Patent Application
20110148756
The present invention relates to a user input device for a wireless handset and method for receiving user input on a wireless handset. More particularly, the invention relates to a user input comprising a trackpad and a selection button.
At present, wireless handsets lack a practical method to quickly and efficiently navigate a graphical user interface. Many wireless handsets feature a navigation key to allow a user to navigate graphical user interfaces. The navigation key typically includes a multi-directional control for navigation and a separate control for selection. A navigation key input requires a user to click the navigation key repeatedly to move through menu options in a displayed menu. Similarly, moving a cursor through a document requires continual clicking of the navigation key, which may become particularly tedious when a long document is involved. Paging through a lengthy webpage may also require a time-consuming series of clicks.
A touch screen interface provides an alternative navigation system for a graphical user interface displayed on a wireless handset. The lack of a selection button on a touch screen device inhibits operation of the device. The user does not receive tactile feedback to indicate that a selection has been made. Furthermore, selection must be made by tapping the touch screen rather than clicking a selection button. It may be difficult for users to accurately position a cursor or make selections when a selection button is not provided.
A wireless handset with a user input device that allows navigation and selection is described. A method for receiving user input with a trackpad and selection button is also described. In a first illustrative embodiment, the wireless handset includes a processor and a user input device operatively coupled to the processor. The user input device comprises a trackpad and a selection button. The wireless handset also includes a display that is operatively coupled to the processor. The display presents a graphical user interface. The user input device allows a user to navigate the graphical user interface.
In another illustrative embodiment, the wireless handset includes a processor and a user input device comprising a means for navigation and a means for selection. The means for navigation includes a sensor capable of sensing a contact with a surface of a sensor pad. The means for selection includes a mechanical input device.
A method for interfacing with a wireless handset is also described. The method comprises displaying a user interface on a display of the wireless handset. The method continues by using a trackpad to sense the direction of a contact a user makes with a trackpad surface. The method then receives a selection input when the user operates a selection button.
The embodiments will be more fully understood by reference to the following drawings which are for illustrative, not limiting, purposes.
Persons of ordinary skill in the art will realize that the following description is illustrative and not in any way limiting. Other embodiments of the claimed subject matter will readily suggest themselves to such skilled persons having the benefit of this disclosure. It shall be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that the wireless handset, systems, and methods described hereinafter may vary as to configuration and as to details.
A user input device for a wireless handset and a method for receiving user input on a wireless handset is described. The user input device comprises a trackpad and a selection button.
A trackpad is a sensor capable of sensing a contact with the surface of the sensor. The trackpad may be capable of sensing, for example, a position of contact with the trackpad surface or a direction of contact with the trackpad surface or the combination thereof. For example, when a user slides a finger across the trackpad surface, the trackpad may sense to direction of the contact between the finger and the trackpad surface. The trackpad may be capable of sensing contact of a stylus with the trackpad surface. Multiple contacts, such as the contact of multiple fingers with the trackpad surface, may be sensed by the trackpad. A trackpad sensor system may use a capacitive sensor to determine when contact has been made with the trackpad surface.
The selection button is a mechanical button on the wireless handset. The selection button of the user interface device may be located proximate to the trackpad to allow a user to efficiently alternate between using the trackpad and using the selection button. The selection button may provide tactile feedback to the user when the selection button is operated. For example, the selection button, when operated, may produce a click that is audible or detectible by tactile perception or a combination thereof. In one embodiment, the selection button is a rim surrounding the trackpad. The rim may extend above the surface of the trackpad to allow the user to easily distinguish by feel between the trackpad surface and the selection button. In another embodiment, the selection button is contiguous with the trackpad, such that the selection button is operated by depressing the trackpad.
The selection button comprises a mechanical actuator, a popple dome, and a printed circuit board (PCB). The popple dome comprises an electrically conductive material. When the mechanical actuator is depressed, it comes into contact with the popple dome, causing the popple dome to move toward the PCB. When the popple dome comes into contact with the PCB, a circuit is completed, resulting in activation of the switch corresponding to the selection button.
The wireless handset comprises a processor and a display operatively coupled to the processor. The display may present a graphical user interface. The graphical user interface may include at least one menu with a plurality of menu items. An active menu item is the item that will be selected if the selection button is pressed. The active menu item may be indicated by highlighted text associated with the active menu item.
The display may present a cursor. A cursor shows the position on the display where text manipulation may occur. The cursor may be shown, for example, as a blinking vertical line.
The display may present a pointer. The pointer may be indicated by an icon such as an arrow. The pointer indicates a selected position on the display of the wireless handset. The area under the pointer will be active when the selection button is pressed. The pointer may be used, for example, to select a menu item from a menu or to control the position of a cursor.
