US3623064A - Paging receiver having cycling eccentric mass - Google Patents

Abstract

A radio-operated paging receiver is fitted with an electrically driven vibrator which causes the receiver to vibrate at a subaudible frequency when a paging signal is received.

Description

United States atent [72] Inventor Sholly Kagan East Natick, Mass.

[21 Appl. No. 766,781

[22] Filed Oct. 11, 1968 [45] Patented Nov. 23, 1971 [73] Assignee Bell & Howell Company Chicago, Ill.

[54] PAGING RECEIVER HAVING CYCLING MASS 9 Claims, 7 Drawing Figs.

[52] U.S.C1 340/311, 340/399, 340/400, 340/407 [51] Int. Cl G08b 7/00 [50] Field of Search 340/311, 407, 399, 400

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,127,468 8/1938 Greibach 340/407 2,566,409 9/1951 Greene 340/407 2,582,277 1/1952 Powlison 340/407 X 2,827,621 3/1958 Reichertlm. 340/407 X 2,972,140 2/1961 Hirsch 340/407 2,191,516 2/1940 Caldwell 340/407 2,817,080 12/1957 Balduman 340/400 X 3,116,481 12/1963 Kalin et a1 340/400 X Primary ExaminerHarold 1. Pitts Anurney Alfred H. Rosen ABSTRACT: A personal paging device has a call signal receiver which generates when activated a train of regularly spaced electrical pulses controlling an electric vibrator. The vibrator comprises an electric motor which receives the pulse train and periodically accelerates a cyclicly mounted mass to produce, as a result of the reaction forces developed, tactually sensible reaction vibrations in the device. In a primary embodiment the mass is eccentrically mounted so as to additionally produce tactually sensible variations at frequencies which are distinguishable from the said reaction vibrations.

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Aflomey PAGING RECEIVER HAVING CYCLING ECCENTRIC MASS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to radio-operated alerting devices, and more particularly to paging receivers of the kind which can be carried on the person of a user. Customarily, such receivers are small enough to fit into a shirt pocket, or to be clipped to the belt holding up a person's trousers.

Paging receivers are now in use employing an audible alerting signal. This has disadvantages when the user wants to avoid alerting or disturbing other persons. Substitution or addition of a visual alerting signal (e.g. a flashing light) does not entirely solve the problem, for the attention of the user cannot always be assured, nor can the user be certain to avoid alerting other persons. The present invention solves the problem with a silent and invisible vibratory alerting device, which has unique advantages not afiorded by audible or visible alerting signals.

According to the present invention a rigid supporting structure, which contains or supports means (e.g. radio receiver) to receive a calling signal and means (e.g. decoder and alerting signal generator) to provide an alerting signal, has affixed to it normally inactive vibrator means for vibrating the structure at a frequency in the subaudible range (e.g. c.p.s. and employs the alerting signal to activate the vibrator means. When the vibrator means is activated the entire structure is set into forced .vibration at the subaudible frequency and if it is being carried on the person of a user only the user feels the vibration and, therefore, only the user is alerted to the calling signal.

A feature of the invention is that the alerting signal may be in the form of one or more pulses of energy, whereby to accelerate the vibrator means from an inactive state to an active state in a time interval which is short relative to the time required for the vibrator to return to the inactive state. A series of such pulses of energy, temporally spaced apart greater than the pulse duration, causes the alerting device to throb in an attention-commanding manner. If the device rests on the surface of a hard, flat body, such as a table or a desk, the device executes a walking motion across the surface while so throbbing, and simultaneously causes a corresponding throbbing noise by its vibration against the hard surface. Thus, when the device is not worn by its user, it can be employed to give a signal which is both audible and visible simply by placing it on a hard, flat surface. If placed in a confining saucer or ash tray, its vibration against the latter will cause a pronounced throbbing noise while it may or may not be free to move depending upon the nature of its confinement.

Several embodiments of the invention are described in this specification, illustrating a variety of preferred ways to practice the invention. The description, which follows, refers to the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 shows two external views, A and B, of a paging receiver according to the invention; FIG. 1C shows an altemative location for the vibrator means;

FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration showing the location of parts in FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a set ofgraphs for explaining pulse operation ofthe invention;

FIGS. 4, 5 and 6 schematically illustrate three difierent forms of vibrator means; and

FIG. 7 schematically illustrates another arrangement of the parts in an alerting device according to the invention.

