Perimeter light illumination systems for portable communication devices and associated methods

• US 6,435,690 B1
• Filed: 09/21/2000
• Issued: 08/20/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/21/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Till, David
• Primary Examiner(s): O'Shea, Sandra
• Assistant Examiner(s): TRUONG, BAO Q
• Application Number:
  US09/666,936
• Time in Patent Office: 698 Days
• Field of Search: 362/88, 362/24, 362/28, 362/330, 362/336, 362/337, 362/327, 362/339, 362/23, 362/109, 362/190, 362/191, 362/577, 362/85, 455/566, 379/433.04
• US Class Current: 362/88
• 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 1/0283 for providing a decorative aspect, e.g. customization of casings, exchangeable faceplate
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/22 Illumination; Arrangements for improving the visibility of characters on dials
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones

Abstract

Perimeter lighting systems for portable communication devices such as radiotelephones include a light distribution channel which is configured to capture light emitted by a device and directs it around perimeter portions of the device to allow for easier locating means in dark or low light conditions. The perimeter lighting system can be integrated into the housing of the device or can be provided as an after market case or belt clip.

Claims

1. A portable communication device with distributed perimeter locating lights, comprising:

a portable communication device having a first major surface with a keypad and a display thereon and an opposing second major surface, said first and second major surfaces spaced apart by first and second sidewalls and first and second endwalls, wherein said portable communication device has an operative active mode and a standby mode;

a plurality of spaced apart light emitters positioned along selected perimeter portions of said portable communication device, such that said light emitters are spaced away from said display and keypad;

at least one light source operably associated with said plurality of light emitters,

a power source operably associated with said light source, wherein said light emitters are configured to emit externally viewable light when said portable communication device is in the standby mode,

wherein said device comprises at least one light distribution channel extending along at least a portion of the length and/or width of the perimeter of said device in optical communication with said at least one light source, wherein said light distribution channel is defined by spaced apart reflective surfaces, and wherein, in operation, openings formed in said reflective surface along said light distribution channel define said light emitters such that, in operation, said openings are configured to allow a portion of the light traveling in said light distribution channel to exit therefrom.

2. A portable communication device according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of light emitters are disposed along perimeter portions of said device such that they are externally viewable from both first and second major surfaces of said portable communication device.

3. A portable communication device according to claim 1, wherein said light distribution channel comprises at least one light inlet channel in optically communication therewith, and wherein said light distribution channel with said plurality of spaced apart light emitters are positioned in a case which is configured and sized to receive at least a portion of said portable communication device therein, wherein said device light source is housed internal to the device and is operably configured to emit light to an external position on said device at least when said device is in the standby mode, and wherein said case is configured to snugly abut the external light emitting position of the device light source so that the light inlet channel in said case is aligned with said light emitting position of said device and, in operation, said light inlet channel receives light emitted from said device external location and directs the light emitted therefrom through said light inlet channel and into said light distribution channel.

4. A portable communication device according to claim 3, wherein said case is a belt clip configured to hold said portable communication device therein.

5. A portable communication device according to claim 3, wherein said case is formed of an elastomeric material.

6. A portable communication device according to claim 1, wherein said reflective surface is configured to refract the light as it travels captured in said light distribution channel.

7. A portable communication device according to claim 6, wherein said light distribution channel is configured to promote the scattering of light traveling therein.

8. A portable communication device according to claim 3, wherein said device light source is operably configured to flash when said device is in the standby mode;

and wherein said case is configured to capture the flashing light emitted therefrom such that the flashing light is directed into said light distribution channel.

9. A portable communication device according to claim 8, wherein light emitted from said light emitters is configured to flash during operation.

10. A portable communication device according to claim 1, wherein said light emitters are arranged on said portable communication device to present an externally visible ornamental pattern during operation.

11. An illumination case for a portable telephone, comprising:

a body sized and configured to overlie and receive at least a perimeter portion of a portable telephone therein, wherein said body comprises a light distribution channel formed therein, said light distribution channel being defined by reflective material applied to the external surface of a light transmissive substrate material, said light distribution channel further comprising a series of discrete openings formed in said reflective material and spaced along the length of said light distribution channel to allow light traveling in said light distribution channel to exit therefrom, said body further comprising an inlet in optical communication with said light distribution channel which is configured to operatively engage with a light source.

12. An illumination case according to claim 11, wherein said inlet is configured to snugly surround a port on the portable telephone which emits light generated by the portable telephone so as to be able to direct emitted light captured by said inlet channel into said light distribution channel.

13. An illumination case according to claim 12, wherein, in position on a telephone and in operation, said light inlet channel is configured to capture discrete light generated by the underlying portable telephone, such discrete light being externally visible when said case is removed from the underlying portable telephone.

14. An illumination case according to claim 11, wherein said light transmissive substrate material comprises one of clear polycarbonate and acrylic.

15. An illumination case according to claim 11, wherein said case is configured to cover at least an upper top portion and upper side portions of the portable telephone.

16. An illumination case according to claim 12, wherein said case is configured to be attachable to a belt or pocket.

17. An illumination case according to claim 12, wherein said body is flexible and comprises an elastomeric material.

18. An illumination case according to claim 12, further comprising at least one light beam splitter positioned in the light distribution channel across from said inlet channel to facilitate the scattering of light as it enters said distribution channel.

