US20040157612A1 - Mobile communication and stethoscope system - Google Patents

Abstract

A mobile communication device in a palm-held size housing has a cellular or satellite telephone capable of wireless communication with the Internet and remotely located telephones. The device includes one or more replaceable memory card sockets for receiving a blank memory card for recording data directly from the Internet and, in particular, musical performances that then can be selectively reproduced by the device for the enjoyment of the user, including both audio and visual recordings and reproductions. The device also includes a camera and microphone for recording images and sound within the range of the device that can be wirelessly transmitted, either selectively or automatically to a remote telephone. Further, the device includes sensors for sensing unusual conditions that may also be transmitted to a remote telephone, together with the location of the device as determined by a GPS section of the device. Still further the device includes a connectable stethoscope for detecting and transmitting sounds from the chest of the user to a remote location.

Description

• This is a Continuation-In-Part of application Ser. No. 10/719,363, filed Nov. 20, 2003, which was a Continuation of application Ser. No. 09/531,356, filed Mar. 20, 2000, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,681,120, which was a Continuation-In-Part of application Ser. No. 08/846,108, filed Apr. 25, 1997, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,278,884, which are incorporated in this application in full by this reference.[0001]
• This invention relates to a mobile communication device that is readily carried by a person and provides numerous conveniences and features including, but not limited to, a cellular or satellite telephone with a camera, access to the Internet, and a stethoscope connectable to the telephone for remote patient diagnosis and monitoring.[0002]
• An object of this invention is to provide a personal communication device that is portable and includes a cellular or satellite accessible telephone with the ability to access the internet, replaceable memory cards for downloading data from the internet, and means for reproducing such data on the device from the cards. Specifically, the device of this invention is particularly adapted to download music, images or other data in a wireless manner from the Internet and selectively reproduce such music, images or other data from replaceable memory cards for one's personal enjoyment or other use.[0003]
• Still another object of the present invention is to provide a mobile communication device that wirelessly records data from the Internet and selectively reproduces that data, such as music and/or images, and also provides a portable security device capable of automatically communicating with a remote telephone and transmitting emergency data including sounds, pictures, location and similar information when selectively activated by the owner or when automatically activated by conditions sensed by integral sensors, including conditions such as sudden movement, sounds, light, heat, smoke or the like, including being activated from a remote location by a telephone call to initiate a signal or a vibrator to turn on the camera and microphone.[0004]
• A still further object of this invention is to provide a remote medical diagnostic system by using the communication device to transmit images and sounds from a patient using the device to a remotely located doctor or other medical professionals. Specifically, by this system a stethoscope is selectively connected to the communication device and with the camera and cellphone activated the doctor can listen to the user's lungs and heart as the stethoscope is positioned by the user under the direction of the doctor.[0005]
• Other and more detailed objects and advantages of the present invention will readily appear to those skilled in the art from the detailed description and accompanying drawings of the preferred embodiments, wherein:[0006]
• FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the front of the communication device of the present invention;[0007]
• FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a replaceable memory card for use with the device illustrated in FIG. 1;[0008]
• FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the back of the device of the present invention showing an optional card latching device;[0009]
• FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the device taken on the line[0010]4-4 in FIG. 3;
• FIG. 5 is a schematic drawing of the components of the communication device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;[0011]
• FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the communication device with the stethoscope connected through a headset; and[0012]
• FIG. 7 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 6 but illustrating and alternative embodiment.[0013]
• Referring more particularly to the figures, the entertainment and communication device, generally designated[0014]100, includes a cellular telephone or satellite accessible telephone or the like, hereinafter referred to collectively as a “cellphone”, having adialing pad101 with push buttons for operating the cellphone in a substantially conventional manner and also for controlling the operation of other components of thedevice100. The cellphone includes amicrophone103 and aspeaker125 for using the cellphone as a telephone for verbal communications. Adisplay panel104 is provided on the front of thedevice100 for displaying images and data, including but not limited to the conventional data displayed for the use of the cellphone. The cellphone also includes adialing memory113, adialing section114, a transmitting/receiving section115, anantenna119, avibrator130 and a ringsignal capturing section122. Themicrophone103 andspeaker125 are connected through an audiosignal processing section108 to themicroprocessor112 of thedevice100. Thedialing memory113,dialing section114, transmitting/receivingsection115,vibrator130, ringsignal capturing section122 anddialing pad101 are also connected to themicroprocessor112 for operating the cellphone in a conventional manner, through themicroprocessor112.
