Safety switch for communication device
First Claim
1. A communication device having a housing and a receiving means, said receiving means being operable in a receiver mode and in a loudspeaker mode, said device further having switching means for switching said receiving means between the receiver mode and the loudspeaker mode, and a proximity sensor for activating said switching means to operate said receiving means in loudspeaker mode when said device is separated by at least a predetermined distance from a user'"'"'s ear and in the receiver mode when said device is separated by less than said predetermined distance from the user'"'"'s ear, said sensor providing an output signal having a first value under quiescent conditions, a second value when said sensor is less than said predetermined distance for activating said switching means, and a third value which is other than between the first and second values in the event of malfunction of said sensor, and means for switching said receiving means to said receiver mode in the event of the output signal reaching the third value.
6 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A communication device such as a portable wireless terminal for a telephone system having a proximity sensor to automatically switch the receiving transducer from receiver mode to loudspeaker mode. The proximity sensor is positioned in the handset such that the associated circuitry switches the transducer from loudspeaker mode to receiver mode in response to the handset being brought into proximity with the user'"'"'s ear.
95 Citations
17 Claims
- 1. A communication device having a housing and a receiving means, said receiving means being operable in a receiver mode and in a loudspeaker mode, said device further having switching means for switching said receiving means between the receiver mode and the loudspeaker mode, and a proximity sensor for activating said switching means to operate said receiving means in loudspeaker mode when said device is separated by at least a predetermined distance from a user'"'"'s ear and in the receiver mode when said device is separated by less than said predetermined distance from the user'"'"'s ear, said sensor providing an output signal having a first value under quiescent conditions, a second value when said sensor is less than said predetermined distance for activating said switching means, and a third value which is other than between the first and second values in the event of malfunction of said sensor, and means for switching said receiving means to said receiver mode in the event of the output signal reaching the third value.
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17. A communication device having a housing and a receiving means contained in the housing, said receiving means being operable in a receiver mode and a loudspeaker mode, said device further having switching means for switching said receiving means between the receiver mode and the loudspeaker mode, and a proximity sensor for activating said switching means to operate said receiving means in the loudspeaker mode when said device is separated from a user'"'"'s ear by at least a predetermined distance and in the receiver mode when said device is moved to within said predetermined distance from the user'"'"'s ear, a detector for detecting a malfunction in operation of said communication device, and switch means to selectively deactivate said proximity sensor upon detection of said malfunction, and to switch the receiving means to the receiver mode during said malfunction.
Specification