Radioterminals including satellite interlocks and related methods
View Patent ↗A radioterminal may include a transceiver, a hands-free interface, and a satellite/hands-free interlock. The transceiver may be configured for space-based communications and for terrestrial wireless communications. The satellite/hands-free interlock may be configured to prevent the transceiver from transmitting space-based communications unless the hands-free interface is activated. Related methods are also discussed.
1. A hand-held radioterminal comprising:
a transceiver that is configured for space-based communications and for terrestrial wireless communications;
an antenna that is selectively configurable in at least a low profile position and/or orientation and a high profile position and/or orientation, wherein the low profile position and/or orientation of the antenna is different than the high profile position and/or orientation of the antenna; and
a satellite interlock that is configured to prevent the transceiver from transmitting communications at a high power and/or EIRP that is greater than or equal to a threshold responsive to the antenna being configured in the low profile position and/or orientation, to allow the transceiver to transmit communications at the high power and/or EIRP responsive to the antenna being configured in the high profile position and/or orientation, and to allow the transceiver to transmit communications at a low power and/or EIRP that is less than or equal to a threshold independent of the antenna's position and/or orientation.
2. A hand-held radioterminal according to claim 1 wherein the high profile position and/or orientation of the antenna maintains a distance from the radioterminal and/or a user's head that is greater than a distance maintained by the low profile position and/or orientation of the antenna from the radioterminal and/or the user's head.
3. A hand-held radioterminal according to claim 1 further comprising:
a hand-held interface;
wherein a radiating element of the antenna is positioned at a first distance from the hand-held interface in the low profile position and/or orientation of the antenna, and wherein the radiating element of the antenna is positioned at a second distance from the hand-held interface in the high profile position and/or orientation of the antenna, wherein the second distance is greater than the first distance.
4. A hand-held radioterminal according to claim 3 wherein the hand-held interface comprises a built-in speaker configured to provide audio output corresponding to wireless communications received by the transceiver in a next to the user's ear mode when the hand-held interface is activated.
5. A hand-held radioterminal according to claim 4 wherein the antenna is pushed-in and/or inserted in the hand-held radioterminal when in the low profile position and/or orientation, and wherein the antenna is pulled-out of the hand-held radioterminal when in the high profile position and/or orientation.
6. A hand-held radioterminal according to claim 1 wherein the antenna is pushed-in and/or inserted in the hand-held radioterminal when in the low profile position and/or orientation, and wherein the antenna is pulled-out of the hand-held radioterminal when in the high profile position and/or orientation.