Handheld computing device with external notification system

• US 6,374,277 B2
• Filed: 01/22/2001
• Issued: 04/16/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Vong, William, Schwitters, Chad
• Primary Examiner(s): Shin, Christopher B.
• Application Number:
  US09/767,530
• Publication Number:
  US 20010001552A1
• Time in Patent Office: 449 Days
• Field of Search: 708/112, 708/135, 710/48-51, 710/260-266, 713/300-324, 340/309-571
• US Class Current: 708/112
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 11/00 Producing optical signals at preselected times
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1643 the display being associated to a digitizer, e.g. laptops that can be used as penpads details related to the relative motion of the display enclosure with respect to the body enclosure, e.g. to move between laptop and tablet PC configuration G06F1/1615
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1684 Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/014 Force feedback applied to GUI
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/22 Illumination; Arrangements for improving the visibility of characters on dials
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72451 according to schedules, e.g. using calendar applications

Abstract

A portable handheld computing device has a notification system that alerts a user of an event regardless of whether the device is on or off. The notification system has a notification mechanism that is activated upon occurrence of the event and remains active until the user acknowledges the activated mechanism. In one implementation, the notification mechanism is a light emitting diode (LED) mounted externally on the handheld computing device. The LED is visible to the user when the lid is closed onto the base (i.e., the device is off) or when the lid is open (i.e., the device is on). The notification mechanism also has a deactivation button mounted externally of the handheld computing device. The user depresses the deactivation button to deactivate the LED. The LED and deactivation button may be integrated as a single component.

Claims

1. A portable handheld computing device comprising:

a notification system to alert a user of an event regardless of whether the handheld computing device is on or off; and

the notification system having an external notification mechanism that is activated upon occurrence of the event and that remains active even when the handheld computing device is off until the user acknowledges the activated mechanism.

2. A portable handheld computing device as recited in claim 1 wherein the external notification mechanism comprises a light.

3. A portable handheld computing device as recited in claim 1 wherein the external notification mechanism comprises a flashing light.

4. A portable handheld computing device as recited in claim 1 wherein the external notification mechanism comprises an audio generator.

5. A portable handheld computing device as recited in claim 1 wherein the external notification mechanism comprises a vibration device.

6. A portable handheld computing device comprising:

an external notification mechanism that is activated to notify a user of an event regardless of whether the handheld computing device is turned on or off;

a deactivation mechanism that enables a user to deactivate the notification mechanism, wherein the deactivation mechanism is a button mounted externally of the handheld computing device; and

the notification mechanism being configured to remain active until the user deactivates the notification mechanism using the deactivate mechanism.

7. A portable handheld computing device as recited in claim 6, wherein the notification mechanism is a sensory perceptible device selected from a group comprising a light, an audio generator, and a vibration device.

8. A portable handheld computing device as recited in claim 6, wherein:

the notification mechanism comprises a light emitting diode (LED); and

the button and the LED are integrated as a single component.