Power management and device illumination mechanisms for a personal digital assistant

• US 6,726,106 B1
• Filed: 04/02/2002
• Issued: 04/27/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/02/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Good Technology Incorporated (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: Lima, Paul J., Han, Amy A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Diane I.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Koyama, Kumiko C.
• Application Number:
  US10/114,548
• Time in Patent Office: 756 Days
• Field of Search: 235/472.01, 361/681, 455/566, 345/102, 345/169, 345/30, 200/314, 349/69, 349/199, 362/84
• US Class Current: 235/472.01
• 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 1/1662 Details related to the integrated keyboard
• 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 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode

Abstract

According to one embodiment, a handheld device is disclosed. The handheld device includes a housing, a display mounted within the housing, and a light sensor mounted within the housing to detect light beams through the display. In a further embodiment, the handheld device includes a plurality of keypads mounted on the housing, and an electro luminescent (EL) sheet. The EL sheet is mounted within the housing below the display and the keypads, and illuminates the display and keypads whenever the handheld device is in a dark environment. In yet another embodiment, the handheld device includes a thumbwheel. The EL sheet or an LED illuminates the thumbwheel whenever the handheld device is in a dark environment.

Claims

1. A handheld device comprising:

a housing;

a display mounted within the housing;

a first light sensor mounted within the housing to detect light beams though the display;

a plurality of keypads mounted on the housing; and

an electro luminescent (EL) sheet, mounted within the housing below the display and the keypads, that provides lighting for the display and the keypads;

wherein the handheld device goes into a sleep state whenever no light beams are detected at the first light sensor and the user is not operating the handheld device and the EL sheet is illuminated whenever no light beams are detected at the first light sensor and the user is operating the handheld device.

2. The handheld device of claim 1 wherein the EL sheet emits light whenever one of the plurality of keypads is depressed.

3. The handheld device of claim 2 further comprising key plungers attached to each of the plurality of keypads.

4. The handheld device of claim 3 wherein a key plunger contacts the EL sheet whenever an associated keypad is depressed.

5. The handheld device of claim 3 further comprising:

a plurality of snap domes, mounted below the EL sheet, corresponding to each of the plurality of key plungers; and

a keyboard mounted to the plurality of snap domes.

6. The handheld device of claim 5 wherein the light emitted by the EL sheet illuminates the keyboard whenever the handheld device is in a dark environment.

7. The handheld device of claim 5 wherein a key plunger contacts a snap dome through the EL sheet whenever a keypad is depressed.

8. The handheld device of claim 5 further comprising a printed circuit board (PCB) mounted below the keyboard.

9. The handheld device of claim 8 wherein the PCB includes an electronic circuit, coupled to the keyboard, that activates the EL sheet whenever a key plunger depresses a snap dome.

10. The handheld device of claim 2 further comprising:

a thunbwheel mounted on the housing;

a first button mounted on the housing next to the left side of the thumbwheel; and

a second button mounted on the housing next to the right side of the thumbwheel.

11. The handheld device of claim 10 wherein the light emitted by the EL sheet illuminates the thumbwheel whenever the handheld device is in a dark environment.

12. The handheld device of claim 1 wherein the handheld device is a personal digital assistant (PDA).

13. The handheld device of claim 1 wherein the handheld device is a two-way pager.

14. The handheld device of claim 1 wherein the handheld device is wireless electronic mail (e-mail), calendar and contact list device.