Extrinsic signal to shunt an acoustic driver in a cellular telephone, pager or the like
First Claim
1. An electronic device of the type which alerts a user to an incoming message by connecting an alert signal to a preselected one of a first alert device comprising a vibrator and a second alert devices, comprising:
- a) a detector which monitors the incoming message to detect the presence of a squelch signal broadcast locally by an emitter and generates a control signal at its output when the squelch signal is detected;
b) a processor operatively connected to the output of the detector;
c) an alert-mode memory-cell storing one of a default binary value and a user-set binary value;
d) a buffer memory connected to the processor and (i) configured to store a predetermined binary value when the squelch signal is detected in response to the control signal and also (ii) configured to store the contents of the alert-mode memory-cell in the absence of detection of the squelch signal;
e) a switch, operatively connected to the processor, to (i) automatically direct the alert signal to the vibrator when buffer memory stores the predetermined binary value and (ii) automatically direct the alert signal to a predetermined one of the first and second alert devices as a function of the contents of the buffer memory in the absence of the squelch signal.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method for selectively shunting an acoustic driver within an electronic device detects the presence of a squelch signal from a local emitter and automatically shunts the acoustic driver in response to the detection, free of any communication back to the emitter. The squelch signal originates from an emitter which is positioned extrinsic to the device, and can be broadcast so as to define a zone of influence within which the acoustic drivers of electronic devices will be squelched. In lieu of an acoustic driver, a vibrator can be activated to quietly alert the user of the incoming message while the squelch signal is present. As a result, the invention enables a proprietor to a greater degree of control over ringing and beeping noises generated by such devices when positioned within a designated space. A broadcast system for defining the zone of influence and electronic devices that include circuitry that implement the method are also disclosed.
15 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An electronic device of the type which alerts a user to an incoming message by connecting an alert signal to a preselected one of a first alert device comprising a vibrator and a second alert devices, comprising:
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a) a detector which monitors the incoming message to detect the presence of a squelch signal broadcast locally by an emitter and generates a control signal at its output when the squelch signal is detected; b) a processor operatively connected to the output of the detector; c) an alert-mode memory-cell storing one of a default binary value and a user-set binary value; d) a buffer memory connected to the processor and (i) configured to store a predetermined binary value when the squelch signal is detected in response to the control signal and also (ii) configured to store the contents of the alert-mode memory-cell in the absence of detection of the squelch signal; e) a switch, operatively connected to the processor, to (i) automatically direct the alert signal to the vibrator when buffer memory stores the predetermined binary value and (ii) automatically direct the alert signal to a predetermined one of the first and second alert devices as a function of the contents of the buffer memory in the absence of the squelch signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. In a device that alerts a user to an incoming message by activating one of an acoustic driver and a vibrator, the device including a buffer memory and an alert-mode memory, the alert mode memory containing one of a default binary value and a user-set binary value, a method for automatically placing the device in a quiet mode of operation comprising the steps of:
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a) detecting the presence of a broadcast squelch signal by monitoring signals that arrive at the device from an emitter; b) generating a control signal in response to the detection of the broadcast squelch signal; c) writing to the butter memory (i) a first binary value which signifies the quiet mode of operation in response to the generated control signal and (ii) the contents of the alert-mode memory in the absence of the control signal; d) controlling a state of an alert mode switch based on the contents of the buffer memory; and e) activating (i) the vibrator in response to the incoming message whenever the buffer memory contains the first binary value, and (ii) either the vibrator or the acoustic driver in response to the incoming message whenever the buffer memory contains the contents of the alert-mode memory. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. An electronic device of the type which alerts a user to an incoming message by connecting an alert signal to either a vibrator or an acoustic driver, comprising:
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a) a detector which monitors the incoming message to detect the presence of a squelch signal broadcast locally by an emitter and generates a control signal at its output when the squelch signal is detected; b) a processor operatively connected to the output of the detector; c) an alert-mode memory-cell storing a user-settable binary value; d) a buffer memory connected to the processor and configured to store (i) a predetermined binary digit in response to the control signal, and (ii) the contents of the alert-mode memory-cell in the absence of the control signal; e) a switch, operatively connected to the processor, to automatically direct the alert signal to (i) the vibrator when buffer memory stores the predetermined binary digit, and (ii) the vibrator or the acoustic driver, as a function of the contents of the buffer memory, in the absence of the control signal. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification