Cellular telephone

• US 7,245,286 B2
• Filed: 04/15/2003
• Issued: 07/17/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Lenovo Innovations Ltd Hong Kong (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Nagata, Hideaki
• Primary Examiner(s): Hjerpe; Richard
• Assistant Examiner(s): DINH, DUC Q
• Application Number:
  US10/413,408
• Publication Number:
  US 20030236109A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,554 Days
• Field of Search: 345156-169, 715/700, 715784-787, 715/830
• US Class Current: 345/156
• 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 3/038 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 3/0485 Scrolling or panning

Abstract

A cellular telephone with a pointing device that facilitates operations for line scrolling and page scrolling, in which the moving speed of a pointer can be controlled with respect to each on-screen display. The pointing device includes a pointer-operating button having a range of sliding movement. The pointer-operating button can be pressed down and slide within the sliding movement range by single finger operation, and is located in the center of the sliding movement range when not being operated. The pointer-operating button returns to the center position when released in sliding operation, and returns to its former condition when released from the pressed state in pressing operation. Besides, the sliding movement range defines a pointer movement frame. A switch to line scrolling mode or page scrolling mode is made by bringing a pointer into contact with the top edge or the bottom edge of the pointer movement frame. The moving speed of the pointer can be controlled with respect to each on-screen display.

Claims

1. A cellular telephone comprising:

a pointing device which includes a pointer-operating button having a range of sliding movement in a prescribed plane; and

a display;

wherein

the pointer-operating button can be pressed down and slides within the range of sliding movement by single finger operation;

sliding and/or pressing the pointer-operating button controls operation of a pointer on the display; and

the telephone switches between a first scrolling mode and a second scrolling mode based on the location of the pointer on the display.

2. A cellular telephone according to claim 1, wherein

the pointer-operating button is located in the center of the range of sliding movement when not being operated.

3. A cellular telephone according to claim 2, wherein

the first scrolling mode is a line scrolling mode and the second scrolling mode is a page scrolling mode;

and

the pointer-operating button returns to the center position when released in sliding operation, and returns to a non-pressed stated when released from the pressed state in pressing operation.

10. The cellular telephone claimed in claim 1, provided with a calculating means for calculating the destination of the pointer corresponding to the angle of movement of the pointer-operating button in 360 degrees and the slant distance from the center of the range of sliding movement to the current location of the pointer-operating button.

11. The cellular telephone claimed in claim 2, provided with a calculating means for calculating the destination of the pointer corresponding to the angle of movement of the pointer-operating button in 360 degrees and the slant distance from the center of the range of sliding movement to the current location of the pointer-operating button.

12. The cellular telephone claimed in claim 3, provided with a calculating means for calculating the destination of the pointer corresponding to the angle of movement of the pointer-operating button in 360 degrees and the slant distance from the center of the range of sliding movement to the current location of the pointer-operating button.

4. A cellular telephone with a pointing device which includes a pointer-operating button having a range of sliding movement in a prescribed plane, wherein:

the pointer-operating button can be pressed down and slide within the range of sliding movement by single finger operation;

the pointing function of the pointing device is accomplished by sliding and/ or pressing the pointer-operating button;

the range of sliding movement defines a pointer movement frame; and

a switch to line scrolling mode or page scrolling mode is made by bringing a pointer into contact with the top edge or the bottom edge of the pointer movement frame.

13. The cellular telephone claimed in claim 4, provided with a calculating means for calculating the destination of the pointer corresponding to the angle of movement of the pointer-operating button in 360 degrees and the slant distance from the center of the range of sliding movement to the current location of the pointer-operating button.

19. The cellular telephone claimed in claim 4, wherein the pointer converts into a line scrolling pointer or a page scrolling pointer according to the modes.

5. A cellular telephone with a pointing device which includes a pointer-operating button having a range of sliding movement in a prescribed plane, wherein:

the pointer-operating button can be pressed down and slide within the range of sliding movement by single finger operation;

the pointing function of the pointing device is accomplished by sliding and/or pressing the pointer-operating button;

the pointer-operating button is located in the center of the range of sliding movement when not being operated;

the range of sliding movement defines a pointer movement frame;

a switch to line scrolling mode or page scrolling mode is made by bringing a pointer into contact with the top edge or the bottom edge of the pointer movement frame; and

the pointer converts into a line scrolling pointer or a page scrolling pointer according to the modes.

14. The cellular telephone claimed in claim 5, provided with a calculating means for calculating the destination of the pointer corresponding to the angle of movement of the pointer-operating button in 360 degrees and the slant distance from the center of the range of sliding movement to the current location of the pointer-operating button.

