Selective call receiver having a variable frequency vibrator

• US 5,293,161 A
• Filed: 06/08/1992
• Issued: 03/08/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/1990
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: MacDonald, John F., King, Jeffrey S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yusko, Donald J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Giust, John
• Application Number:
  US07/895,226
• Time in Patent Office: 638 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.44, 340/825.47, 340/825.48, 340/825.46, 340/311.1, 340/825.56, 368/245
• US Class Current: 340/7.6
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 6/00 Tactile signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems

Abstract

A selective call receiver (100) comprises a receiver (104) for receiving a message and a vibrator (116) capable of vibrating at a selected one of at least two selectable frequencies for alerting a user of a received message. The vibrator (116) also has a selector (120) or a tuning element (130) for varying the frequency of the vibrator (116).

Claims

1. An electronic device powered by a battery, comprising:

a receiver for receiving a message;

a vibrator capable of vibrating at a selected one of at least two frequencies for alerting a user of the received message;

selector means for enabling a user selectable frequency of vibration of said vibrator which optimizes the user'"'"'s response to the vibrator; and

controller for monitoring a characteristic of said vibrator and for adjusting a parameter of said vibrator in response to the monitored characteristic for maintaining a constant rate of vibration of the selected frequency of vibration of said vibrator.

2. The electronic device according to claim 1 wherein the selector means comprises tunable means for adjusting the signal applied to the vibrator.

3. The electronic device according to claim 1 wherein the monitoring means monitors a characteristic of the vibrator.

4. The electronic device according to claim 3 wherein the characteristic comprises the frequency of the vibration of said vibrator.

5. The electronic device according to claim 3 wherein the characteristic comprises an amplitude of the vibration of said vibrator.

6. The electronic device according to claim 3 wherein the characteristic comprises an electromagnetic force emitted from the vibrator.

7. The electronic device according to claim 1 wherein the characteristic comprises a current for driving the vibrator.

8. The electronic device according to claim 1 wherein the characteristic comprises a voltage for powering the vibrator.

9. The electronic device according to claim 1 wherein the selector means comprises a display means for displaying information relating to a selected frequency.

10. The electronic device according to claim 1 wherein the battery provides a voltage output that may vary over a voltage range, and the controller providing a constant signal to the vibrator over the voltage range.

11. The electronic device according to claim 1 wherein the selector means for adjusting the signal applied to the vibrator comprises a micro-computer.

12. The electronic device according to claim 1 wherein the controller further controls the selector means in response to the monitored characteristic of said vibrator for determining when to select another frequency of vibration, said selector means for automatically selecting another frequency in response to said controller.

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

a receiver for receiving messages;

a vibrator capable of vibrating on at least two frequencies of vibration for alerting a user of the selective call receiver of the reception of a message on one of the at least two frequencies of vibration;

selector means for enabling a user selectable frequency of vibration of said vibrator which optimizes the user'"'"'s response to the vibrator; and

controller means for monitoring a characteristic of said vibrator and for adjusting a parameter of said vibrator in response to the monitored characteristic of said vibrator for maintaining a constant rate of vibration on the selected frequency of vibration, said controller means further controls said selector means in response to the monitored characteristic for determining when to select the other frequency of vibration, said selector means capable of automatically selecting the other frequency in response to said controller means.

14. The selective call receiver according to claim 13 wherein the controller means is coupled between a tunable element and the vibrator for controlling a signal supplied to the vibrator in response to the monitoring means.

15. In an electronic device for providing a tactile alert of a received message to a user of the electronic device, a method comprising the step of:

(a) selecting a frequency of vibration of a tactile alerting device capable of vibrating on at least two frequencies whereby the selected frequency optimizes a user'"'"'s response to said tactile alerting device;

(b) monitoring a characteristic of the tactile alerting device;

(c) adjusting the frequency selected in response to step (b) for maintaining a constant frequency of vibration; and

(d) automatically selecting another frequency of vibration in response to step (c) when the adjusting step cannot maintain the constant frequency of vibration.

16. The method according to claim 15 wherein the monitoring step comprises monitoring a voltage for powering the tactile alert.

17. The method according to claim 15 wherein the monitoring step comprises monitoring a current for driving the tactile alert.

18. The method according to claim 15 wherein the monitoring step comprises monitoring an amplitude of vibration of the tactile alert.

19. The method according to claim 15 wherein the monitoring step comprises monitoring an electromagnetic force emitted from the tactile alert.

20. An electronic device powered by a battery, comprising:

a receiver for receiving a message;

a vibrator capable of vibrating at a selected one of at least two frequencies for alerting a user of the received message;

selector means for enabling a user selectable frequency of vibration of said vibrator which optimizes the user'"'"'s response to the vibrator; and

controller for monitoring a characteristic of said vibrator and for adjusting a parameter of said vibrator in response to the monitored characteristic for maintaining a constant rate of vibration of the selected frequency of vibration of said vibrator, said controller further controls the selector means in response to the monitored characteristic of said vibrator for determining when to select another frequency of vibration, said selector means capable of automatically selecting another frequency in response to said controller.