U.S. patent application number 10/773606 was filed with the patent office on 2004-08-12 for mobile communication and stethoscope system.
This patent application is currently assigned to Minerva Industries, Inc.. Invention is credited to Kim, Ki Il.
Application Number | 20040157612 10/773606 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46300813 |
Filed Date | 2004-08-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040157612 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Kim, Ki Il |
August 12, 2004 |
Mobile communication and stethoscope system
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.
Inventors: |
Kim, Ki Il; (Los Angeles,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
FULBRIGHT AND JAWORSKI L L P
PATENT DOCKETING 29TH FLOOR
865 SOUTH FIGUEROA STREET
LOS ANGELES
CA
900172576
|
Assignee: |
Minerva Industries, Inc.
|
Family ID: |
46300813 |
Appl. No.: |
10/773606 |
Filed: |
February 6, 2004 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10773606 |
Feb 6, 2004 |
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10719363 |
Nov 20, 2003 |
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10719363 |
Nov 20, 2003 |
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09531356 |
Mar 20, 2000 |
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6681120 |
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09531356 |
Mar 20, 2000 |
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08846108 |
Apr 25, 1997 |
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6278884 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
455/445 ;
348/E7.079; 348/E7.088; 455/556.2; 455/558 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04M 2250/14 20130101;
H04M 1/72445 20210101; B60R 25/102 20130101; H04M 1/656 20130101;
H04N 21/4334 20130101; A61B 5/0013 20130101; H04M 1/6058 20130101;
H04N 7/183 20130101; H04M 2250/10 20130101; H04M 2250/12 20130101;
H04B 1/3805 20130101; B60R 2325/205 20130101; H04N 21/41407
20130101; A61B 5/0022 20130101; B60R 25/305 20130101; A61B 7/04
20130101; H04M 1/72424 20210101; G16H 40/67 20180101; H04M 1/72442
20210101; H04M 2250/52 20130101; B60R 25/302 20130101; H04N 7/142
20130101; H04N 21/4184 20130101; H04N 2007/145 20130101; H04N 7/185
20130101; H04M 1/72409 20210101; H04M 1/72403 20210101 |
Class at
Publication: |
455/445 ;
455/556.2; 455/558 |
International
Class: |
H04Q 007/20; H04B
001/38 |
Claims
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 of claim 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 of claim 2, wherein said headset includes an earpiece
with a speaker.
4. The device of claim 2, wherein said stethoscope relays sounds to
said microphone portion of said headset.
5. The device of claim 1, further including a camera provided in
said housing for capturing images in view of said housing.
6. The device of claim 1, wherein said stethoscope is electronic
for amplifying the detected sounds.
7. The device of claim 6, wherein said electronic stethoscope is
electronically connected to said cellphone.
8. The device of claim 6, wherein said stethoscope includes a
battery.
9. The device of claim 1, wherein said cellphone is a satellite
phone.
10. The device of claim 1, wherein a memory is provided in said
housing and operatively connected to said cellphone.
11. The device of claim 10, wherein said memory includes a
replaceable memory card receivable in a socket in said housing.
12. The device of claim 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 of claim 10, wherein the sounds detected by said
stethoscope are recorded in said memory.
14. The device of claim 13, further including a digital camera in
said housing and wherein images from said camera are recorded in
said memory.
15. The device of claim 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 of claim 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 of claim 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 of claim 17, wherein said audio assembly includes a
third microphone.
19. The device of claim 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 of claim 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 of claim 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 of claim 23, wherein the veracity of the
prescription is verified by also displaying on the screen the
identity of the prescribing doctor.
25. The device of claim 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 of claim 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 of claim 27, wherein said medical sensing device is
a stethoscope.
29. The device of claim 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 of claim 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 of claim 29, wherein said sound generating device is
a stethoscope.
32. The device of claim 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 of claim 32, wherein said medical sensing device is
a stethoscope.
34. The device of claim 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 of claim 35, wherein said microprocessor is part of
a cellphone.
37. The device of claim 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 of claim 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 of claim 35, wherein said medical sound sensing
device is a stethoscope.
40. The device of claim 39, wherein said audio wire set includes an
earpiece and a microphone with means for connecting said microphone
to said stethoscope.
41. The device of claim 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.
Description
[0001] 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.
[0002] 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.
[0003] 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.
[0004] 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.
[0005] 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.