• The cellphone of the entertainment and[0015]communication device100 preferably is of the type that is capable of making a wireless connection to the Internet for receiving data therefrom and transmitting data thereto, such as the Samsung® Model No. 3500, Qualcom® No. 1960, Sprint® PCS, or the like, without a hardwire connection through a personal computer or telephone line.
• The entertainment and[0016]communication device100 of the present invention preferably is provided with asocket120 for receiving areplaceable memory card200. The opening for thesocket120 may be provided on the side of thedevice100, as shown at120A, or at one end of thedevice100, as shown at120B, or both. Thememory card200 is provided with electrical contacts201 (see FIG. 2) which are adapted to engage corresponding electrical contacts (not shown) in thesocket120, which contacts in turn are connected to themicroprocessor112 for communication between thereplaceable memory card200 and themicroprocessor112. Thememory card200 may be a prerecorded card or a flash (blank) card suitable for recording data from themicroprocessor112. By appropriately operating the cellphone to connect to or access the Internet and then operating the memorycard control buttons202, data from the Internet may be recorded on thereplaceable memory card200, such as musical performances, images (still or moving), written text or the like (hereinafter referred to as “data”). In addition to the audio data, the musical performance data from the Internet may include images of the performers or the like, and/or the words of the musical performance. Other audio and visual data also may be downloaded from the Internet tomemory card200. Subsequent to the recordation of the musical performance or other data on thereplaceable memory card200 or upon the positioning of aprerecorded memory card200 in asocket120, the memorycard control buttons202 may be manipulated to reproduce the musical performance or other data with the sound being broadcast by thespeaker125 or to earphones (not shown) or headset132 (FIG. 6) connected to theheadset jack121 or transmitted to wireless earphones (not shown). Thedevice100 also includes controls, such as ondialing pad101 or separately, for controlling the music volume, balance, selection (skip), equalization and the like. The images and/or words included in the recording on amemory card200 will be displayed on thedisplay panel104.
• The[0017]memory card200 is preferably of a high memory capacity and a size to fit substantially inside the housing of thedevice100 so as not to protrude therefrom and yet be of substantially the full width of thedevice100 to maximize the memory capacity of thecard200 substantially beyond the memory capacity of conventional prerecorded memory cards, such as for MP3 players. Of course, the width of thedevice100 is limited from a practical standpoint to a width that is comfortable in the palm of an adult person's hand for use as a telephone. Thus, as a practical matter, the width of the memory card is limited to about 1½″ to 2″. Similarly, the overall size of thedevice100 must be sufficiently small to be comfortably carried in a pocket or purse to be most practical. Further, while the thickness of thecard200 may be increased somewhat for increasing the memory capacity there is also a practical limit to that increased thickness so that the thickness of thedevice100 does not become excessive, but it is contemplated thatmemory cards200 of about twice the thickness may be provided and interchangeably installed in thesocket120 for at least doubling the memory capacity or separate sockets, such assockets120A and120B, may be provided for accommodatingmemory cards200 of different thicknesses. Still further, the length of thedevice100 is limited to a practical length and, therefore, the vertical length of the card is similarly limited. Thecard200 andsocket120 may be provided with matching non-symmetrical shapes, grooves, ridges or the like for requiring thecard200 to be inserted into the socket in the correct orientation, such as the cutoff corner ofcard200 shown in FIG. 1 (lower left) and FIG. 2 (lower right). Thedevice100 may also be provided with an integral image andaudio storage memory116 connected to the microprocessor for temporary or permanent storage of data, in addition to data storage oncards200, and the data stored onmemory116 may be reproduced in the same manner as fromreplaceable memory cards200.
• Referring more particularly to FIGS. 3 and 4, a latching device, generally designated[0018]150, is shown for retaining thereplaceable memory card200 in thesocket120A and for facilitating the removal of thememory card200 from thesocket120A. Thelatching device150 includes alever152 pivotally connected at154 to the back of the housing of thedevice100, with atab156 extending along the side of the device and over a portion of thesocket120A in the closed position. Apin158 extends inwardly from thelever152 and engages ahole204 in thememory card200. When thelatching device150 is pivoted to the open position shown in dashed lines in FIG. 4, thememory card200 may be readily removed fromsocket120A by placing a finger on the portion of thecard200 exposed by opening thelatching device150 or by engaging thehole204 with a finger nail or a pointed implement, such as a pencil or pen. Further, thepin158 and hole can be sized and relatively positioned such that thepin158 urges thecard200 outwardly upon opening the latching device. Still further, thesocket120A may be provided with a spring for urging thecard200 outwardly as soon as the card is unlatched. Of course either thetab156 orpin158 may be omitted since the other (pin or tab, respectively) will retain thecard200 in thesocket120A. Thelatching device150 may be of a width to only cover a portion of thesocket120A, as shown, or of a width to cover the entire socket (not shown).
