GB2346288A

GB2346288A - Portable communication device with illumination means

Info

Publication number: GB2346288A
Application number: GB0001912A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Saitoshi Nariyama
Original assignee: NEC Corp
Current assignee: NEC Corp
Priority date: 1999-01-28
Filing date: 2000-01-27
Publication date: 2000-08-02
Anticipated expiration: 2020-01-27
Also published as: JP2000224287A; JP3105880B2; GB0001912D0; GB2346288B

Abstract

A portable communication device, such as a portable telephone, comprises a light emitter and a controller. A portion of the device is illuminated by the light emitter e.g. backlight, keypad or incoming call notifier. A controller controls or switches the light emitter such that the light emitter starts emission of the light when a light emission start/stop key is depressed by a user and stops the emission of light when the start/stop key is depressed by the user again.

Description

PORTABLE COMMUNICATION APPARATS AND METHOD OF OPERATING THE PORTABLE COMMUNICATION APPARATS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a portable communication apparatus and a method of operating the portable communication apparatus. More particularly, the present invention relates to a portable communication apparatus and a method of operating the portable communication apparatus so that it is capable of being easily recognized under low light circumstances.

2. Description of the Related Art Presently, the number of portable telephone subscribers increases year by year, and portable telephones having multiple functions, being small in size and being light in weight, are frequently employed.

For example, a conventional portable telephone has an incoming notifying section for notifying the user of an incoming call signal by using a light and ringing, a display section for displaying a telephone number or other information, and an operating section for inputting a telephone number by depressing keys. These sections are lighted by a light emitter when an incoming call signal is received, and the lighting is continued for as long as the incoming call signal is being received.

Further, the light emitter is activated when a user depresses one of keys, and the light emitter continues to emit light for a predetermined period of time. The predetermined period of time is usually set to a very short time period, usually 10 seconds or less. In a conventional portable telephone, light emission is made only within a given shortest period of time as required at the time of both receiving a call and depressing the keys.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is therefore an object of at least the preferred embodiment of the present invention to provide a portable communication apparatus and a method of operating the portable communication apparatus capable of making it simple for another person to recognize the existence of a user of the portable communication apparatus in low light circumstances.

It is another such object to provide a portable communication apparatus and a method of operating the portable communication apparatus wherein a portion of the portable communication apparatus is lighted by a light emitter for a desired time internal regardless if the portable communication apparatus is receiving an incoming call signal.

Accordingly, there is provided a portable communication apparatus comprising a light emitter for emitting light, and a controller for controlling the light emitter such that the light emitter starts emission of the light according to a first key operation by a user and stops the emission of the light according to a second key operation by the user of the portable communication apparatus.

Another portable communication apparatus according to the present invention comprises a light emitter for emitting light, an operator key for setting a predetermined period of time, wherein the predetermined first period of time is equal to or more than one minute, and a controller controls the light emitter such that the light emitter emits light for the predetermined first period of time according to a first key operation by a user of the portable communication apparatus.

A method of operating a portable communication apparatus according to the present invention comprises setting a light emission mode, whereby a light emitter starts light emission while the portable communication apparatus waits for an incoming call signal, and canceling the light emission mode, whereby the light emitter stops light emission, if the incoming call signal is not received.

Another method of operating a portable communication apparatus according to the present invention comprises setting a light emission mode, wherein a light emitter emits light to light a portion of the portable communication apparatus for a predetermined first period of time, and depressing at least one key, whereby the light emitter emits light for predetermined first period of time which is shorter than the predetermined first period of time, if the light emission mode is not set and an incoming call signal is not received.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENT INVENTION Preferred features of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1 is a flowchart showing the operation of a conventional portable telephone; FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing the operational another conventional portable telephone; FIG. 3 is a block diagram showing a structure of a portable telephone in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an appearance of a portable telephone in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention ; FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation of a portable telephone in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention ; FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an example of the operation of a portable telephone in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention; FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a structure of a portable telephone in accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention; and FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an appearance of a portable telephone in accordance with the third embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Now, a conventional portable telephone will be described with reference to the drawings before preferred embodiments of the present invention are discussed.