[0006] 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:
[0007] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the front of the
communication device of the present invention;
[0008] FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a replaceable memory card
for use with the device illustrated in FIG. 1;
[0009] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the back of the device of
the present invention showing an optional card latching device;
[0010] FIG. 4 is a sectional view of the device taken on the line
4-4 in FIG. 3;
[0011] FIG. 5 is a schematic drawing of the components of the
communication device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2;
[0012] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of the communication device
with the stethoscope connected through a headset; and
[0013] FIG. 7 is a perspective view similar to FIG. 6 but
illustrating and alternative embodiment.
[0014] Referring more particularly to the figures, the
entertainment and communication device, generally designated 100,
includes a cellular telephone or satellite accessible telephone or
the like, hereinafter referred to collectively as a "cellphone",
having a dialing pad 101 with push buttons for operating the
cellphone in a substantially conventional manner and also for
controlling the operation of other components of the device 100.
The cellphone includes a microphone 103 and a speaker 125 for using
the cellphone as a telephone for verbal communications. A display
panel 104 is provided on the front of the device 100 for displaying
images and data, including but not limited to the conventional data
displayed for the use of the cellphone. The cellphone also includes
a dialing memory 113, a dialing section 114, a
transmitting/receiving section 115, an antenna 119, a vibrator 130
and a ring signal capturing section 122. The microphone 103 and
speaker 125 are connected through an audio signal processing
section 108 to the microprocessor 112 of the device 100. The
dialing memory 113, dialing section 114, transmitting/receiving
section 115, vibrator 130, ring signal capturing section 122 and
dialing pad 101 are also connected to the microprocessor 112 for
operating the cellphone in a conventional manner, through the
microprocessor 112.
[0015] The cellphone of the entertainment and communication device
100 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.RTM. Model No. 3500,
Qualcom.RTM. No. 1960, Sprint.RTM. PCS, or the like, without a
hardwire connection through a personal computer or telephone
line.
[0016] The entertainment and communication device 100 of the
present invention preferably is provided with a socket 120 for
receiving a replaceable memory card 200. The opening for the socket
120 may be provided on the side of the device 100, as shown at
120A, or at one end of the device 100, as shown at 120B, or both.
The memory card 200 is provided with electrical contacts 201 (see
FIG. 2) which are adapted to engage corresponding electrical
contacts (not shown) in the socket 120, which contacts in turn are
connected to the microprocessor 112 for communication between the
replaceable memory card 200 and the microprocessor 112. The memory
card 200 may be a prerecorded card or a flash (blank) card suitable
for recording data from the microprocessor 112. By appropriately
operating the cellphone to connect to or access the Internet and
then operating the memory card control buttons 202, data from the
Internet may be recorded on the replaceable memory card 200, 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 to memory card 200. Subsequent to the
recordation of the musical performance or other data on the
replaceable memory card 200 or upon the positioning of a
prerecorded memory card 200 in a socket 120, the memory card
control buttons 202 may be manipulated to reproduce the musical
performance or other data with the sound being broadcast by the
speaker 125 or to earphones (not shown) or headset 132 (FIG. 6)
connected to the headset jack 121 or transmitted to wireless
earphones (not shown). The device 100 also includes controls, such
as on dialing pad 101 or separately, for controlling the music
volume, balance, selection (skip), equalization and the like. The
images and/or words included in the recording on a memory card 200
will be displayed on the display panel 104.
[0017] The memory card 200 is preferably of a high memory capacity
and a size to fit substantially inside the housing of the device
100 so as not to protrude therefrom and yet be of substantially the
full width of the device 100 to maximize the memory capacity of the
card 200 substantially beyond the memory capacity of conventional
prerecorded memory cards, such as for MP3 players. Of course, the
width of the device 100 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 11/2" to 2". Similarly, the overall
size of the device 100 must be sufficiently small to be comfortably
carried in a pocket or purse to be most practical. Further, while
the thickness of the card 200 may be increased somewhat for
increasing the memory capacity there is also a practical limit to
that increased thickness so that the thickness of the device 100
does not become excessive, but it is contemplated that memory cards
200 of about twice the thickness may be provided and
interchangeably installed in the socket 120 for at least doubling
the memory capacity or separate sockets, such as sockets 120A and
120B, may be provided for accommodating memory cards 200 of
different thicknesses. Still further, the length of the device 100
is limited to a practical length and, therefore, the vertical
length of the card is similarly limited. The card 200 and socket
120 may be provided with matching non-symmetrical shapes, grooves,
ridges or the like for requiring the card 200 to be inserted into
the socket in the correct orientation, such as the cutoff corner of
card 200 shown in FIG. 1 (lower left) and FIG. 2 (lower right). The
device 100 may also be provided with an integral image and audio
storage memory 116 connected to the microprocessor for temporary or
permanent storage of data, in addition to data storage on cards
200, and the data stored on memory 116 may be reproduced in the
same manner as from replaceable memory cards 200.
