Integrated Data Transmission Computer and System

Technical Field

The present invention related to data transmission systems, and, in particular, to an integrated computer and cellular telephone for data transmission.

Background Art

Portable computers such as lap-top computers are well established. Similarly, data networks such as those know as local area networks (LAN) are also well known. It is also well know to control radiotelephone transceivers by microprocessors as is disclosed in United States Patent No. 4,486,624 of Puhl et al.

There have been numerous attempts in the past to combine general purpose computers, normally portable or lap-top computers with various degrees of telephone trans¬ mission capability. It is certainly common and well established to have built-in modem to modulate and demodu¬ late signals between the computer and a telephone. U. S. Patent No. 4,533,791 issued to Read et al shows a computer with a built-in conventional telephone. U. S. Patent NO. 4,577,068 of Kelly et al shows a telephone cradle which can be used with a computer or "communication terminal." U. S. Patent No. 4,571,456 of Paulsen et al shows a lap-top computer adapted to incorporate an acoustic coupler or telephone handset. A portable "information display" which incorporates what appears to be a standard modem is shown in U. S. Patent NO. 4,496,943 of Greenblatt. U. S. Patent No. 4,602,127 of Neely et al discloses a vehicle computer which makes use of a communication's controller. A com¬ puter equipped with an infrared or other line of sight transmitter is shown in U. S. Patent No. 4,456,793 of Baker et al. The actual physical mechanism shown is not too

specific but does not appear to be incorporated into the computer frame itself.

Disclosure of the Invention

A computer, according to the present invention, includes an information display such an LCD screen, a keyboard for manual input of information into the computer, a cellular telephone incorporated within the computer, a modem for modulating/demodulating signals fed to and from the cellular telephone, and an antenna for transmitt- ing/receiving signals from the cellular telephone. In preferred from, radiation shielding substantially blocks direct radiation from the antenna to the rest of the computer. It is preferred that some radiation shielding also substantially block radiation from the cellular telephone to the rest of the computer. In one form, a microphone and a speaker are operably connected o the cellular telephone for transmitting/receiving voice sig¬ nals.

A portable form of a computer, according to the present invention, includes a housing having first and second compartments connected by a hinge for pivoting the compartments to relative open and closed positions. A preferred form has the antenna arranged within the same housing as the information display. The antenna is exten- dable from that housing compartment when in use.

A data network, according to the present invention, includes a plurality of computers, at least one of which comprises a housing, a cellular telephone arranged within the housing, a modem with the housing for modulat- ing/demodulating signals fed to and from the cellular telephone, and some means for transmitting/receiving signals to and from the cellular telephone. At least one computer communicates with the other computers of the plurality by means of the cellular telephone.

These and other objects, and advantages and features of this invention will be apparent from the following description taken with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein is shown the preferred embodiments of the invention.

Brief Description of Drawing

FIGURE 1 is a front right perspective view of a portable computer according to the present invention in a relative open position; FIGURE 2 is a right side elevational view of the portable computer of FIGURE 1;

FIGURE 3 is a bottom plan view of the portable com¬ puter of FIGURE 1 with the bottom panel removed;

FIGURE 4 is a diagrammatic representation of a data network according to the present invention;

FIGURE 5 is a diagrammatic view of an alternative embodiment of a data network according to the present invention; and

FIGURE 6 is a diagrammatic representation of a data network according to the present invention being used for the transmission of voice signals.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

Referring now to the drawing, and in particular to FIGURE 1, a portable computer according to the present invention is referred to generally by reference numeral 10. Portable computer 10 includes a housing having first and second compartments 12 and 14 connected by hinge means 16 for pivoting the compartments to relative open and closed positions as is well known in the art. means such as detachable liquid crystal display screen 18 displays information from the computer when the compartments are in the open position, and a manual keyboard 20 allows for the input of information into the computer.

Referring also to FIGURE 2 and FIGURE 3, a cellular telephone forms an integral part of computer 10 and in-

eludes transceiver 22, cellular telephone batteries 24, and a cellular power board 26. A modem 28 is arranged within the housing, in this case second housing compartment 14 for modulating/demodulating signals sent to and from cellular telephone transceiver 22. In a preferred from, cellular transceiver 22 is encased within its own housing which shields the rest of the computer from radiation. In one form, this is simply a matter of coating its own housing with aluminum oxide. Battery pack 30 and voltage converter 32 provide power for the remaining computer operations. In this case, they are located within second housing compart¬ ment 14 as are computer cards 34.

Portable computer 10 also includes means such as antenna 36 and transmitting/receiving signals from cellular telephone transceiver 22. In a preferred from, antenna 36 is arranged within and extendable from first housing compartment 12 in a conventional telescoping antenna arrangement. Radiation shielding 38 forms a cylinder around that portion of antenna 36 within first housing compartment 12. A currently suitable form of radiation shielding is rubberized aluminum, but a layer of aluminum oxide over housing of transceiver 22, adequate shielding of other vital computer elements from transceiver and antenna radiation must be balanced against maintaining a light portable weight for the overall computer.

IN a preferred from, the attitude of first housing compartment 12 and, hence detachable LCD screen 19 is adjustable for personal preference and lighting between the position shown and continuous positions back to that indicated by reference numeral 40.

In one arrangement, portable computer 10 also includes such features as a built-in hard disk 42, a pop-up floppy disk drive 44, a modular jack 36 for a telephone handset to be connected to cellular transceiver 22, and an audio

signal jack 48 for a headset. In a preferred form, com¬ puter 10 also includes a microphone and a speaker such as pop-up speaker phone 50 operably connected to cellular telephone transceiver 22 for transmitting/receiving voice signals. Finally, a retractable handle 52 adds to easy portability. In one arrangement of keyboard 20, a numeric touch pad 21 also serves as a touch tone telephone pad for the cellular telephone.

Referring now to FIGURE 4, a data network according to the present invention is referred to generally by reference numeral 54. Data network 54 includes a plurality of computers 56, at least one of which is similar to portable computer 10, having a housing, in this case comprising first housing compartment 12 and second housing compartment 14, a cellular telephone arranged within the housing as previously described, a modem arranged within the housing as previously described for modulating/demodulating signals fed to and from the cellular telephone, and means such as antenna 36 for transmitting/receiving signals from the cellular telephone. In the particular embodiment il¬ lustrated, all of the computers communicate by means of cellular telephones through a cellular phone station 50 which forms a part of the communications link used by the data network.

Referring also to FIGURE 5, an alternative embodiment of a data network according to the present invention is referred to generally by reference numeral 60 in which cellular phone station 58 and its telephone exchange station 62 from part of the communications link used by he data network. In the embodiment illustrated, however, in addition to the plurality 56 of computers 10 there a larger plurality of computers, some of which make up a _fc convention- al local area network 64 and another of which functions as a host computer 66. Host computer 66 and local area

network 64 communicate through telephone exchange station 62 by means of modems 68 and 70 respectively.

Referring now to FIGURE 6, data network 68 which could, in reality, be either data network 54 or data network 60 previously illustrated can also provide voice communications for field units using portable computer 10 communicating with other similar field units using portable computer 10 communicating with other similar field units within plurality of computers 56 or a mobile telephone 70 or a conventional house telephone 72.

From the foregoing it will be seen that this invention is one well adapted to attain all the end and objects hereinabove set forth, together with other advantages which are obvious and which are inherent to the apparatus.

It will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations. This is contemplated by and is in the scope of the claims.

As many possible embodiments may e made of the inven- tion without departing from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matter herein set froth or shown in the figures of the accompanying drawing is to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.