In FIG. 1, the operation of the conventional portable telephone which receives an incoming call signal from another telephone is shown.

Referring to FIG. 1, the conventional portable telephone waits for an incoming call signal from another telephone (step Stol). It is determined whether or not the portable telephone receives the incoming call signal (step S102). In step S102, if the portable telephone does not receive the incoming call signal (i. e.'No'is selected at step S102), the operation of the portable telephone again returns to step S101.

In step S102, if the related portable telephone receives the incoming call signal (i. e. Yes'is selected at step S102), an incoming notifying section, a display section and an operating section having a plurality of keys start emitting a light in order to notify a user of the portable telephone that the incoming call signal is being received (step S103). It is determined whether or not a conversation with another telephone starts by the user's operating keys (step S104). If the conversation does not start (i. e No'is selected at step S104), the operation of the portable telephone returns to step S103 to continue light emitting operation. Whereas if the conversation starts (i. e. Yes'is selected at step S104), the incoming notifying section, the display section and the operating section stop their light emission (step S105).

As shown in the above operation at the time of receiving an incoming call signal, when a conversation with another telephone ends, emission of light from the respective sections is automatically stopped.

Another operation of the conventional portable telephone is shown in FIG. 2.

Referring to FIG. 2, a conventional portable telephone waits for an incoming call signal from another telephone (step S201). It is determined whether or not a user depresses any keys (step S202). In step S202, if the user does not depress any keys (i. e. No'is selected at step S202), the operation of the portable telephone returns to step S201.

In step S202, if the user depresses at least one of the keys (i. e. Yes'is selected at step S202), a timer starts to count a predetermined period of time (Step S203), and a display section and a operating section with keys start to emit light (step S204), whereby the user can easily operate the keys in a low light environment. The predetermined period of time is usually set to a short time period, usually less than 10 seconds. In this state, it is further determined whether or not the user depresses any keys (step S205). If the user depresses at least one key, the timer resets the count (step S205) and then starts to count a predetermined period of time (step S203). While the timer counts, the display section and the operating section continue to emit light.

In step S205, if the user does not depress any keys (i. e. No'is selected at step S205), it is determined whether or not the timer finishes counting the predetermined period of time (step S207). If the timer does not finish counting the predetermined period of time (i. e.'No'is selected at step S207), the display section and the operating section continue to emit light. If the timer finishes counting the predetermined period of time (i. e. Yes'is selected at step S207), the display section and the operating section stop emitting light (step S208).

As shown in another operation of the conventional portable telephone, when the user depresses any keys, the display section and the operating section start emitting light and stop the light emission after a predetermined period of time elapses.

The light emitting functions of the conventional portable telephone shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 are employed as lighting when a user is notified that an incoming call signal is being received or keying is made by the user.

The above-discussed two operations are implemented on a portable communication apparatus according to the present invention.

Next, a detailed description will be given of a portable communication apparatus, such as a portable/mobile telephone according to preferred embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings.

A portable telephone 100 in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention is shown in FIG. 3. Referring to FIG. 3, the portable telephone 100 has an incoming call notifying section 1, a display section 2, a key operating section 3, a transmission/reception antenna 4, a transmitter/receiver section 5, a microphone section 6, a speaker section 7, a control section 8, an incoming call notifying section lighting unit 11, a display section lighting unit 12 and a key operating section lighting unit 13.

The incoming call notifying section 1 notifies a user of an incoming call signal received through the transmit/receive antenna 4 from a base station (not shown). Usually, the incoming call notifying section 1 is disposed, as shown in FIG. 4, on a front upper portion or a top surface of the portable telephone 100. However, it may be disposed at such a position as a lower portion thereof or a side surface thereof, where the user readily recognizes the incoming call signal.

