Mobile communication device and operating method thereof

• US 8,248,391 B2
• Filed: 05/01/2008
• Issued: 08/21/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Heo, Jeong Yun
• Primary Examiner(s): Shalwala, Bipin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lubit, Ryan A
• Application Number:
  US12/113,818
• Publication Number:
  US 20080273020A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,573 Days
• Field of Search: 345156-184
• US Class Current: 345/184
• 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

Abstract

The present invention relates to a mobile communication device, method and computer program product for controlling a displayed screen using a rotary input device and an operating method thereof. The mobile communication terminal according to an embodiment includes a first input key, a second input key, a third input key, and a controller. The first input key generates a first signal when the first input key is turned. The second input key generates a second signal when the second input key is activated after the first signal is generated. The third input key generates a third signal when the third input key is activated after the first signal is generated. The controller controls a predetermined operation on a displayed screen based on at least one of the first signal, the second signal, and the third signal.

Claims

1. A method of operating a mobile communication terminal having a screen, a first input key, a first proximity sensor key, and a second proximity sensor key, the method comprising:

scrolling a displayed screen at a first speed when the first input key is turned

scrolling the displayed screen at a second speed in a first direction when the first proximity sensor key is activated after the first input key is turned;

scrolling the displayed screen at a third speed in a second direction different from the first direction when the second proximity sensor key is activated after the first input key is turned, the third speed being the same as or different from the second speed;

stopping the scrolling of the displayed screen by gradually decreasing a scrolling speed of the displayed screen instead of instantly stopping the scrolling of the displayed screen when the first or second proximity sensor key is deactivated; and

re-scrolling the displayed screen at the first speed when the first input key is turned again after the first or second proximity sensor key is deactivated,

wherein the first input key is one of a wheel key and a rotary key,

wherein the second and third speeds have respective initial values that are faster than the first speed, and

wherein the second and third speeds are increased from their respective initial values in proportion to a time of activating the respective first or second proximity sensor key.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating a first signal when the first input key is turned;

one of

generating a second signal when the first proximity sensor key is activated after the first signal is generated, and

generating a third signal when the second proximity sensor key is activated after the first signal is generated; and

increasing the second speed in proportion to a duration of the corresponding one of the second signal and the third signal.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

generating a fourth signal when the first input key is pushed.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

moving a pointing cursor on the displayed screen according the first signal; and

selecting an item indicated by the pointing cursor when the fourth signal is generated.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

selecting an item indicated by the pointing cursor when the fourth signal is generated and moving the selected item in a drag and drop manner.

6. A mobile communication terminal, comprising

a first input key configured to generate a first signal when the first input key is turned;

a first proximity sensor configured to generate a second signal when the second input key is activated after the first signal is generated;

a second proximity sensor configured to generate a third signal when the third input key is activated after the first signal is generated; and

a controller configured to scroll a displayed screen at a first speed when the first signal is generated, and to scroll the displayed screen at a second speed when the second signal is generated and a third speed when the third signal is generated, the third speed being the same as or different from the second speed,

wherein the controller is further configured to stop scrolling the displayed screen by gradually decreasing a scrolling speed of the displayed screen instead of instantly stopping the scrolling of the displayed screen when the first or second proximity sensor key is deactivated,

wherein the first input key is one of a wheel key and a rotary key,

wherein the controller is further configured to re-scroll the displayed screen at a first speed when the first input key is turned again after the first or second proximity sensor key is deactivated, and

wherein the second and third speeds have respective initial values that are faster than the first speed and

wherein the second and third speeds are increased from their respective initial values in proportion to a time of activating the respective first or second proximity sensor key.

7. The mobile communication terminal of claim 6, wherein the first input key, the first proximity sensor key, and the second proximity sensor are disposed at a side of a main body.

8. The mobile communication terminal of claim 6, wherein the first proximity sensor is disposed at the top of the first input key and the second proximity sensor is disposed at the bottom of the second input key.

9. The mobile communication terminal of claim 6,

wherein the controller is configured to scroll the displayed screen in a first direction when the second signal is generated, and to scroll the displayed screen in a second direction when the third signal is generated, and

wherein the second direction is different from the first direction.

10. The mobile communication terminal of claim 6, wherein the first input key is configured to generate a fourth signal when the first input key is pushed.

11. The mobile communication terminal of claim 10, wherein the controller is configured to move a pointing cursor on the displayed screen according to the first signal, and to select an item indicated by the pointing cursor when the fourth signal is generated.

12. The mobile communication terminal of claim 11, wherein the controller is configured to select an item indicated by the pointing cursor when the fourth signal is generated, and to move the selected item in a drag and drop manner when one of the second signal and the third signal is generated.