Apparatus for providing a visual indication of receipt of an electronic message
OwnerLance S. Hall, Alfred E. Hallinventors
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Abstract
Apparatus and method for providing a visual indication of receipt of an electronic message by changing the color of at least a portion of a display formed of liquid crystal according to the message received. A first circuit receives an incoming signal, a second circuit identifies the incoming signal by comparing the incoming signal with stored signals, and a third circuit causes a predetermined voltage to be coupled to a predetermined area of the liquid crystal to cause the predetermined area to assume a predetermined color to call attention to the incoming message.
Claims15
Apparatus for providing a visual indication of receipt of at least one of a plurality of electronic message signals to a user thereof comprising:
- a liquid crystal forming a visual display as part of said apparatus;
- a first circuit for receiving said at least one of said plurality of message signals;
- a second circuit coupled to said first circuit for recognizing a particular received message signal;
- a third circuit coupled between said second circuit and said visual display for causing at least a portion of said liquid crystal to change color according to the particular message received and comprising;
- a power supply for generating multiple output voltages;
- and
- a device for receiving said particular message signal and generating one or more output signals that cause at least one of said multiple output voltages from said power supply to be coupled to at least a portion of said liquid crystal to change its color thereby silently but visually notifying the user of said apparatus of the receipt of said particular message.
A method for providing a visual indication of receipt of any one of a plurality of electronic message signals to a user of a visual display formed of liquid crystal and comprising the steps of:
- receiving at least one of a plurality of said message signals with a first circuit;
- recognizing the received message signal with a second circuit associated with the first circuit;
- providing multiple output voltages from a power supply;
- and
- receiving said recognized message signal with a device that generates one or more output signals that cause at least one of said multiple output voltages from said power supply to be coupled to at least a portion of said liquid crystal to change its color thereby silently but visually notifying the user of said apparatus of the receipt of said recognized message signal.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.