Patent Application
20060248251
This invention relates in general to portable information devices, and more particularly to charger accessories and docking stations for portable information devices.
Portable information devices such as mobile communication devices and personal digital assistants are in common use throughout the world. These devices typically have a display for displaying information to the user of the device, and an input means such as a keypad for accepting commands and information from the user. One feature of these devices that is critical to the marketability is their size. In general, users prefer smaller devices as they are easier to carry on their person. The desirability of reducing the size of these devices presents several challenges to manufactures of these devices. For one, a smaller size generally means a smaller battery supply, which makes it necessary to conserve battery power because operating time is also an important feature in marketing these devices. Secondly, the small size of the device limits the size of displays and keypad. Therefore there is a need for providing enhanced input and display functionality for such devices without significantly impacting battery life.
While the specification concludes with claims defining the features of the invention that are regarded as novel, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from a consideration of the following description in conjunction with the drawing figures, in which like reference numerals are carried forward.
The invention solves the problem of providing enhanced input and display functionality without reducing battery life by providing a docking station for the device that provides charging ability, and enhanced input and display functionality.
Referring now to
The portable information device 104 controls operation of the input means 110 and display means 112 when connected to the docking station 102, at the option of the user. The device contains a controller 124 for controlling operation of the device and the devices input 128 and display 126. Furthermore the device contains a memory 130 for storing information and instruction code for operating the device. The device receives power from the docking station, which it may use to charge the battery 122 in addition to power the circuitry of the device. The device's input 128 may be, for example, a conventional phone keypad as is commonly found of cellular phone devices. Although such keypads allow the entry of text, often multiple keypresses are required to select a desired letter as each key or button of the keypad is assigned multiple characters. Alternatively, specialized software may be used by the controller to anticipate a word being entered by the user based on the sequence of key presses and the probability that a given word being entered matches possible words that may be formed by the characters assigned to those keys in the sequence they are pressed. However, anticipating the word a user is entering depends on the device having a library of words, and if the word being entered is not in the library, the user still has to essentially spell out the word. Thus, when the user desires to enter a significant amount of information or complex or specialized words or information, the user may place the device into the docking station 102 and use the enhanced input means 110 to enter the information. The input means 110 provides enhanced functionality over the input of the device 128, such as by providing a conventional QWERTY keypad, as is commonly used with computer keyboards/keypads. Similarly, the display means 112 may be used by the device 104 for displaying information on the device with enhanced functionality compared to the display 126 of the device. For example, the display means 112 may display more information at a time than can be displayed on the display 126 of the device. Although the power supply 114 provides power to the docking station 102 and device 104 while connected to a power source, it is contemplated that the user may desire to use the enhanced input and output of the docking station when the power supply is not connected to a power source, or in the event of an intermittency in the provision of power from the power source. To provide the enhanced functionality when the power supply is not powered by the power source, the battery 122 of the device may be used to power at least one of the input means and display means. Similarly, the auxiliary battery 106 may be used, when present, to power either the display means 112 or input means 110, or both, when the power source is not provided to the power supply.
Referring now to
In one embodiment of the invention, the input means is a provided by a virtual projection keypad, wherein the input means is a virtual projection keypad subsystem. By virtual it is meant that an actual, physical keypad is not present, but instead a light image of one is apparent to the user. In one embodiment of the invention, the virtual projection keypad is provided by a projector 212 projecting an image of a keypad 214 on a surface 216 in proximity to the docking station. As the user touches the virtual buttons, and location of the users fingers may be determined by an infrared detector 217, as is known in the art. The virtual keypad may be, for example, a conventional QWERTY keypad. Similarly, the display means may be provided by a projection display provided by a virtual display subsystem including a projector 218 which projects a virtual display 220 onto a surface 222 in proximity to the docking station. The virtual display is an apparent display created by a light image, as opposed to an actual display such as a liquid crystal display to cathode ray tube display. In one embodiment of the invention the virtual display is projected behind the docking station and the virtual keypad is projected in front of the docking station, where the projected display and projected keypad are provided on opposite sides of the docking station, although the two projections may be provided in any number of configurations. It is contemplated that the virtual keypad projector and virtual display projector are mounted on the docking station in a manner that allows them to be swiveled or rotated into position from an inactive position alongside the docking station. When a projector is moved into an operating position, the corresponding subsystem is activated and controlled by the device 204.
