Station Detecting PED Vibrations for Silent Mode Notifications
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users of portable electronic devices often forget to switch between 'Normal' and 'Silent' annunciation modes, leading to unwanted noise in quiet settings and missed calls when the device is left unattended.
Innovation Solution
A station that supports portable electronic devices, senses when they receive a wireless signal, and generates a human-perceptible indication, such as a call sound or light signal, to notify the user without requiring them to change the device's annunciation mode.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If the PED is set to 'Silent' annunciation mode to avoid noise in quiet settings, then the noise disturbance is reduced, but the user may miss calls when the device is left unattended
Solution Approach 1:
The station acts as an intermediary between the PED and the user. When the PED vibrates in Silent mode, the station detects this vibration through its sensing mechanism and converts it into an audible ring tone through its speaker, thereby mediating the notification to the user without requiring the PED to emit noise.
Solution Approach 2:
The station replaces the mechanical vibration notification of the PED with an acoustic notification. The station's speaker generates sound waves to alert the user, substituting the mechanical vibration system with an acoustic system that is more effective for remote notification.
2Reliability
If the PED is set to 'Normal' annunciation mode to ensure call notification, then the call notification reliability is improved, but it causes unwanted noise in quiet settings
Solution Approach 1:
The station serves as a mediator that allows the PED to remain in Silent mode while still providing audible notification. The station detects the PED's vibration and converts it to sound, eliminating the need for the PED to switch to Normal mode and produce unwanted noise.
Solution Approach 2:
The notification function is extracted from the PED and transferred to the station. The station takes over the role of generating the audible alert, allowing the PED to maintain its Silent mode without compromising notification reliability.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the user manually switches between annunciation modes to adapt to different environments, then the adaptability to environments is improved, but the operational complexity and user burden increase
Solution Approach 1:
The station provides self-service by automatically detecting when the PED is placed on it and when it receives a call. The station autonomously generates the ring tone based on the PED's vibration, eliminating the need for the user to manually switch modes or remember to do so.
Solution Approach 2:
The station mediates between the user's operational simplicity and the device's adaptability requirements. By handling the notification function, the station allows the user to maintain a simple operation pattern while the system adapts to different environments automatically.
4Object-affected harmful factors
If the PED vibration is used for notification, then the noise level is reduced, but the notification range and user awareness are limited when the user walks away
Solution Approach 1:
The station replaces the limited mechanical vibration notification with an acoustic notification system. The speaker generates sound waves that can be heard from a distance, extending the effective notification range while maintaining the low noise level benefit of Silent mode.
Solution Approach 2:
The station acts as an intermediary that amplifies and extends the notification. It detects the PED's vibration and converts it into a louder, more distant audible signal, thereby extending the effective range of the notification without increasing the PED's noise output.
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
This solution allows users to keep their devices in 'Silent' mode without missing calls, reduces distractions in quiet environments, and eliminates the need for a separate landline for voice communications.
Implementation Method 1
a vibration sensor for detecting vibrations from the PED mechanism
Implementation Method 2
a speaker for generating acoustic waves in response to the ring tone signal
Data Source
AI summary
Generally, the present invention provides stations for one or more portable electronic devices (PEDs) and methods for such stations. A station can support a PED, and sense when the PED would be notifying its user about a wireless signal that is received from a remote transmitter. When the station so senses, it further generates a human-perceptible indication to help notify the user, who might have walked away. The human-perceptible indication can include, a call sound, a light signal, etc. This way, for example, when the PED is only vibrating, the call sound can be such that the station rings like a regular home telephone, and/or the light signal can be such that the station lights up without distracting coworkers as much. As such, the user can always keep the PED at the “Silent” annunciation mode.