Motorola Corporation

Matthew D Mottier

Richard Ng

Mike M Albert

Joshua P Kiem

Shakil H Barkat

Keith Ronald Manssen

Kevin Daniel Kaschke

Paul J Moller

John Jerome Janssen

An alerting device, such as a radio (,), activates, responsive to the times when an information signal (,) is received, a silent alert, via a vibrator (,), during a first predetermined time period, and an audible alert, via a loudspeaker (,), during a second predetermined time period, exclusive of the first predetermined time period. A radio user can configure the priority and the duration of the silent and audible alerts. The radio (,) also detect the reception of the information signal and the intercoupling between an accessory,to the radio,. Responsive to the detection thereof, the radio (,) activates the audible alert. Thus, the user gains a high degree of confidence that the radio (,) will activate the proper alert in situations having a wide range of ambient noise levels and distances of the radio relative to the user's body.

Radio with silent and audible alerts

An alerting device, such as a radio (,), activates, responsive to the times when an information signal (,) is received, a silent alert, via a vibrator (,), during a first predetermined time period, and an audible alert, via a loudspeaker (,), during a second predetermined time period, exclusive of the first predetermined time period. A radio user can configure the priority and the duration of the silent and audible alerts. The radio (,) also detects the reception of the information signal and the intercoupling between an accessory,to the radio,. Responsive to the detection thereof, the radio (,) activates the audible alert. Thus, the user gains a high degree of confidence that the radio (,) will activate the proper alert in situations having a wide range of ambient noise levels and distances of the radio relative to the user's body.

A device (100) includes detachable main and auxiliary batteries (101, 102) and a circuit (310) for discharging and charging the batteries (101, 102). Discharging is accomplished by an auxiliary switch (420) that connects the auxiliary battery (102) to power the device (100), a detector (422), and a main switch (424) that connects the main battery (101) to power the device (100), without interruption, when the auxiliary battery (102) drops below a predetermined voltage (508) as determined by a detector (422). Charging is performed by switches (440, 442, 446), an internal charger (444), and a controller (306). When both batteries (101, 102) are attached, the controller (306) uses the switches (440, 442, 446) to select and couple charging current generated by the internal charger (444) to the main battery (101). Once charged, the controller (306) switches to charge the auxiliary battery (102).

Apparatus and method for discharging and charging a multiple battery

A battery charger (100) with active feedback voltage controller includes a pass device (144), such as a metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistor (MOSFET), and uses either hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software, to implement an active feedback voltage controller (130). The active feedback voltage controller (130) reduces the control voltage to a tracking regulator (110) which in turn reduces the power dissipation of the pass device (144) and allows for a smaller pass device to be implemented in the battery charger (100) while maintaining the desired charging current as determined by a current controller (120). With software flexibility, many types of batteries can be efficiently charged to capacity, including nickel-cadmium (NiCad), nickel-metal-hydride (NiMH), and lithium-ion (LiIon) batteries.

Battery charger with active feedback voltage controller

A wireless communication device (101), such as a radiotelephone or a pager, comprises a signal generator (200), a radiator (202), a sensor (204) and a controller (206) to form an electromagnetic wave proximity sensor (201). The signal generator (200) generates a signal (210). The radiator (202) radiates the signal (210) to produce an electromagnetic field (212) near the radiator (202). The electromagnetic field (212) changes by a predetermined amount responsive to the proximity (214) of the radiator (202) to a predetermined object (216), such as a human body (232), external to the wireless communication device (101). The sensor (204) provides an indication (218) of the predetermined amount of change in the electromagnetic field (212). The controller (206) controls circuitry (208), such as a tactile alert device (416) and an audible alert device (418), in the wireless communication device (101) responsive to the indication (218) of the predetermined amount of change in the electromagnetic field (212).

Wireless communication device having an electromagnetic wave proximity

A bidirectional voltage translator (102) includes a first port (200/400), a second port (202/402) and a bidirectional translator circuit (208-215/404-408, 410, 412-415) coupled between the first and second ports (200/400,202/402). The first and second ports (200/400,202/402) communicate signals at a first voltage level and a second voltage level, respectively. The second voltage level is different from the first voltage level. When a first port signal input at the first voltage level at the first port (200/400) is detected, the bidirectional translator circuit (208-215/404-408, 410, 412-415) translates the first port signal into the second voltage level at the second port (202/402) and disables translation of a signal at the second port (202/402) to the first port (200/400). When a second port signal input at the second voltage level at the second port (202/402) is detected, the bidirectional translator circuit (208-215/404-408, 410, 412-415) translates the second port signal into the first voltage level at the first port (200/400) and disables translation of a signal at the first port (200/400) to the second port (202/402).

Bidirectional voltage translator

An alerting device, such as a radio (10), activates, responsive to the times when an information signal (12) is received, a silent alert, via a vibrator (24), during a first predetermined time period, and an audible alert, via a loudspeaker (22), during a second predetermined time period, exclusive of the first predetermined time period. A radio user can configure the priority and the duration of the silent and audible alerts. The radio (10) also detect the reception of the information signal and the intercoupling between an accessory 51 to the radio 10. Responsive to the detection thereof, the radio (10) activates the audible alert. Thus, the user gains a high degree of confidence that the radio (10) will activate the proper alert in situations having a wide range of ambient noise levels and distances of the radio relative to the user's body.

The dual function switch of the present invention allows a radiotelephone user to enable or disable a feature of the radiotelephone while a call is being received and before it is answered. Before the call is received and after it is answered, the switch is a volume key. Otherwise, if the key is depressed twice (105), a feature or menu of features is displayed (109). When the call is answered, the displayed feature is activated (112).

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Lake Zurich, IL, United States of America

Matthew D Mottier