Data display radio pager with a timepiece function

Abstract: A data display radio pager having a timepiece function and allowing the user of the pager to perform various kinds of time setting operations on a single operation switch (B). The pager has a single switch, time counting means (C), time changing means (D), time component replacing means (E), time set mode starting means (C), and time set mode ending means (G). The radio pager, therefore, can replace a component of time to be changed, increase or decrease the component of interest, and set up and end a time set mode, by the single switch (B).

Description: The present invention relates to a radio pager having a timepiece function and, more particularly, to a data display radio pager having a timepiece function and allowing the user of the pager to perform various kinds of time setting operations on a single operation switch. It is a common practice with a data display radio pager to alert, on receiving a call signal including an address assigned to the pager, the user to the call by causing an LED (Light Emitting Diode) to flash, causing a louspeaker to produce an alert tone, or causing a vibrator to vibrate. At the same time, this kind of pager displays a message also included in the call signal on a display. An advanced type of data display radio pager additionally has a timepiece function for displaying time on the display. Such an advanced pager has to have the time thereof set and, therefore, usually has two operation switches. Specifically, one operation switch is used to set up a time set mode, to replace the numerical value to be changed, e. g. , one representative of hours with the numerical value representative of minutes, and to end the time set mode and replace it with the ordinary timepiece mode. The other switch is used to increment or decrement the numerical value of interest by each unit time until it coincides with correct current time. However, such two operation switches are contradictory to the increasing demand for a miniature radio pager. The specification of PCT application number PCT/US87/00003, published as WO-88/05784 on July 14 1988, discloses a radio pager having a timepiece function which requires more than one control switch to set up the various timepiece functions. Features of a data display radio pager with a timepiece function to be described below as an example are that a user is able to switch over a numerical value to be changed, and increment or decrement it on a single operation switch, that a time set mode is set up with the single operation switch, and that the time set mode is ended by the operation of the single switch. A data display radio pager having a timepiece function to be described below as an example has, inter alia, a single operation switch having a first and a second state, a counter for counting the period of time during which the operation switch remains in the second state, a time changing section for changing, when the period of time counted by the counter in a time set mode is shorter than a first predetermined period of time, a numerical value representative of a component of time to be changed and appearing on a display by a unit amount, and a time component replacing section for replacing, when the period of time counted by the counter in the time set mode is equal to or longer than the first period of time, replacing the numerical value to be changed with another numerical value representative of another component of time. Such a timepiece has been proposed in the specification of French Patent Application No. 8008741 which was published under number 2 480 958 on October 23 1981, but not in the context of a radio pager. The following description and drawings disclose, by means of examples, the invention which is characterised in the appended claims, whose terms determine the extent of the protection conferred hereby. In the drawings:- FIG. 1 is a block diagram schematically showing a data display radio pager with a timepiece function embodying the present invention; FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing a specific hardware construction of the embodiment; FIGS. 3-5 are flowcharts demonstrating a specific time setting procedure particular to the embodiment; and FIGS. 6A and 6B each shows specific time appearing on a display included in the embodiment. Referring to FIG. 1 of the drawings, a data display radio pager with a timepiece embodying the present invention is shown. As shown, the pager includes a display A for displaying time, a single operation switch B having a first and a second state, and counting means C for counting the period of time for which the switch B remains in the second state. When the duration of the second state of the operation switch B determined by the counting means C is shorter than a first period of time, time changing means changes a numerical value representative of the component of current time appearing on a display A and to be changed. Component replacing means E replaces the numerical value representative of the component to be cbanged with another numerical value when the duration of the second state counted by the counting means in the time set mode is equal to or longer than the first period of time. Time set mode starting means F sets up a time set mode when the operation switch B is brought to tbe second state within a second period of time after the turn-on of the power source and the duration of the second state is equal to or longer than a third period