Analog controls housed with electronic displays for personal digital assistants

• US 6,559,831 B1
• Filed: 10/30/2000
• Issued: 05/06/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Anascape, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Brad A. Armstrong
• Inventors: Armstrong, Brad A.
• Primary Examiner(s): PARADISO, JOHN ROGER
• Application Number:
  US09/699,853
• Time in Patent Office: 918 Days
• Field of Search: 465/36, 465/37, 273/143.B, 345/156, 345/159, 200/513
• US Class Current: 345/159
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/00 Video games, i.e. games using an electronically generated display having two or more dimensions gaming systems which provide a financial reward G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/20 Input arrangements for video game devices
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/218 using pressure sensors, e.g. generating a signal proportional to the pressure applied by the player
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/285 Generating tactile feedback signals via the game input device, e.g. force feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/10 characterized by input arrangements for converting player-generated signals into game device control signals
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1037 being specially adapted for converting control signals received from the game device into a haptic signal, e.g. using force feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/1056 involving pressure sensitive buttons
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 2300/204 the platform being a handheld device
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/24 Electric games; Games using electronic circuits not otherwise provided for video games A63F13/00; computerized gaming systems G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 21/00 Input or output devices integrated in time-pieces
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 21/08 Touch switches specially adapted for time-pieces
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23033 Variable pressure on key gives input value
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1601 Constructional details related to the housing of computer displays, e.g. of CRT monitors, of flat displays constructional details related to flat displays integrated in a portable computer, e.g. laptop, handheld computer G06F1/1637; constructional details related to television receivers H04N5/64
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1662 Details related to the integrated keyboard
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1612 Flat panel monitor
• 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 3/03548 Sliders, in which the moving part moves in a plane
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03549 Trackballs G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 : Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 : Scrolling or panning
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0489 : using dedicated keyboard keys or combinations thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/70 : having a plurality of operating members associated with different sets of contacts, e.g. keyboard mounting together a plurality of independent switches H02B
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/702 : with contacts carried by or formed from layers in a multilayer structure, e.g. membrane switches
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/785 : characterised by the material of the contacts, e.g. conductive polymers
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2201/036 : Variable resistance
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2215/004 : Collapsible dome or bubble
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2215/006 : Only mechanical function
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/012 : Joy stick type
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/018 : Tumbler
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2229/046 : Multi-colour or double shot injection moulding
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2229/047 : Preformed layer in mould
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2231/008 : Video game
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2237/002 : Bell crank

Abstract

A portable personal computer including a housing sized to be held in a single hand during use of the computer, allowing the free hand to input data. The housing at least in part supports a general image display, and a proportional sensor for creating a varying value according to varying depression applied by a finger of a human user to a depressible surface of the sensor. Multiple proportional sensors are sometimes utilized. In one preferred embodiment the proportional sensor(s) include resilient dome cap(s) for providing tactile feedback to the finger depressing the depressible surface. Circuitry within the housing is connected to the sensor for reading the varying value from the sensor and causing representative varying of the imagery shown by the display.

Claims

1. A hand-held personal computer, comprising:

a housing sized to be held in a single hand;

electronic circuitry located in said housing;

a general image display located in said housing, said general image display operatively connected to said circuitry;

a first finger depressible surface in part exposed on said housing, said first finger depressible surface operatively connected to

a pressure-sensitive first analog sensor, said first analog sensor for inputting a first signal to said circuitry;

a second depressible surface in part exposed on said housing, said second depressible surface operatively connected to

a pressure-sensitive second analog sensor, said second analog sensor for inputting a second signal to said circuitry;

said circuitry structured to receive the signals and to cause said general image display to scroll information at a variable rate according to variable pressure applied to the depressible surfaces.

2. A hand-held personal computer according to claim 1 wherein variable depression of a surface of a rocker having at least two depressible surfaces causes the information to zoom at a variable rate on said display.

3. A hand-held personal computer according to claim 1 wherein said first depressible surface and said second depressible surface are thumb depressible single individual buttons.

