OPTICALLY BASED INPUT MECHANISM FOR A HANDHELD ELECTRONIC COMMUNICATION DEVICE

• US 20090195499A1
• Filed: 02/05/2008
• Published: 08/06/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Griffin, Jason T.
• Granted Patent: US 8,294,670 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/157
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0236 using selection techniques to select from displayed items
• 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

Handheld electronic communication device is presented and includes a body with a display screen and an optically based user input device. The optically based user input device is a light-transmissive tubular member. The light-transmissive tubular member has an exposed surface and an image sensor. The handheld electronic communication device further includes a microprocessor which is connected between the image sensor and the display screen. The microprocessor is capable of executing a microprocessor-run program, which receives input data representative of cursor guidance instructions from the image sensor and processes the data for output on the display screen.

Claims

1. A handheld electronic communication device, comprising:

a body having a display screen and an optically based user input device;

said optically based user input device comprising a light-transmissive tubular member having an exposed upper surface and an image sensor in optical communication with at least a portion of the tubular member for sensing display screen cursor guidance instructions at the tubular member;

a microprocessor communicatively connected between the image sensor and the display screen; and

a microprocessor-run software program programmed to receive input data representative of cursor guidance instructions sensed by the image sensor at the tubular member and to process said input data and output corresponding cursor control data to the display screen.

2. The handheld electronic communication device as recited in claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the tubular member is located within the device body.

3. The handheld electronic communication device as recited in claim 1, wherein the exposed upper surface of the tubular member is either arc-shaped or flat-shaped in longitudinal cross-section.

4. The handheld electronic communication device as recited in claim 1, wherein the tubular member is rotatable about a longitudinal axis of said tubular member.

5. The handheld electronic communication device as recited in claim 4, wherein the tubular member is rotatably mounted to the body of the device so that peripheral segments of the tubular member rotate into and out of the body of the device.

6. The handheld electronic communication device as recited in claim 1, wherein the tubular member is mounted upon a depressible suspension.

7. The handheld electronic communication device as recited in claim 6, further comprising a switch arrangement in operative communication with the depressible suspension and configured to be actuated upon depression of the tubular member.

8. The handheld electronic communication device as recited in claim 1, wherein the image sensor is located within an interior space of the tubular member.

9. The handheld electronic communication device as recited in claim 1, wherein the image sensor senses rotation of the tubular member.

10. The handheld electronic communication device as recited in claim 1, wherein the image sensor senses contact upon the exposed upper surface of the tubular member.

11. The handheld electronic communication device as recited in claim 1, wherein the optically based user input device is located on a front face of the body of the device.

12. The handheld electronic communication device as recited in claim 11, wherein the optically based user input device is located below the display screen on said front face of the body of the device.

13. The handheld electronic communication device as recited in claim 11, wherein the optically based user input device is located to the right of the display screen on said front face of the body of the device.

14. The handheld electronic communication device as recited in claim 1, wherein the body of the device has a right side wall and the optically based user input device is located on said right side wall of the device.

15. A handheld electronic communication device, comprising:

a body having a display screen and an optically based user input device;

said optically based user input device comprising a light-transmissive disc-shaped member having at least a partially exposed upper surface and an image sensor in optical communication with at least a portion of the disc-shaped member;

a microprocessor communicatively connected between the image sensor and the display screen; and

a microprocessor-run software program programmed to receive input data representative of cursor guidance instructions sensed by the image sensor at the disc-shaped member and to process said input data and output corresponding cursor control data to the display screen.

16. The handheld electronic communication device as recited in claim 15, wherein at least a portion of the optically based user input device is located within the device body.

17. The handheld electronic communication device as recited in claim 15, wherein the disc-shaped member is rotatable about a center axis.

18. The handheld electronic communication device as recited in claim 15, wherein the disc-shaped member is mounted upon a switch arrangement.

19. The handheld electronic communication device as recited in claim 15, further comprising a switch arrangement configured to be actuated upon depression of the disc-shaped member.

20. The handheld electronic communication device as recited in claim 19, wherein the switch arrangement is configured to output data representative of directional cursor navigation commands including at least one of an up command, down command, left command, and right command and based upon sensed depression of a portion of the disc-shaped member along a periphery of the disc.

21. The handheld electronic communication device as recited in claim 15, wherein said image sensor is located beneath the light-transmissive disc-shaped member within the body of the device.

22. The handheld electronic communication device as recited in claim 15, wherein said optically based user input device is located on a front face of the body of the device.

23. The handheld electronic communication device as recited in claim 22, wherein said optically based user input device is located below the display screen on said front face of the body of the device.

24. The handheld electronic communication device as recited in claim 22, wherein the optically based user input device is located to the right of the display screen on said front face of the body of the device.

25. The handheld electronic communication device as recited in claim 15, wherein the body of the device has a right side wall and said optically based user input device is located on said right side wall of the device.