• Since the[0019]device100 can be wirelessly connected to the internet, it is also possible to use thedevice100 for any other Internet functions, such as sending and receiving e-mail, conducting ebusiness, etc. Further, in view of the recording capability of thedevice100, the telephone conversations on the cellphone may be selectively recorded (one or both sides) and the device can be used for any sound recording, such as for dictation or face-to-face conversations or conferences. Still further, themicroprocessor112 includes means for automatically interrupting the playing of any musical performance being reproduced on thedevice100 when a telephone call is placed or received on the cellphone until the call is completed.
• All of the aforedescribed functions and those described hereinafter are powered by a[0020]battery126 in thedevice100 which preferably is a single rechargeable battery.
• The[0021]device100 is also provided with acomputer jack124 connected to the microprocessor for selectively connecting thedevice100 directly to a computer, radio, television or CD, DVD, VCR, tape or phonograph record player (not shown) by a hard wire (not shown) for downloading and uploading (where appropriate) to and from thereplaceable memory card200 orfixed memory116 in thedevice100.
• The[0022]device100 is also provided with various other features for the personal entertainment, communication, security, safety, diagnosis, monitoring and the like of the person at all times that the person has thedevice100 with him or her. Avideo camera102 is connected through an imagesignal processing section107 to themicroprocessor112 and the camera operation is controlled bybutton105, whereby images may be displayed on thepanel104, recorded on either theintegral memory116 or thereplaceable memory card200, or transmitted by the cellphone to a remote telephone which may be located at a police station, security office, one's own personal computer or the like. Thevideo camera102 is preferably a digital camera for electronically capturing images, either still or moving, for minimizing the size and battery power requirements, but also may be an analog type camera. Similarly, an infrarednight vision camera106 may be provided and connected to themicroprocessor112 through an infraredimage processing section109 to record or transmit images in the same manner asvideo camera102, and alight sensor118 is connected to themicroprocessor112 for automatically selecting the operation of thenight vision camera106 when the ambient light is at a very low level.Cameras102 and106 will be referred to generically as a “camera”. Themicrophone103 may also be activated manually or automatically by themicroprocessor112 when either of thecameras102 or106 are activated for recording and/or transmitting sounds within the range of thedevice100 synchronously with the recording or transmission of images by one of the cameras.
• The[0023]device100 also includes various emergency features for use by the person carrying the device. Analarm button123 is provided and may be activated to produce an audible alarm from thespeaker125 for dissuading an attacker or intruder or activating a silent alarm whereby the cellphone is automatically operated to communicate the emergency condition to a remote telephone, such as by dialing “911” or a private security telephone number or the like. Similarly, one ormore sensors110, such as motion, infrared, ultrasonic, acceleration, sound, light, heat, smoke, carbon monoxide, poisonous gas or the like sensors, are provided with thedevice100 and selectively activated for providing either an audible or silent alarm, similar to the functions of thepanic alarm button123 but without requiring operator activation, and thesensors110 are connected through thesensor reading section111 to themicroprocessor112 for using any of the functions of thedevice100. For example, with the acceleration sensor ofsensors110 activated while a person has thedevice100 in an automobile, the sudden deceleration of the automobile in an accident condition would be sensed by the acceleration sensor to cause themicroprocessor112 to dial an appropriate telephone number stored in the dialingmemory113, such as a “911” or a vehicle rescue number, and transmit the emergency as well as the location of thedevice100 as determined by a global positioning satellite (GPS)reading section117 provided with the device, whichGPS reading section117 may also be activated by thepanic alarm123. Further, if the motion sensor orsimilar sensors110 are activated and thedevice100 is appropriately positioned, for example in a hotel room, the motion and/or presence of an intruder will be sensed and communicated through thesensor reading section111 to themicroprocessor112 to activate any desired function, such as an audible alarm from thespeaker125, an automatic dialing of a “911” number, operation ofelectronic camera102 orinfrared camera106, operation of themicrophone103, operation of theGPS reading section117 or the like. Similar functions can be performed by thedevice100 when any of the other sensors are activated to sense a particular condition, such as heat, smoke, carbon monoxide, poisonous gas or the like.
