Triggers or buttons are commonly used on electronic devices. For instance, triggers are employed on mobile computing terminals, bar code scanners, cellular phones, portable digital assistants (PDAs), etc. The trigger is used to initiate certain functions on the device. For instance, the trigger may activate a module to capture bar code information. The module may be a laser based bar code scanner or an imager. The trigger may also activate a speaker module for telephonic communication, it may activate a data transfer function or it may be used to navigate through menu options on a display.
The above-described trigger assembly has a number of shortcomings. The trigger assembly requires a user to assert a fixed amount of force and stroke in order to activate the trigger. Also, the trigger assembly must include gaskets to environmentally seal the terminal. Even with such gaskets, water and debris may still enter the terminal. In addition, the trigger assembly has a limited number of life cycles due to wear on the various moving parts. In addition, the trigger assembly requires a relatively significant amount of labor to manufacture.
Described is an improved trigger assembly for use in a mobile terminal or similar device. The trigger assembly includes a pressure sensitive member and a trigger button. The pressure sensitive member is secured to a portion of the mobile terminal. The trigger button is secured to the mobile terminal in a manner such that a force applied to the trigger button causes a resultant force to be applied on the pressure sensitive member.
The pressure sensitive member includes a connector that is coupled to circuitry on the mobile terminal. The assertion of a force on the trigger button changes electronic properties of the pressure sensitive member. In one embodiment of the invention, asserting a force on the trigger button causes a change in the electrical resistance the pressure sensitive member. For example, the force causes a conductive layer of the pressure sensitive member to come in contact with conductive traces within the pressure sensitive member. As the force increases (within a certain range), the electrical resistance of the conductive traces decreases. In another embodiment of the invention, asserting a force on the trigger button causes a change in the capacitance of the pressure sensitive member. In yet another embodiment, a piezoelectric element is included in the pressure sensitive member wherein when pressure is applied to the pressure sensitive member there is a change in potential between the opposite sides of piezoelectric element.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, at least a portion of the pressure sensitive member is insert molded into the mobile terminal housing, creating an integral seal.
In another aspect of the present invention, the triggering system includes a user force adjustment feature wherein a user can adjust the amount of force required to activate the trigger.
In yet another embodiment of the invention, the triggering system includes a user position adjustment feature, wherein a user can adjust the number of trigger positions, i.e., 1, 2, or 3 positions, for activation of several different features.
In yet another embodiment of the invention, the triggering system includes a pressure sensitive member that includes multiple pressure sensitive target areas which would enable a user to activate several different features by depressing different areas of the trigger.
In yet another embodiment of the invention, the triggering system includes a tactile or audio feedback mechanism.
These and other objects, advantages and features of the invention will become better understood with regard to the following description, appended claims and accompanying figures.
In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, pressure sensitive member 20 is insert molded into mobile terminal housing 10. The techniques for molding pressure sensitive member 20 into mobile terminal housing 10 are those traditionally used in the plastic molding industry. The molded trigger assembly of the present invention is more environmentally sealed than traditional triggering assemblies that tend to rely on elastic gaskets. Gaskets may allow the passage of water and debris into the mobile terminal and eventually wear after repeated use. In addition, tooling parts to manufacture the gaskets and labor costs to install the gaskets are eliminated under the present invention. In another embodiment of the present invention, an adhesive material is applied between pressure sensitive member 20 and mobile terminal housing 10 to secure the two components.
The operation of a preferred embodiment of pressure sensitive member 20 will now be described with reference to
Connector 26 is fastened to a terminal connector 7 within the mobile terminal. Circuitry within the mobile terminal measures the current between conductive traces 35 and 36. In one embodiment of the invention, the measured current is compared to a threshold value. If the measured current between conductive traces 35 and 36 is more than the threshold value, a certain function of the mobile terminal is activated. For instance, if the measured current exceeds the threshold value, the mobile terminal will scan a bar code with a laser-based scanner, take an image using an imaging module, activate a microphone on a telephonic communication module or send data over a wireless network. If the measured current is less than the threshold value, the functionality of the mobile terminal will not be activated.
In one embodiment of the present invention, different functions of the mobile terminal can be activated depending on the amount of force a user applies to the trigger button 14. For instance, if the measured current between conductive traces 35 and 36 is between an initial threshold and a second threshold, a first function of the mobile terminal is activated. In the event the measured current between conductive traces 35 and 36 is between the second threshold and a third threshold, a second function of the mobile terminal is activated. In a similar manner, the system could be designed to activate more than two functions of the mobile terminal.
