Method of operating a handheld device for directional input

• US 8,115,731 B2
• Filed: 10/03/2005
• Issued: 02/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/09/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Varanda, Marcelo
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Kevin M
• Assistant Examiner(s): Lee, Jr., Kenneth B
• Application Number:
  US11/240,501
• Publication Number:
  US 20060071905A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,325 Days
• Field of Search: 345156-172, 200/61.52, 434/38, 250/231.12, 250/236, 356/154
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1613 for portable computers cooling arrangements therefor G06F1/203; constructional details or arrangements for pocket calculators, electronic agendas or books G06F15/0216; constructional details of portable telephone sets: with several bodies H04M1/0202
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1694 the I/O peripheral being a single or a set of motion sensors for pointer control or gesture input obtained by sensing movements of the portable computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1637 Sensing arrangement for detection of housing movement or orientation, e.g. for controlling scrolling or cursor movement on the display of an handheld computer

Abstract

A directional input device for use in a handheld device is disclosed herein. The directional input device provides input to an element of the user interface in response to the inclination of the handheld. The input device can be embedded into any handheld communicating or computing device to provide directional input to an element of the user interface of the handheld without consuming space on the face of the device that could otherwise be used for a larger screen.

Claims

1. A handheld computing device, comprising:

a display;

an internally located directional input device providing a directional input signal, the directional input signal corresponding to an axis of inclination of the handheld computing device and indicating an orientation;

a second directional input device providing a second directional input signal, the second directional input signal indicating an amount of displacement;

a processor coupled to the internally located directional input device and the second directional input device and operable to receive and process the directional input signal in conjunction with the second directional input signal; and

a memory subsystem, the memory storing an operating system executed by the processor to display on the display a graphical user interface for controlling the operation of the handheld computing device, wherein the graphical user interface provides a graphical element;

wherein the operating system comprises processor-executable instructions that cause the graphical element to move by the amount of displacement in a direction substantially parallel or substantially perpendicular to the orientation.

2. The handheld computing device of claim 1, wherein the internally-located directional input device comprises:

a primary contact positionally fixed in the handheld computing device;

at least one directional contact positionally fixed in the handheld computing device and operatively connected to the primary contact;

circuit closing means, movable on, and in electrical contact with, the primary contact, the circuit closing means moving in response to inclination of the handheld computing device in the direction of any one of the at least one directional contact, between a neutral position in which the primary contact and the any one of the at least one directional contact form an open circuit, and an active position in which the primary contact and the any one of the at least one directional contact form a closed circuit; and

a direction interpreter, operatively connected to the primary contact and the at least one directional contact, for generating the directional input signal.

3. The handheld computing device of claim 2, wherein the directional input signal is uniquely associated with the direction of the inclination.

4. The handheld computing device of claim 2, wherein each of the at least one directional contact are further connected to adjacent directional contacts to create a plurality of secondary open circuits, each of the plurality of secondary open circuits closable by the circuit closing means in response to inclination of the handheld to a junction of adjacent directional contacts.

5. The handheld computing device of claim 4, wherein the direction interpreter generates the directional input when one of the secondary open circuits is closed.

6. The handheld computing device of claim 2, further including a base, electrically connected to the primary contact, for supporting the circuit closing means in response to movement between the neutral position and the active position.

7. The handheld computing device of claim 6, wherein the base biases the circuit closing means to the neutral position.

8. The handheld computing device of claim 2, wherein the circuit closing means is a ball bearing.

9. The handheld computing device of claim 2, wherein the circuit closing means is a mercury contact.

10. The handheld computing device of claim 1, wherein the graphical element is a pointer.

11. The handheld computing device of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to detect movement patterns from the directional input signal and wherein the graphical element is further responsive to the detected movement patterns.

12. The handheld computing device of claim 11, wherein the graphical element is configured to accelerate in response to a detected movement pattern.

13. The handheld computing device of claim 11, wherein the graphical element is configured to perform a selection function in response to the detected movement pattern.

14. The handheld computing device of claim 13, wherein the detected movement pattern is a flick of the wrist.

15. The handheld computing device of claim 1, wherein the second directional input device is selected from the group consisting of a button;

a roller;

a touch surface; and

a thumbwheel.