Low profile vibratory alerting device

A selective call receiver, comprising:

• receiver means for selectively receiving and presenting a message;
• a housing for the selective call receiver having a rigid member integrally attached thereto and extending therefrom, the rigid member constructed to cooperatively connect with a rotatable body and to secure the rotatable body to the housing while allowing the rotatable body to rotate about the rigid member;
• a circuit supporting substrate arranged within and coupled to the housing and having the receiver means coupled thereto;
• and
• alerting means for providing a vibratory alert, the alerting means comprising:
• a plurality of coils disposed on the circuit supporting substrate and arranged about the rigid member with each coil capable of being selectively energized;
• a rotatable body coupled to the rigid member, the body rotatable about the rigid member in a plane substantially parallel to the circuit supporting substrate for directly generating vibrations in the housing via said rigid member;
• and
• selective energizing means for selectively energizing the plurality of coils to rotate the body to provide the vibratory alert.

A selective call receiver, comprising:

• receiver means for selectively receiving a message;
• a housing for the selective call receiver;
• a circuit supporting substrate having a rigid member fixedly attached thereto and extending therefrom, and having the receiver means coupled thereto, the circuit supporting substrate coupled to the housing and the rigid member including a tip portion having a plurality of flexible extensions for coupling to a rotatable body to secure the rotatable body to the housing while allowing the rotatable body to rotate about the rigid member;
• and
• alerting means for providing a vibratory alert, the alerting means comprising:
• a plurality of coils disposed on the circuit supporting substrate and arranged about the rigid member with each coil capable of being selectively energized;
• a rotatable counterweight coupled to the rigid member, the counterweight rotatable about the rigid member in a plane substantially parallel to the circuit supporting substrate;
• and
• selective energizing means for selectively energizing the plurality of coils to rotate the counterweight to provide the vibratory alert.

An electronic device, comprising:

• a housing for the electronic device;
• a circuit supporting substrate having a rigid member fixedly attached thereto and extending therefrom, the circuit supporting substrate coupled to the housing, and the rigid member including a tip portion having a plurality of flexible extensions for coupling to a rotatable body to secure the rotatable body to the housing while allowing the rotatable body to rotate about the rigid member;
• and
• alerting means for providing a vibratory alert, the alerting means comprising:
• a plurality of coils disposed on the circuit supporting substrate and arranged about the rigid member with each coil capable of being selectively energized;
• a body rotatably coupled to the rigid member, the body rotatable about the rigid member in a plane substantially parallel to the circuit supporting substrate;
• and
• selective energizing means for selectively energizing the plurality of coils to rotate the body to provide the vibratory alert.

A pager, comprising:

• a plastic housing for the pager having an inner surface with a plastic molded pin structure extending therefrom;
• a printed circuit board coupled to the housing and arranged within the housing in a plane substantially parallel to the inner surface;
• receiver means, coupled to the printed circuit board, for selectively receiving a message;
• controller means coupled to the printed circuit board and to the receiver means for presenting the received message;
• and
• tactile alerting means responsive to the controller means for providing a tactile alert along with receiving the message, the tactile alerting means comprising:
• a plurality of coils etched on the printed circuit board along with other electronic circuits for the pager, the plurality of coils arranged about a circumference that is substantially concentric with the plastic molded pin structure, each coil capable of being selectively energized;
• a wedge-shaped magnetic counterweight having a bearing that cooperatively connects with the pin structure to secure the magnetic counterweight to the housing while allowing the magnetic counterweight to rotate about the circumference;
• and
• selective energizing means responsive to the controller means for selectively providing a direct current to energize at least one coil of the plurality of coils, and consequently to actuate the rotating wedge-shaped magnetic counterweight to provide the tactile alert.