Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR PREVENTION OF
ACCIDENTAL ACTIVATION OF KEYS IN A
WIRELESS COMMUNICATION DEVICE
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
I. Field of the Invention
The present invention is related generally to a wireless
communication device and, more particularly, to an apparatus and method
for preventing the accidental activation of keys in a wireless communication
device.
II. Description of the Related Art
Wireless communication devices, such as cellular telephones,
are widely used as replacement for conventional telephone systems.
Wireless communication devices offer the advantage of portability and the
ability to communicate from almost any location on earth. Early wireless
communication devices were large and heavy and were not widely used as a
replacement for conventional telephones. However, improvements in
technology have resulted in the reduction in size and weight while at the
same time improving the quality and reliability of wireless
communications.
State of the art wireless communication devices are small
enough to fit in the pocket of a user. Storing the wireless communication
device in such a location may result in the inadvertent activation of keys on
the wireless communication device. This is particularly problematic with
the power key where inadvertent activation may turn the wireless
communication device on or off without the user's knowledge. Therefore,
it can be appreciated that there is a significant need for a wireless
communication device and method of operation that prevents the
accidental activation of keys on the wireless device. The present invention
provides this and other advantages, as will be illustrated by the following
description and accompanying figures.
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SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
An exemplary embodiment of the present invention is directed
to -a system to prevent accidental activation of a key in a wireless
communication device. The system comprises a housing containing the
operational circuitry of the wireless communication device, a plurality of
keys operable by the user to control operation of the wireless
communication device, and a control circuit to sense activation of a selected
one of the plurality of keys. 'The control circuit generates an indicator
signal
in response to activation of the selected key with a first pattern of
operation
that enables the operation of a function associated with the selected key. The
control circuit is unresponsive to activation of the selected key with a
second
pattern of operation different from the first pattern.
Different patterns of operation may be acceptable and
correspond to the first pattern of operation of the key. These include
continuous activation of the selected key for a predetermined period of time,
repeated activation of the selected key a predetermined number of times
within a predetermined period of time, initial activation of the selected key
and activation of the selected key at a subsequent time period. The
subsequent time period may be a single point in time, or may comprise a
time window during which the selected key must be in the active state. In
one embodiment, the key must be at least momentarily in the active state
within the required time window.
Other patterns of operation that correspond to the first pattern
of operation can include sequential activation of the selected key and a
second one of the plurality of keys within a predetermined period of time.
For example, the selected key can be activated initially followed by
activation
of a second one of the plurality of keys within the predetermined period of
time. Alternatively, the first pattern of operation may require simultaneous
activation of the selected key and a second one of the plurality of keys.
In yet another alternative embodiment, the wireless
communication device includes a display coupled to the housing to display
text messages. In this embodiment, the first pattern of operation requires
activation of the selected key and the activation of either the selected key
or
a second one of the plurality of keys on the key pad following the display of
a
confirmation request message on the display.
In another alternative embodiment, the wireless
communication device includes a cover member attached to the housing
and having opened and closed positions. In this embodiment, the first
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pattern of operation when the cover member is in the open position is
different from the first pattern of operation when the cover member is in
the closed position.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. lA is a perspective view of a wireless communication
device designed in accordance with the principles of the present invention
in a closed configuration.
FIG. 1B is a front plan view of the wireless communication
device of FIG. lA in an open configuration.
FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of the wireless
communication device of FIGS. 1A and 1B.
FIG. 3 is a timing diagram illustrating an acceptable
predetermined pattern of key activation used by the wireless
communication device of FIG. 2.
FIG. 4 is a timing diagram of an alternative acceptable
predetermined pattern of key activation used by the wireless
communication device of FIG. 2.
FIG. 5 is a timing diagram of another alternative acceptable
predetermined pattern of key activation used by the wireless
communication device of FIG. 2.
FIG. 6 is a timing diagram of yet another alternative acceptable
predetermined pattern of key activation used by the wireless
communication device of FIG. 2.
