Rolm Company

Siemens Information & Communication Networks, Inc.

Rolm Systems

Wayne McKinnon

William McRight

Timothy D Wetzel

Pearce R Jones

David Bryant

David E Bryant

Joel Q Adams

William Franklin Dunn, Jr

Mary E Kingsbury

Doug Erwin

Edwin Kretzschmar

Pierce Jones

Klaus Krosen

Friedhelm Luettecke

David Byant

A surface mount connector that can be used for both single and double-sided PWB's. A telephone may have a printed wiring board with connector access from the bottom of the telephone and keypad activation from the top of the telephone. If a double-sided PWB is used, the connector is mounted to the bottom side of the PWB, while the keypad is mounted to the top of the PWB. The connector faces away from the PWB to provide access from below the telephone. If a single-sided PWB is used, the connector is mounted to the top side of the PWB, so that the keypad can also be mounted to the top side. The connector is placed, with connector access down, into an opening through the PWB. The connector extends down through the opening in the PWB with the leads of the connector remaining on the top side of the PWB. The leads of the connector are secured to pads on the top side of the PWB.

Method of mounting a connector on a printed wiring board

The present invention provides a user installable option module which contains upgrade circuitry to add additional functions to a basic telephone. This generic upgrade module is capable of containing different sets of electronic circuitry which perform different functions and have different applications. The option module is user installable, and requires neither shipping the original unit to repair or upgrade, nor does it require trained service personnel to visit the customer site to perform the installation. The user installed option is installed in the base of a basic telephone. After installation, the option module appears to be an integral part of the basic telephone and is not readily visible to the user. The basic telephone also retains its original footprint. The option module is secured to the basic telephone in such a manner that prevents the option module from being damaged when subjected to significant forces.

User installed telephone option module

An electronic device (10) having a control circuit (12) for controlling the operation thereof and a battery compartment (14) adaptable configurable for retaining and electrically interconnecting therein either of a first battery configuration (52) and a second battery configuration (54) for providing power to the control circuit (12), the battery compartment (14) comprising a back wall (28) for supporting the battery configurations in the compartment (14), a plurality of side walls (34) extending from the back wall (28) for further supporting the battery configurations (52, 54) in the compartment, a panel (40) hingedly attached within the compartment (14), the hingedly attached panel (40) being rotatable between first and second angular positions, and a plurality of conductive elements (46) within the compartment, wherein a first of the plurality of conductive elements is disposed for physically contacting and electrically interconnecting the first battery configuration (52) when the panel is in the first angular position and a second of the plurality of conductive elements is disposed for physically contacting and electrically interconnecting the second battery configuration (54) when the panel is in the second angular position.

AA battery cellular phone

A lighted keyboard system which transmits light to the viewer via a clear rectangular column that uses the function key's guiding mechanism for support. The lightpipe emits light in a uniformly brilliant rectangle of light from a height above the surface of the keyboard. The lightpipe gathers light from an external light source which emits light at a wide viewing angle, and directs the emitted light along the center of the lightpipe to the emitting section. The beam of light is then diffused by the emitting section located at the top of the lightpipe, becoming a uniformly brilliant rectangle. The function key has a wide base which is used to guide the function key as it travels. This wide base never extends above the surface of the keyboard thereby maintaining all contacting surfaces between the guiding features and the function key below the surface of the keyboard. The function key has a key push center which is offset from the base of the function key. The associated guiding mechanism works in conjunction with the wide base to eliminate the moments produced when the function key is pressed at a point which is not over the base of the function key. The function key then moves smoothly until it is stopped by a stopping arm located on its associated lightpipe.

High visibility lightpipe in close proximity to function key

An interconnect bracket which mechanically and electrically connects an auxiliary device to a main unit. Very few additional parts are required and the auxiliary device is user installable with minimal tools. The interconnect bracket provides the electrical connection by employing traces which run the length of the bracket. The interconnect bracket attaches to the bottom surface of the main unit and is configured to fit within receiving recess slots such that the bracket is substantially flush with the bottom surface of the main unit. As a result, no visible connectors or cables are necessary. The interconnect bracket is lightweight and contains guides which assist in the installation of the auxiliary device. The interconnect bracket provides a means of connection which enables the auxiliary device to separate from the main unit when subjected to forces such as would be experienced if the coupled units were dropped. This reduces the potential for damage to the components of the main unit and auxiliary device.

Apparatus for electrically and mechanically connecting an auxiliary

Telephone set

Add-on console for a telephone set

Interface to a telephone set

Growing community of inventors

Georgetown, TX, United States of America

Wayne McKinnon