Abstract:
Described are an incorporated indicating arrangement for a mobile device and related methods. The mobile device comprises a housing and a processor situated in the housing. The mobile device further comprises a display arrangement disposed at least partially on a periphery of the housing. The display arrangement performs at least one of displaying first data to a user and receiving second data from the user. The display arrangement further provides an indication to the user, the indication being determined by the processor as a function of one of a functionality of the mobile device, a state of the functionality, preset configurations, and programmed configurations.

Description:
PRIORITY CLAIM 
       [0001]    This application claims the priority to the U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/884,324, entitled “System and Method for an Incorporated Indicating Arrangement,” filed Jan. 10, 2007. The specification of the above-identified application is incorporated in its entirety herewith by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates generally to an incorporated indicating arrangement for a mobile device and related methods. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    A mobile device includes a display to provide a visual interface for interactions with a user. The user may interact with the visual interface using various types of data input arrangements such as keypads, touch pads, etc. The mobile device may also include indicators (e.g., LEDs) providing the user with information as to the state of a utilized functionality. For example, a cellular phone may continuously blink green to indicate a connection to a network, held red to indicate a disconnection to a network or a call being dialed, etc. These indicators are connected to a central processor that determines the nature of indication (e.g., different colors, amount of time between indications, etc.). Advances in mobile device technology have decreased the size/weight of mobile devices allowing users to conveniently utilize the mobile device. However, the size of the mobile device may be restricted because a separate indicator may be disposed at least partially within the mobile device. The separate indicator may further occupy at least one of the limited pins of an integrated circuit incorporating the processor of the mobile device. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    The present invention relates to an incorporated indicating arrangement for a mobile device and related methods. The mobile device comprises a housing and a processor situated in the housing. The mobile device further comprises a display arrangement disposed at least partially on a periphery of the housing. The display arrangement performs at least one of displaying first data to a user and receiving second data from the user. The display arrangement further provides an indication to the user, the indication being determined by the processor as a function of one of a functionality of the mobile device, a state of the functionality, preset configurations, and programmed configurations. 
     
    
     
       DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]      FIG. 1  shows a top view of a mobile device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of the mobile device of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  shows a first view of inner components for the mobile device of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  shows a second view of inner components for the mobile device of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0009]      FIG. 5  shows a third view of inner components for the mobile device of  FIG. 1 . 
           [0010]      FIG. 6  shows a method for indication according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0011]    The present invention may be further understood with reference to the following description and the appended drawings, wherein like elements are referred to with the same reference numerals. The exemplary embodiments of the present invention describe an incorporated illumination arrangement for a mobile device (e.g., computing device, personal computer, laptop, pager, mobile device, cell phone, radio frequency identification device, scanner, etc.) to, for example, indicate a state of a functionality. According to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention, the illumination arrangement is incorporated into the display of the mobile device, thereby alleviating the need for a separate indicator (e.g., LED). One exemplary embodiment of the present invention sets to further the convenience of use through incorporation of the indicator with the display of the mobile device. The illumination arrangement will be discussed in more detail below. 
         [0012]      FIG. 1  shows a top view of a mobile device  100  according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention and  FIG. 2  shows a perspective view of the mobile device  100  of  FIG. 1 . It should be noted that the use of the mobile device  100  is only exemplary. The present invention may be applied to any system (whether such a system is mobile or stationary) that uses an indicator including the examples cited above. 
         [0013]    In the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 1 , the mobile device  100  includes a housing  105 , a display  110 , a data input arrangement  115 , and a window  125 . The housing  105  is a casing that holds at least partially the components of the mobile device  100 . The display  110  provides a visual interface for the user. The display  110  will be discussed in more detail below. The data input arrangement  115  allows a user to input data (e.g., for a plurality of functionalities available on the mobile device  100 , for hardware devices coupled to the mobile device  100 , etc.). The window  125  may be transparent to allow a user to view the contents of the display  110  while providing a protective surface to prevent damage to the display  110 . 
         [0014]    In the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 2 , the mobile device  100  may further include a data acquisition device (“DAD”)  120  (e.g., laser-based scanner, barcode scanner, image capturing device, etc.) along a top side of the mobile device  100 . It should be noted that the DAD  120  is only exemplary and is used to indicate that the mobile device  100  may include further hardware devices disposed on or in the housing  105  to increase the available functionalities. Furthermore, it should be noted that the disposition of the DAD  120  on the top side of the mobile device  100  is only exemplary and may be disposed in or on any location of the mobile device  100 . In the exemplary embodiment of  FIG. 2 , the mobile device  100  further includes a side data input arrangement (SDIA)  115   a/b . The SDIA  115   a/b  may be used to activate/deactivate hardware devices such as the DAD  120  (e.g., via the SDIA  115   b ), scroll through menus (e.g., via the SDIA  115   a ), etc. Furthermore, it should be noted that the SDIA  115   a/b  is only exemplary and is used to indicate that the mobile device  100  may include data input arrangements anywhere on the mobile device  100 . 