FIG. 7 is a timing diagram of yet another alternative acceptable
predetermined pattern of key activation used by the wireless.
communication device of FIG. 2.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
Compact wireless communication devices often include a
protective member over the keypad to prevent accidental operation of the
keys. Accidental activation of the power key is prevented if the power key is
also covered by the protective member. However, the disadvantage of
covering the power key is that the user must open the wireless
communication device to activate the power key. In an exemplary
embodiment of the present invention, the power key is exposed to
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advantageously provide access to the user on a continuous basis and
techniques are provided to prevent accidental activation of the power key.
An exemplary embodiment of the present invention is
illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B where a wireless communication device 100 is
shown in a closed configuration in FIG. lA. The wireless communication
device 100 includes a housing 102 sized to fit easily in one hand of the user.
The housing 102 includes a rotatable cover member 104. A battery housing
106 is attached to the cover member 104. A clasp 108 locks the battery
housing 106 to the cover member 104 to retain the battery housing in
position.
An antenna 112 projects from a top portion of the housing 102.
In an exemplary embodiment, the antenna 112 is fixed. Alternatively, the
antenna 112 may be extendible from the housing 102. Also included in the
top portion of the housing 102 is a power key 114. The power key 114 is
activated to turn the wireless communication device on and off. The
advantage of locating the power key 114 on the outside portion of the
housing 102 is that the wireless communication device 100 may be readily
activated by the user without having to open the cover member 104 or the
bottom cover member 106.
FIG. 1B illustrates the wireless communication device 100 in an
open configuration with the cover member 104 in an extended operational
position. An electrical switch (not shown) senses the position of the cover
member 104 in the open and closed configurations. When the wireless
communication device 100 is in the open configuration, a keypad 118 is
exposed for operation by the user. The keypad 118 comprises individually
numbered keys 120 that correspond to keys on a conventional telephone as
well as control keys, such as a SEND key 122 and an END key 124. The
keypad 118 may also include selection keys 126 to permit the user to select
various operational features of the wireless communication device 100.
In an exemplary embodiment, the wireless communication
device 200 also includes a display 130, which is exposed for viewing by the
user when the wireless communication device is in the open configuration.
A speaker 132 and microphone 134 are conventional components that allow
two-way wireless communication.
A hinge member 138 is coupled between the cover member 104
and the housing 102 to permit the rotational movement of the cover
member. In an exemplary embodiment, the hinge member 138 includes an
internal spring element (not shown} to bias the cover member 104 into the
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desired position in both the open configuration and the closed configuration
(see FIG. 1A).
Additional components of the wireless communication device
100 are illustrated in a functional block diagram of FIG. 2. The wireless
5 communication device 100 includes a central processing unit (CPU) 150,
which controls operation of the wireless communication device. A memory
152, which may include both read-only memory and random access
memory, is used to control the operation of the CPU 150. A portion of the
memory 152 may also include nonvolatile random access memory. As will
be described in detail below, the CPU 150 executes instructions from the
memory 152 to function as a control circuit to sense operation of the power
key 114 and keypad 118 and to detect operation of the keys in a manner that
indicates that the user intends to activate a selected key.
A timer 154 is used by the wireless communication device 100
to measure predetermined time periods. The timer 154 may be an internal
timer within the CPU 150 or an external timer under control of the CPU.
A transmitter 156 and receiver 158 allow transmission and
reception of data, such as audio communications, between the wireless
communication device 100 and a remote location, such as a cell-site
controller (not shown). The transmitter 156 and receiver 158 may be
combined into a transceiver 160. The antenna 112 is coupled to the
transceiver 160.
