METHODS AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING A MOBILE DEVICE BY USING A PIVOTING INPUT SWITCH

• US 20080045280A1
• Filed: 06/22/2007
• Published: 02/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Hawkins, Jeffrey, Haitani, Robert
• Granted Patent: US 7,917,097 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/575.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0214 Foldable telephones, i.e. with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position combined with translation movement H04M1/0235
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/233 including a pointing device, e.g. roller key, track ball, rocker switch or joystick constructional details of pointing devices per se G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2747 Scrolling on a display
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27475 using interactive graphical means or pictorial representations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72433 for voice messaging, e.g. dictaphones for answering incoming calls H04M1/64
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72466 with selection means, e.g. keys, having functions defined by the mode or the status of the device
• 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 2250/60 logging of communication history, e.g. outgoing or incoming calls, missed calls, messages or URLs

Abstract

A mobile device that performs at least one computing application and at least one phone application. This mobile device includes a user-controllable pivoting input switch. This switch has a number of operational modes. Several of these operational modes direct the operation of the computing application. In additional, several operational modes direct the operation of the phone application.

Claims

1. A mobile device comprising:

a computing application;

a phone application; and

a user-controllable pivoting input switch having a plurality of operational modes, wherein one operational mode comprises pivoting of the input switch in a first direction about an axis from a starting point to a first input-generating position, the input switch generating a first input signal when the input switch is pivoted to or past the first input-generating position and repeatedly generating the first input signal in response to maintaining the input switch at or past the first input-generating position, the input switch automatically returning to the starting point upon release of the input switch, at least one of the plurality of operational modes for operation of the computing application and at least one of the plurality of operational modes for operation of the phone application.

2. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein another operational mode comprises pivoting of the input switch in a second direction about the axis from the starting point to a second input-generating position, the input switch generating a second input signal when the input switch is pivoted to or past the second input-generating position and repeatedly generating the second input signal in response to maintaining the input switch at or past the second input-generating position, the input switch automatically returning to the starting point upon release after pivoting.

3. The mobile device of claim 2, wherein the second direction is opposite to the first direction.

4. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein another operational mode comprises depressing of the input switch in towards the axis.

5. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein another operational mode comprises depressing of the input switch in towards the axis and holding the depressing state for a duration of time.

6. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the input switch comprises a dial structure.

7. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the input switch comprises a rocking switch.

8. The mobile device of claim 1, wherein the input switch is located on a side of the mobile device.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the pivoting of the switch directs the phone application to adjust the volume of a phone conversation.

10. The device of claim 8, wherein the pivoting of the switch directs the phone application to adjust the volume of a phone conversation during an active call session.

11. The device of claim 1, wherein the input switch repeatedly generates the first input signal at a particular frequency in response to maintaining the input switch at or past the first input-generating position.

12. A method of operating a mobile device, the mobile device comprising a user-controllable pivoting input switch and an application, the method comprising:

pivoting the input switch in a first direction about an axis from a starting point to a first input-generating position and maintaining the input switch at or past the first input-generating position to direct the application to repeatedly perform a first operation; and

pivoting the input switch in a second direction about the axis from the starting point to a second input-generating position and maintaining the input switch at or past the second input-generating position to direct the application to repeatedly perform a second operation.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the application comprises a phone application or a computing application.

14. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

depressing in the input switch in towards the axis to direct a third operation of the application.

15. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

depressing in the input switch in towards the axis and holding the depressing state for a duration of time to direct a forth operation of the application.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising releasing the pivoted input switch from the first direction to automatically return the input switch to the start position.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising releasing the pivoted input switch from the second direction to automatically return the input switch to the start position.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the application is directed to repeatedly perform the first operation at a particular frequency.