Retractable string interface for stationary and portable devices

• US 7,499,002 B2
• Filed: 02/08/2005
• Issued: 03/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Naravanaswami, Chandrasekhar, Blasko, Gabor
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Kevin M
• Application Number:
  US11/053,451
• Publication Number:
  US 20060177227A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,484 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/1.1, 345/3.1
• US Class Current: 345/3.1
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 1/00 Measuring angles

Abstract

An interface for a small form factor electronic device by enabling explicit measurement of extension or retraction of a retractable cord by monitoring the amount of string that passes by sensors, as the string exits the enclosure of the device. Input to such small form factor devices may be provided by sensors that measure the length of a string or wire that has been pulled out of an enclosure, in addition to an angle or direction (e.g., in 1-, 2- or 3-dimensions) at which the string was pulled out. Additionally, the rate of acceleration for the pulling and retracting motion may also be used as additional forms of input. In a further embodiment, a string interface is provided for a small form factor device that communicates information in the form of a pixel display provided integral with the string in response to string manipulation.

Claims

1. A method of displaying information from an electronic device comprising the steps of:

providing a spool device having a retractable cord means adapted for manipulation by a user, said cord means including a plurality of individual light emitting structures arranged in a linear dimension to provide a pixel display output on said retractable cord means;

providing a plurality of sensor devices provided at an aperture in said electronic device through which said retractable cord means is manipulated for extension or retraction, each said plurality of sensor devices adapted for generating input signals corresponding to movement of the cord means relative to said device;

manipulating said retractable cord means for generating signals from said plurality of sensors; and

processing said signals for interacting with an executable application in said device, said interacting comprising one or more of;

controlling navigation of a user interface associated with the executable application via a display means associated with said device;

controlling movement of a cursor generated for display via said display means; and

, performing, Input/Output (I/O) operations for said executable application via said display means associated with the device according to manipulation of said cord means,

said signals processing comprising one or more steps of;

determining a length of said cord means subject to said extension or retraction movement, determining an angular direction of cord means that is manipulated relative to said device, or determining an acceleration or deceleration of the cord means during both said extension and retraction of said cord means; and

,

indicating, via said pixel display output provided on said retractable cord means, electronic device generated information output from an executable application.