COMMUNICATION DEVICE WITH COMBINED INPUT AND DISPLAY DEVICE

• US 20100110002A1
• Filed: 11/06/2008
• Published: 05/06/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications USA Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications USA Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Ostsjo, Anders, BURSTROM, David, Bengtsson, Henrik
• Application Number:
  US12/265,994
• Publication Number:
  US 20100110002A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/157
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0236 using selection techniques to select from displayed items
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041

Abstract

The present invention relates to a communication device comprising a combined input and display device for character input and image display and a method for controlling said character input and image display. The device comprises a control unit and a proximity sensor arranged in such a way that the sensor is able to detect when a pointer comes within a first predetermined distance from the input and display device and that the control unit is configured to generate a first control signal for changing display modes, from a first to a second display mode, upon detection of the pointer. The second display mode is kept until the pointer is withdrawn more then a second predetermined distance from the display device at which occasion the control unit is configured to generate a second control signal for changing display modes, from the second to the first display mode.

Claims

1. Communication device comprising a combined input and display device for character input and image display, a control unit and a proximity sensor, wherein the proximity sensor and the control unit are arranged in such a way that the sensor is able to detect when a pointer comes within a first predetermined distance from the input and display device and that the control unit is configured to generate a first control signal for changing display modes, from a first to a second display mode, upon detection of the pointer.

2. Communication device according to claim 1, further comprising storage means for storing the display-coordinates that are closest to the pointer upon detection thereof.

3. Communication device according to claim 1, wherein said control unit and proximity sensor are arranged in such a way that the sensor is able to detect when a pointer is withdrawn more then a second predetermined distance from the display device and that the control unit is configured to generate a second control signal for changing display modes, from the second to the first display mode, upon detection of the withdrawal of the pointer.

4. Communication device according to claim 3, wherein the second predetermined distance is greater than the first predetermined distance.

5. Communication device according to claim 1, wherein the proximity sensor and the control unit are arranged in such a way that the sensor is able to detect when a pointer comes within a third predetermined distance from the input and display device and that the control unit is configured to, upon detection of the pointer, generate a third control signal for inputting a value to the communication device.

6. Communication device according to claim 5 wherein the third predetermined distance is smaller than the first predetermined distance.

7. Communication device according to claim 5, wherein the combined input and display is touch sensitive and wherein the third control signal is generated when the pointer is touching the display.

8. Communication device according to claim 1, wherein the first display mode is a layout with multi-choice-keys.

9. Communication device according to claim 1, wherein the second display mode is a layout with single-choice-keys.

10. Communication device according to claim 9, wherein each set of single-choice-keys is associated with one specific multi-choice key.

11. Communication device according to claim 9, wherein the individual single- or multi-mode keys in each mode is associated with an individual set of display coordinates.

12. Method for controlling character input and image display in a communication device comprising a combined input and display device, a control unit and a proximity sensor, said method comprising the following steps;

detecting when a pointer is within a first predetermined distance from the display;

generating a first control signal upon detection that the pointer is within the first predetermined distance,

changing display modes, from a first to a second display mode as a response to the first control signal.

13. Method according to claim 12, further comprising the step of storing the display-coordinates that are closest to the pointer upon detection thereof.

14. Method according to claim 12, further comprising the steps of;

detecting when a pointer is withdrawn more then a second predetermined distance from the display device,

generating a second control signal upon the detection of withdrawal of the pointer,

changing display modes from the second to the first display mode as a response to the second control signal.

15. Method according to claim 14, wherein the second predetermined distance is greater than the first predetermined distance.

16. Method according to claim 12, further comprising the steps of;

detecting when a pointer is within a third predetermined distance from the display device,

generating a third control signal upon the detection of pointer within the third predetermined distance,

inputting a value to the communication device in response to the third control signal.

17. Method according to claim 16 wherein the third predetermined distance is smaller than the first predetermined distance.

18. Method according to claim 16, wherein the combined input and display is touch sensitive and wherein the third control signal is generated when the pointer is touching the display.

19. Method according to claim 12, wherein the first display mode shows a layout with multi-choice-keys.

20. Method according to claim 12, wherein the second display mode shows a layout with single-choice-keys.

21. Method according to claim 20, wherein each set of single-choice-keys is associated with one specific multi-choice key.

22. Method to claim 20, wherein the individual single- or multi-mode keys in each mode are associated with an individual set of display coordinates.

23. A computer program comprising code means for performing the steps of claim 12, when the program is run on the control unit.

24. A computer program product comprising program code means stored on a computer readable medium for performing the method of claim 12, when said product is run on the control unit.