WO1999000962A1

WO1999000962A1 - Mobile telephone with an audio unit

Info

Publication number: WO1999000962A1
Application number: PCT/DE1998/001578
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sabine Hofschen; Ludwig Hofmann; Wolfgang Thulke; Harald Schindele
Original assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
Priority date: 1997-06-25
Filing date: 1998-06-10
Publication date: 1999-01-07

Abstract

The invention relates to a mobile telephone, comprising an HF transmitter and receiver part (HFS, HFE), a modulator/demodulator (MOD/DEM) at least for the voice signals, a NF part (NFT), a control unit (STE), an input unit (EIN) and a voltage feed unit (SPA) with a battery (BAT). Said mobile telephone can be joined to an audio unit (AUD) to form one single device. The audio unit is designed to at least reproduce, and optionally record, audio signals by or in a storage medium (SPM). The mobile telephone and the audio unit can be connected electrically to carry out at least certain functions.

Description

Mobile phone with audio unit

The invention relates to a mobile telephone with an HF transmitting and receiving part, with a modulator / demodulator at least for speech signals, with an LF part, with a control unit, with an input field and with a voltage supply unit including battery.

Mobile phones have become more and more important in everyday life and are constantly carried by many people. On the other hand, portable music players on the basis of analog or digital magnetic tape cassettes or on the basis of optically scannable disks ("CD", "Mini-Disc") are also very popular, with headphones with two earphones usually being used for listening to stereophonic recordings.

There is a desire to carry both devices with you and to use them alternatively, but the reciprocal handling of both devices is cumbersome, which is compounded by problems with the size and weight of both devices, due to the compact design due to modern technologies.

It is an object of the invention to eliminate or alleviate the problems mentioned.

Starting from a mobile phone of the type mentioned at the outset, this object is achieved according to the invention in that the mobile phone is assigned an audio unit which is at least temporarily combined to form a device and which is set up at least for playback, possibly also for recording audio signals from a storage medium or onto a storage medium is and an electrical connection between the mobile phone and audio unit is established at least with regard to certain functions. The invention firstly has the advantage that only a single device has to be transported instead of two devices, namely a mobile phone and portable CD player, cassette recorder, etc., and that many functions can be achieved for the user by combining certain functions.

However, there are other advantages that are based on the sometimes unexpected synergy effects.

It is also useful if the mobile phone and the audio unit have a common housing. This results in a considerable saving in volume and weight, so that a mobile phone according to the invention is only slightly larger or heavier than a conventional device. An incoming call can be handled easily while listening to music, since the headphones used are also used for making calls. This also results in better intelligibility, which is due to the usually better acoustics (dynamics, noise insulation) of the headphones.

A further increase in compactness can be achieved if the control unit and the input field are also used to control the audio unit.

If a storage medium is used that also allows recording, then there is the simple possibility of being able to record telephone calls if necessary.

The invention is not restricted to specific technical standards, it can be applied, for example, to all currently known mobile or cordless telephone systems, such as GSM, PCN, PCS, CDMA, DECT and PHS, and likewise it is not restricted to certain audio systems or storage media - required. It has proven to be expedient if the storage medium is a compact or mini disc or a magnetic tape cassette, digital reproduction or recording systems bringing particular advantages with small dimensions.

Large savings in weight and volume result if the audio unit is powered by the voltage supply unit. It is recommended that the voltage supply unit or the control unit is set up to monitor the battery capacity and, if the capacity falls below a predetermined capacity, disconnects the audio unit from the voltage supply in order to be able to make calls in the event of need or in an emergency.

To increase the convenience for the user and to further reduce space and energy requirements, it may be advisable for the LF part to also be assigned to the audio unit, the control unit for switching an input of the LF part to the modulator / demodulator and / or the audio unit is set up. It is advisable if the control unit is set up to switch off the audio unit from the LF part or to its mute switch during outgoing and incoming calls.

The use will be simplified, if at the NF part

Headphones and a microphone can be connected, headphones and microphone being combined to form a set, and another tried and tested variant is that the microphone is attached to an earphone capsule by means of a foldable or extendable extension piece. On the other hand, a very light variant which can be kept in a small space is characterized in that the microphone is arranged at a mechanical connection point of the lines which are led away from two earphone capsules.

To facilitate operation, it can be provided that a switch connected to the control unit on the set is arranged for manual switching from telephone mode to playback mode from the audio unit, and that a volume control is arranged on the set.

Documentation of important telephone calls is made possible if the audio unit is set up to record telephone calls after corresponding activation via the input field and the control unit.

