Stylus visual indicator system

• US RE41,637 E1
• Filed: 09/16/2005
• Issued: 09/07/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Palm, Inc. (TCL Technology Group Corp.)
• Inventors: O'Hara, Sean, Torrey, Patricia E., Torrey, Brian
• Primary Examiner(s): DATSKOVSKIY, MICHAIL V
• Application Number:
  US11/229,451
• Time in Patent Office: 1,817 Days
• Field of Search: 361/683, 361/686, 361/687, 361/689, 361/751, 361/758, 361/759, 385/53, 385/88, 385/92, 385/133, 385/147, 340/815.2, 340/653, 340/815.45, 340/7.1, 340/7.32, 340/7.4, 340/7.63, 345/180, 345/182, 345/183, 345/150, 345156-179, 320/114, 320/115, 320/116
• US Class Current: 361/679.4
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1698 the I/O peripheral being a sending/receiving arrangement to establish a cordless communication link, e.g. radio or infrared link, integrated cellular phone details of antennas disposed inside a computer H01Q1/2266
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1632 Pen holder integrated in the computer

Abstract

A handheld computer system includes a housing, a processor coupled to the housing, a stylus coupled to the housing, and a light source coupled to the housing. The light source lights up the stylus.

Claims

1. A handheld computer system, comprising:

a housing;

a processor coupled to the housing;

a stylus;

a cradle configured to selectively connect with the housing and further configured to receive the housing;

a light source provided in the cradle, wherein the light source lights up the stylus;

wherein the light source is selectively activated by the processor.

2. The handheld computer system of claim 1, wherein the stylus is translucent.

3. The handheld computer system of claim 1, wherein the light source is an LED.

4. The handheld computer system of claim 3, wherein the LED is configured to emit more than one color.

5. The handheld computer system of claim 1, wherein the stylus has a tip extending into the housing.

30. The handheld computer system of claim 1, wherein a first type of activation of the light source conveys a first message to a user, and wherein a second type of activation of the light source light conveys a second message to the user.

31. The handheld computer system of claim 1, wherein activation of the light source conveys an indicator relating to at least one of a communication event, a calendar event, an appointment event, time remaining before an appointment, an e-mail event, an instant message event, a telephone call event, a battery indicator, and a receipt of information via wireless transmission.

6. A handheld computer system, comprising:

a handheld computer having a processor;

a cradle configured to receive the handheld computer;

a stylus configured to be electrically coupled to the cradle; and

a light source disposed within the cradle, wherein the light source lights up the stylus.

7. The handheld computer system of claim 6, wherein the stylus is translucent.

8. The handheld computer system of claim 6, wherein the light source is an LED.

9. The handheld computer system of claim 8, wherein the LED is configured to emit more than one color.

10. The handheld computer system of claim 6, wherein the light source comprises a plurality of LEDs.

11. The handheld computer system of claim 6, wherein the light source is controlled by the processor.

12. A handheld computer system, comprising:

a housing;

a processor coupled to the housing;

a stylus coupled to the housing;

a plurality of LEDs disposed within the stylus, distributed throughout the length of the stylus; and

a power source disposed within the housing in electrical contact with the stylus.

13. The handheld computer system of claim 12, wherein the stylus has a tip with contacts configured to be coupled to the power source.

14. The handheld computer system of claim 12, wherein the housing is part of a handheld computer.

15. The handheld computer system of claim 12, wherein the housing is part of a cradle.

16. The handheld computer system of claim 12, wherein at least one of the plurality of LEDs is configured to emit more than one color.

17. The handheld computer system of claim 12, wherein at least one of the plurality of LEDs is disposed within the tip of the stylus.

18. The handheld computer system of claim 12, wherein the light source comprises a plurality of LEDs.

19. The handheld computer system of claim 12, wherein the light source is controlled by the processor.

20. A visual indicator system for a handheld computer, comprising:

a stylus;

a stylus dock configured to receive the stylus;

a light source disposed within the stylus;

a controller, wherein the controller varies the light source; and

a power source disposed within the stylus dock and coupled to the light source;

wherein the stylus conveys a visual message to a user via the light source.

21. The visual indicator system of claim 20, wherein the light source is an LED.

22. The visual indicator system of claim 21, wherein the LED is configured to emit more than one color.

23. The visual indicator system of claim 21, wherein the controller varies the color of the LED.

24. The visual indicator system of claim 21, wherein the controller varies the intensity of the LED.

25. The visual indicator system of claim 20, wherein the light source comprises a plurality of LEDs.

26. The visual indicator system of claim 20, wherein the stylus dock is in a synchronization cradle.

27. The visual indicator system of claim 20, wherein the stylus dock is in the handheld computer.

28. The visual indicator system of claim 20, further comprising a personal computer, wherein the controller is part of the personal computer.

29. The visual indicator system of claim 20, wherein the controller is part of the handheld computer.

32. A visual indicator system for a handheld computer, comprising:

a stylus;

a synchronization cradle;

a stylus dock provided in the synchronization cradle configured to receive the stylus;

a light source disposed within the stylus dock;

a controller, wherein the controller varies the light source; and

wherein the stylus conveys a visual message to a user via the light source.

33. A mobile computing device system, comprising:

a mobile computing device configured to provide wireless telephony and to provide wireless internet connectivity; and

a mobile electronic device capable of being separate from and configured to communicate with the mobile computing device, wherein a light source disposed within the electronic device selectively emits light in response to an application executed by the mobile computing device, wherein the electronic device is an input device configured to at least mechanically communicate with the mobile computing device.

34. The mobile computing device system of claim 33, wherein a processor is disposed within the electronic device.

35. The mobile computing device system of claim 33, wherein the light source is configured to convey a message by emitting a color of light.

36. The mobile computing device system of claim 33, wherein the light source is configured to convey a message by emitting an intensity of light.

37. The mobile computing device system of claim 33, wherein the light source is configured to convey a message by emitting a sequence of blinking light.

38. The mobile computing device system of claim 33, wherein the processor is configured to vary at least one of a color, an intensity, and a blinking sequence of light emitted from the light source.

39. The mobile computing device system of claim 33, wherein a visual message indicates at least one of a communication event, a calendar event, an appointment event, time remaining before an appointment, an e-mail event, an instant message event, a telephone call event, a battery status, and a receipt of information via wireless transmission.

40. The mobile computing device system of claim 33, wherein the mobile computing device comprises a touch screen to receive input to the mobile computing device.