Telephone with environmentally-influenced call indicator
US6122366A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventor
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 16, 1998 |
| Grant date | Sep 19, 2000 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jul 16, 2018 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG08B1/08
- WIPO fieldControl
- WIPO sectorInstruments
Abstract
A telephone according to the invention includes an indicator adapted to provide an indication of the presence of an incoming call, and a sensor adapted to sense an environmental condition and adjust the indicator based on the sensed condition. For example, the sensor can sense an ambient light level and adjust a ringer to not ring or a speaker to mute when the ambient light level is below a threshold and/or based on an ambient noise level. In an alternative embodiment, a method of responding to a ringing signal includes the steps of sensing a level of ambient light, and adjusting an audible indicator based on the sensed level of ambient light.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.