Electronic device and control element

• US 20030135292A1
• Filed: 12/18/2002
• Published: 07/17/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Johansson, Panu, Husgafvel, Ilkka
• Granted Patent: US 7,170,497 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/83
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0219 Special purpose keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0233 Character input methods
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0238 Programmable keyboards key guide holders G06F3/0224
• 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 3/0362 with detection of 1D translations or rotations of an operating part of the device, e.g. scroll wheels, sliders, knobs, rollers or belts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72466 with selection means, e.g. keys, having functions defined by the mode or the status of the device

Abstract

An electronic device (1) comprises a control element (6) for receiving user input, and the control element (6) comprises at least a first input means (6b), a second input means (6c) and a protective cover (2) with a specified place for the control element (6). The first input means (6b) is essentially plane-shaped and the second input means (6c) is essentially ring-shaped; the control element (6) has a first input mode and a second input mode; in the first input mode, the control element (6) is arranged to receive input in the form of navigation information; and in the second input mode, the control element (6) is arranged to receive input in the form of alphanumeric information. The device (1) is arranged to be controlled by means of information received by the control element (6).

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

a control element for receiving input from the user;

the control element comprises at least a first input means and a second input means,

a protective cover with a specified place for the control element,

wherein

the first input means is a multi-function input means and the second input means is essentially a ring-shaped input means rotatable in a plane, and

said control element has a first input mode and a second input mode;

in the first input mode, the control element is arranged to provide the device with navigation information in response to at least one of the following actions;

operation of the first input means

operation of the second input means; and

in the second input mode, the control element is arranged to provide the device with alphanumeric information in response to at least one of the following actions;

a press on a particular location of the first input means out of several possible press locations,

a press on a particular location of the second input means out of several possible press locations

wherein the control element is configured to provide the device with particular alphanumeric information in response to the press on a particular location.

2. An electronic device according to claim 1,

wherein

in the first input mode, the control element is arranged to provide the device with navigation information in response to at least one of the following actions:

a press on a particular location of the first input means out of several possible press locations,

a press on a particular location of the second input means out of several possible press locations

wherein the control element is configured to perform a particular navigation function in response to the press on a particular location.

3. An electronic device according to claim 1,

wherein

in the first input mode, the control element is arranged to perform a particular navigation function in response to

either holding the second ring-shaped input means pressed towards either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction or scrolling the second ring-shaped input means towards either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction, and

releasing the second ring-shaped input means.

4. An electronic device according to claim 1,

wherein

in addition, the control element comprises a third input means formed of one or more keys.

5. An electronic device according to claim 1 or 4,

wherein

the first input means is arranged to receive input information from the user, and

the second input means is arranged to receive mode switch information from the user for switching between the first and the second input modes.

6. An electronic device according to claim 1 or 4,

wherein

the third input means is arranged to receive input information from the user, and

the second input means is arranged to receive mode switch information from the user for switching between the first and the second input modes.

7. An electronic device according to claim 1,

wherein

the first, multi-function, input means is arranged to receive presses, touches or movements from the user.

8. An electronic device according to claim 4,

wherein

the first input means is located on the protective cover of the device inside the ring-shaped second input means, and

the third input means is located on the protective cover of the device below the second input means.

9. An electronic device according to claim 1,

wherein

the control element comprises means for presenting information about the input mode to the user.

10. A device according to claim 1,

wherein

in the first mode, the information presented by said means comprises the navigation directions selectable by means of the control element, and

in the second mode, the information presented by said means comprises the alphanumeric characters selectable by means of the control element.

11. An electronic device according to claim 1,

wherein

the device is arranged to be controlled using one or more operation sequences of the control element, the operation sequence consisting of a set of first movements and second movements essentially in immediate sequence.

12. An electronic device according to claim 11,

wherein

said first movements are movements of the first, multi-function, input means, and

said second movements are movements of the second input means, rotatable in a plane.

13. A method for using an electronic device, which method comprises

in the electronic device, a control element is used for entering input;

the control element comprises at least a first input means and a second input means,

wherein to use the device

the first, multi-function, input means is activated, and

the second, essentially ring-shaped, input means is rotated in a plane, and that

the control element is arranged to operate in a first input mode where the device is provided with navigation information in response to at least one of the following actions;

operation of the first input means

operation of the second input means, and

the control element is arranged to operate in a second input mode where the device is provided with alphanumeric information in response to at least one of the following actions;

operation of the first input means

operation of the second input means.

14. A control element for an electronic device, the device comprising at least one protective cover for adapting the control element and the control element comprising at least a first input means and a second input means,

wherein

the first input means is a multi-function input means and the second input means is essentially a ring-shaped input means rotatable in a plane, and

said control element has a first input mode and a second input mode;

in the first input mode, the control element is arranged to receive input in the form of navigation information; and

in the second input mode, the control element is arranged to receive input in the form of alphanumeric information.