19. A method for distributing light along perimeter portions of a portable communication device having active and standby operations, comprising the steps of:

generating light from an integrated circuit light source operably associated with the portable communication device;

distributing the generated light along selected perimeter portions of the portable communication device through a plurality of discrete light emitters spatially spaced apart about the selected perimeter portions; and

emitting light from a plurality of discrete locations through the light emitters along the selected perimeter portions of the portable communication device so that the emitted light is visually viewable therealong to thereby allow easier visualization of the location of the device during standby mode.

20. A method according to claim 19 wherein said generating step comprises;

generating light from an internally disposed integrated circuit light source comprising an LED light source; and

then emitting the light from at least one aperture formed in an external wall of the portable communication device.

21. A method according to claim 20, wherein said method further comprises the step of capturing the LED light emitted from the at least one aperture in the wall of the device in a light distribution channel having a reflective surface with openings formed through the reflective surface so as to allow the light to exit externally therefrom during said distributing step.

22. A method according to claim 20, wherein said distributing step comprises the steps of:

channeling light along a light distribution channel held proximate to perimeter portions of the portable communication device, wherein the light distribution channel is defined by a reflective surface applied to a light transmissive material and has a plurality of light emitting apertures formed through the reflective surface; and

scattering the light as it travels along the interior light passage to thereby promote light distribution along the channel so that light exits at discrete locations through substantially the entire length of the channel.

23. A method according to claim 22, wherein the light transmissive material is one of a transparent and a translucent material.

24. A method according to claim 22, wherein the light transmissive material is polymer.

25. A method according to claim 22, further comprising the steps of capturing the channeled light;

directing the captured light such that at least a portion follows along predetermined perimeter regions of an underlying external contour of the portable communication device; and

controlling the perimeter light distribution to occur as a default operation activated by either a user or automatically by the device upon detection of a low light external condition during standby operation.

26. A method according to claim 25, wherein the channeled light follows a path along the device to emit light at, in serial order, an end portion, a corner portion, and a side portion.

27. A method according to claim 20, wherein said emitting step comprises emitting light in a manner which gives the appearance of a predetermined visual pattern.

28. A method according to claim 21, wherein the interior light channel comprises inwardly extending reflective protrusions facilitating the scattering of light as the light travels along the light channel.

29. A method according to claim 20, wherein the portable communications device is a wireless telephone and wherein said emitting step comprises emitting a plurality of discrete points of light about spaced portions of the perimeter of at least one major surface of the portable communications device.

30. A portable telephone comprising multiple exterior surfaces, wherein, during standby or non-active operational use, said portable telephone is configured such that light is generated at one location and emitted about a plurality of discrete light emitting apertures having a size of about 3 mm² or less that span spaced apart perimeter portions of the telephone including from at least two of said multiple surfaces thereby allowing increased visibility of the location of the device during low light conditions.

31. A portable telephone according to claim 30, wherein the light is captured in a light distribution channel having a reflective inner surface and an optically transmissive center portion, the light distribution channel having openings formed through the light reflective coating to define the external light emitting apertures, and wherein, in operation, the light is distributed through the channel and emitted from the light emitting regions located at a plurality of discrete positions spread along at least two of said multiple surfaces.

32. A portable telephone according to claim 31, wherein said at least two surfaces extend substantially perpendicularly with respect to each other.

33. An illumination case sized and configured to receive at least a portion of a portable communications device therein, said illumination case including at least one light distribution channel which engages with the device to capture, at an external surface location, the light produced by an integrated circuit held internally in the communications device and directs light from the internally mounted integrated circuit light source to a plurality of externally viewable spaced apart light emission points arranged to emit light at discrete spaced apart positions about perimeter portions of said device.

34. A portable communication device, with distributed perimeter low-light condition externally visible locating lights, comprising:

a portable communication device having a first major surface with a keypad and a display thereon and an opposing second major surface, said first and second major surfaces spaced apart by first and second sidewalls and first and second endwalls, wherein said portable communication device has an operative active mode and a standby mode;

a plurality of spaced apart light emitters positioned along selected perimeter portions of said portable communication device, such that said light emitters are spaced away from said display and keypad;

at least one light source operably associated with said plurality of light emitters;

at least one light distribution channel extending along at least a portion of the length and/or width of said device, wherein said light distribution channel is defined by spaced apart reflective surfaces, and wherein, in operation, openings formed in said reflective surface along said light distribution channel define said light emitters such that, in operation, said openings are configured to allow a portion of the light traveling in said light distribution channel to exit therefrom; and

a power source operably associated with said light source, wherein said light emitters are configured to emit externally viewable light when said portable communication device at least when the device is in the standby mode.

35. A device according to claim 34, wherein the light distribution channel is disposed in an exterior peripheral case configured to encase at least a portion of the device therein.

36. A device according to claim 34, wherein the light distribution channel is formed integral to the device.

37. A device according to claim 34, wherein the light source comprises an integrated circuit light source held inside the device.

38. A device according to claim 37, wherein the light source comprises an LED.

39. A device according to claim 34, wherein said device has a user selection mode that allows a user to activate the perimeter lighting feature to cause said light emitters to emit externally viewable light when said portable communication device.

40. A device according to claim 34, further comprising an external low-light condition sensor in communication with said light source, wherein the perimeter lighting feature is activated automatically responsive to detection of a low light condition.

41. A device according to claim 34, further comprising first and second integrated circuit light sources in communication with said power source and said light distribution channel light emitters, the first light source generating toss light than the second light source.

42. A device according to claim 34, wherein the light emitters are sized with an area of about 3 mm² or less.