Input device of mobile devices

• US 20080001915A1
• Filed: 06/30/2006
• Published: 01/03/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Pihlaja, Pekka, Nousiainen, Jari
• Application Number:
  US11/479,972
• Publication Number:
  US 20080001915A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1624 with sliding enclosures, e.g. sliding keyboard or display
• 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 1/1647 including at least an additional display G06F1/1692 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1684 Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675
• 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 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: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0214 Foldable telephones, i.e. with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position combined with translation movement H04M1/0235
• 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

Abstract

A rotator wheel is mounted on the device in such a way that its rim can be reached with the finger from at least one side. This enables the user to operate the rotator wheel like a roller. The rotator wheel can be equipped with sensors or switches that detect if the rotator wheel is being operated from the top, from bottom or from the side. The function assigned to the wheel can be changed accordingly.

Claims

1. An input device comprising

a rotator arranged to turn around a central point,

at least one detector arranged to detect at least one direction wherefrom the rotator is touched,

said at least one detector arranged to produce a signal as a response to the at least one direction detected, and

said rotator arranged to input an operation according to the signal produced.

2. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the rotator is a rotator wheel comprising a rim side arranged to be accessible from at least one side.

3. The input device according to claim 2, wherein the rim side is arranged to slant.

4. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the rotator is a rotator knob comprising an edge side arranged to be accessible from at least one side.

5. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the detector is arranged to produce the signal as a response to a direction detected from above of the rotator.

6. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the detector is arranged to produce the signal as a response to a direction detected from a side of the rotator.

7. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the detector is arranged to produce the signal as a response to a direction detected simultaneously from two sides of the rotator.

8. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the rotator includes the at least one detector.

9. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the detector is at least one of the following detectors:

a sensor and a switch.

10. The input device according to claim 1, wherein a switch is arranged to be connected to the rotator to detect an actual translational sideways movement of the rotator towards the central point.

11. The input device according to claim 1, wherein the rotator is arranged to be connected to a processor of a portable device and the rotator is arranged to input data to the portable device.

12. A keyboard arrangement of a mobile device, comprising the input device according to claim 1.

13. A mobile device comprising

at least one cover part,

at least one display unit,

an input device arranged to be mounted to the cover part and connected to the display unit, the input device comprising

a rotator arranged to turn around a central point,

at least one detector arranged to detect at least one direction wherefrom the rotator is touched,

said at least one detector arranged to produce a signal as a response to the at least one direction detected, and

said rotator arranged to input an operation according to the signal produced.

14. The mobile device according to claim 13, wherein the rotator is arranged to be accessible from above.

15. The mobile device according to claim 13, wherein the rotator is arranged to be accessible from at least one side.

16. The mobile device according to claim 13, wherein the at least one cover part comprises at least one recess configured to allow access to the rotator with a finger from at least one side of the rotator.

17. The mobile device according to claim 16, wherein the input device is arranged to be attached to a first cover part that is folded against a second cover part, the first and second cover parts having recesses configured to allow access to the rotator with a finger from at least one side of the rotator.

18. The mobile device according to claim 16, wherein the input device is arranged to be attached to a first cover part that is slid over a second cover part, the first and second cover parts having recesses configured to allow access to the rotator with a finger from at least one side of the rotator.

19. The mobile device according to claim 13, wherein a first display unit is arranged to operate with a first direction detected and a second display unit is arranged to operate with a second direction detected.

20. The mobile device according to claim 13, wherein the rotator is arranged to scroll a list of items on the at least one display unit.

21. The mobile device according to claim 13, wherein the rotator is arranged to control a sound volume controller.

22. The mobile device according to claim 13, wherein the input device comprises a switch arranged to be connected to the rotator to detect an actual translational sideways movement of the rotator towards the central point.

23. The mobile device according to claim 22, wherein the rotator is arranged to select an item from a list displayed on the at least one display unit.

24. The mobile device according to claim 13, wherein the rotator is arranged to be mounted flush with the at least one cover part.

25. The mobile device according to claim 13, wherein the rotator is arranged to be mounted on top of the at least one cover.

26. The mobile device according to claim 13, wherein the rotator is arranged to be a rotator wheel.

27. The mobile device according to claim 13, wherein the rotator is arranged to be a rotating knob.

28. A method comprising

arranging a rotator to turn around a central point,

detecting at least one direction wherefrom the rotator is touched,

producing a signal as a response to the detecting, and

arranging to input an operation according to the produced signal.

29. The method of claim 28, wherein the producing a signal is in response to a direction detected from above the rotator.

30. The method of claim 28, wherein the producing a signal is in response to a direction detected from a side of the rotator.

31. The method of claim 28, wherein the producing a signal is in response to a direction detected simultaneously from two sides of the rotator.

32. An input device comprising

a rotator arranged to turn around a central point,

means for detecting at least one direction wherefrom the rotator is touched,

said means for detecting arranged to produce a signal as a response to the at least one direction detected, and

said rotator arranged to input an operation according to the signal produced.

33. The input device according to claim 32, wherein the rotator is a rotator wheel comprising a rim side arranged to be accessible from at least one side.

34. The input device according to claim 33, wheein the rim side is arranged to slant.