U.S. patent application number 09/479226 was filed with the patent office on 2002-03-21 for cellular mobile telephone apparatus and an alarm device therefor.
Invention is credited to HIGUCHI, KAZUTOSHI, KANOMATA, YOSHIHIRO, TAKAHARA, YASUAKI, TOMIHARA, HIROYUKI.
Application Number | 20020034970 09/479226 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 15420459 |
Filed Date | 2002-03-21 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020034970 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
HIGUCHI, KAZUTOSHI ; et
al. |
March 21, 2002 |
CELLULAR MOBILE TELEPHONE APPARATUS AND AN ALARM DEVICE
THEREFOR
Abstract
A cellular mobile telephone apparatus comprising a main body,
and an alarm device which is provided separately from said main
body, said main body including: receiving/transmitting means for
receiving and transmitting radio frequency signals between a base
station; modulating/demodulating means for modulating and
demodulating between the radio frequency signals, and a
conversation signal and a control signal; telephone receiver means
for reproducing audible conversation voice in response to the
demodulated conversation signal from said modulating/demodulating
means; telephone transmitting means for converting conversation
voice into the conversation signal; means for controlling operation
of said main body of said cellular mobile telephone apparatus in
accordance with the control signal; and means for providing an
alarm signal which includes an identification information and is
transmitted through the radio frequency, when a call is terminated
at said main body; and said alarm device including: receiving means
for receiving the alarm signal of radio frequency; means for
discriminating the alarm signal assigned to itself from others by
the identification information included therein; and alarm means
for alarming call termination in response to the identification by
said discriminating means.
Inventors: |
HIGUCHI, KAZUTOSHI;
(YOKOHAMA-SHI, JP) ; TOMIHARA, HIROYUKI;
(HITACHINAKA-SHI, JP) ; TAKAHARA, YASUAKI;
(YOKOHAMA-SHI, JP) ; KANOMATA, YOSHIHIRO;
(YOKOHAMA-SHI, JP) |
Correspondence
Address: |
ANTONELLI TERRY STOUT AND KRAUS
SUITE 1800
1300 NORTH SEVENTEENTH STREET
ARLINGTON
VA
22209
|
Family ID: |
15420459 |
Appl. No.: |
09/479226 |
Filed: |
January 7, 2000 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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09479226 |
Jan 7, 2000 |
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08872138 |
Jun 10, 1997 |
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6032058 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
455/567 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G08B 3/1041 20130101;
H04M 19/047 20130101; H04M 1/72412 20210101; H04M 1/724 20210101;
H04W 88/02 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
455/567 ;
455/569 |
International
Class: |
H04M 001/00; H04B
001/38 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A cellular mobile telephone apparatus comprising a main body,
and an alarm device which is provided separately from said main
body, said main body including: receiving/transmitting means for
receiving and transmitting radio frequency signals between a base
station; modulating/demodulating means for modulating and
demodulating between the radio frequency signals, and a
conversation signal and a control signal; telephone receiver means
for reproducing audible conversation voice in response to the
demodulated conversation signal from said modulating/demodulating
means; telephone transmitting means for converting conversation
voice into the conversation signal; means for controlling operation
of said main body of said cellular mobile telephone apparatus in
accordance with the control signal; and means for providing an
alarm signal which includes an identification information and is
transmitted through the radio frequency, when a call is terminated
at said main body; and said alarm device including: receiving means
for receiving the alarm signal of radio frequency; means for
discriminating the alarm signal assigned to itself from others by
the identification information included therein; and alarm means
for alarming call termination in response to the identification by
said discriminating means.
2. A cellular mobile telephone apparatus defined in claim 1,
wherein said main body further comprises means for storing the
identification information and means for inputting the
identification information.
3. A cellular mobile telephone apparatus defined in claim 2,
wherein said inputting means includes push buttons of said main
body in common use for dialing.
4. A cellular mobile telephone apparatus defined in claim 1,
wherein the alarm signal provided by said alarm signal providing
means is transmitted through said receiving/transmitting means of
said main body.
5. A cellular mobile telephone apparatus defined in claim 1,
wherein said alarm means of said alarm device includes a vibrator
and rises alarm through the vibration thereof.
6. A cellular mobile telephone apparatus defined in claim 1,
wherein said alarm signal providing means of said main body further
provides a control code for controlling operation of said alarm
device.
7. A cellular mobile telephone apparatus defined in claim 6,
wherein the control code from said alarm signal providing means
includes an alarm signal for alarming exhaustion of a battery of
said main body.
8. A cellular mobile telephone apparatus defined in claim 6,
wherein the control code of said alarm signal providing means
includes a signal for indicating whether said cellular mobile
telephone apparatus is locating within an area where cellular
mobile telephone service is available or not.
