Input device for portable handset

• US 7,404,146 B2
• Filed: 05/27/2004
• Issued: 07/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bell Northern Research, LLC (Hilco Inc. (d/b/a Hilco Global))
• Original Assignee: Agere Systems Incorporated (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Inventors: Verney, Richard, Smith, Paul Robert, Rigge, Lawrence Allen, Bennetts, David James
• Primary Examiner(s): Hutton, Doug
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dasgupta, Soumya
• Application Number:
  US10/855,458
• Publication Number:
  US 20050268251A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,517 Days
• Field of Search: 715/786, 715/834, 473/221
• US Class Current: 715/762
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0362 with detection of 1D translations or rotations of an operating part of the device, e.g. scroll wheels, sliders, knobs, rollers or belts
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0489 using dedicated keyboard keys or combinations thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/385 Transceivers carried on the body, e.g. in helmets
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72469 for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons

Abstract

There is disclosed an input device including a display for displaying a plurality of icons, and a selector for selecting a displayed icon. At least a portion of the display is an electronic display. The device is adapted such that the selector moves relative to the display between a plurality of positions. At least one position corresponds to a displayed icon. The device further includes a function selection means. A function associated with an icon corresponding to a current position of the selector is selected when the function selection means is enabled.

Claims

1. An input device including a display for simultaneously displaying a plurality of sets of icons, each set of icons comprising a plurality of icons, a first selector for selecting one of the plurality of sets of icons and thereby activating the selected set for further selection of individual icons within the selected set, and a second selector for selecting one of the icons in the selected set of icons, at least a portion of the display being an electronic display, the device being adapted such that the first or second selector moves between a plurality of positions relative to the display, at least one of the positions corresponding to one of the displayed icons, and the device further including a third selector, wherein, when the third selector is enabled, a function associated with the selected icon is activated.

2. An input device according to claim 1 wherein the displayed icons are displayed on said electronic portion of said display.

3. An input device according to claim 1 wherein the first or second selector that moves between a plurality of positions relative to the display is a rotating bezel adapted to rotate relative to the display.

4. A mobile telephone comprising the input device of claim 3.

5. An input device according to claim 1 wherein the input device further comprises a marker, the marker indicating a current position of the first or second selector that moves between a plurality of positions relative to the display.

6. An input device according to claim 5 wherein the marker is displayed on said display.

7. An input device according to claim 1 wherein the first or second selector that moves between a plurality of positions relative to the display comprises a marker, the said selector selecting the icon, is closest to the marker.

8. An input device according to claim 1, wherein the first or second selector that moves between a plurality of positions relative to the display is fixedly mounted on a housing of the input device.

9. An input device according to claim 1 wherein the display further comprises a permanent display portion and wherein the displayed icons are displayed on the permanent display portion.

10. An input device according to claim 1 wherein said third selector controls said display upon operation of said third selector so as to cause said display to switch between displaying different ones of said sets of icons.

11. A mobile telephone comprising the input device of claim 10.

12. A mobile telephone comprising the input device of claim 1.

13. An input device including a display for simultaneously displaying a plurality of sets of icons, each set of icons comprising a plurality of icons, a first selector for selecting one of the plurality of sets of icons and thereby activating the selected set for further selection of individual icons within the selected set, and a second selector for selecting one of the displayed icons in the selected set of icons, at least a portion of the display being an electronic display, the device being adapted such that the first or second selector moves between a plurality of positions relative to the display, at least one of the positions corresponding to one of the displayed icons, and the device further including a third selector, wherein, when the third selector is enabled, a function associated with the selected icon is activated, wherein the third selector comprises at least one button.

14. An input device including a display for simultaneously displaying a plurality of sets of icons, each set of icons comprising a plurality of icons, a first selector for selecting one of the plurality of sets of icons and thereby activating the selected set for further selection of individual icons within the selected set, and a second selector for selecting one of the displayed icons in the selected set of icons, at least a portion of the display being an electronic display, the device being adapted such that the first or second selector moves between a plurality of positions relative to the display, at least one of the positions corresponding to one of the displayed icons, and the device further including a third selector, wherein, when the third selector is enabled, a function associated with the selected icon is activated, wherein the third selector is connected to a housing of the input device by an electrical wire and wherein the third selector is movable relative to the housing.

15. A mobile telephone comprising the input device of claim 14.

16. An input device including a display for simultaneously displaying a plurality of sets of icons, each set of icons comprising a plurality of icons, a first selector for selecting one of the plurality of sets of icons and thereby activating the selected set for further selection of individual icons within the selected set, and a second selector for selecting one of the displayed icons in the selected set of icons, at least a portion of the display being an electronic display, the device being adapted such that the first or second selector moves between a plurality of positions relative to the display corresponding to the displayed icons, and the device further including a third selector, wherein, when the third selector is enabled, a function associated with the selected icon is activated, wherein the said selector is a sliding bezel adapted to slide along a line.

17. A mobile telephone according to claim 16 wherein said cellular telephone is adapted to be wrist mounted.