Abstract:
A system for providing vibratory alerts includes an electronic device having a first housing and configured to provide vibratory alert control signals. The system further includes a vibrating motor disposed within a second housing that is external to the first housing of the electronic device, wherein the second housing is mountable adjacent to or near the body of a user to cause vibratory alerts in response to the vibratory alert control signals, and wherein the second housing includes one of: a clip mounted externally on the first housing of the electronic device and wherein the clip is configured to clip the electronic device adjacent to the body of the user, a holster to hold the electronic device and wherein the holster is configured to hang, clip, or affix the second housing adjacent to or near the body of the user, a wrist band of a bracelet, or a buckle or strap of a belt.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    Consumer electronic products with vibrating alerts are quite common today. From pagers to cellular telephones, a silent alert feature is typically standard in these devices to alert a user, for example, of an incoming call or message. The most common way to provide a vibrating alert is with the use of a small motor, driving an unbalanced weight on a rotating shaft. Such motors are placed inside the electronic device such that when the user has an incoming message or call, the motor spins, thereby vibrating the electronic device. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0002]    In one exemplary embodiment, a device may include a first housing that is mountable adjacent to, or near, a body of a user. The device may further include a vibrating motor disposed within the first housing, wherein the first housing is external to, and distinct from, a second housing of an electronic device that provides control signals to the vibrating motor of the device, and wherein the first housing comprises one of: a clip mounted externally on the second housing of the electronic device and wherein the clip is configured to clip the electronic device adjacent to the body of the user, or a holster that is configurable to hold the electronic device and wherein the holster is usable to hang, clip, or affix the first housing in adjacent to or near the body of the user 
         [0003]    Additionally, the clip may be mounted externally on the second housing via a hinge. 
         [0004]    Additionally, the hinge may include a spring hinge. 
         [0005]    Additionally, the vibrating motor may be disposed adjacent a top surface of the clip. 
         [0006]    Additionally, the clip may be removably attached to the second housing. 
         [0007]    Additionally, the electronic device may include one of a pager or a cellular radiotelephone. 
         [0008]    Additionally, the device may include a wired electrical connection, wherein the control signals may be supplied by the electronic device to the vibrating motor via the wired electrical connection. 
         [0009]    Additionally, the electronic device may include exposed electrical pads and the holster may include contacts that align with the exposed electrical pads to produce the wired electrical connection. 
         [0010]    Additionally, the device may include a receiver to receive the control signals from the electronic device via a wireless connection. 
         [0011]    Additionally, the wireless connection may include a BlueTooth wireless connection. 
         [0012]    In another exemplary embodiment, a device may include a first housing that is mountable adjacent to, or near, a body of a user. The device may further include a vibrating motor disposed within the first housing, wherein the first housing may be external to, and distinct from, a second housing of an electronic device may provide control signals to the vibrating motor of the device, and wherein the first housing may include a wrist band of a bracelet, or a buckle or strap of a belt. 
         [0013]    Additionally, the electronic device may include one of a pager or a cellular radiotelephone. 
         [0014]    Additionally, the device may include a receiver to receive the control signals from the electronic device via a wireless connection. 
         [0015]    Additionally, the wireless connection may include a BlueTooth wireless connection. 
         [0016]    In yet another exemplary embodiment, a system for providing vibratory alerts may include an electronic device having a first housing and configured to provide vibratory alert control signals. The system may further include a vibrating motor disposed within a second housing that is external to the first housing of the electronic device, wherein the second housing may be mountable adjacent to or near the body of a user to cause vibratory alerts in response to the vibratory alert control signals, and wherein the second housing may include one of: a clip mounted externally on the first housing of the electronic device and wherein the clip may be configured to clip the electronic device adjacent to the body of the user, a holster to hold the electronic device and wherein the holster is configured to hang, clip, or affix the second housing adjacent to or near the body of the user, a wrist band of a bracelet, or a buckle or strap of a belt. 
         [0017]    Additionally, the electronic device may include one of a pager or a cellular radiotelephone. 
         [0018]    Additionally, the system may include a wired electrical connection, wherein the vibratory alert control signals may be supplied by the electronic device to the vibrating motor in the clip or the holster via the wired electrical connection. 
         [0019]    Additionally, the electronic device may include exposed electrical pads and wherein the holster may include contacts that align with the exposed electrical pads to produce the wired electrical connection. 
         [0020]    Additionally, the system may include a transmitter associated with the electronic device, and a receiver associated with the vibrating motor, wherein the vibratory alert control signals may be supplied by the electronic device to the vibrating motor via a wireless connection between the transmitter and the receiver. 
