Technophone Limited

Nokia Mobile Phones Limited

Technophone Limited of Ashwood House

Nils E Martensson

Michael B Ashdown

Ron Major

Craig Ian Wightman

Peter D Harrison

Malcolm C Cant

John R Kinneir

Chris M Harrison

Francis Baldry

Andrew Homan

John H New

Mark Powell

David C Perry

Keith Paver

Roger Wilkins

Craig Dolwin

Anthony B Harrup

John J Runnalls

A portable radio telephone operating under the control of a microprocessor includes a disturbance sensitive switch sensitive to shock, movement or other physical disturbance or to a voice which causes the telephone to go 'off-hook' if the telephone is disturbed during an incoming call. The user can thus answer an incoming call very quickly before the system times-out the call by gently striking or simply moving the telephone or talking or shouting to it even when the telephone is in a relatively inaccessible location. In a preferred embodiment the user is required to confirm the off-hook condition by pressing one of the keys on the telephone keypad. The telephone may continue ringing until the confirmatory keystroke has been effected.

Portable radio telephone with sound off-hook production

Portable radio telephone with impulse movement or sound off-hook

Apparatus for charging a NiCd battery in a portable electronic apparatus, specifically a radio telephone. A charger includes a trickle charge circuit and fast charge circuit which can be selectively enabled by a switch under the control of a signal V.sub.c generated by a voltage generator within the telephone. The charge mode may be selected automatically from within the telephone, e.g. depending on the charge state of the battery as detected by the charge state sensor. Additionally or alternatively the charge mode may be selected manually by depressing appropriate keys on the telephone. Preferably the charge mode is enabled by selecting an appropriate menu which is indicated visually on the display area of the telephone. This charging apparatus facilitates the adoption of a battery charging regime which optimizes battery life.

Battery charging apparatus in a portable electronic apparatus

A portable radio telephone has a keypad including a plurality of externally accessible keys. The keys can be disabled (i.e. the keypad can be locked) to prevent accidental actuation thereof by performing a predetermined order of keystrokes using two of the keys which ordinarily have an alternative function associated therewith. Thus, for example, depression of the # key followed by the ON/OFF key temporarily enables the keyboard lock. The lock can be disabled simply by repeating the same keystrokes.

Portable radio telephone which terminates an electronic keypad lock

A compact portable telephone comprises a housing having a main body and an extending sleeve-like portion mounted for longitudinal slidable movement between a retracted position when not in use (see FIG. 2), and an extended position (see FIG. 1) for use. In a preferred arrangement, the earphone is present in the main body and the microphone is in the extending portion. The telephone includes a plurality of buttons or keys which can be selectively actuated for operating the telephone, and in one embodiment the extending portion is adapted to conceal selected ones of the buttons or keys when it is in the closed position to prevent accidental actuation of these buttons or keys.

Variable configuration portable telephone

An adapter (13) for enabling an external antenna, e.g. an antenna fitted to a vehicle, to be connected in place of an existing antenna (7) on a radio, particularly a portable radio telephone (1). The adapter is slidably located in a passageway (6) which may be part of an integral moulding of a radio casing (2). The existing antenna (7) may be slidably located in the passageway such that it can be displaced and so disconnected from the radio when the adapter is fitted. Alteratively, the radio has an internal existing antenna which is switched out when the adapter makes an external antenna connection, e.g., by means of contacts (15,16) mounted in the adapter and in the passageway (FIGS. 3 and 4). The slidable antenna (7) may be in the form of a tape having a bowed cross-section.

Antenna assembly

A retractable antenna is in the form of a tape (7) which is slidably mounted in a passageway (6). An electrical contact (9) for making connection to the antenna is provided on the rear wall (3) of the passageway. The tape (7) or the passageway (6) or both are shaped so as to form a bend, e.g. a bow, across the width of the tape so that (a) the convex side of the tape confronts the contact (9) and (b) rigidity is imparted to the tape to keep it upright when extended from the passageway. This antenna is slim and lightweight and therefore ideally suited for use with a compact portable radio telephone.

Retractable antenna

Portable radio/telephone instrument

Handset radio telephone

Pocket telephone

Growing community of inventors

Woking, United Kingdom

Nils E Martensson