The display section 2 displays a telephone number inputted through the key operating section 3, such as information relating to function setting and information included in a received call signal. The display section 2 is made up of a liquid crystal display (LCD) or other equivalent materials. The key operating section 3 has a plurality of operation keys including a light emission start/stop key 30, function keys (not shown) and numeral keys (not shown). The keys are arranged for inputting a telephone number at the time of transmission and for recognizing contents stored in a storage unit (not shown) through depressing the function keys and numeral keys. Various functions stored in the storage unit are set by depressing the function and numeral keys. The light emission start/stop key 30 is depressed by the user, whereby a light emission start instruction is inputted to the control section 8. Then, the control section 8 starts light emitting operation according to the light emission start instruction. The light emitting operation renders at least one of the incoming call notifying section lighting unit 11, the display section lighting unit 12 and the operating section lighting unit 13 active. On the other hand, when the light emission start/stop key 30 is depressed by the user when the light emitting operation is currently progressing, a light emission stop instruction is inputted to the control section 8. Then, the control section 8 stops the light emitting operation according to the light emission stop instruction.

The transmission/reception antenna 4 is formed of a bar-shaped antenna member capable of being extracted from the main body of the portable telephone 100, and contained in the main body of the portable telephone 100.

The antenna transmits and receives a radio frequency signal to and from the base station (not shown). If the sensitivity of the transmission/reception antenna 4 is low, the transmission/reception antenna 4 may be extended from the main body of the portable telephone in use. The transmitter/receiver section 5 modulates transmission data and supply a power indicative of the transmission data to the transmission/reception antenna 4, or demodulates incoming data received from the base station through the transmission/reception antenna 4.

The microphone section 6 converts a voice produced by the user into an electric signal indicative of the voice and supplies the electric signal to the transmitter/receiver section 5. The speaker section 7 converts a electric signal indicative of a voice into the voice and sends it out.

The control section 8 controls the operation of the above respective sections and also controls the light emitting operation of the respective lighting units 11-13 which will be described later.

The incoming call notifying section lighting unit 11 is a lighting unit for notifying the user of an incoming call signal from the base station (not shown) by emitting light from the incoming call notifying section 1. Normally, its light source is a light emitting diode (LED), which is effective due to its brightness.

However, other light sources can be used.

The display section lighting unit 12 is a lighting unit for facilitating the viewing of the contents displayed on the display section 2 in low light circumstances. Normally, its light source is a light emitting diode (LED), which is effective due to its brightness. As described above, in the case where the display section 2 is formed of a liquid crystal display (LCD), if the light emitting diode (LED) is used as a back light system or the side light system, the displayed contents are more readily recognized.

The key operating section lighting unit 13 is a lighting unit for facilitating the viewing of the operation keys disposed on the key operating section 3 in low light circumstances. Normally, its light source is a light emitting diode (LED), which is effective due to its brightness. If lighting by the key operating section lighting unit 13 is irradiated by a back light system with the operation keys composed of a translucent material, the use of the portable telephone in low light circumstances is facilitated. That is, a wrong call by inputting an incorrect number is prevented.

FIG. 4 is a diagram showing an appearance of a portable telephone 100 in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 4, in the portable telephone 100, according to the embodiment of the present invention, the incoming call notifying section 1, the display section 2, the key operating section 3, the speaker section 7 and the microphone section 6 are arrangement on a front portion of the portable telephone 100. The transmission/reception antenna 4 is structured to be receivable in a main body of the portable telephone 100. This arrangement is shown as a preferred embodiment of the present invention, and the arrangement of the respective sections can be changed in accordance with convenience. For example, in the case where the present invention is adapted to a folding portable telephone, the microphone section 6 may be disposed on a opening/closing cover section, or the incoming call notifying section 1 may be disposed on a side surface of the main body.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart showing an operation of a portable telephone 100 in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG.

5, there is shown an incoming call wait processing wherein the portable telephone 100 waits for an incoming call signal from the base station (step S1). In this embodiment, a user depresses the light emission start key 30 exclusively provided on the key operating section 3, whereby a light emission start instruction is inputted to the control section 8 (step S2). The user may depress a plurality of keys including a function key and a numeral key to input the light emission start instruction.

