Method of operating a handheld device for directional input
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An input device, for embedding in a handheld device, for providing directional input to an element of the user interface in the handheld device in response to an inclination of the handheld device, the input device comprising:
- a primary contact positionally fixed in the handheld;
a directional contact positionally fixed in the handheld and operatively connected to the primary contact;
circuit closing means, movable on, and in electrical contact with, the primary contact, for movement, in response to inclination of the handheld device in the direction of the directional contact, between a neutral position in which the primary contact and the directional contact form an open circuit, and an active position in which the primary contact and the directional contact form a closed circuit; and
a direction interpreter, operatively connected to the primary and directional contacts, for generating the directional input to the element of the user interface when the closed circuit is formed.
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Abstract
A directional input device for use in a handheld device is disclosed herein. The directional input device provides input to an element of the user interface in response to the inclination of the handheld. The input device can be embedded into any handheld communicating or computing device to provide directional input to an element of the user interface of the handheld without consuming space on the face of the device that could otherwise be used for a larger screen.
36 Citations
20 Claims
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1. An input device, for embedding in a handheld device, for providing directional input to an element of the user interface in the handheld device in response to an inclination of the handheld device, the input device comprising:
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a primary contact positionally fixed in the handheld;
a directional contact positionally fixed in the handheld and operatively connected to the primary contact;
circuit closing means, movable on, and in electrical contact with, the primary contact, for movement, in response to inclination of the handheld device in the direction of the directional contact, between a neutral position in which the primary contact and the directional contact form an open circuit, and an active position in which the primary contact and the directional contact form a closed circuit; and
a direction interpreter, operatively connected to the primary and directional contacts, for generating the directional input to the element of the user interface when the closed circuit is formed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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14. An input device, embedded in a handheld device, for providing directional input to an element of the user interface in the handheld device in response to an inclination of the handheld device, the input device comprising:
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a base positionally fixed in the handheld;
a plurality of directional contacts, positionally fixed in the handheld around the base, each directional contact operatively connected to at least one adjacent directional contact;
circuit closing means, movable on the base between a neutral position in which the base and the plurality of directional contacts are in open circuit, and a plurality of active positions in which two of the plurality of directional contacts are operatively connected to close the open circuit in response to the inclination of the handheld device in the direction of a pair of adjacent directional contacts; and
a direction interpreter, operatively connected to the plurality of directional contacts, for generating the directional input in response to closing the open circuit.
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20. A method of controlling an element of the user interface of a handheld device based on the inclination of the handheld device, the method comprising:
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sensing the inclination of the handheld device;
generating a directional input signal representative of the inclination of the handheld device;
transmitting the generated directional input signal to the user interface of the handheld device; and
processing the transmitted directional input signal to control the element of the user interface.
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Specification