Telecommunications – Transmitter and receiver at same station – Radiotelephone equipment detail
Reexamination Certificate
1998-08-05
2001-09-18
Chang, Vivian (Department: 2682)
Telecommunications
Transmitter and receiver at same station
Radiotelephone equipment detail
C455S090300, C455S575100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06292674
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to the field of wireless telephones, and, more specifically, to operational controls for wireless telephones.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
It is common knowledge that wireless telephones (also called mobile stations, cellular telephone and cell phones) do not operate in the same manner as conventional wireline telephones. Most wireline telephone operations, such as answering the telephone and disconnecting the telephone, can both be accomplished with one hand. In contrast, a wireless telephone usually requires two hands to operate. To answer or disconnect a wireless telephone, the user must hold the telephone in one hand and push a “send” or “end” button, respectively. Hunting for a specific button and then pushing it can be awkward, especially in comparison to wireline telephones. Answering a wireless call can be dangerous in an automobile if the driver must take his or her eyes off of the road to hunt for the “send” button. Some people try to use the thumb of the hand in which they are holding the wireless telephone to push buttons. The thumb is not the best pointing device, however, and many wireless telephones are too big for this maneuver. Further, as telephones become smaller while simultaneously performing more functions, the buttons are becoming smaller and harder to read and touch individually.
This problem is partially addressed by wireless telephones that have “flips” or panels that rotate out. Some of these flip phones answer a call when the flip is opened (and some disconnect when the flip is closed). However, many of the flip phones require two hands to open, and other functions cannot be accessed by use of the flip. The user must still use two hands to perform these functions. Therefore, there is a need in the art for wireless telephones that can be operated in as simple a manner as a wireline telephone.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with one aspect of this invention, a control apparatus for a hand-held wireless telephone is provided. The wireless telephone has a housing and operates in a first operational state comprising one of a plurality of sequential operational states. The control apparatus changes the operational state of the wireless telephone from the first operational state to a second operational state. The control apparatus itself comprises a grasp detector that produces a signal responsive to a user grasping the housing of the wireless telephone and a controller configured to select a next sequential operational state following the first operational state as the second operational state responsive to receiving the signal produced by the detector.
In accordance with another aspect of this invention, the detector comprises a thermal sensor embedded in the wireless telephone's housing and generates the signal responsive to a rise in temperature around the housing, and, advantageously, generates the signal responsive to a decrease in temperature. According to a further aspect of this invention, the housing has at least one flexible side, wherein the grasp detector may be a pressure sensitive switch under the flexible side that generates the signal when the user squeezes the flexible side.
According to another aspect of this invention, the housing has a first and a second flexible location, wherein the detector further comprises a first pressure sensitive switch under the first flexible location and a second pressure sensitive switch under the second flexible location. The detector may generate the signal when the user squeezes either the first or the second location. In accordance with yet another aspect of this invention, the housing has a first and a second flexible side, and the detector comprises a first pressure sensitive switch under the first flexible side and a second pressure sensitive switch under the second flexible side. The detector generates a first signal when the user squeezes the first flexible side, and generates a second signal when the user squeezes the second flexible side. According to this aspect of the invention, in response to the first signal, the controller is configured to select a second operational state following a first operational state in a predetermined sequence of a plurality of operational states; and, in response to the second signal, is configured to select another operational state in the sequence. Usually, but not always, the “another” operational state will be a subsequent operational state following the second operational state in the sequence.
In accordance with another aspect of this invention, the housing includes a motion sensor, and the detector generates the signal when the housing is moved by the user. According to a further aspect of this invention, the detector further includes a timer, and wherein the detector generates the signal when the housing is stationary for a predetermined time. According to yet a further aspect of this invention, the wireless telephone includes an OR gate receiving input from a microphone, a speaker, and the motion sensor. The detector is connected to the OR gate such that the detector does not sends the signal to the controller when there is input from the microphone, speaker or motion detector for the predetermined period of time. According to a further aspect of this invention, the detector comprises a capacitance sensor enclosed in the housing, wherein the capacitance sensor generates the signal responsive to the user's grasp completing a circuit through the capacitance sensor, and generates the signal responsive to the user letting go of the housing.
According to another aspect of this invention, the housing includes a light sensitive element, wherein the light sensitive element generates a signal when the user's hand blocks the light sensor from the ambient light and generates a signal when the user's hand moves away from and uncovers the sensor.
According to an aspect of this invention, when the wireless telephone is operating in an “alerting” state, the controller is configured to change the alerting state to a “send” (“off hook”) state responsive to the signal from the detector. According to another aspect of this invention, when the wireless telephone is operating in a “send” state, the controller is configured to change the “send” state to a “standby” (“on hook”) state responsive to the signal from the detector.
According to a further aspect of this invention, when the wireless telephone is operating in a “standby” state, the controller is configured to change the “standby” state to a “redial” state responsive to the signal from the detector. In accordance with still yet another aspect of this invention, when the wireless telephone is operating in a “function” state, the controller is configured to change the “function state” to a “standby” state responsive to the signal from the detector. In accordance with another aspect of this invention, when the wireless telephone is operating in a “function” state, the controller is configured to change to a positive state responsive to a first signal and a negative state responsive to a second signal.
According to an aspect of this invention, a wireless telephone is provided that operates in a wireless telephone network that sends an alerting signal to alert the wireless telephone of an incoming call and communicates with the wireless telephone by a full duplex radio connection. The wireless telephone includes a control for changing a state from a “standby” state to an “active” state responsive to the alerting signal and being picked up by the user.
A method for operating a wireless telephone to answer an incoming call from a wireless network in according with a further aspect of this invention operates in a system wherein the wireless telephone and the wireless network communicate by a full duplex radio connection, and the wireless network sends an incoming call alert signal to the wireless telephone prior to establishing the full duplex connection. The method comprises receiving an incoming call alert, detecting a user grasping the wireless telephon
Appiah Charles N.
Chang Vivian
Ericsson Inc.
Wood Phillips VanSanten Clark & Mortimer
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