WO2015062874A1

WO2015062874A1 - Adaptation of vibration alarm of a mobile phone

Info

Publication number: WO2015062874A1
Application number: PCT/EP2014/072234
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sven Zinober; Stefan Leidich; Fabian Henrici
Original assignee: Robert Bosch Gmbh
Priority date: 2013-11-04
Filing date: 2014-10-16
Publication date: 2015-05-07
Also published as: CN105874406A; EP3066541A1; DE102013222287A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a telecommunication terminal (1) comprising a housing (2), a device (3) for producing a vibration alarm and which is designed to mechanically excite at least parts of the housing (2), characterized by a detection device (4) for detecting a modification of the of the output of at least the excited parts of the housing (2) to an environment during a vibration alarm, and a control device (5) which is connected to the detection device (4) and which is designed to trigger, in accordance with the detection of a modification of the output, a function of the telecommunication terminal (1).

Description

description

title

ADAPTATION OF VIBRATION ALARM OF A MOBILE PHONE

The invention is based on a telecommunications terminal with the features of the preamble of the independent claim.

State of the art

Telecommunications terminals, especially those intended for mobile use, which are also referred to as mobile phone, "cell phone", smartphone or the like, regularly have an acoustic signal generator for the output of beeps or melodies in the presence of a specific event, such as the receipt of a telephone call or a text or multimedia message, at the approach of a stored appointment or the like.

In addition to the acoustic signal transmitter, these devices also regularly have a so-called vibration alarm. To generate the vibration alarm, for example, an electric motor with imbalance or an electromagnetic actuator may be provided, which excites the telecommunication terminal or at least parts of the housing to mechanical vibrations.

In various situations, the output of a beep or signal melody may be disturbed by the audible buzzer, such as at meetings, theater attendance, and the like. Therefore, the acoustic signal generator is usually switched off. Likewise, however, the noise emissions generated by the vibrating alarm, the strong of the storage or storage of the telecommunication terminal are dependent, for example, when stored on a table top reach a disturbing level.

For switching off the acoustic signaling and / or the vibration alarm is currently a user interaction comprising the targeted operation of certain controls of the telecommunication terminal required.

Advantages of the invention

The invention with the features of the independent claim has the advantage that a user the shutdown of a

Vibrationsalarms and / or a parallel generated audible alarm, such as a beep or a signal melody is facilitated. In particular, it is no longer necessary to selectively operate certain controls or certain areas on a touch-sensitive display to turn off the alarm. Further, it is no longer necessary that

Telecommunications terminal to pull out of a jacket or trouser pocket.

For this purpose, a telecommunication terminal known per se with a housing and a device for generating a vibration alarm, which is designed to mechanically or indirectly directly excite at least parts of the housing, according to the invention via a detection device for detecting a change in a power output of at least the excited parts of the housing an environment during a vibration alarm and control means connected to the detection means, which is arranged to respond in response to the detection of a change in the

Power output to trigger a function of the telecommunication terminal. Thus, a user is able to make an input about this by simple mechanical pressure on the telecommunication terminal, so for example by mere touch or clasping with his hand

or to trigger the function. Advantageously, thus can be suppressed by the user in a simple way an incoming call or the telecommunication terminal in a meeting, mute or similar mode are switched, in which the vibration alarm and / or parallel to the vibration alarm generated further, in particular acoustic, alarm generally to to an explicit

Disconnection are switched off.

Advantageously, the detection device of the telecommunication terminal is adapted to a change in an electrical power consumption of

Establish means for generating the vibration alarm during a vibration alarm. Behind this is the idea that a change in the

Power output of the device housing to its environment at a

Vibration alarm when changing the mechanical coupling of the

Appliance housing to the environment, so for example when embracing the device housing after prior storage in a jacket pocket, a change in power consumption of the actuator for generating the

Vibrationsalarms result. Thus, from a change of

Power consumption of the actuator with a vibration alarm on a

User interaction is closed and a corresponding desired function is triggered.

Advantageously, the detection device is connected as an alternative or in addition to an acceleration sensor arranged in the telecommunication terminal and designed to detect a change of a vibration behavior at the location of the acceleration sensor during a vibration alarm. It is assumed that an altered mechanical coupling of the housing of the telecommunication terminal to its environment a

Changes of acting on the device accelerations causes, which are measurable with a device in the accelerometer.

Advantageously, the detection device is further alternatively or additionally connected to a microphone arranged in the telecommunication terminal and adapted to detect a change in a noise caused by the vibration alarm in an environment of the telecommunication terminal. It is assumed that an altered mechanical coupling of the housing of the telecommunication terminal to its environment causes a change in the noise caused by the vibration alarm.

