Inputting apparatus for mobile phone with a dial wheel

• US 7,392,070 B2
• Filed: 01/03/2005
• Issued: 06/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: RRT Technology Limited
• Original Assignee: Lite-On Technology Corporation
• Inventors: Yang, Sheng-Hung
• Primary Examiner(s): Jackson, Blane J
• Application Number:
  US11/025,904
• Publication Number:
  US 20050261029A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,268 Days
• Field of Search: 455/412.1, 455/569.1, 455/550.1, 455/557, 455/90.2, 455/566, 455/575.1, 379/433.06, 379/433.13
• US Class Current: 455/575.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0236 using selection techniques to select from displayed items
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/724 User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/70 methods for entering alphabetical characters, e.g. multi-tap or dictionary disambiguation methods for entering alphabetical characters per se G06F3/0237

Abstract

An input apparatus uses a wheel for input operations of a mobile phone. The input apparatus employs a wheel and two function keys for facilitating the input operations, such as number dialing, short-message editing and menu selecting, for user. The input apparatus according to the present invention is advantageously used for compact mobile phone.

Claims

1. An input apparatus for a mobile phone with a dial wheel, comprising:

a wheel;

a displacement detector electrically connected to the wheel;

a first function key

a second function key;

a display;

a loudspeaker;

a wheel pressing detector; and

a wheel controller including;

(a) a counter electrically connected to the wheel pressing detector;

(b) a memory electrically connected to the counter;

(c) a display processor electrically connected to the display;

(d) an audio processor electrically connected to the loudspeaker;

(e) a controller unit electrically coupled to each of the first function key, the second function key, the memory, the display processor, the audio processor, and the displacement detector; and

,

(f) an operation processor electrically coupled to the counter and the controller unit, whereby the operation processor calculates a difference value between a first predetermined time and a second predetermined time counted by the counter, and then sends the difference value to the controller unit,

wherein the wheel is used with the first function key and the second function key for executing input function of the mobile phone.

2. The input apparatus for a mobile phone as in claim 1, wherein the display is a screen of the mobile phone.

3. The input apparatus for a mobile phone as in claim 2, wherein the display is used for displaying numbers, letters or other auxiliary symbols.

4. The input apparatus for a mobile phone as in claim 3, wherein the numbers include 6, 7, 8, 9, 0, and # along a clockwise direction;

and 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and * along a counterclockwise direction.

5. The input apparatus for a mobile phone as in claim 3, wherein the numbers include 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 and * along a clockwise direction;

and 6, 7, 8, 9, 0, and # along a counterclockwise direction.

6. The input apparatus for a mobile phone as in claim 1, wherein the counter counts a first predetermined time and a second predetermined time for the wheel pressing detector.

7. The input apparatus for a mobile phone as in claim 1, wherein the memory is used to store a first predetermined time and a second predetermined time counted by the counter.

8. The input apparatus for a mobile phone as in claim 1, wherein the first function key is used for dialing out, selecting a main menu and selecting a menu item.

9. The input apparatus for a mobile phone as in claim 1, wherein the second function key is used for hanging up phone call and canceling selection.