Receiver providing signal reception in power-off state

• US 6,088,576 A
• Filed: 06/20/1996
• Issued: 07/11/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 06/20/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Sone, Tomoshi
• Primary Examiner(s): VO, NGUYEN THANH
• Application Number:
  US08/666,204
• Time in Patent Office: 1,482 Days
• Field of Search: 455/38.3, 455/38.1, 455/38.2, 455/38.4, 455/38.5, 455/343, 455/127, 455/228, 455/572, 455/574, 455/575, 455/231, 455/181.1, 340/311.1, 340/825.44, 340/825.48
• US Class Current: 340/7.33
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0254 detecting a user operation or a tactile contact or a motion of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/288 taking into account the usage mode, e.g. hands-free, data transmission, telephone
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/022 Selective call receivers
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A selective calling receiver having a radio system therein receives a selective calling signal in a first BS (battery-saving) mode when the power switch is in a first state, and receives it in a second BS mode when the power switch is in a second state. According to the first BS mode, power is intermittently supplied to the radio system at all times, and the second BS mode is such that power is intermittently supplied to the radio system for a set time period at intervals so that the selective calling signal is received for the set time period only. The second BS mode is set by determining a reference time point and the set time period such that power is intermittently supplied to the radio system for the set time period with a center time point at the reference time point.

Claims

1. A radio receiver comprising:

a power switch operable by a user to select a first state in which the power switch is in an ON position and a second state in which the power switch is in an OFF position;

a radio system for receiving a selective calling signal;

power supplying means for supplying power to the radio system; and

control means for operating the radio receiver in a first receiving mode when the power switch is in the first state and, when a second receiving mode has been set, operating the radio receiver in the second receiving mode when the power switch is in the second state,

the first receiving mode being such that the power supplying means intermittently supplies power to the radio system, and

the second receiving mode being such that the power supplying means intermittently supplies power to the radio system for a set time period which is repeated at predetermined intervals starting from when the power switch is moved to the second state from the first state.

2. The radio receiver according to claim 1, further comprising:

setting means for setting the second receiving mode by inputting setting data such that during the second receiving mode, the power supplying means supplies power to the radio system for the set time period at predetermined intervals.

3. The radio receiver according to claim 2, wherein the setting means includes means for inputting a reference time point and the set time period so that during the second receiving mode, the power supplying means supplies power to the radio system for the set time period with a center time point at the reference time point.

4. The radio receiver according to claim 2, wherein the control means operates the radio receiver in the first receiving mode when the power switch is in the first state, operates the radio receiver in the second receiving mode when the power switch is in the second state and the second receiving mode is already set, and operates the radio receiver in a third mode when the power switch is in the second state and the second receiving mode is not set, the third mode being such that the power supplying means does not supply power to the radio system.

5. The radio receiver according to claim 1, wherein the second receiving mode is such that the power supplying means supplies power to the radio system for a set time period at intervals of one hour so that the selective calling signal is received for the set time period in a cycle of one hour.

6. The radio receiver according to claim 5, further comprising:

setting means for setting the second receiving mode such that the power supplying means supplies power to the radio system for the set time period at intervals of one hour.

7. The radio receiver according to claim 6, wherein the second receiving mode is set by inputting a reference time point and the set time period such that during the second receiving mode, the power supplying means supplies power to the radio system for the set time period with a center time point at the reference time point.

8. The radio receiver according to claim 7, wherein the reference time point is set to the hour.

9. The radio receiver according to claim 6, wherein the control means operates the radio receiver in the first receiving mode when the power switch is in the first state, operates the radio receiver in the second receiving mode when the power switch is in the second state and the second receiving mode is already set, end operates the radio receiver in a third mode when the power switch is in the second state and the second receiving mode is not set, the third mode being such that the power supplying means does not supply power to the radio system.

10. The radio receiver according to claim 1, wherein:

the first receiving mode is a first battery-saving mode such that the power supplying means intermittently supplies power to the radio system so that the selective calling signal is received; and

the second receiving mode is a second battery-saving mode such that the power supplying means intermittently supplies power to the radio system for a set time period at predetermined intervals so that the selective calling signal is received for the set time period.

11. A selective calling receiver for informing a user of call occurrence, comprising:

a battery;

a power switch having an ON position corresponding to a first state and an OFF position corresponding to a second state;

a radio system for receiving a selective calling signal;

power supplying means for receiving a first voltage from the battery and applying a second voltage to the radio system; and

setting means for setting a second receiving mode such that the power supplying means intermittently applies the second voltage to the radio system for a set time period which is repeated at predetermined intervals starting from when the power switch is moved to the second state from the first state;

power control means for operating the radio system in a first receiving mode when the power switch is in the first state and operating the radio system in the second receiving mode when the power switch is in the second state, the first receiving mode being such that the power supplying means intermittently applies the second voltage to the radio system.

