Handheld electronic device with holster having a notification device
View Patent ↗A handheld electronic device that includes a first battery and a holster that includes a second battery and a charging apparatus. When the handheld electronic device and the holster are electrically connected together, the charging apparatus charges the first battery on the handheld electronic device from the second battery on the holster when the first battery charge has been depleted to a given level and the second battery charge is above a second given level. Alternatively, if the first battery charge is above a third given level the first battery charges the second battery if the second battery is not fully charged. The holster further includes a microcontroller that communicates with a microprocessor on the handheld electronic device to identify alerts and activate a notification device powered by the second battery on the holster.
1. An electronic device comprising:
a holster for releasably receiving and electrically coupling to a handheld electronic device;
a notification device disposed on said holster and for coupling to the handheld electronic device, said notification device providing a notification that identifies a pre-selected state of the handheld electronic device;
wherein the handheld electronic device inactivates the notification device after the notification device provides the notification that identifies the pre-selected state of the handheld electronic device; and
wherein the notification device is activated if the notification device is identified as being inactivated before the handheld electronic device sends a command to the notification device to provide the notification that identifies the pre-selected state of the handheld electronic device.
2. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein the notification device is programmed to have a plurality of signal patterns, each such signal pattern corresponding to a different state of the handheld electronic device.
3. The electronic device of claim 2 wherein the state of the handheld electronic device is the arrival of an email and the signal pattern corresponds to the relative importance of the email.
4. The electronic device of claim 3 wherein the importance of the email is determined by the address of a sender.
5. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein the notification device is a first vibrator.
6. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein the notification device is an LED.
7. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein the notification device is a speaker.
8. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein the coupling between the notification device and the handheld electronic device is one or more electrical contacts or a wireless connection.
9. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein the coupling is a short-range wireless connection.
10. The electronic device of claim 1 wherein said notification device provides a signal that identifies the pre-selected state of the handheld electronic device when said handheld electronic device is in said holster.
11. An electronic device comprising:
a holster for releasably receiving and electrically coupling to a handheld electronic device;
a notification device disposed on said holster and for coupling to the handheld electronic device, said notification device providing a notification that identifies a pre-selected state of the handheld electronic device;
wherein the handheld electronic device inactivates the notification device after the notification device provides the notification that identifies the pre-selected state of the handheld electronic device; and
wherein the state of the notification device is checked to see if it is active before the notification device provides the notification that identifies the pre-selected state of the handheld electronic device.
12. A method of operating a holster for conveniently carrying a handheld electronic device, the holster having a notification device disposed thereon, comprising the steps of:
coupling the notification device to the handheld electronic device;
providing a signal from the notification device disposed on the holster, that identifies a pre-selected state of the handheld electronic device;
wherein the handheld electronic device inactivates the notification device after the notification device provides the notification that identifies the pre-selected state of the handheld electronic device; and
wherein the notification device is activated if the notification device is identified as being inactivated before the handheld electronic device sends a command to the notification device to provide the notification that identifies the pre-selected state of the handheld electronic device.
13. The method of claim 12 wherein coupling the notification device to the handheld electronic device is via one or more electrical contacts.
14. The method of claim 12 , further comprising programming the signal provided by the notification device to have a plurality of signal patterns each such signal pattern corresponding to a different state of the handheld electronic device.
15. The method of claim 12 wherein the state of the handheld electronic device is the arrival of an email and the signal pattern corresponds to the relative importance of the email.
16. The method of claim 12 including the step of determining the importance of the email from the address of the sender.
17. The method of claim 12 wherein the coupling the notification device to the handheld electronic device comprises wirelessly connecting the notification device to the handheld electronic device.
18. The method of claim 12 wherein coupling the notification device to the handheld electronic device is via a short-range wireless connection.
19. A method of operating a holster for conveniently carrying a handheld electronic device, the holster having a notification device disposed thereon, comprising the steps of:
coupling the notification device to the handheld electronic device;
providing a signal from the notification device disposed on the holster, that identifies a pre-selected state of the handheld electronic device;
wherein the handheld electronic device inactivates the notification device after the notification device provides the notification that identifies the pre-selected state of the handheld electronic device; and
wherein the state of the notification device is checked to see if it is active before the notification device provides the notification that identifies the pre-selected state of the handheld electronic device.