Visual notification methods for candy-bar type cellphones

• US 20060055658A1
• Filed: 09/15/2004
• Published: 03/16/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Research In Motion Limited (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: Lowles, Robert, Robinson, James, Drader, Marc
• Granted Patent: US 7,391,164 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/102
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2310/0235 Field-sequential colour display
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2310/0237 Switching ON and OFF the backlight within one frame
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2310/066 Waveforms comprising a gently increasing or decreasing portion, e.g. ramp
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3413 Details of control of colour illumination sources
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3614 Control of polarity reversal in general
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/22 Illumination; Arrangements for improving the visibility of characters on dials
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/027 by controlling a display operation or backlight unit
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A wireless handheld communications device with a liquid crystal display, especially, a field sequential liquid crystal display, includes a visual notification for a powered up, inactive state. The visual notification is preferably through a light emitting diode that may be part of the backlighting system for the LCD or may be independent from the backlighting system. The waveforms, periodicity, colour selection, and colour sequencing may be customizable by one or both of the manufacturer and user.

Claims

1. A method for practicing multiple scanning modes on a display screen for a liquid crystal display in a handheld wireless communications device, comprising:

activating a timer to provide a device inactivity time lapse;

comparing the device inactivity time lapse with a threshold; and

if the device inactivity time lapse exceeds the threshold, then entering a device inactivity notification mode in which the device provides a visual notification to a user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the visual notification is the pulsing of a light emitting diode dedicated to the visual notification.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the light emitting diode emits light with a colour from the group consisting of red, green, and blue.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the light emitting diode emits light with a blended colour that is a combination of two or more colours from the group consisting of red, green, and blue.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the visual notification is the pulse of a light emitting diode that forms part or all of the backlighting of the liquid crystal display.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the light emitting diode emits light with a colour from the group consisting of red, green, and blue.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein the light emitting diode emits light with a blended colour that is a combination of two or more colours from the group consisting of red, green, and blue.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the pulsing is a waveform.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the pulsing is a square wave.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the pulsing is sinusoidal.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the pulsing is triangular.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the pulsing occurs at a regular interval.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the pulsing occurs at an irregular interval.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the pulsing is a double pulse having a first pulse and a second pulse that occurs at a regular interval.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the first pulse and the second pulse have the same amplitude.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the first pulse and the second pulse have different amplitudes.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the amplitude of the first pulse is about twice as great as the amplitude of the second pulse.

18. The method of claim 16, wherein the first pulse and the second pulse represent a heart beat.

19. A wireless handheld communications device, comprising:

a liquid crystal display;

a processor for controlling the display of the liquid crystal display; and

a keypad for providing input to the processor, wherein visual notification of a power on, inactive state is provided to a user.

20. The wireless handheld communications device of claim 19, further comprising a light source that provides the visual notification.

21. The wireless handheld communications device of claim 19, wherein the light source forms at least part of a backlight for the liquid crystal display.

22. The wireless handheld communications device of claim 19, further comprising a backlight for illuminating the liquid crystal display.

23. The wireless handheld communications device of claim 22, wherein the light source is independent of the backlight.

24. The wireless handheld communications device of claim 23, wherein the light source is located on the wireless handheld communications device such that it is not part of the liquid crystal display and not part of the backlight.

25. The wireless handheld communications device of claim 19, wherein the liquid crystal display is a field sequential liquid crystal display.

26. The wireless handheld communications device of claim 25, further comprising a backlight for illuminating the liquid crystal display.

27. The wireless handheld communications device of claim 26, wherein the backlight includes light emitting diodes.

28. The wireless handheld communications device of claim 27, wherein the light emitting diodes include red, green and blue light emitting diodes.