Portable communication apparatus having visual indicator means and a method of providing visual status indication thereof

• US 6,751,484 B1
• Filed: 06/30/2000
• Issued: 06/15/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/08/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Ek, Martin, Nelson, Joakim, Sandelius, Thomas, Åberg, Anton
• Primary Examiner(s): Appiah, Charles
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ly, Nghi H.
• Application Number:
  US09/607,441
• Time in Patent Office: 1,446 Days
• Field of Search: 455/566, 455/226.1, 455/226.2, 455/226.3, 455/226.4, 455/7
• US Class Current: 455/566
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces

Abstract

A portable communication used in a mobile communications network has a transceiver device for providing a first wireless communication link to the mobile communications network. It also has visual indicator adapted to emit a first visible light signal, within a first predetermined spectral range, for indicating a status of the first wireless communication link. The transceiver device also provides a second wireless communication link to equipment other than the mobile communications network. The visual indicator emits a second visible signal for indicating a status of the second wireless communication link. This second visible light signal is provided in a second spectral range, which is different from the first spectral range.

Claims

1. A portable communication apparatus for use in a mobile communications network, the apparatus comprising a transceiver device for providing a first wireless communication link to the mobile communications network and for providing a second wireless communication link to equipment other than the mobile communications network and visual indicator means for visually separating the availability of the first and second link adapted to emit a first visible light signal, within a first predetermined spectral range, for indicating whether said apparatus is in operative contact with the mobile communications network via the first wireless communication link, and a second visible light signal for indicating whether said apparatus is within an operational proximity range of said equipment, the second visible light signal being provided in a second spectral range, different from the first spectral range.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the visual indicator means comprises a first light emitting member adapted to emit light having a first color and a second light emitting member adapted to emit light having a second color.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein at least one of said first and second light emitting members is a light emitting diode (LED).

4. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said second color is blue.

5. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein said first color is green.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second visible light signal has pulsed intensity, so as to indicate an operative contact, over said second wireless communication link, with said equipment.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said second visible light signal has substantially uniform intensity during an ongoing transmission of information over said second wireless communication link.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an apparatus housing and a printed circuit board mounted internally in said housing, wherein the visual indicator means is mounted to said printed circuit board, and a light guide is provided between the visual indicator means and a first transparent member provided in said housing.

9. The apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the visual indicator means comprises a light emitting member adapted to emit light having a first color and a second light emitting member adapted to emit light having a second color, the apparatus further comprising a second light guide arranged between the second light emitting member and a second transparent member provided in said housing at a distance from said first transparent member.

10. The apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the second transparent member comprises a decal for indicating a sign.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a rechargeable battery, wherein the visual indicator means is adapted to emit a third, visible light signal for indicating an electric charge status of the battery.

12. The apparatus according to claim 2, further comprising a rechargeable battery, wherein the visual indicator means is adapted to emit a third visible light signal for indicating an electric charge status of the battery and comprises a third light emitting member, adapted to emit light having a third color.

13. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said second wireless communication link is a short-range radio link.

14. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is a radio telephone.

15. A method of providing visual status indication for a portable communication radio, which is simultaneously operative in a first frequency range and in a second frequency range, different from the first frequency range, the method comprising:

a) providing a first visual output when the portable communication radio has a first operative communication link to at least a first external device within said first frequency range,

b) detecting at least a second external device within an operational proximity range of the portable communication radio, and

c) providing, independently of step a), a second visual output when the portable communication radio has a second operative communication link to at least a second external device within said second frequency range.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the first and second visual outputs are provided in separate spectral ranges.

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein the second visual output is provided as a signal of visible light having a blue color.

18. A method of providing visual status indication for a portable communication radio, which is simultaneously operative in a first frequency range and in a second frequency range, different from the first frequency range, the method comprising:

a) providing a first visual output when the portable communication radio has a first operative communication link to at least a first external device within said first frequency range,

b) providing, independently of step a), a second visual output when the portable communication radio has a second operative communication link to at least a second external device within said second frequency range, and

c) determining whether a significant amount of information is transmitted between the portable communication radio and the second external device over said second communication link or whether said second communication link is in an idle or a stand-by mode, where operative contact is upheld between the second external device and the portable communication radio, but no significant amount of information is transmitted there between, and in response modifying an intensity of the second visual output.