Method for implementing zoom functionality on a portable device with opposing touch sensitive surfaces

• US 8,462,126 B2
• Filed: 07/20/2009
• Issued: 06/11/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Motorola Mobility LLC (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Cholewin, Erik A., Gorsica, John J., Lombardi, Michael J., Prochnow, Natalie J., Snyder, Ian M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mengistu, Amare
• Assistant Examiner(s): PATEL, PREMAL R
• Application Number:
  US12/505,775
• Publication Number:
  US 20110012928A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,422 Days
• Field of Search: 345156-174, 178/18.06
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1643 the display being associated to a digitizer, e.g. laptops that can be used as penpads details related to the relative motion of the display enclosure with respect to the body enclosure, e.g. to move between laptop and tablet PC configuration G06F1/1615
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1677 for detecting open or closed state or particular intermediate positions assumed by movable parts of the enclosure, e.g. detection of display lid position with respect to main body in a laptop, detection of opening of the cover of battery compartment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/169 the I/O peripheral being an integrated pointing device, e.g. trackball in the palm rest area, mini-joystick integrated between keyboard keys, touch pads or touch stripes G06F1/1643 takes precedence; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04805 Virtual magnifying lens, i.e. window or frame movable on top of displayed information to enlarge it for better reading or selection
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04806 Zoom, i.e. interaction techniques or interactors for controlling the zooming operation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/022 The hinge comprising two parallel pivoting axes
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041

Abstract

An improved mobile electronic device 100 with a unique thin and cost-effective form and design can have a large display 170 in the outward surface of a flip 102, a large full qwerty keypad 138 in the outward surface of a base 108, and a touchpad 186 in the inward surface of the flip. This arrangement provides useful zooming functionality and magnification techniques, as well as the ability to navigate the display using the touchpad while assuring that the full view of the display is not blocked. This arrangement also accommodates changing the mode of the touchpad from a navigation mode to a zoom mode and vice versa.

Claims

1. A mobile electronic device, comprising:

a cellular phone comprising

a base providing a compartment defining a cavity for containing a battery;

a movable portion operatively connected to the base, said movable portion being selected from the group consisting of a flip and a slide, said movable portion being movable from a fully open position in a text-entry mode to a closed position in a tablet mode and vice versa;

said base and said movable portion each having an outward surface and an inward surface;

a keypad on the outward surface of said base;

a battery door on the inward surface of said base;

a display assembly comprising a user interface and a touchscreen display on the outward surface of said movable portion;

a touchpad comprising a navigation control on the inward surface of said movable portion for navigating said touchscreen display, and said touchpad being positioned for use without blocking view of said touchscreen display;

said touchscreen display on the outward surface of said movable portion and said keypad on the outward surface of said base face outwardly and away from each other in the closed position in the tablet mode and are visible and accessible to a user in the closed position in the tablet mode;

said touchpad on the inward surface of said moveable portion and said battery door on the inward surface of said base face inwardly and towards each other in the closed position in the tablet mode and are inaccessible to the user in the closed position in the tablet mode; and

said touchpad, keypad, battery door and touchscreen display are accessible to the user in the fully open position in the text-entry mode.

2. The mobile electronic device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said touchpad comprises a zoom control for zooming, increasing or decreasing the size of text or other graphics on said touchscreen display.

3. The mobile electronic device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said touchpad comprises a magnifier for magnifying a portion of said touchscreen display.

4. The mobile electronic device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said cellular phone is selected from the group of consisting of a flip phone, portable networking device, interne communications device, clamshell device, radio telephone, mobile phone, smart phone, personal digital assistant, wireless e-mail device, two-way pager, handheld electronic communications device, and combinations of any of the preceding.

5. The mobile electronic device in accordance with claim 1 wherein

said touchpad comprises a zoomable touchpad for zooming in and out of an area of said touchscreen display touched by the user in response to touching said touchpad.

6. The mobile electronic device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said touchpad comprises a changeable touchpad for changing from a navigation mode to a zoom control in a zoom mode in response to an event from the group consisting of pressing a shift key, pressing a command button, changing the orientation of the device, launching an application, and touching the touchscreen or touchpad with a specific gesture.

7. The mobile electronic device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said touchpad comprises a transforming touchpad for transforming to a zoom control when said touchpad is touched and held by the user and returning to the navigation control when said touchpad is released by the user.

8. The mobile electronic device in accordance with claim 1 wherein said touchpad comprises a capacitive touchpad for activating a window on said touchscreen display to electronically display applications selected from the group consisting of applications which are downloaded, frequently used, idle, active, and available in the mobile electronic device when the user touches said capacitive touchpad, and said capacitive touchpad can be used by the user to scroll and select one or more of the applications.

9. The mobile electronic device in accordance with claim 1 wherein:

said user interface comprises tabbed windows providing tabs;

said touchpad comprises a touchpad scroll control for scrolling through said tabbed windows in response to moving a finger of the user along said touchpad; and

said touchscreen display displays a page and comprises a scroll control for scrolling within the active page within the user interface to interact with the page while the touchpad is being scrolled to move between tabs.

10. The mobile electronic device in accordance with claim 1 wherein

said touchpad comprises a visual selector for viewing or cycling through media selected from the group consisting of songs, albums, contacts, e-mail, art, movies, videos, photographs, books, newspapers, magazines, and titles of the preceding.

