ALERTING SYSTEM FOR A COMMUNICATION DEVICE

• US 20080118091A1
• Filed: 11/16/2006
• Published: 05/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Motorola Solutions, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Serfaty, Salomon, Shmoukler, Alexander, Avayu, Izak, Brami, Eyal
• Granted Patent: US 7,605,686 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 381/162
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/03 Constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. telephone hand-sets
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6041 Portable telephones adapted for handsfree use

Abstract

An alerting system (202) for a communication device (100) is provided. The alerting system is designed to operate in a plurality of operating modes. The alerting system includes a transducer (204) and an electromechanical switch (106). The transducer transforms electrical impulses into vibrations. The electromechanical switch couples the transducer to a first component (206) of the communication device in a first operating mode. Further, the electromechanical switch couples the transducers to a second component (208) of the communication device in a second operating mode.

Claims

1. An alerting system for a communication device designed to operate in a plurality of operating modes, the alerting system comprising:

a transducer for transforming electrical impulses into vibrations; and

an electromechanical switch, wherein the electromechanical switch couples the transducer to a first component of the communication device in a first operating mode, and further wherein the electromechanical switch couples the transducer to a second component of the communication device in a second operating mode.

2. The alerting system as recited in claim 1, wherein the first component is a lens for a visual display device of the communication device.

3. The alerting system as recited in claim 1, wherein the second component can be at least one of a plate located in the communication device and a keypad of the communication device.

4. The alerting system as recited in claim 1, wherein the plurality of operating modes comprise at least one of a speaker mode and a microphone mode.

5. The alerting system as recited in claim 1, wherein the electromechanical switch comprises an electromagnetic actuator.

6. The alerting system as recited in claim 5, wherein the electromagnetic actuator comprises:

a first electromagnetic strip mechanically coupled to the first component;

a second electromagnetic strip mechanically coupled to a first surface of the transducer;

a third electromagnetic strip mechanically coupled to the second component; and

a fourth electromagnetic strip mechanically coupled to a second surface of the transducer.

7. The alerting system as recited in claim 6, wherein the electromechanical switch is designed to alternately change the polarity of the first electromagnetic strip, the second electromagnetic strip, the third electromagnetic strip and the fourth electromagnetic strip.

8. The alerting system as recited in claim 1, wherein the electromechanical switch comprises a mechanical actuator.

9. The alerting system as recited in claim 8, wherein the mechanical actuator comprises:

a first bracket mechanically coupled to the first component;

a second bracket mechanically coupled to the second component;

a first set of micro-gripping levers mechanically coupled to a first surface of the transducer, wherein the first set of micro-gripping levers links the transducer to the first bracket; and

a second set of micro-gripping levers mechanically coupled to a second surface of the transducer, wherein the second set of micro-gripping levers links the transducer to the second bracket.

10. The alerting system as recited in claim 9, wherein the first set of micro-gripping levers comprises a first set of nano-motors, the first set of nano-motors facilitates the linking of the first set of micro-gripping levers to the first bracket.

11. The alerting system as recited in claim 9, wherein the second set of micro-gripping levers comprises a second set of nano-motors, the second set of nano-motors facilitates the linking of the second set of micro-gripping levers to the second bracket.

12. The alerting system as recited in claim 1, wherein the electromechanical switch comprises a vacuum pressure actuator.

13. The alerting system as recited in claim 12, wherein the vacuum pressure actuator comprises:

a first enclosure for containing pressurized air and vacuum;

a second enclosure for containing pressurized air and vacuum; and

an elastic membrane designed to allow vibration, wherein the elastic membrane separates the first enclosure and the second enclosure.

14. The alerting system as recited in claim 13, wherein the electromechanical switch pressurizes and creates a vacuum in the first enclosure in the first mode of operation, and the second enclosure in the second mode of operation.

15. A communication device designed to operate in a plurality of operating modes, the communication device comprising:

a first component located in a first section of the communication device;

a second component located in a second section of the communication device;

a transducer for transforming vibrations into electrical impulses; and

an electromechanical switch, wherein the electromechanical switch couples the transducer to the first component in a first operating mode, and further wherein the electromechanical switch couples the transducer to the second component in a second operating mode.

16. The communication device as recited in claim 15, wherein the first component is a lens for a visual display device of the communication device.

17. The communication device as recited in claim 15, wherein the second component can be at least one of a plate located in the communication device and a keypad of the communication device.

18. The communication device as recited in claim 15, wherein the electromechanical switch comprises an electromagnetic actuator.

19. The communication device as recited in claim 15, wherein the electromechanical switch comprises a mechanical actuator.

20. The communication device as recited in claim 15, wherein the electromechanical switch comprises a vacuum pressure actuator.

21. A method of operation of a communication device comprising a vibratory transducer and at least two components:

electromechanically coupling the vibratory transducer to a first component for providing a first vibration manner in a first operating mode; and

electromechanically coupling the vibratory transducer to a second component for providing a second vibration manner in a second operating mode.

22. The method as recited in claim 21, wherein the first component is a lens for a visual display device of the communication device.

23. The method as recited in claim 21, wherein the second component can be at least one of a plate located in the communication device and a keypad of the communication device.

24. The method as recited in claim 21, wherein the transducer is a piezoelectric transducer.