[0018] Referring more particularly to FIGS. 3 and 4, a latching
device, generally designated 150, is shown for retaining the
replaceable memory card 200 in the socket 120A and for facilitating
the removal of the memory card 200 from the socket 120A. The
latching device 150 includes a lever 152 pivotally connected at 154
to the back of the housing of the device 100, with a tab 156
extending along the side of the device and over a portion of the
socket 120A in the closed position. A pin 158 extends inwardly from
the lever 152 and engages a hole 204 in the memory card 200. When
the latching device 150 is pivoted to the open position shown in
dashed lines in FIG. 4, the memory card 200 may be readily removed
from socket 120A by placing a finger on the portion of the card 200
exposed by opening the latching device 150 or by engaging the hole
204 with a finger nail or a pointed implement, such as a pencil or
pen. Further, the pin 158 and hole can be sized and relatively
positioned such that the pin 158 urges the card 200 outwardly upon
opening the latching device. Still further, the socket 120A may be
provided with a spring for urging the card 200 outwardly as soon as
the card is unlatched. Of course either the tab 156 or pin 158 may
be omitted since the other (pin or tab, respectively) will retain
the card 200 in the socket 120A. The latching device 150 may be of
a width to only cover a portion of the socket 120A, as shown, or of
a width to cover the entire socket (not shown).
[0019] Since the device 100 can be wirelessly connected to the
internet, it is also possible to use the device 100 for any other
Internet functions, such as sending and receiving e-mail,
conducting ebusiness, etc. Further, in view of the recording
capability of the device 100, 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, the
microprocessor 112 includes means for automatically interrupting
the playing of any musical performance being reproduced on the
device 100 when a telephone call is placed or received on the
cellphone until the call is completed.
[0020] All of the aforedescribed functions and those described
hereinafter are powered by a battery 126 in the device 100 which
preferably is a single rechargeable battery.
[0021] The device 100 is also provided with a computer jack 124
connected to the microprocessor for selectively connecting the
device 100 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 the replaceable memory card 200 or fixed memory 116 in the
device 100.
[0022] The device 100 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 the device 100 with him or her. A video camera 102
is connected through an image signal processing section 107 to the
microprocessor 112 and the camera operation is controlled by button
105, whereby images may be displayed on the panel 104, recorded on
either the integral memory 116 or the replaceable memory card 200,
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. The video camera 102 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 infrared night vision
camera 106 may be provided and connected to the microprocessor 112
through an infrared image processing section 109 to record or
transmit images in the same manner as video camera 102, and a light
sensor 118 is connected to the microprocessor 112 for automatically
selecting the operation of the night vision camera 106 when the
ambient light is at a very low level. Cameras 102 and 106 will be
referred to generically as a "camera". The microphone 103 may also
be activated manually or automatically by the microprocessor 112
when either of the cameras 102 or 106 are activated for recording
and/or transmitting sounds within the range of the device 100
synchronously with the recording or transmission of images by one
of the cameras.
[0023] The device 100 also includes various emergency features for
use by the person carrying the device. An alarm button 123 is
provided and may be activated to produce an audible alarm from the
speaker 125 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 or more sensors 110, such as motion, infrared,
ultrasonic, acceleration, sound, light, heat, smoke, carbon
monoxide, poisonous gas or the like sensors, are provided with the
device 100 and selectively activated for providing either an
audible or silent alarm, similar to the functions of the panic
alarm button 123 but without requiring operator activation, and the
sensors 110 are connected through the sensor reading section 111 to
the microprocessor 112 for using any of the functions of the device
100. For example, with the acceleration sensor of sensors 110
activated while a person has the device 100 in an automobile, the
sudden deceleration of the automobile in an accident condition
would be sensed by the acceleration sensor to cause the
microprocessor 112 to dial an appropriate telephone number stored
in the dialing memory 113, such as a "911" or a vehicle rescue
number, and transmit the emergency as well as the location of the
device 100 as determined by a global positioning satellite (GPS)
reading section 117 provided with the device, which GPS reading
section 117 may also be activated by the panic alarm 123. Further,
if the motion sensor or similar sensors 110 are activated and the
device 100 is appropriately positioned, for example in a hotel
room, the motion and/or presence of an intruder will be sensed and
communicated through the sensor reading section 111 to the
microprocessor 112 to activate any desired function, such as an
audible alarm from the speaker 125, an automatic dialing of a "911"
number, operation of electronic camera 102 or infrared camera 106,
operation of the microphone 103, operation of the GPS reading
section 117 or the like. Similar functions can be performed by the
device 100 when any of the other sensors are activated to sense a
particular condition, such as heat, smoke, carbon monoxide,
poisonous gas or the like.
