Combined keypad and protective cover
US5818924A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Aug 2, 1996 |
| Grant date | Oct 6, 1998 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 2, 2016 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH04M2250/22
- WIPO fieldTelecommunications
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A mechanical keypad is attached to the outside of a protective cover. A switch allows a personal intelligent communicator to be operated either with the user interface of a mobile telephone handset or with a graphical user interface. When the cover is closed, the mechanical keypad serves for dialing telephone numbers. When the cover is open, the mechanical keypad is disabled, and the graphical user interface is revealed. The microphone and speaker of the personal intelligent communicator together operate as a speaker phone when the cover is open, and as a mobile telephone handset when the cover is closed. By use of an override switch, the personal intelligent communicator can also operate as a speaker phone when the cover is open.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.