of time. Further, time set mode ending means G sets time and ends the time set mode when the duration of the second state is equal to or longer than the first period of time and the the component of time to be changed is the last component. FIG. 2 shows a specific hardware construction of the embodiment. As shown, the pager has an antenna 1, an RF (Radio Frequency) section 2, a waveform shaper 3, a decoder 4, an ID (Identification) memory 5, a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 6, a memory 7, a driver 8, an LED (Light Emitting Diode) 9, a loudspeaker 10, an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) driver 11, an LCD 12, a slide type main switch 13, and a push type operation switch 14. On receiving a call signal, the pager alerts the user to the call in response to an address signal included in the call signal, while displaying a message in response to a message signal also included in the call signal. In addition, the pager has a function of displaying current time on the LCD 12. Such a function is incorporated in the decoder 4. Specifically, the CPU 6 receives time information from the decoder 4 and displays it on the LCD 12 by controlling the LCD driver 11. FIGS. 3-5 demonstrate a specific time setting operation to be executed by the embodiment, mainly by the decoder 4, FIG. 2. FIGS. 6A and 6B each shows a specific condition of the LCD 12 occurring when the time setting operation is under way. The operation of the pager shown in FIG. 2 will be described with reference to FIGS. 3, 4, 5, 6A and 6B. As the main switch 13, FIG. 2, is slid from an OFF position to an ON position, a power source included in the pager is turned on (step S1, FIG. 3). On the turn-on of the power source, i.e. triggered thereby, the decoder 4 starts a counter, not shown, incorporated therein (S2). The decoder 4 determines whether or not the operation switch 14 has been pushed before the counter counts two seconds (S3 and S6). If the answer of the step S6 is positive, YES, the program advances to a step S7. On the other hand, if the answer of the step S3 is positive, YES, The decoder 4 stops the counter (S4), and the operation mode is restored to ordinary one (S5). The ordinary mode operation, S5, will be described with reference to FIG. 2. The pager awaits a call signal. A call signal coming in through the antenna 1 is amplified and then demodulated by the RF section 2. The modulated signal from the RF section 2 is converted to a digital signal by the waveform shaper 3 and then applied to the decoder 4. In response, the decoder 4 compares an address included in the digital signal with the address stored in the ID memory 5 and assigned to the pager. If the two addresses are coincident, the decoder 4 informs the CPU 6 of the coincidence. At the same time, if the call signal includes a message, the decoder 4 transfers it to the CPU 6. In response, the CPU 6 feeds a control signal to the driver 8 to cause the LED 9 to flash or to cause the loudspeaker 10 to produce an alert tone. On receiving the message, the CPU 6 displays it on the LCD 12 by delivering a control signal to the LCD driver 11. Furthe, the CPU 6 stores the received message in the memory 7 so that it may be displayed again in the future, as desired. The operation switch 14 may be pressed to stop the alerting operation while the latter is under way. The main switch 13 is slidable toward the higher side or the lower side to adjust the loudness of the alert tone to come out from the loudspeaker 10. The message stored in the memory 7 will appear on the LCD 12 again as the user presses the operation switch 14 later. Assume that the operation switch 14 has been pushed before two seconds expires after the turn-on of the power source, i.e., after the trigger by the latter. Then, the decoder 4 once resets the counter and then starts it again (S7). Subsequently, as soon as the operation switch 14 is released or turned off (S8), the decoder 4 stops the counter (S9) to thereby determine the period of time for which the switch 14 has been pushed. The decoder 4 determines whether or not the time counted by the counter is two seconds or longer (S10) and, if the answer is positive, executes a step S11, FIG. 4, for allowing the user to set time. If the answer of the step S10 is negative, NO, the operation is transferred to the step S5. In the step S11, the decoder 4 sets up an hours set mode. Specifically, the decoder 4 transfers information relating to current time to the CPU 6. Then, the CPU 6 displays current time on the LCD 12. At the same time, the CPU 6 causes, among the numerical values each showing a particular time component, the numeral value representative of hours to flash on the LCD 12, thereby informing the user of the fact that the hours set mode has been set up. FIG. 6A shows specific time appearing on the LCD 12 in the hours set mode; the numerical value "21" (indicative of sixteen hours) is flashing. It should be noted that arrows shown in FIG. 6A simply indicate that the numeral 21 is flashing and do not appear in practice. In the hours set mode, as the user presses the operation switch 14 (YES, S12), the decoder 4 starts the counter (S13) and then stops it (15) when the switch 14 is turned off (S14), thereby determining the period of time for which the switch 14 has been pushed (S16). If the determined period of time is shorter than 2 seconds, (NO, S16), the numerical value representative of hours is incremented by one hour (S17). Specifically, when the switch 14 is