9. A cellular mobile telephone apparatus defined in claim 7, said
alarm device further comprising means for alarming the exhaustion
in the battery of said main body.
10. A cellular mobile telephone apparatus defined in claim 8, said
alarm device further comprising means for indicating whether said
cellular mobile telephone apparatus is locating within an area
where cellular mobile telephone service is available or not.
11. A cellular mobile telephone apparatus defined in claim 1,
wherein said alarm signal providing means of said main body
transmits the alarm signal intermittently.
12. A cellular mobile telephone apparatus defined in claim 11,
wherein said receiving means of said alarm device intermittently
receives the alarm signal transmitted intermittently from said
alarm signal providing means.
13. A cellular mobile telephone apparatus defined in claim 12,
wherein an interval Ttr of the intermittent transmission of the
alarm signal from said main body is set to be greater than an
interval Trcv of the intermittent reception by said alarm
device.
14. A cellular mobile telephone apparatus defined in claim 1,
wherein the identification information in the alarm signal from
said alarm signal providing means includes a production serial
number of said alarm device.
15. A cellular mobile telephone apparatus comprising:
receiving/transmitting means for receiving and transmitting radio
frequency signals between a base station; modulating/demodulating
means for modulating and demodulating between the radio frequency
signals and conversation signal; telephone receiver means for
reproducing audible conversation voice in response to the
demodulated conversation signal from said modulating/demodulating
means; telephone transmitting means for converting conversation
voice into the conversation signal; means for controlling operation
of said cellular mobile telephone apparatus; and means for
providing an alarm signal which includes an identification
information and is transmitted through the radio frequency.
16. A cellular mobile telephone apparatus defined in claim 15,
further comprising means for storing the identification information
and means for inputting the identification information.
17. A cellular mobile telephone apparatus defined in claim 16,
wherein said inputting means includes pushbuttons of said main body
in common use for dialing.
18. A cellular mobile telephone apparatus defined in claim 15,
wherein the alarm signal provided by said alarm signal providing
means is transmitted through said receiving/transmitting means.
19. A cellular mobile telephone apparatus defined in claim 15,
wherein said alarm signal providing means further provides a
control signal for alarming exhaustion of a battery of said
cellular mobile telephone apparatus.
20. A cellular mobile telephone apparatus defined in claim 15,
wherein said alarm signal providing means further provides a
control signal for indicating whether said cellular mobile
telephone apparatus is locating within an area where cellular
mobile telephone service is available or not.
21. A cellular mobile telephone apparatus defined in claim 15,
wherein said alarm signal providing means transmits the alarm
signal intermittently.
22. An alarm device for a cellular mobile telephone apparatus,
being provided separately from said cellular mobile telephone
apparatus, comprising: receiving means for receiving an alarm
signal of radio frequency; means for discriminating the alarm
signal assigned to itself from others by an identification
information included therein; and alarm means for alarming call
termination in response to result of the identification by said
identifying means.
23. An alarm device defined in claim 22, wherein said alarm means
of said alarm device includes a vibrator and rises alarm through
the vibration thereof.
24. An alarm device defined in claim 22, further comprising means
for alarming battery exhaustion of said cellular mobile telephone
apparatus.
25. An alarm device defined in claim 22, further comprising means
for indicating whether said cellular mobile telephone apparatus is
locating within an area where cellular mobile telephone service is
available or not.
26. An alarm device defined in claim 22, wherein said receiving
means receives the alarm signal transmitted from said cellular
mobile telephone apparatus.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a mobile radio
communication apparatus including a portable telephone apparatus or
a code-less telephone apparatus, more particularly to a cellular
mobile telephone apparatus and an alarm device therefor, by which
so called a call termination is alerted separately from a main body
thereof.
[0003] 2. Description of Related Art
[0004] Recently, there is available a cellular mobile telephone
apparatus which alarms the call termination to a user thereof, not
by a sound but through vibration thereof, so as not to disturb the
peoples around him/her by rising the alarming sound. With such the
cellular mobile telephone apparatus, it must be used in closely
touched with a body of the user so that he/she can sense the
vibration. However, according to the present technical level, it is
difficult to miniaturize and lighten the telephone apparatus in
much more so that it can be used comfortably even in condition that
it is closely touched with the body.
[0005] For that reason, a small-sized device for alarming the call
termination has been conceived, which is separately provided from
the main body of the cellular mobile telephone apparatus. With this
small-sized device, even if the main body of the cellular mobile
telephone apparatus is put into a bag or the like, the user of the
cellular mobile telephone apparatus can notice the call to his/her
own telephone apparatus without disturbing the people around by the
alarm sound, since it notifies the call termination thereto through
it's vibration, as far as it is used closely touched with the body
of the user.