A battery 162 is located within the battery housing 106 (see
FIG. 1A) and provides power to the wireless communication device 100. In
an exemplary embodiment, components such as the CPU 150, memory 152,
timer 154, transmitter 156 and receiver 158 are disconnected from the battery
162 when the wireless communication device 100 is turned off. Thus, n o
power is consumed by the wireless communication device when it is turned
off. In one embodiment, power is supplied to the CPU 150 and memory 152
upon initial activation of the power key 114 by the user. The CPU 150
executes instructions stored in the read-only memory portion of the
memory 152 to initialize the CPU. The CPU 150 then executes a series of
instructions designed to determine whether the user is activating the power
key 114 in a manner that indicates the user's intent to turn on the wireless
communication device 100. The steps taken by the CPU to determine
whether the user intends to turn on the wireless communication device 100
will be discussed in detail below. If the CPU 150 determines that the user
intends to turn on the wireless communication device 100, the other
portions of the wireless communication device, such as the transmitter 156,
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receiver 158, keypad 118, and display 130 may then be coupled to the battery
162. If the CPU 150 determines that the power key 114 was inadvertently
activated , the wireless communication device 100 powers down the CPU
150 and memory 152. Alternatively, power can be applied to all portions of
the wireless communication device 100 upon initial activation of the power
key 114. The CPU 150 performs the steps described above to determine if the
user intends to turn on the wireless communication device. If the CPU 150
determines that the user intends to turn on the wireless communication
device 100, all portions of the wireless communication device are
advantageously under power. However, if the CPU 150 determines that the
power key 114 was inadvertently activated, the wireless communication
device 100 powers down all components, including the CPU 150 and
memory 152.
In yet another alternative embodiment, the battery may
provide power to some portions of the wireless communication device 100
on a continuous basis. For example, the CPU may be placed in a low-power
or "sleep" mode to minimize power consumption from the battery 162. The
power key 114 serves as an input to the CPU 150 to place the CPU in an
"awake" mode. When the user initially activates the power key 114, the
CPU 150 changes from the sleep mode to the awake mode and executes the
instructions to determine whether the user actually intends to turn on the
wireless communication device 100. If the CPU 150 determines that the user
intends to turn on the wireless communication device, the remaining
portions of the wireless communication device 100 may then be coupled to
the battery 162 in the manner described above. If the CPU 150 determines
that the power key 114 was activated inadvertently, the CPU returns to the
sleep mode.
The various components of the wireless communication
device 100 are coupled together by a bus system 166, which may include a
power bus, control signal bus, and status signal bus in addition to a data
bus.
However, for the sake of clarity, the various buses are illustrated in FIG. 2
as
the bus system 166.
A conventional wireless communication device allows
activation of power key simply by depressing the power key. However, such
operation can lead to accidental activation of the power key. The present
invention is designed to sense user activation of the power key 114 and will
only respond to user activation of the power key under a predetermined set
of conditions.
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In an exemplary embodiment, the user must activate the power
key 114 for a predetermined period of time before the wireless
communication device 100 responds to activation of the power key. This is
illustrated in FIG. 3 where the wireless communication device 100 detects
initial activation of the power key 114 at a time designated as to. The
wireless communication device 100 continues to monitor the state of the
power key 114 until a predetermined time designated in FIG. 3 as t1. If the
power key 114 is continuously activated for the entire time period between
time to and time tl, the wireless communication device 100 responds to the
activation of the power key. In an exemplary embodiment, the wireless
communication device 100 may require continuous activation of the power
key 114 for a period of three seconds. The continuous activation of the
power key 114 for time period from time to to time ti illustrates a first
pattern
of operation of the key that is unlikely to result from inadvertent jostling
of
the wireless communication device 100 and serves as an indicator that the
user actually intends to activate power key 114. A second pattern of
operation, such as momentary activation of the power key 114 for a time less
than the time period from time to to time fl, is unlikely to be the result of
intentional activation by the user and will thus be ignored by the wireless
communication device 100.
In the example of the first pattern of operation, illustrated in
FIG. 3, the wireless communication device 100 continuously monitors the
state of the power key 114 during the time period from time to to time t1. In
an alternative embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 4, the wireless
communication device 100 detects initial activation of the power key 114 at
time to and simply samples the state of the power key again at time tl rather
than continuously monitor the state of the power key. The power key 114
has a first logic state when in an inactivated position and a second logic
state
when activated. If the power key 114 is activated (i.e., in the second logic
state) at the time tl, the wireless communication device 100 will respond to
user activation of the power key.
