Abstract:
A communication apparatus incorporating a visual signaling device. A first cover member and a second cover member cooperate to define a communication interior having communication components therein, permitting communication of messages. Keys are operable through one of said cover members to indicate control functions for the communication apparatus. Light emitting devices are visible through one of the cover members. A controller is responsive to operation of the keys to cause the light emitting devices to emit light signals in a pattern indicated by the operation of the keys. An accelerometer is responsive to movement of the communication apparatus to control spacing of the light signals to form a displayed light pattern.

Description:
FIELD  
         [0001]    The present invention pertains to a communication apparatus incorporating a visual signaling device. More particularly, the present invention pertains to a wireless communication apparatus, such as a cellular telephone, a personal digital assistant, or a pager, including a linear array of light emitting devices, making the apparatus capable of providing visual patterns recognizable due to persistence characteristics of human eyes.  
         BACKGROUND  
         [0002]    There frequently exists situations in which it is desirable to create a visual signal viewable at some distance, in order to convey information to someone at such a distance. By way of example, a motorist in an emergency situation may wish to signal approaching traffic to ask for help or to indicate that such traffic should stop so as to avoid a collision. Similarly, persons attending an event such as a rock concert might wish to signal a message to others attending the concert.  
           [0003]    Baton type visual signaling devices are known for use by police officers and other traffic control personal. Such devices generally include a linear array of lights which are caused to flash in a manner that creates a visual pattern as the device is swung through the air. See, for example, U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,406,300, 5,670,971, and 6,265,984. Such devices have no use other than visual signaling, and so generally are of interest only to people such as traffic control personnel, for example police officers.  
           [0004]    Other people might desire to have a visual signaling device, but not be interested in such a device if the device is only capable of creating a limited number of alphanumeric patterns. Likewise, such people may not desire such a device if the device has no other use, both because of the cost and because of the inconvenience of maintaining a device that is infrequently used.  
         SUMMARY  
         [0005]    To overcome limitations in the prior art such as described above, various embodiments of a communication apparatus having a visual signaling device incorporated into it are provided. While the embodiments of the invention are described herein with reference to a cellular telephone, embodiments of the invention may be incorporated into other wireless communication devices, for example pagers and personal digital assistants, all referred to as mobile stations.  
           [0006]    A mobile station in accordance with embodiments of the present invention includes first and second covers which cooperate to define a mobile station interior. Mobile station components are provided within the mobile station interior and are operable to permit messaging. Alphanumeric keys and at least one control key are operable through one of the covers. The alphanumeric keys are operable to indicate another device to which sending of a message is desired.  
           [0007]    A plurality of light emitting devices are visible through one of the covers. A controller is responsive to actuation of the alphanumeric keys and the control key to cause the light emitting devices to emit light signals in a pattern indicated by the keys. An accelerometer is responsive to movement of the mobile station to control the spacing of the light signals to form a displayed pattern. The displayed pattern might be an alphanumeric pattern or a graphical pattern. The desired pattern can be indicated by operation of the alphanumeric keys. If desired, patterns can be pre-stored in a memory within the mobile station. Likewise, if desired, the mobile station can receive signals from another source indicative of the pattern to be displayed, for example short message service (SMS) or multimedia message service (MMS) signals. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0008]    These and other aspects and advantages of the present invention are more apparent from the following detailed description and claims, particularly when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings in which like parts bear like reference numerals. In the drawings:  
         [0009]    [0009]FIG. 1 is a front plan view of a typical mobile station incorporating a visual signaling device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0010]    [0010]FIG. 2 is a perspective view of components of a mobile station having a visual signaling capability in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0011]    [0011]FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the mobile station of FIG. 2 assembled;  
         [0012]    [0012]FIG. 4 is a block diagram of an embodiment of circuitry suitable for use in the mobile station of FIGS. 2 and 3;  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a mobile station in accordance with embodiments of the present invention creating a visual message;  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 6 depicts a person creating a visual message utilizing a mobile station in accordance with embodiments of the present invention;  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 7 is a perspective view of components of a mobile station having a visual signaling capability in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 8 is a perspective view of the mobile station of FIG. 7 assembled;  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 9 is a block diagram of an embodiment of circuitry suitable for use in the mobile station of FIGS. 7 and 8; and  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a mobile station in accordance with the present invention creating a graphic pattern. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0019]    In the following description of various embodiments of the present invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which form apart hereof and in which are shown by way of illustration various embodiments in which the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized, and that structural and functional modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. In particular, while the following detailed description makes reference to the communication device of the present invention as a mobile station, other embodiments of communication devices might also be provided in accordance with the invention.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 1 illustrates a mobile station  10  which is typical of the types of communication devices which can incorporate embodiments of the present invention. Mobile station  10  includes a front cover  12  having locations through which a number of keys are operable. FIG. 1 illustrates the keys of mobile station  10  as including alphanumeric keys  14 , which can be used to enter a mobile station number to which a call is to be made and for other functions, and control keys  16 , which can be used to indicate control functions. Mobile station  10  also has a microphone  18  and a speaker  20 , permitting two way conversation. Preferably, mobile station also has a display unit  22  for displaying data such as a mobile station number to which a call is being placed and such as messages to be created. FIG. 1 depicts mobile station  10  as including an external antenna  24 ; however, the mobile station might instead be provided with an internal antenna, if desired.  