[0006] On the while, as such the alarming device, a device has been
already known, which operates if it detects a transmitted signal,
which signal is transmitted from the main body of the mobile
telephone apparatus when it receives a call signal from the base
station and sends back a termination signal for it, in a field of a
mobile telephone system or a so-called personal phone system. Also,
in Japanese Patent Laying-Open No. 6-21875 (1994), there is
disclosed a cellular mobile telephone apparatus having an auxiliary
device or unit for alarming the call termination through vibration,
which is provided separately from the main body and connected
through a cable or a radio frequency signal therebetween.
[0007] However, in the prior art mentioned above, since there is
not necessarily established a relationship between the cellular
mobile telephone apparatus and the alarm device or auxiliary unit
in a one-to-one correspondence, there is a drawbacks that the alarm
device confuses and erroneously starts vibration responding to the
transmitted signal of noticing the call termination from the mobile
telephone apparatus of the others, in particular when it is located
or used in the vicinity thereof.
[0008] Further, information which can be obtained from the alarm
device by the vibration is limited only of the call termination of
his/her own cellular mobile telephone apparatus. Therefore, there
are other drawbacks that the main body of the cellular mobile
telephone apparatus generates an alarm sound when the battery
thereof comes near to be exhausted for notifying it to the user,
thereby disturbing the other people around, and that when the user
who is carrying the alarm device with him/her is away from his/her
own cellular mobile telephone apparatus, he/she fails to hear the
arisen alarm sound nor to notice that it is in the condition that
it cannot respond a call any more because of the exhaustion of the
battery.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0009] According to the present invention, by noting the such
drawbacks mentioned above, it is an object to provide a cellular
mobile telephone apparatus and an alarm device therefor, with which
the user thereof can always notice the call termination at his/her
own cellular mobile telephone apparatus without such confusing.
[0010] And, according to the present invention, another object of
the present invention is to provide a cellular mobile telephone
apparatus and an alarm device therefor, with which the user thereof
can also notice the other conditions of his/her own cellular mobile
telephone apparatus.
[0011] For achieving the above object, according to the present
invention, there is provided a cellular mobile telephone apparatus
comprising a main body, and an alarm device which is provided
separately from said main body, said main body including:
[0012] receiving/transmitting means for receiving and transmitting
radio frequency signals between a base station;
[0013] modulating/demodulating means for modulating and
demodulating between the radio frequency signals and conversation
signal;
[0014] telephone receiver means for reproducing audible
conversation voice in response to the demodulated conversation
signal from said modulating/demodulating means;
[0015] telephone transmitting means for converting conversation
voice into the conversation signal;
[0016] means for controlling operation of said main body of said
cellular mobile telephone apparatus; and
[0017] means for providing an alarm signal which includes an
identification information and is transmitted through the radio
frequency, when a call is terminated at said main body; and said
alarm device including:
[0018] receiving means for receiving the alarm signal of radio
frequency;
[0019] means for discriminating the alarm signal assigned to itself
from others by the identification information included therein;
and
[0020] alarm means for alarming call termination in response to
result of the identification by said identifying means.
[0021] Further, for achieving the above object, according to the
present invention, there is also provided a cellular mobile
telephone apparatus comprising:
[0022] receiving/transmitting means for receiving and transmitting
radio frequency signals between a base station;
[0023] modulating/demodulating means for modulating and
demodulating between the radio frequency signals and conversation
signal;
[0024] telephone receiver means for reproducing audible
conversation voice in response to the demodulated conversation
signal from said modulating/demodulating means;
[0025] telephone transmitting means for converting conversation
voice into the conversation signal;
[0026] means for controlling operation of said cellular mobile
telephone apparatus; and
[0027] means for providing an alarm signal which includes an
identification information and is transmitted through the radio
frequency.
[0028] Moreover, for achieving the above object, according to the
present invention, there is provided an alarm device for a cellular
mobile telephone apparatus, being provided separately from said
cellular mobile telephone apparatus, comprising:
[0029] receiving means for receiving an alarm signal of radio
frequency;
[0030] means for discriminating the alarm signal assigned to itself
from others by an identification information included therein;
and
[0031] alarm means for alarming call termination in response to
result of the identification by said identifying means.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING(S)
[0032] FIG. 1 shows constructions of a cellular mobile telephone
apparatus and an alarm device as an embodiment according to the
present invention;
[0033] FIG. 2 shows external view of the cellular mobile telephone
apparatus and the alarm device as the embodiment according to the
present invention;
[0034] FIG. 3 shows formats of transmitted information as the
embodiment according to the present invention;
[0035] FIG. 4 shows an operation flow chart of the alarm device as
the embodiment according to the present invention;
[0036] FIG. 5 shows an operation timing of an alarm transmitting
circuit and an alarm receiving circuit as the embodiment according
to the present invention;
[0037] FIG. 6 shows an operation flowchart of the alarm device as
another embodiment according to the present invention; and
[0038] FIG. 7 shows constructions of the cellular mobile telephone
apparatus and the alarm device as another embodiment according to
the present invention.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0039] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be
explained by referring the attached drawings.
