David M Townsend

US Patent:

6532374, Mar 11, 2003

Filed:

Jun 16, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/595318

Inventors:

Sandeep Chennakeshu - Cary NC
David Townsend - Chapel Hill NC
David R. Irvin - Raleigh NC
Randy Bright - Pittsboro NC

Assignee:

Ericsson Inc. - Research Triangle Park NC

International Classification:

H04B 106

US Classification:

455569, 455345, 37942004

Abstract:

A radiotelephone includes a base unit mounted within the vehicle having a wide area transceiver for communicating with a station outside the vehicle, a control unit disposed in the vehicle remotely from the base unit, and a local area network for establishing a communication link between the base unit and the control unit. The local area network is adapted to transmit control and data signals between the base unit and the control unit. The control unit includes a keypad for entering commands and data that are transmitted to the base unit via the local area network, and a display for displaying information to the user. The control unit may also include a speaker and microphone. Alternatively, the speaker and microphone may be contained in a remote audio unit that is linked to the base unit via the local area network. The control unit may, for example, be incorporated into the steering wheel of a vehicle while the base unit is concealed in the trunk or under the seat of the vehicle.

US Patent:

6542758, Apr 1, 2003

Filed:

Jul 22, 1999

Appl. No.:

09/359551

Inventors:

Sandeeep Chennakeshu - Cary NC
David Townsend - Chapel Hill NC
David R. Irvin - Raleigh NC
Nils Rydbeck - Cary NC

Assignee:

Ericsson Inc. - Research Triangle Park NC

International Classification:

H04B 138

US Classification:

455569, 455575, 455557

Abstract:

A vehicle mounted communication system comprises a hand held mobile phone and a hands-free unit. The hand-held unit includes a wide area transceiver for station outside of the vehicle and a short-range radio transceiver the hands-free unit includes a microphone and speaker and is mounted in a fixed location in the vehicle. A short range radio link operatively connects the hand-held unit and the hands-free unit to enable voice and data signals to be exchanged between the hand-held unit and the hands-free unit. The hands-free unit may include a programmable memory unit to store a user table containing user identification data and configuration data. The hands-free unit control logic configures the hands-free unit based on the user identification received from the hand-held unit, thus allowing multiple users to have their preferences recognized by an individual hands-free unit. The programmable memory unit and control logic may be incorporated into the vehicles internal network for control of things like electric seats, stereo controls and the like.

US Patent:

6751487, Jun 15, 2004

Filed:

Feb 8, 2000

Appl. No.:

09/500369

Inventors:

Nils Rydbeck - Cary NC
David Townsend - Chapel Hill NC
Harou Kurokawa - Morrisville NC

Assignee:

Ericsson, Inc. - Research Triangle Park NC

International Classification:

H04M 100

US Classification:

4555753, 4555751, 4555501, 455 903, 37943304

Abstract:

A miniaturizable wireless communications device is configured to redefine the roles of the primary front and rear surfaces of the device by positioning a large graphic display on the forward surface and a speaker on the rear surface. The associated keypad can be disposed on either or both of the rear surface or the graphic display (such as via a touchscreen). Alternatively, a pivotable flip can include the keypad and even the microphone. During operation, a user can turn the device around to orient the desired input surface for use (forward face up for display surface use and forward face down or away for telephone use). An associated method of designing the operational platform of a wireless communications device so that it has two active primary faces is also disclosed.