Dual mode input device

• US 20070229456A1
• Filed: 04/03/2006
• Published: 10/04/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Pihlaja, Pekka
• Granted Patent: US 7,760,184 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/157
• 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

Abstract

When the user depresses a freely rotating input device, it engages a spring-cantering mechanism and enables the user to move the pointer quickly with a velocity control pointing method. The spring-centering provides the user haptic feedback of the pointer speed. When the pointer is near the target, the user can switch rapidly to the more accurate position control pointing method of the freely rotating mode by letting the input device back to the up-position.

Claims

1. A pointing device for controlling a pointer on a user interface, the pointing device comprising two positions:

a position arranged to control the pointer linearly in accordance with an amount of movement of the pointing device, and

another position arranged to control the pointer so that the pointer is arranged to move with a speed, which speed is relative to a movement, which movement the pointing device is deflected from a central position of the pointing device.

2. A pointing device according to claim 1, wherein the pointing device comprises a rotating pointing device, wherein

said position is arranged to control the pointer linearly in accordance with an amount of rotation movement of the pointing device, and

said another position is arranged to control the pointer so that the pointer is arranged to move with said speed, which speed is relative to said movement, which movement the rotating pointing device is deflected from said central position of the rotating pointing device.

3. A pointing device according to claim 2, wherein said another position is arranged to control the pointer so that the pointer is arranged to move with said speed, which speed is relative to an angular movement, in which angular movement the rotating pointing device is deflected from the central position of the rotating pointing device.

4. A pointing device according to claim 1, wherein said position comprises a stand-by position and said another position comprises a depressed position wherein a force is applied to the pointing device so that the pointing device is depressed.

5. A pointing device according to claim 4, wherein in said position the pointing device is arranged to rotate freely and in said another position the pointing device is arranged to rotate so that upon rotation an opposing force to the direction of the rotation is established pursuant to bringing the pointing device to the central position.

6. A pointing device according to claim 1, further comprising resilient means for switching the pointing device between said positions.

7. A pointing device according to claim 6, wherein the resilient means is arranged to output tactile feedback.

8. A pointing device according to claim 6, wherein said resilient means comprise a spring.

9. A pointing device according to claim 1, further comprising a dome switch for detecting if the pointing device has been depressed into said another position.

10. A pointing device according to claim 9, wherein the dome switch is arranged to provide user with tactile feedback.

11. A pointing device according to claim 1, further comprising a gear mounted onto the pointing device and arranged to engage a rack so as to establish the pointing device in said another position.

12. A pointing device according to claim 1, wherein centering resilient means are arranged to create an opposing force to the movement the pointing device is deflected and tending to bring the pointing device back to the central position.

13. A pointing device according to claim 12, wherein said centering resilient means comprise a pair of centering springs.

14. A pointing device according to claim 1, further comprising a buckling mechanism for supporting the pointing device so that the buckling mechanism allows the pointing device to switch between the two positions.

15. A pointing device according to claim 1, wherein said another position comprises a stand-by position and said position comprises a depressed position wherein a force is applied to the pointing device so that the pointing device is depressed.

16. A pointing device according to claim 2, wherein said position is arranged to allow the rotating pointing device rotate more than 360 degrees of rotation.

17. A pointing device according to claim 1, wherein said pointing device comprises a slider, a scroll wheel, a roller, a rotator, a rotating knob or a trackball.

18. An apparatus having the pointing device according to claim 1, wherein the pointing device is arranged to have said two positions in the apparatus.

19. A system comprising a user interface and the pointing device according to claim 1, wherein the pointing device is arranged to control the system.

20. A method for controlling a pointer on a user interface, the method comprising:

controlling the pointer linearly in accordance with an amount of movement of the pointing device,

switching a pointer device for controlling said pointer to another position, and

controlling the pointer so that the pointer is arranged to move with a speed, which speed is relative to a movement, which movement the pointing device is deflected from a central position of the pointing device.