Mobile digital communication/computing device having variable and soft landing scrolling

• US 20040077381A1
• Filed: 10/14/2003
• Published: 04/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Varia Holdings LLC
• Original Assignee: Wildseed LLC
• Inventors: Engstrom, G. Eric
• Granted Patent: US 7,065,387 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/566
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0489 using dedicated keyboard keys or combinations thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04892 Arrangements for controlling cursor position based on codes indicative of cursor displacements from one discrete location to another, e.g. using cursor control keys associated to different directions or using the tab key arrangements for controlling cursor position based on coordinate signals G06F3/038
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72469 for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons

Abstract

In accordance with one embodiment, a mobile communication device is provided with scrolling logic to scroll information displayed on a display at variable scroll rate. In accordance with another embodiment, a mobile communication device is provided with scrolling logic to stop scrolling gradually.

Claims

1. A mobile communication device comprising:

a transceiver to facilitate transmission and receipt of audio communication;

a display to display information;

a scroll button; and

scrolling logic coupled to the scroll button and the display to scroll the information displayed on the display at a variable scroll rate responsive to at least a selected one of an amount of time the scroll button has been pressed, and an amount of pressure applied to the scroll button.

2. The mobile communication device of claim 1, wherein the scrolling logic is designed to scroll the information displayed on the display at increasing scroll rate responsive to the amount of time the scroll button has been pressed.

3. The mobile communication device of claim 1, wherein the scrolling logic is designed to scroll the information displayed on the display at increasing scroll rate responsive to the amount of pressure applied to the scroll button.

4. The mobile communication device of claim 3, wherein the mobile communication device further comprises a pressure sensor to sense the amount of pressure applied to the scroll button.

5. The mobile communication device of claim 1, wherein the scroll logic is further designed to stop said scrolling gradually in response to cessation of said pressing of said scroll button.

6. The mobile communication device of claim 1, wherein the mobile communication device comprises a wireless mobile phone.

7. A mobile communication device comprising:

a transceiver to facilitate transmission and receipt of audio communication;

a display to display information;

a scroll button; and

scrolling logic coupled to the scroll button and the display to scroll the information displayed on the display in response to a selection of the scroll button, and stop said scrolling gradually in response to a de-selection of the scroll button.

8. The mobile communication device of claim 7, wherein the mobile communication device comprises a wireless mobile phone.

9. In a mobile communication device, a method of operation comprising:

receiving indication of a scroll button of the mobile communication device being pressed; and

scrolling information displayed on a display of the mobile communication device at a variable scroll rate, responsive to a selected one of an amount of time the scroll button has been pressed and an amount of pressure applied to the scroll button.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said scrolling comprises scrolling the information displayed on the display at increasing scroll rate responsive to the amount of time the scroll button has been pressed.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein said scrolling comprises scrolling the information displayed on the display at increasing scroll rate responsive to the amount of pressure applied to the scroll button.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the method further comprises sensing the amount of pressure applied to the scroll button.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the method further comprises stopping said scrolling gradually in response to cessation of said pressing of said scroll button.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the mobile communication device comprises a wireless mobile phone.

15. In a mobile communication device, a method of operation comprising:

receiving indication of cessation of pressing of a scroll button of the mobile communication device; and

in response, gradually stopping scrolling of information displayed on a display of the mobile communication device.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the mobile communication device comprises a wireless mobile phone.