The embodiments described above are based on measuring a current that flows between two conductive traces. One skilled in the art would recognize that other electrical signals could be measured to detect the force applied to the trigger button without departing from the nature of the invention. For instance, the assertion of force on the pressure sensitive member could cause a measurable change in capacitance or voltage.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the amount of force required to activate a function of the mobile terminal is user adjustable. Preferably, this is accomplished by adjusting the threshold value necessary to activate the function of the mobile terminal. A user who wants to change the sensitivity of the trigger can put the mobile device in trigger adjustment mode. This may be done via a user interface, e.g., a touch screen display. In a preferred embodiment, the user sets the threshold value by putting the mobile device in the trigger adjustment mode and pressing the trigger. The amount of force the user asserts is used to set the threshold value.
In another embodiment of the invention, the user can adjust the threshold value by scanning barcodes dedicated to that function. For instance, a user manual for the mobile terminal could include trigger force adjustment barcodes that correspond to light force, medium force and heavy force. The user could simply scan the barcode that corresponds to the setting preferred by the user.
In one embodiment of the invention, after a user enters a user identification code into the mobile terminal, the system automatically sets the threshold value to that user's preferred, preset threshold setting. The mobile terminal accesses a database (located either remotely or locally) that matches the user identification codes to a preferred threshold setting. After the user enters his or her identification code, the system determines the correct threshold value and sets it for that particular user.
In one embodiment of the invention, the functions activated on the mobile terminal could be initiated depending on a combination of the user's finger assertions. For instance, consider an embodiment wherein the pressure sensitive member 20 includes three target areas, T1, T2 and T3. When a user asserts a force on any one of these target areas, a particular function, e.g., F1, F2 or F3, of the mobile terminal is initiated. If forces are asserted simultaneously on T1 and T2, a fourth function, F4, could be initiated. Likewise, the assertion of forces simultaneously on T1 and T3 could result in a fifth function, F5, could be initiated. In addition, as described above, each target area could activate multiple functions depending upon the amount for force applied to the target area. This significantly increases the number of functions that can be activated by the trigger button. In the embodiment described herein, the functionality of the mobile terminal could be controlled in a manner analogous to a musical instrument. While it is recognized that it may take a great deal of practice to become proficient at applying the various combinations of forces and/or amounts of forces on the trigger button, the benefits are significant. The user of a mobile device that has multiple functions can activate multiple functions in an instant with a single hand.
In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the trigger assembly includes a tactile feedback mechanism. After the amount of force asserted on the trigger button exceeds the threshold value, the tactile feedback mechanism creates a slight movement in the trigger button to allow a user to feel that the trigger assembly was properly engaged. The tactile feedback in the trigger button could be created by a small solenoid or spring within the trigger assembly.
In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the trigger assembly includes an audio feedback mechanism. The audio feedback could be generated within a speaker on the mobile terminal. Preferably, the speaker is the main speaker used in the mobile terminal. After the amount of force asserted on the trigger button exceeds the threshold value, the system sends an audio signal to the speaker. In a preferred embodiment, the sound from the speaker is user selectable. The user can select from a list of sounds that he or she would like the terminal to make in response to a trigger actuation. In an embodiment of the invention where there are multiple functions activated by the trigger assembly, the trigger assembly could be configured so that the speaker makes different sounds depending upon the function by activated.
The embodiments described above are described with respect to a trigger button on a handle on a mobile terminal. It should be recognized that the trigger assembly of the present invention could be located on other areas of the mobile terminal. For instance, the trigger button could be located on the side or face of the mobile terminal.
The herein described embodiments of the present invention are intended to provide the preferred embodiments of the present inventions currently contemplated by the applicant. It would be obvious to any one of skill in the relevant art, based on the herein described examples that numerous modifications could be made to the described preferred embodiments without straying from the present invention. Accordingly, the herein described embodiments are merely exemplary in nature and are not intended to represent every possible embodiment of the present invention.
This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 11/381,558, filed on May 4, 2006, entitled “RE-CONFIGURABLE TRIGGER ASSEMBLY,” and now U.S. Pat. No. 7,306,156, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 10/160,772, filed on Jun. 3, 2002, entitled “RE-CONFIGURABLE TRIGGER ASSEMBLY,” and now U.S. Pat. No. 7,055,749. The entireties of these applications are incorporated herein by reference.
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Number | Date | Country | |
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20080164318 A1 | Jul 2008 | US |
Number | Date | Country | |
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Parent | 11381558 | May 2006 | US |
Child | 11950953 | US | |
Parent | 10160772 | Jun 2002 | US |
Child | 11381558 | US |