Portable radio terminal with infrared communication function and communication method for portable radio terminal

• US 6,944,483 B1
• Filed: 08/23/2000
• Issued: 09/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 08/23/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lenovo Innovations Ltd Hong Kong (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Motohashi, Teruyuki
• Primary Examiner(s): PEREZ GUTIERREZ, RAFAEL
• Application Number:
  US09/643,765
• Time in Patent Office: 1,847 Days
• Field of Search: 398/120, 398/118, 398/115, 455/127.1, 455/127.5, 455/553.1, 455/574, 455/557, 455/558, 455/117, 455/420, 455/556, 455/552.1, 455/572, 455/556.1, 455/556.2, 455/41.2, 455/421, 455/127.4, 324/705, 324/713, 324/502, 375/316, 320/128, 320/104
• US Class Current: 455/574
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/38 Transceivers, i.e. devices in which transmitter and receiver form a structural unit and in which at least one part is used for functions of transmitting and receiving
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 10/1143 Bidirectional transmission
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/73 Battery saving arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/737 Characterised by transmission of electromagnetic waves other than radio waves, e.g. infrared waves
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0274 by switching on or off the equipment or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A portable radio terminal with an infrared communication function prevents consumption power from increasing when a radio communication function and an infrared communication function are used at a same time. A radio communication function section is judged whether in radio communication or not, and a driving current of an light emitting element in an infrared communication function section. The driving current of the light emitting element for an infrared communication is controlled in accordance with an operation of the radio communication function section, therefore, it is possible to loosen a condition for enabling infrared communication. As to restrictions for outputs from light emitting elements, a driving current of a light emitting element is controlled or plural light emitting elements having respective outputs are selectively driven.

Claims

1. A communication method for a portable radio terminal with an infrared communication function comprising:

a radio communication function section;

an infrared communication function section; and

an information processing section operable to detect a function state of said radio communication function section and operable to control an infrared output from said infrared communication function section,

wherein said function state indicates whether there is radio output from said radio communication function section, and

wherein the infrared output from said infrared communication function section is restricted when the information processing section detects a function state indicating there is radio output from said radio communication function section.

11. The communication method for a portable radio terminal with an infrared communication function according to claim 1, wherein said driving current of said light emitting element in said infrared communication function section is controlled in accordance with a transmission power value of said radio communication function section.

12. The communication method for a portable radio terminal with an infrared communication function according to claim 1, wherein the driving current of the light emitting element is not restricted when the radio communication function is not in radio communication.

13. The communication method for a portable radio terminal with an infrared communication function according to claim 12, wherein the driving current of the light emitting element is restricted when the radio communication function is in radio communication.

14. The communication method for a portable radio terminal with an infrared communication function according to claim 1, wherein the driving current of the light emitting element is restricted when the radio communication function is in radio communication.

2. A portable radio terminal with an infrared communication function comprising:

a radio communication function section;

an infrared communication function section; and

an information processing section operable to detect a function state of said radio communication function section and operable to control an infrared output from said infrared communication function section,

wherein said function state indicates whether there is radio output from said radio communication function section, and

wherein the infrared output from said infrared communication function section is not restricted when the information processing section detects a function state indicating there is no radio output from said radio communication function section.

3. The portable radio terminal with an infrared communication function according to claim 2, wherein the infrared output from said infrared communication function section is restricted when the information processing section detects a function state indicating there is radio output from said radio communication function section.

4. A portable radio terminal with an infrared communication function comprising:

a radio communication function section;

an infrared communication function section; and

an information processing section operable to detect a function state of said radio communication function section and operable to control an infrared output from said infrared communication function section,

wherein said function state indicates whether there is radio output from said radio communication function section, and

wherein said infrared output is controlled so as to restrict a communicable distance of said infrared communication function when said function state indicates radio output from said radio communication function section.

5. A communication method for a portable radio terminal with an infrared communication function, said communication method comprising:

judging whether a radio communication function section is in radio communication or not; and

selecting an infrared communication function section among a plurality of infrared communication function sections,

wherein a user is notified that a communicable distance of said infrared communication function is restricted when the radio communication function section is in radio communication.

6. The communication method for a portable radio terminal with an infrared communication function according to claim 5, wherein said infrared communication function section is selected among said plurality of infrared communication function sections in accordance with a transmission power value of said radio communication function section.

7. The communication method for a portable radio terminal with an infrared communication function according to claim 5, wherein a driving current of a light emitting element is not restricted when the radio communication function is not in radio communication.

8. The communication method for a portable radio terminal with an infrared communication function according to claim 7, wherein the driving current of the light emitting element is restricted when the radio communication function is in radio communication.

9. The communication method for a portable radio terminal with an infrared communication function according to claim 5, wherein a driving current of a light emitting element is restricted when the radio communication function is in radio communication.

10. A communication method for a portable radio terminal with an infrared communication function, said communication method comprising:

judging whether a radio communication function section is in radio communication or not; and

controlling a driving current of a light emitting element in an infrared communication function section;

wherein a user is notified that a communicable distance of said infrared communication function is restricted when the radio communication function section is in radio communication.