If the light emission start instruction is not inputted (i. e. NO'is selected in step S2), the operation returns to step S1, to continue the incoming call wait processing.

If the light emission start instruction is inputted (i. e. YES'is selected in step S2), the control section 8 starts the light emitting operation by at least one of the incoming notifying section lighting unit 11, the display section lighting unit 12 and the operating section lighting unit 13 (step S3).

In step S3, the incoming call wait processing is continued in a state where the light emitting operation is started (step S4). Then, it is confirmed whether a light emission stop instruction is inputted from the key operating section 3, or not (step S5). The light emission stop instruction is inputted by the user who depresses the light emission start/stop key 30 or combination of a plurality of keys, for example, the function keys and the numeral keys.

If the light emission stop instruction is not inputted (i. e. NO'is selected in step S5), the operation returns to step S3, to continue the light emitting operation of at least one of the incoming notifying section lightning unit 11, the display section lightning unit 12 and the key operating section lightning unit 13 as well as the incoming call wait processing.

If the light emission stop instruction is inputted (i. e. YES'is selected in step S5), the control section 8 stops the light emitting operation by the incoming call notifying section lighting unit 11, the display section lighting unit 12 and the key operating section lighting unit 13, to thereby turn off the lighting of the incoming call notifying section 1, the display section 2 and the key operating section 3 (step S6).

According to this embodiment of the present invention, upon inputting the light emission start instruction or the light emission stop instruction by a key operation from the key operating section 3, the user can turn on or off the lighting of the respective sections of the incoming call notifying section 1, the display section 2 and the key operating section 3 on the basis of a control signal from the control section 8 at anytime and any period when the user desires to turn on the light. The user holds the portable telephone that emits a light from the respective sections in a desired time and a desired period, wherein the portable telephone is contained in a carrying case which attaches to the user, so that a front surface of the portable telephone can be recognized. Since the user walks while the carrying case is attached to on his waist or arm, an automobile's driver can readily recognize light emitting from the body of the portable telephone in low light circumstances, thereby making it possible to ensure the safety of the user.

Light patterns emitted by the incoming notifying call section lighting unit 11, the display section lighting unit 12 and the operating section lighting unit 13 which are controlled by the control section 8 will now be discussed.

In the above-described first embodiment of the present invention, the respective lighting units 11-13 that allow the incoming call notifying section 1, the display section 2 and the operating section 3 to emit light include plural patterns of the light emitting operation controlled by the control section 8.

Hereinafter, examples of the patterns of the light emitting operation will be described.

As a first pattern, the light emitting operation by the incoming call notifying section lighting unit 11, the display section lighting unit 12 and the operating section lighting unit 13 is started at the same time when the light emission start/stop key 30 is operated, and light emission continues until the light emission start/stop key 30 is operated by the user again.

As a second pattern, the light emitting operation by the incoming call notifying section lighting unit 11, the display section lighting unit 12 and the operating section lighting unit 13 is started at the same time wherein each light flashes when the light emission start/stop key 30 is operated by the user, and the flashing continues until the light emission start/stop key 30 is operated by the user again.

As a third pattern, the light emitting operation by the incoming call notifying section lighting unit 11, the display section lighting unit 12 and the operating section lighting unit 13 is started in an arbitrary order since the light emission start/stop key 30 is operated by the user, and flashing continues until the light emission start/stop key 30 is operated by the user again.

For example, in the third pattern, if the light emission start instruction is inputted, the operation is made such that the incoming call notifying section lighting unit 11, the display section lighting unit 12 and the operating section lighting unit 13 are repeatedly flashed in the stated order. Hence, any one of those sections is always lighted.

The lightning pattern of the light emitting operation can be changed by a setting operation through the key operating section 3 by the user.

The light emitting operation as controlled by the control section 8 when an incoming call is made will now be discussed.