Referring now to FIGS. 1A and B and FIG. 2, the alerting device is a paging receiver, comprising a rigid supporting structure 10 (FIG. 2) which supports within itsframework 11 the prior an electronic andelectromechanical components 12 which perform the radio receiver, filter and decoder, and alerting signal generator functions. Since these are prior art components, they will not be described. Also supported in thestructure 10 are a power source (i.e. battery) 13 and anantenna 14. Thetop part 15 of thestructure 10 is also an outer part of the housing of the receiver, and contains aphone jack 16,

and a vibrator means 17. As is shown in FIG. 1A and B, acover 18 fits slidably over theframework 11 to enclose theparts 12, 13 supported in it, and completes the outer housing of the receiver. Aclip 19 hinged to thecover 18 is springurged as by aspring 21 to hold the receiver in a pocket or to a belt (not shown).

The vibrator means 17 may, as shown in FIG. 2 and FIG. 4, comprise anelectric motor 22 having arotatable shaft 23 with an eccentrically mountedmass 24 on it. A cover 17.1 covers themass 24, as it is shown in FIGS. 1A and B and FIG. 2. A pair ofwires 25 carry the alerting signal from the alerting signal generator in theparts 12 to themotor 22. The motor is normally at rest; that is, inactive; and it is activated, that is,

caused to spin theshaft 23, when the alerting signal is applied to it. When the motor is activated themass 24 turns on the axis of theshaft 23 and, being eccentrically mounted on the shaft, causes themotor 22 to vibrate at a frequency determined by the speed of rotation. A low frequency, below audible, such as five cycles per second, is a preferred frequency of vibration. This can be felt quite readily. Themotor 22 is rigidly engaged with thetop part 15 of thestructure 10; for example the top part may be of a plastics material and themotor 22 press-fitted into a bore 15.1 in the top part. Thestructure 10 is thereby forced into vibration at the same low frequency.

The same result can be achieved by affixing the vibrator means 17 to the outside of the supportingstructure 10, as is shown in FIG. 1C. Here the vibrator means 17 is affixed to thetop part 15, electrically connected to the alerting signal generator via thephone jack 16, and held in place by a locating and retaining collar 15.5 which is affixed to thetop part 15 of thestructure 10. The vibrator means 17 may thus be detachably attached to thestructure 10.

The alerting signal may be a continuous electrical signal, DC or AC as desired, but advantages can be obtained ifit is in the form of a train of pulses, as illustrated in FIG. 3. In addition to conserving battery power, a train of pulses causes the vibrator means to produce a throbbing form of vibration which is attention-commanding and has other advantages. FIG. 3 is a set of three graphs on a time axis. Threealerting signal pulses 31 are shown in a train on thelower axis 32. Each pulse, when applied to themotor 22, causes it to accelerate itsshaft 23 into rotation and, when the pulse terminates the shaft decelerates more slowly toward rest. Thus the rotational velocity increases rapidly and decreases slowly, as shown bycurve 33 on themiddle time axis 34. The acceleration is illustrated bycurves 35 on theuppermost time axis 36. Eachpulse 31 accelerates the vibrator means from an inactive state to an active state ina time interval T, which is short relative to the time T required for the vibrator means to return to the inactive state after the pulse has ceased. If the pulse duration is about T, and the time interval between pulses is about T then a characteristic throbbing vibration is produced. In addition to commanding attention by virtue of its unique character, this throbbing vibration causes theentire structure 10 to execute a walking like motion, due to the reaction forces developed on the supportingstructure 10, when the paging receiver is resting on a hard flat surface. Thus, when the user removes the receiver from his or her person and sets it down on a hard flat surface, a paging signal will cause the receiver to produce a rattling noise in a series of pulses corresponding to the alertingsignal pulses 31, and to move in a shuffling manner relative to the surface, the shuffles being stepwise at the frequency of the alerting-signal pulses. If the receiver is standing, that is upright on the surface in the attitude of FIG. 1, it may actually appear to shuffle along in a straight or nearly straight line; if it is resting on its side, it may shuffle in a curved path.

