GB2255663A

GB2255663A - Display-equipped pager.

Info

Publication number: GB2255663A
Application number: GB9206899A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Tomoaki Takebe
Original assignee: NEC Corp
Current assignee: NEC Corp
Priority date: 1991-04-12
Filing date: 1992-03-30
Publication date: 1992-11-11
Anticipated expiration: 2012-03-30
Also published as: JP2908058B2; JPH04314221A; GB2255663B; GB9206899D0; HK87097A

Abstract

A display-equipped pager has small power consumption with simple controls. When certain programmed information (e.g. time information) is displayed 21, if its switch is operated 22, then its display is illuminated 23. Then, if the switch is operated again 26. a received message is displayed 27. If the is not operated after the display is illuminated, then the illumination of the display is stopped 25 after a predetermined period of time 24. If the switch is operated 29 while the received message is displayed, then the illumination of the display is stopped 25. in addition, in this case, if the switch is not operated during the predetermined period of time 28 after the message is displayed, then the illumination of the display is stopped 25. At this time, after the illumination is stopped 25, the programmed information is displayed 21. <IMAGE>

Description

DISPLAY-EQUIPPED PAGER FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a display-equipped pager for receiving a message for display, and particularly to its function of illuminating its display portion and its display switching function.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION A conventional display-equipped pager may illuminate a display portion while certain information is displayed thereon.

Further, according to a recently available multifunctional pager, various kinds of information (hereinafter referred to as programmed information) are displayed on a display in accordance with a program recorded within the hardware or the memory of the pager. For example, US Patent 4,713,659 issued Dec 15, 1987 (to Takashi Oyagi and Razuyuki Tsunoda) discloses a pager having means for illuminating the display portion, which pager comprises a means for automatically illuminating the display for a predetermined period of time when surrounding light illuminating the display is weak.

However, the conventional display-equipped pager (hereinafter ref erred to as a pager) has the following drawbacks. For example, according to the conventional illuminating function, the display illuminating function works while the programmed information is displayed, even if the user does not need the programmed information displayed on the display, thereby wasting its power source. As a result, an illuminating light switch used only while the programmed information is displayed becomes necessary.

When a switch is provided only for the reason described above, however, then the operability of the pager will be reduced and an increase in components will raise the potential for problems, e.g. the occurrence of the mechanical breakdown during usage.

A feature of an embodiment to be described is the ability to improve the operability and reduce the occurrence of the mechanical breakdown of a pager as a result of changing the illuminating procedure depending on the display conditions.

In a particular embodiment to be described a display-equipped pager includes a switching means, and makes possible the functions of turning the illuminator on, if the switchming means is operated while the image on the display is in the mode of displaying programmed information and of changing the image on the display to the mode of displaying received message if the switching means is operated again, while the display is in the mode of displaying the programmed information under the illuminated state.

Further, this display-equipped pager also includes the following control means: 1. to control of storing the demodulated received message, to illuminate the display when it is detected that the switching means is operated while said display is in the mode of displaying programmed information and of changing the mode of displaying programmed information and a function to change the mode of displaying programmed information to the mode of displaying received message when the switching means is operated again during the predetermined period, 2. to control of a function of timer which starts counting when said illuminator is turned on, while said display is in the mode of displaying a programmed information and turns off the illuminator after a predetermined period of time elapses if a further switch operation is not detected during said period, 3. to control of turning said illuminator off when it is detected that the image of said display is changed from the mode of displaying a received message to the mode of displaying programmed information.

The programmed information previously stored within pager described above may be at least digital time information.

To acquaint persons skilled in the art with the principles of the invention, certain presently preferred embodiments, illustrative of the best mode now contemplated for the practice of the invention, are described herein making reference to the attached drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. 1 is a block diagram of a conventional displayequipped pager; Fig. 2 is a block diagram of a first embodiment of the display-equipped pager according to the present invention; Fig. 3 is a block diagram of a second embodiment of the display-equipped pager according to the present invention; and Fig. 4 is a flowchart illustrating the operation for illuminating the display of the display-equipped pager according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT A specific embodiment of the present invention is hereinafter described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Fig. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example of a conventional display-equipped pager. This pager comprises antenna 1, radio section 2, decoder 3, controller 7, alert driver 8, display 9, illuminator 10 and switches 11 and 12.

Controller 7 includes CPU 4, ROM 5 and RAM 6.

