Input device for portable handset

• US 20050268251A1
• Filed: 05/27/2004
• Published: 12/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bell Northern Research, LLC (Hilco Inc. (d/b/a Hilco Global))
• Original Assignee: Agere Systems Incorporated (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Smith, Paul Robert, Verney, Richard, Bennetts, David James, Rigge, Lawrence Allen
• Granted Patent: US 7,404,146 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/810
• 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: G06F 3/0489 using dedicated keyboard keys or combinations thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/385 Transceivers carried on the body, e.g. in helmets
• 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

There is disclosed an input device including a display for displaying a plurality of icons, and a selector for selecting a displayed icon. At least a portion of the display is an electronic display. The device is adapted such that the selector moves relative to the display between a plurality of positions. At least one position corresponds to a displayed icon. The device further includes a function selection means. A function associated with an icon corresponding to a current position of the selector is selected when the function selection means is enabled.

Claims

1. An input device including a display for displaying a set of icons comprising a plurality of icons, and a first selector for selecting a displayed icon, at least a portion of the display being an electronic display, the device being adapted such that the selector moves between a plurality of positions relative to the display, at least one of the positions corresponding to one of the displayed icons, and the device further including a second selector, wherein a function associated with an icon corresponding to a current position of the selector is selected when the second selector is enabled.

2. An input device according to claim 1 wherein the displayed icon is displayed on said electronic portion of said display.

3. An input device according to claim 1 in which the display is adapted to display a plurality of sets of icons, the device further including a third selector for selecting a set of icons.

4. An input device according to claim 1 wherein the first selector is a rotating bezel adapted to rotate relative to the display.

5. An input device according to claim 1 wherein the input device further comprises a marker, the marker indicating a current position of the selector.

6. An input device according to claim 1 wherein the first selector comprises the marker, the first selector selecting the icon that is closest to the marker.

7. An input device according to claim 5 wherein the marker is displayed on said display.

8. An input device according to claim 1 wherein the second selector comprises at least one button.

9. An input device according to claim 1 wherein the second selector is fixedly mounted on a housing of the input device.

10. An input device according to claim 1 wherein the second selector is connected to a housing of the input device by an electrical wire and wherein the second selector is movable relative to the housing.

11. An input device according to claim 1 wherein the display further comprises a permanent display portion and wherein the displayed icons are displayed on the permanent display portion.

12. An input device according to claim 3 wherein said third selector controls said display upon operation of said third selector so as to cause said display to switch between displaying different ones of said sets of icons.

13. An input device according to claim 3 wherein said display simultaneously displays each of said sets of icons simultaneously.

14. An input device according to claim 1 wherein the first selector is a sliding bezel adapted to slide along a line.

15. A mobile telephone comprising the input device of claim 1.

16. A mobile telephone according to claim 14 wherein said cellular telephone is adapted to be wrist mounted.

17. A mobile telephone comprising the input device of claim 3.

18. A mobile telephone comprising the input device of claim 4.

19. A mobile telephone comprising the input device of claim 10.

20. A mobile telephone comprising the input device of claim 12.