Rotator with rim select functionality

• US 20040253931A1
• Filed: 06/10/2003
• Published: 12/16/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Bonnelykke, Jakob, Christjansen, Rasmus
• Application Number:
  US10/458,401
• Publication Number:
  US 20040253931A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/90.3
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0213 Arrangements providing an integrated pointing device in a keyboard, e.g. trackball, mini-joystick for pointing devices integrated in a laptop computer G06F1/169; joysticks G05G9/047; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0236 using selection techniques to select from displayed items
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/033 Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user , e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor digitisers characterised by the transducing means G06F3/041
• 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: H04M 1/72466 with selection means, e.g. keys, having functions defined by the mode or the status of the device
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/70 methods for entering alphabetical characters, e.g. multi-tap or dictionary disambiguation methods for entering alphabetical characters per se G06F3/0237

Abstract

This invention relates to a rotator translating angular movement into an output representation. In particular, this invention relates to a rotator input device for detecting user interaction. The rotator input device comprises a rotator element arranged on a support enabling angular and tilting movement of the rotator element relative to rotational axis of the rotator element and having an operating surface perpendicular to the axis. The rotator input device further comprises a motion detector for detecting angular movement of the rotator element, a switching assembly for detecting tilting movement of the rotator element during depression of the operating surface and comprises a first plurality switching elements arranged below the operating surface and substantially along the periphery of the rotator element.

Claims

1. Rotator input device for detecting user interaction and comprising a support, a rotator element arranged on said support enabling angular and tilting movement of said rotator element relative to the rotational axis of said rotator element and having an operating surface perpendicular to said axis, a motion detector for detecting angular movement of said rotator element, a switching assembly for detecting tilting movement of said rotator element during depression of said operating surface and comprising a first plurality switching elements arranged below said operating surface and substantially along the periphery of said rotator element.

2. Rotator input device according to claim 1, wherein said rotator element comprises an axially open section around said rotation axis and a rim section extending from the periphery of the rotator element to said open section.

3. Rotator input device according to claim 2, wherein said operating surface substantially covers said rim section.

4. Rotator input device according to claim 1, wherein each of said switching elements comprise a first and second contact surface separated by a dome shaped space and generates a first electric contact signal when said space is changed during depression.

5. Rotator input device according to claim 1, wherein said first plurality of switching elements are separated with an even angular space there between around the circumference of said rotator element.

6. Rotator input device according to claim 5, wherein said angular space is 90°

.

7. Rotator input device for detecting user interaction and comprising a support, a rotator element arranged on said support enabling angular and tilting movement of said rotator element relative to the rotational axis of said rotator element and having an operating surface perpendicular to said axis, a motion detector for detecting angular movement of said rotator element, a switching assembly for detecting tilting movement of said rotator element during depression of said operating surface and comprising a first plurality switching elements arranged below said operating surface and substantially along the periphery of said rotator element, and wherein said rotator element comprises an axially open section around said rotation axis and a rim section extending from the periphery of the rotator element to said open section.

8. Rotator input device according to claim 7 further comprising a navigation key having a second depression surface, and said switching assembly comprising a second switching element arranged below said depression surface for detecting depression of said depression surface.

9. Rotator input device according to claim 8, wherein said navigation key is arranged on said support so that said depression surface is accessible through said open section of said rotator element.

10. Mobile communication device comprising a processor, a display for presenting data for a user, and a rotator input device for detecting user interaction, wherein said rotator input device comprising a support, a rotator element arranged on said support enabling angular and tilting movement of said rotator element relative to the rotational axis of said rotator element and having an operating surface perpendicular to said axis, a motion detector for detecting angular movement of said rotator element, a switching assembly for detecting tilting movement of said rotator element during depression of said operating surface and comprising a first plurality switching elements arranged below said operating surface and substantially along the periphery of said rotator element.

11. Mobile communication device according to claim 10, wherein said processor is operable to present data on said display, to receive user interaction data from said motion detector and said switching assembly, and to correlate said user interaction data with data presented on said display and thereby enabling a user to interface with said data presented on said display.

12. Mobile communication device according to claim 11, wherein said processor converts user interaction data from said motion detector to a data toggling action, and interaction data from said switching assembly to a data selection action.

13. Method for registering user interaction on a mobile communication device comprising:

(a) presenting visual data on a display,

(b) enabling angular and tilting movement of a rotator element relative to rotational axis of said rotator element having an operating surface perpendicular to said axis,

(c) detecting angular movement of said rotator element and generating angular movement data, and

(d) detecting tilting movement of said rotator element during depression of said operating surface and generating tilting movement data.

14. Method according to claim 13 further comprising (e) correlating said visual data, said angular movement data, and said tilting movement data and generating a processing action.

15. Method according to claim 13 further comprising presenting a selection prompt on said display.

16. Method according to claim 15, wherein said generating a processing action comprises moving said selection prompt presented on said display in accordance with angular and tilting movement data so that the selection prompt presents the user of the mobile communication device with further processing actions.