Communication device with a multi-functional control

• US 8,463,316 B2
• Filed: 02/17/2010
• Issued: 06/11/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/17/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: L3Harris Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Harris Corporation (L3Harris Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Jastram, Robert, Deleus, Willem, Teel, James
• Primary Examiner(s): Alam, Fayyaz
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rachedine, Mohammed
• Application Number:
  US12/706,843
• Publication Number:
  US 20110201379A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,210 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 455/550.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0338 with detection of limited linear or angular displacement of an operating part of the device from a neutral position, e.g. isotonic or isometric joysticks
• 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: H01H 19/003 having a pushbutton actuator
• 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 1/236 including keys on side or rear faces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72466 with selection means, e.g. keys, having functions defined by the mode or the status of the device

Abstract

Systems (100) and methods (400) for controlling functions of a Radio Transceiver (206, 208). At least one function is controlled in response to: a depression of a center of an elongated roller of a control element (102, 300); a depression of a first peripheral edge portion (FPEP) of the elongated roller (302) for a first period of time; a depression of a second peripheral edge portion (SPEP) of the elongated roller for a second period of time; a rotation of the elongated roller around a central axis thereof; a depression of the FPEP (352) for a third period of time that is longer than the first period of time; and/or a depression of a SPEP (354) for a fourth period of time that is longer than the second period of time.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a radio transceiver, comprising:

controlling a first function of said radio transceiver in response to an actuation of at least a first switch by a depression of a center of an elongated roller of a control element, said first switch disposed adjacent to said center of said elongated roller;

controlling a second function of said radio transceiver in response to an actuation of a second switch by a depression of a first peripheral edge portion of said elongated roller for a first period of time, said second switch disposed adjacent to a first end of said elongated roller;

controlling a third function of said radio transceiver in response to an actuation of a third switch by a depression of a second peripheral edge portion of said elongated roller for a second period of time, said second peripheral edge portion opposed from said first peripheral edge portion, and said third switch disposed adjacent to a second end opposed from said first end of said elongated roller; and

controlling a fourth function of said radio transceiver in response to a rotation of said elongated roller around a central axis of said elongated roller.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising controlling a fifth function of said radio transceiver in response to a depression of said first peripheral edge portion for a third period of time that is longer than said first period of time.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising controlling a fifth function of said radio transceiver in response to a depression of said second peripheral edge portion for a third period of time that is longer than said second period of time.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising changing an operational parameter of said radio transceiver based on a rotation of said elongated roller around said central axis.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein said operational parameter is selected from the group consisting of a talk group parameter and an audio volume parameter.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising selecting at least one of said first, second, third and fourth functions from the group consisting of an audio volume function, a channel selection function, a mute function, a brightness selection function, an “

on/off”

function, a play function, a rewind function, a fast forward function, a pause function, a channel recall function, a camera function, a talk group selection function, a media profile selection function, an individual call function, a group call function, an emergency call function, a map selection function, a priority selection function, a user interface selection function and a PTT function.

7. An apparatus for controlling a device, comprising:

an elongated control element comprising an elongated roller; and

at least one controller operable with said elongated roller and configured to;

(a) control a first function of said device in response to an actuation of at least a first switch by a depression of a center of said elongated roller, said first switch disposed adjacent to a first end of said elongated roller;

(b) control a second function of said device in response to an actuation of a second switch by a depression of a first peripheral edge portion of said elongated roller for a first period of time, said second switch disposed adjacent to a first end of said elongated roller;

(c) control a third function of said device in response to an actuation of a third switch by a depression of a second peripheral edge portion of said elongated roller for a second period of time, said second peripheral edge portion opposed from said first peripheral edge portion, and said third switch disposed adjacent to a second end opposed from said first end of said elongated roller; and

(d) control a fourth function of said device in response to a rotation of said elongated roller around a central axis of said elongated roller.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said controller is further configured to control a fifth function of said device in response to a depression of said first peripheral edge portion for a third period of time that is longer than said first period of time.

9. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said controller is further configured to control a fifth function of said device in response to a depression of said second peripheral edge portion for a third period of time that is longer than said second period of time.

10. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said controller is further configured to change an operational parameter of said device responsive to a rotation of said elongated roller around said central axis.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said operational parameter is selected from the group consisting of a talk group parameter and an audio volume parameter.

12. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein at least one of said first, second, third and fourth functions is selected from the group consisting of an audio volume function, a channel selection function, a mute function, a brightness selection function, an “

on/off”

function, a play function, a rewind function, a fast forward function, a pause function, a channel recall function, a camera function, a talk group selection function, a media profile selection function, an individual call function, a group call function, an emergency call function, a map selection function, a priority selection function, a user interface selection function and a PTT function.

13. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein said device is selected from the group consisting of a radio, a mobile phone, a cellular phone, a personal digital assistant, a global positioning device, a personal computer, a television and a vehicular communication device.

14. A system for controlling a radio transceiver device, comprising:

an elongated control element comprising an elongated roller; and

at least one controller operable with said elongated roller and configured to

(a) select a talk group or social media profile in response to a rotation of said elongated roller around a central axis of said elongated control element,

(b) initiate a call to members of said selected talk group or social media profile in response to an actuation of at least a first switch by a depression of a center of said elongated roller, and

(c) control an audio volume of said radio transceiver device in response to an actuation of second switch by a depression of a first peripheral edge portion of said elongated roller for a first period of time.

15. The system according to claim 14, wherein said controller is further configured to control said audio volume of said radio transceiver device in response to a depression of said first peripheral edge portion of said elongated roller for a second period of time that is longer than said first period of time.

16. The system according to claim 14, wherein said controller is further configured to control said audio volume of said radio transceiver device in response to a depression of a second peripheral edge portion of said elongated roller for a second period of time, said second peripheral edge portion opposed from said first peripheral edge portion.

17. The system according to claim 16, wherein said controller is further configured to control said audio volume of said radio transceiver device in response to a depression of a second peripheral edge portion of said elongated roller for a third period of time that is longer than said second period of time.

18. The system according to claim 14, wherein said controller is further configured to change an operational parameter of said radio transceiver device responsive to a rotation of said elongated roller.

19. The system according to claim 18, wherein said operational parameter is selected from the group consisting of a talk group parameter and an audio volume parameter.

20. The system according to claim 14, wherein said radio transceiver device is selected from the group consisting of a radio, a mobile phone, a cellular phone, a personal digital assistant, a global positioning device, a personal computer, a television and a vehicular communication device.

21. A radio transceiver, comprising;

a Push-To-Talk (PTT) switch comprising an elongated roller; and

at least one controller operable with said elongated roller and configured to

select a talk group in response to a rotation of said elongated roller around a central axis of said elongated roller, and

initiate a PTT call to members of said selected talk group in response to an actuation of at least a first switch by a depression of a center of said elongated roller, said first switch disposed adjacent to said center of said elongated roller.

22. The radio transceiver according to claim 21, wherein said controller is further configured to control an audio volume of said radio transceiver in response to a depression of a peripheral edge portion of said elongated roller for a pre-defined period of time.

23. The radio transceiver according to claim 21, wherein said controller is further configured to change a talk group parameter of said radio transceiver based on an amount of rotation of said elongated roller from a rest position.

24. The radio transceiver according to claim 21, wherein said radio transceiver is selected from the group consisting of a radio, a mobile phone, a cellular phone, a personal digital assistant, a personal computer and a vehicular communication device.