Radio section 2 receives radio waves used in the paging system to which the pager belongs and demodulates them.

Decoder 3 detects whether the address code of the demodulated received signal corresponds to the pager or not.

Alert driver 8, if the pager is being called, issues an alert signal. Display 9 displays the received message and the information programmed within the pager. Illuminator 10 illuminates display 9 by operating switch 11 of display 9.

Switch 11 turns illuminator 10 on while the programmed information is to be displayed. Switch 12 changes the image on display 9 thereof.

This pager receives the radio signal of the carrier wave at radio section 2 via antenna 1, and amplifies it to feed to decoder 3 as the received signal. This signal is comprised of the address code and the message signal.

Decoder 3 determines whether the address code is its own address code by comparing the address code which is stored within decoder 3 and the address code contained within the received signal. And, if so, alert driver 8 is activated, which in turn informs the pager carrier that the reception of the signal was made by sounding, illumination or the like. Controller 7 is comprised of CPU 4, ROM 5 and storage RAM 6. A data signal entered from decoder 3 is stored within RAM 6 as the received information. In addition, decoder 3 sends the data signal, following the address code, to controller 7.

When the pager carrier operates switch 12, the received message stored within RAM 6, is displayed on display 9 by-CPU 4 and, at the same time, illuminator 10 illuminates display 9 in accordance with an instruction sent from CPU 4.

When the received message described above is not displayed on display 9, irrespective of whether the carrier wave is received or not, CPU 4 displays the programmed information on display portion 9 in accordance with the operating signal sent from decoder 3 based on the program stored within ROM 5.

While the programmed information is displayed on display portion 9, if switch 11 is operated, then CPU 4 turns illuminator 10 on.

In addition, if the programmed information is displayed on display 9 with illuminator 10 turned on, then CPU 4 turns illuminator 10 off after a predetermined period of time.

While the received message is being displayed on display 9, if switch 12 is operated, then CPU 4 switches the image on display 9 from the received message to the programmed information and turns illuminator 10 off. In addition, CPU 4 starts counting at the same time that the received message is displayed and, after a predetermined period of time elapses, switches the image on display 9 from the received message to the programmed information and turns the illuminator 10 off.

The foregoing operation of CPU 4 is carried out in accordance with the program recorded within ROM 5.

Fig. 2 is a block diagram of a specific embodiment of the display-equipped pager according to the present invention.

The pager illustrated in Fig. 2 is comprised of antenna 1, radio section 2, decoder 31 controller 71 comprising CPU 41 (Central Processing Unit), ROM (Read Only Memory) 5 and RAM (Random Access Memory) 6, alert driver 8, display 9, illuminator 10 and push button switch 13. The same reference numerals as in the conventional embodiment of Fig.

1 are applied to the functional equipment having the same functions of the pager.

In the pager described above, a radio signal transmitted by a carrier wave from the transmission center of the paging system is received by the antenna 1, and is amplified and demodulated at radio section 2 to be emitted to decoder 31 as the received signal. This received signal is comprised of an address code and a message signal.

Decoder 31 determines whether its own address code stored therein and the address code contained within the entered received signal coincide with each other and, if so, alert driver 8 operates, and sends the message signal entered following the address code to controller Alert driver 8 informs the pager carrier by sound or illumination of reception of the signal.

Controller 71 comprises CPU4, ROM 5 and RAM 6. The message signal sent from decoder 31 is stored within RAM 6 as the received message. When the received message is not displayed on display 9, irrespectively of whether the carrier wave is received or not, CPU41 displays the programmed information in accordance with the program stored within ROM 5. At this time, if the pager carrier presses switch 13, then CPU 41 turns illuminator 10 on.

While the display 9 is displaying the programmed information illuminated, if the pager carrier presses switch 13, then CPU 41 changes image on display 9 into the received message stored within RAM 6 with illuminated illuminator 10.

If display 9 is displaying the programmed information illuminated while switch 13 is not operated within a predetermined period of time, then CPU 41 turns illuminator 10 off.

If the switch is operated while the received message is displayed on display 9, then CPU 41 changes the image on display 9 to the programmed information and turns illuminator 10 off.

The operation of CPU 41 described above is processed by the program stored within ROM 5.

Fig. 2 illustrates an example in which the illuminating function inherent to the present invention is achieved by software using the program of ROM 5, and has the feature that control of display 9 and the illuminator 10 and detection of the switch operation are achieved by control portion 71.

