Communications: electrical – Continuously variable indicating – With meter reading
Patent
1987-02-20
1988-11-22
Yusko, Donald J.
Communications: electrical
Continuously variable indicating
With meter reading
340365VL, 340825560, 368 11, H04B 700, H04Q 700, G04G 900, G08B 310
Patent
active
047869020
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to the field of controllers suitable for use with miniature personal communications devices, and more particularly to a switch function controller for use with digital electronic watches which incorporate a radio paging receiver.
The small physical size and form factor of wrist worn digital electronic watches having LCD or LED displays makes it very difficult to provide individual control switches for each and every function which can be provided in the watches. As a result, watch manufacturers have had to devote considerable effort to minimize the number of control switches required to set and control the watch functions. This has resulted in providing only a limited number of control switches providing multiple function capability on the watches. Selection and control of all of the available functions requires sequences of control switch operations to be performed which are not always readily apparent, even with the identification of the switch functions on the watch case.
When a radio paging receiver is also included in the same case as the watch, the problem is further complicated. This is due to the large number of distinctly different functions which are required for control of a paging receiver. It has been the experience of paging receiver manufacturers that these functions must be clearly identified to avoid confusion or the loss of messages due to improper operation of the controls by the user. Device case size limits simply adding additional control switches for the paging receiver functions. Multiplexing control of the additional functions required for the paging receiver functions with those of the watch functions using the same control switches can create confusion in the operation of the watch and paging receiver functions. Other problems, such as when to provide operation of the paging receiver or the watch functions by the control switches, how long and how often, and how to handle information delivered by the paging receiver have not been but need to be addressed.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus suitable for controlling the operation of a electronic watch and a paging receiver incorporated in a single wrist worn device.
It is a further object of the invention to provide an apparatus which minimizes the number of control switches required to operate the watch and paging receiver functions.
It is a further object of the invention to provide an apparatus which clearly identifies the functions provided by the control switches.
It is a further object of the invention to provide an apparatus which automatically provides operation of the paging receiver functions when control of these functions are required.
It is a further object of the invention to provide an apparatus which automatically provides operation of the watch functions by the control switches, when not required to control the paging receiver functions.
It is a further object of the invention to provide an apparatus which allows manual selection of either watch functions or paging receiver functions.
It is a further object of the invention to provide an apparatus which controls the display of time information and message information under the control of the control switch functions.
A switch control interface arrangement is provided for a device normally generating and displaying time information, and also capable of receiving transmitted coded message signals. Switches for controlling the setting and display of time are provided. The device case is marked with permanent indicia positionally adjacent the switches for indicating the switch functions. The device includes a receiver circuit for receiving and decoding the transmitted coded message signals to provide control signals and information. A switch controller is coupled to the time generating circuit and to the receiver circuit and enables control of either the time generating circuit and receiver circuit by the switches. Control of the receiver circuit by t
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patent: 4320387 (1982-03-01), Powell
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EPO1846062, Jun. 18, 1986, D. G. Hoff.
Abstracts of Patents, Japan, vol. 3, No. 13 (E-88), Feb. 7, 1979 & JP, A53139570 (Suwa Seikosha K.K.), Dec. 5, 1978.
Davis Walter L.
Macnak Philip P.
Downey Joseph T.
Motorola Inc.
Sarli, Jr. Anthony J.
Southard Donald B.
Yusko Donald J.
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