Article comprising an adaptable input devce

• US 20030179182A1
• Filed: 02/21/2003
• Published: 09/25/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Mochis Investment LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Mochis Investment LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Lieu, Winston Hong
• Application Number:
  US10/371,923
• Publication Number:
  US 20030179182A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/158
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1615 with several enclosures having relative motions, each enclosure supporting at least one I/O or computing function constructional details of portable telephones comprising a plurality of mechanically joined movable body parts H04M1/0206
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• 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 1/1666 Arrangements for reducing the size of the integrated keyboard for transport, e.g. foldable keyboards, keyboards with collapsible keys G06F1/1664 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1677 for detecting open or closed state or particular intermediate positions assumed by movable parts of the enclosure, e.g. detection of display lid position with respect to main body in a laptop, detection of opening of the cover of battery compartment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1684 Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675
• 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 2200/1614 Image rotation following screen orientation, e.g. switching from landscape to portrait mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0219 Special purpose keyboards
• 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: H01H 25/008 Operating part movable both angularly and rectilinearly, the rectilinear movement being perpendicular to the axis of angular movement
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 25/041 having a generally flat operating member depressible at different locations to operate different controls
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0214 Foldable telephones, i.e. with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position combined with translation movement H04M1/0235
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0245 using open/close detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/23 Construction or mounting of dials or of equivalent devices; Means for facilitating the use thereof by improving visibility H04M1/22
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/233 including a pointing device, e.g. roller key, track ball, rocker switch or joystick constructional details of pointing devices per se G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72466 with selection means, e.g. keys, having functions defined by the mode or the status of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72469 : for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/38 : Displays
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 : including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10

Abstract

A host device having an adaptable input device. An aspect of the operation of the adaptable input device changes as a function of a state of the portable terminal. In some embodiments, the aspect of operation that changes is the functionality of the adaptable input device. In some further embodiments, the aspect of operation that changes is the directionality of the input device. For example, when the adaptable input device functions as a pointing device, the aspect of operation that changes is the response of the cursor and/or insertion point to movement of the pointing device.

Claims

1. An article comprising an adaptable input device, said adaptable input device comprising:

an input device for inputting information into a host device;

a sensor for detecting a change in a state of the host device; and

a processor for changing an aspect of the operation of said input device in response to said change in state.

2. The article of claim 1 wherein said aspect is a functionality of said input device.

3. The article of claim 2 wherein said state comprises a physical configuration of the host device.

4. The article of claim 3 wherein said state comprises a physical orientation of the host device.

5. The article of claim 1 wherein said input device is a pointing device.

6. The article of claim 5 wherein said aspect is a directionality of said pointing device.

7. The article of claim 6 wherein said state comprises a physical configuration of the host device.

8. The article of claim 6 wherein said state comprises a physical orientation of the host device.

9. The article of claim 1 wherein said host device is a portable terminal.

10. A portable terminal comprising:

a base;

a display, wherein said display is coupled to said base, and wherein said display has a display screen;

a cover, wherein said cover is rotatably coupled, for out-of-plane rotation, to at least one of either said display or said base;

an input device, wherein said input device inputs information into said portable terminal, and wherein said input device is disposed on said cover;

a sensor for detecting a change in a state of said portable terminal; and

a processor for changing an aspect of the operation of said input device in response to said change in state.

11. The portable terminal of claim 10 wherein said aspect is a functionality of said input device.

12. The article of claim 11 wherein said state comprises a physical configuration of said portable terminal.

13. The article of claim 11 wherein said state comprises a physical orientation of said portable terminal.

14. The article of claim 10 wherein said input device is a pointing device.

15. The article of claim 14 wherein said aspect is a directionality of said pointing device.

16. The article of claim 15 wherein said state comprises a physical configuration of said portable terminal.

17. The article of claim 15 wherein said state comprises a physical orientation of said portable terminal.

18. A method for changing an aspect of the operation of an input device, comprising:

detecting a change in a state of a host device;

generating a signal that is indicative of said change in state; and

changing an aspect of the operation of an input device responsive to said signal.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the input device is a pointing device.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein said state is at least one of a physical configuration of said portable terminal and a physical orientation of said portable terminal.