Communications: electrical – Continuously variable indicating – With meter reading
Reexamination Certificate
1998-08-17
2001-08-07
Horabik, Michael (Department: 2635)
Communications: electrical
Continuously variable indicating
With meter reading
C340S870030, C340S636210, C340S870030, C340S407100, C340S407200, C455S573000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06271764
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
The present invention relates to a radio communication apparatus such as a portable telephone and a terminal device of a PHS (Personal Handy-phone System), which carry out electric charging by using, e.g., an electric charger, and a method of detecting the electrical connection between the radio communication apparatus and an external device.
BACKGROUND ART
In the PHS terminal units or portable telephone systems (hereinafter to be referred to simply as “terminal units”) there are known terminal units designed to notify the slave by vibration, or having a vibrator function. According to the vibrator function, an incoming call can be informed to the user even under the situation where no incoming call sound can be released such as during a conference, where the radio terminal unit is kept in a pocket, or a incoming call sound is less easily heard due to the circumference noise and the like.
However, while the vibrator function is convenient as above, it has the following problems.
For instance, assuming the case of the incoming call of a terminal unit occurring under the state of the vibrator function being set during the charging thereof, the following problems are involved.
(1) Due to the vibration of the terminal unit, uncomfortable vibration noise is issued from the space between the charger and the desk or between the terminal unit and the charger.
(2) Due to the vibration of the terminal unit, the charging terminal of the power supply section wears out.
(3) The terminal unit along with the charger moves and can fall from the desk or the like, resulting in destruction.
(4) In a case that a function capable of responding to the incoming call simply by taking up the terminal unit from the charger, i.e., so-called quick talk function is set, the charging terminals of the charger and the terminal unit show repeated non-contact and contact due to vibration, thus making arbitrary response to the incoming call against the user's will, and further immediately off-hooking following the response.
(5) In a case that the charger is of a type to judge the completion of charging by the timer, notwithstanding the completion of the charging, the actions of non-contact and contact of the charging terminal are repeated, thereby causing the display indicate charging again, leading to a danger of continuation of over-charging.
Furthermore, besides the above charging, at the time of the connection with other apparatuses (e.g., in case of a direct connection of the terminal unit with the computer), vibration of the terminal unit may be liable to give ill effect on the apparatuses to be connected.
As described above, according to the conventional communication terminal devices, when, for example, charging or the like is performed using a power supply unit contact type charger under the state of the incoming call information function by vibration being set, problems are involved such as to generate uncomfortable vibration noise by vibration information of the incoming call or abrasion of the charging terminal at the power supply section, and so on.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a radio communication apparatus designed to inform by vibration the user of the condition of incoming call information being set when electrical connection to the charger or the like is made under the condition of the incoming call information function by vibration being set, and a method for detecting the electrical connection between the radio communication apparatus and the external devices.
A radio communication apparatus according to the first aspect of the present invention which has plural incoming call informing methods including at least an incoming call informing method by vibration, the radio communication apparatus being available to connect to an external device, comprises: a setting section for setting at least one incoming call informing method from the plural incoming call informing methods; a detecting section for detecting whether an electrical connection is made with the external devices or not; and an informing section for detecting that the setting section sets the incoming call informing method by vibration as the at least one incoming call informing method on detection of the electrical connection of the electrical connection by the detection section and informing that the setting section sets the incoming call informing method by vibration.
A method of detecting electrical connection between a radio communication apparatus and an external device according to the first aspect of the present invention, in which the radio communication apparatus has plural incoming call informing methods including at least an incoming call informing method by vibration, comprises: a first step of setting at least one incoming call informing method from the plural incoming call informing methods; a second step of detecting whether an electrical connection is made with the external device or not; and a third step of detecting that the setting section sets the incoming call informing method by vibration as the at least one incoming call informing method on detection of the electrical connection of the electrical connection in the second step and informing that the incoming call informing method by vibration is set in the first step.
A preferred embodiment according to the first aspect of the present invention is as follows:
(1) The external device is a charger for charging a secondary cell.
(2) The electrical connection is informed by audible sound.
(3) The electrical connection is informed by visual section.
According to the first aspect of the present invention, it is designed such that, when electrical connection is made with the external device under the condition of the function of informing the incoming call by vibration being set, the condition is detected and report is made to the effect that the vibrator incoming call informing function is set. Accordingly, a warning may be issued to prevent damage of the connecting part with the external device or an abnormal sound by interference with the external device.
When, for example, charging is made or any electrical connection is made under the condition of the function of informing the incoming call by vibration being set, the user may be informed of the fact that it is while the incoming call information by vibration is set. The conventional problem as described above can be solved.
A radio communication apparatus according to the second aspect of the present invention which has plural incoming call informing methods including at least an incoming call informing method by vibration, the radio communication apparatus being available to connect to an external device, comprises: a detecting section for detecting whether an electrical connection is made with the external device or not; and an inhibiting section for inhibiting an incoming call in case of it being impossible to communicate due to electrical connection during the connection with the external device.
A method of detecting electrical connection between a radio communication apparatus and an external device according to the second aspect of the present invention, the radio communication apparatus having plural incoming call informing methods including at least an incoming call informing method by vibration, comprises the steps of: detecting whether an electrical connection is made with the external device or not; and inhibiting an incoming call in case of it being impossible to communicate due to electrical connection during the connection with the external device.
A preferred embodiment according to the second aspect of the present invention is that the external device is a PC card.
According to the second aspect of the present invention, if, in case of the electrical connection with the radio communication apparatus of the present invention, it becomes impossible to make service through the connected external device, an incoming call is to be automatically inhibited. Therefore, it is possible to make electrical connection with the external devi
Banner & Witcoff , Ltd.
Horabik Michael
Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
Shimizu M
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