[0040] In FIG. 1 is shown internal construction of a cellular
mobile telephone apparatus and an alarm device therefor, as an
embodiment in accordance with the present invention, and in FIG. 2,
external view of the cellular mobile telephone apparatus and the
alarm device, as an embodiment in accordance with the present
invention.
[0041] As shown in FIG. 1, a mobile telephone apparatus is
constructed with a main body 1 as the cellular mobile telephone
apparatus and the alarm device 2 which is being separated from the
main body 1.
[0042] First, in the main body of the cellular mobile telephone
apparatus 1, radio communication signal which is transmitted from a
base station (not shown in the drawings) is received via an antenna
3 and inputted into a radio signal receiving/transmitting circuit
4, and is converted into an intermediate-frequency signal therein.
The received intermediate-frequency signal is demodulated by a
digital modulating/demodulating circuit 5 into a digital signal,
and the received signal which is demodulated into the digital
signal is decoded by an error correction coding/decoding circuit 6.
Here, the signal outputted by decoding by the error correction
coding/decoding circuit 6 includes a digital conversation signal
and a digital control signal. Between those two signals, the
digital control signal which relates to a protocol is supplied to a
control circuit 10 which controls channel assignment, etc. On a
while, the digital conversation signal, after being treated with a
decoding process by an audio coding/decoding circuit 7 and is
decoded back into an analogue conversation signal, is outputted
from a receiver 8.
[0043] On the contrary to this, after conversation voice is being
exchanged into a transmission signal by a transmitter 9, it is
encoded to a digital transmission signal by the audio
encoding/decoding circuit 7. The digital transmission signal, as
well as the digital control signal, after being encoded by the
error correction encoding/decoding circuit 6, is inputted into a
digital modulation/demodulation circuit 5 to be modulated into
quadrature modulation signal. The modulated signal is exchanged
into a high frequency signal of a predetermined radio frequency by
the radio transmitting/receiving circuit 4 and is transmitted
through the antenna 3 to the base station.
[0044] By the way, the above-mentioned control circuit 10 includes
a micro-computer as a main control part, and it includes a
termination alarm control means therein, in addition to a function
of controlling all parts thereof. The termination alarm control
means generates a termination alarm signal when the received
digital signal is the termination signal addressed to that
telephone itself. Normally, the termination alarm signal initiates
the operation of a sounder 11 to generate an alerting sound. A
battery 18 is used as an electrical power source of the cellular
mobile telephone apparatus 1 and supplies the electrical power to
every part thereof through a power switch 19.
[0045] Next, the operation of the cellular mobile telephone
apparatus 1 and the construction of the alarm device 2, in
accordance with the present invention, will be explained by
referring to FIGS. 1 through 5 and tables 1 and 2.
[0046] Under waiting condition, the cellular mobile telephone
apparatus 1 is watching whether the termination signal addressed to
that apparatus itself is arrived from the base station or not.
Under this condition, when arriving the termination signal
addressed to itself, the control circuit 10 acknowledges it and
generates the termination alarm signal. Upon the termination alarm
signal, a vibrator 15 which is provided in the cellular mobile
telephone apparatus 1 is driven, alternatively, the sounder 11
rises an alarm of it.
[0047] At the same time, by operating an alarm transmitting circuit
16, the transmission information is transmitted by a radio
frequency signal from an alarm transmitting antenna 17 which is
provided in the cellular mobile telephone apparatus 1 to the alarm
device 2. Namely when transmitting by the radio frequency signal,
the control circuit 10 forms a format for information transmission
as shown in FIG. 3, and sends it at a transfer speed of 512 bps to
the alarm transmitting circuit 16, by which it is modulated into FM
signal and is transmitted from the antenna 17 for transmitting the
termination alarm.
[0048] The alarm device 2 has an antenna 21 for receiving the radio
frequency signal transmitted from the cellular mobile telephone
apparatus 1 and a function of detecting field intensity of the
received radio frequency signal for checking the existence of the
received radio frequency signal, and in addition thereto, it is
constructed with an alarm receiving circuit 22 for demodulating the
received radio frequency signal, an alarm control circuit 23, and
an alarm memory circuit 24. Here, the termination alarm control
circuit 23, including a micro computer therein, drives a vibrator
25 and a two (2) color LED display device 26 upon deciding the
information which is transmitted from the cellular mobile telephone
apparatus 1, and monitors the condition of a push button switch 27.
