SCROLL WHEEL WITH CHARACTER INPUT

Abstract

An electronic device that includes a display screen and a scroll wheel coupled to the display screen by a processor. The scroll wheel includes a rotational input component for directing movement of a navigational indicator on the display screen and a depressible input component for inputting a character for display on the display screen.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure relates to on-screen navigation control and character input for computer devices.

BACKGROUND

Compact electronic devices such as personal digital assistants (PDAs), cell phones, pagers, organizers and wireless mobile computing devices generally have limited surface area on which user input keys and buttons can be located. Devices having on-screen navigation typically have a plurality of keys dedicated to cursor or caret movement control. For example, right, left, up and down navigation control keys are often grouped close together. Such devices may also include separate keys for character entry, for example a QWERTY style keyboard, or a telephone-keypad layout. The use of a large number of keys takes up valuable space on compact electronic devices, and can increase tooling and manufacturing costs.

Thus, there is a need for a keyboard configuration for a compact electronic device having reduced space requirements while at the same time is cost effective to manufacture and is comfortable and efficient to use.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Example embodiments will now be described with reference to the attached Figures, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a mobile device and a communications system to which embodiments of the present disclosure may be applied;

FIG. 2 is a front or plan view of a mobile device according to example embodiments;

FIGS. 3-6 show examples of visual user interface as displayed on a display screen of the device of FIG. 2;

FIG. 7 is a partial sectional view the device, taken along lines vii-vii of FIG. 2, showing a scroll wheel assembly thereof;

FIG. 8 is a partial sectional view of the device, taken along the lines vii-vii of FIG. 2, showing the scroll wheel assembly in a depressed state;

FIG. 9 is a partial sectional view of the device showing a side of the scroll wheel assembly; and

FIG. 10 is a block diagram of an example scroll wheel control circuit for the device.

Like reference numerals are used throughout the Figures to denote similar elements and features.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS

In an example of the present disclosure a scroll wheel positioned on the face of an electronic device is used for both character entry and for on-screen navigation.

According to one example of the present disclosure is an electronic device that includes a display screen and a scroll wheel coupled to the display screen by a processor. The scroll wheel includes a rotational input component for directing movement of a navigational indicator on the display screen and a depressible input component for inputting a character for display on the display screen.

According to another example of the present disclosure is a hand-held electronic device that includes a device housing having a face, a display screen mounted within the face, and a keyboard mounted within the face in a position between a top edge and a bottom edge of the face, the keyboard comprising a plurality of alphanumeric keys arranged in a plurality of rows across the face, and at least one specialized key, the keys generating corresponding input signals when activated. The device includes a scroll wheel assembly including a scroll wheel mounted within the face in a position closer to the bottom edge than at least some of the alphanumeric keys, the scroll wheel being rotabaly and depressably mounted for rotation about an axis in a first direction towards the top edge of the face and in an opposite second direction towards the bottom edge, the scroll wheel assembly including a rotation sensor for detecting rotation of the scroll wheel in the first and second directions and generating corresponding input signals, and a depression sensor for detecting depression of the scroll wheel and generating a corresponding input signal. A processor is coupled to the display screen for controlling the operation thereof and coupled to the keyboard and scroll wheel assembly for receiving the input signals generated thereby, the processor for, in a text entry mode: (i) displaying a plurality of characters in a display field on the display screen; (ii) displaying an on-screen input indicator on the display screen in a current input location in the display field; (iii) adding a space character to the display field at the current input location and advancing the on-screen input indicator in response to depression of the scroll wheel; and (iv) moving the on-screen input indicator through the display field in response to rotation of the scroll wheel.