Since a mobile phone according to the invention is not necessarily held to the ear during operation like conventional "cell phones", but rather is carried around the neck, plugged in or carried in a handbag, it is advisable that the antenna e.g. is arranged as a surface antenna in or on the device. This also means that the RF radiation no longer occurs in the possibly particularly sensitive head area of the user.

To keep the entire device protected in its place, e.g. To be able to leave it in a handbag, backpack, etc., a remote control that can be wirelessly connected to the control unit is provided for activating the control unit.

An unintentional actuation of switches or keys on the input field can be prevented if necessary, if a keyboard lock is assigned to the input field.

To further increase user-friendliness, the control unit can have a speech recognition part, via which device functions can be controlled starting from the microphone. If necessary, the telephone keypad can be completely omitted.

An often desired variant is characterized in that the audio unit, in addition to the playback / recording from / to a nem / a storage medium is also set up to receive and play radio broadcasts.

The invention together with further advantages is explained in more detail below on the basis of exemplary embodiments which are illustrated in the drawing. In this show

Fig.l is a block diagram of a mobile phone according to the invention,

2 shows a perspective view of a possible embodiment of a radio telephone according to the invention,

3 and 4 each in side view a part of a headphone set with the microphone folded in and out and

5 shows a different version of the microphone in a set in a front view.

The invention is first explained in Fig.l on the basis of a basic block diagram. The mobile phone has a high-frequency transmitting part HFS and a high-frequency receiving part HFE with a common antenna ANT. The high-frequency receiving and transmitting part is generally controlled via a synthesizer SYN, which in turn is supplied by a reference frequency source REF. A modulator MOD and a demodulator DEM, generally a coder / decoder, are provided between a low-frequency part NFT and the high-frequency receiving and transmitting part.

There is also an audio unit AUD, which is connected to the low-frequency part NFT. An essential part of the mobile telephone is a control unit STE, which is assigned an input unit EIN and a display unit ANZ. Although the control unit STE is shown symbolically as a closed unit in FIG. 1, it should be clear that the logic functions of the control unit are shares - can be decentralized - whereby their subunits can use a common CPU. It does not matter whether this - or the entire control unit - is in the audio or in the telephone part.

All the parts mentioned are supplied with electrical energy via a battery BAT and a voltage supply unit SPA. The control unit STE controls the sequence of all functions of the mobile telephone depending on current events and the state of the input unit ON.

The audio unit AUD contains a storage medium SPM, for example a conventional compact disc, but the storage medium can also be one that is suitable for recordings, for example a DAT

Cassette. In the invention, the input field is not only used to enter information on the actual mobile phone, e.g. of phone numbers, but also for entering information to the audio part, e.g. Commands regarding a title specification or order. In the case of a storage medium that can also record, the command for playback or recording can also be given via the input field, for example.

The control unit STE also links functions of the actual mobile telephone with the audio unit, so that, for example, in the case of an incoming or outgoing call via the control unit, either the audio unit is automatically stopped or the volume level on the part of the audio unit is reduced or brought to zero. Here, as shown in the exemplary embodiment, the low-frequency part NFT can be used both for incoming and outgoing telephony signals and for incoming or to be recorded audio signals. Instead of the usual "ringing" of the telephone, incoming calls can also be signaled by "knocking" if the user is listening to tapes or the radio, for example. A set GAR is generally connected to the output of the low-frequency part NFT and consists of two earphone capsules OHK and a microphone MIC. Further explanations follow below. As in a conventional mobile phone, the capacity of the battery BAT is continuously monitored in the invention. In order to prevent the audio unit AUD from completely using up the battery capacity, the control unit is not only set up to monitor the battery capacity, but also to separate the audio unit from the power supply SPA if the battery falls below a predetermined minimum capacity BAT. As already mentioned, the control unit can attenuate or set the output signal of the audio unit AUD to incoming or outgoing calls. On the other hand, a complete switchover of the input of the LF part NFT from the audio unit AUD to the demodulator DEM is also possible.

For a manual switchover between telephone operation and playback operation from the audio unit, a separate, manually operable switch SCH can expediently be attached to the set GAR. In principle, however, it is also possible to enter all functions which can be controlled via the control unit STE not only via the input unit ON, but also via a remote control FEB which is wireless, e.g. is connected in a known manner to the control unit STE via an infrared link.

With regard to the control of the functions of the device, it should also be noted that a speech recognition unit SPE can be provided, which receives voice signals from the low-frequency part NFT and which, together with the control unit STE, is set up so that certain device functions are phonetically used by the user of the mobile telephone, can be controlled from the microphone MIC. In such a case, it is even possible to largely dispense with a keyboard, for example the usual telephone keyboard could be omitted. CD ß

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If desired, however, a loudspeaker and / or microphone can also be provided on the device, so that there is also the possibility of hands-free calling.

The invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiment shown, but can be varied in many ways. This concerns in particular the choice of the storage medium, which can be an optically scannable storage medium, such as a compact disc. However, it can also be a different type of storage medium, e.g. are a standard tape cassette or a digital DAT cassette. Such a cassette, like a so-called "mini disc", can also be used to record audio signals, particularly telephone calls. The storage medium can also be a digital storage component or such a storage component can be present in addition to the storage medium designed for example as a compact disc and can serve as storage for an answering machine. Furthermore, the audio unit can also be set up to receive and reproduce radio broadcasts, the corresponding receiving unit, which is not explicitly shown here, then also being operable by the input unit via the control unit.

The exemplary embodiment described illustrates a relatively far-reaching integration of the elements “mobile phone” and “audio unit”. In contrast, such extensive integration is not absolutely necessary. It is conceivable, for example, to leave a cell phone and an audio unit as autonomous devices, which, however, can be mechanically connected to one device mechanically if necessary and with regard to certain functions described in detail above. All that is required is mechanical locking and a suitable plug-in device with a corresponding number of contacts. If necessary, suitable mutual shielding of the hardware which is present separately in both devices must be ensured.

Claims

claims

1.Mobile phone with an HF transmitting and receiving part (HFS, HFE), with a modulator / demodulator (MOD / DEM) at least for speech signals, with an NF part (NFT), with a control unit (STE), with an input field (ON) and with a voltage supply unit (SPA) including battery (BAT),

characterized in that

An audio unit (AUD) is assigned to the mobile phone, at least temporarily merging into one device, which at least for playback, possibly also for recording audio signals from or onto a storage medium

Storage medium is set up and an electrical connection between the mobile phone and audio unit is established at least with regard to certain functions.

2.Mobile phone according to claim 1, characterized in that the mobile phone and the audio unit (AUD) have a common housing.

3.Mobile phone according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the control unit (STE) and the input field (ON) for controlling the audio unit (AUD) are used.

4.Mobile phone according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the storage medium (SPM) is a compact or mini disc or a magnetic tape cassette.

5.Mobile phone according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the audio unit (AUD) is powered by the voltage supply unit (SPA).

6.Mobile phone according to claim 5, characterized in that the voltage supply unit (SPA) or the control unit (STE) is set up for monitoring the battery capacity. tet and disconnects the audio unit (AUD) from the power supply when the capacity falls below a predetermined capacity.

7. Mobile phone according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the NF part (NFT) also the audio unit

(AUD) is assigned, the control unit (STE) being set up to switch an input of the LF part to the modulator / demodulator (MOD / DEM) and / or the audio unit (AUD).

8.Mobile phone according to claim 7, characterized in that the control unit (STE) is set up to switch off the audio unit (AUD) from the LF part (NFT) or to mute it during outgoing and incoming calls.

9.Mobile phone according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that headphones (OHK) and a microphone (MIC) can be connected to the NF part (NFT), headphones and microphone being combined to form a set (GAR).

10.Mobile phone according to claim 9, characterized in that the microphone (MIC) is attached via a foldable or extendable extension piece (VER) to an earphone capsule (OHK).

11.Mobile phone according to claim 9, characterized in that the microphone (MIC) is arranged at a mechanical connection point of the two earphone capsules (OHK) leads away.

12.Mobile phone according to one of claims 9 to 11, characterized in that on the set (GAR) with the control unit (STE) connected switch (SCH) is arranged for manual switching from telephone operation to playback operation from the audio unit.

13.Mobile phone according to one of claims 9 to 12, characterized in that a volume control (LSR) is arranged on the set (GAR).

14.Mobile phone according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the audio unit (AUD) for recording telephone calls after appropriate activation via the input field (ON) and the control unit (STE) is set up.

15.Mobile phone according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the antenna z. B. is arranged as a surface antenna in or on the device.

16.Mobile phone according to one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that a remote control (FEB) which can be connected wirelessly to the control unit (STE) is provided for activating the control unit (STE).

17.Mobile phone according to one of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that the input field (EIN) is assigned a keypad lock (TSP).

18.Mobile phone according to one of claims 1 to 17, characterized in that the control unit (STE) has a speech recognition part (SPE), via which device functions from the microphone (MIC) can be controlled.

19.Mobile phone according to one of claims 1 to 18, characterized in that the audio unit (AUD) is set up not only for the reproduction / recording of / on a / a storage medium but also for the reception and playback of radio broadcasts.