Portable device with improved user interface

• US 7,835,770 B2
• Filed: 01/25/2007
• Issued: 11/16/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/26/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Cadene, Olivier
• Primary Examiner(s): Ly; Nghi H
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gonzalez; Amancio
• Application Number:
  US11/627,346
• Publication Number:
  US 20070182716A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,391 Days
• Field of Search: 455/566, 455/90.3, 455/575.1, 345/440
• US Class Current: 455/566
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0489 using dedicated keyboard keys or combinations thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72466 with selection means, e.g. keys, having functions defined by the mode or the status of the device

Abstract

A portable device such as a mobile phone, comprising a display screen, an input interface having a plurality of activable elements and processing means in connection with the display screen and the input interface, wherein the value of at least one parameter of the device can be changed by means of the input interface, characterized in that the device is arranged for displaying on the display screen a plurality of parameters representations, each one of these parameters representations including: an identification of the parameter; and an indication of what particular activable element or elements are to be used for changing the value of the parameter.

Claims

1. A portable device comprising:

a display screen;

an input interface comprising a plurality of elements that can be activated; and

a processing means controlling the display screen and the input interface,

wherein a value of at least one parameter of the portable device can be changed via the input interface,

wherein the processing means is configured to display a plurality of parameter representations on the display screen, each of the plurality of parameter representations comprising;

an identification of a corresponding one of the at least one parameter, and

an indication of at least one of the plurality of elements to be used for changing the value of the corresponding one of the at least one parameter, and

wherein the identification or the indication comprises a color that matches a color used to illuminate the at least one of the plurality of elements to be used for changing the value of the corresponding one of the at least one parameter.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein:

the input interface comprises a keypad and the plurality of elements are depressible keys of the keypad, each of the keys marked with a symbol; and

the indication comprises at least one symbol corresponding to one of the keys to be used for changing the value of the corresponding one of the at least one parameter.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the symbol corresponding to each of the keys comprises digits and non-digit symbols.

4. The portable device of claim 1, wherein:

the input interface comprises a keypad and the plurality of elements are keys of the keypad arranged in a geometrical array, and

the indication comprises a position of at least one of the plurality of parameter representations displayed on the display screen that corresponds to a position of at least one of the keys to be used for changing the value of the corresponding one of the at least one parameter.

5. The portable device of claim 1, wherein the input interface comprises a keypad and the plurality of elements are keys of the keypad that can be illuminated using different colors.

6. The portable device of claim 1, wherein:

the input interface further comprises a directional key, configured to enable selection of the at least one parameter, and

positions of the plurality of parameter representations on the display screen indicate directions in which the directional key should be moved for selecting one of the plurality of parameter representations.

7. The portable device of claim 6, wherein the processing means is further configured to display a visible mark or a highlighting of a currently selected one of the plurality of parameter representations on the display screen.

8. The portable device of claim 1, wherein:

the input interface further comprises a directional key or track point, and

the indication includes an orientation of one of the plurality of parameter representations displayed on the display screen for indicating directions in which the directional key or track point should be moved for changing the value of the corresponding one of the at least one parameter.

9. The portable device of claim 1, wherein one of the plurality of elements causes an increase or a decrease of the value of the corresponding one of the at least one parameter by a predefined amount.

10. The portable device of claim 1, wherein one of the plurality of elements causes the value of the corresponding one of the at least one parameter to be fixed at a predetermined value.

11. The portable device of claim 10, wherein one of the plurality of parameter representations corresponding to the one of the plurality of elements indicates the predetermined value.

12. The portable device of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of parameter representations comprises two cursors and cursor lines along lateral edges of the display screen, wherein each of the two cursors indicates a current value of one of the at least one parameter corresponding to the corresponding one of the plurality of parameter representations.

13. The portable device of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of parameter representations comprises cursors and cursor lines along edges of the display screen, wherein each of the cursors indicates a current value of one of the at least one parameter corresponding to the corresponding one of the plurality of parameter representations.

14. The portable device of claim 12, wherein each of the cursor lines are ended by at least one arrow.

15. The portable device of claim 12, wherein the cursor lines each comprise a same shape and are repeated with increasing size along a direction.

16. The portable device of claim 12, wherein each of the cursor lines are progressively darker along a direction.

17. The portable device of claim 1, wherein at least one of the plurality of elements causes switching between different parameter sets to be displayed and the display screen includes an indication of the at least one the plurality of elements.

18. The portable device of claim 1, wherein the identification includes a name or an icon representing the corresponding one of the at least one parameter.

19. The portable device of claim 1, further comprising a keypad and a directional key or track point which can be activated concurrently or individually.

20. The portable device of claim 1, further comprising a camera, wherein the at least one parameter includes camera-related parameters.

21. The portable device of claim 1, wherein the processing means is configured to further display a background image on the display screen.