Microcomputer controlled display backlight
First Claim
1. A method for illuminating a message presented on an LCD display of a selective call receiver, the selective call receiver further having a controller means and a read switch operably coupled to the controller means for effecting the presentation of the message on the display, and a light switch coupled to the controller means and to an illumination means for effecting the illumination of the display, said method comprising the steps of:
- manually actuating the light switch and generating independently of said controller means a first electrical signal for the duration of the manual activation of the light switch;
illuminating the display with the illumination means by the first electrical signal independent of said controller means;
sensing the generation of the first electrical signal by the controller means during presentation of the message and, and in response thereto, generating a second electrical signal separate from said first electrical signal, solely during the presentation of the message; and
maintaining the display illumination with the illumination means by the second electrical signal independent of the generation of said first electrical signal.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for controlling the illumination of a display used to prevent messages in a pager is described. A microcomputer is used for controlling the operation of the display in response to a read switch being actuated. A light switch, coupled to an illumination circuit provides display illumination upon the light switch being manually activated. The microcomputer also couples to the light switch to allow monitoring of the switch actuation. Upon actuation of the light switch, when a message is being displayed, the microcomputer will maintain the illumination of the display, even after the light switch has been released. Once the message has been read, the microcomputer resumes monitoring the light switch, and the illumination of the display is terminated.
21 Citations
15 Claims
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1. A method for illuminating a message presented on an LCD display of a selective call receiver, the selective call receiver further having a controller means and a read switch operably coupled to the controller means for effecting the presentation of the message on the display, and a light switch coupled to the controller means and to an illumination means for effecting the illumination of the display, said method comprising the steps of:
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manually actuating the light switch and generating independently of said controller means a first electrical signal for the duration of the manual activation of the light switch; illuminating the display with the illumination means by the first electrical signal independent of said controller means; sensing the generation of the first electrical signal by the controller means during presentation of the message and, and in response thereto, generating a second electrical signal separate from said first electrical signal, solely during the presentation of the message; and maintaining the display illumination with the illumination means by the second electrical signal independent of the generation of said first electrical signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An apparatus for illuminating messages presented on a display of a selective cell receiver, said apparatus comprising:
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a read switch; manually activated light switch means for generating a first electrical signal solely for the duration of when said light switch is being manually actuated; controller means; illumination means, responsive to the first electrical signal independent of said controller means, for illuminating the display; said controller means, responsive to said read switch being actuated, for effecting the presentation of messages, and further operably coupled to said illumination means and light switch means and responsive to the generation of the first electrical signal by said light switch during presentation of the message for generating a second electrical signal separate from said first electrical signal solely during the presentation of the message, said illumination means being further responsive to the second electrical signal independent of the generation of the first electrical signal for maintaining the illumination of the display. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification