Patent Abstract:
This invention relates to a mobile communication device ( 200 ) having a functional cover ( 202 ) for controlling sound applications by means of measuring motion of said functional cover ( 202 ). In particular, the present invention relates to a functional cover ( 202 ) for a mobile communication device ( 200 ) measuring motion and providing a control signal to the mobile communication device ( 200 ) in accordance herewith.

Full Description:
FIELD OF INVENTION  
       [0001]     This invention relates to a mobile communication device having a functional cover for controlling sound applications by means of measuring motion of said functional cover. In particular, the present invention relates to a functional cover for a mobile communication device measuring motion and providing a control signal to the mobile communication device in accordance herewith.  
       BACKGROUND OF INVENTION  
       [0002]     A functional cover is an enhancement product or peripheral for a mobile communication device such as a mobile or cell phone, a personal digital assistant, a portable computer or any combination thereof. The functional cover has electrical functionality and interface enabling data transfer between the mobile communication device and the functional cover.  
         [0003]     International patent application WO 03/075548 discloses a functional cover for use with a wireless terminal, which functional cover comprises one or more keys adapted to play at least one sound. The keys may be adapted for sound creating purposes, which may comprise music composing applications, sound creating applications, gaming applications, ring-tone creation and application, system sound creation and application, or sending sounds with a multimedia messaging service (MMS) message.  
         [0004]     Further, patent application Ser. No. 10/096,491 discloses a mobile communication device comprising a memory for storing a plurality of sequences for the activation of lights and means for selectively assigning a stored sequence to a particular event such as incoming calls, incoming calls or message from a particular caller or caller group, key lock, key unlock, power on/off, calendar alarm and etc. The mobile communication device may comprise means for recording an audio signal and means for transforming said audio signal into a control signal for activation of the lights, which are mountable in an exchangeable/removable front or back cover.  
         [0005]     The above referenced international and American patent applications, which hereby are incorporated into present specification by reference, provide means for establishing utilisations of a functional cover in connection with a mobile communication device. The patent applications, in particular, provide means for recording a sound and utilising said sound for various purposes such as for converting said sound to a signal for controlling activation of a light or for saving said sound as part of a tune. That is, the prior art enables an operator to generate a particular sound by operating a keyboard or to generate a particular light response associated with an operation of the mobile communication device by operating a keyboard. Hence there is a need for providing further user interface platforms enabling an operator to activate the mobile communication device besides voice or keyboard activations.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     An object of the present invention is to provide a functional cover for controlling sound applications on a mobile communication device in accordance with motion of said functional cover.  
         [0007]     Further, it is an object of the present invention to provide a mobile communication device having a functional cover for controlling sound applications on said mobile communication device in accordance with motion of said functional cover.  
         [0008]     A particular advantage of the present invention is provision of a user interface enabling a user to control an application by moving a functional cover mounted on a mobile communication device.  
         [0009]     A particular feature of the present invention is provision of means for generating a sound or audio effect caused by motion of the functional cover.  
         [0010]     The above objects, feature and advantage together with numerous other objects, advantages and features, which will become evident from below detailed description, are obtained according to a first aspect of the present invention by a functional cover for connecting to a mobile communication device and comprising an accelerometer for measuring movement of said functional cover and providing a movement signal, a memory for storing an instruction set, and a processor for selecting an instruction from said instruction set in said memory in accordance with said movement signal.  
         [0011]     The functional cover according to the first aspect of the present invention provides an additional interfacing means for controlling actions of the functional cover or mobile communication device.  
         [0012]     The functional cover according to the first aspect of the present invention may be adapted to control sound applications in accordance with motion of the functional cover and further may be adapted to generate a sound in accordance with motion of the functional cover. The combination of the being able to control sound by motion and to control applications relating to sound control provides an excellent and simple interface for the user of a mobile communication device and enables the user to adopt a particular personalized sound configuration for a mobile communication device.  