As shown in the flowchart illustrated in FIG. 5, the incoming call wait processing (step S4) is continued even in a duration of the light emitting operation (step S3). During this light emitting operation (step S3), when an incoming call signal is received, the pattern of the light emitting operation is changed to distinguish it from the pattern displayed before the incoming call signal is received. In lieu of changing the pattern of the light emitting operation, its brightness of light emitted from the incoming call notifying section lighting unit 11, the display section lighting unit 12 and the operating section lighting unit 13 may be changed. Thus, the user is notified of the incoming call signal by the light pattern change. At the same time, a speaker function or a vibrator function which allows the portable telephone to vibrate are activated for notifying the user of the incoming call signal. As a result, even in the event where the user puts the portable telephone on his waist or arm, the user can be surely notified of the incoming call signal.

When the user who has recognized the incoming call signal through the change of the pattern of the light emitting operation, a sound or a. ringing by the speaker function or the vibrator function, and depresses an incoming confirmation key 31 arranged on the key operating section 3, the portable telephone shifts to the speech state. At the same time where the incoming confirmation key 31 is depressed, the pattern of the light emitting operation is changed to the pattern emitted prior to the incoming call signal, and the light emitting operation continues after the conversation has been started until the light emission start/stop key 30 is depressed by the user to stop the light emitting operation.

If the light emission stop instruction is inputted to the control section 8 by depression of the light emission start/stop key 30 in the speech state, a control signal is sent out from the control section 8 at that time to turn off the incoming call notifying section lighting unit 11, the display section lighting unit 12 and the operating section lighting unit 13.

Further, during light emitting according to the operation shown in FIG. 2, if the light emission start/stop key 30 is operated by the user, the light emitting operation is continued after the lapse of the predetermined period of time.

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be discussed with reference to FIG. 6.

FIG. 6 is a flowchart showing an operation of a portable telephone 100 in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention.

In this embodiment, the light emitting operation continues for a predetermined period of time which is set by the user of the portable telephone through the key operating section 3. That is, the light emitting operation automatically stops without depressing the light emission start/stop key 30, when there is a lapse of the predetermined period from its start. The predetermined period is equal to or more than 1 minute, preferably it is equal to or more than 10 minutes in order to make it easy that an automobile's driver recognizes the existence of a user in low light circumstances.

The predetermined period of time can variably be set by the user through the key operating section 3, i. e.

1 minute, 5 minutes, 10 minutes, 20 minutes and similar intervals. The predetermined period of time may be essentially equal to the time when the user walks from a station of a train or a bus stop to his home. In contrast to the present invention, in the conventional portable telephone described the above, when there is a lapse of about 10 seconds, a light emission automatically stops. The light emission of this short time period cannot achieve the above objects of the present invention. If the predetermined period of time such as 10 minutes is set, even if there is a lapse of the short time period such as 10 seconds, the light emission is continued until a lapse of 10 minutes.

Referring to FIGS. 3,4 and 6, there is shown an incoming call signal wait processing wherein the portable telephone waits for an incoming call signal from the base station (step S11). It is determined whether or not a user who feels to be in danger in'low light circumstances sets a light emitting period of time through the key operating section 3 is set (step S12). For example, the predetermined light emitting period of time is set to 10 minutes.

If the user does not set the light emitting period of time (i. e. NO'is selected in step S12), the normal incoming call wait processing is continued (i. e. return to step Sll).

If the light emitting period of time is set to 10 minutes by the user (i. e. YES'is selected in step S12), the control section 8 starts a count operation for 10 minutes (step S13).

At the same time when the count operation for the light emitting period of time is started by the control section 8, the light emitting operation by the incoming notifying section lighting unit 11, the display section lighting unit 12 and the operating section lighting unit 13 is started (step S14).

In step S14, the incoming call wait processing is continued in a state where the light emitting operation has been started (step S14). It is determined by the control section 8 whether or not the count for the light emitting period of time is expired (step S16).