• The[0024]device100 may also be used as a remote security or observation device to be activated upon demand though the cellphone function. For example, thedevice100 may be appropriately positioned and left in a home, office or plant and subsequently the user may dial the cellphone which, through either a silent answering function or thevibrator130 being sensed by amotion sensor110, activates thecamera102 or106 to provide a visual image of the area and/or themicrophone103 to receive the sounds in the area. Those images and/or sounds may be transmitted by the cellphone in real time to the caller or to a computer, a police station, security office or the like. Those images and/or sounds may be recorded on theinternal memory116 or amemory card200 in addition to or as an alternative to transmitting same by the cellphone function.
• Referring more specifically to FIG. 6, a still further function of the[0025]device100 is illustrated. Theheadset132 is provided with anearpiece134 which may be a single piece or dual pieces (not shown) having a speaker(s) and amicrophone136. When theheadset132 is plugged into aheadset jack121, as shown, the cellphone may be used in a hands-free manner or, for example, the user may listen to music from thememorys116 or200. Further, astethoscope140 is provided that has an adapter142 for connecting to themicrophone136 of theheadset132 and achestpiece144 for pressing to the chest or back of a person or animal that is being examined. The sounds sensed by thechestpiece144 are received by themicrophone136 and transferred to thedevice100, where such sounds may be recorded bymemorys116 and200 and/or transmitted by the cellphone, for example, to a doctor that is examining or monitoring the user of thedevice100 from a remote location or to the Internet for subsequent use. Also, thecamera102 may be activated and images transmitted to the doctor or recorded for subsequent evaluation. The stethoscope may be a conventional manual device, thereby relying on themicrophone136 to pick-up the sounds, or an amplified stethoscope such as the 3M Littmann® Electronic Stethoscope that produces either the sounds or an electronic signal that can be directly supplied to thedevice100 for reproducing the amplified sounds and other data. Theelectronic stethoscope chestpiece144 also may have aLCD display146 and a battery for operating the electronics. As an alternative, the electronic stethoscope may be provided with a plug for connecting directly to theheadset jack121 and appropriate electronic circuitry, such as in adaptor142, for communicating signals of the sounds to the cellphone for transmission. Further, other medical sensing devices may be provided for plugging into themicrophone136 or directly into the headset jack.121 for providing information concerning the user's condition to a remotely located doctor.
• Referring now more specifically to FIG. 7, an alternative arrangement is shown for using a conventional,[0026]manual stethoscope140′ with thecommunication device100 without modifying or disassembling the stethoscope. Aconventional stethoscope140′ typically has aflexible tube147 leading from achestpiece144′ to a pair of rigid tubes148aand148bhaving soft earpieces (not shown) at their ends for inserting in a person's ears. By the present invention a T- or Y-shapedaudio assembly160 is provided as a portion of theheadset132′ and has a pair of microphones162aand162bthat are detachably mounted on or to the earpiece ends of the rigid tubes148aand148b, respectively, of the stethoscope. Athird microphone136′ is provided on theassembly160 with the two microphones162aand162b. Awire164 connects theassembly160 to a headset plug for plugging into theheadset jack121 of thedevice100. Anotherwire166 connects theassembly160 to thethird microphone136′ andearpiece134′ may be used by a person, with or without thestethoscope140′, when operating thedevice100. The sounds detected by microphones162aand162bfrom thechestpiece144′ throughflexible tube147 and rigid tubes148aand148bthus are transmitted to the communication device for retransmitting by the cellphone portion or recording in thememory116 or200, similar to the embodiment of FIG. 6. As a simplified alternative, a single microphone may be provided inassembly160 with means for receiving the sounds from the two rigid tubes148aand148band/or the person rather than three microphones. Other configurations of theaudio assembly160 also may be used. As noted above with respect to the embodiment of FIG. 6, other medical sensing devices may be used with this T- or Y-shapedaudio assembly160.
• The embodiments of FIGS. 6 and 7 also may be used with a laptop or notebook computer for wireless communication or storage rather than the[0027]communication device100 or with a Personal Computer for wired communication.
• The[0028]device100 also may be used for paperless prescriptions by doctors by the doctor telephoning the cellphone ofdevice100 and entering a prescription that may be displayed on thescreen104 with appropriate security measures, such as the doctor's number and picture (if the doctor has a similar cellphone with a camera) or even a signature. By merely displaying the information at a pharmacy or downloading the information onto the pharmacy's computer or printer, the prescription maybe filled.
• Thus, by this invention a palm-sized device provides wireless communication for medical diagnosis and monitoring by providing a stethoscope connectable to the cellphone and a camera for the user to transmit and/or record medical information for real time or subsequent use, and numerous other communication, entertainment, security, safety and similar functions are selectively available to the user.[0029]