The frequency of thepulses 31 is not to be confused with the frequency of vibration of the vibrator means 17. Eachpulse 31 contains at least several cycles of vibration of the vibrator means 17, as will be apparent when it is realized that the motor shaft is preferably brought to rotation at its intended full speed in the time duration T, of eachpulse 31, and then allowed to coast toward rest in the succeeding time interval T Alternative forms of the vibrator means 17 are shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. In FIG. 5 a mass 41 of magnetic material such as iron is suspended between twosprings 42, 43 which are in turn anchored to thestructure 10, and a hollow-core solenoid coil 44 surrounds the mass 41, which at rest may be located nearer to one end of the coil than to the other. The alerting signal (not shown) is applied to thecoil 44, which may for this purpose be connected viaterminals 45 to thewires 25 carrying the alerting signal. An appropriate alerting signal will set the mass 41 into vibration which will be coupled via thesprings 42, 43 to thestructure 10. The springs may be chosen to effect a coupling between the mass 41 and the structure such that when a pulse-form alerting signal is used the mass 41 will continue to vibrate for a period of time (T larger than the time (T,) duration of the alerting-signal pulse. The alerting signal, whether continuous or in pulse form, may have a frequency corresponding to the resonance frequency of vibration of the mass 41 and itssprings 42, 43, or it may be a DC pulse.

In FIG. 6 twocoils 51 and 52 are located one on each side of amagnetic mass 53 which is mounted at one end of aspring 54, the other end of which is connected to thestructure 10, An alerting signal may be connected to thecoils 51, 52 to set themass 53 into vibration and thereby cause thestructure 10 to vibrate.

It will be apparent that the vibrator means shown in FIGS 4, 5 and 6 have in common the property that each comprises a solid mass (24, 41, 53, respectively) motor means (22, 44 and 51, 52, respectively) to drive said mass cyclically in a prescribed path, and means linking the mass to thestructure 10. Other vibrator means having these properties can be employcd, if desired.

FIG. 7 represents an arrangement of an alerting device according to the invention in which thestructure 61 can be in the shape of an elongated (e.g. tubular) body, which is convenient to carry in ones pocket, like a pencil or fountain pen. Thestructure 61 contains, along its axis, the battery, electronics and vibrator means, as the labels in FIG. 7 show, with the vibrator nearer one end of the elongated body than the other. Theantenna 62 for receiving radiobroadcast calling signals, is affixed across one end of thestructure 61, where it will be least apt to be covered by clothing material. With the vibrator at one end of an elongated body, a form of vibration which is transverse to the longitudinal axis of the elongated body can force the elongated body correspondingly into vibration transverse to its axis, which will be easily felt and visibly noticeable. If the vibrator means 17 shown in FIG. 4 is used with theshaft 23 parallel to the longitudinal axis of the elongated body, a nutating motion may be induced into the alerting device.

Referring again to FIG. 2, the vibrator means 17 need not be located near a corner or side of thestructure 10. By rearranging the electronic parts, the vibrator means may be located at or near the geometric center of the structure thereby increasing the ability to cause an entire wide side of the alerting device to vibrate against the body of a user.

Iclaim:

I. A personal paging device comprising a supporting structure, sensing means carried by said structure and responsive to space-transmitted energy for providing an alerting signal comprising a train of regularly spaced electrical pulses, normally inactive vibrator means for vibrating said structure, said vibrator means including an eccentric mass supported for cyclic movement and electric motive means responsive to said alerting signal for driving said mass through a range of vibrational frequencies toward a steady-state frequency, each of said pulses in said alerting signal being of a length to endure for a period of time longer than a cycle of said signal at said steady state frequency of vibration.

2. A personal paging receiver intended to be carried on the clothing of a person, comprising a supporting structure for providing an alerting signal, a mass, means for constraining said mass to be movable cyclicly in a substantially linear path relative to said structure, electric motive means responsive to vibratory means within said casing and coupled thereto,

comprising:

a mass supported for cyclic movement, and

electric motive means responsive to an alerting signal developed by said sensing means for accelerating said mass periodically at said pulse frequency, the periodic acceleration of said mass by said motive means producing by reaction forces acting on said motive means tactually sensible vibration of said casing at a vibrational frequency which corresponds to said pulse frequency.

4. A device according to claim 3 wherein said electric motive means has rotor means including said mass which is ac celerated periodically at said pulse frequency.

5, A device according to claim 3 wherein said mass is accelerated from an initial velocity in a time interval which is short relative to the time required for said mass to decelerate to the initial velocity after a pulse in said alerting signal has ceased.

6. A personal paging receiver, comprising:

a casing;

sensing means disposed within said casing and being responsive to space-transmitted energy for developing an alerting signal in the form of a train of regularly spaced electrical pulses having a predetermined pulse frequency which is capable of being sensed tactually;

vibratory alerting means within said casing and coupled thereto, comprising:

a mass supported for cyclic movement,

electric motive means responsive to an alerting signal developed by said sensing means for periodically accelerating said mass at said pulse frequency, the periodic acceleration of said mass by said motive means producing by reaction forces acting on said motive means tactually sensible vibration of said casing at a vibrational frequency which corresponds to said pulse frequency, said mass being in a state of imbalance so that when it is accelerated it produces readily sensible vibrations in said casing in a range of frequencies de pending on its velocity, the frequencies in said range of frequencies being substantially above and tactually distinguishable from said vibrations at said pulse frequency.