According to a further example of the present disclosure is a handheld electronic device, comprising: a device housing having a front face; a processor housed within the device housing for controlling the operation of the electronic device; a display screen mounted within the front face and connected to the processor; a keyboard mounted within the front face in a position between a top edge and a bottom edge of the front face and below the display screen, the keyboard comprising a plurality of alphanumeric keys arranged in a plurality of rows across the front face for inputting alphanumeric characters for display on the display screen when activated; and a scroll wheel assembly comprising an elongate scroll wheel having a length greater than its width and a scroll switch assembly connected to the processor via a printed circuit board mounted within the device housing, wherein a portion of the scroll wheel protrudes through an elongate rectangular opening provided through the front face of device housing for manipulation by a thumb of a user of the device, wherein the scroll wheel is located within the front face in a space bar key location relative to the keyboard; wherein the scroll wheel is mounted by the scroll switch assembly for rotation about an axis in an upward direction perpendicular to its width and towards the top edge of the front face and in a downward direction towards the bottom edge of the front face, wherein the scroll switch assembly supports both ends of the scroll wheel and is arranged to permit the scroll wheel to be rotated about its axis when a rotational force is applied and displaced towards the printed circuit board when a depression force is applied to the scroll wheel; wherein the scroll switch assembly comprises a rotating encoder switch for detecting switch inputs when the scroll wheel is rotated about its axis and providing tactile feedback by providing increased rotational resistance whenever a switch point is hit during rotation of the scroll wheel, and a tactile contact switch for detecting depression of the scroll wheel and providing tactile feedback when the scroll wheel is depressed; wherein the rotating encoder switch causes movement of an on-screen position indicator on the display screen in response to rotation of the scroll wheel about its axis and the tactile contact switch causes input of a space character for display on the display screen in response to depression of the scroll wheel.

According to a further example of the present disclosure is a handheld electronic device, comprising: a device housing having a front face; a processor housed within the device housing for controlling the operation of the electronic device; a display screen mounted within the front face and connected to the processor; a keyboard mounted within the front face in a position between a top edge and a bottom edge of the front face and below the display screen, the keyboard comprising a plurality of alphanumeric keys arranged in a plurality of rows across the front face for inputting alphanumeric characters for display on the display screen when activated; and an elongate scroll wheel connected to the processor having a length greater than its width, the scroll wheel being mounted within the front face in a space bar key location relative to the keyboard and including a rotational input component for directing movement of an on-screen position indicator on the display screen and a depressible input component for inputting a space character for display on the display screen.

According to a further example of the present disclosure is a method of operating a handheld electronic device comprising a device housing having a front face, a processor housed within the device housing for controlling the operation of the electronic device, a display screen mounted within the front face and connected to the processor, a keyboard mounted within the front face in a position between a top edge and a bottom edge of the front face and below the display screen, the keyboard comprising a plurality of alphanumeric keys arranged in a plurality of rows across the front face for inputting alphanumeric characters for display on the display screen when activated, and an elongate scroll wheel connected to the processor having a length greater than its width, the scroll wheel being mounted within the front face in a space bar key location relative to the keyboard and including a rotational input component for directing movement of an on-screen position indicator on the display screen and a depressible input component for inputting a space character for display on the display screen, the method comprising: in a navigation mode, (i) moving the on-screen position indicator on the display screen in a forward direction through displayed items and to focus items displayed on the display screen in response to rotation of the scroll wheel in the upward direction, (ii) moving the on-screen position indicator in a backward direction through the displayed items and to focus items displayed on the display screen in response to rotation of the scroll wheel in the downward direction, and (iii) selecting a item focussed by the on-screen position indicator in response to depression of the scroll wheel; and in an input mode, inputting a space character for display on the display screen in response to depression of the scroll wheel.

Referring to FIG. 1, there is a block diagram of a mobile device 10 to which example embodiments of the present disclosure may be applied. In one example embodiment, the mobile device 10 is a hand-held two-way mobile communication device 10 having at least data and possibly also voice communication capabilities. In an example embodiment, the device has the capability to communicate with other computer systems on the Internet. In various embodiments, mobile device 10 is a data communication device, a multiple-mode communication device configured for both data and voice communication, a mobile telephone, a PDA (either enabled or not enabled for wireless communications), 1-way or 2-way pagers and/or any type of mobile electronic device having a keyboard or keypad and on-screen display. In the presently described embodiment, the mobile device 10 is configured to operate within a wireless network 50.