In another alternative embodiment, illustrated in FIG. 5, the
wireless communication device 100 detects initial activation of the power
key 114 at time to. Instead of continuously monitoring the state of the power
key 114, the wireless communication device 100 samples the state of the
power key during a time window that follows the detection of the initial
activation of the power key at time to. The time window is designated in
FIG. 5 by the references t2 and t3. The start of the time window occurs at a
predetermined time t2 after initial activation of the power key 100 at time to
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and ends at a predetermined time t3 after initial activation of the power key.
If the power key 114 is activated at the initial time to and is in the active
state
at any time during the time window between time t2 and time t3, the
wireless communication device 100 responds to activation of the power key.
In an exemplary embodiment, the time window is approximately 200
milliseconds with the start of the time window, indicated by time t2,
occurring approximately three seconds after the initial activation of the
power switch 114 at time to.
Numerous alternative techniques may be used to detect the
user's intent to actually activate the power key 114. For example, the
wireless communication device 100 can monitor the state of the power key
114 and detect multiple activations of the power key within a predetermined
time period. This is illustrated in FIG. 6 where the initial activation of the
power key 114 is detected at time to. In accordance with this embodiment of
the invention, the user must activate the power key 114 a plurality of times
between the initial activation at time to and a predetermined time
designated in FIG. 6 as time t4. In the example illustrated in FIG. 6, the
user
must activate the power key 114 three times within the predetermined time
period between time to and time t4, which may be, by way of example, a
three-second time period.
The various techniques described above and illustrated in FIG.
3 to FIG. 6 illustrate techniques used to determine when the user actually
wants to activate the power key 114. The wireless communication device
performs this task by detecting user operation of the power key in one of the
predetermined patterns described above. Alternatively, other patterns of
user operation of the power key 114 may be used satisfactorily with the
wireless communication device I00. In addition, combinations of the
different patterns of user operation may be used satisfactorily with the
wireless communication device 100. For example, the CPU 150 may be
programmed to recognize multiple different patterns of activity as
acceptable. Continuous activation of the power key 114 for the
predetermined period of time (e.g., three seconds) or activating the power
key multiple times within the predetermined period of time may both be
recognized by the CPU 150 as corresponding to an acceptable pattern of user
operation of the power key. Accordingly, user operation of the power key in
any combination of acceptable patterns of activity may be used by the
wireless communication device 100.
In the exemplary embodiment of the wireless communication
device 100 illustrated in FIGS. lA and 1B, the power key 114 is located on the
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top portion of the housing 102 and is thus continuously exposed for easy
activation by the user. The various patterns of operation described above
and illustrated in FIG. 3 to FIG. 6 may be used when the wireless
communication device 100 is in the closed configuration, illustrated in FIG.
1A. However, an altered first pattern of operation may be used when the
wireless communication device 100 is in the open configuration, illustrated
in FIG. 1B. The electrical switch (not shown) coupled to the hinge member
138 is used to sense whether the wireless communication device 100 is i n
the open configuration or closed configuration.
The altered patterns of operation of the power key 114 reflect
the fact that the user is actively using the wireless communication device
100 in the open configuration and likely intends to activate the power key
114. For example, momentary activation of the power key 114 at time to, as
illustrated in FIG. 7, may be used as the first pattern of operation when the
wireless communication device 100 is in the open configuration.
Alternatively, the activation pattern illustrated in FIG. 3, requiring
continuous activation from the time of initial activation at time to to time
tI,
may be used, but with the time period being altered to reflect the fact that
the
wireless communication device is in the open configuration. For example,
the time period from time to to time tl may be three seconds when the
wireless communication device 100 is in the closed configuration (see FIG.
1A), while the time period from time to to tl may be only one second when
the wireless communication device is in the open configuration {see FIG.
