Data display radio pager

• US 5,548,271 A
• Filed: 06/24/1994
• Issued: 08/20/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Tsuchiyama, Kinya, Matai, Masahiro
• Primary Examiner(s): SWARTHOUT, BRENT
• Application Number:
  US08/265,668
• Time in Patent Office: 788 Days
• Field of Search: 340/311.1, 340/825.44, 340/825.45, 345/102, 345/4, 368/30, 368/83, 368/84, 368/226, 368/227, 368/241, 368/242
• US Class Current: 340/7.61
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 5/225 Display details

Abstract

In a data display radio pager, light emitting diodes (LEDs) for alerting the user of the pager to an incoming call are disposed in a backlight together with LEDs for backlighting a liquid crystal display (LCD) for message display. The alert LEDs effect an alert via the LCD and flash in a striking color different from the color of light to issue from the backlight LEDs. The radio pager is miniature despite that the LCD and alert LEDs are arranged on the front of the casing of the pager.

Claims

1. A data display radio pager comprising:

a liquid crystal display screen mounted at a periphery of one side of a pager housing;

at least one backlight light emitting diode mounted adjacent to and for providing illumination visible through said liquid crystal display screen; and

at least one alert light emitting diode mounted adjacent to and for providing illumination visible through said liquid crystal display screen for alerting a user of said radio pager to an incoming call;

wherein

said at least one backlight light emitting diode and said at least one alert light emitting diode are both located within said pager housing and between said liquid crystal display screen and a housing side opposite said one side so that each of said at least one backlight light emitting diode and said at least one backlight light emitting diode illuminates said liquid crystal display.

2. A radio pager as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a backlight structure for supporting said at least one backlight light emitting diode and said at least one alert light emitting diode within said liquid crystal display, the backlight structure including:

a printed circuit board supporting said backlight light emitting diode and said alert light emitting diode thereon;

a light reflection frame formed with windows through a bottom thereof for causing said backlight light emitting diode and said alert light emitting diode to appear therethrough;

a light conducting plate for conducting light emitted from each of said backlight light emitting diode and said alert light emitting diode; and

a diffusion sheet for diffusing light emanating from said light conducting plate.

3. A radio pager as claimed in claim 2, wherein said backlight light emitting diode emits bright light continuously to display a message on the liquid crystal display and said alert light emitting diode emits light of striking color intermittently to alert the user to an incoming call.

4. A radio pager as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a backlight structure for supporting said at least one backlight light emitting diode and said at least one alert light emitting diode within said liquid crystal display, the backlight structure including:

a reflection frame;

a light conducting plate formed integrally with said reflection frame and provided with openings at opposite ends thereof for receiving said backlight light emitting diode and said alert light emitting diode, respectively; and

a diffusion sheet for diffusing light emanating from said light conducting plate.

5. A radio pager as claimed in claim 4, wherein said backlight light emitting diode emits bright light continuously to display a message on the liquid crystal display and said alert light emitting diode emits light of striking color intermittently to alert the user to an incoming call.

6. A radio pager as claimed in claim 2, wherein said reflection frame has a rectangular shape and includes a cavity for receiving said light conducting plate and said diffusion sheet.

7. A radio pager as claimed in claim 4, wherein said reflection frame has a rectangular shape and includes a cavity for receiving said light conducting plate and said diffusion sheet.

8. A radio pager as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a casing and a support member received in the casing and supporting the backlight light emitting diode and the alert light emitting.

9. A radio pager as claimed in claim 8, wherein the support member comprises a printed circuit board.

10. A radio pager of claim 8, further comprising a reflection frame received in the casing and having a plurality of windows, the backlight light emitting diode and the alert light emitting diode each being positioned to protrude through one of the windows in the reflection frame.

11. A radio pager of claim 10, further comprising a light conducting plate for conducting light emitted from each of the backlight light emitting diode and the alert light emitting diode, and a diffusion sheet for diffusing light emanating from the light conducting plate.

12. A radio pager of claim 11, wherein the reflection frame has a rectangular shape and includes a cavity for receiving the light conducting plate and the diffusion sheet.

13. A radio pager of claim 10, further comprising a light conducting plate formed integrally with the reflection frame and provided with openings at opposite ends thereof of the light conducting plate for receiving the backlight light emitting diode and the alert light emitting diode, respectively, and a diffusion sheet for diffusing light emanating from the light conducting plate.

14. A radio pager of claim 13, wherein the reflection frame has a rectangular shape and includes a cavity for receiving the light conducting plate and the diffusion sheet.

15. A radio pager as claimed in claim 1, wherein the backlight light emitting emits a bright light continuously to illuminate a message on the display and the alert light emitting diode emits light of striking color intermittently to signal an incoming call.