The device 10 includes a communication subsystem 11 for communicating with the wireless network 50. As will be apparent to those skilled in the field of communications, the particular design of the communication subsystem 11 will be dependent upon the communication network in which the device is intended to operate. Wireless mobile network 50 is, in an example embodiment, a wireless packet data network which provides radio coverage to mobile devices 10, although it could be any other types of wireless networks.

The device 10 includes a microprocessor 38 that controls the overall operation of the device. The microprocessor 38 interacts with communications subsystem 11 and also interacts with further device subsystems such as the display 22, flash memory 24, random access memory (RAM) 26, auxiliary input/output (I/O) subsystems 28, scroll wheel assembly 44, serial port 30, keyboard or keypad 32, speaker 34, microphone 36, a short-range communications subsystem 40, and any other device subsystems generally designated as 42.

Some of the subsystems shown in FIG. 1 perform communication-related functions, whereas other subsystems may provide “resident” or on-device functions. Notably, some subsystems, such as keyboard 32 and display 22 for example, may be used for both communication-related functions, such as entering a text message for transmission over a communication network, and device-resident functions such as a calculator or task list.

Operating system software 54 and various software applications 58 used by the microprocessor 38 are, in one example embodiment, stored in a persistent store such as flash memory 24 or similar storage element. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the operating system 54, specific device applications 58, or parts thereof, may be temporarily loaded into a volatile store such as RAM 26. It is contemplated that received communication signals may also be stored to RAM 26.

The microprocessor 38, in addition to its operating system functions, preferably enables execution of software applications 58 on the device. A predetermined set of applications 58 which control basic device operations, including at least data and voice communication applications for example, will normally be installed on the device 10 during manufacture. Further applications may also be loaded onto the device 10 through the network 50, an auxiliary I/O subsystem 28, serial port 30, short-range communications subsystem 40 or any other suitable subsystem 42, and installed by a user in the RAM 26 or a non-volatile store for execution by the microprocessor 38.

In a data communication mode, a received signal such as a text message or web page download will be processed by the communication subsystem 11 and input to the microprocessor 38, which will preferably further process the received signal for output to the display 22, or alternatively to an auxiliary I/O device 28. A user of device 10 may also compose data items such as email messages for example, using the keyboard 32 in conjunction with the display 22 and possibly an auxiliary I/O device 28. Such composed items may then be transmitted over a communication network through the communication subsystem 11.

With reference to FIG. 2, in an example embodiment, the components and subsystems of mobile device 10 are housed within a rigid case 62 that is configured to be held with one or two hands while the device 10 is in use. The mobile device 10 is, in various example embodiments, small enough to fit inside a standard purse or suit jacket pocket. In an example embodiment, the keyboard 32 is horizontally positioned symmetrically between a left edge and a right edge of a face 63 of the device 10. The keyboard 32 includes character input buttons or keys for user input of displayable characters, such as substantially similarly sized alphanumeric buttons or keys 64. The keyboard 32 also includes non-alphanumeric command or control buttons or keys such as line feed or enter key 67, ALT key 68, ESC key 128 and shift key 130. In the example embodiment of FIG. 2, the keys on the face of device 10 are positioned to be actuated by the thumbs of the user while the back of the device 10 is supported by the fingers of the user. In one example embodiment, alphanumeric keys 64 and space bar key 66 are arranged in a QWERTY-style or Dvorak-style keyboard having the plurality of alphanumeric keys 64 arranged in a plurality of rows across the face 63 of case 62. Alternative keyboard layouts and configurations are used in other embodiments of device 10.