6. A cellular telephone with a pointing device which includes a pointer-operating button having a range of sliding movement in a prescribed plane, wherein:

the pointer-operating button can be pressed down and slide within the range of sliding movement by single finger operation;

the pointing function of the pointing device is accomplished by sliding and/ or pressing the pointer-operating button;

the pointer-operating button is located in the center of the range of sliding movement when not being operated;

the pointer-operating button returns to the center position when released in sliding operation, and returns to a non-pressed stated when released from the pressed state in pressing operation;

the range of sliding movement defines a pointer movement frame;

a switch to line scrolling mode or page scrolling mode is made by bringing a pointer into contact with the top edge or the bottom edge of the pointer movement frame; and

the pointer converts into a line scrolling pointer or a page scrolling pointer according to the modes.

15. The cellular telephone claimed in claim 6, provided with a calculating means for calculating the destination of the pointer corresponding to the angle of movement of the pointer-operating button in 360 degrees and the slant distance from the center of the range of sliding movement to the current location of the pointer-operating button.

7. A cellular telephone with a pointing device which includes a pointer-operating button having a range of sliding movement in a prescribed plane, wherein:

the pointer-operating button can be pressed down and slide within the range of sliding movement by single finger operation;

the pointing function of the pointing device is accomplished by sliding and/ or pressing the pointer-operating button;

the range of sliding movement defines a pointer movement frame;

a switch to line scrolling mode or page scrolling mode is made by bringing a pointer into contact with the top edge or the bottom edge of the pointer movement frame;

the pointer converts into a line scrolling pointer or a page scrolling pointer according to the modes; and

the moving speed of the pointer can be controlled with respect to each on-screen display.

16. The cellular telephone claimed in claim 7, provided with a calculating means for calculating the destination of the pointer corresponding to the angle of movement of the pointer-operating button in 360 degrees and the slant distance from the center of the range of sliding movement to the current location of the pointer-operating button.

8. A cellular telephone with a pointing device which includes a pointer-operating button having a range of sliding movement in a prescribed plane, wherein:

the pointer-operating button can be pressed down and slide within the range of sliding movement by single finger operation;

the pointing function of the pointing device is accomplished by sliding and/ or pressing the pointer-operating button;

the pointer-operating button is located in the center of the range of sliding movement when not being operated;

the range of sliding movement defines a pointer movement frame;

a switch to line scrolling mode or page scrolling mode is made by bringing a pointer into contact with the top edge or the bottom edge of the pointer movement frame;

the pointer converts into a line scrolling pointer or a page scrolling pointer according to the modes; and

the moving speed of the pointer can be controlled with respect to each on-screen display.

17. The cellular telephone claimed in claim 8, provided with a calculating means for calculating the destination of the pointer corresponding to the angle of movement of the pointer-operating button in 360 degrees and the slant distance from the center of the range of sliding movement to the current location of the pointer-operating button.

9. A cellular telephone with a pointing device which includes a pointer-operating button having a range of sliding movement in a prescribed plane, wherein:

the pointer-operating button can be pressed down and slide within the range of sliding movement by single finger operation;

the pointing function of the pointing device is accomplished by sliding and/ or pressing the pointer-operating button;

the pointer-operating button is located in the center of the range of sliding movement when not being operated;

the pointer-operating button returns to the center position when released in sliding operation, and returns to a non-pressed stated when released from the pressed state in pressing operation;

the range of sliding movement defines a pointer movement frame;

a switch to line scrolling mode or page scrolling mode is made by bringing a pointer into contact with the top edge or the bottom edge of the pointer movement frame;

the pointer converts into a line scrolling pointer or a page scrolling pointer according to the modes; and

the moving speed of the pointer can be controlled with respect to each on-screen display.

18. The cellular telephone claimed in claim 9, provided with a calculating means for calculating the destination of the pointer corresponding to the angle of movement of the pointer-operating button in 360 degrees and the slant distance from the center of the range of sliding movement to the current location of the pointer-operating button.

20. A cellular telephone comprising:

a pointer button that slides and can be depressed;

a display on which a pointer is displayed;

wherein the pointer button controls movement of the pointer on the display; and

wherein the cellular telephone switches between a first scrolling mode and a second scrolling mode on the basis of the movement of the pointer.

21. The cellular telephone of claim 20, wherein the pointer moves within a pointer movement frame and wherein the telephone switches between the first scrolling mode and the second scrolling mode when the pointer is brought into contact with the top edge or the bottom edge of the pointer movement frame.

22. The cellular telephone of claim 20, wherein the range over which the button can slide corresponds to a range of motion of the pointer on the display.

23. The cellular telephone of claim 20, wherein the first scrolling mode is a line scrolling mode and the second scrolling mode is a page scrolling mode.

24. The cellular telephone of claim 23, wherein line scrolling is performed in the line scrolling mode and page scrolling is performed in the page scrolling mode;

and

wherein depressing the button while in the line scrolling mode causes line scrolling and depressing the button while in the page scrolling mode causes page scrolling.