Lighted antenna for transceiver device
First Claim
1. A device for sending and receiving signals to and from another device via a wireless connection and for providing information about said wireless connection to a user, said device comprising:
- a housing;
a transceiver disposed within said housing, said transceiver adapted to send and receive wireless signals;
an antenna having a base end and a distal end, said antenna coupled to said transceiver at said base end and extending from said housing, wherein at least a portion of said antenna is encased in light-transmitting material visible externally of said device; and
a light source coupled to said light-transmitting material by a light-conducting material, wherein light from said light source is conducted to said light-transmitting material and made externally visible along said portion of said antenna encased in said light-transmitting material, wherein said light from said light source provides a visual indication of a wireless signal and wherein said visual indication is varied according to a characteristic of said wireless signal.
5 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A transceiver device and method thereof for sending signals to and receiving signals from another device via a wireless connection and for providing information about the wireless connection to a user. An antenna coupled to the transceiver is visible to the user. The antenna is a lighted antenna that is adapted to provide a visual indication of a wireless signal to a user. The lighted antenna can be used to show that the transceiver is transmitting or receiving signals, that a data connection has been made, or that a Bluetooth piconet has been detected. The color and/or intensity of the lighted antenna can be varied to indicate, for example, the strength of the signal. With a lighted antenna, additional features and functionality can be incorporated into a transceiver device while maintaining the form factor of existing designs. The multi-functionality of a lighted antenna is particularly suited for smaller devices where space is at a premium.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A device for sending and receiving signals to and from another device via a wireless connection and for providing information about said wireless connection to a user, said device comprising:
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a housing;
a transceiver disposed within said housing, said transceiver adapted to send and receive wireless signals;
an antenna having a base end and a distal end, said antenna coupled to said transceiver at said base end and extending from said housing, wherein at least a portion of said antenna is encased in light-transmitting material visible externally of said device; and
a light source coupled to said light-transmitting material by a light-conducting material, wherein light from said light source is conducted to said light-transmitting material and made externally visible along said portion of said antenna encased in said light-transmitting material, wherein said light from said light source provides a visual indication of a wireless signal and wherein said visual indication is varied according to a characteristic of said wireless signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
a processor coupled to said transceiver, said processor adapted to vary said visual indication.
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5. The device of claim 4 comprising:
a memory unit coupled to said processor, said memory unit for storing instructions executed by said processor for varying said visual indication.
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6. The device of claim 1 wherein said visual indication is varied in color.
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7. The device of claim 1 wherein said visual indication is varied in intensity.
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8. The device of claim 1 wherein said transceiver is a Bluetooth-enabled device.
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9. In a device comprising a transceiver and an antenna, a method for providing information about a wireless connection to a user, said method comprising the steps of:
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a) sending and receiving signals to and from another device via said wireless connection;
b) providing a visual indication of a wireless signal, wherein said visual indication is displayed using said antenna, said antenna coupled to said transceiver and extending from said device, wherein at least a portion of said antenna is encased in light-transmitting material visible externally of said device, said light-transmitting material coupled to a light source by a light-conducting material, wherein light from said light source is conducted to said light-transmitting material, wherein light from said light source is made externally visible along said portion of said antenna encased in said light-transmitting material, wherein said light from said light source provides a visual indication of a wireless signal and wherein said visual indication is varied according to a characteristic of said wireless signal; and
c) varying said visual indication according to a characteristic of said wireless signal. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
varying said visual indication according to wireless signal strength.
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11. The method as recited in claim 9 wherein said step c) comprises the step of:
varying said visual indication according to a type of wireless signal.
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12. The method as recited in claim 9 wherein said step c) comprises the step of:
varying said visual indication in color.
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13. The method as recited in claim 9 wherein said step c) comprises the step of:
varying said visual indication in intensity.
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14. The method as recited in claim 9 wherein said transceiver is a Bluetooth-enabled device.
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15. A portable computer system comprising:
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a housing;
a transceiver disposed within said housing, said transceiver adapted to send and receive wireless signals;
an antenna having a base end and a distal end, said antenna coupled to said transceiver at said base end and extending from said housing, wherein at least a portion of said antenna is encased in light-transmitting material visible externally of said device;
a light source coupled to said light-transmitting material by a light-conducting material, wherein light from said light source is conducted to said light-transmitting material and made externally visible along said portion of said antenna encased in said light-transmitting material, wherein said light from said light source provides a visual indication of a wireless signal and wherein said visual indication is varied according to a characteristic of said wireless signal; and
a processor coupled to said transceiver, said processor adapted to vary said visual indication. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
a memory unit coupled to said processor, said memory unit for storing instructions executed by said processor for varying said visual indication.
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18. The portable computer system of claim 15 wherein said visual indication is varied according to a type of wireless signal.
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19. The portable computer system of claim 15 wherein said visual indication is varied in color.
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20. The portable computer system of claim 15 wherein said visual indication is varied in intensity.
Specification