According to the present disclosure, the device 10 includes a combined space bar and navigation scroll wheel assembly 44. The assembly 44 includes an elongate rotatable scroll wheel 66 centrally located below the lowest row of alphanumeric keys 64 in the location that is typically associated with a space bar position. For example, scroll wheel 66 in one QWERTY style embodiment is located below the “C”, “V”, “B” and “N” character input keys, closer to the bottom edge of the face 63 than the letter keys. The scroll wheel 66 can be rotated upwards towards an upper end of the device or downwards towards a bottom end of the device, as indicated by the arrows shown in FIG. 2. As shown in FIGS. 7, 8 and 9, the scroll wheel 66 is mounted by a scroll switch assembly 92 to a printed circuit board 94 to rotate about an axis 90. The circuit board 94 is mounted within the device housing case 62 and a portion of the scroll wheel 66 protrudes through an elongate rectangular opening 96 that is provided through the face 63 of housing case 62 for manipulation by a thumb (or other digit) of a user of the device 10.

The scroll switch assembly 92 supports both ends of the scroll wheel 66 and includes a rotating encoder switch 98 for detecting switch inputs when the scroll wheel 66 is rotated about axis 96. The rotating encoder switch 98 can take various forms—by way of non-limiting examples, it may include mechanical, optical and/or magnetic sensors for detecting rotation of the scroll wheel 66. The scroll switch assembly 92 is arranged to permit the scroll wheel 66 to be displaced towards the circuit board 94 when a depression force is applied to the scroll wheel. In this regard, FIG. 8 shows the scroll wheel 66 in a depressed state, displaced towards the circuit board 94 by a force applied in the direction of arrow 102, and FIG. 7 shows the scroll wheel 66 in its normal resting position into which it is biased away from the circuit board 94 by scroll wheel switch assembly 92. The scroll wheel switch assembly 92 includes a tactile contact switch 100 for detecting depression of the scroll wheel 66 and providing click-like tactile feedback to the user when the scroll wheel 66 is depressed. In example embodiments, the rotating encoder switch 98 also provides tactile feedback to the user by providing increased rotational resistance whenever a new switch point is hit during rotation of the scroll wheel 66. In various embodiments, other types of movement detectors such as optical or magnetic based sensors, for example, can be used in place of tactile contact switch 100 for sensing depression of the scroll wheel 66.

FIG. 10 is an example of typical logic circuitry 46 associated with the rotating encoder switch 98 of scroll wheel assembly 44. This diagram is meant for example purposes only and as one skilled in the art would understand, logic circuitry for a scroll wheel is not limited to this example. The rotating encoder switch 98 of scroll wheel assembly 44 generates quadrature signals phase A 1021 and phase B 1022, which are processed by D flip-flops 1031 and 1032 to present signals 1041 W_UP and 1042 W_DN to microprocessor 38. Signals 1041 and 1042 represent, respectively, a user rolling the scroll wheel up (in the direction of arrow 104 of FIG. 7) and rolling the scroll wheel down (in the direction of arrow 106 of FIG. 7). As noted above, scroll wheel 66 has measurable rotatable and depressible input movements, and the tactile contact switch 100 provides a further input signal to the microprocessor 38 representing a user depressing the scroll wheel 66.

With reference to FIG. 1, among the software applications or modules resident on device 10 is an input interpreter 60 that maps various inputs received by the microprocessor 38 from keyboard 32 and scroll wheel assembly 44 to associated character and control codes and provides such codes to the operating system 54 and/or software applications 58. In various embodiments, the functions of the input interpreter may be partly or completely integrated into the operating system 54 and/or other software applications 58.

With reference again to FIG. 2, the display system 22 of the device 10 includes a display screen 72 that is vertically positioned between the keyboard 32 and a top edge of the device face and horizontally positioned symmetrically between the left edge and the right edge of the device face. In various non-limiting examples of alternative embodiments, the display screen 72 may be housed in a casing that is pivotally mounted to the casing housing the keyboard, or the keyboard may be divided into two sections in housing case 62 with the display screen being located between the keyboard sections.

