Paging receiver and a sequential vibrating method therefor

• US 5,896,096 A
• Filed: 07/24/1996
• Issued: 04/20/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/1995
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kim, Jong-Kwang
• Primary Examiner(s): Zimmerman, Brian
• Assistant Examiner(s): WILSON JR, WILLIAM HALL
• Application Number:
  US08/685,587
• Time in Patent Office: 1,000 Days
• Field of Search: 340/825.46, 340/825.44, 340/825.69, 340/825.48, 340/825.72, 340/311.1, 340/407.1, 455/458, 455/426, 455/31.1, 455/31.2, 455/38.2, 455/38.5, 455/38.4, 455/140, 370/310, 370/313, 370/314
• US Class Current: 340/7.24
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 6/00 Tactile signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems

Abstract

A paging receiver having two warning modes, i.e., an audible mode and a vibrating mode, is provided. A vibrating motor of the paging receiver receives a voltage for controlling the level or intensity of vibrations provided by the motor. Various vibration voltage levels are provided to a multiplexer, and the multiplexer is controlled to sequentially output the various vibration voltages applied thereto, wherein each succeeding vibration voltage output by the multiplexer has a voltage level higher than a preceding vibration voltage.

Claims

1. A sequential vibration method of a paging receiver, said method comprising the steps of:

simultaneously generating a plurality of vibration voltages when said paging receiver receives a call and selectively supplying a first one of said vibration voltages to a vibrating motor of said paging receiver for a first predetermined time period;

selecting a second one of said vibration voltages, said second one of said vibration voltages having a voltage level greater than a voltage level of said first one of said vibration voltages, and supplying said second one of said vibration voltages to said vibrating motor during a second predetermined time period after said first predetermined time period has ended;

determining whether a vibration voltage having a final voltage level has been selected and supplied to said vibrating motor; and

displaying a message received with said call when it is determined that said vibration voltage having said final voltage level has been selected and supplied to said vibrating motor.

2. The method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

determining whether a warning mode of said paging receiver has been set to operate in a vibration mode when said call has been received;

generating an audible alarm when it is determined that said warning mode has not been set to said vibration mode; and

displaying said message after said audible alarm has been generated.

3. The method as set forth in claim 2, further comprising the steps of:

selecting a first vibration voltage having a first voltage level when it is determined that said warning mode has been set to said vibration mode;

determining, during a first time period whether a confirmation key has been activated;

determining, upon completion of said first time period when it is determined that said confirmation key has not been activated, whether said first vibration voltage is a final vibration voltage;

selecting a next vibration voltage having a next succeeding voltage level, each succeeding voltage level being greater than a preceding voltage level, when it is determined that said first vibration voltage is not said final vibration voltage;

determining, during a next time period whether said confirmation key has been activated;

determining, upon completion of said next time period when it is again determined that said confirmation key has not been activated, whether said next vibration voltage is said final vibration voltage;

returning to said step of selecting a next vibration voltage until it is determined that said next vibration voltage is said final vibration voltage; and

displaying said message when said final voltage has been selected or when it is determined that said confirmation key has been activated.

4. The method as set forth in claim 3, further comprising the steps of:

determining when a call is received while said paging receiver is in a standby state; and

returning said paging receiver to said standby state after displaying said message.

5. The method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

determining whether a warning mode of said paging receiver has been set to operate in a vibration mode when said call has been received;

selecting a first vibration voltage having a first voltage level when it is determined that said warning mode has been set to said vibration mode;

determining, during a first time period whether a confirmation key has been activated;

determining, upon completion of said first time period when it is determined that said confirmation key has not been activated, whether said first vibration voltage is a final vibration voltage;

selecting a next vibration voltage having a next succeeding voltage level, each succeeding voltage level being greater than a preceding voltage level, when it is determined that said first vibration voltage is not said final vibration voltage;

determining, during a next time period whether said confirmation key has been activated;

determining, upon completion of said next time period when it is again determined that said confirmation key has not been activated, whether said next vibration voltage is said final vibration voltage;

returning to said step of selecting a next vibration voltage until it is determined that said next vibration voltage is said final vibration voltage; and

displaying said message when said final voltage has been selected or when it is determined that said confirmation key has been activated.

