23 at either end of the armpiece, and the arm 25 shown in Figure 3 becomes stiff and capable of supporting the weight of the cradle and of the radiotelephone. An electrically conducting wire or cable 29 is strung through the hollow core of each armpiece 25A-i (i = 1 , 2, ...), through the hollow core and removed sectors of each linkage 25L-J (j = 2, 3, ...), and through small apertures, 28Ap-land 28Ap-2 in the respective sector caps, 24S-1 and 24S-2, to provide electrical power for recharging from the cigarette lighter assembly 17 to the radiotelephone holder 13 in Figure 1.

Figure 4 illustrates another suitable flexible arm 35 that can be used as part of the invention. A flexible tube 31 , preferably constructed from hard plastic or metal, contains a plurality of hard spherical or ellipsoidal balls 33 and a rotatable handle 37, with handle pivot point 38, that contacts one or more of the balls. When the handle 37 is rotated in a first angular direction, the balls 33 are free to move, to a limited extent, relative to each other within the tube 31; the tube is flexible and can be formed into an arbitrary shape, such as an S-shape. When the handle 37 is rotated in a second angular direction, the balls 33 are forced together, and the tube shape becomes fixed in the shape the tube 31 had before the handle was rotated into the second position. A hollow core of the tube 31 receives an electrically conducting wire or cable 39 that provides electrical power for recharging from the cigarette lighter assembly 17 to the cradle 13 of Figure 1. The tube 31 is connected to the cigarette lighter assembly 17 and to the cradle 13 by suitable rigid or flexible linkages. Figure 5 illustrates a foldable or collapsible earpiece 41 integrated into the radiotelephone holder 13. The earpiece 41 includes a speaker or earphone 43, a microphone 45 and a cable or wire 47 connecting the speaker and the microphone to a radiotelephone 49 (not part of the earpiece 41) that is received into the holder 13. A slot or aperture 51 is^' provided in the bottom or on a side of the holder 13 to insert the eaφiece 41 when not in use. Optionally, the holder 13 provides a retraction device 53, such as a spring- loaded, rotatable disk or cylinder, to retract part or all of the eaφiece 41 to the holder, when the eaφiece is not in use. The holder 13 includes one or more electrical adapters 61 that connect or mate with one or more electrical outlets

63 provided in a bottom wall or side wall of a housing of the radiotelephone 49, to provide electrical power to (re)charge a battery of the radiotelephone or to operate the radiotelephone without use of a battery and to control other operations of the radiotelephone. Optionally, the eaφiece 41 connects through the holder 13 to the radiotelephone 49 and allows use of the eaφiece without removing the radiotelephone from the holder. This is accomplished, for example, by disabling a speaker and microphone provided on the radiotelephone 49, when the system senses that the radiotelephone is received in the holder 13, and enabling, instead,, the speaker 43 and microphone 45 provided by the eaφiece

41. This arrangement permits genuinely hands-free use of the radiotelephone.

Figure 6 illustrates the cradle system 11, where a radiotelephone 49 received into the holder 13 is presented in each of two arbitrary locations and angular orientations, by adjustment of the arm linkages on the flexible arm 15. Consistent with the constraints imposed by the maximum length of the flexible arm 15 and by interference by solid objects located nearby, the holder 13 and radiotelephone 49 can be located anywhere on or within an ellipsoid or sphere, centered at the cigarette lighter aperture 19 (Figure 1), and with any angular orientation. Figures 7A and 7B illustrate a suitable approach for securing the cigarette lighter assembly 17 to the cigarette lighter aperture 19 to support the flexible arm, the holder and the radiotelephone. In Figure 7A, the assembly 17 has been inserted into the aperture 19, but the end 17E of the assembly is not in contact with the inner end 19E of the aperture, nor with two electrical terminals, 20 A and 20B, that provide electrical power for or through the assembly. In this situation, the housing of the assembly 17 is approximately cylindrical, with an approximately constant diameter. In Figure 7B, the end 17E of the assembly 17 has contacted the inner end 19E of the aperture 19. As the assembly 17 continues to move into the aperture, and more and more of the end 17E contacts the inner end 19E, a portion of the diameter of the assembly housing increases, much as a moly-bolt diameter increases when the end of the moly-bolt contacts an unyielding surface. The diameter of the housing of the assembly 17 increases until the housing fills most or all of the available space within the aperture 19. At this point, the assembly 17 is firmly "wedged" into the aperture 19, and provides adequate support for the flexible arm, the holder and the radiotelephone.

