Scroll select-activate button for wireless terminals

• US 6,496,181 B1
• Filed: 10/03/1997
• Issued: 12/17/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 10/03/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Siemens Information and Communication Products LLC (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens Information And Communication Mobile LLC (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Bömer, Leopold, Steele, Ben, McDowell, Dave
• Primary Examiner(s): Shalwala, Bipin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Said, Mansour M.
• Application Number:
  US08/943,328
• Time in Patent Office: 1,901 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/157, 345/161, 345/164, 345/167, 345/168, 345/169, 345/184, 455/566, 455/550, 455/556, 455/557
• US Class Current: 345/167
• 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 3/03549 Trackballs G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0202 Portable telephone sets, e.g. cordless phones, mobile phones or bar type handsets constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. of speakers or microphones H04M1/03
• 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

Abstract

A side-mounted cursor pointing device (108) for a wireless terminal (100) including a sliding cover (110). The sliding cover (110) slides over the cursor pointing device (108) in an off position. When the cover (110) is slid off the cursor pointing device (108), a biasing member (212) upon which the cursor pointing device (108) rests allows the cursor pointing device (108) to pop into position and allows the user to press down on the cursor pointing device (108) in order to make a selection. The sliding cover may be an on-off switch for the wireless terminal.

Claims

1. An electronic controller having an improved user interface, comprising:

a controller housing;

a cursor pointing device carried by said controller housing on a side face, at least a portion of said cursor pointing device being operably accessible to a user and operable to receive user input to control operation of said electronic controller;

a select control operably coupled to said cursor pointing device wherein said select control is configured to be activated when said cursor pointing device is depressed; and

a sliding member coupled to said controller housing on said side face wherein said sliding member is configured to at least partially conceal said cursor pointing device when said sliding member is in a first position and is configured to expose said cursor pointing device when said sliding member is in a second position.

2. The electronic controller of claim 1, wherein said cursor pointing device is configured to be operated by a single finger.

3. The electronic controller of claim 1, wherein said cursor pointing device is positioned in a location of said controller housing such that, when said controller is in operation, a user'"'"'s thumb or other finger of a hand holding said electronic controller is proximate to said cursor pointing device, thereby allowing said user'"'"'s thumb or other finger to control said cursor pointing device.

4. The electronic controller of claim 1, further comprising a switch located in said controller housing and coupled to said sliding member, wherein said switch is configured to be activated when said sliding member is in said second position and is configured to be deactivated when said sliding member is in said first position.

5. The electronic controller of claim 4, wherein said switch is an on-off switch, wherein activation of said on-off switch provides power to said electronic controller.

6. The electronic controller of claim 4, wherein said switch is an on-off switch, wherein activation of said on-off switch causes power to be provided to a remote unit.

7. The electronic controller of claim 4, further comprising a biasing member located in said controller housing, wherein said cursor pointing device is in biasing contact with said biasing member such that said biasing member is configured to position said cursor pointing device in an inactive position when said sliding member is in said first position and said biasing member is configured to position said cursor pointing device in an active position, relatively higher than said inactive position, when said sliding member is in said second position.

8. The electronic controller of claim 1, wherein said cursor pointing device comprises a trackball.

9. the electronic controller of claim 1, wherein said cursor pointing device comprises a stick pointer.

10. The electronic controller of claim 1, wherein said cursor pointing device is a rocker arm switch.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said activating a switch comprises activating a power source on a remote unit.

12. The electronic controller of claim 1, wherein said cursor pointing device is a track pad.

13. A method for operating an electronic controller, comprising:

sliding a sliding member from a first position to a second position on a side face of a controller housing, wherein said sliding member at least partially conceals a cursor pointing device when said sliding member is in said first position, and said sliding member exposes said cursor pointing device when said sliding member is in said second position;

translating said cursor pointing device from an inactive position when said sliding member is in said first position, to an active position disposed relative to said inactive position, when said sliding member is in said second position;

using said cursor pointing device to position a cursor on a viewscreen on a front face of said housing; and

depressing said cursor pointing device to select an item on said viewscreen positioned proximately to said cursor.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising sliding said sliding member from said second position to said first position to conceal said cursor pointing device.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising translating said cursor pointing device from said active position to said inactive position when said sliding member is slid from said second position to said first position.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein said sliding member from said second position to said first position causes said sliding member to be in contact with said cursor pointing device.

17. The method of claim 13, wherein said sliding member from said first position to said second position comprises activating a switch which controls a power source.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein said activating a switch comprises activating a power source disposed within said controller housing.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein sliding said sliding member from said first position to said second position causes said sliding member to be in contact with said cursor pointing device.

20. The method of claim 13, wherein said depressing said cursor pointing device comprises depressing a control switch.

21. The method of claim 13, wherein said using said cursor pointing device comprises using a trackball.

22. The method of claim 13, wherein said using said cursor pointing device comprises using a stick-type pointer.

23. The method of claim 13, wherein said using said cursor pointing device comprises using a track pad.

24. The method of claim 13, wherein said using said cursor pointing device comprises using a rocker arm button.