Claims (41)

What is claimed is:

1. A mobile communication device for communicating with the Internet and remotely located telephones, comprising:

a housing of a palm-held size; a cellphone provided in said housing and having means for selectively and wirelessly connecting to the Internet or remotely located telephones; and a stethoscope for operatively connecting to said cellphone for transmitting sounds detected by said stethoscope to the Internet or a remotely located telephone when said cellphone is wirelessly connected to the Internet or a remotely located telephone.

2. The device ofclaim 1, wherein said cellphone includes a headset jack, and further including a headset for connecting to said headset jack, said headset including a microphone portion to which said stethoscope is connected.

3. The device ofclaim 2, wherein said headset includes an earpiece with a speaker.

4. The device ofclaim 2, wherein said stethoscope relays sounds to said microphone portion of said headset.

5. The device ofclaim 1, further including a camera provided in said housing for capturing images in view of said housing.

6. The device ofclaim 1, wherein said stethoscope is electronic for amplifying the detected sounds.

7. The device ofclaim 6, wherein said electronic stethoscope is electronically connected to said cellphone.

8. The device ofclaim 6, wherein said stethoscope includes a battery.

9. The device ofclaim 1, wherein said cellphone is a satellite phone.

10. The device ofclaim 1, wherein a memory is provided in said housing and operatively connected to said cellphone.

11. The device ofclaim 10, wherein said memory includes a replaceable memory card receivable in a socket in said housing.

12. The device ofclaim 11, wherein said socket is of a thickness and is provided with means for accepting said replaceable memory cards of different thickness having different memory capacities.

13. The device ofclaim 10, wherein the sounds detected by said stethoscope are recorded in said memory.

14. The device ofclaim 13, further including a digital camera in said housing and wherein images from said camera are recorded in said memory.

15. The device ofclaim 10, wherein a jack is provided in said housing and connected to a microprocessor in said housing for selective hardwire connection of said microprocessor to a computer for downloading and uploading the data between said computer and said memory.

16. The device ofclaim 1, further including a sound volume control for controlling the volume of the sounds from the stethoscope that are transmitted by said cellphone.

17. The device ofclaim 1, wherein said cellphone includes a headset jack, and further including a T-shaped audio assembly in a headset having means for operatively connecting to said headset jack, said audio assembly having a pair of microphones for operatively mounting on earpiece ends of said stethoscope.