The device 10 is configured to operate in different user input modes under the control operating system 54 and software applications 58. For example, FIG. 2 shows a visual user interface 74 for an icon menu item selection mode in which a plurality of menu items 76 such as application or folder icons 76(1) to 76(n) (referred to generically herein by reference 76) are displayed, each of which is selectable to link to or launch an associated application or open an associated folder. According to example embodiments of the present disclosure, when the device 10 is operating in a menu item selection mode, a user can move an on-screen position indicator 78, commonly referred to as a caret or cursor, through the menu items 76 by rotating the scroll wheel 66 up and down. When a menu item is highlighted or focussed by the on-screen indicator 78, clicking on or depressing the scroll key 66 results in selection of the focussed item. In the menu item selection mode, rotating the scroll wheel 66 up towards the top edge of the device causes the on-screen indicator 78 to move or scroll backwards through the menu items 76, and rotating the scroll wheel down towards the bottom edge caused the on-screen indicator 78 to move or scroll forwards through the menu items 76. In a user interface where the selectable menu items are displayed in a plurality of rows such as shown in FIG. 2, scrolling backwards through the items will generally involve moving the on-screen indicator 78 from right to left over the items in a row. A line wrap around affect is achieved in that when the left-most item in a row is reached, the on-screen indicator 78 is then moved to the right-most item in the previous row. Forward scrolling has the opposite affect. In an example embodiment, pressing a designated control key, for example ALT key 68, while rotating the scroll wheel 66 in an icon menu selection mode causes the on-screen indicator 78 to move in a vertical direction through the menu icons, rather than horizontally. For example, rotating the scroll wheel 66 upwards towards the top edge of the device 10 with the ALT key 68 pressed will result in the on-screen indicator 78 moving upwards through a column of icons 76, and rotating the scroll wheel 66 downwards while pressing the ALT key 68 will result in the on-screen indicator 78 moving downwards through a column of icons 76. Thus, in such an embodiment, pressing and holding the ALT key 68 when in an icon menu selection mode causes the movement of on-screen indicator 78 to occur in a direction orthogonal to movement that occurs when the ALT key 68 is not pressed.

In yet a further example embodiment, when in menu item selection mode, a further user input is required in connection with operation of the scroll wheel 66 in order to reduce erroneous selections. For example, in one embodiment, while in a menu selection mode depression of a further command key such as ALT key 68 (or other designated key) is required simultaneously with user manipulation of the scroll wheel 66 in order to activate the navigation and selection components of the scroll wheel. In such an embodiment, when in a menu selection mode, upward rotation or downward rotation of the scroll wheel 66 simultaneously with depression of the ALT key 68 results in a backward scroll or forward scroll, respectively, through the menu items 76; simultaneous depression of the scroll wheel 66 with the ALT key 68 results in selection of a focussed menu item 76; and movement of the scroll wheel 66 without simultaneous depression of the ALT key 68 is ignored by the device.

It will be appreciated that selectable menu items can be displayed in a number of different configurations on the display screen 72. For example, FIG. 3 shows a further example of a menu item selection mode user interface 84 in which the selectable menu items 76 are mail message items arranged in a vertical list, each of which can be focussed on by on-screen indicator 78 and then selected to link to a full display of an associated mail message. Movement of the on-screen indicator 78 through the vertical list of menu items presented in interface 84 using scroll wheel 66, and selection of focussed menu items, is similar to the navigation through and selection of menu items described above in respect of interface 74, except that the on-screen indicator only moves upwards and downwards through the vertical list, rather than horizontally. Downward rotation of the scroll wheel 66 results in forward scrolling through the listed items, and backward rotation of the scroll wheel 66 results in backward scrolling through the listed items.