         [0013]     The functional cover according to the first aspect of the present invention may further comprise a synthesizer for generating an electrical audio signal in accordance with the movement signal and a loud speaker unit adapted to receive the electrical audio signal and generate a sound in accordance herewith. The synthesizer may be operable to generate a control signal and the loud speaker unit may comprise an amplifier for amplifying the electrical audio signal and adapted to receive the control signal. The control signal may be operable to control frequency, clang, tone, pitch, loudness, volume, treble, and/or bas of the electrical audio signal.  
         [0014]     The accelerometer according to the first aspect of the present invention may comprise a first sensor measuring movement along a first axis, which is aligned longitudinally to the functional cover and a second sensor measuring movement along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis. Hence the accelerometer in this configuration provides a two-dimensional measurement of movement, which is advantageous, for example, for controlling a game played on the mobile communication device and/or for generating a particular audio effect.  
         [0015]     The accelerometer may further comprise a third sensor measuring movement along a third axis perpendicular to the first and second axis. This configuration of the functional cover provides a three-dimensional measurement of movement, which may advantageously be used, for example, for generating a drum sound while moving the functional cover attached to the mobile communication device as a drum stick.  
         [0016]     The audio effects (sounds) may be sounds which may be applied to music from a second functional cover attached to the mobile communication device comprising a MP3 player. Alternatively, the audio effects may further be sounds of a StarWars™ lightsaber or sword whistling through the air, as the mobile communication device with its attached one or more functional covers is moved.  
         [0017]     Further, the audio effects may advantageously be combined with gaming operations. This may, for example, advantageously be implemented in a car driving game, where the manoeuvring of the car is handled by the movement of the functional cover, which provides shrieking noises when the car makes sharp turns.  
         [0018]     The first, second and third sensor for measuring movement along the first, second and third axis, respectively, may be utilised for sound application control such as bas, treble, pitch, clang, and volume control of sound generating application or any combination thereof. The movement of the functional cover may thus advantageously be used for controlling a wide variety of applications per se and a combination of applications.  
         [0019]     The memory according to the first aspect of the present invention may further comprise flash memory capacity. Alternatively or additionally, the memory may comprise optical, magnetic or electric recording means such as magneto-optic storage devices.  
         [0020]     The processor according to the first aspect of the present invention may comprise a micro-controller. The processor may in fact be implemented by any of the street processors, however, advantageously the processor is incorporated in a micro-controller together with local memory facility such as ROM and RAM for storing interface protocols and together with a signal conversion means such as analog to digital converter and sample and hold unit. The processor may connect to the memory through a high speed data carrying bus.  
         [0021]     The processor may further comprise an interface element for controlling communication between the functional cover and a mobile communication device in accordance with a communication protocol. The interface element may comprise hardware and software modules, which hardware modules may comprise connectors and wiring and which software modules may comprise applications accessing a local memory for interface protocol data.  
         [0022]     The instruction set according to the first aspect of the present invention may comprise internal or external operation system instructions, application instructions or any combination thereof. The instruction set stored in the memory may, in fact, comprise any user defined actions to be taken when the functional cover moves in the first, second and/or third direction. This effect provides a particularly versatile mobile communication device when attached to the functional cover according to the first aspect.  
         [0023]     The above objects, advantages and features together with numerous other objects, advantages and features, which will become evident from below detailed description, are obtained according to a second aspect of the present invention by a mobile communication device comprising connector means for connecting to a functional cover according to the first aspect of the present invention.  
         [0024]     The mobile communication device according to the second aspect of the present invention provides a significant improvement to prior art interface technologies used for mobile phones. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0025]     The above, as well as additional objects, features and advantages of the present invention, will be better understood through the following illustrative and non-limiting detailed description of preferred embodiments of the present invention, with reference to the appended drawing, wherein:  
         [0026]      FIG. 1 , shows a flow chart of operation of a functional cover according to a first embodiment of the present invention connected to a mobile communication device,  
         [0027]      FIG. 2   a , shows a mobile communication device connected to a functional cover according to the first embodiment of the present invention,  
         [0028]      FIG. 2   b , shows a block diagram of the function cover according to the second and third embodiments of the present invention,  
         [0029]      FIG. 3 , shows a mobile communication device according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention, and  
         [0030]      FIG. 4 , shows a block diagram of a control system of the functional cover according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0031]     In the following description of the various embodiments; reference is made to the accompanying drawing which form a part hereof, and in which by way of illustration various embodiments is shown in which the invention may be practiced. It is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and structural and functional modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.  
