Handset

• US 6,771,938 B2
• Filed: 12/15/2000
• Issued: 08/03/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Mobile Phones UK Limited (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Pirkola, Jani, Kinnunen, Timo, Sippola, Leena, Salomaki, Lauri, Hynninen, Tiina, Liukkonen-Olmiala, Tea, Lustila, Risto, Kaartinen, Sanna
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Congvan
• Application Number:
  US09/738,718
• Publication Number:
  US 20010018332A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,327 Days
• Field of Search: 455/90, 455/550, 455/575, 455/344, 455/74, 455/157.2, 455/159.1, 455/159.2, 379/428.01, 379/433, 379/447, 379/368, 379/376.01
• US Class Current: 455/575.1
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2219/0026 having outer surface of housing of electronic apparatus programmable as display and/or input device
• 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

A communications terminal handset having a translucent outer casing and a light source arranged for illumination of a substantial area of the casing.

Claims

1. A communications terminal handset comprising:

a keypad;

a translucent outer casing;

a light source arranged for illumination of a substantial area of the casing, wherein the light source is capable of illuminating different portions of the casing in different colours; and

control means for controlling the light source in dependence on a state of the telephone handset.

2. A communications terminal handset as claimed in claim 1, wherein the light source is capable of illuminating the casing in any of a plurality of colours.

3. A communications terminal handset as claimed in claim 1, wherein the said substantial area is greater than 30% if the exterior surface area of the handset.

4. A communications terminal handset as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control means is capable of controlling the light source in dependence on whether there is an incoming unanswered call to the telephone handset.

5. A communications terminal handset as claimed in claim 1, wherein the control means is capable of controlling the light source in dependence on a sensed environmental or internal factor of the telephone.

6. A communications terminal handset as claimed in claim 1, including diffusion means for diffusing light from the light source for diffuse illumination of the said area of the casing.

7. A communications terminal handset as claimed in claim 6, wherein the light source comprises a plurality of light generators.

8. A communications terminal handset as claimed in claim 7, wherein each light generator is a light emitting diode.

9. A communications terminal handset as claimed in claim 7, including a plurality of light guide means, each for guiding light from a respective light generator to the casing.

10. A communications terminal handset as claimed in claim 9, wherein at least one of the light guide means is arranged for optical connection to the casing at a location spaced from that at which another of the light guide means is arranged for optical connection to the casing.

11. A communications terminal handset comprising:

a keypad;

a translucent outer casing; and

a light source controlled by the communications terminal for causing a substantial area of the casing to emit light, wherein the light source causes different portions of the casing to emit light in different colours, and wherein the light source is controlled in dependence on a state of the telephone handset.

12. The handset of claim 11, wherein the light source causes the casing to emit light in any of a plurality of colours.

13. The handset of claim 11, wherein the light source includes a plurality of light generators.

14. The handset of claim 13, wherein each of the plurality of light generators is a light emitting diode.

15. The handset of claim 14, further comprising a plurality of light guide means, each for guiding light from a respective light generator to the casing.

16. The handset of claim 14, wherein at least one of the light guide means is arranged for optical connection to the casing at a location spaced from that at which another of the light guide means is arranged for optical connection to the casing.