In some example embodiments, selectable menu items may appear in a drop-down, pull-down or pop-up style window that overlays part of the screen 72. FIG. 4 shows an example of a pull-down overlay menu 110 that overlays interface 84. As can be seen In a pull-down menu mode, upward rotation of scroll wheel 66 moves an onscreen indicator 116 upwards through a list of selectable menu items in the direction of arrow 112, and downward rotation of the scroll wheel 66 moves the onscreen indicator downwards through the list in the direction of arrow 114. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, on-screen indicator takes the form of bolding and enlarging the text of the currently focussed menu item. Pressing the scroll wheel 66 results in selection of the focussed menu item (“Compose Email”) in the illustrated example. Pressing the ESC key 128 may, in some embodiments, close the pull-down menu. In some embodiments a designated key such as a MENU key 122 may be provided on keyboard 32 and pressing of such key brings down the appropriate pull-down menu 110 that corresponds to the current background interface that is displayed at the time that the MENU key 122 is pressed. In some embodiments, pressing of the MENU key 122 while already in a pull-down menu closes the pull-down menu. Although the pull-down menu 110 is shown in combination with message list user interface 84, pull-down menus will generally be accessible from many of the user interface displays available on device 10.

In addition to the various menu item selection modes described above, the device 10 can also function in a text input or entry mode. Several device applications will typically have an associated text entry mode—for example email message compose applications, task list compose applications, calendar applications and notepad applications. FIG. 5 shows a text entry mode user interface 86 on display screen 72 that could be associated with an email compose application or other application that has a text entry mode. In such visual user interface a cursor or on-screen indicator 78 provides visual feedback as to the current input location in a text field 80. According to example embodiments of the present disclosure, in a text entry input mode of device 10, the scroll wheel 66 has a navigational component for moving on-screen position indicator 78 through the characters of the text field 80 in response to rotation of the scroll wheel 66, and the scroll wheel 66 also functions as a space character entry key.

In one example embodiment, when in text input mode, in order to minimize unintended navigational movements through the text field 80, activation of a further command key such as ALT key 68 simultaneously with rotation of the scroll wheel 66 is required to activate the navigation features of the scroll wheel. In such embodiment, in text input mode: upward rotation of the scroll wheel 66 while the ALT key 68 is pressed results in movement of the on-screen indicator 78 backwards (i.e. left) through the text field 78; downward rotation of the scroll wheel 66 while the ALT key 68 is pressed results in movement of the on-screen indicator 78 forwards (i.e. right) through the text field; rotation of the scroll wheel in any direction without simultaneous depression of the ALT key 68 is ignored; depression of the scroll wheel 66 on its own results in addition of a space character in the text field 80 at the current location of the on-screen indicator 68, resulting in advancement of the on-screen indicator 68 to the next location in the text field; and depression of the scroll wheel 66 while the ALT key 68 is depressed is ignored, to prevent unwanted spaces from being entered while navigating through the text field.

In Web browser enabled device 10, one of the user interface screens presented in a browser mode will be a browser interface 118, a representation of which is shown in FIG. 6. In browser mode, images, text and selectable links (represented by text or image icons) may be displayed on screen 72. Downward rotation of the scroll wheel 66 moves an on screen indicator 120 forward through any displayed selectable objects, and upward rotation of the scroll wheel moves an on-screen indicator 120 backwards through the displayed selectable objects. Pressing the scroll wheel 66 selects the object that is currently focussed by onscreen indicator 120. Rotation of the scroll wheel 66 while the ALT key 68 (or other designated key) is pressed causes, in an example embodiment, selected text to be highlighted for subsequent copy operations.

In some example embodiments, the ESC Key 128 may have different functions in different modes. For example, in one embodiment when in an icon menu selection mode, pressing the ESC key 128 brings the user back to an upper level menu. In a drop-down menu mode, pressing the ESC key 128 closes the pull-down menu. In a text entry mode, pressing the ESC key 128 brings up a dialog box asking the user for additional actions.

The use of the scroll wheel for both a space character input key and as a navigational control and menu item selection tool useful in some embodiments as the space bar key is traditionally a larger and more visibly prominent key on a keyboard. However, in some embodiments, the scroll wheel may be combined with another character input key other than or in addition to the space bar key.

The above-described embodiments of the present disclosure are intended to be examples only. Alterations, modifications and variations may be effected to the particular embodiments by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the present disclosure, which is defined by the claims appended hereto.

