Mobile communication terminal equipment and touch panel switch used therein

• US 6,664,951 B1
• Filed: 07/07/2000
• Issued: 12/16/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Company Limited (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Yamamoto, Yuichi, Yamamoto, Tamotsu, Fujii, Shigeyuki, Tamano, Koji
• Primary Examiner(s): Shankar, Vijay
• Application Number:
  US09/612,353
• Time in Patent Office: 1,257 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/157, 345/158, 345/168, 345/169, 345/173, 345/179, 178/18.01, 178/18.03, 178/18.04, 178/18.05, 178/18.07, 178/18.09, 341/22, 341/23
• 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 1/2747 Scrolling on a display
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72469 for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041

Abstract

Relating to a mobile communication terminal equipment for portable use such as cellular telephone and radiotelephone, it is intended to obtain a constitution capable of selecting a desired item out of plural items promptly, and maintaining an excellent controllability for a long period. A touch panel switch (37) is disposed between a display unit (33) and an operation button block (36) disposed on a same surface of an outer case (31), and by a signal obtained by sliding on the touch panel switch (37) by finger in the horizontal direction to this installation surface, an item in the display unit (33) is selected according to the sliding direction, or a desired item is selected by moving the cursor position, and therefore if there are many items to be selected, a desired item can be selected quickly, and if a slight flaw is formed on the surface of the touch panel switch (37), a favorable controllability is maintained.

Claims

1. A mobile communication unit, comprising:

a) a display unit which displays a plurality of items and which indicates which of said plurality of items are selected;

b) a plurality of keys for entering operation data, which relates to operation of said mobile communication unit, into said mobile communication unit;

c) a transmitter for transmitting and receiving signals in accordance with said operation data and said plurality of items which are selected; and

d) a touch panel which controls changing of indication of said plurality of items on said display unit, in different directions of said displayunit, responsive to sliding along said touch panel in respective directions;

wherein said display unit, said plurality of keys, said transmitter and said touch panel are integrated into a single unit.

2. A mobile communication unit according to claim 1, wherein the touch panel is larger from side to side than from top to bottom.

3. A mobile communication unit according to claim 1, wherein any one of said plurality of items is selected by pressing said touch panel by a specified number of times after said any one of said plurality of items is indicated.

4. A mobile communication unit according to claim 1, wherein any one of said plurality of items is selected by pressing said touch panel continuously after said any one of said plurality of items is indicated.

5. A mobile communication unit according to claim 4, wherein a sound is generated responsive to said touch panel being continuously pressed for a predetermined duration.

6. A mobile communication unit according to claim 1, wherein a switch is situated beneath said touch panel and one of said plurality of items is selected responsive to said switch emitting a signal when said touch panel is depressed causing said switch in turn to be depressed.

7. A mobile communication unit according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of protrusions are formed on a surface of said touch panel.

8. A mobile communication unit according to claim 1, wherein said touch panel is transparent.

9. A mobile communication unit according to claim 8, wherein an EL element is overlapped and disposed beneath said touch panel.

10. A mobile communication unit according to claim 9, wherein said EL element has a light emitting area in a specified shape.

11. A mobile communication unit according to claim 9, wherein partial reflectance occurs above said EL element.

12. A touch panel for use in a mobile unit, said mobile unit including:

a display unit which displays a plurality of items and which indicates which of said plurality of items are selected;

a plurality of keys for entering operation data, which relates to operation of said mobile communication unit, into said mobile communication unit;

a transmitter for transmitting and receiving signals in accordance with said operation data and said plurality items which are selected; and

said touch panel, wherein said touch panel controls changing of indication of said plurality of items on said display unit, in different directions of said display unit, responsive to sliding along said touch panel in respective directions, said touch panel comprising;

a flexible upper insulating base material and a lower insulating based material each formed of conductive film which are held at a spacing so that the conductive film sides face each other, and

a plurality of electrodes provided at four positions mutually orthogonal on the conductive film of the lower insulating based material.

13. A touch panel according to claim 12, wherein the conductive film of said lower insulating based material is shaped in a cross form corresponding to the length of the electrodes.