7. A device according to claim 6 wherein said electric motive means is an electric motor having rotor means including said mass which is accelerated periodically at said pulse frequency.

8. A device according to claim 7 wherein said mass has an eccentric center of gravity to create said state of imbalance.

9. The apparatus defined by claim 2 wherein said electric motive means includes a solenoid coil for receiving said alerting signal, wherein said mass is composed of a ferromagnetic material and is disposed within said coil, and wherein said means for constraining said mass includes spring means interconnecting said mass and said supporting structure.

Date Nevem'be'r 23 1% Patent No. 3 623 064 Inventor(s) Shelly Kagan It is certified that error appears in the above-identified patent that said Letters Patent are hereby corrected as shown belew and Claim 2, line 2, after "supporting structure insert gne A 331 a day 01 Me 5272.

d and sealed this I a An

Claims (9)

1. A personal paging device comprising a supporting structure, sensing means carried by said structure and responsive to spacetransmitted energy for providing an alerting signal comprising a train of regularly spaced electrical pulses, normally inactive vibrator means for vibrating said structure, said vibrator means including an eccentric mass supported for cyclic movement and electric motive means responsive to said alerting signal for driving said mass through a range of vibrational frequencies toward a steady-state frequency, each of said pulses in said alerting signal being of a length to endure for a period of time longer than a cycle of said signal at said steady state frequency of vibration.

2. A personal paging receiver intended to be carried on the clothing of a person, comprising a supporting structure, radio receiver means carried by said supporting structure for providing an alerting signal, a mass, means for constraining said mass to be movable cyclicly in a substantially linear path relative to said structure, electric motive means responsive to an alerting signal received from said radio receiver means for driving said mass in said path, and means coupling said mass to said structure for causing said structure to vibrate when said motive means is activated.

3. A personal paging device, comprising: a casing; sensing means disposed within said casing and being responsive to space-transmitted energy for developing an alerting signal in the form of a train of regularly spaced electrical pulses having a predetermined pulse frequency which is capable of being sensed tactually; and vibratory means within said casing and coupled thereto, comprising: a mass supported for cyclic movement, and electric motive means responsive to an alerting signal developed by said sensing means for accelerating said mass periodically at said pulse frequency, the periodic acceleration of said mass by said motive means producing by reaction forces acting on said motive means tactually sensible vibration of said casing at a vibrational frequency which corresponds to said pulse frequency.

4. A device according to claim 3 wherein said electric motive means has rotor means including said mass which is accelerated periodically at said pulse frequency.

5. A device according to claim 3 wherein said mass is accelerated from an initial velocity in a time interval which is short relative to the time required for said mass to decelerate to the initial velocity after a pulse in said alerting signal has ceased.

6. A personal paging receiver, comprising: a casing; sensing means disposed within said casing and being responsive to space-transmitted energy for developing an alerting signal in the form of a train of regularly spaced electrical pulses having a predetermined pulse frequency which is capable of being sensed tactually; vibratory alerting means within said casing and coupled thereto, comprising: a mass supported for cyclic movement, electric motive means responsive to an alerting signal developed by said sensing means for periodically accelerating said mass at said pulse frequency, the periodiC acceleration of said mass by said motive means producing by reaction forces acting on said motive means tactually sensible vibration of said casing at a vibrational frequency which corresponds to said pulse frequency, said mass being in a state of imbalance so that when it is accelerated it produces readily sensible vibrations in said casing in a range of frequencies depending on its velocity, the frequencies in said range of frequencies being substantially above and tactually distinguishable from said vibrations at said pulse frequency.

7. A device according to claim 6 wherein said electric motive means is an electric motor having rotor means including said mass which is accelerated periodically at said pulse frequency.

8. A device according to claim 7 wherein said mass has an eccentric center of gravity to create said state of imbalance.

9. The apparatus defined by claim 2 wherein said electric motive means includes a solenoid coil for receiving said alerting signal, wherein said mass is composed of a ferromagnetic material and is disposed within said coil, and wherein said means for constraining said mass includes spring means interconnecting said mass and said supporting structure.

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