Claims

1. A handheld electronic device, comprising: a device housing having a front face;a processor housed within the device housing for controlling the operation of the electronic device;a display screen mounted within the front face and connected to the processor;a keyboard mounted within the front face in a position between a top edge and a bottom edge of the front face and below the display screen, the keyboard comprising a plurality of alphanumeric keys arranged in a plurality of rows across the front face for inputting alphanumeric characters for display on the display screen when activated; anda scroll wheel assembly comprising an elongate scroll wheel having a length greater than its width and a scroll switch assembly connected to the processor via a printed circuit board mounted within the device housing, wherein a portion of the scroll wheel protrudes through an elongate rectangular opening provided through the front face of the device housing for manipulation by a thumb of a user of the device, wherein the scroll wheel is located within the front face in a space bar key location relative to the keyboard;wherein the scroll wheel is mounted by the scroll switch assembly for rotation about an axis in an upward direction perpendicular to its width and towards the top edge of the front face and in a downward direction towards the bottom edge of the front face, wherein the scroll switch assembly supports both ends of the scroll wheel and is arranged to permit the scroll wheel to be rotated about its axis when a rotational force is applied and displaced towards the printed circuit board when a depression force is applied to the scroll wheel;wherein the scroll switch assembly comprises a rotating encoder switch for detecting switch inputs when the scroll wheel is rotated about its axis and providing tactile feedback by providing increased rotational resistance whenever a switch point is hit during rotation of the scroll wheel, and a tactile contact switch for detecting depression of the scroll wheel and providing tactile feedback when the scroll wheel is depressed;wherein the rotating encoder switch causes movement of an on-screen position indicator on the display screen in response to rotation of the scroll wheel about its axis and the tactile contact switch causes input of a space character for display on the display screen in response to depression of the scroll wheel.

2. A handheld electronic device, comprising: a device housing having a front face;a processor housed within the device housing for controlling the operation of the electronic device;a display screen mounted within the front face and connected to the processor;a keyboard mounted within the front face in a position between a top edge and a bottom edge of the front face and below the display screen, the keyboard comprising a plurality of alphanumeric keys arranged in a plurality of rows across the front face for inputting alphanumeric characters for display on the display screen when activated; andan elongate scroll wheel connected to the processor having a length greater than its width, the scroll wheel being mounted within the front face in a space bar key location relative to the keyboard and including a rotational input component for directing movement of an on-screen position indicator on the display screen and a depressible input component for inputting a space character for display on the display screen.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the alphanumeric keys are arranged in a QWERTY-style keyboard format or Dvorak-style keyboard format.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the scroll wheel is positioned directly below “V” and “B” keys of the keyboard.

5. The device of claim 2, comprising a command key for inputting a command input for switching between character input for inputting the space character for display on the display screen and navigational input for directing movement of the on-screen position indicator on the display screen.

6. The device of claim 2, wherein the scroll wheel is rotatable about an axis in an upward direction perpendicular to its width and towards the top edge of the front face and in a downward direction towards the bottom edge of the front face.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the scroll wheel is mounted by a scroll switch assembly, the scroll switch assembly being mounted to a printed circuit board within the device housing to which the processor is mounted, wherein a portion of the scroll wheel protrudes through an elongate rectangular opening provided through the front face of device housing for manipulation by a thumb of a user of the device.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the scroll switch assembly supports both ends of the scroll wheel and is arranged to permit the scroll wheel to be rotated about its axis when a rotational force is applied and displaced towards the printed circuit board when a depression force is applied to the scroll wheel.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the scroll switch assembly comprises a rotating encoder switch for detecting switch inputs when the scroll wheel is rotated about its axis and providing tactile feedback by providing increased rotational resistance whenever a switch point is hit during rotation of the scroll wheel, and a tactile contact switch for detecting depression of the scroll wheel and providing tactile feedback when the scroll wheel is depressed, wherein the rotating encoder switch causes movement of the on-screen position indicator on the display screen in response to rotation of the scroll wheel about its axis and the tactile contact switch causes input of the space character for display on the display screen in response to depression of the scroll wheel.

