Integrated joypad for handheld computer

• US 20020105503A1
• Filed: 02/05/2001
• Published: 08/08/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Palm, Inc. (TCL Technology Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Oueslati, Hatem, Malaval, Renaud
• Granted Patent: US 6,806,865 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/169 the I/O peripheral being an integrated pointing device, e.g. trackball in the palm rest area, mini-joystick integrated between keyboard keys, touch pads or touch stripes G06F1/1643 takes precedence; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0338 with detection of limited linear or angular displacement of an operating part of the device from a neutral position, e.g. isotonic or isometric joysticks
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means

Abstract

A handheld computer is disclosed. The handheld computer is configured with a housing, a display supported in the housing, and computing electronics supported in the housing and configured to communicate with the display. The handheld computer disclosed also includes an integrated input device configured to provide input to the handheld computer. The input device provides different input signals to the computing electronics dependent upon a directional movement provided by a user. The input device is configured to communicate more than four distinct directional movements from a user to the computing electronics.

Further, the handheld computer disclosed may include a joystick coupler which is integrated into a joypad. The joypad coupler is configured to receive at least a portion of the stylus which is configured to act as a joystick.

Claims

1. A handheld computer, comprising:

a housing,

a display supported by the housing;

computing electronics supported by the housing and configured to communicate with the display; and

an integrated input device configured to provide input to the handheld computer, the input device providing different input signals to the computing electronics dependent on a directional movement provided by a user, the input device configured to communicate more than four distinct directional movements from a user to the computing electronics.

2. The handheld computer of claim 1, wherein the integrated input device is a pad.

3. The handheld computer of claim 1, wherein the integrated input device is a button.

4. The handheld computer of claim 1, wherein the integrated input device includes a receptacle for coupling a graspable portion thereto.

5. The handheld computer of claim 4, wherein the display is a touch screen configured to be used with a stylus.

6. The handheld computer of claim 5, wherein at least a portion of the stylus is configured to be coupled to the integrated input device.

7. The handheld computer of claim 6, wherein a first portion of the stylus is configured to be unscrewed from a second portion of the stylus and the first portion of the stylus is configured to be screwed into the receptacle.

8. The handheld computer of claim 6, wherein a first portion of the stylus is configured to be unsnapped from a second portion of the stylus and the first portion of the stylus is configured to be snapped into the receptacle.

9. A joystick device for a handheld computer, the handheld computer configured to be used with a stylus, comprising:

an input device integrated into the handheld computer;

a coupler integrated into the input device configured to couple at least a portion of the stylus to the input device.

10. The joystick device of claim 9, wherein the stylus has at least two sections a first section being configured to be coupled to a second section by a screw thread.

11. The joystick device of claim 9, wherein the coupler includes a screw thread.

12. The joystick of claim 9, wherein the input device is configured to communicate a directional input by a user in four discrete directions.

13. The joystick of claim 9, wherein the input device is configured to communicate a directional input by a user in eight discrete directions.

14. The joystick of claim 9, wherein the input device is configured to communicate a directional input by a user in more than eight discrete directions.

15. The joystick of claim 9, wherein the input device is configured to communicate a directional input by a user in a continuum of directions.

16. The joystick of claim 9, wherein the input device is a joypad.

18. The handheld computer of claim 17, wherein the joystick coupler includes a screw thread.

19. The handheld computer of claim 17, wherein the joystick coupler includes a flexible fitting.

20. The handheld computer of claim 17, wherein the joypad is configured to communicate signals corresponding to eight discrete directional user inputs.

17. A handheld computer, comprising:

a housing;

data processing electronics disposed within the housing;

a display disposed in the housing and coupled to the data processing electronics, the display including a touch screen configured to be used with a stylus;

a joypad coupled to the data processing electronics and configured to communicate signals to the data processing electronics dependent on the direction in which the joypad is moved, the joypad being movably integrated into the housing; and

a joystick coupler integrated into the joypad, the joypad coupler configured to receive at least a portion of the stylus which is configured to act as a joystick.

21. A method of assembling a joystick for a handheld computer, comprising:

providing a handheld computer with a joystick receptacle;

providing a stylus having a detachable portion;

detaching a detachable portion from the stylus; and

coupling the detachable portion to the receptacle.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the joystick receptacle is part of a joypad integrated into the handheld computer.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the receptacle includes a screw thread.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein the detachable portion is the stylus tip.