         [0032]      FIG. 1 , shows a flow chart of operation of a functional cover according to the preferred embodiment connected to a mobile communication device, which operation is designated in entirety by reference numeral  100 .  
         [0033]     The operation of the functional cover starts in step  102 . The starting process includes powering up the functional cover and possible authentication of the functional cover. Since the functional cover utilises movement or motion for controlling sound applications the operation  100  comprises a conditional loop  104  during which the functional cover awaits movement of the functional cover. When the functional cover detects movement the functional cover generates a movement signal during step  106 . The processor of the functional cover interprets the movement signal during step  108  and identifies a corresponding instruction in an associated memory. The processor further identifies during step  110  whether the instruction is associated with an external or internal application. If the instruction is internal, the processor of the functional cover  112  processes it in step  112 . On the other hand if the instruction is external, the instruction is communicated to the connecting mobile communication device during step  114 . In step  116  the external processor, i.e. a processor of the mobile communication device processes the instruction. Subsequently, in step  118  the processor of the mobile communication device communicates an acknowledgement of reception of the instruction or a return instruction for the processor of the functional cover. The processor of the functional cover determines in step  120  whether the operation is to return to a movement detecting mode, namely to loop  104 , or to end in step  122 .  
         [0034]      FIG. 2   a , shows a mobile communication device  200  connected to a functional cover  202 . Movement or motion of the mobile communication device  200  and thereby of the functional cover  202  generates an audio effect from the loud speaker  204  of the mobile communication device  200 . This audio effect is visualized by waves  206  and the movement is visualized by arrows  208 . The movement may be in the plane indicated in  FIG. 2   a  and, in addition hereto, in a plane perpendicular to the arrows  208 . The movement causes an accelerometer, shown in  FIG. 2   b  as reference numeral  212 , to generate a movement signal, which is processed by a local processor of the functional cover  202 . The local processor interprets the movement signal and identifies a corresponding instruction in an instruction set in a memory. The instruction may relate to a sound application for controlling a sound in accordance with movement of the mobile communication device  200  and thereby in accordance with movement of the functional cover  202 . The instruction may incorporate a sound or audio effect to be forwarded to the loud speaker  204  or may be a control signal for adjusting sounds from the loud speaker  204 . That is, the instructions may relate directly to a sound or audio effect to be presented to a user of the mobile communication device  200  such as a drum sound, Star Wars™ lightsaber sound, or any other sound, or the instructions may relate to qualitative measures of a sound to be presented to the user of the mobile communication device  200  such as volume, loudness, pitch, bas, treble, clang or any combination thereof.  
         [0035]     The audio effects (sounds) may be, for instance, drumming sounds that may be applied to music from a second functional cover attached to the mobile communication device comprising an MP3 player.  
         [0036]      FIG. 2   b , shows a block diagram of a functional cover  202  according to a second embodiment of the present invention. The functional cover  202  comprises an accelerometer  212  generating a movement signal to a local processor or directly to a synthesizer  214 , which synthesizer  214  converts the movement signal into an electrical audio signal, such as described above. The synthesizer  212  communicates the electrical audio signal to an amplifier  218  amplifying the electrical audio signal and communicating the amplified electrical audio signal to the loud speaker  204  generating the audio effect. Hence in these embodiments the functional cover  202  acts as an input device for the synthesizer  214  by assigning attributes to movements in particular directions, which are detected and recorded by the accelerometer  212 . The attributes may be sound frequency, clang, tone, pitch, loudness, volume, bas, treble and any combination thereof.  