10. The device of claim 7, wherein the scroll wheel assembly includes a rotation sensor for detecting rotation of the scroll wheel in the upward and downward directions and generating corresponding input signals, and a depression sensor for detecting depression of the scroll wheel and generating a corresponding input signal.

11. The device of claim 6, wherein the processor, in a menu item selection mode, is configured to move the on-screen position indicator on the display screen in a forward direction through displayed menu items and to focus menu items displayed on the display screen in response to rotation of the scroll wheel in the upward direction, to move the on-screen position indicator in a backward direction through the displayed menu items and to focus menu items displayed on the display screen in response to rotation of the scroll wheel in the downward direction, and to select a menu item focussed by the on-screen position indicator in response to depression of the scroll wheel.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein in the menu item selection mode simultaneous entry of a command input from a command key with rotation of the scroll wheel results in movement of the on-screen position indicator in a direction that is different than when simultaneous entry of the command input does not occur with rotation of the scroll wheel.

13. The device of claim 11, wherein the processor, in a text entry mode, is configured to input a space character for display on the display screen in response to depression of the scroll wheel.

14. The device of claim 6, wherein the processor, in a text entry mode, is configured to input characters into a text field displayed on the display screen, the on-screen position indicator indicating a current input position in the text field, the scroll wheel directing the movement of the on-screen position indicator in a forward direction through the text field when the scroll wheel is rotated in the upward direction and directing the movement of the on-screen position indicator in a backward direction through the text field when the scroll wheel is rotated in the downward direction.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein in the text entry mode the space character is input in the text field at the current input location and the on-screen position indicator is advanced in response to depression of the scroll wheel.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein in the text entry mode a command input from a command key must be entered simultaneously with rotation of the scroll wheel for movement of the on-screen position indicator to occur.

17. The device of claim 16, wherein in the text entry mode depression of the scroll wheel must occur in the absence of the command input for a space character to be input in the text field and the on-screen position indicator advanced.

18. The device of claim 2, wherein the processor, in an overlay menu mode, is configured to display an overlay menu of selectable menu items over at least a portion of a user interface on the display screen, wherein in the overlay menu mode the on-screen position indicator is for focussing on the overlay menu items displayed in the overlay menu, the directing movement of the on-screen position indicator in a forward direction through the displayed overlay menu items when the scroll wheel is rotated in the upward direction and for directing movement of the on-screen position indicator in a backward direction through the displayed overlay menu items when the scroll wheel is rotated in the downward direction, wherein in the overlay menu mode the depression of the scroll wheel selects an overlay menu item that is focussed by the on-screen position indicator.

19. The device of claim 18, comprising a command key for inputting a command input, wherein the processor causes the overlay menu to be displayed.

20. A method of operating a handheld electronic device comprising a device housing having a front face, a processor housed within the device housing for controlling the operation of the electronic device, a display screen mounted within the front face and connected to the processor, a keyboard mounted within the front face in a position between a top edge and a bottom edge of the front face and below the display screen, the keyboard comprising a plurality of alphanumeric keys arranged in a plurality of rows across the front face for inputting alphanumeric characters for display on the display screen when activated, and an elongate scroll wheel connected to the processor having a length greater than its width, the scroll wheel being mounted within the front face in a space bar key location relative to the keyboard and including a rotational input component for directing movement of an on-screen position indicator on the display screen and a depressible input component for inputting a space character for display on the display screen, the method comprising: in a navigation mode, (i) moving the n-screen position indicator on the display screen in a forward direction through displayed items and to focus items displayed on the display screen in response to rotation of the scroll wheel in the upward direction, (ii) moving the on-screen position indicator in a backward direction through the displayed items and to focus items displayed on the display screen in response to rotation of the scroll wheel in the downward direction, and (iii) selecting a item focussed by the on-screen position indicator in response to depression of the scroll wheel; andin an input mode, inputting a space character for display on the display screen in response to depression of the scroll wheel.