Mobile terminal having scrolling device and method implementing functions using the same

• US 20070094417A1
• Filed: 05/16/2006
• Published: 04/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Hur, Yong, Lim, Min
• Application Number:
  US11/434,495
• Publication Number:
  US 20070094417A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 710/1
• 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 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• 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 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041

Abstract

A mobile terminal having a scroll wheel device and a method for implementing functions using the same are disclosed. The mobile terminal having a scroll wheel device includes a display, the scroll wheel device that senses a user'"'"'s wheeling operation, a memory that stores data having different menus and associated user interface screens, and a controller that calculates a wheeling distance corresponding to the wheeling operation sensed by the scroll wheel device, searches the data from the memory that corresponds to a menu associated with a wheeling distance range of the calculated wheeling distance, searches the data from the memory that corresponds to a user interface screen associated with the menu, and outputs a first control signal to the display to display the user interface screen. Therefore, it is possible to quickly search menus and conveniently implement the specific function using the scroll wheel device. Also, it is possible to implement the specific function using the scroll wheel device without clicking the function key as the case may be.

Claims

1. A mobile terminal having a scroll wheel device comprising:

a display;

the scroll wheel device that senses a user'"'"'s wheeling operation;

a memory that stores data having different menus and associated user interface screens; and

a controller that calculates a wheeling distance corresponding to the wheeling operation sensed by the scroll wheel device, searches the data from the memory that corresponds to a menu associated with a wheeling distance range of the calculated wheeling distance, searches the data from the memory that corresponds to a user interface screen associated with the menu, and outputs a first control signal to the display to display the user interface screen.

2. The mobile terminal having a scroll wheel device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the controller calculates the wheeling distance based on a first contact point, a final contact point, and a direction of the wheeling operation sensed by the scroll wheel device.

3. The mobile terminal having a scroll wheel device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the controller outputs the first control signal if the controller determines that the calculated wheeling distance is greater than a triggering wheeling distance.

4. The mobile terminal having a scroll wheel device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the scroll wheel device is a touch wheel device that includes a heat sensor to sense a user'"'"'s contact with the touch wheel device.

5. The mobile terminal having a scroll wheel device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the controller further outputs a second control signal to implement a specific function corresponding to the searched menu if the user breaks contact with the touch wheel device.

6. The mobile terminal having a scroll wheel device as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the scroll wheel device is a jog dial device having a dial operable by a user.

7. The mobile terminal having a scroll wheel device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising at least one function key assigned with a specific function, which when activated, causes the controller to output a third control signal to implement the specific function assigned to the function key.

8. The mobile terminal having a scroll wheel device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the function key is separately provided from the scroll wheel device.

9. The mobile terminal having a scroll wheel device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the function key is provided overlapped with the scroll wheel device.

10. A mobile terminal having a touch wheel device comprising:

a display;

the touch wheel device having a heat sensor that senses a user'"'"'s contact and wheeling operation;

a memory storing data corresponding to different menus; and

a controller that outputs a first control signal based on calculating a wheeling distance that corresponds to the wheeling operation sensed by the touch wheel device, searching data from the memory that corresponds to a menu associated with a wheeling distance range of the calculated wheeling distance, searching data from memory that corresponds to a user interface screen associated with the menu, wherein the first control signal causes the display to display the user interface screen; and

the controller further outputs a second control signal that implements a first specific function corresponding to the searched menu if the user breaks contact from the touch wheel device.

11. The mobile terminal having a touch wheel device as claimed in claim 10, wherein the controller calculates the wheeling distance based on a first contact point, a final contact point, and a direction of the wheeling operation sensed by the scroll wheel device.

12. The mobile terminal having a touch wheel device as claimed in claim 10, further comprising at least one function key assigned with a second specific function, which when activated, causes the controller to further output a third control signal to implement the second specific function assigned to function key.

13. The mobile terminal having a touch wheel device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the function key is separately provided from the touch wheel device.

14. The mobile terminal having a touch wheel device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the function key is provided overlapped with the touch wheel device.

15. A method for implementing functions using a mobile terminal having a scroll wheel device, the method comprising the steps of:

a) calculating a wheeling distance corresponding to a sensed wheeling operation;

b) searching for data that corresponds to a menu associated with a wheeling distance range of the calculated wheeling distance; and

c) displaying a user interface screen corresponding to the searched menu.

16. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the wheeling distance is calculated based on a sensed first contact point, a sensed final contact point, and a sensed direction of the wheeling operation.

17. The method as claimed in claim 15, wherein the step c) includes displaying an initial user interface screen if the wheeling distance is greater than a triggering wheeling distance.

18. The method as claimed in claim 15 or 16, wherein the scroll wheel device is a touch wheel device that includes a heat sensor to sense a user'"'"'s contact with the touch wheel device.

19. The method as claimed in claim 18, further comprising the step of implementing a specific function corresponding to the searched menu if the a user contact with the touch wheel device is no longer sensed.

20. The method as claimed in claim 15 or 16, wherein the scroll wheel device is a jog dial device having a dial operable by a user.

21. The method as claimed in claim 15, further comprising the steps of receiving a function implementing command, and implementing a specific function corresponding to the function implementing command.

22. A method for implementing functions using a mobile terminal having a touch wheel device, the method comprising the steps of:

a) calculating a wheeling distance corresponding to a sensed wheeling operation;

b) searching for data that corresponds to a menu associated with wheeling distance range of the calculated wheeling distance;

c) displaying a user interface screen corresponding to the searched menu; and

d) implementing a first specific function corresponding to the searched menu if the user'"'"'s contact is no longer sensed.

23. The method as claimed in claim 22, wherein the wheeling distance is calculated based on a sensed first contact point, a final sensed contact point, and a sensed direction of the wheeling operation.

24. The method as claimed in claim 22, further comprising the steps of receiving a function implementing command, and implementing a second specific function corresponding to the function implementing command.