Communication device

• US 6,535,461 B1
• Filed: 05/25/2000
• Issued: 03/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Mobile Phones UK Limited (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Karhu, Jukka-Matti
• Primary Examiner(s): MISKA, VIT W
• Application Number:
  US09/577,672
• Time in Patent Office: 1,027 Days
• Field of Search: 368/10, 368/13, 368/69, 368/47, 368/294, 368/295, 379/90, 379/428, 379/430, 379/433, 455/90, 455/56, 455/575, 455/334, 455/344
• US Class Current: 368/10
• CPC Class Codes: G04C 3/001 Electromechanical switches for setting or display in general H01H
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 21/04 using radio waves radio-controlled time-pieces G04R
• CPC Class Codes: G04R 60/00 Constructional details
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/385 Transceivers carried on the body, e.g. in helmets
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/275 implemented by means of portable electronic directories
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6041 Portable telephones adapted for handsfree use
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface

Abstract

A radio communication device is presented. The device is operated by user input means. The user input means comprise a circular ring which surrounds a display. The ring is mounted for rotational movement and by movement of the ring the functions of the communication device are controlled and information is entered. The communication device is preferably a wrist watch phone or a wrist phone

Claims

1. A radio communication device, sized for attachment to a wrist, comprising:

a transceiver means for transmitting and receiving radio signals comprising data,

a display for displaying data,

processor means including a memory for controlling the transceiver means and the display

user input means, connected to the processor means, comprising a substantially circular ring surrounding the display and mounted for rotational movement about an axis passing substantially through the center of the ring and substantially perpendicular to the plane of the ring,

wherein the processor means is responsive to movement of the ring to control the transceiver and the display and

wherein the circular ring is mounted for translational displacement of the ring. parallel to the plane of the ring.

2. A communication device according to claim 1 wherein the translational displacement of the ring is converted to electrical signals by push buttons.

3. A radio communication device, sized for attachment to a wrist, comprising:

a transceiver means for transmitting and receiving radio signals comprising data,

a display for displaying data,

processor means including a memory for controlling the transceiver means and the display

user input means, connected to the processor means, comprising a substantially circular ring surrounding the display and mounted for rotational movement about an axis passing substantially through the center of the ring and substantially perpendicular to the plane of the ring,

wherein the processor means is responsive to movement of the ring to control the transceiver and the display and

comprising means for detecting clockwise and anti-clockwise rotation of the circular ring.

4. A radio communication device, sized for attachment to a wrist, comprising:

a transceiver means for transmitting and receiving radio signals comprising data,

a display for displaying data,

processor means including a memory for controlling the transceiver means and the display

user input means, connected to the processor means, comprising a substantially circular ring surrounding the display and mounted for rotational movement about an axis passing substantially through the center of the ring and substantially perpendicular to the plane of the ring,

wherein the processor means is responsive to movement of the ring to control the transceiver and the display and

whereby the electro-optical conversion means are an infrared diode and an infrared detector place below the ring and the ring comprises light reflecting and non-light reflecting regions at its backside.

5. A radio communication device, sized for attachment to a wrist, comprising:

a transceiver means for transmitting and receiving radio signals comprising data,

a display for displaying data,

processor means including a memory for controlling the transceiver means and the display

user input means, connected to the processor means, comprising a substantially circular ring surrounding the display and mounted for rotational movement about an axis passing substantially through the center of the ring and substantially perpendicular to the plane of the ring,

wherein the processor means is responsive to movement of the ring to control the transceiver and the display and

wherein the circular ring is mounted for translational displacement of the ring parallel to the plane of the ring.

6. A communication device according to claim 5 wherein the translational displacement of the ring is converted to electrical signals by push buttons.

7. A radio communication device, sized for attachment to a wrist, comprising:

a transceiver means for transmitting and receiving radio signals comprising data,

a display for displaying data,

processor means including a memory for controlling the transceiver means and the display

user input means, connected to the processor means, comprising a substantially circular ring surrounding the display and mounted for rotational movement about an axis passing substantially through the center of the ring and substantially perpendicular to the plane of the ring; and

comprising a mechanism to detect clockwise and anti-clockwise rotation of the circular ring,

wherein the processor means is responsive to movement of the ring to control the transceiver and the display.

8. A radio communication device, sized for attachment to a wrist, comprising:

a transceiver means for transmitting and receiving radio signals comprising data,

a display for displaying data,

processor means including a memory for controlling the transceiver means and the display

user input means, connected to the processor means, comprising a substantially circular ring surrounding the display and mounted for rotational movement about an axis passing substantially through the center of the ring and substantially perpendicular to the plane of the ring,

wherein the processor means is responsive to movement of the ring to control the transceiver and the display and

whereby the electro-optical conversion mechanism is an infrared diode and an infrared detector placed below the ring Band the ring comprises light reflecting and non-light reflecting regions at its backside.