It is particularly advantageous that the hardware equipment required for the realization of the invention, in particular also the required sensor technology, is widespread in today's mobile telephones. The hardware equipment for evaluating the sensor signals is usually available in the form of high-performance processors and signal processing equipment. Thus, the invention may be advantageous by adapting the operating system or the

Operating software of the telecommunication terminal to be implemented.

drawings

Embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and are explained in more detail below. The same reference numerals in the figures designate the same or equivalent elements.

Show it

Figure 1 is a block diagram of an inventive

Telecommunication terminal,

Figure 2 is a block diagram of a first variant for detecting the change in the output from the housing of the telecommunication terminal to the environment and power

Figure 3 is a block diagram of a second variant for detecting the change in the output from the housing of the telecommunication terminal to the environment performance.

Description of the embodiments 1 shows a block diagram with the invention essential parts of a telecommunication terminal 1 according to the invention. The term telecommunication terminal is in this case, for example, a per se known mobile phone, in short mobile phone or "cell phone", or a

Smartphone, meaning a mobile phone with Internet access.

The telecommunications terminal, here mobile phone 1, has in a conventional manner a housing 2 which surrounds the components of the mobile phone 1. In the figure 1, the housing is simplified symbolized by a plate 2. The component designated by reference numeral 2 may also be a part of the housing of the mobile telephone 1.

The telecommunication terminal, in this case mobile telephone 1, has a loudspeaker 6 for outputting telephony in a manner known per se.

Speech signals and for generating signals on the occurrence of certain events, such as signaling tones, melodies or sounds, such as ringtones, when receiving a telephone call or at

Before an appointment noted in an electronic calendar of the device.

The mobile phone 1 furthermore has, in a manner known per se, a device 3 for generating a so-called vibration alarm. The

Device 3 for generating the vibration alarm comprises an actuator, for example an electric motor M (FIG. 2), preferably direct current

Electric motor is attached to the shaft an imbalance or one

Electromagnet HM (Figure 3) with electromagnetically driven mass. When the motor M is driven by a direct current, the imbalance mass arranged on the motor shaft triggers a mechanical oscillation. Similarly, a periodic activation of the electromagnet HM triggers an oscillation.

These vibrations act on the actuator 3 back. In the case of a rigid mechanical connection 31 of the actuator 3 with the housing 2 or a housing part 2, the housing 2 or housing part 2 of the telecommunication terminal 2 is also caused to vibrate due to the generated vibration. These Housing vibrations are for a user who uses the

Telecommunications terminal 1 holds in the hand or on the body or close to body with it, as vibration felt. Furthermore, these housing vibrations also cause the surrounding air to vibrate, resulting in sound waves. When stored for example on a table top also clearly audible noise caused by vibration of the telecommunication terminal 1 on the table top.

The mechanical coupling of the mobile telephone 1 to its surroundings 9 can be described by a combination of spring 7 and damper 8. The spring and damper characteristics are dependent on where or how the telecommunication terminal 1 is held or stored. When worn in a pocket of outerwear, these characteristics are different than when the device 1, for example, a tabletop and in turn is different when the device 1 is held in the hand.

By applying mechanical pressure, for example by solid

Clasping the device 1, the coupling to the environment 9 is changed. The stiffness or the damping of the model in Figure 1

assumed coupling becomes larger or changes. The device 1, more precisely the housing 2 of the telecommunication terminal 1 thus couples into

different level of performance into the environment 9. This effect makes use of the present invention.

For this purpose, the telecommunication terminal 1, in this case the mobile telephone 1, has a detection device 4 which is designed to determine the extent of the power delivered by the device 1 to the environment as a result of a vibration alarm and from a change in this power output to an access of the user to the mobile radio telephone 1 close.

To detect a change in the output from the housing 2 of the mobile phone 1 to the environment performance will be exemplified below

various approaches described that can be used alternatively or optionally combined with each other. This description of this various approaches is not limited to these embodiments, further embodiments are possible and are encompassed by the present invention.

If the detection device 4 detects a change in the power output of the housing 2 of the mobile telephone 1 at its surroundings 9, the control device 5 switches an acoustic notification signal output via the loudspeaker 6, that is to say a ring tone

Signaling melody or sound off. Further, in preferred

Embodiment also switched off the vibration alarm. Shutdown means a shutdown only for the currently triggering the signaling event, so for example only for a just incoming phone call, a short or multimedia message or an appointment reminder.

Alternatively, switching off means a permanent shutdown, so that even with subsequent incoming phone calls, short or multimedia messages or appointment reminders no signaling by acoustic signal or vibration alarm. This permanent shutdown remains in effect until it is explicitly canceled by the user by a corresponding operator input on the mobile phone.

The detection device 4 and the control device 5 can advantageously be realized in the form of modules of an operating software or an operating system of the mobile phone 1, which are processed by a processor of the mobile phone. Also conceivable is a realization in the form of dedicated hardware circuits.

