Illumination – With control console
Reexamination Certificate
2000-05-02
2001-10-09
Cariaso, Alan (Department: 2875)
Illumination
With control console
C362S086000, C362S276000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06299322
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a portable radio apparatus and more particularly to an illuminating device for a portable radio apparatus capable not only of selectively turning on or turning off illuminating means assigned to keys and a display in accordance with an environment around the apparatus, but also of adjusting an illumination to thereby save power as far as possible.
Today, portable radio apparatuses including handy phones and PHS (Personal Handyphone System) are extensively used and can be operated without regard to the environment, i.e., inside or outside of homes and offices. Generally, a portable radio apparatus includes LEDs (Light Emitting Elements) or similar illuminating device for facilitating user's operations even in darkness. The illuminating device, however, aggravates power consumption of the apparatus. This is a serious problem because many of portable radio apparatuses are powered by batteries.
In light of the above, Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 3-296123, for example, discloses a handy data terminal including switching means for selectively turning on or turning off power supply to a light source that illuminates display means at the back of the display means. Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication No. 9-62198 teaches a display device included in a handy terminal for selectively turning on or turning off each of a plurality of display regions constituting an image display. These terminals each are constructed to turn off illumination in a daytime, outdoor environment in order to save power.
However, in parallel with the miniaturization of portable radio apparatuses and therefore that of batteries for powering them, there is an increasing demand for an illuminating device consuming even less power than the conventional illuminating devices.
Technologies relating to the present invention are also disclosed in, e.g., Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication Nos. 56-64523 and 61-26353 and Japanese Patent Laid-Open Publication Nos. 8-125730 and 9-247727.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an illuminating device for a portable radio apparatus capable of reducing power consumption as far as possible.
In accordance with the present invention, a device included in a portable radio apparatus for illuminating keys and a display to thereby enhance the easy operation of the keys and the visibility of the display includes illuminating elements for illuminating the keys and the display. A switching circuit selectively turns on or turns off the illuminating elements. An adjusting circuit adjusts an illumination of the illuminating elements to desired one. An inputting section allows the user of the apparatus to selectively input the turn-on or the turn-off of the illuminating elements and a desired illumination. A controller feeds command signals to the switching circuit and adjusting circuit in accordance with information input on the inputting section.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4222039 (1980-09-01), Cronin
patent: 4812831 (1989-03-01), Laier
patent: 5205637 (1993-04-01), Caspari
patent: 5655826 (1997-08-01), Kouno et al.
patent: 6145998 (2000-11-01), Lynch et al.
patent: 56-64523 (1981-06-01), None
patent: 61-26353 (1986-02-01), None
patent: 3-296123 (1991-12-01), None
patent: 8-125730 (1996-05-01), None
patent: 9-62198 (1997-03-01), None
patent: 9-247727 (1997-09-01), None
Cariaso Alan
NEC Corporation
Scully Scott Murphy & Presser
LandOfFree
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