Figure 8 schematically illustrates a radiotelephone system 81, powered by a detachable cable (not shown). The radiotelephone system 81 includes an antenna 82 for transmitting and receiving radiotelephone signals, a signal receiver 83 connected to the antenna, a signal transmitter 84 connected to the antenna, a signal processor 85 connected to the receiver and transmitter, a speaker 86 and a microphone 87 connected to the processor, and a keypad 89, a display screen 88 and a memory module 90 (optional) connected to the processor. The signal processor 85 controls operation of the radiotelephone. The antenna 82 converts radio waves into electrical radiofrequency (rf) signals and couples the rf receive signals to the receiver 83. The receiver 83 transforms the rf receive signals into data receive signals that are coupled through the signal processor 85 to the speaker 86, to the display screen 88 and/or to the radiotelephone memory 90. The data receive signals may be audible signals, displayable signals and/or electronically storable signals

(alphanumeric text, graphics, etc.). The transmitter 84 converts data transmit signals, received from the signal processor 85, into rf transmit signals that are received by the antenna 82 for transmission elsewhere as radio waves.

Figure 9 illustrates a conventional cradle 91, including a radiotelephone holder 92, attached to a mounting surface 93 on a vehicle interior, such as a vehicle dashboard. A radiotelephone 94 is received into the holder 92 and is connected through a cigarette lighter assembly 95 to a cigarette lighter aperture (not shown) on the vehicle. A conventional eaφiece 96, connecting a speaker 98 and a microphone 97 through an extension line 99, is connected directly to the radiotelephone 94 on a bottom wall or side wall of a housing for the radiotelephone.

Figure 10A and 10B illustrate another embodiment of a cradle or holder 101, adapted to allow a radiotelephone 102 to be placed into the cradle (as in Figure 10B), or to be removed from the cradle (as in Figure 10A) with one hand. The cradle 101 includes a roller 103, located near one end of the cradle and spaced apart from and approximately parallel to a selected back wall 104 of the cradle. As illustrated in Figure 11, the back wall 104 of the cradle 101 has a partial aperture 105 therein that receives a spring or other similar positioning mechanism 106 that exerts a force FI against a wall 102W1 of the radiotelephone 102 to relieve a spring compressive force that acts between the back wall 104 and the radiotelephone wall 102W1 that has been inserted into the cradle.

The cradle 101 is also defined by two vertically oriented sidewalls, 109A and 109B, shown in Figures 10A and 10B, that define the slot 107 (shown in Figure 11) in a second direction and ensure that the radiotelephone does not slip from the cradle. Preferably, each of the sidewalls, 109A and 109B, is fixed or attached at an upper end and/or at a lower end to the cradle 101.

As illustrated in Figure 11, the roller 103 is attached to one or both side walls, 109A and 109B, and each side wall is in turn attached to a torsional spring, 110A and 110B, anchored at a lower end of the cradle 101. The torsional springs, 110A and HOB, are configured to provide a spring force SF, acting in a clockwise direction as shown in Figure 11. The spring force SF creates a force F2 that urges the corresponding side wall, 109A or 109B (acting as a moment arm), and the roller 103 against the wall 102W2 of the radiotelephone 102 and the radiotelephone against the back wall 104 of the cradle 101. ^•