The alarm memory circuit 24, being connected to the alarm control
circuit 23, memorizes an identification (ID) number for identifying
respective alarm device 2 thereof, and an information of whether
the cellular mobile telephone apparatus 1 is locating within an
area where the cellular mobile telephone service is available or
not. As an electric power source of the alarm device 2, a battery
28 is used and it supplies the electroc power to each part thereof
through a power switch 29.
[0049] FIG. 3 shows a format of the information transmitted from
the cellular mobile telephone apparatus 1 to the alarm device 2, in
accordance with the present invention. The transmitted information
is formed by 754 bits in total, and is separately constructed by a
preamble 31, a synchronizing information 32, a separation
information 33, an identification (ID) information 34, and a
control information 35.
[0050] The transmission of the information from the cellular mobile
telephone apparatus 1 is performed by every eight (8) bits as a
transmission unit of bits, and the two (2) bits within the
transmission unit as an unit of information transmission, and the
two (2) bits at the top thereof are assigned to start bits of "1"
and "0", respectively. Those two (2) bits are used so as to make
synchronization in the modulation by every eight (8) bits.
Therefore, the effective bits are six (6) bits in the transmitted
information of eight (8) bits.
[0051] (1) The preamble 31 is formed by 600 bits of repetitive
pattern, repeating between "1" and "0" in every two (2) bits,
because it is not provided for the purpose of information
transmission but only for detecting the received radio frequency
signal.
[0052] However, since the alarm device 2 performs an intermittent
receiving operation in order to suppress exhaustion of the battery
28 thereof, continuous transmission of the signal for a certain
period of time is needed at the transmission side for the received
signal to be detected at the intermittent operation timing.
[0053] (2) Each synchronization information 32 is made by
information of 8 bits, and the same synchronization information
continuously repeats for 4 times. This is a pre-set code in common
for the alarm devices 2, for the purpose of obtaining a
synchronization by the unit of 8 bits for information transmission
following the preamble 31.
[0054] (3) The separation information is also made by information
of 8 bits. This is also a code which is preset in common among the
alarm devices 2, for the purpose of acknowledging information of
the identification (ID) information 34 following the
synchronization information 32.
[0055] (4) The identification information 34 is made of information
of 16 bits, and the same identification information 34 is
continuously repeated 4 times. This is a code, which is preset to
each of the alarm devices 2, for the purpose of respectively
identifying the alarm devices, and the effective information
elements of it are 12 bits. In the cellular mobile telephone
apparatus 1, a part of the memorizing circuit 12 is used as a means
for maintaining the identification information 34. This
identification information memorized in the memorizing circuit 12
can be changed in the contents thereof, for example, by inputting
the respective identification number of the alarm device 2 to be
used through key input device 13. The inputted identification
number is exchanged into an identification information 34 of
digital code through the control circuit 10 and is memorized in the
memorizing circuit 12. Furthermore, the inputted identification
number can be checked by displaying it on the LCD display device
14. With this construction, the user can easily change the contents
of the identification information 34 when he/she wishes to use
another alarm device 2, for example on a ground of loosing his/her
alarm device 2.
[0056] As the identification information, moreover, can be used a
call code which the cellular mobile telephone apparatus 1 owns
respectively, and a specific number or a part thereof, including a
serial production number of the cellular mobile telephone apparatus
1, or that of the alarm device 2.
[0057] (5) The control information 35 is made of 8 bits, and the
same control information 35 repeats 5 times. This is a code which
is determined in common among the alarm devices 2 for controlling
thereof and has 6 bits as effective information elements.
[0058] As shown in a TABLE 1, the alarm device 2 has three (3)
independent elements of operation, including operation of the
vibrator 25, controlling of the two color LED display device 26,
and displaying of information of whether the cellular mobile
telephone apparatus 1 is locating within the service area or not.
Therefore, as the information for operating those, the control
information 35 has fourteen (14) kinds of coded information,
including eight (8) kinds of vibration patterns (more concrete
patterns are shown in the TABLE 2) of the vibrator 25, four (4)
kinds of display patterns, and two (2) kinds of information of
whether the cellular mobile telephone apparatus 1 is locating
within the service area or not. Those are direct functions of the
alarm device 2, but it is necessary to previously inform the user
what kinds of conditions of the cellular mobile telephone apparatus
1 are indicated by those functions, through a user's manual or
actually operating the alarm device 2.
