Cellular telephone lighting system and method

• US 20040204196A1
• Filed: 12/05/2002
• Published: 10/14/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Lester Dunican, Quentin Humphrey
• Original Assignee: Lester Dunican, Quentin Humphrey
• Inventors: Humphrey, Quentin, Dunican, Lester
• Application Number:
  US10/310,272
• Publication Number:
  US 20040204196A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/575.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/22 Illumination; Arrangements for improving the visibility of characters on dials
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones

Abstract

A cellular telephone lighting system and method is provided which in one embodiment provides a light that may be mounted to any cellular telephone which has a replaceable battery pack. The light is preferably produced utilizing a high intensity, low current drain, light emitting diode. The circuitry for the light may be built into a compartment in the battery pack that may be raised slightly to provide the additional room for the components. A switch is mounted to the battery pack for controlling the light.

Claims

1. A lighting system for a cellular telephone, comprising:

a replaceable battery pack adapted for use with said cellular telephone;

at least one light mounted to said replaceable battery pack;

a control mounted to said replaceable battery pack;

electrical connections for said battery pack for electrically connecting said at least one light and said control to power within said battery pack such that a switch is operable for controlling said at least one light.

2. The lighting assembly of claim 1, wherein said light further comprises a light emitting diode.

3. The lighting assembly of claim 1, wherein said control comprises an on-off switch.

4. The lighting assembly of claim 1, wherein said control is operable for variably controlling said light such that at least two or more levels of lighting brightness are selectable.

5. The lighting assembly of claim 1, further comprising a raised portion of said battery pack defining therein a compartment for said lighting assembly.

6. The lighting assembly of claim 1, further comprising a movement sensor.

7. A method for mounting a light in an existing cellular telephone, comprising:

mounting said light in a replaceable battery pack; and

inserting said replaceable battery pack into said existing cellular telephone.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising mounting a light controller in said battery pack for operating said light.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein said light controller is a switch operable to turn said light on or off.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein said light controller is a movement sensor.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein said light controller is a variable resistor for selectively controlling a variable intensity of said light.

12. The method of claim 7, further providing that said light comprises at least one light emitting diode.

13. The method of claim 7, further comprising providing that said battery pack is rechargeable.

14. The method of claim 8 wherein said light controller is mounted within said battery pack.

15. A cellular phone, comprising:

a replaceable battery pack;

a manually operated controller secured to a battery pack; and

circuitry mounted in said replaceable battery pack operable to transmit a signal in response to selective manual operation of said manually operated controller.

16. The cellular phone of claim 15, wherein said signal comprises a flashlight beam.

17. The cellular phone of claim 16, further comprising a light emitting diode for transmitting said signal.

18. The cellular phone of claim 15, wherein said manually operated controller comprises

an on-off switch.

19. The cellular phone of claim 15, wherein said manually operated controller comprises a variable resistance control.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein said signal comprises a motion sensor signal.