Radio pager

Abstract: A radio pager having a pager body provided with a keyboard for implementing an electronic memorandum, a lid provided with a display for selectively displaying a received message or data meant for the electronic memorandum, and a hinge connecting the pager body and lid. The pager has a detecting section for detecting the opening of the lid. When the lid is opened as detected by the detecting section, an alert stopping section stops an alerting operation immediately.

Description: The present invention relates to a radio pager and, more particularly, to a radio pager having an electronic memorandum function. There has been extensively used a radio pager of the type having a switch which may be operated by the user of the pager to stop an alert in the event of reception of a call. To provide this type of pager with an electronic memorandum function or similar extra function, a keyboard for the memorandum and a display for displaying memorandum data are respectively mounted on a pager body and a lid constituting the pager. The pager body and lid are openably connected together by a hinge. The problem with a pager of tie type described is that, when an alert is produced to alert the user to an incoming call, the user has to press an alert stop switch, open the lid, and then read a received message appearing on the display. WO 90/13951 describes a battery powered pager that folds when not in use to protect the keyboard controls and display. The pager has a thickness when folded that is approximately the same as the thickness of the battery. DE 2 504 314 describes a telephone receiver and transmitter housed in a hinged folding case. The top half of the case includes the receiver capsule and an alarm, and the bottom half includes a keyboard and speaker capsule. A spring-loaded switch is depressed when the two halves of the case are closed together to switch the telephone into a receiving mode. Upon opening the case, the switch is moved by the spring into a position in which the telephone is switched into an operational position for dialling and communication. It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a radio pager (which may have an electronic memorandum function) which automatically stops an alerting operation when a lid thereof is opened. Accordingly, the present invention provides a radio pager having a pager body provided with a keyboard, a lid provided with or covering a display for selectively displaying a received message or other data, and means connecting said pager body and said lid and permitting opening thereof, characterised in that said radio pager comprises: a switch accessible manually when said lid is in a closed position; detecting means for detecting opening of said lid; and alert stopping means for stopping an alerting operation when said switch is manually operated and for stopping an alerting operation when said lid is opened as detected by said detecting means. By "opened" we mean moved so as to expose the display. Preferably the lid is hinged to the body for this purpose. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The above and other objects, features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description taken with the accompanying drawings in which: FIGS 1A and 1B are perspective views showing a radio pager embodying the present invention in an open condition and a closed condition, respectively; FIG. 2 is a block diagram schematically showing the embodiment; and FIG. 3 is a flowchart demonstrating a specific operation of the embodiment. DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIGS. 1A and 1B of the drawings, a radio pager embodying the present invention is shown. As shown, the radio pager, generally 1, has a lid 1b and a pager body 1a connected together by a hinge 11. The lid 1b is provided with a display 9 for selectively displaying a received message or data meant for an electronic memorandum, and a switch 8 associated with the memorandum. A keyboard 10 is arranged on the pager body 1a. FIGS. 1A and 1B show the lid 1b in an open position and a closed position, respectively. FIG. 2 is a schematic block diagram representative of an electrical arrangement incorporated in the pager 1. As shown, the pager 1 includes a radio section 2 which receives a radio signal from an antenna 12, amplifies it, and then demodulates it. A waveform shaping circuit 3 shapes the waveform of the demodulated signal to transform it to a digital signal. An alert section 5 generates an alert signal to inform the user of the pager of an incoming call. A detecting section 6 determines whether or not the lid 1b is open. An alert stop switch 7 may be operated to stop an alert manually. The switch 8 associated with the memorandum will be operated when the electronic memorandum function is desired. The blocks 3, 5, 6, 7 and 8, as well as the previously mentioned display 8 and keyboard 10, are connected to a controller 4. In operation, a radio signal coming in through the antenna 12 is amplified and then demodulated by the radio section 2. The demodulated signal is transformed by the waveform shaper 3 to a digital signal which the controller 4 can read. The controller 4 compares an address number included in the digital signal with an address number assigned to and stored in the pager 1. If the two address numbers are identical, the controller 4 causes the alert section 5 to produce an alert. As the user presses the alert stop switch 7, the alert stops. Assume that the user has opened the lid 1b without pressing the alert stop switch 7. Then, the detecting section 6 detects the opening of the lid 11 and reports it to the controller 4. In response, the controller 4 causes the alert section 5 to stop producing the alert. How the pager 1, i.e., controller 4 stops producing an alert will be described more specifically with reference to FIG. 3. As shown, the controller 4 determines whether or not an address number identical with the address number assigned thereto has been received (step S101). If such an address number has been received (YES, step S101), the controller 4 drives the alert section 5 to inform the user of the incoming call (step S102). Assume that the alert stop switch 7 is pressed (YES, step 103) or the lid 1b is opened (YES, step S104) while the alerting operation is under way. Then, the controller 4 stops the alerting operation (step S106). Further, if neither the alert stop switch 7 nor the lid 1b is manipulated within a predetermined period of time after the start of the alerting operation (NO, step 103 and NO, step 104), the controller 4 automatically resets the alert section 5 (YES, step S105) to stop the alerting operation (step S106). In summary, it will be seen that the present invention provides a radio pager which automatically stops an alert indicative of an incoming all when the user of the pager opens a lid. This frees the user from a troublesome procedure including pressing a switch to stop an alert, opening a lid, and then reading a received message. Various modifications will become possible for those skilled in the art after receiving the teachings of the present disclosure without departing from the scope thereof as defined by the claims. For example the lid may be modified so as just to be a cover for the display, and may also cover the keyboard. In such a variant the display is in the main body of the pager together with the keyboard.

Claims: A radio pager having a pager body (1a) provided with a keyboard (10), a lid (1b) provided with or covering a display (9) for selectively displaying a received message or other data, and means (11) connecting said pager body (1a) and said lid (1b) and permitting opening thereof, characterised in that said radio pager comprises: a switch (7) accessible manually when said lid is in a closed position; detecting means (6) for detecting opening of said lid (1b); and alert stopping means (4) for stopping an alerting operation when said switch (7) is manually operated and for stopping an alerting operation when said lid (1b) is opened as detected by said detecting means (6). A radio pager as claimed in Claim 1, further comprising a switch (8) accessible for implementing an electronic memorandum function. A radio pager as claimed in Claim 1 or 2, further comprising means (4) for automatically stopping the alerting operation when said alerting operation is not stopped manually within a predetermined period of time after a start of said altering operation. A radio pager as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the lid (1b) is connected to the body (1a) by a hinge (11).

Inventors: TAKAYA KEI, TAKAYA, KEI, TAKAYA, KEI, C/O NEC CORPORATION
Applicants: NIPPON ELECTRIC CO, NEC CORPORATION
Application year: 1993
Main classification: G08B5
IPC codes: G08B3, G08B5, H04Q7