1TABLE 1 Operation DT DT DT DT DT DT Function Element 6 5 4 3 2 1
Vibrator X X X 0 0 0 stop vibrator X X X 0 0 1 drive vibrator in
vibration pattern 1 X X X 0 1 0 drive vibrator in vibration pattern
2 X X X 0 1 1 drive vibrator in vibration pattern 3 X X X 1 0 0
drive vibrator in vibration pattern 4 X X X 1 0 1 drive vibrator in
vibration pattern 5 X X X 1 1 0 spare 1 X X X 1 1 1 spare 2 Area
Inf. X X 0 X X X inside of service area X X 1 X X X outside of
service area LED 0 0 X X X X distinguish LED 0 1 X X X X turns red
LED on and off 1 0 X X X X turns green LED on and off 1 1 X X X X
turns red and green LEDs on and off simultaneously
[0059]
2TABLE 2 Number of vibration patter Operation of Vibrator 1
repeating ON (0.5 sec)/OFF (0.5 sec) for a time period of 15 sec 2
repeating ON (1. sec)/OFF (2.0 sec) for a time period of 15 sec 3
repeating ON (0.5 sec)/OFF (3.0 sec) for a time period of 15 sec 4
ON for a time period of 3.0 sec 5 ON for a time period of 15
sec
[0060] Namely, the cellular mobile telephone apparatus 1 assigns
those three conditions, i.e., the termination at the cellular
mobile telephone apparatus 1, the exhaustion of the battery 18 of
the cellular mobile telephone apparatus 1, and the information of
whether the cellular mobile telephone apparatus 1 is locating
within the service area or not, to the respective operations of the
alarm device 2, previously. For example, in case of termination to
the cellular mobile telephone apparatus 1, the vibrator 25 is
operated with a vibration pattern 1, and a red color LED of the two
color LED display device 26 turns on and off. When the battery 18
of the cellular mobile telephone apparatus 1 is exhausted, the
vibrator 25 operates with a vibration pattern 2, and the red color
LED and the green color LED of the two color LED display device 26
turn on and off at the same time. When the cellular mobile
telephone apparatus 1 is locating in the area where the cellular
mobile telephone service is available, information indicating that
is memorized into the alarm memorizing circuit 24 of the alarm
device 2.
[0061] Next, the operation of the alarm device 2 of an embodiment
in accordance with the present invention will be explained by
referring an operation flow chart thereof shown in FIG. 4.
[0062] The alarm device 2 has three (3) modes, including a stand-by
mode, a receiving operation mode, and an indication mode of whether
the cellular mobile telephone apparatus 1 is locating within the
service area. After the power switch 29 is turned on, the alarm
device 2 conducts an initializing processing, and moves into the
stand-by mode.
[0063] The stand-by mode is a mode for determining the operation
timing of the alarm device 2. The alarm device 2 performs the
intermittent receiving operation at an interval of 750 ms for
decreasing the exhaustion of the battery 28 thereof as much as
possible. The alarm control circuit 23 of the alarm device 2 sets a
timer function of 700 ms and stops the other functions. When the
timer counts up to the preset time, the alarm device 2 shifts into
the receiving operation mode.
[0064] In the receiving operation mode, the alarm device 2 operates
in accordance with the contents of the transmitted information from
the cellular mobile telephone apparatus 1. The alarm control
circuit 23 analyzes the transmitted information, makes the vibrator
25 and the two color LED display device 26, and memorizes into the
alarm memorizing circuit 24 the information of whether the cellular
mobile telephone apparatus 1 is locating within the service area or
not.
[0065] (1) In detecting the preamble, receiving operation is
conducted for 50 ms and the preamble is acknowledged when
continuously detecting repetitive pattern between "1" and "0" for
12 bits. In case that it is impossible to detect the continuous
repetitive pattern between "1" and "0" for 12 bits within 50 ms, it
moves back into the stand-by mode. In the detecting, since the unit
for information transmission is of 8 bits and the 2 bits thereof
are assigned to the start bits, i.e., two (2) bits of "1" and "0",
the received radio frequency signal is demodulated in
synchronization with each 8 bits so as to take out the information
thereof.
[0066] Here, the operation of the alarm transmitting circuit and
the alarm receiving circuit of an embodiment in accordance with the
present invention will be explained in more detail by referring the
operating timing shown in FIG. 5.
[0067] In FIG. 5, the horizontal axis indicates time and the
vertical axis the mode of the operation. In case of no received
radio frequency signal (the alarm transmitting circuit 16 is in the
stand-by mode), since it is impossible to detect the preamble 31,
the alarm device 2 performs the intermittent receiving operation,
repeating between the receiving operation for 50 ms and the
stand-by operation for 700 ms.
