Visual notification methods for candy-bar type cellphones

• US 7,391,164 B2
• Filed: 09/15/2004
• Issued: 06/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Lowles, Robert, Robinson, James, Drader, Marc
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; Thuy V.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Le; Tung X
• Application Number:
  US10/940,977
• Publication Number:
  US 20060055658A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,378 Days
• Field of Search: 3151691-1693, 315/246, 315/129, 345/75.1, 345/102, 345/211, 340/815.4, 340/815.45, 340/815.65, 340/815.66, 116/200, 116/202, 116/205, 379/144.08, 379/376.01
• US Class Current: 315/246
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2310/0235 Field-sequential colour display
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2310/0237 Switching ON and OFF the backlight within one frame
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2310/066 Waveforms comprising a gently increasing or decreasing portion, e.g. ramp
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3413 Details of control of colour illumination sources
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/3614 Control of polarity reversal in general
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/22 Illumination; Arrangements for improving the visibility of characters on dials
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/027 by controlling a display operation or backlight unit
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A wireless handheld communications device with a liquid crystal display, especially, a field sequential liquid crystal display, includes a visual notification for a powered up, inactive state. The visual notification is preferably through a light emitting diode that may be part of the backlighting system for the LCD or may be independent from the backlighting system. The waveforms, periodicity, colour selection, and colour sequencing may be customizable by one or both of the manufacturer and user.

Claims

1. A method for indicating a powered state for a portable electronic device when a backlight function for a display is turned off, comprising:

monitoring for a defined length of time of inactivity of said device; and

upon exceeding said defined length of time of inactivity, entering an inactivity notification mode in which a visual notification is activated on said device indicating that said device is powered, but in a state of inactivity, said visual notification comprising a double pulse having a first pulse and a second pulse that occurs at a regular interval.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein light emitting diodes on said device provides said visual notification.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said visual notification is provided by said light emitting diodes separate from a backlight function for said display.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein said visual notification is provided by said light emitting diodes selected from said backlight function for said display.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein visual notification comprises light with a colour selected from the group consisting of red, green, and blue.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein said visual indication comprises light with a blended colour that is a combination of two or more colours from the group consisting of red, green, and blue.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein said visual notification comprises at least one waveform selected from a square wave, a sinusoidal wave, a triangular wave, a periodic pulse and a non-periodic pulse.

8. The method of claim 4, wherein the first pulse and the second pulse have the same amplitude.

9. The method of claim 4, wherein the first pulse and the second pulse have different amplitudes.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the amplitude of the first pulse is about twice as great as the amplitude of the second pulse.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the first pulse and the second pulse represent a heart beat.

12. A portable electronic device, comprising:

a display;

a backlight for said display;

a processor for controlling said display and said backlight;

a keypad for providing input to the processor;

an activation module to monitor for a defined length of time of inactivity of said device by monitoring at least activation of said keypad when said backlight is turned off; and

a control module to generate a visual notification on said device though said backlight indicating that said device has been inactive but powered for at least said defined period of time, utilizing signals from said activation module,

wherein said visual notification comprises a first pulse and a second pulse that occur at a regular interval.

13. The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 12, wherein said display is a field sequential liquid crystal display.

14. The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 13, wherein said backlight comprises red, green and blue light emitting diodes.

15. A portable electronic device, comprising:

a display;

a backlight for said display;

a processor for controlling said display and said backlight;

a keypad for providing input to the processor;

an activation module to monitor for a defined length of time of inactivity of said device by monitoring at least activation of said keypad when said backlight is turned off;

a control module to generate a visual notification on said device through that said device has been inactive but powered for at least said defined period of time, utilizing signals from said activation module; and

a light source separate from said backlight to provide said visual notification.

16. The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 15, wherein said visual notification comprises a first pulse and a second pulse that occur at a regular interval.

17. The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 16, wherein the first pulse and the second pulse have the same amplitude.

18. The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 17, wherein the first pulse and the second pulse have different amplitudes.

19. The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 18, wherein the amplitude of the first pulse is about twice as great as the amplitude of the second pulse.

20. The portable electronic device as claimed in claim 19, wherein the first pulse and the second pulse represent a heart beat.