18. The device ofclaim 17, wherein said audio assembly includes a third microphone.

19. The device ofclaim 18, wherein said headset includes an earpiece with a speaker.

20. A mobile communication device for communicating with the Internet and remotely located telephones, comprising:

a cellphone in a portable housing of a size and weight for being handheld by a person for placing and receiving person-to-person telephone calls to and from remotely located telephones, said cellphone having a microphone and a speaker;

a digital camera in said housing;

a battery in the housing for supplying electrical power to said cellphone and digital camera;

means for selectively activating said microphone for capturing sounds within a range of said housing;

means for selectively activating said digital camera for capturing images within a range of said housing;

a memory operatively connected to said cellphone and said battery for selectively storing at least one of the sounds captured by said microphone, the sounds received from the remotely located telephone, and the images captured by said digital camera;

means for activating said cellphone for wirelessly communicating with a remotely located telephone and, when said cellphone and the remotely located telephone or Internet are telephonically connected, then selectively either causing the currently captured sounds or images or the stored sounds or images to be transmitted by said cellphone to the remotely located telephone or Internet;

means for selectively operating said cellphone, said microphone and said memory; and

means for activating said microphone and digital camera from a remotely located telephone.

21. The mobile communication device ofclaim 20, further including a global position system provided in said housing and operatively connected to said cellphone and battery, said cellphone having an emergency call button for dialing an emergency number and activating said global position system for transmitting the position of said cellphone to the emergency service number.

22. The mobile communication device ofclaim 20, wherein said means for activating said microphone and digital camera is a motion sensor that responds to a vibrator when the cellphone receives a call from the remotely located telephone.

23. A mobile communication device for communicating with the Internet and comprising:

a housing of palm-held size;

a cellphone provided in said housing and having a display screen;

a memory provided in said housing and operatively connected to said cellphone and screen; and

means for entering a drug prescription into said memory and subsequently displaying the prescription on the screen.

24. The device ofclaim 23, wherein the veracity of the prescription is verified by also displaying on the screen the identity of the prescribing doctor.

25. The device ofclaim 24, wherein the doctor's photograph is displayed on the screen.

26. A communication device for communicating with remotely located telephones, comprising:

a housing of palm-held size;

a cellphone provided in said housing and having means for selectively and wirelessly connecting to a remotely located telephone;

a headset with a microphone and an earpiece; and

said cellphone having a jack for removably receiving a plug on a wire of said headset connected to said microphone and earpiece for talking on and listening to said cellphone spaced from said housing.

27. The device ofclaim 26, further including a medical sensing device with a plug for connecting to said jack and transmitting sensed medical information by said cellphone to the remotely located telephone.

28. The device ofclaim 27, wherein said medical sensing device is a stethoscope.

29. The device ofclaim 26, wherein said headset microphone includes an auxiliary socket for connecting to a sound generating device for transmitting the generated sounds to a remotely located telephone by said cellphone.

30. The device ofclaim 29, wherein said headset includes a second microphone at said auxiliary socket for separately receiving said generated sounds from said sound generating device.

31. The device ofclaim 29, wherein said sound generating device is a stethoscope.

32. The device ofclaim 26, wherein said headset includes a connection means for connecting a medical sensing device to said cellphone and transmitting to a remotely located telephone the medical information sensed by said medical sensing device.

33. The device ofclaim 32, wherein said medical sensing device is a stethoscope.

34. The device ofclaim 33, wherein said stethoscope is electronically amplified.

35. A communication device for communicating with the Internet or remotely located telephones, comprising;

a housing having a microphone with means for communicating with the Internet or remotely located telephones, an audio jack on said housing operatively connected to said microprocessor;

an audio wire set for connecting to said audio jack; and

a medical sound sensing device for connecting to said audio wire set for communicating sounds through said audio wire set and microprocessor to the Internet or remotely located telephones.

36. The device ofclaim 35, wherein said microprocessor is part of a cellphone.

37. The device ofclaim 35, wherein said microprocessor is part of a computer having a wireless communication system for communicating with the Internet or remotely located telephones.

38. The device ofclaim 35, wherein said microprocessor is part of a personal computer having a wired communication system for communicating with the Internet or remotely located telephones.

39. The device ofclaim 35, wherein said medical sound sensing device is a stethoscope.

40. The device ofclaim 39, wherein said audio wire set includes an earpiece and a microphone with means for connecting said microphone to said stethoscope.

41. The device ofclaim 40, wherein said connecting means includes a T-shaped audio assembly with a pair of microphones for operatively mounting on earpiece portions of said stethoscope.

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