Patent Application
20170264724
The present disclosure relates generally to telecommunication systems, and more particularly, to a telecommunication device having a magnetically aligned handset.
Desktop telephones typically include a handset having a speaker and a microphone for communicating sound and voice via a telecommunications network. The handset speaker and microphone become active when the handset is “off-hook”, indicated by the disengagement of a hookswitch, and are inactive when the handset is “on-hook”, indicated by the engagement of the hookswitch. The hookswitch is located on the cradle of the telephone that supports the handset when not in use.
When returned to the cradle, the handset does not always seat in the on-hook position and securely engage the hookswitch. In addition, even if the hookswitch is successfully engaged by the handset, the handset may be particularly susceptible to jostling off-hook if not securely placed within the cradle in the on-hook position.
A telecommunication device is disclosed having a handset that magnetically aligns within a receiving cradle to engage a hookswitch. At least one magnetic alignment element is included in the handset, positioned to magnetically mate with at least one corresponding magnetic alignment element in the receiving cradle of the telecommunication device. The magnetic alignment elements are positioned within each of the handset and the cradle so that the hookswitch is engaged when the corresponding magnetic alignment elements are mated.
In one aspect, the magnetic alignment elements guide a handset placed within the telecommunication device's receiving cradle to engage the hookswitch. For example, a user may place the handset in the vicinity of the cradle during a hang-up action. As the handset approaches the cradle, the magnetic alignment element in the handset becomes increasingly magnetically attracted to the magnetic alignment element in the cradle. At some distance, the magnetic attraction between alignment elements snaps the handset into place within the cradle, mating the magnetic alignment elements and engaging the hookswitch. The magnetic alignment elements may allow a user to feel that the handset is placed in the on-hook position without looking to confirm.
In another aspect, the magnetic alignment elements secure the handset in an on-hook position, maintaining engagement of the hookswitch. For example, the strength of the magnetic alignment elements may be selected so as to reliably secure the handset in the on-hook position within the cradle, e.g. on a wall-mounted phone. In another example, the magnetic alignment elements reduce the risk of inadvertent disengagement of the handset from the on-hook position due to bumping or jostling, for example, within a small, busy, or cluttered desktop workspace, while easily releasing the handset from the cradle when picked up by a user.
The following description is made for the purpose of general illustration and is not meant to limit the inventive concepts claimed herein. Further, particular features described herein can be used in combination with other described features in each of the various possible combinations and permutations. Unless otherwise specifically defined herein, all terms are to be given their broadest possible interpretation including meanings implied from the specification as well as meanings understood by those skilled in the art and/or as defined in dictionaries, treatises, etc.
For purposes of describing the embodiments disclosed herein, two elements are considered to be coupled when one element is able to send an electrical signal to another element. The electrical signal may represent, for example but not limited to, data, operating commands, status information, or electrical power, or any combination of these electrical signals. A coupling may be implemented by wired or wireless connection means.
The cradle portion 115 of the main body 105 of communication system 100 supports handset 110 in the on-hook position, according to an embodiment.
Communication system 100 is illustrated as a desktop telephone, but may be any communication device including a handset that engages a hookswitch in an on-hook position. In addition, the input and output elements may have a variety of configurations, including hard and soft keys/buttons. Furthermore, input and output elements may be located on the cradle or handset portions of the communication device.
As illustrated in
The engagement of hookswitch 160 determines whether handset 110A is active, according to an embodiment. When handset 110A is in the on-hook position, hookswitch 160 is engaged. When handset 110A is in the off-hook position, hookswitch 160 is not engaged. In an embodiment, hookswitch 160 is a physical switch that is depressed by the speaker portion 120 of handset 110A when handset 110A is in the on-hook position. In another embodiment, hookswitch 160 is an electrical contact that forms an electrical connection with a corresponding contact on handset 110A when handset 110A is in the on-hook position.
Handset 110A includes a magnetic alignment element 145A, according to an embodiment. The magnetic alignment element 145A in handset 110A may magnetically couple to corresponding magnetic alignment element 175A in cradle portion 115A. In an embodiment, the magnetic alignment elements 145A/175A guide the handset 110A into a position within the cradle portion 115 that engages the hookswitch 160, reducing the risk of the handset 110A being inadvertently placed or moved into an off-hook position when in the vicinity of the cradle portion 115A.
In an embodiment, magnetic alignment element 145A is located on a front face 180 of speaker portion 120. In an embodiment, a corresponding magnetic alignment element 175A is located within speaker portion receiver 190, so as to magnetically couple with the portion of front face 180 containing the magnetic alignment element 145A. Location of the alignment element 175A in proximity to hookswitch 160 assists in aligning and securing the handset 110A so as to engage the hookswitch 160 in an on-hook position. However, alignment elements may be located in other portions of the cradle portion and handset, so long as they result in positioning the handset to engage the hookswitch. Furthermore, though one alignment element is shown in each of handset 110A and cradle portion 115A, additional corresponding pairs of alignment elements may be located within the handset and cradle portion.