         [0015]      FIG. 3  shows a first view of inner components for the mobile device  100  of  FIG. 1 . In this exemplary embodiment, the inner components for the mobile device  100  include the display  100 , a window  125 , a processor  130 , and a data cable  135 . As discussed above, these components may be on or in the housing  105 , either partially or wholly. It should be noted that the mobile device  100  may include further components. For example, the DAD  120 , an antenna, a memory, etc. may be included within the mobile device  100 . In addition, further hardware components may be connected (e.g., hardwired, wirelessly) to the mobile device  100 . The window  125  serves to provide a barrier to protect the display  100 . The window  125  is transparent to allow the data shown on the display  110  to be viewable by the user. The data cable  135  connects the processor  130  to the display  110  and facilitates an exchange of data signals. 
         [0016]    The mobile device  100  may perform a plurality of functionalities. For example, the mobile device  100  may include communication devices (not shown) that, for example, dial outgoing calls or receive incoming calls. In another example, the mobile device  100  may include the DAD  120  that may be, for example, a laser capturing device (e.g., barcode scanner), an image/video capturing device (e.g., camera), a radio frequency identification device (RFID), etc. Depending on the functionality being utilized at a given time, the processor  130  determines the visual interface shown on the display  110  via the data cable  135 . 
         [0017]    The display  110  may include a backlight consisting of LEDs. The LEDs may include the colors of the visual spectrum (ROYGBIV), select colors of the visual spectrum (RGB), a single color of the visual spectrum (B), etc. The backlight provides an illumination for the display  110  to allow a user to view the contents shown on the display  110 . Those skilled in the art will understand that a backlight is often used in an environment where the ambient lighting is insufficient to view the contents on the display  110 . The present invention also utilizes the LEDs of the backlight as an indicator. That is, depending on the functionality, the state of the functionality, programmed configurations, and/or preset configurations, the LEDs of the backlight shine a corresponding color, shine in various intervals, etc. For example, if the communication functionality is being utilized, the backlight may shine red to indicate a call being dialed. 
         [0018]    It should be noted that the use of the entire backlight is only exemplary. The present invention may utilize portions of the backlight as the indicator. For example, a single corner of the backlight on the display  110  may be used as the indicator. In another example, multiple corners may be used. In an exemplary embodiment, a first corner may signify the DAD is warming up, a second corner may signify the DAD is in use, a third corner may signify a successful scan, and a fourth corner may signify an unsuccessful scan. In yet another example, patterns may be incorporated into the indicator such as the backlight shining predetermined configurations (e.g., words, symbols, etc.). That is, the LEDs that create the predetermined configuration are activated. Furthermore, because the indicator is incorporated in the display, the manner in which the indicator indicates may be adjustable by the user. For example, the corner method discussed above may be selected, the predetermined configuration method may be selected, a combination thereof, etc. 
         [0019]    In one exemplary embodiment of the present invention, as discussed above, the indicator may also show the state of the functionality. For example, if the DAD  120  is a scanner, the backlight may shine a first color (e.g., blue) to indicate that the scanning engine is preparing. A second color (e.g., green) may be shown to indicate that the scanning engine is capturing a scan. A third color (e.g., white) may be shown to indicate that the DAD  120  successfully captured the scan while a fourth color (e.g., red) may be shown to indicate that the DAD  120  did not capture the scan. It should be noted that the use of different colors is only exemplary and single color backlights may also accomplish the indication of state. For example, the backlight may shine a single color with various timed gaps (e.g., constant shining indicates the DAD  120  is scanning, rapid shining with short gaps indicates the DAD  120  did not capture a scan, slow shining with long gaps indicates the DAD  120  successfully captured the scan, etc.). 
         [0020]      FIG. 4  shows a second view of inner components for the mobile device  100  of  FIG. 1 . In this exemplary embodiment, the inner components include the housing  105 , the window  125 , the processor  130 , and the data cable  135 . A display  110   a  of  FIG. 4  is substantially similar to the display  110  of  FIG. 3 . However, the display  110   a  includes a further display area  110   b . The further display area  110   b  is illustrated as showing data on a surface perpendicular to the main area of display  110   a . However, it should be noted that the further display area  110   b  may be disposed on any side (e.g., common or different) of the display  110   a  so long as a user recognizes the further display area  110   b  differs from the main area of display  110   a . The further display area  110   b  may be viewed via a window  125   a . The window  125   a  functions substantially similar to the window  125 . 