         [0021]    As is well known, mobile station  10  can be used to initiate calls by operating an appropriate one of the control keys  16  to activate the mobile station for placing of a call and by operating appropriate ones of the alphanumeric keys  14  to indicate the number of the other station to which the call is to be made. Mobile station  10  is identified by a unique number such as 555-555-1212. Mobile station  10  can receive calls placed to that number. During mobile station calls, whether outgoing or incoming, the user of the mobile station speaks into microphone  18  and listens to incoming messages through mobile station speaker  20 .  
         [0022]    Referring to FIGS. 2 and 3 which illustrate one embodiment a communication device in accordance with the present invention, mobile station  10   a  includes a front cover  12   a  and a rear cover  26   a  which cooperate to define a mobile station interior within which the mobile station components are housed, for example on a printed circuit board  25 . These components may include alphanumeric keys  14 , control keys  16 , microphone  18 , speaker  20  and display  22 . Front cover  12   a  might have openings  27  through it permitting operation of and/or viewing of these components. Alternatively, front cover  12   a  might have the keys  14 ,  16  within it to cooperate with connective pads or printed circuit board  25 . In any event, the keys  14 ,  16  are operable through cover  12   a . Further, if desired front cover  12   a  might have a lens in the opening  27  over display  22 .  
         [0023]    In the embodiment of the present invention depicted in FIGS. 2 and 3, front cover  12   a  has a plurality of light emitting devices  28 , such as light emitting diodes, viewable through a side surface of the cover. FIGS. 2 and 3 illustrate eight light emitting devices, although any number might be provided. In addition, front cover  12   a  includes appropriate circuitry to control light emitting devices  28 , as described more fully below. A set of connectors  30  extends from the lower surface of front cover  12   a  to connect the circuitry and the light emitting devices  28  to mating connectors  32  within rear cover  26   a  for connection to circuitry on printed circuit board  25 .  
         [0024]    [0024]FIG. 4 illustrates an embodiment of circuitry suitable for use within mobile station  10   a . Within rear cover  26   a , the components may include a central processing unit  40   a  which is connected to the other components  42 , including, for example, microphone  18 , speaker  20 , a program memory that stores the necessary programs for operation of the mobile station, and a data memory which stores relevant data such as an automatic dialing directory or identification of numbers which have placed an unanswered call to the mobile station, together with other components such as amplifiers. Such mobile stations are well known in the art. In addition, central processing unit  40   a  is connected through interface  44  to a keyboard including alphanumeric keys  14  and control keys  16  and to display  22 . Further, if desired, interface  44  may connect central processing unit  40   a  to other inputs  46 , for example from a wireless network, permitting receipt of messages. Central processing unit  40   a  is also connected to a power source  48  such as a battery.  
         [0025]    Within front cover  12   a , light emitting devices  28  are connected to a processor and driver  50   a  which is coupled through interface  52  to connectors  30 . Similarly, within rear cover  26   a  CPU  40   a  is coupled through interface  54  to connectors  32 . Thus, when front cover  12   a  is positioned on rear cover  26   a , as depicted in FIG. 3, CPU  40   a  is coupled to processor and driver  50   a . Operation of a selected one of the control keys  16  activates the signaling mode of mobile station  10   a,  enabling light signals to be created by light emitting devices  28 . The light signals might be created by operating alphanumeric keys  14  to apply coded indications of the desired light signals through CPU  40   a  and connectors  32  and  30  to processor and driver  50   a . The coded indications are then stored in a memory  56   a  within front cover  12   a.    