         [0021]    Additionally, the wireless connection may include a BlueTooth wireless connection. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0022]    The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate one or more embodiments described herein and, together with the description, explain these embodiments. In the drawings: 
           [0023]      FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating an overview of exemplary embodiments described herein; 
           [0024]      FIGS. 2A and 2B  are diagrams that depict an exemplary implementation in which the vibrating motor of  FIG. 1  is disposed within the housing of a clip attached to the housing of the electronic device; 
           [0025]      FIG. 3  is a diagram that depicts another exemplary implementation in which the vibrating motor of  FIG. 1  is disposed within a housing of a holster that is coupled to the electronic device; 
           [0026]      FIG. 4  is a diagram of an exemplary implementation in which a wired connection is used to connect the electronic device with the vibrating motor; 
           [0027]      FIG. 5  is a diagram that depicts an exemplary implementation in which the vibrating motor of  FIG. 1  is disposed within a wristband of a wristwatch; 
           [0028]      FIG. 6  is a diagram that depicts another exemplary implementation in which the vibrating motor of  FIG. 1  is disposed within a bracelet; and 
           [0029]      FIG. 7  is a diagram that depicts an exemplary implementation in which a wireless connection is used to connect the electronic device with the vibrating motor of  FIG. 1 . 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0030]    The following detailed description refers to the accompanying drawings. The same reference numbers in different drawings may identify the same or similar elements. Also, the following detailed description does not limit the invention. 
       Overview 
       [0031]    A problem with current designs of vibrating motors in electronic devices occurs when the vibrating motor is separated from the user&#39;s body. The vibrating motor may be separated from the body when, for example, the electronic device is placed in a holster or placed on a table. When the electronic device is placed in a holster, the body may be insulated from the motion generated by the vibrating motor, leading to missed messages or calls. 
         [0032]      FIG. 1  illustrates an overview of the disposition of a vibrating motor, for alerts associated with an electronic device, external to the electronic device such that the vibrating motor can be located adjacent, or nearly adjacent, to the body of the user. Location of the vibrating motor adjacent, or nearly adjacent, to the body of the user permits an enhanced tactile response from the user such that the user can more easily recognize a “buzzing” alert by the vibrating motor. 
         [0033]    As shown in  FIG. 1 , a user  100  may utilize an electronic device  110 , which has an associated vibrating motor  120 , for providing vibratory alerts to user  100 . In accordance with embodiments described herein, vibrating motor  120  may be located externally to electronic device  110  such that vibrating motor may placed adjacent, or nearly adjacent the skin of user  100 —even, in one embodiment, when electronic device  110  is not adjacent the skin of user  100 . For example, in one exemplary implementation, vibrating motor  120  may be located externally to electronic device  110  in an external clip housing  130  on a housing of electronic device  110  for “clipping” electronic device  110  to a garment, belt, etc. In an alternative implementation, vibrating motor  120  may be located externally to electronic device in a holster  140  that may be clipped, hung, or affixed to user  100 , or to user  100 &#39;s clothing. In yet further alternative implementations, vibrating motor  120  may further be located externally from electronic device  110  within other types of articles or devices not shown in  FIG. 1 , including, for example, in belts (e.g., in the belt buckle or belt strap), in wristwatch wristbands, in wristbands of bracelets, etc., where the other types of articles or devices may be attached, clipped, or affixed in some manner such that vibrating motor  120  is located adjacent, or nearly adjacent, the skin of user  100 . 
         [0034]    Electronic device  110  may include any type of electronic appliance that may utilize a vibrating motor for causing a vibratory tactile alert to the user of the electronic appliance. For example, electronic device  110  may include a cellular radiotelephone, a pager, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a gaming device, or a media player device. Vibrating motor  120  may include any type of vibrating motor. Because vibrating motor  120  may be adjacent, or nearly adjacent the skin of user  100 , vibrating motor  120  may be sized smaller than if placed elsewhere, while still providing user  100  with the same level of tactile alert (e.g. tactile response from the user). 
         [0035]    A wired or wireless connection may be used to send control signals from electronic device  110  to vibrating motor  120 . In implementations using a wired connection, a housing of an article or device in which vibrating motor  120  may be disposed may include electrical contacts (e.g., spring contacts) that permit electrical contact with exposed pads on electronic device  110  when electronic device  110  is inserted within the housing of the article or device. For example, if the article or device includes a holster, then the holster may include electrical contacts within the holster that align with the exposed contacts on electronic device  110  when electronic device  110  is inserted within the holster. In implementations using a wireless connection, the article or device in which vibrating motor  120  may be disposed may further include radiofrequency (RF) circuitry and electronics for enabling control signals to be sent via wireless RF from electronic device  110  to vibrating motor  120 . For example, the RF circuitry and electronics may implement the BlueTooth standard, and may receive RF control signals from electronic device  120  via BlueTooth. 