The radiotelephone 102 is inserted into the cradle 101 by placing the wall 102W2 of the radiotelephone against the roller 103 and using one hand to roll the radiotelephone into a slot or aperture 107 in the cradle that is provided to receive the radiotelephone and that may include a lip 108 located adjacent to the bottom of the cradle 101. The roller 103 and radiotelephone 102 are urged against the cradle back wall 104, and the roller 103 facilitates movement of the radiotelephone into the cradle. Using the roller 103, a user's hand grasps and easily rolls the wall 102W2 of the radiotelephone 102 into, and seats within, the slot 107. As the radiotelephone 102 seats within the slot 107, the radiotelephone wall 102W1 is contacted by the spring mechanism

106 and is moved away from the wall 104 of the cradle by the spring mechanism reaction, as illustrated in Figure 11. Correct positioning of the radiotelephone 102 at the bottom of the slot

107 is particularly important if the cradle 101 is to provide an electrical connection and power for operations of the radiotelephone 102. With this radiotelephone positioning feature included, the cradle 101 provides the radiotelephone 102 with (i) convenient insertion into the cradle, (ii) good static balance of the radiotelephone from external disturbances and (iii) assurance of a good electrical connection between the radiotelephone and the cradle.

As illustrated in Figure 11, a side profile of the radiotelephone need not be flat or planar and can have two or more connected levels, LI and L2 that are not coplanar, or even parallel. Where the back wall 104 has two or more non-coplanar wall components or levels, the cradle wall 104 is provided with a detent or bend that is curved and configured to allow the radiotelephone wall components to seat against the adjacent portion of this cradle wall.

In Figures 10A and 10B, the roller 103 is shown as a cylinder, which may be solid or may be hollow. Optionally, the configuration of the roller may be two cylindrical components, 123 A and 123B, that are substantially coaxial but are spaced apart from and face each other across a gap region G, as illustrated in an embodiment of the cradle 121 shown in Figure 12.

In another embodiment of the cradle 131, illustrated in Figure 13, the roller has first and second components, 133A and 133B, which are coaxial and spaced apart from and face each other and have a diameter dl, and a third coaxial component 133C having a diameter d2 (0 d2 < dl) that extends between the first and second roller components. In each of the embodiments shown in Figures 12 and 13, a central portion of one surface of the radiotelephone, which may include a keypad and other items that extend outward from this surface, is allowed to move through the gap region G without contacting any part of the roller, because the central portion of the roller is either absent or has a reduced diameter.

Claims

What is claimed is:

1. A system for faciltating use of a radiotelephone in a vehicle, the system comprising: a flexible arm having at least one armpiece with first and second armpiece ends, having at least a selected first arm linkage and a selected second arm linkage located on the first and second armpiece ends, respectively, where each of the first and second arm linkages has a tightened state and a loosened state and allows rotation of the armpiece about at least two orthogonal axes, and having an electrically conducting line that connects the first and second arm linkages; a radiotelephone holder, electrically and mechanically connected to the first arm linkage, configured to receive, hold and provide mechanical support for a radiotelephone, and configured to provide electrical power through the holder for a radiotelephone received in the holder; a cigarette lighter adapter electrically and mechanically connected to the second arm linkage and configured to be received in a cigarette lighter aperture to provide mechanical support for the arm and holder and to provide electrical power for the first and second arm linkages; and an eaφiece, having an extended state and a collapsed state and comprising a speaker and a microphone that are electrically connected through the holder to a radiotelephone received in the holder, the holder having a retraction mechanism to retract and hold at least a portion of the eaφiece when the eaφiece is not in use, where the eaφiece can be used without removing the radiotelephone from the holder.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein, when said eaφiece is in said extended state, said speaker and said microphone can be positioned adjacent to an ear and a mouth of a user of said radiotelephone.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein, when said eaφiece is in said collapsed state, at least a portion of said eaφiece can be retracted to said holder.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein said flexible arm has N armpieces, numbered n = 1, ... , N (N>1), the armpieces number n' and n'+l (n' = 1, ... , N-1) are connected by an arm linkage number n¹, the armpiece number 1 and said holder are connected by said selected first arm linkage, the armpiece number N and said cigarette lighter adapter are connected by said selected second arm linkage, and the arm linkages numbered n' = 1, ... , N-1 have an electrically conducting line that connects said selected first and selected second arm linkages.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein each of said linkages number n' = 1, ... , N-1 has a tightened state and a loosened state and allows rotation of an armpiece about at least two orthogonal axes.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein said electrically conducting line is positioned within said flexible arm.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein said electrically conducting line is positioned outside said flexible arm:

8. The system of claim 1, wherein, when said radiotelephone is received in said holder, at least one of a speaker and a microphone on said radiotelephone is disabled and said eaφiece speaker and said eaφiece microphone are enabled.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein said cigarette lighter adapter comprises a mechanical expansion mechanism configured so that, when said adapter is received into said cigarette lighter aperture, said adapter can be placed in a first state, having a diameter that is expanded, to substantially fill said aperture so that said adapter cannot be removed from said aperture, and . said adapter can be placed in a second state, having a diameter that is reduced so that said adapter can be removed from said aperture.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein said eaφiece further comprises a cable connecting at least one of said speaker and said microphone to said holder and said holder retraction mechanism comprises a mechanism for retracting at least a portion of the cable to said holster.

11. A system for facilitating use of a radiotelephone in a vehicle, the system comprising: a radiotelephone holder, mechanically connected to a vehicle and configured to receive, hold and provide mechanical support for a radiotelephone that is transported with the vehicle, where the holder comprises: an aperture, defined by at least first, second, and third adjacent walls, that receives and holds the radiotelephone; a roller, located at a first end of the holder, that engages a selected first radiotelephone wall and that rolls and guides the radiotelephone into and out of the aperture; and a radiotelephone positioning mechanism, located at a second end of the holder, that receives and urges the radiotelephone toward a selected position at the holder second end, whereby the radiotelephone can be inserted into, and removed from, the holder by use of one hand of a radiotelephone user.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein said positioning mechanism comprises a first spring mechanism, located at said holder second end, that engages a second radiotelephone wall and urges said radiotelephone in a first selected direction toward said holder.

13. The system of claim 12, further comprising a second spring mechanism comprising at least one torsional spring, located at said holder second end, and a rigid arm, connecting the torsional spring and at least one end of said roller, where the torsional spring and the arm cooperatively urge said roller and said contiguous radiotelephone in a second selected direction toward at least one wall of said holder.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein said second selected direction is substantially the same as said first selected direction.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein said second selected direction is substantially opposite to said first selected direction.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein said second spring mechanism comprises first and second torsional springs, located at said holder second end, and first and second rigid arms, connecting the first and second torsional springs to first and second ends, respectively, of said roller, where each torsional spring and the connected arm cooperatively urge said roller and said contiguous radiotelephone in a second selected direction toward at least one wall of said holder.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein said roller comprises a cylinder, connected to first and second locations on said holder, that receives said radiotelephone at said first wall and that rotates as said radiotelephone is inserted into, or removed from, said holder.

18. The system of claim 11, wherein said roller comprises spaced apart first and second cylindrical portions, connected to first and second locations on said holder, that receive said radiotelephone at said first wall and that rotate as said radiotelephone is inserted into, or removed from, said holder.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein said roller further comprises a third cylindrical portion, connected to each of said first and second cylindrical portions and having a cylinder diameter that is smaller than a cylinder diameter for at least one of said first and second cylindrical portions.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein said third cylindrical portion diameter is chosen so that said radiotelephone first wall does not contact said third cylindrical portion when said radiotelephone first wall is received at said first and second cylindrical portions of said roller.