Analog controls housed with electronic displays for global positioning systems

• US 6,532,000 B2
• Filed: 12/08/2000
• Issued: 03/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/01/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Anascape, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Anascape, Ltd.
• Inventors: Armstrong, Brad A.
• Primary Examiner(s): PARADISO, JOHN ROGER
• Application Number:
  US09/733,469
• Publication Number:
  US 20010003451A1
• Time in Patent Office: 823 Days
• Field of Search: 463/36, 463/37, 273/143.B, 345/156, 345/159, 200/513, 361/681, 250/206.1, 701/213
• US Class Current: 345/159
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/92 Video game devices specially adapted to be hand-held while playing
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/24 Electric games; Games using electronic circuits not otherwise provided for video games A63F13/00; computerized gaming systems G07F17/32
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 21/00 Input or output devices integrated in time-pieces
• CPC Class Codes: G05B 2219/23033 Variable pressure on key gives input value
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1601 Constructional details related to the housing of computer displays, e.g. of CRT monitors, of flat displays constructional details related to flat displays integrated in a portable computer, e.g. laptop, handheld computer G06F1/1637; constructional details related to television receivers H04N5/64
• 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 1/1662 Details related to the integrated keyboard
• 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 2200/1612 Flat panel monitor
• 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 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0489 using dedicated keyboard keys or combinations thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/70 having a plurality of operating members associated with different sets of contacts, e.g. keyboard mounting together a plurality of independent switches H02B
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/702 with contacts carried by or formed from layers in a multilayer structure, e.g. membrane switches
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/785 characterised by the material of the contacts, e.g. conductive polymers
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2201/036 Variable resistance
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2215/004 Collapsible dome or bubble
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2215/006 Only mechanical function
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/012 Joy stick type
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2221/018 : Tumbler
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2231/008 : Video game
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2237/002 : Bell crank

Abstract

A global positioning system device having capability for reception of global positioning system information or data; the device including a hand-held housing, a general image display in the housing, a proportional sensor for creating a varying value according to varying depression applied by a finger of a human user to a depressible surface of the sensor. Multiple proportional sensors are sometimes utilized. In one preferred embodiment the proportional sensor(s) include resilient dome cap(s) for providing tactile feedback to the finger depressing the depressible surface. Circuitry within the housing is connected to the sensor for reading the varying value from the sensor and causing representative varying of the imagery shown by the display.

Claims

1. A global positioning system hand-held device, comprising:

a housing sized to be hand-held;

electronic circuitry located in said housing;

a general image display located in said housing, said general image display operatively connected to said circuitry;

a first finger depressible surface in part exposed on said housing, said first finger depressible surface operatively connected to

a pressure-sensitive first analog sensor, said first analog sensor for inputting a first signal to said circuitry;

a second depressible surface in part exposed on said housing, said second depressible surface operatively connected to

a pressure-sensitive second analog sensor, said second analog sensor for inputting a second signal to said circuitry;

said circuitry structured to receive the signals and to cause said general image display to scroll data at a variable rate according to variable pressure applied to the depressible surfaces.

2. A global positioning system hand-held device according to claim 1 wherein variable depression of a surface of a rocker having at least two depressible surfaces causes the data to zoom at a variable rate on said display.

3. A global positioning system hand-held device according to claim 2 wherein said first depressible surface and said second depressible surface are surfaces of a rocker.

4. A global positioning system hand-held device according to claim 3 wherein the pressure-sensitive analog sensors are structured with resilient dome caps, said dome caps structured to provide tactile feedback.

5. A global positioning system hand-held device according to claim 1 wherein said first depressible surface and said second depressible surface are thumb depressible single individual buttons.

6. A global positioning system hand-held device according to claim 5 wherein the pressure-sensitive analog sensors are structured with resilient dome caps, said dome caps structured to provide tactile feedback.

7. An improved global positioning system device of the type having capability of reception of global positioning system information, wherein the improvements comprise:

a housing; and

electronic circuitry located in said housing;

a general image display at least in part supported by said housing, said general image display operatively connected to said circuitry;

a first finger depressible surface in part exposed on said housing, said first finger depressible surface operatively connected to

a pressure-sensitive first analog sensor, said first analog sensor for inputting a first signal to said circuitry, said first signal having variable value depending on variable pressure applied to said first finger depressible surface;

a second depressible surface in part exposed on said housing, said second depressible surface operatively connected to

a pressure-sensitive second analog sensor, said second analog sensor for inputting a second signal to said circuitry, said second signal having variable value depending on variable pressure applied to said second depressible surface;

said circuitry structured to receive the signals and to cause said general image display to zoom data at a variable rate according to variable pressure applied to the depressible surfaces.

8. An improved global positioning system device according to claim 7 wherein variable depression of a first depressible surface of a rocker having at least two depressible areas causes the data to scroll at a variable rate in a first direction on said display, and variable depression of a second depressible surface of said rocker causes the data to scroll at a variable rate in a second direction on said display.

9. An improved global positioning system device according to claim 7 wherein said first depressible surface and said second depressible surface are thumb depressible single individual buttons.

10. An improved global positioning system device according to claim 9 wherein the pressure-sensitive analog sensors are structured to provide tactile feedback.

11. An improved global positioning system device according to claim 7 wherein the pressure-sensitive analog sensors are structured with resilient dome caps, said dome caps structured to provide tactile feedback.

12. A global positioning system device, comprising:

means for reception of global positioning system information;

a housing; and

electronic circuitry located in said housing;

a general image display at least in part supported by said housing, said general image display operatively connected to said circuitry;

at least one finger depressible surface in part exposed on said housing, said at least one finger depressible surface operatively connected to

at least one depressible proportional sensor, said proportional sensor for inputting a signal to said circuitry, said signal having a varying value representing varying depression of said at least one finger depressible surface;

said circuitry structured to receive said signal and to cause said general image display to change display of said information at a rate related to said value.

13. A global positioning system device according to claim 12 wherein said at least one finger depressible surface is a first depressible surface, said global positioning system device further includes a finger depressible surface which is a second depressible surface in part exposed on said housing, said second depressible surface operatively connected to a second proportional sensor, said second proportional sensor for inputting a second signal to said circuitry, said second signal having a varying value representing varying depression of said second depressible surface.

14. A global positioning system device according to claim 13 wherein the proportional sensors are pressure-sensitive and are structured with resilient dome caps, said dome caps structured to provide a break-over tactile feedback.

15. A global positioning system device according to claim 14 wherein said first depressible surface and said second depressible surface are surfaces of at least a two-way rocker.

16. A global positioning system device according to claim 15 wherein depression of said first depressible surface causes the data to scroll in a first direction on said display, and depression of said second depressible surface causes the data to scroll in a second direction on said display.

17. A global positioning system device according to claim 14 wherein said first depressible surface and said second depressible surface are surfaces of a four-way rocker.

18. A global positioning system device according to claim 13 wherein depression of said first depressible surface causes the data to zoom in a first direction on said display, and depression of said second depressible surface causes the data to zoom in a second direction on said display.