Communication unit provided with intra-changeable elements

• US 20020094755A1
• Filed: 12/07/2001
• Published: 07/18/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/21/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Amineh, Romel
• Granted Patent: US 7,397,413 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 446/491
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0202 Portable telephone sets, e.g. cordless phones, mobile phones or bar type handsets constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. of speakers or microphones H04M1/03
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7246 by connection of exchangeable housing parts

Abstract

In communication units the input and/or output of data is normally performed using keypad input, voice input/output or display output. This limits the input/output of the communication unit. The claimed invention proposes a new way of inputting/outputting of data by providing a communication unit with intra-changeable elements, where the physical properties of the elements are changed by an electrical or a mechanical signal/input and that the elements are used in the user interface of the communication unit to enable flexible input and output of data from the communication unit. The user input and output is thereby including a sensory indication, including a physical and/or visual dimension.

Claims

1. Communication unit having a processor for control of said communication unit, which further includes intra-changeable elements being controlled by said processor, and where said elements are used in the user interface of said communication unit.

2. Communication unit provided with intra-changeable elements according to claim 1 characterised in that said intra-changeable elements are included in the input device of said communication unit, and that said processor modulates said intra-changeable elements to provide a sensory indication of the options of said input device.

3. Communication unit provided with intra-changeable elements according to claim 1 wherein said intra-changeable elements are included in the input device of said communication unit, and that said processor modulates said intra-changeable elements to provide a sensory indication of the options of said input device characterised in that said input device includes at least one of said intra-changeable elements.

4. Communication unit provided with intra-changeable elements according to claim 1 characterised in that said intra-changeable elements are included in both the input and the output device of said communication unit, and that said processor modulates said intra-changeable elements.

5. Communication unit provided with intra-changeable elements according to claim 1 wherein said intra-changeable elements are included in both the input and the output device of said communication unit, and that said processor modulates said intra-changeable elements characterised in that said input and output device includes at least one of said intra-changeable elements.

6. Communication unit provided with intra-changeable elements according to claim 1 characterised in that said intra-changeable element is compressible and expandable.

7. Communication unit provided with intra-changeable elements according to claim 1 characterised in that said intra-changeable element is piezo-electrical elements.

8. Communication unit provided with intra-changeable elements according to claim 1 characterised in that said intra-changeable element is made of elasto-resistive materials.

9. Communication unit provided with intra-changeable elements according to claim 1 wherein said intra-changeable elements are included in the input device of said communication unit, and that said processor modulates said intra-changeable elements to provide a sensory indication of the options of said input device characterised in that said input device is a four-way-scroller.

10. Communication unit provided with intra-changeable elements according to claim 1 wherein said intra-changeable elements are included in the input device of said communication unit, and that said processor modulates said intra-changeable elements to provide a sensory indication of the options of said input device characterised in that said input and output device is a cover part of the communication unit.

11. Communication unit provided with intra-changeable elements according to claim 1 wherein said intra-changeable elements are included in both the input and the output device of said communication unit, and that said processor modulates said intra-changeable elements characterised in that said input and output device is preferably a cover part of the communication unit

15. The communications device of claim 14, wherein the changeable characteristics of the changeable element include at least one of:

form, colour, height, shape, area, volume, temperature, position.

17. The communications device of claim 16, wherein the changeable characteristics of the changeable element include at least one of:

form, colour, height, shape, area, volume, temperature, position.

18. The communication device of claim 16, wherein the changeable element generates control signals in response to a change in its characteristics.

19. The communication device of claim 16, wherein the changeable element generates control signals in response to a change in its characteristics and wherein the communication device further comprises a transmitter for transmitting the control signals generated by the changeable element in response to a physical deformation.

12. A method for inputting of data to a communication unit provided with a keypad characterised in that individual keys of said keypad keys are changeable to provide a sensory indication of the keys available to make the communication unit performing a certain action by pressing said changeable keys, and that the change of the individual key is performed by having intra-changeable elements in said individual keys.

13. A method for transferring an input from a first communication unit to a second communication unit, and displaying said input as output in said second communication unit, where operation of said first communication unit includes the following steps:

compress an input device including intra-changeable elements on a first communication unit,

transform the input from said intra-changeable elements of said input device to electrical signals,

transfer said electrical signals from said first communication unit to a second communication unit,

and where said second communication unit includes the following step;

receive said electrical signals from said first communication unit to said second communication unit,

retransform said electrical signals in said second communication unit to output signals to intra-changeable elements of said second communication unit and,

transfer said output signals to said intra-changeable elements of said second communication unit and expand said intra-changeable elements according to said output signals.

14. A communication device having a user interface for inputting data to the device, the device comprising:

a receiver for receiving a control signal;

a changeable element responsive to the received signal to change the characteristics of the element, wherein the changeable element forms part of the user interface and wherein the changeable element responds to the control signal to indicate the availability of the element for inputting data to the device.

16. A communication device having a user interface, the device comprising:

a receiver for receiving a control signal;

a changeable element responsive to the received signal to change the characteristics of the element, wherein the changeable element forms part of the user interface and wherein the changeable element changes characteristics in response to the control signal thereby providing a sensory message to a user.