As used herein, “magnetic material” indicates a material that either produces a magnetic field (i.e., a permanent magnet) or does not produce a magnetic field but is magnetically attracted to an external magnetic field. In one embodiment, each of magnetic alignment elements 145A and 175A includes a permanent magnet having polarities selected so that magnetic alignment elements 145A/175A magnetically couple when handset 110A is in the on-hook position on cradle portion 115A. In another embodiment, one of magnetic alignment elements 145A and 175A does not include a permanent magnet, but includes a material that is magnetically attracted to a permanent magnet. For example, a material having a random magnetic polarization in the absence of an external magnetic field may be used for one of the magnetic alignment elements 145A/175A.
Magnetic materials include iron-based materials (e.g. ferrite and alnico) and rare earth metal-based materials (e.g. neodymium and samarium-cobalt). Rare earth metal-based magnets, such as neodymium iron-based materials, are preferred for the strength of the magnetic field they produce, however, more conventional magnetic materials can be used. For example, steel varieties are generally low cost and enable shape flexibility.
Magnetic alignment elements 145A and 175A may have a fully magnetic surface, meaning that the full surface area is available for magnetic coupling by being either a permanent magnet or a material magnetically attracted to a permanent magnet. In another embodiment, magnetic elements 145A and 175A may have one or more magnetic regions and one or more non-magnetic regions, which are regions containing neither a permanent magnet nor a material magnetically responsive to a permanent magnet. By tailoring the size, position, and number of the magnetic regions within each of the magnetic alignment elements 145A/175A, the precision of the alignment of the handset 115A within the cradle portion 115A may be tailored.
For example, where magnetic alignment element 175A is fully magnetic and magnetic alignment element 145A includes a small magnetic region within a large non-magnetic region, handset 110A may be magnetically engaged in any orientation where the small magnetic region of magnetic alignment element 145A overlaps with the area of magnetic alignment element 175A. However, where both magnetic alignment element 145A and 175A include a small magnetic region within a large non-magnetic region, handset 110A will magnetically engage only in the orientation where the two small magnetic regions precisely align.
The components of each of magnetic alignment elements 145A and 175A may be directly exposed, or one or both may be encased within handset 110A or cradle portion 115A, respectively. For example, handset 110A may have a plastic outer casing, with the magnetic alignment element 145A located within the outer casing. In another embodiment, magnetic element 175 is located within a plastic casing forming cradle portion 115A. That is, one or more layers of material unrelated to the magnetic alignment of the handset may be disposed between magnetic alignment element 145A and corresponding magnetic alignment element 175A when the magnetic alignment elements are coupled. In another embodiment, magnetic alignment elements 145A and 175A are in direct contact when magnetically coupled.
In another embodiment, handset 110C is placed within a cradle having a single larger magnetic alignment element, such as cradle 115A in
It is to be understood that though the magnetic alignment elements are illustrated with respect to a particular handset design, any handset and cradle portion designs including a handset that engages a hookswitch when placed in an on-hook position may be magnetically aligned using the magnetic alignment elements disclosed herein. Additionally, magnetic alignment elements may encompass larger or smaller areas than those illustrated in
Handset 110E includes a proximity element 215 and two magnetic alignment elements 195, according to an embodiment. Cradle 115E includes a proximity element 220 and two magnetic alignment elements 200, according to an embodiment. When proximity element 215 is within sufficient proximity to proximity element 220, the proximity switch is engaged; that is, the handset is in the on-hook position. In an embodiment, magnetic alignment elements 195 and 200 are attracted by a magnetic force sufficient to align and hold the handset 110E in a position relative to cradle 115E so that proximity elements 215 and 220 are engaged.
In an embodiment, proximity element 220 is a proximity switch. Proximity element 220 may be, for example, a reed switch. A reed switch operates by engaging or disengaging when an external magnetic field is applied. As such, proximity element 215 may be a magnetic element that triggers reed switch 220. In another embodiment, proximity element 215 is a proximity sensor, such as a reed switch. In this case, proximity element 220 is a magnetic element that triggers reed switch 215. Other types of proximity switches may be used. In an embodiment, only one proximity element is required—in either the cradle or the handset—which detects the presence of the handset within the cradle. Other configurations of one or more magnetic alignment elements are possible, including, but not limited to, magnetic alignment elements in the microphone portion of the handset and the microphone receiver portion of the cradle, as described above with respect to
Those skilled in the art will appreciate that various adaptations and modifications can be configured without departing from the scope and spirit of the embodiments described herein. Therefore, it is to be understood that, within the scope of the appended claims, the embodiments of the invention may be practiced other than as specifically described herein.