Referring now to
Referring now to
Therefore, the invention provides a docking station for a portable information device. The docking station has a connector means for hosting the portable information device, which may also serve to hold or support the portable information device. The docking station also has an input means for accepting a user input, such as, for example, a keypad or other plurality of buttons, touch screen, or virtual input. To display information, the docking station comprises a display means for displaying information to a user. To power the components of the docking station, and the portable information device, the docking station also has a power supply. However, in the event of the power supply losing power, such as when it becomes disconnected from a power source, or equivalently when the power source loses power, according to the invention the battery of the portable information device powers at least one of the input means and display means. That is, when power from the power source ceases, the battery of the portable information device may be used to power the docking station, or subsystems of the docking station. In one embodiment of the invention, the input means uses a virtual projection keypad. In one embodiment of the invention, the display means includes a projection display for projecting information onto a surface in proximity to the docking station to be viewed by he user. In an alternative embodiment, the docking station may provide charging for an auxiliary battery. The auxiliary battery is preferably identical to the battery coupled to the portable information device, but meant to be a spare battery carried by the user to replace the battery presently coupled to the device in the event it becomes discharged due to use. The inclusion of the auxiliary battery in the present embodiment allows for the auxiliary battery to power one or more of the subsystems of the docking station in the event the power source loses power or the docking station is unplugged from the power source.
The invention also provides for a portable information device docking system, including a portable information device having a keypad, a display, a battery, and connector. The portable information device is used with a docking station, which has a virtual keypad subsystem, a virtual display subsystem, and a power supply for supplying power to the portable information device, virtual keypad subsystem, and virtual display subsystem. The virtual keypad subsystem provides a virtual keypad which provides enhanced functionality relative to the keypad of the portable information device. The virtual display subsystem provides a virtual display with enhanced functionality over the display of the portable information device. The virtual keypad subsystem and virtual display subsystem are powered from the power supply when the power supply is connected to a power source, but by the battery of the portable information device when the power supply of the docking station is not connected to the power source. In one embodiment of the invention the virtual keypad subsystem is a projection keypad subsystem for projecting the image of a keypad on a surface adjacent the docking station. The projection keypad subsystem also detects key selection by the user of the docking station. Another aspect of the invention provides that the virtual display subsystem may be a projection display subsystem. The docking station may also include an auxiliary battery pocket for hosting an auxiliary battery to be used with the portable information device, and a charger for charging the auxiliary battery. The auxiliary battery may then be used to provide power to the virtual keypad subsystem, the virtual display subsystem, or both, when the power supply is not connected to the power source.
The invention also provides a charger docking station for a mobile communication device. The mobile communication device includes a conventional phone keypad, phone display, and a battery. The charger docking station has a first pocket for hosting the mobile communication device and connecting to the mobile communication device for communicating signals and power between the charger docking station and the mobile communication device. The charger docking station also provides an enhanced input subsystem for providing information input to the mobile communication device, and an enhanced display subsystem for providing a visual display of information on the mobile communication device. To provide charging functionality, the charger docking station provides a power supply for providing power to the mobile communication device, enhanced keypad subsystem, and enhanced display subsystem when the power supply is connected to a power source. In the event that power is disconnected from the power supply, the battery of the mobile communication device provides power to the enhanced keypad subsystem, the enhanced display subsystem, or both. In one embodiment of the invention, the enhanced input subsystem is a QWERTY keypad. The QWERTY keypad may be provided by a projection system projecting an image of a QWERTY keypad on a surface in proximity to the charger docking station and detecting when spaces corresponding to individual keys of the QWERTY keypad are contacted by a user. In another embodiment of the invention, the QWERTY keypad is provided by a roll-up keypad. The invention may also provide that the enhanced input subsystem includes a navigation device, such as a roller for scrolling information displayed by the enhanced display subsystem, or a multi-axis button, or both. The enhanced display subsystem may be a projection system for projecting a display on a surface in proximity to the charger docking station. Furthermore, the charger docking station may provide a second pocket for hosting an auxiliary battery for use with the mobile communication device which, in addition to acting as a spare battery for the portable information device when used out of the charger docking station may, while disposed in the second pocket, be used for providing power the enhanced input subsystem, enhanced display subsystem, or both when the power supply is not connected to a power source.
While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it will be clear that the invention is not so limited. Numerous modifications, changes, variations, substitutions and equivalents will occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.
