Touch-sensitive panel with selector

• US 6,243,080 B1
• Filed: 07/14/1998
• Issued: 06/05/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/14/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Unwired Planet LLC (JP Morgan Chase & Co)
• Original Assignee: Ericsson, Inc. (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Inventors: Molne, Anders L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shalwala, Bipin
• Assistant Examiner(s): LEWIS, DAVID LEE
• Application Number:
  US09/115,361
• Time in Patent Office: 1,057 Days
• Field of Search: 345/169, 345/173, 345/157, 455/566, 455/90, 178/18
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0202 Portable telephone sets, e.g. cordless phones, mobile phones or bar type handsets constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. of speakers or microphones H04M1/03
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/23 Construction or mounting of dials or of equivalent devices; Means for facilitating the use thereof by improving visibility H04M1/22
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041

Abstract

A wireless communications device, such as a cellular telephone, is provided with a touch-sensitive panel that is moveable between a normal position and a select position. The display on the wireless communications device is preferably graphical and includes a cursor; the movement of the cursor is controlled, at least in part, by the user'"'"'s interaction with the touch-sensitive panel. The touch-sensitive panel is movable by rotation or simple vertical displacement between a normal up position and a select or down position. When the user pushes down on the touch-sensitive panel, the touch-sensitive panel is rotated or otherwise displaced into the second position. A detector, such as a reed switch or dome spring switch, senses when the touch-sensitive panel is moved to the select position and, in response, changes from an unselected state to a selected state. This state change is communicated to the main electronics of the wireless communications device to signal that a selection is occurring. When the touch-sensitive panel returns to the first position, the detector returns to the unselected state. Optionally, the touch-sensitive panel rests on a support which provides a bias force to urge the touch-sensitive panel to return to the normal position from the select position. This arrangement allows the user to select, and optionally, “drag-and-drop,” without removing their finger from the touch-sensitive panel, preferably with suitable tactile and audible feedback to the user.

Claims

1. A wireless communication device including a display having a cursor thereon, comprising:

a touch-sensitive panel controlling the cursor and movable between a first position and a second position;

a plurality of distinct detectors associated with said touch-sensitive panel and operable between a selected state and an unselected state;

a plurality of bias elements associated with said plurality of detectors, wherein said bias elements urge said touch-sensitive panel towards said first position when said touch-sensitive panel is in said second position; and

wherein at least one of said plurality of detectors assumes selected state when said touch-sensitive panel is in said second position and assumes said unselected state when said touch sensitive panel is in said first position.

2. The device of claim 1 wherein said touch-sensitive panel is normally disposed in said first position and movable to said second position in response to the user applying a force thereto at or above a pre-determined force level.

3. The device of claim 2 wherein said pre-determined force level is 2 Newton or more.

4. The device of claim 1 wherein said touch-sensitive panel generates control signals in response to the location of a pointing device thereon.

5. The device of claim 4 wherein said pointing device is a finger of the user.

6. The device of claim 1 wherein said first position is vertically higher than said second position.

7. The device of claim 1 further including a hinge connected to said touch-sensitive panel and wherein said touch-sensitive panel rotates about said hinge between said first position and said second position.

8. The device of claim 1 wherein said touch-sensitive panel has sides and further comprising a seal disposed around said sides of said touch-sensitive panel.

9. The device of claim 1 wherein said detectors are spring loaded switches.

10. The device of claim 9 wherein said spring loaded switches are domed switches.

11. The device of claim 1 wherein said display includes said touch-sensitive panel.

12. The device of claim 1 wherein said wireless communications device is a cellular telephone.

13. A wireless communications device including a display having a cursor thereon, comprising:

a) a main casing;

b) a touch-sensitive panel for controlling the cursor and having sides;

said touch-sensitive panel movable between a first position and a second position;

wherein said first position is vertically higher than said second position;

c) a seal disposed between said sides of said touch-sensitive panel and said casing;

d) switch associated with said touch-sensitive panel and operable between a selected state and an unselected state;

e) a bias element associated with said switch wherein said bias element urges said touch-sensitive panel towards said first position when said touch-sensitive panel is in said second position;

f) said touch-sensitive panel having associated therewith a plurality of downwardly extending shafts;

g) a plurality of guides disposed beneath said touch-sensitive panel, said guides limiting sideways movement of said touch-sensitive panel by slidably accepting said shafts; and

h) wherein said switch assumes said selected state when said touch-sensitive panel is in said second position and assumes said unselected state when said touch-sensitive panel is in said first position.

14. The device of claim 13 further including means for providing a user with tactile feedback when the user moves said touch-sensitive panel from said first position to said second position.

15. The device of claim 13 wherein said switch is a domed switch.

16. The device of claim 13 wherein said display includes said touch-sensitive panel.

17. A wireless communications device including a display having a cursor thereon, comprising:

a) a touch-sensitive panel normally disposed in a first position and movable to a second position by the user applying a force thereto;

said touch-sensitive panel generating control signals in response to the location of a pointing device thereon for controlling said cursor;

b) means for movably supporting said touch-sensitive panel and urging said touch-sensitive panel towards said first position; and

c) means for detecting when said touch-sensitive panel is in said second position.