Strap For Portable Device With Light Indicator

• US 20110223977A1
• Filed: 03/12/2010
• Published: 09/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: WSOU Investments, LLC (WSOU Holdings, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Jokinen, Teppo Tapani
• Granted Patent: US 9,047,744 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/567
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/36 using visible light sources
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/04 Supports for telephone transmitters or receivers
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/22 Illumination; Arrangements for improving the visibility of characters on dials

Abstract

An apparatus including a flexible strap section configured to emit visible light; and a connection section configured to connect the flexible strap section to a portable electronic device such that the portable electronic device can hang from the flexible strap section. The connection section is configured to receive a signal from the portable electronic device. The flexible strap section is configured to emit the visible light based, at least partially, upon the signal from the portable electronic device.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a flexible strap section configured to emit visible light; and

a connection section configured to connect the flexible strap section to a portable electronic device such that the portable electronic device can hang from the flexible strap section,

wherein the connection section is configured to receive a signal from the portable electronic device, and the flexible strap section is configured to emit the visible light based, at least partially, upon the signal from the portable electronic device.

2. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the flexible strap section comprises a longitudinal flexible light guide.

3. An apparatus as in claim 2 wherein the signal is an optical signal and the connection section comprises an input into the flexible light guide.

4. An apparatus as in claim 2 wherein the flexible strap section comprises a substantially transparent flexible tube around the light guide.

5. An apparatus as in claim 2 wherein the connection section comprises a Light Emitting Diode (LED) configured to emit the visible light into the light guide, and wherein the signal is an electrical signal provided to the Light Emitting Diode (LED).

6. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the flexible strap section comprises a linear array of Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs).

7. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the flexible strap section comprises an electrical conductor connected to an electrical connector at a first end of the flexible strap section, wherein the connection section is located at a second end of the flexible strap section.

8. An apparatus as in claim 7 wherein the electrical connector comprises a Universal Serial Bus (USB) electrical connector.

9. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the flexible strap section comprises an electrical conductor, wherein the apparatus is configured to both emit the visible light along a length of the flexible strap section and conduct electricity along the length of the flexible strap section.

10. An apparatus as in claim 1 wherein the flexible strap section comprises luminescent material.

11. An apparatus as in claim 10 wherein the connection section comprises a first section configured to user detachably connect a first end of the flexible strap section to the portable electronic device, and an opposite second section configured to fixedly connect a second end of the flexible strap section to the portable electronic device.

12. An equipment comprising:

a portable electronic device; and

an apparatus as in claim 1 connected to the portable electronic device,

wherein the portable electronic device comprises a general loop shaped groove adapted to have the flexible strap section removably located therein along a substantially entire length of the flexible strap section.

13. An equipment as in claim 12 wherein the portable electronic device comprises a transceiver and a controller, and wherein the controller is configured to cause the flexible strap section to emit the visible light based upon occurrence of an incoming telephone call, or an incoming Short Message Service (SMS), or an incoming text message, or an incoming instant message, or a missed telephone call, or a predetermined data transmission event to or from the portable electronic device.

14. An equipment as in claim 13 wherein the controller is configured to allow different colors, or light intensities, or patterns of illumination to occur at the flexible strap section.

15. An apparatus comprising:

a portable electronic device; and

a carry strap connected to the portable electronic device, wherein the carry strap is configured to allow the portable electronic device to hang therefrom, wherein the carry strap comprises;

a flexible strap section configured to emit visible light, wherein the flexible strap section comprises a signal conductor; and

a signal connector connected to a first end of the signal conductor, wherein the signal connector is directly connected to the portable electronic device by a removable connection,

wherein a second end of the signal conductor is connected to circuitry of the portable electronic device, and wherein the signal conductor is configured to transmit signals between the signal connector and the circuitry.

16. An apparatus as in claim 15 wherein the portable electronic device comprises a transceiver and a controller, and wherein the controller is configured to cause the flexible strap section to emit the visible light based upon occurrence of an incoming telephone call, or an incoming Short Message Service (SMS), or an incoming text message, or an incoming instant message, or a missed telephone call, or a predetermined data transmission event to or from the portable electronic device.

17. An apparatus as in claim 16 wherein the controller is configured to allow different colors, or light intensities, or patterns of illumination to occur at the flexible strap section.

18. A method comprising:

providing a portable hand-held electronic device with a support strap adapted to emit visible light; and

controlling emission of the light from the support strap based, at least partially, upon a predetermined event occurring in the portable hand-held electronic device.

19. A method as in claim 18 wherein providing the portable hand-held electronic device comprises enabling the portable hand-held electronic device to download synchronization date to provide a pattern of illumination to synchronize with a ring tone of a song or other music when played by the portable hand-held electronic device.

20. A program storage device readable by a machine, tangibly embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine for performing operations, at least one of the operations comprising controlling emission of visible light from a support strap connected to a portable hand-held electronic device based upon transmission of data to or from the portable hand-held electronic device, wherein the support strap is configured to allow the portable hand-held electronic device to hang therefrom.