Mobile telephone apparatus

• US 6,330,461 B1
• Filed: 06/04/1998
• Issued: 12/11/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/06/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Andersson, Håkan
• Primary Examiner(s): Bost, Dwayne
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gary, Erika A.
• Application Number:
  US09/090,232
• Time in Patent Office: 1,286 Days
• Field of Search: 455/566, 455/550, 455/575, 455/90, 455/567, 340/815.73, 340/815.48, 200/310, 200/314, 379/370, 379/396
• US Class Current: 455/566
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/023 Light-emitting indicators for multi-layer switches H01H13/83
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 9/161 comprising light emitting elements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0202 Portable telephone sets, e.g. cordless phones, mobile phones or bar type handsets constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. of speakers or microphones H04M1/03
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/22 Illumination; Arrangements for improving the visibility of characters on dials

Abstract

A mobile radio station includes status indicators and control buttons. At least one of the indicators and at least one of the buttons are merged into a combined status indicating control button arrangement. Each arrangement includes a light device provided at a switch attached to a flex-film or a PCB, and pressure devices provided at the switch. The pressure devices end up in a transparent button.

Claims

1. Mobile radio station comprising a keypad, status indicators and control buttons, wherein at least one of the indicators and at least one of the buttons are merged into a combined status indicating control button arrangement separate from the keypad, said arrangement including light means provided at a switch for indicating whether the mobile radio station has established contact with a base station, and pressure means provided at the switch, comprising a light guide in connection with the light means, and ending up in a transparent button for controlling a first function in stand by mode, a second function related to incoming calls or messages, and a third function related to ongoing calls in the mobile radio station.

2. Mobile radio station according to claim 1, wherein the transparent button is provided in an aperture of a housing of the mobile radio station.

3. Mobile station according to claim 1, wherein the light means is attached to a Printed Circuit Board (PCB) in the mobile radio station, the switch is attached to the PCB adjacent to the light means, and the combined light guide and pressure means are provided on the top of both the light means and the switch.

4. Mobile radio station according to claim 1, wherein the switch is attached to the Printed Circuit Board (PCB) in the mobile radio station, the light means is provided on the switch, and the button is arranged on the light means.

5. Mobile radio station according to claim 1, wherein the button arrangement is situated on the top of the mobile radio station.

6. Mobile radio station according to claim 1, wherein the light means is a LED.

7. Mobile radio station according to claim 1, wherein the light means is an electroluminescent film.

8. Mobile radio station according to claim 1, wherein the switch is a dome provided with a conductive layer on its surface facing a Printed Circuit Board (PCB).

9. Mobile radio station according to claim 1, wherein the switch is an optical switch.

10. Mobile radio station according to claim 1, wherein the mobile radio station is a mobile telephone apparatus.

11. Mobile radio station according to claim 1, wherein the mobile radio station is a radio pager.

12. Mobile radio station according to claim 1, wherein the mobile radio station is a communicator.

13. A mobile radio station according to claim 1, wherein the status indicator comprises a low battery indicator.

14. A mobile radio station according to claim 1, wherein the status indicator comprises an indicator for whether an SMS message is received or not.

15. A mobile radio station according to claim 14, wherein the control button is a control button for answering an incoming call or SMS message.

16. A mobile radio station according to claim 1, wherein the control button is a control button for controlling at least one of a speaker volume, a strength of a ring-signal, a backlight strength, and an on/off function.

17. A mobile radio station according to claim 1, wherein said first function is one of an on/off function and a display brightness control function.

18. A mobile radio station according to claim 1, wherein the second function controls a volume level of a ring-signal.

19. A mobile radio station according to claim 1, wherein the second function is a function which either answers or diverts an incoming call or SMS.

20. A mobile radio station according to claim 1, wherein the third function controls a volume of a speaker during a call.