Handheld computing device with power-saving notification

• US 20050270169A1
• Filed: 06/02/2004
• Published: 12/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Research In Motion Limited (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: Veselic, Dusan, Drader, Marc A., Mak-Fan, David James
• Granted Patent: US 7,265,655 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/691.100
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 1/26 for automatically producing a series of tones
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A handheld computing device includes a notification lamp, a melody circuit coupled to the notification lamp for providing a first type notification, an electronic switch coupled to the notification lamp for providing a second type notification, and a notification controller coupled to the melody circuit and the electronic switch for selecting between the notification types. The power consumption of the second type notification is less than that of the first type notification.

Claims

1. A handheld computing device comprising:

a notification lamp;

a melody circuit coupled to the notification lamp for providing a first type notification;

an electronic switch coupled to the notification lamp for providing a second type notification, the second type notification having a power consumption less than that of the first type notification; and

a notification controller coupled to the melody circuit and the electronic switch for selecting between the notification types.

2. The handheld computing device according to claim 1, wherein the notification lamp comprises a plurality of monochrome lamps, and the melody circuit includes a plurality of lamp driver outputs, each said lamp driver output being coupled to a respective one of the monochrome lamps.

3. The handheld computing device according to claim 2, wherein the monochrome lamps comprise a plurality of differently-coloured monochrome lamps.

4. The handheld computing device according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the electronic switch is coupled to one of the monochrome lamps.

5. The handheld computing device according to claim 4, wherein the notification controller is configured with a plurality of notification modes,

in a first of the notification modes, the notification controller maintaining the melody circuit in a low-power state, and maintaining the electronic switch open;

in a second of the notification modes, the notification controller maintaining the melody circuit in the low-power state, and closing the electronic switch;

in a third of the notification modes, the notification controller maintaining the electronic switch open, and enabling the melody circuit.

6. The handheld computing device according to claim 5, wherein in a second of the notification modes, the notification controller is configured to periodically open and close the electronic switch.

7. The handheld computing device according to claim 6, wherein the notification lamp comprises a tri-coloured LED.

8. A notification circuit for a handheld computing device, comprising:

a notification lamp;

a melody circuit coupled to the notification lamp for providing a first type notification; and

an electronic switch coupled to the notification lamp for providing a second type notification, the second type notification having a power consumption less than that of the first type notification.

9. The notification circuit according to claim 8, wherein the notification lamp comprises a plurality of monochrome lamps, and the melody circuit includes a plurality of lamp driver outputs, each said lamp driver output being coupled to a respective one of the monochrome lamps.

10. The notification circuit according to claim 9, wherein the monochrome lamps comprise a plurality of differently-coloured monochrome lamps.

11. The notification circuit according to claim 9 or 10, wherein the electronic switch is coupled to one of the monochrome lamps.

12. The notification circuit according to claim 11, wherein the notification lamp comprises a tri-coloured LED.