Method and apparatus for controlling a mobile device by using a pivoting input switch

• US 7,120,473 B1
• Filed: 10/14/2001
• Issued: 10/10/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Palm, Inc. (TCL Technology Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Hawkins, Jeffrey Charles, Haitani, Robert Yuj
• Primary Examiner(s): Harold, Jefferey F.
• Application Number:
  US09/977,869
• Time in Patent Office: 1,822 Days
• Field of Search: 455/566, 455/569.1, 455/575.1, 455/575.2, 455/575.3, 455/575.4, 455/575.6, 455/575.8, 455/575.9, 455/90.2, 455/90.3, 455/128, 455/556.2
• US Class Current: 455/575.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0214 Foldable telephones, i.e. with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position combined with translation movement H04M1/0235
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/233 including a pointing device, e.g. roller key, track ball, rocker switch or joystick constructional details of pointing devices per se G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2747 Scrolling on a display
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27475 using interactive graphical means or pictorial representations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72433 for voice messaging, e.g. dictaphones for answering incoming calls H04M1/64
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72466 with selection means, e.g. keys, having functions defined by the mode or the status of the device
• 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 2250/60 logging of communication history, e.g. outgoing or incoming calls, missed calls, messages or URLs logging of telephone numbers H04M1/56, H04M1/57

Abstract

A mobile device that performs at least one mobile computing application and at least one phone application. This mobile device includes a user-controllable pivoting input switch. This switch has a number of operational modes. Several of these operational modes direct the operation of the mobile computing application. In additional, several operational modes direct the operation of the phone application.

Claims

1. A mobile device comprising:

at least one mobile computing application;

at least one phone application; and

a user-controllable pivoting input switch having multiple operational modes, wherein one operational mode comprises pivoting of the input switch in a first direction about an axis from a starting point to a first input-generating position, the input switch automatically returning to the starting point upon release after pivoting, at least one of the multiple operational modes directs the operation of the mobile computing application, and at least one of the multiple operational modes directs the operation of the phone application.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein another operational mode comprises pivoting of the switch in a second direction about the axis from the starting point to a second input-generating position, the switch returns to the starting point upon release of the pivoting.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the second direction is opposite to the first direction.

4. The device of claim 1, wherein another operational mode comprises depressing of the switch in towards the axis.

5. The device of claim 1, wherein another operational mode comprises depressing of the switch in towards the axis and holding the depressing state for a duration of time.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the operational mode comprising the depressing of the switch in towards the axis and holding the depressing state for a duration of time directs the phone application to perform a redial operation.

7. The device of claim 5, wherein the operational mode comprising the depressing of the switch in towards the axis and holding the depressing state for a duration of time directs the phone application to terminate an active call session.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the pivoting of the switch directs the phone application to adjust the volume of a phone conversation.

9. The device of claim 8, wherein the pivoting of the switch directs the phone application to adjust the volume of a phone conversation during an active call session.

10. A mobile device comprising:

a computing application;

a phone application; and

a user-controllable pivoting input switch that can be operated in at least first and second operational modes, wherein each operational mode directs the operation of the computing and phone applications, wherein the first operational mode comprises pivoting of the switch in a first direction about an axis from a starting point to a first input-generating position, the switch automatically returning to the starting point upon release after pivoting, and the second operational mode comprises pivoting of the switch in a second direction about the axis from the starting point to a second input-generating position, the switch automatically returning to the starting point upon release after the pivoting;

wherein while the phone application is active, the first and second operational modes direct the phone application to adjust the volume of a phone conversation during an active call session.

11. A method of operating a mobile device that has a pivoting input switch, a computing application, and a phone application, the method comprising:

pivoting the switch about an axis from a starting point to an input-generating position to direct the phone application to perform a first operation, the switch automatically returning to the starting point upon release after the pivoting; and

pivoting the switch about the axis from the starting point to the input-generating position to direct the computing application to perform a second operation, the switch automatically returning to the starting point upon release after the pivoting.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

depressing in the switch in towards the axis to direct an operation of at least one of the applications.

13. The method of claim 11 further comprising:

depressing the switch in towards the axis and holding the depressing state for a duration of time to direct an operation of at least one of the applications.

14. A mobile device comprising:

a) a display screen,

b) a lid removably covering the display screen, said lid having a transparent element that allows at least a portion of the display screen to be visible while the lid covers the display screen;

c) a phone application;

d) a headset socket; and

e) a user-controllable pivoting input switch that directs the operation of the application while the lid covers the display screen,

wherein the pivoting input switch allows a user to interact with the phone application while the lid covers the display screen only when an earpiece or headset is plugged into the headset socket.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the lid pivotally couples to the device, wherein the lid can be in at least a retracted state and an extended state, wherein in the retracted state the lid covers the display screen, and in the extended state the lid does not cover the display screen, wherein the lid rotates about a pivotal connection to the device to go from one state to another.

16. The device of claim 14, wherein the pivoting input switch allows the user to initiate a telephone call while the lid covers the display screen.

17. The device of claim 14, wherein the application displays a graphical user interface (“

GUI”

) to the user, and the pivoting input switch allows the user to interact with the GUI while the lid covers the display screen.