Optical sensor based user interface for a portable electronic device

• US 6,816,154 B2
• Filed: 05/30/2001
• Issued: 11/09/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Palm, Inc. (TCL Technology Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Wong, Yoon Kean, Hanson, William Robert
• Primary Examiner(s): Shalwala, Bipin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kovalick, Vincent E.
• Application Number:
  US09/871,375
• Publication Number:
  US 20020180691A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,259 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/157, 345/158, 345/165, 345/166, 345/173, 345/175, 345/581, 348/20, 382/276
• US Class Current: 345/175
• 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 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• 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 1/1698 the I/O peripheral being a sending/receiving arrangement to establish a cordless communication link, e.g. radio or infrared link, integrated cellular phone details of antennas disposed inside a computer H01Q1/2266
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1632 Pen holder integrated in the computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0421 by interrupting or reflecting a light beam, e.g. optical touch-screen
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning
• 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 1/2747 Scrolling on a display
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72409 by interfacing with external accessories hands-free H04M1/60
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface
• 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: H04W 88/02 Terminal devices

Abstract

An apparatus and method are described herein, which simultaneously promotes a positive computing experience for users of portable computer systems and increases overall durability and longevity thereof. In one embodiment, an optical apparatus enhances the user computing experience, in one embodiment by simplifying operation, and is much more durable and long-lasting than mechanical switch and dial type devices it may replace. In one embodiment, the present invention is directed to an apparatus, which enables efficient portable computer device function, field, and data selection, gaming, input, interconnection, and other switching-related functions, simplifying operation and enhancing versatility thereof, yet without exposing the portable computer interior to any degree to incursion of environmental contamination. In one embodiment, an optical apparatus obviates openings in a portable computer package which would otherwise be required. In one embodiment, the apparatus, capable of sensing manipulation and directed by software, has a light source and corresponding light sensor.

Claims

1. A portable electronic device comprising:

a memory coupled to a bus;

a display coupled to said bus and operable to display an array of visibly formatted information thereon, said information comprising a scrollable plurality of items;

an optical sensor coupled to said bus wherein, in response to manipulations thereof, an optical characteristic of said optical sensor changes and wherein said optical sensor generates a corresponding display change signal; and

a processor coupled to said bus and functional with said optical sensor to provide an optical user interface, wherein said optical unit interface is operable to modify said array of visibly formatted information according to said display change signal.

2. A portable electronic device as recited in claim 1 wherein said optical sensor is also operable to sense tactile contact of said object with said surface.

3. A portable electronic device as recited in claim 1 wherein said optical sensor is also operable to sense the speed of said movement of said object.

4. A portable electronic device as recited in claim 1 wherein said optical sensor is also operable to sense the direction of said movement of said object.

5. A portable electronic device as recited in claim 1 further comprising control circuitry coupled to said optical sensor and operable to vary a rate at which said optical sensor is scanned in response to detected user activity.

6. A portable electronic device as recited in claim 5 wherein said rate at which said optical sensor is scanned is decreased during periods of low user activity.

7. A portable electronic device as recited in claim 1 wherein said processor is responsive to said optical sensor for scrolling portions of said information.

8. A portable electronic device as recited in claim 1 wherein said portable electronic device comprises a handheld computer system.

9. A portable electronic device as recited in claim 1 wherein said portable electronic device comprises a wireless phone device.

10. A portable electronic device as recited in claim 1 wherein said optical sensor comprises a light emitting diode and a light sensor.

11. A portable electronic device as recited in claim 1 wherein said processor is responsive to said optical sensor sensing said movement at a first speed to perform a first display update of said information and wherein said processor is responsive to said optical sensor sensing said movement at a second speed to perform a second update of said information.

12. A portable electronic device as recited in claim 1 wherein said first display update is a coarse scroll operation and wherein said second display update comprises is a fine scroll operation.

13. A portable electronic device as recited in claim 1 wherein said object comprises a finger.

26. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein said c) further comprises:

c3) selecting a portion of said array of visibly formatted information as a location for said cursor; and

c4) moving said cursor accordingly.

27. The method as recited in claim 26, wherein said c) further comprises:

c5) scrolling said array of visibly formatted information.

14. A method of updating a display of information comprising:

a) displaying said information onto a display of a portable electronic device wherein said information comprises a scrollable plurality of items;

b) responsive to manipulations of an optical user interface, changing the optical characteristics of an optical user interface of said portable electronic device accordingly;

c) generating a corresponding display change signal; and

d) modifying the array of visibly formatted information according to said display change signal wherein said display change signal scrolls through said plurality of items according to said manipulations.

15. A method as recited in claim 14 wherein said d) comprises altering said information based on a speed of said movement.

16. A method as recited in claim 14 wherein said d) comprises altering said information based on a direction of said movement.

17. A method as recited in claim 14 further comprising varying a rate at which said optical sensor is scanned in response to detected user activity.

18. A method as recited in claim 17 wherein said rate at which said optical user interface is scanned is decreased during periods of low user activity.

19. A method as recited in claim 17 wherein said optical user interface comprises a light emitting diode and a light sensor.

20. A method as recited in claim 17 wherein said d) comprises scrolling portions of said information in response to said optical sensor.

21. A method as recited in claim 17 wherein said d) comprises selecting portions of said information by highlighting in response to said optical sensor.

22. A method as recited in claim 17 wherein said object comprises is a finger.

23. In a portable electronic device having an optical user interface and a display for exhibiting an array of visibly formatted information, a method of changing said array of visibly formatted information comprising:

a) in response to manipulations of said optical user interface, changing the optical characteristics of said optical user interface accordingly;

b) generating a corresponding display change signal; and

c) modifying the array of visibly formatted information according to said display change signal wherein said array comprises a scrollable plurality of items and wherein said display change signal scrolls through said plurality of items according to said manipulations.

24. The method as recited in claim 23, wherein said array of visibly formatted information includes a highlighted region.

25. The method as recited in claim 24, wherein said c) further comprises:

c1) selecting a portion of said array of visibly formatted information to be highlighted; and

c2) moving said highlighted region accordingly.

28. The method as recited in claim 23, wherein said array of visibly formatted information includes a cursor.

29. The method as recited in claim 23, wherein said electronic device comprises a portable computer device.