6. The method as set forth in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

determining when a call is received while said paging receiver is in a standby state; and

returning said paging receiver to said standby state after displaying said message.

7. A sequential vibration method of a paging receiver, said method comprising the steps of:

determining when a call is received while said paging receiver is in a standby state;

determining whether a warning mode of said paging receiver has been set to operate in a vibration mode when said call has been received;

simultaneously generating a plurality of vibration voltages, when it is determined that said warning mode has been set to said vibration mode;

selecting a vibration voltage having a predetermined voltage level when it is determined that said warning mode has been set to said vibration mode;

determining, during a first time period, whether a vibration completion key has been activated;

determining, upon completion of said first time period when it is determined that said vibration completion key has not been activated, whether said first vibration voltage is a final vibration voltage;

selecting a next vibration voltage having a next succeeding voltage level, each succeeding voltage level being greater than a preceding voltage level, when it is determined that said first vibration voltage is not said final vibration voltage;

determining, during a next time period, whether said vibration completion key has been activated;

determining, upon completion of said next time period when it is again determined that said vibration completion key has not been activated, whether said next vibration voltage is said final vibration voltage;

returning to said step of selecting a next vibration voltage until it is determined that next vibration voltage is said final vibration voltage;

displaying a message received with said call when it has been determined that said final voltage has been selected or when it is determined that said vibration completion key has been activated; and

returning said paging receiver to said standby state after displaying said message.

8. The method as set forth in claim 7, further comprising the steps of:

generating an audible alarm when it is determined that said warning mode has not been set to said vibration mode; and

displaying said message after said audible alarm has been generated.

9. A paging receiver having means for receiving a radio paging call, said radio paging receiver having a warning mode of operation when said radio paging call is received, said warning mode being one of an audible mode and a vibration mode, said paging receiver comprising:

control means for generating a control signal upon receipt of a radio paging call;

means for simultaneously generating a plurality of vibration voltages, each of said vibration voltages having a different voltage level; and

selection means, responsive to said control signal, for sequentially selecting, over a given time period, each of said plurality of vibration voltages for output to a vibrating motor means, said selection means selecting a first one of said plurality of vibration voltages having a lowest voltage level when said radio paging call is initially received for vibrating said vibrating motor means at a lowest vibration level, and each succeeding vibration voltage sequentially selected by said selection means has a higher voltage level than a preceding vibration voltage for vibrating said vibrating motor means at sequentially higher vibration levels.

10. The paging receiver as set forth in claim 9, said means for generating a plurality of vibration voltages comprising:

means for generating a source voltage; and

a plurality of resistors each having a different resistive value, each of said resistors having one end connected in common to said source voltage and an opposite end selectively connected to said vibrating motor means via said selection means in response to said control signal.

11. The paging receiver as set forth in claim 10, said selection means comprising a multiplexer having a plurality of input terminals, each of said input terminals being respectively connected to individual ones of said plurality of resistors, and an output terminal selectively connected to each of said input terminals in response to said control signal, said output terminal being further connected to said vibrating motor means.

12. The paging receiver as set forth in claim 9, said selection means comprising a multiplexer having a plurality of input terminals respectively supplied with said plurality of vibration voltages, and an output terminal selectively connected to each of said input terminals in response to said control signal, said output terminal being further connected to said vibrating motor means.

13. The paging receiver as set forth in claim 9, further comprising:

key input means for selecting one of said vibration and audible warning modes; and

display means for displaying a message received with said radio paging call after a final one said vibration voltages has been provided to said vibrating motor means, said final one of said vibration voltages having a voltage level higher than any vibration voltage previously provided to said vibrating motor means.