Communication apparatus

• US 7,336,977 B2
• Filed: 04/17/2007
• Issued: 02/26/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/02/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Mobile Communications Limited (Fujitsu Limited)
• Original Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Inventors: Katayanagi, Masanori
• Primary Examiner(s): NGUYEN, THUAN T
• Application Number:
  US11/736,298
• Publication Number:
  US 20070184872A1
• Time in Patent Office: 315 Days
• Field of Search: 455/405, 455/407, 455/563, 455/564, 455/567, 455/575.3, 340/815.45, 340/815.69, 379/428, 379/1, 379/33
• US Class Current: 455/567
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 6/00 Tactile signalling systems, e.g. personal calling systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0214 Foldable telephones, i.e. with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position combined with translation movement H04M1/0235
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0235 Slidable or telescopic telephones, i.e. with a relative translation movement of the body parts; Telephones using a combination of translation and other relative motions of the body parts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0245 using open/close detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 19/047 Vibrating means for incoming calls

Abstract

The mobile communication apparatus informs occurrence of a missed event with a vibrator 54 in response to the detection of a second state that a case separates from the other case in the apparatus. For example, the missed event can be that the apparatus has a missing incoming call, that the apparatus has an unread message, or that a missed alarm time in the apparatus has already past. Further, the apparatus informs the occurrences without recognizing the LCD 42.

Claims

1. A communication apparatus having a first portion, a second portion and a vibrator, and configured to change between a first position and a second position different from the first position, wherein in the second position the first portion is at least partially separated from the second portion, the communication apparatus comprising:

a first detector configured to detect that a position of the communication apparatus is the second position;

a second detector configured to detect a missed event in the apparatus; and

a controller coupled to the first and second detectors and configured to determine whether the position of the communication apparatus is the second position after the missed event, and if so, to activate the vibrator responsive to a detection of the second position.

2. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detected missed event is a missed call.

3. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detected missed event is an unread message.

4. The communication apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detected missed event is a missed alarm time.

5. The communication apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and second portions are configured to slide relative to each other to change the communication apparatus between the first and second positions.

6. The communication apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first and second portions are configured to slide relative to and alongside each other to change the communication apparatus between the first and second positions.

7. The communication apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first detector includes a magnetic switch, the magnetic switch being configured to change between a first state and a second state depending upon which of the first position and the second position the communication apparatus is in.

8. The communication apparatus of claim 1, wherein the first detector includes a switch having parts in both the first portion and the second portion, the switch being configured to change between a first state and a second state depending upon which of the first position and the second position the communication apparatus is in.

9. A communication apparatus having a first portion, a second portion and a sound-emitting unit, and configured to change between a first position and a second position different from the first position, wherein in the second position the first portion is at least partially separated from the second portion, the communication apparatus comprising:

a first detector configured to detect that a position of the communication apparatus is the second position;

a second detector configured to detect a missed event in the apparatus; and

a controller coupled to the first and second detectors and configured to determine whether the position of the communication apparatus is the second position after the missed event, and if so, to activate the sound-emitting unit responsive to a detection of the second position.

10. The communication apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the detected missed event is a missed call.

11. The communication apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the detected missed event is an unread message.

12. The communication apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the detected missed event is a missed alarm time.

13. The communication apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first and second portions are configured to slide relative to each other to change the communication apparatus between the first and second positions.

14. The communication apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first and second portions are configured to slide relative to and alongside each other to change the communication apparatus between the first and second positions.

15. The communication apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first detector includes a magnetic switch, the magnetic switch being configured to change between a first state and a second state depending upon which of the first position and the second position the communication apparatus is in.

16. The communication apparatus of claim 9, wherein the first detector includes a switch having parts in both the first portion and the second portion, the switch being configured to change between a first state and a second state depending upon which of the first position and the second position the communication apparatus is in.

17. A communication apparatus having a first portion, a second portion and a vibrator, the communication apparatus comprising:

a first detector configured to detect an operation to at least partially separate the first portion from the second portion;

a second detector configured to detect a missed call and an unread message in the apparatus; and

a controller coupled to the first and second detectors, and configured to determine whether the operation to at least partially separate the first portion from the second portion occurs after the missed call, and if so, to activate the vibrator in a first vibrating pattern responsive to the operation to at least partially separate the first portion from the second portion, wherein the controller is further configured to determine whether the operation to at least partially separate the first portion from the second portion occurs after detecting the unread message, and if so, to activate the vibrator in a second vibrating pattern which is different from the first vibrating pattern responsive to the operation to at least partially separate the first portion from the second portion.

18. The communication apparatus of claim 17, wherein the first and second portions are configured such that the operation to at least partially separate the first portion from the second portion includes sliding the first and second portions relative to each other.

19. The communication apparatus of claim 17, wherein the first and second portions are configured such that the operation to at least partially separate the first portion from the second portion includes sliding the first and second portions relative to and alongside each other.

20. The communication apparatus of claim 17, wherein the first detector includes a magnetic switch, the magnetic switch being configured to change between a first state and a second state depending upon whether first and second portions are at least partially separated from each other.

21. The communication apparatus of claim 17, wherein the first detector includes a switch having parts in both the first portion and the second portion, the switch being configured to change between a first state and a second state depending upon whether the first and second portions are at least partially separated from each other.