Computer system with jog dial function and the user interface scheme thereof

• US 6,483,500 B1
• Filed: 12/14/1998
• Issued: 11/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/13/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. (Samsung Group)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. (Samsung Group)
• Inventors: Lee, Kwang-Sik, Choi, Seung-Beom
• Primary Examiner(s): Mengistu, Amare
• Application Number:
  US09/210,614
• Time in Patent Office: 1,436 Days
• Field of Search: 345/168, 345/335, 345/352, 345/353, 345/184, 345/156, 341/21, 341/22, 701/3, 701/28
• US Class Current: 345/184
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/181 Enclosures for portable computers G06F1/1613
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04802 3D-info-object: information is displayed on the internal or external surface of a three dimensional manipulable object, e.g. on the faces of a cube that can be rotated by the user
• 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 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0486 Drag-and-drop

Abstract

A computer system includes a control panel having a rotary switch and a plurality of push button switches provided in the front bezel of the computer main body. The rotary switch uses a well-known endless loop type rotatable switch, called “jog dial”. The jog dial is used for selecting an application program among a plurality of programs stored in the computer. Also, the button switches are used for performing a specific function relative to the control panel. A microcontroller is provided to produce predefined key scan code data corresponding to each switch signal input from the control panel. The computer system determines whether a key scan code data corresponding to the operation of the control panel is inputted and produces a command for performing a function corresponding to the rotation of the rotary switch or the pressing of the button switches. Provided is a shell program stored in a memory of the system host, for displaying a program selection menu window on the computer monitor when the key scan code data is received by the system host, for executing an application program by the command produced in the computer system. The invention provides an effective user interface since selecting, executing, and ending of a desired application program are possible in a more convenient manner through operation of the control panel. Further, registration of a new program menu item as well as the editing and deleting of the registered program menu are possible through the mouse operation.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

a panel including at least one switch unit, said at least one switch unit outputting at least one switch signal in response to a switching of said at least one switch unit, said at least one switch signal corresponding to a first operation selected from among a plurality of operations;

a processing unit receiving at least one keyboard scan code, said at least one keyboard scan code corresponding to said at least one switch signal;

a video display conveying varying visual information, said visual information corresponding to said plurality of operations, said first operation, and said switching of said at least one switch unit; and

a memory unit being coupled to said processing unit and storing a routine, said routine being selectively activated and inactivated;

when said routine is in an activated state, said processing unit outputting a command signal in response to said at least one keyboard scan code to perform said first operation,

said routine entering an inactivated state without user intervention when said at least one switch unit does not output said at least one switch signal for a present time interval.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said apparatus corresponds to a computer system and said panel is mounted in a front bezel of the computer main body.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, said memory unit further comprising a memory subsystem including a memory controller and at least one memory device, said at least one memory device having a basic input/output system region, an operating system region, a virtual keyboard driver region, a pointing device driver region, and a routine region storing said routine.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said plurality of operations includes a plurality of application programs and a submenu of each of said plurality of application programs.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein said plurality of application programs are registered in program registration sections in a loop type data format within said routine.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

at least one new operation being added to said plurality of operations by a drag-and-drop process when an image corresponding to said new operation is dragged from a first region of said video display and is dropped at a predetermined region of said video display;

said at least one switch unit including a rotary switch, said visual information conveyed by said video display including a visual form corresponding to said rotary switch, the image corresponding to said new operation being an icon displayed at the first region of said video display, the first region of said video display being separately located away from said visual form, the predetermined region of the video display corresponding to said visual form.

7. The apparatus of claim 6, said plurality of operations corresponding to a plurality of application programs, said plurality of application programs being registered in program registration sections in a loop type data format within said routine, said new operation corresponding to a new application program and being registered in the program registration sections in the loop type data format when the image is dropped at the predetermined region of said video display.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, said routine entering the inactivated state when said at least one switch signal corresponds to an instruction for said routine to enter the inactivated state.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, said at least one switch unit including a rotary switch and at least one push button switch.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, said routine entering the activated state when the apparatus is powered on.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, said routine entering the activated state when said at least one switch signal corresponds to an instruction for said routine to enter the activated state.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising:

a keyboard being connected with said processing unit and outputting keyboard data;

a keyboard controller receiving said keyboard data, said keyboard controller transmitting first key scan code data to said processing unit in response to said keyboard data, said first key scan code data corresponding to said keyboard data; and

a microcontroller receiving said at least one switch signal from said at least one switch unit, said microcontroller outputting second key scan code data to said processing unit in response to said at least one switch signal, said second key scan code data corresponding to said at least one keyboard scan code.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said microcontroller identifies said switching of said at least one switch unit.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a keyboard data/clock line being disposed to connect said keyboard controller and said microcontroller to said processing unit, said keyboard controller outputting said first key scan code data on said keyboard data/clock line, said microcontroller outputting said second key scan code data on said keyboard data/clock line, said microcontroller preventing conflicts between said at least one switch unit and said keyboard by outputting said second key scan code data on said keyboard data/clock line when said keyboard controller is not outputting said first key scan code data on said keyboard data/clock line, said keyboard controller being disposed between said keyboard and said processing unit, said microcontroller being disposed between said at least one switch unit and said processing unit.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein said at least one switch unit further comprises a rotary switch and at least one push button switch.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said rotary switch includes at least two signal output terminals, said at least two signal output terminals outputting a plurality of direction signals corresponding to a rotation direction of said rotary switch, said rotation direction being selected from a clockwise direction and a counter-clockwise direction.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said rotary switch incorporates said at least one push button switch in a center of said rotary switch.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said panel further comprises a first push button switch adjacent to said rotary switch for performing a specific function of said processing unit, said first push button switch being among said at least one push button switch.

19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said visual information conveyed by said video display includes a visual form corresponding to said rotary switch.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said visual form is divided into three sections, each one of said three sections being designated by a name of a corresponding operation selected from among said plurality of operations.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, wherein said plurality of operations corresponds to a plurality of application programs registered in said routine.

22. The apparatus of claim 14, said at least one switch unit including a rotary switch and at least one push button switch, the apparatus corresponding to a computer system with said panel being mounted in a front bezel of the computer main body.

23. A method, comprising:

determining when a signal is output from a panel, said panel including a rotary switch and at least one push button switch;

varying visual data displayed at a video display, said varying of said visual data being performed in response to a rotational movement of said rotary switch when said signal corresponds to said rotary switch, said visual data corresponding to a plurality of application programs;

performing a function corresponding to said at least one push button switch when said signal corresponds to said at least one push button switch;

said at least one push button switch being designated for execution of a selected application program, said selected application program being selected from among said plurality of application programs by operation of said rotary switch; and

generating first data in response to said signal, said first data corresponding to at least one scan code of a keyboard, transmitting said first data to a processing unit, said processing unit controlling said varying of said visual data.

24. The method of claim 23, further comprising adding at least one new application program to said plurality of application programs by dragging an image corresponding to said at least one new application program from a first region of said video display and then dropping the image at a predetermined region of said video display, said first region being separately located from said predetermined region.

25. A method, comprising:

selecting an application program from among a first application program and a second application program, said selecting being executed by operating at least a first one switch selected from among a rotary switch and a plurality of push button switches connected to a computer system;

determining when a signal is output from a panel of said computer system, said panel including said rotary switch and said push button switches, said signal being generated in response to said selecting, said signal corresponding to at least one keyboard scan code;

varying visual data of a menu displayed at said video display in response to a rotational movement of said rotary switch when said signal corresponds to said rotary switch, said varying of said visual data being executed to facilitate a selecting of a command from among a plurality of commands for executing said selected application program, said visual data of said menu including said plurality of commands; and

performing a selected command corresponding to a selected one of said push button switches when said signal corresponds to said selected one push button switch, said selected one push button switch being designated for execution of said selected command, said panel being mounted on a front bezel of a main body of said computer system.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising:

activating a routine stored in a memory, said routine being in an activated state in response to said activating;

said varying, performing, and selecting of said application program being executed only when said routine is in the activated state; and

inactivating said routine when said selecting of said application program is not executed during a preset time interval.

27. The method of claim 26, further comprising:

operating at least a second one switch selected from among said rotary switch and said push button switches, said second one switch corresponding to an instruction to inactivate said routine, and inactivating said routine in response to said operating of said second one switch;

said activating of said routine being performed without user intervention when said computer system is powered on;

operating at least a third one switch selected from among said rotary switch and said push button switches, said third one switch corresponding to an instruction to activate said routine, and activating said routine in response to said operating of said third one switch;

outputting keyboard data from a keyboard to a processing unit, said keyboard and processing unit being connected with said computer system;

transmitting first key scan code data from a keyboard controller to said processing unit, said first key scan code data corresponding to said keyboard data; and

in response to said operating of said first one switch, transmitting second key scan code data from a microcontroller to said processing unit, said second key scan code data corresponding to said at least one keyboard scan code.

28. A method, comprising:

executing a shell program stored in a memory, the shell program being in an activated state in response to said executing of said shell program;

when said shell program is in the activated state, operating a first switch to transmit a first switch signal, said first switch being selected from among a rotary switch and at least one push button switch mounted on a panel of a computer system, said first switch signal corresponding to at least one keyboard scan code;

executing an application program in response to said transmitting of said first switch signal;

selecting a first menu item from among a plurality of displayed menu items of a first menu of said executed application program according to a rotational movement of said rotary switch;

executing said first menu item by pressing said at least one push button switch, wherein said at least one push button switch is designated for execution of said first menu item selected by said rotary switch; and

terminating said shell program without user intervention when said operating of said first switch is not performed during a preset time interval, the shell program being in an inactivated state in response to said terminating of said shell program.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising:

operating a second switch selected from among said rotary switch and said at least one push button switch, said second switch corresponding to an instruction to terminate said shell program; and

terminating said shell program in response to said operating of said second switch.

30. The method of claim 28, said executing of said shell program being performed without user intervention when said computer system is powered on.

31. The method of claim 28, further comprising:

operating a second switch selected from among said rotary switch and said at least one push button switch, said second switch corresponding to an instruction to execute said shell program;

said executing of said shell program being performed in response to said operating of said second switch.

32. The method of claim 28, further comprising:

outputting keyboard data from a keyboard to a processing unit, said keyboard and processing unit being connected with said computer system;

transmitting first key scan code data from a keyboard controller to said processing unit, said first key scan code data corresponding to said keyboard data; and

in response to said operating of said first switch, transmitting second key scan code data from a microcontroller to said processing unit, said second key scan code data corresponding to said at least one keyboard scan code.

33. The method of claim 32, said executing of an application program corresponding to executing a selected application program selected from among a plurality of available application programs, said panel being mounted on a front bezel of a main body of said computer system.

34. The method of claim 33, further comprising:

selecting an image displayed at a first region of a video display connected to said computer system, said image corresponding to a new application program;

dragging the image from the first region; and

dropping the image at a separately located predetermined region of said video display, said dropping of the image adding said new application program to said plurality of available application programs.

35. The method of claim 34, said selected application program being selected from among said plurality of available application programs according to one selected from among a movement of a pointer of an input device at said predetermined region of said video display and a rotational movement of said rotary switch.

36. The method of claim 35, said input device corresponding to a mouse in communication with said computer system.

37. The method of claim 33, said selected application program being selected from among said plurality of available application programs according to a rotational movement of said rotary switch.

38. The method of claim 32, said transmitting of said first key scan code data from said keyboard controller to said processing unit being on a keyboard data/clock line, said transmitting of said second key scan code data from said microcontroller to said processing unit being on said keyboard data/clock line, said microcontroller preventing conflicts between said panel and keyboard by performing said transmitting of said second key scan code data on said keyboard data/clock line only when said first key scan code data is not being transmitted on said keyboard data/clock line.

39. The method of claim 38, wherein said executing of said first menu item corresponds to displaying a first submenu, said rotary switch being utilized to select a second menu item from among a second plurality of displayed menu items of said first submenu.

40. The method of claim 39, said executing of an application program corresponding to executing a selected application program selected from among a plurality of available application programs, said panel being mounted on a front bezel of a main body of said computer system.

41. The method of claim 40, further comprising:

selecting an image displayed at a first region of a video display connected to said computer system, said image corresponding to a new application program;

dragging the image from the first region; and

dropping the image at a separately located predetermined region of said video display, said dropping of the image adding said new application program to said plurality of available application programs.

42. The method of claim 41, said selected application program being selected from among said plurality of available application programs according to a rotational movement of said rotary switch.