Method of Employing a Switch Assembly to Provide Input, and Handheld Electronic Device

• US 20080106525A1
• Filed: 11/03/2006
• Published: 05/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Research In Motion Limited (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: Orr, Kevin, Fregin, Douglas Edgar
• Granted Patent: US 7,804,488 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/174
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0338 with detection of limited linear or angular displacement of an operating part of the device from a neutral position, e.g. isotonic or isometric joysticks
• 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 3/0485 Scrolling or panning

Abstract

An improved method of employing a switch assembly for use in providing input to a handheld electronic device comprises employing a capacitive sensing system having a capacitive slider input device that detects navigational inputs. The switch assembly further provides a pair of switches mounted to the slider on an underside thereof to provide selection or escape inputs as desired.

Claims

1. A method of enabling input on a handheld electronic device comprising an input apparatus, an output apparatus, and a processor apparatus, the input apparatus comprising at least one switch assembly that comprises a substrate, a capacitive sensing system, and at least a first switch, the substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite one another, the capacitive sensing system comprising a series of at least three contacts disposed on the first surface, the at least first switch being disposed on the second surface and being engageable with an engagement structure to provide an input to the processor apparatus, the output apparatus comprising a display, the method comprising:

detecting as a first navigational input an input from the capacitive sensing system resulting from a sliding movement by a user in a first direction along the series of contacts on the substrate;

responsive to said detecting, moving a visual focus on the display in accordance with the first navigational input;

performing at least one of;

detecting as a first selection input an input from a switch resulting from a movement of the substrate in an actuation direction to actuate the switch and, responsive thereto, initiating at least one of a selection operation and an escape operation, and

detecting as a tap input from the capacitive sensing system an input resulting from a movement by the user toward a contact at an end of the series and, responsive thereto, initiating a page-shift operation of the visual objects on the display in the first direction.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising outputting a number of visual objects on the display, and wherein said moving a visual focus comprises shifting the visual focus from one visual object to an adjacent visual object.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the input apparatus further comprises another switch assembly, and further comprising:

moving the visual focus in accordance with the first input by moving the visual focus on the display in the first direction;

detecting as a second navigational input an input from a capacitive sensing system of the another switch assembly resulting from a sliding movement by a user in a second direction along a series of contacts on a substrate of the another switch assembly;

moving the visual focus on the display in the second direction; and

detecting as the first selection input either an input from the switch of the at least one switch assembly resulting from a movement of the substrate in an actuation direction or an input from a switch of the another switch assembly resulting from a movement of a substrate of the another switch assembly in an actuation direction.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the input apparatus further comprises another pair of switch assemblies disposed at opposite sides of the display, the at least one switch assembly being disposed adjacent a side of the display that extends between said opposite sides, and further comprising:

moving the visual focus in accordance with the first input by moving the visual focus on the display in the first direction;

detecting as a second navigational input an input from a capacitive sensing system of either of the another pair of switch assemblies resulting from a sliding movement by a user in a second direction along a series of contacts on a substrate of either of the another pair of switch assemblies; and

moving the visual focus on the display in the second direction.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the series of contacts comprises a first set of contacts and a second set of contacts, the contacts of the first set and the second set alternating with one another, and further comprising:

initiating a deep sleep routine; and

detecting as the first navigational input an input from the capacitive sensing system resulting from a detection of a sliding movement by a user in the first direction along the first set of contacts.

6. A handheld electronic device comprising:

a processor apparatus comprising a processor and a memory;

an output apparatus comprising a display;

an input apparatus comprising at least one switch assembly;

the at least one switch assembly comprising a substrate, a capacitive sensing system, and at least a first switch;

the substrate having a first surface and a second surface opposite one another;

the capacitive sensing system comprising a series of at least three contacts disposed on the first surface;

the at least first switch being disposed on the second surface and being engageable with an engagement structure to provide an input to the processor apparatus;

the memory having stored therein a number of routines which, when executed on the processor, cause the handheld electronic device to perform operations comprising;

detecting as a first navigational input an input from the capacitive sensing system resulting from a sliding movement by a user in a first direction along the series of contacts on the substrate;

responsive to said detecting, moving a visual focus on the display in accordance with the first navigational input;

performing at least one of;

detecting as a first selection input an input from a switch resulting from a movement of the substrate in an actuation direction to actuate the switch and, responsive thereto, initiating at least one of a selection operation and an escape operation, and

detecting as a tap input from the capacitive sensing system an input resulting from a movement by the user toward a contact at an end of the series and, responsive thereto, initiating a page-shift operation of the visual objects on the display in the first direction.

7. The handheld electronic device of claim 6 wherein the operations further comprise outputting a number of visual objects on the display, and wherein said moving a visual focus comprises the operation of shifting the visual focus from one visual object to an adjacent visual object.

8. The handheld electronic device of claim 6 wherein the input apparatus further comprises another switch assembly, and wherein the operations further comprise:

moving the visual focus in accordance with the first input by moving the visual focus on the display in the first direction;

detecting as a second navigational input an input from a capacitive sensing system of the another switch assembly resulting from a sliding movement by a user in a second direction along a series of contacts on a substrate of the another switch assembly;

moving the visual focus on the display in the second direction; and

detecting as the first selection input either an input from the switch of the at least one switch assembly resulting from a movement of the substrate in an actuation direction or an input from a switch of the another switch assembly resulting from a movement of a substrate of the another switch assembly in an actuation direction.

9. The handheld electronic device of claim 6 wherein the input apparatus further comprises another pair of switch assemblies disposed at opposite sides of the display, the at least one switch assembly being disposed adjacent a side of the display that extends between said opposite sides, and wherein the operations further comprise:

moving the visual focus in accordance with the first input by moving the visual focus on the display in the first direction;

detecting as a second navigational input an input from a capacitive sensing system of either of the another pair of switch assemblies resulting from a sliding movement by a user in a second direction along a series of contacts on a substrate of either of the another pair of switch assemblies; and

moving the visual focus on the display in the second direction.

10. The handheld electronic device of claim 6 wherein the series of contacts comprises a first set of contacts and a second set of contacts, the contacts of the first set and the second set alternating with one another, and wherein the operations further comprise:

initiating a deep sleep routine; and

detecting as the first navigational input an input from the capacitive sensing system resulting from a detection of a sliding movement by a user in the first direction along the first set of contacts.