LED Notification System for Candy-Bar Cellphones
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Solution Overview
Problem
Wireless devices face battery life issues due to prolonged powering on without use, leading to unnecessary battery drainage, as users are not adequately notified when the device remains active.
Innovation Solution
A customizable inactivity notification system using light emitting diodes (LEDs) that illuminates the display or provides a dedicated light source, allowing for periodic flashing or pulsing to notify the user of the device's powered-on state without significantly reducing battery life, optionally using a light sensor to optimize power consumption.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If the display is kept on to notify users the device is powered on, then user awareness is improved, but battery life deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic flashing or pulsing of the light source instead of continuous illumination. The notification light activates at specific intervals (e.g., every few seconds or minutes) to indicate the powered-on state, significantly reducing overall power consumption while maintaining effective user notification.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent separates the notification function from the main display by using a dedicated notification light source or utilizing the backlight independently. This extraction allows the notification function to operate without requiring the full display to be active, thereby reducing power consumption while maintaining user awareness.
2Use of energy by moving object
If the display is turned off to conserve battery life, then power consumption is reduced, but user notification capability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a dedicated notification light source or utilizes the display backlight as an intermediary element to convey power status information. This intermediary provides visual notification without requiring the main display to be fully active, thus conserving battery power while maintaining notification capability.
3Loss of information
If a dedicated notification light source is used, then notification effectiveness is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the display backlight serve multiple functions: it acts as both the display illumination source and the notification light source. By programming the backlight to flash or pulse in specific patterns, the system provides effective notification without adding dedicated notification hardware, thus avoiding increased device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the notification light source with the existing display backlight structure. This merging approach allows the notification function to be implemented using already-present components, eliminating the need for separate dedicated notification LEDs or light sources and thereby maintaining simple device architecture.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Effectively notifies users of a powered-on, inactive device while minimizing battery drain, offering customizable color schemes and notification patterns to enhance user awareness without compromising power efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
The light source is preferably one or more light emitting diodes
Data Source
AI summary
A wireless handheld communications device with a liquid crystal display, especially, a field sequential liquid crystal display, includes a visual notification for a powered up, inactive state. The visual notification is preferably through a light emitting diode that may be part of the backlighting system for the LCD or may be independent from the backlighting system. The waveforms, periodicity, color selection, and color sequencing may be customizable by one or both of the manufacturer and user.