11. A mobile electronic device, comprising:

a cellular phone comprising

a base defining a compartment for containing a battery;

a flip pivotably connected to said base by a hinge, said flip being pivotable from a closed position in a tablet mode, to a partially open position in a media viewing mode and to a fully open position in a text-entry mode and vice versa;

said base and said flip each having an outward surface and an inward surface;

a keypad on the outward surface of said base, said keypad being selected from the group consisting of a qwerty keypad, capacitive keypad, keyboard, alpha numeric keys, and a base touchscreen, and said keypad facing downwardly when the flip is in the partially open position in the media viewing mode;

a battery door on the inward surface of said base;

a display assembly comprising a user interface with a touchscreen display on the outer surface of said flip, said touchscreen display being positioned opposite the keypad when said flip is in a closed position in the tablet mode, said touchscreen display facing upwardly with and in proximity to said keypad when the flip is in a fully open position in the text-entry mode, and said touchscreen display being positioned at an angle of inclination when said flip is in a partially open position in the media viewing mode;

a touchpad on the inward surface of said flip and positioned transversely opposite of said touchscreen display, said touchpad being substantially hidden and inaccessible when said flip is in the closed position in the tablet mode, said touchpad comprising a navigation control on the inward surface of said flip for navigating said touchscreen display, and said touchpad being positioned for use by a user without blocking view of said touchscreen display;

said touchscreen display on the outward surface of said flip and said keypad on the outward surface of said base facing outwardly and away from each other in the closed position in the tablet mode and are visible and accessible to a user in the closed position in the tablet mode;

said touchpad on the inward surface of said flip and said battery door on the inward surface of said base facing inwardly and towards each other in the closed position in the tablet mode and are inaccessible to the user in the closed position in the tablet mode;

said touchpad on the inward surface of said flip, said battery door on the inward surface of said base face, and said touchscreen display on the outward surface of said flip are visible and accessible to the user in the partially open position in the media viewing mode; and

said touchpad, keypad, battery door and touchscreen display are accessible to the user in the fully open position in the text-entry mode.

12. The mobile electronic device in accordance with claim 11 wherein said touchpad is selected from the group consisting of:

a touchpad with a zoom control for zooming, increasing or decreasing the size of text or graphics on said display;

a touchpad with a magnifier for magnifying a portion of said display;

a capacitive zoomable touchpad for zooming in and out of an area of said touchscreen display touched by the user in response to touching the touchpad;

a changeable touchpad for changing from the navigation control in a navigation mode to a zoom control in a zoom mode in response to an event from the group consisting of pressing a shift key, pressing a command button, changing the orientation of the device, launching an application, and touching the touchscreen display or touchpad with a specific gesture;

a transforming touchpad for transforming to a zoom control when said touchpad is touched and held by the user and returning to the navigation control when said touchpad is released by the user; and

a capacitive touchpad for activating a window on said display to electronically display applications selected from the group consisting of applications which are downloaded, frequently used, idle, active, and available in said cellular phone when the user touches the touchpad, and the touchpad can be used by the user to scroll and select one or more of the applications.

13. The mobile electronic device in accordance with claim 11 wherein:

said user interface comprises tabbed windows providing tabs;

said touchpad comprises a touchpad scroll control for scrolling through said tabbed windows in response to moving a finger of the user along said touchpad; and

said touchscreen display displays a page and comprises a scroll control for scrolling within the active page within the user interface to interact with the page while the touchpad is being scrolled to move between tabs.

14. The mobile electronic device in accordance with claim 11 wherein

said touchpad comprises a visual selector for viewing or cycling through media selected from the group consisting of songs, albums, contacts, e-mail, art, movies, videos, photographs, books, newspapers, magazines, and titles of the preceding.

15. The mobile electronic device in accordance with claim 11 wherein:

said cellular phone is selected from the group of consisting of a flip phone, portable networking device, internet communications device, clamshell device, radio telephone, mobile phone, smart phone, portable gaming device, personal digital assistant, wireless e-mail device, two-way pager, handheld electronic communications device, and combinations thereof; and

said cellular phone is of a compact size for readily fitting in a shirt pocket, pants pocket, suit pocket, and/or purse.

16. A method of using a mobile electronic device, comprising the steps of:

providing a mobile electronic device comprising a cellular phone, said cellular phone having a flip pivotably connected to a base, a keypad on an outward surface of said base and a battery door on an inward surface of said base, a touchscreen display on an outward surface of said flip, and a capacitive touchpad on an inward surface of said flip;

navigating said touchscreen display by sliding a finger along or touching said capactive touchpad;

while simultaneously

allowing full view of said touchscreen display and substantially preventing blocking of the view of said touchscreen display;

moving said flip from a closed position in a tablet mode, to a partially open position in a media viewing mode and to a fully open position in a text-entry mode and vice versa;

said touchscreen display on the outward surface of said flip and said keypad on the outward surface of said base facing outwardly and away from each other in the closed position in the tablet mode and are visible and accessible to a user in the closed position in the tablet mode;

said capacitive touchpad on the inward surface of said flip and said battery door on the inward surface of said base facing inwardly and towards each other in the closed position in the tablet mode and are inaccessible to the user in the closed position in the tablet mode;

said capacitive touchpad on the inward surface of said flip, said battery door on the inward surface of said base face, and said touchscreen display on the outward surface of said flip are visible and accessible to the user in the partially open position in the media viewing mode; and

said capacitive touchpad, keypad, battery door and touchscreen display are accessible to the user in the fully open position in the text-entry mode.

17. The method of using a mobile electronic device in accordance with claim 16 including zooming in and out of a portion of the display by touching, contacting, or engaging said capacitive touchpad.

18. The method of using a mobile electronic device in accordance with claim 16 including magnifying a portion of the touchscreen display by pressing, tapping or clicking said capacitive touchpad.

19. The method of using a mobile electronic device in accordance with claim 16 including changing or transforming the mode of said capacitive touchpad from a navigation mode to a zoom mode and vice versa.

20. The method of using a mobile electronic device in accordance with claim 16 including;

scrolling said capacitive touchpad; and

/or

scrolling the touchscreen display.