4. A hand-held personal computer according to claim 3 wherein the pressure-sensitive analog sensors are structured with resilient dome caps, said dome caps structured to provide tactile feedback.

5. A hand-held personal computer according to claim 3 wherein said first depressible surface and said second depressible surface are surfaces of a rocker.

6. A hand-held personal computer according to claim 5 wherein the pressure-sensitive analog sensors are structured with resilient dome caps, said dome caps structured to provide tactile feedback.

7. An improved hand-held personal computer of the type held in a single hand during use, wherein the improvements comprise:

a housing sized to be held by a single hand; and

electronic circuitry located in said housing;

a general image display at least in part supported within said housing, said general image display operatively connected to said circuitry;

a first finger depressible surface in part exposed on said housing, said first finger depressible surface operatively connected to

a pressure-sensitive first analog sensor, said first analog sensor for inputting a first signal to said circuitry, said first signal having variable value depending on variable pressure applied to said first finger depressible surface;

a second depressible surface in part exposed on said housing, said second depressible surface operatively connected to

a pressure-sensitive second analog sensor, said second analog sensor for inputting a second signal to said circuitry, said second signal having variable value depending on variable pressure applied to said second depressible surface;

said circuitry structured to receive the signals and to cause said general image display to scroll information at a variable rate according to variable pressure applied to the depressible surfaces.

8. An improved hand-held personal computer according to claim 7 wherein variable depression of a first depressible surface of a rocker having at least two depressible areas causes the information to scroll at a variable rate in a first direction on said display, and variable depression of a second depressible surface of said rocker causes the information to scroll at a variable rate in a second direction on said display.

9. An improved hand-held personal computer according to claim 7 wherein said first depressible surface and said second depressible surface are thumb depressible single individual buttons.

10. An improved hand-held personal computer according to claim 9 wherein the pressure-sensitive analog sensors are structured to provide tactile feedback.

11. An improved hand-held personal computer according to claim 7 wherein the pressure-sensitive analog sensors are structured with resilient dome caps, said dome caps structured to provide tactile feedback.

12. A hand-held personal computer, comprising:

means for computing;

said means for computing at least in part within

a housing sized for holding in a single first hand of a human user;

electronic circuitry located in said housing and operatively connected to

a general image display, the general image display at least in part supported by said housing;

at least one finger depressible surface in part exposed on said housing for depression by a digit of a second hand of the human user, said at least one finger depressible surface operatively connected to

at least one depressible proportional sensor, said proportional sensor for inputting a signal to said circuitry, said signal having a varying value representing varying depression of said at least one finger depressible surface;

said circuitry structured to receive said signal and to cause said general image display to change display of information at a rate related to said value.

13. A hand-held personal computer according to claim 12 wherein said at least one finger depressible surface is a first depressible surface, said hand-held personal computer further includes a finger depressible surface which is a second depressible surface in part exposed on said housing, said second depressible surface operatively connected to a second proportional sensor, said second proportional sensor for inputting a second signal to said circuitry, said second signal having a varying value representing varying depression of said second depressible surface.

14. A hand-held personal computer according to claim 13 wherein the proportional sensors are pressure-sensitive and are structured with resilient dome caps, said dome caps structured to provide a break-over tactile feedback.

15. A hand-held personal computer according to claim 14 wherein said first depressible surface and said second depressible surface are surfaces of at least a two-way rocker.

16. A hand-held personal computer according to claim 15 wherein depression of said first depressible surface causes the information to scroll in a first direction on said display, and depression of said second depressible surface causes the information to scroll in a second direction on said display.

17. A hand-held personal computer according to claim 14 wherein said first depressible surface and said second depressible surface are surfaces of a 4-way rocker.

18. A hand-held personal computer according to claim 13 wherein depression of said first depressible surface causes the information to zoom in a first direction on said display, and depression of said second depressible surface causes the information to zoom in a second direction on said display.