         [0037]     In an embodiment the processor used for the sound control and the appurtenant instruction set are internal in the synthesizer  214 .  
         [0038]     In another embodiment the output signal from the synthesizer  214  may be coupled to the connected mobile phones amplifier and loudspeaker.  
         [0039]     In a functional cover  202  according to a third embodiment of the present invention, the functional cover  202  further comprises a memory  216  for storing a bank of electric audio signals defining a plurality of sounds. The memory  216  connects to the synthesizer  214  and communicates specific electric audio signals to the synthesizer  214  in accordance with instructions or commands received from the user interface  208 .  
         [0040]     In an embodiment the processor used for the sound control and the appurtenant instruction set are internal in the synthesizer  214  as well as the sound data base  216 .  
         [0041]     In another embodiment the output signal from the synthesizer  214  may be coupled to the connected mobile phones amplifier and loudspeaker.  
         [0042]     The functional cover  202  thus improves the general user interface of a mobile communication device, namely keypad  208  and display  210 .  
         [0043]     The accelerometer comprises one, two and/or three sensors for measuring movement along a three axes. Hence the accelerometer may provide a two or three dimensional measurement of movement.  
         [0044]     The audio effects may advantageously be combined with gaming operations such as shown in  FIG. 3 .  FIG. 3 , shows a mobile communication device  300  according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. The mobile communication device comprises a display  302  for interfacing with an operator of the mobile communication device  300  by for example playing a game shown enlarged as reference numeral  304 . The mobile communication device  300  is connected to a functional cover  306  including a accelerometer, shown as reference numeral  402  in  FIG. 4 . The accelerometer  402  provides a movement signal to a processor, shown in  FIG. 4  as reference numeral  406 , in the functional cover  306  and the processor interprets the movement signal in accordance with predefined operations. In this example the accelerometer  406  measures the movement of the functional cover so as to generate an instruction  308  for the game  304  interface in combining a cursor with an associated audio effect. In this way the operator of the mobile communication device may by movement of the functional cover  306  control the game  304  as if applying curser keys on a keypad  310 . This effect provides great advantages over prior art, since the operation of the mobile communication device is significantly simplified.  
         [0045]      FIG. 4 , shows a block diagram of a control system  400  of the functional cover  306  comprising an accelerometer  402 . The accelerometer  402  communicates movement data to an analogue to digital (A/D) converter  404  in a processor  406 , such as a micro-controller. The A/D converter  404  receives an analogue movement signal from the accelerometer  402  and converts it to a digital movement signal. The processor  406  retrieves an instruction set from a memory unit  408 , such as an external flash memory, through a high speed data carrying bus (SPI)  410 . The processor  406  utilises the digital movement signal to generate a signal to the mobile communication device in accordance with the instruction set associated with the movement signal. The instruction set may be curser actions combined with sounds or other application type instructions.  
         [0046]     The control system  400  further comprises a terminal  412  for connecting to the mobile communication device  300 . When the functional cover  306  is mounted on the mobile communication device  300  the control system  400  powers up. The terminal  412 , which comprises a plurality of pins, such as 3, 5 or 8 pins, provides a power signal to a regulator  414  for regulating power to the processor  406 . The regulator  414  may be any type of regulator known to a person skilled in the art.  
         [0047]     The terminal  412  further enables communication between the functional cover  306  and the mobile communication device  300  through a level shifting unit  416  shifting the voltage level of the communication received from the mobile communication device  300  to a voltage level compatible with the functional cover  306 . The processor  406  communicates with the mobile communication device  300  through an interface element  418  for establishing communication protocol.  
         [0048]     The mobile communication device may comprise one or more functional covers, hence both the functional covers  202 ,  306  may in fact be connected to the same mobile communication device. Further, it should be realized that the communication between the mobile communication device and the functional covers may utilise any protocol and elements known to a person skilled in the art.

Technology Classification (CPC): 0