NAVIGATION PAD AND METHOD OF USING SAME
First Claim
1. A handheld electronic device, comprising:
- an outer housing having a front face;
a display screen in the front face;
a navigation touch pad mounted in the front face of the housing and adapted to provide a user input for controlling the electronic device;
the touch pad having a plurality of touch sensors at predetermined locations about the area of the touch pad adapted to detect touching by a user'"'"'s finger and to provide an output control signal in response to touch detection;
at least one light source associated with each touch sensor; and
a control unit adapted to activate each light source in response to receipt of an output control signal from the touch sensor associated with the light source.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A handheld electronic device has an outer face in which a user display and a navigation touch pad are located. The touch pad is adapted to provide a user input for controlling at least one function of the electronic device. A plurality of touch sensors are located at predetermined locations about the area of the touch pad and detect touching by a user'"'"'s finger in order to provide an output control signal. A light source is associated with each touch sensor. A control unit receives input from the touch sensors and activates each light source in turn as the associated touch sensor is touched by a user, so that the user receives visual feedback as they are controlling the device.
55 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A handheld electronic device, comprising:
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an outer housing having a front face; a display screen in the front face; a navigation touch pad mounted in the front face of the housing and adapted to provide a user input for controlling the electronic device; the touch pad having a plurality of touch sensors at predetermined locations about the area of the touch pad adapted to detect touching by a user'"'"'s finger and to provide an output control signal in response to touch detection; at least one light source associated with each touch sensor; and a control unit adapted to activate each light source in response to receipt of an output control signal from the touch sensor associated with the light source. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method of operating a navigation touch pad mounted on a personal electronic device, comprising:
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receiving finger or pointer touch input in a circular path about the touch pad; detecting location and movement of the finger using a series of touch sensors positioned in a circular path on the touch pad; lighting up a series of light sources around the touch pad in sequence as a series of touch sensors each associated with a respective light source receives the finger or pointer touch input; and controlling at least one function of the electronic device in response the detection by the touch sensors. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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Specification