In a first embodiment, the detection device 4 is designed to detect a change in the electrical power consumption of the device 3 for generating the vibration alarm during a vibration alarm. For detecting the power consumption of the device 3 for generating the vibration alarm is a first sensor 41. It is based on the consideration that due to a change in power output of the housing 2 to the Environment 9 with changed coupling 7, 8 to the environment 9, the power absorbed by the actuator 3 changes.

A first variant of this first embodiment is shown in FIG. A vibration motor M based on a DC motor with imbalance is connected by a switching transistor 51, here a MOSFET, with the operating voltage U +. The current flow can be determined directly or at a series resistor 45 by measuring the voltage drop across the transistor having a defined on-resistance R _D s, on. Typical currents are in the range 50-100 mA. For an assumed R _D s, on the transistor or

The value of the series resistance of 1 Ω already leads to a change of 5% of the current to an easily measured voltage swing of 2.5-5.0 mV. The voltage can be measured by means of an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) or threshold value switch 41 integrated in the microcontroller. Under the

Assuming that the microcontroller already requires ADCs for other functions, no significant additional hardware is required. The signal can be supplied by an external or internal multiplexer.

A second variant of the first embodiment is shown in FIG.

In this variant, the actuator 3 in the form of a solenoid with

implemented electromagnetically deflectable mass. The drive takes place

Solenoids HM by means of a bipolar biphasic current generated by the arrangement of the solenoid HM in a H-bridge and alternately simultaneous control of the switches 53 and 55 on the one hand and 54 and 52 on the other hand. The measurement of power consumption of

Solenoids HM is analogous to the first variant shown in FIG. 2

In a second embodiment, the detection device 4 is connected to an acceleration sensor 42 (FIG. 1) arranged in the telecommunication terminal 1 and is configured to change the

Detect vibration behavior at the location of the acceleration sensor 42 during a vibration alarm. With modified mechanical coupling 7, 8 of the housing 2 of the mobile phone 1 to the environment 9, approximately by

Clasping a mobile phone 1 stored on a table top in response to a ringtone or vibration alert by the user is due to a change in the accelerations acting on the mobile phone 1

go out. These accelerations are detected by the acceleration sensor 42, and their change is evaluated by the detection device 4.

The vibration motor M puts the housing into significant vibration.

Typical frequencies are in the range 50-200 Hz. The detection of the signal by means of the 3-axis acceleration sensor integrated in the smartphone is easily possible. According to FIG. 1, it is assumed that the variation of the coupling with the environment leads to a change of the movement at the location of the acceleration sensor. The user interaction, for example firm embrace of the device 1 can be done by evaluating the vibration amplitude. The fundamental frequency and its harmonics can be considered. The evaluation can take place in the ASIC of the acceleration sensor or in the microcontroller of the device.

In a third embodiment, the detection device 4 with

with the arranged in the telecommunication terminal 1 microphone 43, which is used regularly for the detection of speech signals for telephony, connected and adapted to detect a change in a noise caused by the vibration alarm in an environment of the mobile phone 1. Similar to the detection by means of an acceleration sensor, the

Retroactivity of the environment can be detected by the sound emission. In addition to the keynote, the overtones are of particular interest, which are subject to strong influence. The evaluation can also be done in the ASIC of the

Microphones or in the microcontroller of the device.

Claims

claims

1. telecommunication terminal (1)

with a housing (2),

with a device (3) for generating a vibration alarm, which is designed to mechanically excite at least parts of the housing (2), characterized by

a detection device (4) for detecting a change in a

Power output of at least the excited parts of the housing (2) to an environment during a vibration alarm and

a control device (5) connected to the detection device (4), which is designed in response to the detection of a change in the

Power output to trigger a function of the telecommunication terminal (1).

2. Telecommunication terminal (1) according to claim 1,

characterized in that the control device (5) is designed to switch off the vibration alarm and / or a further alarm generated in parallel with the vibration alarm.

3. telecommunication terminal (1) according to claim 1 or 2,

characterized in that the detection device (4) is adapted to detect a change in an electrical power consumption of the device (3) for generating the vibration alarm during a vibration alarm.

4. telecommunication terminal (1) according to one of the preceding claims,

characterized in that the detection device (4) with a in the

Telecommunications terminal (1) arranged acceleration sensor (42) and is adapted to a change in a vibration behavior at the location of the acceleration sensor (42) during a vibration alarm.

5. telecommunication terminal (1) according to one of the preceding claims,

characterized in that the detection device (4) is connected to a microphone (43) arranged in the telecommunication terminal (1) and adapted to detect a change in a noise caused by the vibration alarm in an environment of the telecommunication terminal (1).