         [0021]    In the exemplary embodiment of the second view, the backlight of the display  110   a  also serves as an illumination feature for users. The incorporated indicator may be embodied in the further display area  110   b . For example, LEDs may shine a different color to indicate a state of a functionality, a common color may be shown at various intervals, a combination thereof, etc. In such an embodiment, the display  110   a  is still responsible for the indicating arrangement. 
         [0022]      FIG. 5  shows a third view of inner components for the mobile device  100  of  FIG. 1 . In this exemplary embodiment, the inner components include the housing  105 , the display  110 , the window  125 , the processor  130 , and the data cable  135 . The third view further includes a window  125   b  that functions substantially similar to the window  125 . The window  125   b  may be disposed on a common surface of the housing  105  as the window  125 . Thus, utilizing the display  110  with a single viewable surface (in contrast to the display of  FIG. 4  with at least two viewable surfaces,  110   a - b ), at least two different sets of data may be shown. A first set of data may be, for example, data regarding the functionality the mobile device  100  is performing. The first set of data may be shown through the window  125 . A second set of data may be, for example, data regarding an indication of the functionality. That is, the second set of data may be the incorporated indicator shown through the window  125   b . It should be noted that the window  125   b  extended a substantially similar length as the window  125  is only exemplary and the window  125   b  may only extend a partial length. That is, the size of the window  125   b  may be designed to occupy a minimal area that still allows a user to recognize the indication of the functionality. 
         [0023]      FIG. 6  shows a method  200  for indication according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention. Although the method  200  may be applied to any exemplary embodiment where the indicator is incorporated into the display, the method  200  will be described with reference to the components of  FIGS. 3-4 . 
         [0024]    The method  200  first identifies the functionality being used at step  205 . The processor  130  may perform this identification. Upon identifying the functionality, step  210  determines if the functionality includes any indications. Those skilled in the art will understand that it may be inefficient to run indications for every functionality available on the mobile device  100 . However, a user may utilize a functionality more efficiently if the functionality includes a simple indication (e.g., connection/disconnection for cell phone networks) or a complex indication (e.g., state of scan for a scanner). 
         [0025]    If step  210  determines that the functionality does not include indications, the method  200  ends. If step  210  determines that the functionality does include functionalities, the method  200  continues to step  215 . At step  215 , a determination is made whether the indication option is activated. It should be noted that the indicator may be toggled on/off depending on the user. For example, if a user finds that the indicator is distracting, the user may toggle the indicator off. This may lengthen battery life. However, it should also be noted that the indicator may be a permanent feature of the mobile device  100  and step  215  may be absent. 
         [0026]    If step  215  determines that the indicator is deactivated, the method  200  ends. If step  215  determines that the indicator is activated, the method  200  continues to step  220 . At step  220 , a corresponding indication is displayed. As discussed above, because the indicator is incorporated into the backlight of display  110  or the further display area  110   b  of display  110   a , the processor  130  sends a signal to the respective display via the data cable  135 . Also as discussed above, the signal may be a function of the functionality, the state of the functionality, programmed configurations, preset configurations, display restrictions/limitations (e.g., certain areas must be used for display purposes only), etc. 
         [0027]    The present invention affords further advantages over conventional mobile devices. The incorporation of the indicator into the display allows the elimination of a separate indicator (e.g., LEDs). An overall smaller, compact design for the mobile device  100  may thus be achieved. In addition, the processor is relieved of a connection to the indicator. The processor is only required to send the appropriate signal to the display, rather than to the display and the indicator. Furthermore, if the processor includes an integrated circuit, at least one pin may be freed to allow a connection to another hardware device. It should be noted that the above described advantages are only exemplary and that other advantages exist for the incorporated indicating arrangement. For example, the mobile device is not restricted to the colors available on the indicator but may utilize the colors available on the display. Furthermore, preconfigured arrangements (e.g., words, shapes) may be used as the indication instead of being limited to an activation/deactivation of a single LED. 
         [0028]    Although the present invention is described with reference to incorporating the indicator into the display of the mobile device, those skilled in the art will understand that the indicator may be incorporated according to the above described exemplary embodiments into any component that utilizes, for example, a lighting arrangement with LEDs. For example, the mobile device may include a data input arrangement with keys that illuminate, thereby allowing a user to utilize the data input arrangement in any ambient lighting condition. The keys may be illuminated with LEDs. Thus, according to the present invention, the LEDs of the data input arrangement may further function as the incorporated indicating arrangement. Similar to the above described exemplary embodiments, the indicator may be incorporated into a single key, multiple keys (allowing predetermined configurations to be used), a combination thereof, etc. 
         [0029]    It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications may be made in the present invention, without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention. Thus, it is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents.