Method for automatically switching incoming call signal output mode from vibration to ringtone using vibration detection unit in mobile communication terminal

• US 20060128439A1
• Filed: 12/12/2005
• Published: 06/15/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Lee, Hun Soo
• Granted Patent: US 7,912,509 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/567
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/04 the ringing-current being generated at the substations

Abstract

A method for automatically switching an incoming call signal output mode in a mobile communication terminal is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of determining whether or not a present incoming call signal output mode is a vibration mode when receiving incoming call, driving a vibrator to output vibration if it is determined that the present incoming call signal output mode is set to the vibration mode, detecting an intensity of actual vibration of the terminal via a vibration detection sensor when the vibration is output, followed by calculating transfer energy using the intensity of the actual vibration on the terminal, and automatically switching the incoming call signal output mode from the vibration mode to a ringtone mode according to comparison of the calculated transfer energy with a reference value. With the method, a user can easily recognize the incoming call signal.

Claims

1. A mobile communication terminal, comprising:

a vibration unit to generate vibration according to an incoming call control signal set to a vibration mode;

a speaker to output an audible sound according to another incoming call control signal set to a ringtone mode in order to inform a user of incoming call;

a vibration detection sensor to measure vibration energy of the terminal through operation of the vibration unit operating in the vibration mode; and

a controller to calculate the vibration energy transferred to an outside using a value supplied from the vibration detection sensor and to output an incoming call mode control signal.

2. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 1, wherein the controller outputs a control signal for outputting an incoming call signal through the speaker when the energy transferred to the outside is lower than a reference value.

3. The mobile communication terminal according to claim 1, wherein, when the incoming call mode is switched to the ringtone mode, a predetermined sound message is output through the speaker.

4. A method for automatically switching an incoming call signal output mode by controlling output of an incoming call signal in a mobile communication terminal, comprising the steps of:

determining whether or not a present incoming call signal output mode is a vibration mode when receiving incoming call;

driving a vibrator to output vibration if it is determined that the present incoming call signal output mode is set to the vibration mode;

detecting an actual intensity of vibration of the terminal via a vibration detection sensor when the vibration is output from the vibrator, followed by calculating transfer energy using the actual intensity of the vibration of the terminal; and

automatically switching the incoming call signal output mode from the vibration mode to a ringtone mode when the calculated transfer energy is below a reference value.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein, if it is determined that the calculated transfer energy is lower than the reference value, it is determined that the mobile communication terminal is in a state wherein a user cannot recognize the vibration, and the incoming call signal output mode is switched from the vibration mode to the ringtone mode.

6. The method according to claim 4, wherein, if a user does not answer a phone for a predetermined period of time after the terminal is switched to the ringtone mode, it is determined that the mobile communication terminal is in a state wherein the user cannot recognize the incoming call signal even with the ringtone, and the ringtone is terminated.

7. The method according to claim 4, wherein, when a predetermined period of time passes after switching the incoming call signal output mode to the ringtone mode, the incoming call signal output mode is switched to an original vibration mode irrespective of whether the user answers the phone or not.

8. A mobile communication terminal, comprising:

a vibrator for generating a vibration according to a first indication mode;

a speaker for outputting a sound according to a second indication mode;

a detector for measuring a vibration energy of the vibrator; and

a controller for controlling the indication modes.

9. The terminal of claim 8, wherein the controller controls the second indication mode if the vibration energy is less than a reference value.

10. The terminal of claim 8, wherein the controller controls the first indication mode if the vibration energy is greater than a reference value.

11. The terminal of claim 8, wherein the controller determines an indication mode if an incoming call is received, wherein the indication mode being converted from the first indication mode to the second indication mode if the vibration energy is less than a reference value.

12. The terminal of claim 11, wherein the indication mode is reconverted to the first indication mode if the incoming call is terminated.

13. The terminal of claim 11, wherein the second indication mode is terminated if the incoming call is not responded by a user.

14. The terminal of claim 8, wherein the indication mode being automatically converted from the first indication mode to the second indication mode if the vibration energy is less than a reference value.

15. The terminal of claim 8, wherein the vibration energy is relative to an outer device.

16. The terminal of claim 8, wherein the controller determines the indication mode by comparing the energy for driving the vibrator and the transfer energy being detected by the detector.

17. The terminal of claim 8, wherein the controller sets the indication mode to the first indication mode regardless of the response to the incoming call if a predetermined period time passes after switching the indication mode.

18. The terminal of claim 17, wherein the predetermined period could be preset by a user.