Pager with rechargeable battery and method for charging same

• US 5,194,857 A
• Filed: 07/23/1991
• Issued: 03/16/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 07/23/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Quarterhill Inc. (f/k/a Wi-LAN Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Gomez, Fernando A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yusko, Donald J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hill, Andrew M.
• Application Number:
  US07/734,715
• Time in Patent Office: 602 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.44, 340/825.48, 340/825.54, 343/702, 343/718, 343/720, 455/38, 455/343, 455/344, 455/348, 455/349, 320/2, 363/159
• US Class Current: 340/7.63
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/228 combined with other devices having a different main function, e.g. watches

Abstract

A wrist watch pager (100) powered by a rechargeable battery (234) comprises an antenna having first and second antenna portions (102A and 102B) for receiving paging signals when the first and second portions (102A and 102B) are coupled together to form a loop antenna. The first and second antenna portions (102A and 102B) receive a charging voltage from a battery charger (120) directly coupled to the first and second antenna portions (102A and 102B) when the first and second antenna portions (102A and 102B) are uncoupled thereby disabling the loop antenna. A receiver (204) coupled to the loop antenna presents an alert in response to the paging signals. A device (230) coupled between the loop antenna and the receiver (204) blocks the charging voltage from the receiver (204). Another device (232) coupled between the loop antenna antenna and the rechargeable battery (234) blocks the received paging signal from the battery charger (120).

Claims

1. A selective call receiver powered by a rechargeable battery, comprising:

an antenna having first and second antenna portions for receiving paging signals when the first and second portions are coupled together to form a loop antenna, said first and second antenna portions capable of receiving a charging voltage from a batter charger directly coupled to said first and second antenna portions when said first and second antenna portions are uncoupled thereby disabling the loop antenna;

receiving means coupled to the loop antenna for presenting an alert in response to the paging signals;

means coupled between the loop antenna and the receiving means for blocking the charging voltage from the receiving means; and

means coupled between the loop antenna and the rechargeable battery for blocking the received paging signal from the rechargeable battery.

2. The selective call receiver according to claim 1 wherein the means coupled between the loop antenna and the receiving means comprises a capacitive coupling means.

3. The selective call receiver according to claim 1 wherein the first and second antenna portions are enclosed in first and second wrist straps for coupling the selective call receiver to a user.

4. In a selective call receiver having an antenna with first and second antenna portions capable of receiving paging signals when said first and second portions are coupled together to form a loop antenna, a method for charging a rechargeable power supply, comprising the steps of:

(a) uncoupling the first and second antenna portions coupled together to disable the loop antenna;

(b) coupling the first and second antenna portions to a battery charger for charging the rechargeable power supply coupled thereto;

(c) blocking paging signals from the rechargeable power supply;

(d) providing a charging signal to the rechargeable power supply; and

(e) blocking the charging signal from a receiving circuit.

5. A wrist watch pager powered by a rechargeable battery, comprising:

a loop antenna disposed in first and second wrist straps of the wrist watch pager wherein the loop antenna including first and second antenna portions disposed therein for receiving a paging signal when said first and second wrist straps are coupled to form a loop, said first and second antenna portions capable of receiving a charging current from a battery charger directly coupled to said first and second antenna portions when said first and second antenna portions are uncoupled thereby disabling the loop antenna;

receiving means coupled to the loop antenna for presenting an alert in response to the paging signal;

capacitive coupling means coupled between the loop antenna and the receiving means for blocking the charging current from the receiving means; and

inductive coupling means coupled between the loop antenna and the rechargeable battery for blocking the paging signal from the rechargeable battery. e