Patent · US Expired

Flip on/off detector

US5918188A · kind A · utility

36Cited by
5References
16Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateSep 30, 1996
Grant dateJun 29, 1999
Priority date
Expiry dateSep 30, 2016

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH04M1/0214
  • WIPO fieldTelecommunications
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A sensor unit for an electronic device having a pivotable cover member includes a signal emitter, a signal receiver spaced from the signal emitter, and a baffle attached to the cover member and disposed in the space between the signal emitter and the signal receiver when the cover is in its closed position. A transmit window disposed between the signal emitter and the signal receiver is permeable to signals falling within a specified wavelength range, thereby ensuring the accuracy of the signal. When the sensor unit is applied to a cellular phone, for example, the phone can be automatically in an "off hook" or "on hook" condition automatically in accordance with whether the cover member is in its open position or closed position, and an operator need only perform a single operation to answer or terminate a call or to power up the phone.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.