Actuating user interface for media player
First Claim
1. A handheld media player, comprising:
- a housing for enclosing internally various functional components for operating the handheld media player, the housing including an opening;
a substantially rigid electronic platform covering the opening and including internal circuitry, the substantially rigid electronic platform cooperating with the housing to form the peripheral surfaces of the handheld media player, the substantially rigid electronic platform having a flat outer touchable surface that is exposed to a user of the handheld media player, the substantially rigid electronic platform being configured to tilt to at least four positions relative to the housing, the at least four positions including a top tilt position, a bottom tilt position, a left tilt position and a right tilt position; and
a plurality of mechanical switches located within the housing and underneath the substantially rigid electronic platform, the plurality of mechanical switches including at least four mechanical switches that cooperate with the tilting of the substantially rigid electronic platform to provide at least four distinct user inputs, the four mechanical switches including a first mechanical switch, a second mechanical switch, a third mechanical switch and a fourth mechanical switch, the first mechanical switch being located underneath a top portion of the substantially rigid electronic platform, the second mechanical switch being located underneath a bottom portion of the substantially rigid electronic platform, the third mechanical switch being located underneath a left portion of the substantially rigid electronic platform, and the fourth mechanical switch being located underneath a right portion of the substantially rigid electronic platform, the first mechanical switch generating a first switch signal when the substantially rigid electronic platform is tilted to the top tilt position, the second mechanical switch generating a second switch signal when the substantially rigid electronic platform is tilted to the bottom tilt position, the third mechanical switch generating a third switch signal when the substantially rigid electronic platform is tilted to the left tilt position, the fourth mechanical switch generating a fourth switch signal when the substantially rigid electronic platform is tilted to the right tilt position.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An actuating user interface for a media player or other electronic device is disclosed. According to one aspect, the user interface is a display device that can both display visual information and serve as a mechanical actuator to generate input signals is disclosed. By way of example, the display device, which displays visual information such as text, characters and graphics, may also act like a push or clickable button(s), a sliding toggle button or switch, a rotating dial or knob, a motion controlling device such as a joystick or navigation pad, and/or the like. According to another aspect, the user interface is an input device that includes a movable touch pad control signal capable of detecting the movements of the movable touch pad so as to generate one or more distinct second control signals. The control signals being used to perform actions in an electronic device operatively coupled to the input device.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. A handheld media player, comprising:
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a housing for enclosing internally various functional components for operating the handheld media player, the housing including an opening;
a substantially rigid electronic platform covering the opening and including internal circuitry, the substantially rigid electronic platform cooperating with the housing to form the peripheral surfaces of the handheld media player, the substantially rigid electronic platform having a flat outer touchable surface that is exposed to a user of the handheld media player, the substantially rigid electronic platform being configured to tilt to at least four positions relative to the housing, the at least four positions including a top tilt position, a bottom tilt position, a left tilt position and a right tilt position; and
a plurality of mechanical switches located within the housing and underneath the substantially rigid electronic platform, the plurality of mechanical switches including at least four mechanical switches that cooperate with the tilting of the substantially rigid electronic platform to provide at least four distinct user inputs, the four mechanical switches including a first mechanical switch, a second mechanical switch, a third mechanical switch and a fourth mechanical switch, the first mechanical switch being located underneath a top portion of the substantially rigid electronic platform, the second mechanical switch being located underneath a bottom portion of the substantially rigid electronic platform, the third mechanical switch being located underneath a left portion of the substantially rigid electronic platform, and the fourth mechanical switch being located underneath a right portion of the substantially rigid electronic platform, the first mechanical switch generating a first switch signal when the substantially rigid electronic platform is tilted to the top tilt position, the second mechanical switch generating a second switch signal when the substantially rigid electronic platform is tilted to the bottom tilt position, the third mechanical switch generating a third switch signal when the substantially rigid electronic platform is tilted to the left tilt position, the fourth mechanical switch generating a fourth switch signal when the substantially rigid electronic platform is tilted to the right tilt position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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Specification