Fig. 3 is a block diagram illustrating a second embodiment of the pager according to the present invention.

This pager is comprised of antenna 1, radio section 2, decoder 32 CPU 42 ROM 5, a RAM 6, controller 72 comprising CPU 42 ROM5 and RAM 6, alert driver 8, display 9, illuminator 10 and switch 13, and the structure of the software is the same as that of the first embodiment while its operation is also the same except that control of the display 9 and illuminator 10 is processed through decoder 32.

Decoder 32 different from the function of decoder of the first embodiment, has the function of operating display 9 and illuminator 10 under the control of CPU Controller 72 comprises CPU 42 ROM 5 and RAM 6, and a message signal sent from decoder 32 is stored within RAM 6 as the received message. Whenever the received message is not displayed, irrespective of whether the carrier wave is received or not, the programmed information is displayed on display 9 according to the operating signal of the decoder 32 under the control of CPU 42 based on the program stored within ROM 5. When it is detected that the pager carrier has pressed the switch while the programmed information is displayed on display 9, decoder 32 informs CPU 42 of this fact.CPU 42 which has received this information causes decoder 32 to turn illuminator 10 6n to illuminate display 9.

While the display 9 is displaying the illuminated programmed information, if the pager carrier further presses switch 13, then decoder 32 detects this operation to inform CPU 42 of that fact. Upon receipt of this information, CPU causes decoder 32 to switch the image on the display 9 to the received message stored within RAM 6.

While the display 9 is displaying the illuminated programmed information, if the operation of switch 13 is not detected within the predetermined period of time, then CPU causes decoder 32 to turn illuminator 10 off.

While the received message is displayed on display 9 and being illuminated, if switch 13 is pressed by the pager carrier, then decoder 32 detects this to inform CPU42, and CPU42 causes decoder 32 to change the image on display 9 to the programmed information and turns illuminator 10 off. In addition, if no switch operation is detected within the predetermined period of time after the received message is displayed, CPU 42 causes decoder 32 to change the image of display 9 to the programmed information, while turning the illuminator 10 off.

Fig. 4 is a flowchart revealing the illuminating operation of the display-equipped pager according to the present invention.

While the programed information is displayed on the display without illumination (step 21), if the switch is pressed (step 22), then the illuminator is turned on, and the timer starts counting (step 23). If the predetermined period of time elapses in this illuminate condition, then the illuminator is turned off (steps 24 and 25) but, if the switch is pressed again within this period of time (steps 24 and 26), then the received message is displayed, and the timer starts counting anew (step 27). If the predetermined period of time elapses during the display of the received message, then the displayed image is changed to the programmed information, while turning the illuminator off (step 28). However, if the switch is operated before the predetermined period of time elapses, then the display is changed to the programmed information, while the illuminator is turned off (steps 28 and 29).

While certain representative embodiments have been described for the purpose of illustrating the invention, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit or scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A display-equipped pager comprising a receiver for receiving a carrier wave modulated by an address code and a message signal, a display for displaying the information received by the receiver and some previously stored programmed information and an illuminator for illuminating the display characterized in providing a switching means, and the functions of turning the illuminator on, if the switching means is operated while the image on the display is in the mode of displaying programmed information and of changing the image on the display to the mode of displaying received message if the switching means is operated again while the display is in the mode of displaying programmed information under the illuminated state.

2. A display-equipped pager as set forth in claim 1 wherein a control means is provided which controls of storing the demodulated received message, of illuminating the display when it is detected that the switching means is operated while said display is in the mode of displaying programmed information and of changing the mode of displaying programmed information to the mode of displaying received message when the switch is operated again during the predetermined period.

3. A display-equipped. pager as set forth in claim 1 wherein said control means controls of a function of time counter which starts counting when said illuminator is turned on while said display is in the mode of displaying a programmed information and turns off the illuminator after a predetermined period of time elapses if a further switch operation is not detected during said period.

4. A display-equipped pager as set forth in claim 1 wherein said control means controls of a function of turning said illuminator off when it is detected that the image of said display is changed from the mode of displaying a received message to the mode of displaying programmed information.

5. A display-equipped pager as set forth in claim 1 wherein said programmed information previously stored within it is at least digital time information.

6. A display-equipped pager as claimed in claim 1 substantially as described herein with reference to Figs. 2 and 4 or Figs. 3 and 4 of the accompanying drawings.