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HANDHELD COMPUTING DEVICE WITH POWER-SAVING NOTIFICATION
FIELD OP THE INVENTION
[0001] The invention described herein relates to a handheld computing device. In
5 particular, the invention described Herein relates to a power-saving notification circuit for
a handheld compuring device.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The conventionl handheld computing dcvice, such as a PDA, or a wireless
10 telephone, may include an electronic calendar and/or task manager through which the
user can keep track of appointments and/or to-do items. The handheld computing device
may also include a monochrome notification LED which flashes when the date/time of
one of the appomtments and/or to-do items is imminent Further the notification LED
may be used to signify that the handheld computing device is being charged.
15 [0003] More recent handheld computing devices may include a melody integrated circuit.
The. melody integrated circuit is user-programmable, and plays a user-selected melody
when the date/time of one of the appointments and/or to-do items is imminent. if The
handheld computing device is wirelss-enabled, the melody integrated circuit may also
play a user-selected melody when the handheld computing devico receives an, e-mail or a,
20 telephone call.
[0004] The melody integrated circuit is advantageous, since it allows the user to define a
distinct notification (melody) for each notification event (eg. appointment, to-do item; e-
mail, telephone call). However, the power consumption of the melody integrated circuit
is significantly greater than the monochrome notification LED
25 [0005] Therefore, there is a need for a lower power notification circuit for a handheld
computing device that allows the user to define a distinct notification for each
notification event.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

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[0006] According to one aspect of the invention described herein, there is provided a
handheld computing device that includes a, notification lamp, a melody circuit coupled to
the notification lamp for providing a first type notification, an electronic switch coupled
to the notification lamp for providing a second type notification, and a notification
5 controller coupled to the melody circuit and the electronic switch. The notification
controller is configured with a plurality of notification modes, each notification mode
comprising a disabled one of the notification types.
[0007] According to another aspect of the invention described herein, there is provided a
notification circuit for a handheld computing device, that includes a notification lamp, a
10 melody circuit coupled to the notification lamp for providing a first type notification, and
an electronic switch coupled to the notification lamp for providing a second type
notification. The power consumption of the second type notification is less than that of
the feat type notification.
[0008] In one implementation, the notification lamp is a multi-colour lamp, and
15 comprises a plurality of monochrome lamps. The mdody circuit incltides a number of
lamp driver outputs, each being coupled to a respective one of the monochrome lamps.
The electronic switch is coupled to one of the monochrome lamps.
[0009] In a first of the notification modes, the notification controller maintains the
melody circuit in a low-power state, and maintains the electronic switch open.
20 [0010] In a second of the notification modes, the notification controller maintains the
melody circuit in the low-power state, and closes the electronic switch. In the second
notification mode, preferably the notification controller is configured to periodically open
and dose the electronic switch.
[001l] In a third of the notification modes, the notification controller maintains the
25 electronic switch open, and enables the melody circuit. At least one of the notification
modes is initiated upon occurrence of a user-defined notification event (such as a
calendar event (appointment), to-do item, e-mail, telephone call).

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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[11l2] The invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to
the accompanying drawings, in which:
5 Fig. 1 is a front plan view of a bandheld computing device, according the invention
described herein,
Fig, 2 is a schematic view depicting functional details of the handheld computing device;
and
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Fig. 3 is a schematic view of the event notification subsystem of the handheld computing
device.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
15 [0013] Referring now to Fig .1, there is shown a handheld computing device, denoted
generally as 100, provided according to one aspect of die invention. The handheld
computing device 100 includes a display 122, a fanction key 146 and a system
motherboard (not shown) disposed, within common housing. The display 122 is a self-
contained peripteral device that is connected to the system motherboard.
20 [0014] The funotion key 146 functions as a power oo/off switch for the handheld
computing device 100, and may also function as a backlight key for the display 122.
[0015] In addition to the display 122 and the function key 14G, the handheld computing
device 100 includes a notification lamp 104, and user data input means for inputting data
to the data, processing means. As shown, preferably the user data input means includes a
25 keyboard 132, a thumbwheel 148 and an escape key 160.
[0016] Typically, the handheld computing device 100 is a two-way wireless
comnmnication device having at least voice and data communication capabilities.
Further, preferably the handheld computing device 100 has the capably to communicate
with other computer systems on the Internet Depending on the exact functionality

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provided, the wireless handheld computing device 100 may be referred to as a data
messaging device, a two-way pager, a wireless e-mail device, a cellular telephone with
data messaging capabilities, a wireless Internet appliance, or a data communication
device, as examples.
5 [0017] Fig. 2 depicts functional details of the handheld computing device 100. When
the handheld computing device 100 is enabled for two-way communication, if will
incorporate a communication subsystem 111, including both a receiver 112 and a
transmitter 114, as well as associated components such as one or more, preferably
embedded or internal, antenna elements 116 and 118, local oscillators (LOs) 113, and a
10 processing module such as a digital signal processor (DSP) 120. As will be apparent to
those skilled in the field of communications, the particular design of the communication
subsystem 111 will be dependent upon the communication network in which the device is
intended to operate. For example, the handheld computing device 100 may include a
communication subsystem 111 designed to operate within the Motitex™ mobile
15 communication system, the DataTACTM mobile communication system, GPKS network.
UMTS network, EDGE network or CDMA networic
[0018] Network access requirements will also vary depending upon the type of network
119. For example, in the Mobitex and DataTAC networks, the handheld computing
device 100 is registered on the network using a unique identification number associated
20 with each handheld computing device . In UMTS and GPRS networks, and in some
CDMA networks, however, network access is associated with a subscriber or user of the
handheld computing device 100. A GPRS handheld computing device therefore requires
a subscriber identity module (SIM) card in order to operate on a GPRS network, and a.
RUIM in crder to operate on some CDMA networks. Without a valid SIM/RUIM card, a.
25 GPRS/UMTS/CDMA handheld computing device may not be fully functional. Local or
non -network communication functions, as well as legally required functions (if any) such.
as "911" emergency calling, may be available, but the handheld computing device 100
will be unable to carry out any other functions involving communications over the
network. The SIM/RUIM interface 144 is normally similar to a. card-slot into which a

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SIM/RUIM card can be inserted and ejected like a diskette or PCMCIA card. The
SJM/RUIM card can have approxinately 64K of memory and hold many key
configration 151, and other information 153 such as identification, and subscriber
related information.
5 [0019] When required network registration or activation methods have been completed,
the handheld comporting device 100 may send and receive communication signals over
the network 119. Signals received by antenna 116 toough communication network 119
are input to receiver 112, which may perform such common receiver functions as signal
amplification, frequency down conversion, filtering, channel selection and the like, and in
10 the example, system shown in Fig. 2, analog to digital (A/D) conversion A/D conversion
of a received signal allows more complex communication functions such as
demodulation and decoding to be performed in the DSP 120. In a similar manner, signals
to be transmitted are processed, including modulation and encoding for example, by DSP
120 and input to transmitter 114 for digital to analog conversion, frequency up
15 conversion, filtering, amplification and transmission over the communification nework
119 via antenna 118, DSP, 120 not only processes communication signalsf but also
provides for receiver and transmitter control For example, the gains applied to
communication signals in receivier 112 and transmitter 114 may be adaptively controlled
through automatic gain control algorithins implemented in DSP 120.
20 [0020] The handheld computting device 100 preferably includes a microprocessor 138
which controls the overall operation of the device. Communication functions, including
at laast data, and voice communications, are performed through communication.
subsystem 111, Microprocessor 138 also interacts with further device subsystems such
as the display 122, flash memory 124, random access memory (RAM) 126, auxiliary
25 input/output (I/O) subsystems 128? serial port 130, keyboard I32r speaker I3t4,
microphone 136 a. short-range communications subsystem 140 and any other device
subsystems generally designated as 142.
[0021] Some of the subsystems shown Fig. 2 perform communication-related
functions, whereas other subsystems may provide "resident" or on-device functions.

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Some subsystems, such as keyboard 132 and display 122, for example, may be used for
both communication-related functions, such as entering a text message for transmission
over a. communication network, and device-resident functions such as a calculator or task
list
5 [0022] Another such subsystem comprises an event notification subsystem 142 that
notifies the user of the handheld computing device 100 of the occurrence of a notification.
event (eg. appointment, to-do item, e-mail, telephone call). The notification subsystem
142 will by described in detail below.
[0023] Operating system software used by the microprocessor 138 is preferably stored in
10 a persistent store such as flash memory 124, which may instead be a read-only memory
(ROM) or similar storage element (not shown). Those, skilled in the art will appreciate
That the operating system, specific device applications, or parts thereof, may be
temporarily loaded into a volatile memory such as RAM 126- Received communication
signals may also be stored in RAM 126.
15 [0024] As shown, the flash memory 124 can be segregated into different areas for both
computer programs 158 and program data storage 150,152,154 and 156. These different
storage areas indicate that each-program can allocate a portion of flash memory 124 for
their own data storage requirements. In addition to its operating system functions.
preferably the microprocessor 138 enables execution of software applications on the
20 handheld computing device. A predetermined set of applications that control basic
operations, will normally be installed on the handheld computing device 100 during
manufacturing.
[0025] One set of basic software applications might perform data and/or voice
communication functions, for example. Another set of basic software applications
25 comprises computer processing instructions which, when accessed, from the flash
memory 124 and/or the RAM 126 and executed by the microprocessor 138, define a
notification controller 102, The notification controller 102 interacts with the
afonomentioned event notification subsystem 142, and selects between the different

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notification types offered by the notification subsystem 142. The notification controller
102 will be described in detail below.
[0026] A preferred software application may be a personal information manager (PIM)
application having the ability to organize and manage data items relating to the user of
5 the handheld computing device such as, but not limited to, e-mail, calendar events^ voics
mails, appointments, and taslc items. Naiurally, one or more memory stores would be
available on the handheld comparing device to facilitate storage of PIM data items. Such
PIM application would preferably have the ability to send and receive data items, via the
wireless network 119. In a preferred embodiment, the PIM data items are seamlessly
10 integrated, synchronized and updated, via the wireless network 119, with the user's
corresponding data items stored or associated with a host computer system. Further
applications may also be loaded onio the handheld computing devjeo 100 through the
network 119, an auxiliary I/O subsystem. 128, serial port 130, short-range
communications subsystem 140 or any other suitable subsystem 142, and installed by a
15 user in the RAM 126 or preferably a non-volatile store (not shown) for execution by due
microprocessor 138. Such flexibility in application installation increases the
functionality of the device and may provide enbanced on-device functions,
communication-related functions, or both. For example,, secure communication
applications may enable electronic commerce functions and other such financial
20 transactions to be performed using the handheld computing device 100.
[0027] In a data cornmunication. mode, a received signal such as a text message or web
page download will be processed by the communication subsystem 111 and input to the
microprocessor 138, which preferably further processes the received signal for output to
the display 122, or alternatively to an auxiliary I/O device 128. A user of the handheld
25 computing device 100 may also compose data items such as email messages for example;
using the keyboard 132, which is preferably a complete alphanumeric keyboard or
telephone-type keypad, in conjunction with the display 122 and possibly an auxiliary I/O
device I28. Such composed items may then be transmitted over a communication;
network through the communication subsystem 111.

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[0023] For voice communications, overall operation of the handheld computing device
100 is similar, except that received signals would preferably be output to a speaker 134
and signals for transmission Would be generated by a microphone 136. Alternative Voice
or audio I/O subsystems, such as a voice massage recording subsystem, may also be
5 implemented on the handheld computing device 100. Although voice or audio signal
output is preferably accomplished primarily through. the speaker 134, display 122 may
also be used to provide an indication of the identity of a calling party, the duration of a
voice call, or other voice call related information for example.
[0029] Serial port 130 in Fig. 2, would normally be implemented in a personal digital
10 assistant (PDA)-type handheld computing device for which synchronization with a user's
desktop computer (not shown) may be desirable. The serial port 130 enables a user to set
preferences through an external device or software application and would extend the
capabilities of the handheld computing device 100 by providing for information or
software downloads to the handheld computing device 100 other than through a wireless
15 communication network.
[0030] Other communications subsystems 140, such as a short-range cemmunications
subsystem, is a further optional component which may provide for communication
between the handheld computing device 100 and different systems or devices, which
need not necessarily be similar devices, For example, the subsystem 140 may include an
20 infrared device and associated circuits and components or a Bluetooth™ communication
module to provide for communication with similarly enabled systems and devices,
[0031] Fig. 3 depicts the aforementioned event notification subsystem 142. As shown,
the event notification subsystem 142 comprises the notification lamp 104, a melody
circuit 106 coupled to the notification lamp 104, and an electronic switch 108 ccupled to
25 the notification lamp 104. Preferably, the melody circuit 106 include an audio output in
communication with the subsystem that drives the speaker 134.
[0032] Further, typically the notification lamp 104 is a tri-colour lamp that comprises
three monochrome LEDs. Preferably, the notification lamp 104 includes a red LED 104r,
a green LEP 104g, and a blue LED 104b that are disposed within a common housing, and

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are enclosed by a common transparent lens. However, it should be understood that the
notification lamp 104 is not so limited by may comprise any number of coloured lamps,
and/or colours of lamps. For instance, the notification lamp 104 may comprise one or
more differently-coloured monochrome lamps. The notification lamp 104 may also
5 compise a number of similarly-coloured lamps, each having a respective illumination
intensity. Variations on the foregoing will be apparent and are intended to be
encompassed by the invention as defined by the appended claims.
[0033] The melody circuit 106 is an integrated circuit that is mounted on the
motherboard of the handheld computting device 100. Preferably, the melody circuit 106
10 is Tiser-porogramnable with one or more tunes that can be played through the speaker 134
in response to the notification event associated with the tune. Typically, the user
downloads tunes to the handheld computing device 100, over the serial port 130 or the
wireless communication network, A suitable melody circuit 106 is OKI ML2870A.
[0034] The melody circuit 106 has a tuns select input through which the melody circuit
15 106 is notified of the tune to play. The melody circuit 106 also includes a number of
lamp driver outputs, each coupled to a respective one of the monochrome LEDs 104r,
104g? 104b through a respective current-himitnig resistor 109a, 109b, 105c The lamp
driver outputs allow the melody circuit 106 to tune the monochmme LBDs 104r, 104g,
104b on and off.
20 [0035] Typically, the melody circuit 106 flashes the LEDs 104r, 104g, 104b in
synchronization to the melody being played through the speaker 134. Alternately, the
melody circuit 106 may be programmed to vary the duty cycle of the on/off interval for
each of the LEDs 104R, 104g, 104r, so that the colour of the multicolour lamp 104 varies
in synchronization to the melody.
25 [0036] The notification subsystem 142 also includes a current-linniting resistor 110,
connected in series with one of the three monochrome LEDs, In the example shown, the
current-Iimmiting resistor 110 is connected in series with the red LED 104r, but is in
parallel with the current-limmiting resistors 109r and the corresponding lamp driver output
of the melody circuit 106.

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[0037] Preferably, the electronic switch 108 comprises a transistor having a drain/source
terminal that is coupled to the red LED 104r through the current-limiting resistor 130.
The electronic switch 108 includes a gate/base input which is used to turn the electronic
switch 108 on and off. Typically, the electronic switch 108 will periodically flash the
5 monochrone LED 104r. Alternately, the electronic switch 10 may maintain the
monochrome LED 104r continuously on.
[0038] It should be understood that the current-limiting resistor 110 and the electronic
switch 108 need not be connected to the red LED 104T, but can be connected to any of
the monochrome LEDs 104. For instance, if it is desirable to notify the user of an active
10 Bluetooth connection, the current limiting resistor 100 and the electronic switch 108
could be connected to the blue LED 104b. Further, the notification subsystem 142 is not
limited to having only one electronic switch 108, but instead could include a separate
electronic switch for each lamp of the notification lamp 1O4.
[0039] The melody circuit 106 reiprires a high frequency clock (approximately 13 MHZ),
15 Vhich canses the melody circuit 106, when active, to consume sjgnificantly more power
than the electroaic switch 108. Further, the resistance of the current-limiting resistors
109 is less than that of the current-limiting resistor 110. Accordingly, the power
cunsumption of the second notification type (via electronic switch 108) is less than that of
the first notification type (via melody circuit 106).
20 [0040] As discussed above, the microptsocessr 138 is in physical cojmnuiucatiou with
the notification subsystem 142. In particular, the microprocessor 138 includes I/O
channels that are coupled to the tune select input of the melody circuit 106, and the
gate/base input of the eledronic switch 108. The notification controller 102 is defined by
a set of computer processing instructions which are executed by the microprocessor 138
25 from the RAM 12S. In effect, therefore, the notification contraller 102 is coupled to the
tune select input of the melody circuit 106, and the gate/base input of the electronic
switch 108, through the hardware connections of the microprocessor 138.
[0041] The notification controller 102 also comprises a user event notification table that
is maintained in one of the program data storage areas 150, 152, 154 and 156 of the flash

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memory 124. Through The notification controller 102, the user associates a notification
event (e.g. appointment, to-do item, e-mail telephone call) with a desired notification
type. For instance, through the notification table, the user might configure the
notification controler 102 to:
5 (1) play one nine whert an e-mail arrives;
(2) play another tune and flash one or more of the LEDs 104 is synchronization
with the tune upoc receipt of a telephone call, and/or
(3) flash (or turn on) the red LED l04r a predetermined time prior to the
commencement of an appointment.
10 [0042] The notification controller 102 is also configured with at least four notification
modes. In a first of the notification modes, the notification controller 102 maintains the
melody circuit 106 in a low-power or sleep state, and maintains the electronic switch 108
open. In this mode, no event notification is provided, and ths power consumption of
notification subsystem 142 is minimal.
15 [0043] In a second of the notification modes, the notification controller 102 maintains the
electroiric switch 108 open, enables the melody circuit 106, and disables the lamp driver
outputs. In response to the occurence of a notification event, the notification controller
102 selects the melody that the user associated with the particular notification event, and
transmits a command to the melody circuit 106 for playback of the appropriate melody.
20 In response, the melody circuit 106 plays the selected melody over the speaker 134. This
response corresponds to sample notification (1), discussed above.
[0044] In a third of the notification modes, the notification controller 102 maintains the
electronic switch 108 open, enables the melody circuit 106, and enables the lamp driver
outputs. In response to the occurrence of a notification event, the notification controller
25 102 selects the tone mat the user associated with the particular notification event, and
transmits a command to the melody circuit 106 for playback of the appropriate melody.
In response, the melody circuit 106 plays the selected melody over the speaker 134, and
flashes the LBDs 104 in synchronization with the selected melody. This response
corresponds to sample notification (2), discussed above.

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[0045] In the second and third notification mades, since the melody circuit 106 is fully
operatinal, the power consumption, of the notification, subsystem 142 is at its maximum.
[0046] In a fourth of the notification modes, the notification, controller 102 maintains the
melody circuit 106 in the tow-power or sleep state. The notification controller 102.
5 periodically opens and closes the electronic switch 108, thereby causing the monochrome
LED 104r to flash on or off. Alternately, the notification controller 102 may maintain the
electronic switch 105 closed, thereby turning the monochrome LED 104r continuously
on.
[0047] Since the monochrome LED 104r is on (or periodically on), the power
10 consumption of notification subsystem 142 in this fourth notification mode is greater than
that in the first notification mode. However, since tbe melody circuit 106 is in the low-
power or sleep state, the power consumption of notification subsystem 142 in the fourth
notification, mode is greater than that in the second and third notification modes. As a
result the user can control power consumption of the notification subsystem 142 through
15 the notification mode selected for each desired notification event.
[0048] The present invention is defined by the claims appended hereto, with the
foregoing description being merely illustrative of a preferred embodiment of the
invention. Those of ordinary skill may envisage certain modifications to the foregoing
embodiments which, although not explicitly discussed herein, do not depart from the
20 scope of the invention, as defined by the appended claims.

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WE CLAIM:
1. A handheld computing device comprising,
a notification lamp;
a malady circuit coupled to the notification lamp for providing a first type
notification;
an electronic svritch coupled to the notification lamp for providing a second type
notification; and
a notification controller coupled to the melody circuit and the electronic switch, the
notification controller being configured with a plurality of notification modes, each said
notification made comprising a disabled one bf the notification types,
2. The handheld imputing device according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the
notification modes is initiated upon occurrence of a user-defined notification event.
3. The handheld computing device according to claim 2, wherein in a first of the
notification modes, the notification controller maintains the melody circuit in a low-
power state, and maintains the electronic switch open.
4. The handheld computing device according to claim 3, wherein in a second of the
notification modes, the notification controller maintains the melody circuit in the low-
power state, and closes the electronic switch.
5. The handheld computing device according to claim 4, wherein in a third of the
notification modes, the notification controller maintains the electronic switch open, and
enables the melody circuit.

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6. The handheld computing device according to claim 5, wherin in a second of the
notification modes, the notification controller periodically opens and closes the electronic
switch.
7. The handheld computing device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the
notification lamp comprises a plurality of monochrome lamps, and the melody circuit
includes a plurality of lamp driver outputs, each said lamp driver output being coupled to
a respective one of the monochrome lamps.
8. The handheld computing device according to claim 7, wherein the monochrome lamps
comprise a plurality of differently-coloured monochrome lamps.
9. The handheld computing device according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the electronic
switch is coupled to one of the monochrome lamps.
10. The handheld computing device according to claim 9, wherein the notification lamp
comprises a tri-coloured LED.
11. The handheld computing device according co claim 10, wherein the second type
notification has a power consumption less than that of the first type notification.
12. A notification circuit for a handheld computing device, comprising:
a notification lamp;
a melody circuit coupled to the notification lamp for providing a first type
notification; and
an electronic switch coupled to the notification lamp for providing a second type
notification, the second type notification having a power consumption less than that of
the first type notification.

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13. The notification circim according to claim 12, wherein the notification lamp
comprises a plurality of monochrome jamps, and the melody circuit includes a plurality
of lamp driver outputs, each said lamp driver output being coupled to a respective one of
the monochrome lamps.
14. The notifitation circuit according to claim 13, wherein the monochrome lamps
comprise a plurality of differently-coloured monochrorie lamps.
15. The notification circuit according to claim 13 or 14, wherein the electronic switch is
coupled to one of the monochrome lamps;
16. The notification circuit according to claim 15, wherein the notification lamp
comprises a tri-coloured LED.

A handheld craopfating device intivudes a notification lamp, a melody circuit coupled to
the notification lamp for providing s first type notification, an electronic switch coupled
to the notification lamp for providing a second type notification, and a notification
controller coupled to the melody circuit and the electronic switch. The notification
controller is configured with a plurality of notification modes, each notification mode
comprising a disabled one of the notification types.