[0068] In case that the alarm transmitting circuit 16 is in
receiving operation and the preamble 31 is transmitted in the same
time period, the preamble 31 is detected if the alarm receiving
circuit 22 of the alarm device 2 is in the receiving operation, and
the information can be received continuously thereafter. Therefore,
the time period when the preamble 31 is detected must be set to be
longer than the period (750 ms) of the intermittent receiving
operation. Here, as mentioned previously, since the preamble is
formed of 600 bits and the transfer speed is set at 512 bps, the
time period during which the preamble 31 is transmitted is more
than 1 second, therefore, there is no possibility that it goes
beyond the period of the intermittent receiving operation. Further,
if it is possible to detect the preamble 31, the alarm device 2
extends the time of the receiving operation continuously until it
completes the receiving of the information, for receiving the
information thereafter.
[0069] (2) In detection of the synchronization information, the
detection of the synchronization information is acknowledged when
one (1) of the four (4) synchronization information 32 continuously
transmitted is detected. No synchronizing information 32 can be
detected, then it moves back into the stand-by mode.
[0070] (3) In detection of the separation information, the
detection of the separation information is acknowledged when any
four (4) bits or more than that of the eight (8) bits within the
separation information 33 coincide with a preset separation
information 33. Otherwise, it moves back into the stand-by mode.
42
[0071] (4) In detection of the identification information, the
detection of the identification information is acknowledged when
any one of the four (4) identification information 34 which are
continuously transmitted coincides with the identification
information 34 memorized in the alarm memorizing circuit 24. If no
identification information 34, nor coincidence with the
identification information 34 memorized in the alarm memorizing
circuit 24 can be detected, it moves back into the stand-by
mode.
[0072] (5) In detection of the control information, the detection
of the control information is acknowledged when the coincidence
among any three (3) or more than that of the control information 35
can be detected within the five (5) control information 35 which
are continuously transmitted. Otherwise, it moves back into the
stand-by mode.
[0073] (6) In processing of the control information, in accordance
with the control information 35, the vibrator 25 of the alarm
device 2 is operated, the LEDs of the two color LED display device
26 are turned on and off, and the information of whether it is
locating within the service area or not is memorized in the alarm
memorizing circuit 24, as shown in TABLE 1. Upon the completion of
the processing of the control information, it moves back into the
stand-by mode.
[0074] As mentioned in the above, since the cellular mobile
telephone apparatus 1 assigns the three conditions thereof to the
alarm device 2, respectively, i.e., alarming the termination at the
cellular mobile telephone apparatus 1, alarming the exhaustion of
the battery 18 of the cellular mobile telephone apparatus 1, and
the information of whether the cellular mobile telephone apparatus
1 is locating within the service area or not, the user can notice
the call termination at his/her cellular mobile telephone apparatus
1 and the exhaustion of the battery 18 thereof, by the specific
operation patterns of the alarm device 2.
[0075] Further, in the indication mode of location within the
service area, when the push button switch 27 is pushed during when
the alarm device 2 is in the stand-by mode, it checks the
information memorized in the alarm memorizing circuit 24 and
displays on the two color LED display device 26 whether the
cellular mobile telephone apparatus 1 is locating within the area
where the cellular mobile telephone service is available or not.
When the user noticing this and stops pushing down the push button
switch 27, it turns back into the stand-by mode.
[0076] Further, another embodiment will be explained by referring
to FIG. 6 showing an operation flow chart of the alarm device 2 of
another embodiment, in accordance with the present invention. This
another embodiment differs from the embodiment mentioned above in
the detection portion of the preamble. Namely, the preamble
detection mentioned above can be substituted with a detection of
received radio frequency signal, as shown FIG. 6. In this received
radio frequency signal detection, the receiving operation of 50 ms
is performed by the function of measuring the field intensity of
the received radio frequency signal of the alarm receiving circuit
22, and the alarm control circuit 23 decides it. When the received
radio frequency signal can be detected, it moves back into a
operation of detecting the synchronization information, otherwise
when no radio frequency signal can be detected, it moves into the
stand-by mode.
[0077] In this case, since the preamble is not necessary, the
modulation of the preamble 31 is not necessary at the transmitter
side. However, the transmission at the carrier frequency is
necessary, since detection of the received radio frequency signal
is necessary for establishing a timing between the transmitting end
and the receiving end of the radio frequency signal.
[0078] Moreover, in accordance with another embodiment, by
substituting another kind of two color LED display device which can
display letters and image for the LED display device 26, and
further by increasing the amount of information of the control
information 35, display of a message service which has been put in
practical use in recent years in the pager and/or the cellular
mobile telephone can be achieved. And, it is also possible to
display a message information including a call origination number,
by sending it from the cellular mobile telephone apparatus 1 to the
alarm device 2.