       Exemplary Device Disposed in Clip Housing 
       [0036]      FIGS. 2A and 2B  depict an exemplary implementation in which vibrating motor  120  is disposed within a housing of a clip (“clip housing  130 ”). Clip housing  130  is shown without a top cover, exposing motor  120 , a spring  210  ( FIG. 2A ) for a spring hinge  206  ( FIG. 2B ), and other electronic components. Clip housing  130  may be attached to the housing  200  of electronic device  110  by, for example, spring hinge  206 . In one implementation, clip housing  130  may allow electronic device  110  to be clipped to user  100 &#39;s clothes (e.g., clipped to a belt, clipped to a pocket, etc.). Clip housing  130  may move in the direction of arrow  208  about hinge  206  so that clothing, for example, may slide into a space  204  between housing  200  of device  110  and clip housing  130 . Top surface  202  of clip housing  130  may be situated, in this example, adjacent or nearly adjacent to the skin of user  100 . In one embodiment, clip housing  130  may be permanently attached to electronic device  110 . In another embodiment, clip housing  130  may be removably attached to electronic device  110 . 
         [0037]    In the exemplary implementation of  FIGS. 2A and 2B , a wired connection may be used to send control signals from electronic device  110  to vibrating motor  120 . By placing vibrating motor  120  in clip housing  130 , clip housing  130  may be used, for example, to clip vibrating motor  120  adjacent, or nearly adjacent, user  100 &#39;s skin such that user  100  may easily feel vibration of vibrating motor  120 . 
       Exemplary Device Disposed in Holster 
       [0038]      FIG. 3  depicts another exemplary implementation in which vibrating motor  120  is disposed within a housing  300  of a holster  140  that may be clipped, hung from, or affixed to user  100  or to user  100 &#39;s clothes (e.g., clipped to a belt, clipped to a pocket, hung from a belt loop, etc.). In the exemplary implementation of  FIG. 3 , a wired connection may be used to send control signals from electronic device  110  to vibrating motor  120 . For example, holster housing  300  may include electrical contacts (not shown) that align with exposed electrical contacts on electronic device  110  when electronic device  110  is inserted within the holster. Insertion of electronic device  110  within holster housing  300  electrically connects the housing contacts with the exposed contacts on electronic device  110 . Control signals for causing vibrating motor  120  to vibrate may be sent from electronic device  110  to vibrating motor  120  via the electrical contacts in holster housing  300 . 
         [0039]      FIG. 4  is a diagram of an exemplary implementation in which a wired connection is used to connect electronic device  110  with vibrating motor  120 . The exemplary implementation of  FIG. 4  may, for example, correspond to use of the clip housing  130  of  FIGS. 2A and 2B  or holster  140  of  FIG. 3 . As shown in  FIG. 4 , electronic device  110  may, among other components, include a vibrating motor control unit  400 . Vibrating motor control unit  400  may send control signals via a wired connection  410  to vibrating motor  120  in a device  420  (e.g., in holster  140  or clip housing  130 ) to cause vibrating motor  120  to vibrate as a vibratory alert to user  100 . Electronic device  110  and device  420  may include additional components than those shown in  FIG. 4 . For example, if electronic device  110  is a cellular radiotelephone, device  110  may include a processing unit, a display, a transceiver, a battery, etc.  FIG. 4  merely depicts some components of device  110  relevant to the control of vibrating motor  120  by device  110 . Alternatively, instead of wired connection  410  for sending control signals to vibrating motor  120  in device  420 , a wireless connection (e.g., similar to that shown in  FIG. 7  below), such as, for example, a BlueTooth wireless connection, may be used for sending control signals from vibrating motor control unit  400  in electronic device  110  to vibrating motor  120  in device  420 . 
       Exemplary Device Disposed in Wristwatch 
       [0040]      FIG. 5  depicts an exemplary implementation in which vibrating motor  120  is disposed within a wristband  500  of a wristwatch  510 . In the exemplary implementation of  FIG. 5 , a wireless connection may be used to send control signals from electronic device  110  to vibrating motor  120 . For example, in one implementation, the wireless connection may include a BlueTooth wireless connection. By placing vibrating motor  120  in wristband  500 , vibrating motor  120  may be located nearly adjacent user  100 &#39;s skin such that when wristwatch  510  is worn by user  100 , user  100  may easily feel any vibration of vibrating motor  120 . 
       Exemplary Device Disposed in Bracelet 
       [0041]      FIG. 6  depicts another exemplary implementation in which vibrating motor  120  is disposed within a wristband of a bracelet  600 . In the exemplary implementation of  FIG. 6 , a wireless connection may be used to send control signals from electronic device  110  to vibrating motor  120 . For example, in one implementation, the wireless connection may include a BlueTooth wireless connection. By placing vibrating motor  120  in bracelet  600 , vibrating motor  120  may be located nearly adjacent user  100 &#39;s skin such that when bracelet  600  is worn by user  100 , user  100  may easily feel any vibration of vibrating motor  120 . 
