Mobile phone capable of input of phone number without manipulating buttons and method of inputting phone number to the same

• US 20050197145A1
• Filed: 07/27/2004
• Published: 09/08/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/03/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd. (Samsung Group)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electro-Mechanics Co., Ltd. (Samsung Group)
• Inventors: Hahm, Ghun, Chae, Kyoung Soo, Park, Ho Joon, Sim, Won Chul, Choi, Sang Hyun
• Application Number:
  US10/899,037
• Publication Number:
  US 20050197145A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/517
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0346 with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/26 Devices for calling a subscriber H04M1/66 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/725 Cordless telephones user interfaces specially adapted therefor H04M1/724
• 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

The present invention relates to a mobile phone, which allows a user to input a phone number by simply moving the body of the mobile phone without manipulating the buttons of a key pad, thus providing the user with convenience. The mobile phone includes a vibration/inclination detection means for detecting the numbers and directions of movements of a body of the mobile phone, an interface means for converting the detection signals of the vibration/inclination detection means into signals detectable by a control means and transmitting the signals to the control means, an auxiliary input means, which is placed on an outside of the mobile phone to be easily manipulated, for generating an on or off signal according to the operation of the user, and the control means for receiving the numbers and directions detected by the vibration/inclination detection means, converting the received numbers and directions into successive input numbers according to a predetermined rule, and attempting a call connection using the converted input numbers.

Claims

1. A mobile phone capable of input of phone number without manipulating buttons, comprising:

vibration/inclination detection means for detecting numbers and directions of movements of a body of the mobile phone;

interface means for converting detection signals of the vibration/inclination detection means into signals detectable by control means and transmitting the signals to the control means;

auxiliary input means for generating an on or off signal according to an operation of the user, the auxiliary input means being placed on an outside of the mobile phone to be easily manipulated; and

the control means for receiving the numbers and directions detected by the vibration/inclination detection means, converting the received numbers and directions into successive input numbers according to a predetermined rule, and attempting a call connection using the converted input numbers.

2. The mobile phone as set forth in claim 1, wherein the vibration/inclination detection means is a multi-axes geomagnetic sensor or accelerometer capable of detecting earth magnetism or acceleration in two or more directions.

3. The mobile phone as set forth in claim 1, wherein the control means sets different multiples in directions of movements and inclinations, and sets input numbers to values, obtained by multiplying the numbers input through the interface means by set multiples in corresponding directions.

4. A method of inputting a phone number to a mobile phone having a vibration/inclination detection means for detecting movements of a body of the mobile phone and an auxiliary input means placed on an outside of the phone body to allow a user to turn on or off the auxiliary input means, comprising the steps of:

checking whether the auxiliary input means is turned on or off;

receiving detection signals of the vibration/inclination detection means while the auxiliary input means is turned on, and detecting and storing a number and direction of movements and inclinations of the mobile phone;

detecting a state in which there is no movement of the mobile phone during a first set time by counting successive time for which the detection signal is not output from the vibration/inclination detection means and checking whether the successive time reach the first set time;

calculating and storing the stored direction and number of the movements and inclinations to an input number according to the predetermined rule if, as a result of the detection, there is no movement of the mobile phone during the set time; and

checking whether the auxiliary input means is turned on, and repeating the above-described steps while the auxiliary input means is turned on, and attempting a call connection using stored successive input numbers if the auxiliary input means is turned off.

5. The method as set forth in claim 4, further comprising the steps of:

setting multiples a, b, c and d (in this case, a, b, c and d are integral numbers equal to or larger than zero, and a≠

b≠

c≠

d is satisfied) on directions of the detected movements and inclinations; and

outputting values, obtained by multiplying the stored detection numbers by the set multiples (a, b, c or d) set on the corresponding directions, as the successive input numbers.