pushed once for a short period of time in the condition shown in FIG. 6A, the numerical value "16" indicative of hours is incremented by one to "17". The user may repeat such a procedure until a numerical value representative of desired hours appears on the display LCD 12. When the decoder 4 determines that the operation switch 14 has been continuously pressed for two seconds or more, it executes a step S18, FIG. 5, for setting up a minutes set mode. Then, as shown in FIG. 6B specifically, the numerical value 22 (indicative of three seconds) flashes to show the user that the minutes set mode has been set up. As the user presses the operation switch 14 (YES, S19), the decoder 4 starts the counter (S20) and then stops it (S22) when the switch 14 is released or turned off (S21), thereby determining the duration of the pushed state of the switch 14. If the determined duration is short of two seconds (NO, S23), the decoder 4 increments the numerical value 22 by one minute (S24). Again, the user may repetitively push the switch 14 until a numerical value representative of desired minutes appears on the LCD 12. If the duration of the pushed state of the switch 14 is two seconds or longer as determined in the step S23, the decoder 24 sets the timepiece function thereof to the time having been set (I. e. time appearing on the LCD 12) (S25). Thereafter, the decoder 4 ends the time setting operation (S26) and then resumes the ordinary mode operation, S5. In summary, it will be seen that the present invention provides a data display radio pager having a single operation switch, time counting means, time changing means, time component replacing means, time set state starting means, and time set state ending means. The radio pager, therefore, can replace the time of current time to be changed, increase or decrease the time component of interest, and start and end the time setting state, by the single switch. This is successful in further reducing the size and cost of the above-described type of pager which has customarily been provided with at least two switches. Various modifications will become possible for those skilled in the art after receiving the teachings of the present disclosure without departing from the scope of the protection sought, as defined by the appended claims.

Claims: A data display radio pager with a timepiece function, including a counter (C,4), a time changer (D), a time component replacer (E), and a starter (F) of a time set mode, characterized by: a single operation switch (14) having a first and a second state; the counter (C,4) serving for counting a period of time during which the operation switch (14) remains in the second state; the time changer (D) serving for changing, when said period of time counted by said counter during existence of said time set mode is shorter than a first predetermined period of time, a numerical value representative of a component of time to be changed and appearing on a display (12) by a unit amount; the time component replacer (E) serving, when said period of time counted by said counter during existence of said time set mode is equal to or longer than the first period of time, for replacing said numerical value to be changed with another numerical value representative of another component of time; and the time set mode starter (F) setting up said time set mode when the operation switch (14) is brought to the second state within a second predetermined period of time after the turn-on of a power source (13) the radio pager and is held in the second state for more than a third predetermined period of time counted by said counter. A data display radio pager as claimed in claim 1 characterized in that, on turn-on of the power source (13), a decoder (4) starts a counter (C), and determines whether or not the operation switch (14) has been brought to the second state before elapse of the second period of time, and if so, resets and re-starts the counter (C), counts the duration of the second state, compares this duration with the third period, and if the second state duration proves the longer by the comparison starts the time set mode, but otherwise starts a time display mode. A pager as claimed in claim 1 or 2, further comprising a time set mode ender (G) for setting time and ending the time set mode when the second state is held for the first period of time while the component of time represented by said numerical value to be changed is the last component. A pager as claimed in claim 3, wherein said first, second and third periods of time are identical. A pager as claimed in claim 3, wherein the time set mode starter (F) sets up the time set mode by selecting a numerical value representative of hours as the numerical value representative of the component to be changed; the time component replacer (E) replacing the numerical value representative of hours and to be changed with a numerical value representative of minutes when the duration of the second state counted by the counter is equal to or longer than the first period of time; said time set mode ender (G) setting time and ending the time set mode when the duration of the second state counted by the counter (C) exceeds the first period of time while the numerical value representative of minutes is to be changed.

Inventors: MOTOHASHI TERUYUKI, MOTOHASHI, TERUYUKI, MOTOHASHI, TERUYUKI, C/O NEC CORPORATION
Applicants: NIPPON ELECTRIC CO, NEC CORPORATION
Application year: 1992
Main classification: G08B5
IPC codes: H04Q7, G08B5, G04G9, G04G5