Telecommunications – Transmitter and receiver at same station – Radiotelephone equipment detail
Reexamination Certificate
1998-05-13
2001-11-27
Cumming, William (Department: 2684)
Telecommunications
Transmitter and receiver at same station
Radiotelephone equipment detail
C429S098000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06324412
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a telephone and particularly a mobile telephone that uses vibration instead of, or in addition to, an ordinary audible alarm to indicate a received call signal.
Usually, a telephone indicates a received call with an audible alarm, but in some cases and especially with mobile telephones the audible alarm may be disturbing. Then it is possible to use a vibrating alarm which means that the user who has the telephone in hand or in a pocket feels the vibration instead of hearing an audible alarm and is thus informed about a call.
There are a few known prior art telephones using a vibrating indicator. One such telephone is described in international patent application WO 93/15590, where a radio apparatus includes a means for receiving an information signal, a means for generating a silent alarm, a means for generating an audible alarm, and a means for activating a silent alarm for a first predetermined period and for activating an audible alarm for a second predetermined period on the basis of the received signal. The silent alarm is brought about by a vibrator which according to the drawing associated with the description is fixedly connected to the control part of the telephone and located beside the microphone/earpiece set.
As mentioned before, a silent alarm is desirable in some cases, but, in practice, most users will not need that function since it is always possible to turn the telephone off in solemn or important occasions in which silence is required. Therefore, a fixed vibrating alarm in a telephone increases the costs even if the user will not need one. This is a disadvantage, as telephones and particularly mobile telephones are becoming consumer products the base price of which should be kept as low as possible.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
According to a first apect of the invention there is provided a module for detachable connection to a telephone, comprising silent alarm means for generating a silent alarm, wherein the silent alarm means is actuable when connected to the telephone for indicating an incoming phone call, and according to a second aspect of the invention there is provided a telephone comprising means for generating a silent alarm, means for generating an audible alarm, and a means for activating a silent alarm on the basis of a control signal characterised in that the means for generating a silent alarm is arranged in a module which is detachably connectable to the telephone.
This has the advantage that the a silent alarm facility can be incorporated into a telephone as an option unlike in the prior art. This is accomplished by connecting detachably connectable means for generating a silent alarm to the mobile phone.
By applying the invention the basic part of the telephone can be kept as simple as possible. The silent alarm can be advantageously implemented as a means in a separate module which can be connected detachably to the mobile phone. This module can comprise the silent alarm means alone or it can also comprise for example a battery whereby it can be a separate detachable connectable battery pack comprising silent alarm means. The user can, according to his needs, choose a battery pack with a silent alarm or without one. Or alternatively he can purchase a separate silent alarm module which is detachably connectable to the mobile phone for example under an openable back cover of the phone if he wishes to have a silent alarm in his phone. The means of silent alarm is advantageously a vibrator, or a vibrating alarm device, which causes vibrations felt by the user as the telephone receives a call signal.
Advantageously, the vibrating alarm is implemented with an eccentric electric motor and the signal controlling the switch of the motor is fed via a suitable pin into a controllable switch input so that the operating current will be connected from the operating voltage of the telephone via the vibration generator and switch to the ground potential of the equipment.
Advantageously, the user can select from the alternatives of the silent alarm mode of the telephone:
ring and vibrate;
ring only;
beep only;
vibrate only; and
silent service.
In a preferred embodiment the silent alarm is disabled when the telephone is connected to a car kit or charger or any other external device.
The invention can be advantageously applied in various types of telephones that use a separate, changeable battery unit or that has an openable cover under which the a separate silent alarm module can be placed. Typically, these include mobile telephones, but naturally the inventive vibrating alarm can be attached to other portable telephones as well, e.g. to the hand phone part of a cordless telephone. In addition, the invention could be applied in radio paging receivers and similar portable devices carried in a pocket.
Further it is advantageous that the mobile phone comprises detection means for detecting whether a detachably connectable silent alarm means has been connected to the phone. The detection means can detect whether the separate silent alarm means has been connected to the phone by checking the state of the line on which the signal controlling the silent alarm is fed. Depending on the detection the menu of the phone will either include the options “vibrate only” and “ring and vibrate” or exclude these options. In this manner the software of the phone does not need to be changed when adding a silent alarm means to the phone. Also no unnecessary options are shown when the silent alarm means is not connected to the phone.
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U.S. Ser. No.: 07/985,841, Filing Date: Dec. 3, 1992; Title: Radio Telephone with a Combined Battery and Support Structure; Art Unit: 2611; Pending.
Ahonen Matti
Alen Matti
Halonen Torsti
Heinonen Jarmo
Kangas Pertti
Cumming William
Nokia Mobile Phones Ltd.
Perman & Green LLP
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