If the count for the light emitting period of time is not expired, that is, 10 minutes do not elapse (i. e. NO'is selected in step S16), the light emitting operation by the incoming call notifying section lighting unit 11, the display section lighting unit 12 and the operating section lighting unit 13 is continued.

If the count for the light emitting period of time is expired, that is, 10 minutes elapse (i. e. YES' is selected in step S16), the control signal from the control section 8 allows the termination of the light emitting operation by the incoming call notifying section lighting unit 11, the display section lighting unit 12 and the operating section lighting unit 13, to thereby turn off the lighting of the incoming notifying section 1, the display section 2 and the operating section 3 (step S17).

In this embodiment, also, when an incoming call signal is received while executing the light emitting operation, a pattern of the light emitting operation is changed for distinguishing from the pattern presented before the incoming call signal is received.

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be discussed. FIG. 7 is a block diagram showing a structure of a portable telephone 200 in accordance with the third embodiment of the present invention. What is different from the above-described first and second embodiments of the present invention is that an extendable tip portion of a transmission/reception antenna 40 emits a light. A description of portions identical with those in the above-described embodiments will be omitted.

Referring to FIG. 7, in order to make the transmission/reception antenna 40 emit a light, there is provided an antenna section lighting unit 14. The light emission of the antenna section lighting unit 14 is controlled by the control section 8 as in the first and second embodiments of the present invention. That is, an operation of emission of the antenna section lightning unit 14 is the same way to the light emitting operation as described in the first and second embodiments.

FIG. 8 is a diagram showing an appearance of a portable telephone 200 in accordance with the third embodiment of the present invention.

Referring to FIG. 8, there is shown a state in which the. tip portion of the transmission/reception antenna 40 emits a light. With the light emission of the tip portion of the transmission/reception antenna 40, the lighting or flashing of the tip portion can be readily recognized, even when a surface of the portable telephone 100 on which the incoming notifying section 1, the display section 2 and the key operating section 3 are arranged is directed inward, such as when the user is talking.

The above-described embodiments are preferred embodiments of the present invention and can be modified and implemented in the scope without departing the subject matter of the present invention. For example, the present invention can be applied to an personal handy telephone device, a movable radio station, a transceiver or the like.

As is apparent from the above description, according to the portable telephone of the present invention, the incoming notifying section, the display section and the operating section provided in the portable telephone device is lighted for a given period of time for the purpose of allowing the portable telephone to be viewed in low light circumstances. In addition, with the above structure, if the respective lighting units are continuously lighted or continuously flashed, and the portable telephone is put on, for example, the user's waist or the like, the user can early notify a near driver of the existence of the user, thus contributing to traffic safety.

While the present invention has been described in its preferred embodiments, it is to be understood that the words which have been used are words of description rather than limitation and that changes may be made to the invention without departing from its scope as defined by the appended claims.

Each feature disclosed in this specification (which term includes the claims) and/or shown in the drawings may be incorporated in the invention independently of other disclosed and/or illustrated features.

The text of the abstract filed herewith is repeated here as part of the specification.

A portable communication apparatus according to the present invention comprises a light emitter and a controller.

A portion of the portable communication apparatus is lighted by the light emitter. A controller controls the light emitter such that the light emitter starts emission of the light when a light emission start/stop key is depressed by a user and stops the emission of the light when the light emission start/stop key is depressed by the user again.

Claims

1. A portable communication apparatus, comprising: a light emitter for emitting light; and a controller for controlling said light emitter such that said light emitter starts emission of the light in response to a first key operation by a user and stops the emission of the light in response to a second key operation by the user. of said portable communication apparatus.

2. The portable communication apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said controller controls-said light emitter such that said light emitter starts the emission of the light when the user depresses at least one key as the first key operation and stops the emission of the light when the user depresses the same at least one key as the second key operation.

3. The portable communication apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein said controller controls said light emitter to change the emission pattern of said light emitter when an incoming call signal is received while said light emitter is operating.

4. The portable communication apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: a key operator having a plurality of keys for inputting information; a display for displaying the information; and a notifier for notifying an incoming call.

