Incoming call alert system for cellular telephones without wired connection thereto

• US 5,404,391 A
• Filed: 03/22/1993
• Issued: 04/04/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: 161058 Canada Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Developpement Des Technologies M.W.M. Inc.
• Inventors: Machado, Leonard, Wavroch, Daniel P.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kuntz, Curtis
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bost, Dwayne D.
• Application Number:
  US08/034,266
• Time in Patent Office: 743 Days
• Field of Search: 379/57, 379/59, 379/61, 379/372, 379/373, 379/375, 379/376, 379/396, 379/418, 455/33.1, 455/88
• US Class Current: 455/567
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/047 Vibrating means for incoming calls
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

Each of the cellular telephones is adapted to receive a paging signal and to transmit a voice channel signal on a voice channel frequency in response to the paging signal. The alert system includes a receiver tuned to receive the voice channel frequency. A trigger circuit is connected to the output of the receiver to be activated by the receiver when the receiver receives a voice channel signal on the voice channel frequency. An alert is produced by either an audio signal generator, a vibratory generator or a radio mute, and each of the latter is connected to the ouput of the trigger. Thus, an alert is provided on receipt of an incoming telephone call.

Claims

1. An incoming call alert system for use with cellular telephones, each said cellular telephone being able to receive a paging signal and to transmit a carrier signal on a voice channel frequency in response thereto;

said call alert system comprising;

receiver means tuned to receive said carrier signal on said voice channel frequency;

trigger means connected to said receiver means and activated by said receiver means when said receiver means receives a voice channel signal on said voice channel frequency; and

alert means connected to said trigger means and activated upon activation of said trigger means;

comparator means connected between said receiver means and said trigger means;

further including;

time delay means for delaying the activation of said alert means;

timer means connected to said trigger means, said alert means comprising;

1) means for producing an audio signal;

2) means for producing a vibration;

3) position selector means connected to said timer means;

one position of said three position selector means being connected to said means for producing an audio signal;

a second position of said three position selector means being connected to said means for producing a vibration; and

a third position of said three position selector means being connected to both said means for producing an audio signal said means for producing a vibration.

10. A system as defined in claim 1 and further comprising means for adjusting said threshold.

11. A system as defined in claim 10 for use in muting a radio on receipt of said voice channel signal;

wherein, said alert means comprises a switch connected to an audio disconnect in said radio;

whereupon, on receipt of said voice channel signal, the audio signal of said radio is disconnected.

12. A system as defined in claim 10 and further including time delay means for delaying the activation of said alert means.

13. A system as defined in claim 12 and further including a timer means connected to said trigger means.

14. A system as defined in claim 12 wherein said alert means comprises means for producing an audio signal.

2. An incoming call alert system for use with cellular telephones, each said cellular telephone being able to receive a paging signal and to transmit a carrier signal on a voice channel frequency in response thereto;

said call alert system comprising;

receiver means tuned to receive said carrier signal on said voice channel frequency;

trigger means connected to said receiver means and activated by said receiver means when said receiver means receives a voice channel signal on said voice channel frequency; and

alert means connected to said trigger means and activated upon activation of said trigger means;

comparator means connected between said receiver means and said trigger means;

further including;

time delay means for delaying the activation of said alert means;

timer means connected to said trigger means, said alert means comprising a means for producing a vibration.

3. A system as defined in claim 2 wherein said means for producing a vibration comprises a motor driver connected to said timer means, a motor connected to said motor driver and a vibrator connected to said motor.

4. An incoming call alert system for use with cellular telephones, each said cellular telephone being able to receive a paging signal and to transmit a carrier signal on a voice channel frequency in response thereto, said system muting a radio on receipt of said voice channel carrier signal;

said call alert system comprising;

receiver means tuned to receive said carrier signal on said voice channel frequency;

trigger means connected to said receiver means and activated by said receiver means when said receiver means receives voice channel signal on said voice channel frequency;

comparator means connected between said receiver means and said trigger means;

time delay means for delaying the activation of said alert means;

timer means connected to said trigger means; and

alert means connected to said trigger means and activated upon activation of said trigger means;

said alert means comprising a relay connected to an audio disconnect in said radio;

whereupon, on receipt of said voice channel signal, the audio signal of said radio is disconnected.

5. A system as defined in claim 4 wherein said alert means comprises means for producing an audio signal, and said means for producing an audio signal comprises:

an audio generator connected to said timer means;

an audio driver connected to said audio generator; and

a sound transducer connected to said audio driver.

6. A system as defined in claim 5 and including an audio level selector connected between said audio driver and said sound transducer.

7. A system as defined in claim 6 wherein said sound transducer comprises a piezoelectric device.

8. An incoming call alert system for use with cellular telephones, each said cellular telephone being able to receive a paging signal and to transmit a carrier signal on a voice channel frequency in response thereto, said voice channel frequency being a frequency selected from a predetermined frequency band;

said call alert system comprising;

receiver means tuned to receive said carrier signal on said voice channel frequency by sweeping said band;

trigger means connected to said receiver means and activated by said receiver means when said receiver means receives a voice channel signal on said voice channel frequency and when said voice channel signal has an amplitude above a predetermined threshold indicative that said receiver means are proximate said cellular telephone; and

alert means connected to said trigger means and activated upon activation of said trigger means;

whereby, to provide an alert to an incoming call.

9. A system as defined in claim 8 wherein said carrier signal is modulated by a modulating signal;

said receiver means including means for demodulating said carrier signal to recover said modulating signal;

said trigger means being activated by said modulating signal.