         [0026]    [0026]FIG. 5 depicts a mobile station  10  in accordance with the present invention emitting light signals in a pattern forming an alphanumeric message of the word “HELP.” In order to enable the flashing of the light emitting devices to create the letters H, E, L, and P, those letters may be stored in memory  56   a  in a dot matrix pattern, for example in a memory map. The pattern is then read out from memory  56   a  to processor and driver  50   a  which activates the light emitting devices  28  in accordance with the desired pattern. An accelerometer  58  is connected to processor and driver  50   a  to sense the movement of mobile station  10   a . FIG. 5 illustrate mobile station  10  moving in the direction of arrow  60 . That movement is sensed by accelerometer  58  which applies a signal indicative of the direction and speed of movement to processor and driver  50   a , enabling the processor and driver to synchronize the light signal pattern so as to form a displayed pattern of the letters of the alphanumeric message. As indicated in FIG. 5, the message that is to be formed may be shown on display  22  so that the user of mobile station  10   a  can be assured that the desired message is being formed. FIG. 6 illustrates a person  61  standing, as by a disabled vehicle for example, and moving communication apparatus  10   c  to form a HELP message. Although messages and graphics created by communication apparatus  10   c  are more visible at night or in a darkened room, still such messages might be discerned in a lighted environment.  
         [0027]    As an alternative to creating a message with alphanumeric keys  14 , frequently used messages can be stored in a memory  62   a  within mobile station  10   a  and selected by operation of a control key  16  and/or alphanumeric key  14 . Memory  62   a  can be a read only memory storing preselected messages or a random access memory into which frequently used messages are stored. Memory  62   a  can be a separate memory for this purpose or can be a memory forming a part of the components  42 .  
         [0028]    Additionally, a pattern to be displayed can be received by input  46  and applied through interface  44  to CPU  40   a  for application to processor and driver  50   a  and memory  56   a . Such a pattern might be received as a SMS message or a MMS message from a wireless network, including the Internet, or from another source. Likewise, a pattern might be received via a short range wireless communication and control link such as a Bluetooth connection or another connection in accordance with IEEE Standard 802.11.  
         [0029]    [0029]FIGS. 2 and 3 depict the light emitting devices  28  within front cover  12   a . FIGS. 7 and 8 depict an embodiment of the present invention in which the light emitting devices  28  are within the rear cover  26   b . In the embodiment of FIGS. 7 and 8, each light emitting device  28  is within a support portion  64  which is received within a corresponding recess  66  in front cover  12   b.    
         [0030]    [0030]FIG. 9 depicts an embodiment of circuitry suitable for use within mobile station  10   b  of FIGS. 7 and 8. Since the light emitting devices are in rear cover  26   b , some components required in mobile station  10   a  can be combined. Thus, a CPU  40   b  and a driver  50   b  can be utilized in place to CPU  40   a  and processor and driver  50   a . Memory  56   a  is unnecessary, its function being handled by memory  62   b . Accelerometer  58  is connected to CPU  40   b . The operation is substantially the same as that of the circuitry of FIG. 4.  
         [0031]    [0031]FIG. 10 depicts a mobile station  10  in accordance with the present invention emitting light signals in a pattern forming a graphical display. A dot matrix pattern of the graphical display might be prestored within memory  62   a  or  62   b , for example in a memory map. The dot matrix pattern can be read out from the memory and applied to driver  50   a  or  50   b  which activates the light emitting devices  28  in accordance with the pattern and spaced in accordance with the output from accelerometer  58  to form the graphical display.  
         [0032]    If communication apparatus  10  is a personal digital assistant, then the apparatus might use a stylus or other input device in place of alphanumeric keys  14 . If the communication apparatus  10  is a pager, prestored messages might be selected utilizing a control key  16 , with alphanumeric keys  14  being omitted.  
         [0033]    It is thus seen that the present invention provides a wireless communication apparatus incorporating a visual signaling device, enabling a user both to engage in wireless communication and to create visual signals. Although the invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, various modifications, rearrangements, and substitutions might be made, and still the result will be within the scope of the invention.