[0079] Moreover, in the embodiment mentioned above, the
identification information 34 is previously assigned to the
respective alarm devices 2. However, by using communication
function between the cellular mobile telephone apparatus 1 and the
alarm device 2, it is also possible to change the identification
information 34 memorized in the alarm memorizing circuit 24 through
the key input device 13 of the cellular mobile telephone apparatus
1. More concrete method of it is omitted since it is apparent from
the explanation given heretofore. In doing so, the user can freely
select and set the identification information 34. And, when using a
plurality of the alarm devices 2 and assigning the same
identification information to them, for instance, the user can make
the plural alarm devices 2 operating at the same time but not need
to manage the identification information of them respectively.
[0080] Furthermore, another embodiment will be explained by
referring to FIG. 7 showing construction of the cellular mobile
telephone device and the alarm device of another embodiment, in
accordance with the present invention. In the embodiment mentioned
above, using the transmitter provided in the cellular mobile
telephone device 1 and the receiver in the alarm device 2, the
communication can be obtained only in one direction. However, as
shown in FIG. 7, it is possible to construct such that each of the
cellular mobile telephone device 1 and the alarm device 2 has the
alarm transmitting circuit 41 and the alarm receiving antenna 42,
respectively. With such construction, bi-directional communication
can be obtained between the cellular mobile telephone device 1 and
the alarm device 2. Further, with provision of a small-sized input
device 43 onto the alarm device 2, it is possible for the user, by
using the alarm device 2, to make remote control of the cellular
mobile telephone apparatus 1 without taking out thereof.
[0081] For example, even though the cellular mobile telephone
apparatus 1 receives the call termination thereto and notifies it
to the user by operating the alarm device 2, the user necessarily
cannot respond the termination simultaneously, for instance when
he/she is on the train or attending a meeting, or on another reason
that the cellular mobile telephone apparatus 1 is inside of his/her
bag. In such the case, however, the user, by inputting an
instruction to control the cellular mobile telephone apparatus 1
through the input device 43 of the alarm device 2, can send back a
message that he/she cannot take the telephone apparatus right now,
or can record the message from the sender by changing the cellular
mobile telephone apparatus 1 into recording mode for his/her
absence. Alternatively, he/she can see the message of the sender on
the display device 44.
[0082] In the embodiment mentioned above, as the telephone
apparatus is explained of the cellular mobile telephone system
using the mobile base station, however, the present invention
should not be limited only to such the type, but can cover other
types which can achieve the object of the present invention
mentioned above. Further, the external view, the construction, the
circuitry and means of the apparatus and the devices mentioned in
the above also should not be limited only to those shown in the
various embodiments, for example, the construction and the contents
of the information format relating transfer of the information (the
preamble 31, the synchronization information 32, the separation
information 33, the identification information 34 and the control
information 35), the transfer speed, the frequency of the carrier
radio frequency signal, the modulation method of the radio
frequency signal, the operation timing of the alarm transmitting
circuit 16 and the alarm receiving circuit 22, the operation
elements and the operation contents of the alarm device 2, the
operation and function of the push button switch 27, etc. In
similar way, the operation flow chart of the alarm device 2 shown
in the various embodiments also can cover other methods which are
conceivable for the person skilled in the art for achieving the
object of the present invention.
[0083] Furthermore, as the alarming means is explained the vibrator
having the vibration generating means, but it should not be limited
only to that vibration generating means. For example, means for
generating impulse to a tactual sense by making a small projection
going in and out, and other tactual sense impulsion means by way of
changing the shape of the cellular mobile telephone apparatus 1 or
the alarm device 2 itself can be adopted.
[0084] Moreover, as another alarming means, an electrical impulse
generating means can be adopted, in which an electrode is kept
touching with skin and gives an electric shock by weak current so
as to make the user sensing it.
[0085] In similar manner, with the alarming means by the display
means should not be limited to the method of turning the display
device on and off, and a visual impulsion generating means for
noticing the user through visual impulsion can be applied.
[0086] In those impulsion generating means mentioned above, it is
of course that the impulsion is suppressed under such level that
the used cannot be injured physically and mentally in order to keep
the safety of the user in the practical use.
[0087] Furthermore, the radio frequency signal mentioned in the
above should not be limited only to that radio frequency signal but
also to cover other medium including an ultrasonic.
[0088] As is apparent from the detailed description mentioned
above, the cellular mobile telephone apparatus and the alarm device
therefor, according to the present invention, always alarm the user
thereof the information, including the call termination at the
cellular mobile telephone apparatus, the exhaustion of the battery
of the mobile telephone apparatus and information including that
the telephone apparatus is location within the service area,
clearly.
* * * * *