         [0042]      FIG. 7  is a diagram of an exemplary implementation in which a wireless connection is used to connect electronic device  110  with vibrating motor  120 . The exemplary implementation of  FIG. 7  may, for example, correspond to use of wristwatch  510  of  FIG. 5  or bracelet  600  of  FIG. 6 . As shown in  FIG. 7 , electronic device  110  may, among other components, include a vibrating motor control unit  700  and a transmitter  710 . Vibrating motor control unit  400  may send control signals to transmitter  710  for transmission to device  720 , containing vibrating motor  120 , via a wireless connection  730  to cause vibrating motor  120  to vibrate as a vibratory alert to user  100 . For example, device  720  may correspond to wristwatch  510  of  FIG. 5  or bracelet  600  of  FIG. 6 . As further shown, device  720  may also include a receiver  740  for receiving control signals sent from electronic device  110  via transmitter  710 . Transmitter  710  and receiver  740  may include circuitry that permits communication using, for example, the BlueTooth standard. Device  720  and electronic device  110  may include additional components than those shown in  FIG. 7 .  FIG. 7  merely depicts some components of device  110  relevant to the control of vibrating motor  120  and to transmission of control signals from device  110  to device  720 . 
         [0043]    In one implementation, vibrating motor  120  may include a standard-sized vibrating motor for alerting user  100 . Because, in one or more embodiments described above, vibrating motor  120  may be placed adjacent or nearly adjacent to the body of user  100 , vibrating motor  120  may be sized smaller than the standard-sized vibrating motor while still providing the same level of tactile sensation to user  100 . This embodiment may allow for energy savings and longer better life in portable electronic devices. 
       CONCLUSION 
       [0044]    Implementations described herein enable the disposition of a vibrating motor, for alerts associated with the operation of an electronic device, external to the electronic device such that the vibrating motor can be located adjacent, or nearly adjacent, to the body of the user. Location of the vibrating motor adjacent, or nearly adjacent, to the body of the user permits an enhanced tactile response from the user such that the user can more easily recognize a “buzzing” alert by the vibrating motor. 
         [0045]    The foregoing description of the embodiments described herein provides illustration and description, but is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the invention to the precise form disclosed. Modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings or may be acquired from practice of the invention. 
         [0046]    For example, in one embodiment, electronic device  110  may use wireless signals to communicate with holster  140  rather than wired signals. In this embodiment, holster  140  may alert user  100  even when electronic device  110  is not in holster  140 . 
         [0047]    As another example, in one embodiment, electronic device  110  may include a vibrating motor and holster  140  may include an accelerometer that senses when the vibrating motor in electronic device  110  vibrates. In response to sensing the vibrations in electronic device  110 , vibrating motor  120  in holster  140  may also vibrate to alert the user. In this embodiment, holster  140  may be compatible with any electronic device  110  without, for example, pre-determined communication protocols between holster  140  and electronic device  110 . 
         [0048]    As yet another example, vibrating motor  120 , having been placed close to the body of user  100 , may use a different vibrating pattern for different types of alerts (e.g., a different pattern for a call, a page, an email, etc.). User  100  may detect and interpret the different pattern. A different vibrating pattern may be used for different callers or contacts, different originating email addresses, etc. In one embodiment, an entire received message (e.g., a text message) may be communicated to user  100  with different vibrating patterns (e.g., using Morse code to receive covert messages). 
         [0049]    Wireless communication channels between electronic device  110  and vibrating motor  120  may include protocols other than BlueTooth, such as WiFi (IEEE 802.11a/b/g/n) and/or other near field communication protocols. 
         [0050]    In other embodiments, vibrating motor  120  (or its housing) may be taped or strapped to the body of user  100 . 
         [0051]    Certain features described herein may be implemented as “logic” or as a “unit” that performs one or more functions. This logic or unit may include hardware, such as one or more processors, microprocessors, application specific integrated circuits, or field programmable gate arrays, software, or a combination of hardware and software. 
         [0052]    The term “comprises” or “comprising” as used herein, including the claims, specifies the presence of stated features, integers, steps, or components, but does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, components, or groups thereof. 
         [0053]    No element, act, or instruction used in the description of the present application should be construed as critical or essential to the invention unless explicitly described as such. Also, as used herein, the article “a” is intended to include one or more items. Where only one item is intended, the term “one” or similar language is used. Further, the phrase “based on,” as used herein is intended to mean “based, at least in part, on” unless explicitly stated otherwise.