[0024] The device 100 may also be used as a remote security or
observation device to be activated upon demand though the cellphone
function. For example, the device 100 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 the vibrator 130 being sensed by a motion
sensor 110, activates the camera 102 or 106 to provide a visual
image of the area and/or the microphone 103 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 the internal memory 116 or a memory card 200 in
addition to or as an alternative to transmitting same by the
cellphone function.
[0025] Referring more specifically to FIG. 6, a still further
function of the device 100 is illustrated. The headset 132 is
provided with an earpiece 134 which may be a single piece or dual
pieces (not shown) having a speaker(s) and a microphone 136. When
the headset 132 is plugged into a headset jack 121, as shown, the
cellphone may be used in a hands-free manner or, for example, the
user may listen to music from the memorys 116 or 200. Further, a
stethoscope 140 is provided that has an adapter 142 for connecting
to the microphone 136 of the headset 132 and a chestpiece 144 for
pressing to the chest or back of a person or animal that is being
examined. The sounds sensed by the chestpiece 144 are received by
the microphone 136 and transferred to the device 100, where such
sounds may be recorded by memorys 116 and 200 and/or transmitted by
the cellphone, for example, to a doctor that is examining or
monitoring the user of the device 100 from a remote location or to
the Internet for subsequent use. Also, the camera 102 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 the microphone 136 to pick-up the
sounds, or an amplified stethoscope such as the 3M Littmann.RTM.
Electronic Stethoscope that produces either the sounds or an
electronic signal that can be directly supplied to the device 100
for reproducing the amplified sounds and other data. The electronic
stethoscope chestpiece 144 also may have a LCD display 146 and a
battery for operating the electronics. As an alternative, the
electronic stethoscope may be provided with a plug for connecting
directly to the headset jack 121 and appropriate electronic
circuitry, such as in adaptor 142, for communicating signals of the
sounds to the cellphone for transmission. Further, other medical
sensing devices may be provided for plugging into the microphone
136 or directly into the headset jack. 121 for providing
information concerning the user's condition to a remotely located
doctor.
[0026] Referring now more specifically to FIG. 7, an alternative
arrangement is shown for using a conventional, manual stethoscope
140' with the communication device 100 without modifying or
disassembling the stethoscope. A conventional stethoscope 140'
typically has a flexible tube 147 leading from a chestpiece 144' to
a pair of rigid tubes 148a and 148b having soft earpieces (not
shown) at their ends for inserting in a person's ears. By the
present invention a T- or Y-shaped audio assembly 160 is provided
as a portion of the headset 132' and has a pair of microphones 162a
and 162b that are detachably mounted on or to the earpiece ends of
the rigid tubes 148a and 148b, respectively, of the stethoscope. A
third microphone 136' is provided on the assembly 160 with the two
microphones 162a and 162b. A wire 164 connects the assembly 160 to
a headset plug for plugging into the headset jack 121 of the device
100. Another wire 166 connects the assembly 160 to the third
microphone 136' and earpiece 134' may be used by a person, with or
without the stethoscope 140', when operating the device 100. The
sounds detected by microphones 162a and 162b from the chestpiece
144' through flexible tube 147 and rigid tubes 148a and 148b thus
are transmitted to the communication device for retransmitting by
the cellphone portion or recording in the memory 116 or 200,
similar to the embodiment of FIG. 6. As a simplified alternative, a
single microphone may be provided in assembly 160 with means for
receiving the sounds from the two rigid tubes 148a and 148b and/or
the person rather than three microphones. Other configurations of
the audio assembly 160 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-shaped audio assembly 160.
[0027] 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 communication device 100 or with a Personal
Computer for wired communication.
[0028] The device 100 also may be used for paperless prescriptions
by doctors by the doctor telephoning the cellphone of device 100
and entering a prescription that may be displayed on the screen 104
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.
[0029] 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.
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