12. The selective calling receiver according to claim 11, wherein the setting means includes means for inputting a reference time point and the set time period so that during the second receiving mode, the power supplying means applies the second voltage to the radio system for the set time period with a center time point at the reference time point.

13. The selective calling receiver according to claim 11, wherein the second receiving mode is set such that the power supplying means applies the second voltage to the radio system for the set time period at intervals of one hour.

14. The selective calling receiver according to claim 13, wherein the second receiving mode is set by determining a reference time point and the set time period such that the power supplying means applies the second voltage to the radio system for the set time period with a center time point at the reference time point.

15. The selective calling receiver according to claim 14, wherein the reference time point is set to the hour.

16. The selective calling receiver according to claim 11, wherein the power control means operates the radio system in the first receiving mode when the power switch is in the first state, operates the radio system in the second receiving mode when the power switch is in the second state and the second receiving mode is already set, and operates the radio system in a third mode when the power switch in the second state and the second receiving mode is not set, the third mode being such that the power supplying means does not supply the second voltage to the radio system.

17. The selective calling receiver according to claim 11, wherein:

the first receiving mode is a first battery-saving mode such that the power supplying means intermittently applies the second voltage to the radio system so that the selective calling signal is received; and

the second receiving mode is a second battery-saving mode such that the power supplying means intermittently applies the second voltage to the radio system for a set time period at predetermined intervals so that the selective calling signal is received for the set time period.

28. The selective calling receiver according to claim 11, wherein the setting means further sets the second receiving mode such that the user is not informed of the call occurrence.

18. A method for receiving a selective calling signal in a radio receiver comprising a power switch which a user can operate to select a first state corresponding to an ON position and a second state corresponding to an OFF position, and a radio system for receiving a radio signal, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving the selective calling signal in a first receiving mode when the power switch is in the first state, the first receiving mode being such that power is intermittently supplied to the radio system; and

receiving the selective calling signal in a second receiving mode when the power switch is in the second state when the second receiving mode has been set, the second receiving mode being such that power is intermittently supplied to the radio system for a set time period which is repeated at predetermined intervals starting from when the power switch is moved to the second state from the first state.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the second receiving mode is set by inputting a reference time point and the set time period such that power is applied to the radio system for the set time period with a center time point at the reference time point.

20. The method according to claim 19, wherein the second receiving mode is such that power is supplied to the radio system for a set time period at intervals of one hour so that the selective calling signal is received for the set time period in a cycle of one hour.

21. The method according to claim 20, wherein the reference time point is set to the hour.

22. A method for saving a battery provided in a radio receiver comprising a power switch which a user can operate to select a first state corresponding to an ON position and a second state corresponding to an OFF position, and a radio system for receiving a radio signal, the method comprising the steps of:

performing a first battery-saving mode when the power switch is in the first state, the first battery-saving mode being such that power is intermittently supplied to the radio system so that the radio signal is received;

checking whether a second battery-saving mode has been set when the power switch is in the second state, the second battery-saving mode being such that power is intermittently supplied to the radio system for a set time period which is repeated at predetermined intervals starting from when the power switch is moved to the second state from the first state;

performing a second battery-saving mode when the power switch is in the second state and the second battery-saving mode has been set; and

stopping supply of power to the radio system when the power switch is in the second state and the second battery-saving mode has not been set.

23. The method according to claim 22, further comprising the step of setting the second battery-saving mode.

24. The method according to claim 23, wherein the second battery-saving mode is set by inputting a reference time point and the set time period such that power is intermittently supplied to the radio system for the set time period with a center time point at the reference time point.

25. The method according to claim 22, wherein the second battery-saving mode is such that power is intermittently supplied to the radio system for a set time period at intervals of one hour so that the radio signal is received for the set time period in a cycle of one hour.

26. The method according to claim 24, wherein the reference time point is set to the hour.

27. The method according to claim 22, further comprising the step of performing a third mode when the power switch is in the second state and the second battery-saving mode has not been set, the third mode being such that no power is supplied to the radio system.

29. The method according to claim 23, further comprising the step of:

informing a user of call occurrence when performing the first receiving mode.

30. The method according to claim 29, wherein the user is not informed of the call occurrence when performing the second receiving mode.