5. The portable communication apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein at least one key of said key operator, said display and said notifier are lighted by said light emitter when the first key operation is executed.

6. The portable communication apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein at least one key of said key operator, said display and said notifier are lighted when the incoming call signal is received, even if the first key operation is not executed.

7. The portable communication apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first key operation is executed by depressing a predetermined key.

8. The portable communication apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein at least one key of said key operator and said display is lighted by the light emitter for a predetermined period of time when at least one of the keys of said key operator is operated, even if the first key operation is not executed.

9. The portable communication apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein emission of said light emitter automatically stops after a lapse of said predetermined period of time if the first key operation is not executed.

10. The portable communication apparatus as claimed in claim 8, wherein the predetermined period of time is shorter than one minute.

11. The portable communication apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising an antenna which is lighted by said light emitter when the key operation is executed.

12. The portable communication apparatus as claimed in claim 11, wherein said antenna is lighted by said light emitter when the incoming call signal is received.

13. A portable communication apparatus, comprising: a light emitter for emitting light; means for enabling a user to set a predetermined period of time ; and a controller for controlling said light emitter such that said light emitter emits for the predetermined period of time in response to a key operation by the user of the portable communication apparatus.

14. The portable communication apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the predetermined period of time is equal to or more than one minute.

15. The portable communication apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein the predetermined period of time is greater than or equal to 10 minutes.

16. The portable communication apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein a portion of the portable communication apparatus is lighted for a predetermined further period of time which is shorter than said predetermined period of time in response to further key operation by the user.

17. The portable communication apparatus as claimed in claim 13, further comprising a key operator which has a specified key for executing said key operation and a plurality of keys including numeral keys and function keys.

18. The portable communication apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein the further key operation is executed by depressing at least one of the keys including the numeral keys and the function keys.

19. The portable communication apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein a portion of said portable communication apparatus is lighted by said light emitter when an incoming call signal is received.

20. The portable communication apparatus as claimed in claim 13, further comprising: an antenna; a plurality of keys including numeral-keys and function keys; a display for displaying information ; and a notifier for notifying an incoming call.

21. The portable communication apparatus as claimed in claim 20, wherein the light emitter is adapted to light at least one of said antenna, said plurality of keys, said display and said notifier.

22. A method of operating a portable communication apparatus, the method comprising: setting a light emission mode, whereby a light emitter starts light emission while the portable communication apparatus waits for an incoming call signal; and canceling the light emission mode, whereby the light emitter stops light emission, if the incoming call signal is not received.

23. The method as claimed in claim 22, wherein in the light emission mode the light emitter lights at least one of an antenna, a plurality of keys, a display for displaying information and a notifier for notifying an incoming call signal.

24. The method as claimed in claim 22, wherein the light emitter emits light for a predetermined period of time in response to an operation of at least one key even if the light emission mode is not set.

25. The portable communication apparatus as claimed in claim 24, wherein the light emitter continues to emit light after a lapse of the predetermined period of time if the light emission mode is set.

26. The method as claimed in claim 22, wherein the light emitter emits light while the incoming call signal is received even if the light emission mode is not set.

27. The method as claimed in claim 26, wherein the light emitter continues to emit light after the incoming call signal stops if the light emission mode is set.

28. A method of operating a portable communication apparatus, the method comprising: setting a light emission mode, wherein a light emitter emits light to light a portion of the portable communication apparatus for a predetermined first period of time; and causing the light emitter to emit light for a predetermined second period of time which is shorter than the predetermined first period of time in response to a key operation, if the light emission mode is not set and an incoming call signal is not received.

29. The method as claimed in claim 28, wherein the predetermined second period of time is shorter than one minute and the predetermined first period of time is equal to or more than one minute.

30. The method as claimed in claim 29, wherein the predetermined first period of time is equal to or more than ten minutes.

31. A portable communication apparatus or a method, substantially as herein described with reference to or as illustrated in Figs. 3 to 8 of the accompanying drawings.