Pointing device enabling means, input device and portable device incorporating same

• US 20050228320A1
• Filed: 04/16/2003
• Published: 10/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/23/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications USA Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications USA Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Klinghult, Gunnar
• Granted Patent: US 7,495,652 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 601/46
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/169 the I/O peripheral being an integrated pointing device, e.g. trackball in the palm rest area, mini-joystick integrated between keyboard keys, touch pads or touch stripes G06F1/1643 takes precedence; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3228 Monitoring task completion, e.g. by use of idle timers, stop commands or wait commands
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3231 Monitoring the presence, absence or movement of users
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3259 Power saving in cursor control device, e.g. mouse, joystick, trackball
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03549 Trackballs G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 10/00 Energy efficient computing, e.g. low power processors, power management or thermal management

Abstract

The invention relates to means for enabling actuation of a pointing device and more particularly a means for detecting activity of a pointing device, so that the pointing is energized only when it needs to be in operation. The means include an activity sensor for sensing activation of the pointing device, said activity sensor comprising a threshold comparator, wherein the activity sensor is adapted to enable energization of the pointing device when the sensed activation of the pointing device exceeds a threshold. The pointing device is used for moving a pointer or prompt in a display, e.g. in mobile telephone. The present invention also relates to an input device with such a pointing device and a portable device incorporating same. The invention is directed to saving energy in portable devices avoiding accidental activation of the pointing device and automatic switching off to reduce the power consumption.

Claims

1. A means for enabling actuation of a pointing device comprising:

an activity sensor for sensing activation of the pointing device;

wherein the activity sensor comprises a threshold comparator; and

wherein the activity sensor is adapted to enable energization of the pointing device when the sensed activation of the pointing device exceeds a threshold.

2. The means for enabling actuation of the pointing device according to claim 1, wherein the threshold is adjustable.

3. The means for enabling actuation of the pointing device according to claim 1, wherein the activity sensor comprises a timer adapted to switch off the energization of the pointing device after a time has elapsed without any sensed activation of the pointing device.

4. The means for enabling actuation of the pointing device according to claim 3, wherein the time is adjustable.

5. The means for enabling actuation of the pointing device according to claim 1, wherein the activity sensor further comprises a detector device for sensing a capacitance change at the pointing device.

6. The means for enabling actuation of the pointing device according to claim 5, wherein the detector device comprises an oscillator with a resonant circuit.

7. The means for enabling actuation of the pointing device according to claim 6, wherein the capacitance of the pointing device forms part of the resonant circuit.

8. The means for enabling actuation of the pointing device according to claim 5, wherein the detector device comprises a high impedance amplifier.

9. An input device comprising:

a pointing device;

an activity sensor for sensing activation of the pointing device;

wherein the activity sensor comprises a threshold comparator; and

wherein the activity sensor is adapted to enable energization of the pointing device when the sensed activation of the pointing device exceeds a threshold.

10. The device according to claim 9, wherein the threshold is adjustable.

11. The device according to claim 9, wherein the activity sensor comprises a timer adapted to switch off the energization of the pointing device after a time has elapsed without any sensed activation of the pointing device.

12. The device according to claim 11, wherein the time is adjustable.

13. The device according to claim 9, wherein the activity sensor further comprises a detector device for sensing a capacitance change in the pointing device.

14. The device according to claim 13, wherein the pointing device comprises a ball capacitively connected to the detector device.

15. The device according to claim 14, wherein the ball is a metallized plastic ball with a plastic or rubber coating.

16. The device according to claim 14, wherein the detector device comprises an oscillator with a resonant circuit, wherein a capacitance of the ball forms a part of the resonant circuit.

17. The device according to claim 13, wherein the detector device comprises a high impedance amplifier.

18. The device according to claim 9 further comprising:

a display for showing menus in which navigation may be performed by means of the input device.

19. The device according to claim 18, wherein the the device is a mobile telephone.