Portable device having rotatable input buttons and method of operating the same

• US 8,042,058 B2
• Filed: 11/27/2006
• Issued: 10/18/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Lee, Eun-jung, Kim, Min-chul, Seo, Young-wan
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, MY CHAU T
• Application Number:
  US11/604,306
• Publication Number:
  US 20070146352A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,786 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/157, 345/160, 345/168, 345/169, 455/556.1, 455/556.2, 715/700, 715/764, 715/771
• US Class Current: 715/771
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04892 Arrangements for controlling cursor position based on codes indicative of cursor displacements from one discrete location to another, e.g. using cursor control keys associated to different directions or using the tab key arrangements for controlling cursor position based on coordinate signals G06F3/038
• 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 1/72469 for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons

Abstract

A portable device having rotatable input buttons and a method of operating the portable device are provided. The portable device includes a button rotation detecting unit, a User Interface (UI) generating unit and a mode setting unit. The button rotation detecting unit detects the rotation of the input buttons. The UI generating unit generates desired objects. The mode setting unit changes a current mode of the portable device to a mode of operating on the objects corresponding to the positions of the rotated input buttons when the rotation of the input buttons is detected.

Claims

1. A portable device having rotatable input buttons, comprising:

an input button set which rotates in a desired direction respective to a casing of the portable device and has a number of input buttons;

a display panel which displays objects corresponding to positions of rotated input buttons when rotation of the input buttons is detected; and

a control unit which operates on an object corresponding to a position of a selected input button when the desired input button is selected.

2. The portable device of claim 1, further comprising:

a button rotation detecting unit which detects rotation of the input buttons;

a User Interface (UI) generating unit which generates desired objects; and

a mode setting unit which changes a current mode of the portable device to a mode of operating on the objects corresponding to positions of the rotated input buttons when the rotation of the input buttons is detected.

3. The portable device of claim 1, wherein the objects are images, and an image of an object corresponding to a position of a selected input button is zoomed in and out in response to the selection of the input button.

4. The portable device of claim 1, further comprising:

a position checking unit which checks the positions of the input buttons changed in response to the rotation of a user when the rotation of the input buttons is detected; and

a display unit which displays the generated objects and an object operated on.

5. The portable device of claim 1, further comprising:

a button rotation detecting unit which detects rotation positions of the input buttons;

a determination unit which determines whether positions of the input buttons, changed in response to rotation of the input buttons, are a first position or a second position; and

a mode setting unit which changes a current mode of the portable device to a mode of selecting a desired object and setting the changed mode if the positions of the input button are the first position, and which changes a current mode of the portable device to a mode of performing movement between 3 dimensional menu layers and setting the changed mode if the positions of the input buttons are at the second position.

6. The portable device of claim 5, further comprising:

a position checking unit which checks the positions of the input buttons, changed according to the rotation when rotation of the input buttons is detected; and

a display which displays generated objects and the 3-dimensional menu layers.

7. The portable device of claim 1, wherein:

a display panel which displays 3-dimensional menu layers and the objects when the input buttons are rotated; and

wherein the control unit which controls movement between the 3-dimensional menu layers when a desired input button is selected.

8. A method of manipulating a portable device having rotatable input buttons, the method comprising:

detecting rotation of input buttons respective to a casing of the portable device;

changing a current mode of the portable device to an input mode and setting the changed mode when the rotation of the input button is detected;

displaying desired objects to correspond to positions of the input buttons when the current mode is changed to the input mode; and

operating on an object corresponding to a position of a selected input button when the desired input button is selected.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein an image of an object corresponding to the position of the selected input button is zoomed in and out in response to the selection of the input button when the displayed objects are images.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising:

determining positions of the input buttons, changed in response to the rotation of the input buttons when the rotation of the input button is detected;

wherein the changing a current mode of the portable device to an input mode and setting the changed mode if, as a result of the determination, the positions of the input button are determined to be a second position.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising displaying 3-dimensional menu layers when the current mode is changed to the input mode;

and

selecting one from among the displayed 3-dimensional menu layers when a desired input button is selected.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

changing a current mode of the portable device to a basic mode and setting the changed mode if, as a result of the determination, locations of the input buttons are determined to be a first position; and

selecting and operating objects from the 3-dimensional menu layers using the input buttons when the current mode is changed to the basic mode.