1B). Similarly, the wireless communication device 100 can sample the state
of the power key 114 at a predetermined time tl after initial activation at
time to or using the time window from time tZ to time t3 as illustrated in
FIG.
4 and FIG. 5, but with altered time periods to reflect that the wireless
communication device is in the open configuration.
The wireless communication device 100 may also use the first
pattern of operation for the power key 114 to turn on the wireless
communication device 100 and an altered first pattern of operation to turn
off the wireless communication device. For example, if the wireless
communication device 100 is in the open configuration (see FIG. 1B) only a
momentary activation of the power key 114 may be required to turn on the
wireless communication device 100, as illustrated- in FIG. 7. However,
continuous activation of the power key 114 for a period of time, as
illustrated in FIG. 3, may be required to turn off the wireless communication
device 100.
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The wireless communication device 100 illustrated in FIG. 1A
exposes only the power key 114 in the closed configuration. However,
alternative embodiments of the wireless communication device 100 may be
employed in which other keys, such as the selection keys 126 (see FIG. 1B),
5 may also be exposed. The predetermined first pattern of operation may
require activation of more than one key, such as the power key 114 and one
of the selection keys 126. Various patterns of operation that correspond to
the accepted first pattern of operation may include simultaneous activation
of the power key 114 and one of the selection keys 126 or the sequential
10 activation of the power key 114 and the selection key 126 within a
predetermined period of time.
The wireless communication device 100 may also generate a
prompt requiring additional activation of one or more keys on the keypad
118 (see FIG. 1B and FIG. 2) to perform the desired function. For example,
the wireless communication device 100 may use a prompt on the display 130
in response to an initial momentary activation of the power key 114, as
illustrated in FIG. 7. The display 230 can be programmed to display a prompt
requesting that the user activate the power key 114 or a specified one of the
selection keys 126 to confirm that the wireless communication device 100 is
being turned off. The first pattern of operation may require that the
activation of the power key 114 or selection key 126 in response to the
prompt occur within a predetermined time of the display of the prompt.
Other acceptable first patterns of operation are dependent on
the position of the cover member 104. For example, assuming the wireless
communication device 100 is turned on and is in the open configuration
(see FIG. 1B), momentary activation of the power key 114 followed by closure
of the cover member 104 within a predetermined period of time serves as an
indication that the user intends to turn off the wireless communication
device. Similarly, assuming that the wireless communication device 100 is
turned off and is in the closed configuration (see FIG. lA), momentary
activation of the power key 114 followed by an opening of the cover member
104 within a predetermined period of time serves as an indication that the
user intends to turn on the wireless communication device.
Thus, a number of different patterns of operation of the
various keys on the wireless communication device 100 serve as satisfactory
indicators of the user's intent to perform a particular function. While the
examples above are directed to the use of the power key 114, it is clear that
the principles of the present invention may be applied to the activation of
other keys as well. For example, additions or deletions to prestored speed
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dialing numbers within the memory 104 (see FIG. 2) may require the
activation of keys with a predetermined pattern of operation, such as the
simultaneous activation of keys, activation of keys in a sequential manner,
or the like. Similarly, the principles of the present invention may be applied
to a wireless communication device that has all keys continuously exposed
where the keys may be inadvertently activated.
It is to be understood that even though various embodiments
and advantages of the present invention have been set forth in the
foregoing description, the above disclosure is illustrative only, and changes
may be made in detail, yet remain within the broad principles of the
invention. For example, a combination of different patterns of operation
may serve as satisfactory indicators the user's intent to perform a particular
function. In addition, different patterns of operation may be valid only at
certain operational states of the wireless communication device 100. For
example, certain patterns of operation, or combinations of patterns of
operation, may be used when the wireless communication device is initially
turned on. Following completion of a call, one or more different patterns of
operation may be used to turn the wireless communication device off.
Thus, multiple patterns of operation, combinations of patterns of operation,
and state-dependent patterns of operation may be used by the wireless
communication device 100. Accordingly, the present invention is to be
limited only by the appended claims.
WE CLAIM