When a contact with the trackpad is detected, the graphical user interface is changed relative to the contact. For example, when a user slides a finger across the trackpad, the trackpad senses the contact. As the position of the contact changes during the sliding gesture, coordinates of the contact as sensed by the trackpad are sent to a processor. The processor derives the direction of the motion from the change in the coordinates of the contact over time. The processor updates the graphical user interface is relative to the changing position of contact.
In an illustrative example, a menu is displayed on the wireless handset. A first menu item is highlighted to indicate that it is the active menu item. A user contacts the trackpad with a finger and slides the finger in a downward motion from an upper portion of the trackpad to a lower portion of the trackpad. In response to the contact, the displayed menu may change such that the first menu item ceases to be the active menu item and a second menu item displayed below the first menu item becomes the active menu item as indicated by highlighted menu item text. When the user operates the selection button, the active menu item is selected.
In another illustrative example, a cursor is displayed on the wireless handset. When the user contacts the trackpad by sliding a finger across the trackpad, the user interface is updates such that the cursor is moved in the direction of the contact. Text may then be manipulated at the point where the cursor is positioned.
In a further illustrative example, the display shows a pointer. As the user slides a finger across the trackpad, the graphical user interface is updated such that the pointer moves in the direction of the contact. For example, in a text application such as a word processing application, the pointer controls a cursor. The user slides a finger across the trackpad to move the pointer. The position of the pointer on the display changes relative to the movement of the finger across the trackpad. In this manner, the user moves the pointer to a desired position within a block of text. The user then presses the select button to position the cursor at the pointer location on the display. The user may subsequently manipulate text at the cursor position. In another example, the display shows a menu. The user controls the movement of the pointer relative to the menu items. The user may position the pointer over a desired menu item. The user then presses the select button to select the desired menu item.
Referring to
In
The wireless handset may have a second display 154 located on the posterior face of the upper segment 104 of the handset. Display 154 may present a secondary graphical user interface. The user input device is located such that it is accessible when the wireless handset is in a closed position as illustrated in
Referring to
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Capacitive sensor 458 is capable of detecting a contact with the surface of trackpad 452. The capacitive sensor system is capable of detecting the position of a contact. The position of the contact may be determined as a set of coordinates in a two-axis system. Thus, if an x-axis runs vertically along trackpad 402 and a y-axis runs horizontally along trackpad 402, the x and y coordinates for a contact may be determined by the capcitive sensor system. In the case of a moving contact, such as a finger sliding along the trackpad surface, processor 614 may derive the direction of the motion from the position data produced by the trackpad sensor.
The selection button 404 of
Referring to
The selection button system comprises at least one popple dome 558 and PCB 560. The popple dome comprises a conductive material. When the user operates the selection button by depressing trackpad surface 556 down toward the popple dome 558, the popple dome is urged toward PCB 560. When the popple dome contacts the PCB, a circuit is closed and a selection button switch is activated.
Referring to
An illustrative control module 610 comprises a digital signal processor (DSP) 612, a processor 614, and a CODEC 616 that are communicatively coupled to the transmitter 606 and receiver 608. It shall be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that the transmitter module and receiver module are typically paired and may be embodied as a transceiver. The DSP 610 may be configured to perform a variety of operations such as controlling the antenna 602, the transmitter module 204, and the receiver module 608.
The processor 614 is operatively coupled to memory 618, display 620, and user input device 622. Additionally, the processor 614 is also operatively coupled to a CODEC module 616 that performs the encoding and decoding operations and is communicatively coupled to microphone 624 and a speaker or ringer 626. The CODEC module 616 is also communicatively coupled to the display 620 and provides the encoding and decoding operations for video.
Referring to
At decision diamond 703, the wireless handset processor 614 determines whether the selection button has been pressed. If the selection button has been pressed, the user interface is updated in accordance with the selection input at block 704. For example, when the selection button is pressed, an active menu item may be selected when the selection button is pressed, as described in more detail above.
A user input device and a method for receiving user input on a wireless handset has been described above. The user input device comprises a trackpad and a a selection button. A graphical user interface presented on a display of the wireless handset is navigated by contact with the trackpad surface. The user may contact the trackpad by sliding a finger across the trackpad surface. The graphical user interface is updated relative to the direction of the contact. The user may indicate a selection by operating the selection button.
It is to be understood that the detailed description of illustrative embodiments are provided for illustrative purposes. The scope of the claims is not limited to these specific embodiments or examples. Therefore, various process limitations, elements, details, and uses can differ from those just described, or be expanded on or implemented using technologies not yet commercially viable, and yet still be within the inventive concepts of the present disclosure. The scope is determined by the following claims and their legal equivalents.
