CA2012199A1 - Communications handset with menu selection - Google Patents
Communications handset with menu selectionInfo
- Publication number
- CA2012199A1 CA2012199A1 CA002012199A CA2012199A CA2012199A1 CA 2012199 A1 CA2012199 A1 CA 2012199A1 CA 002012199 A CA002012199 A CA 002012199A CA 2012199 A CA2012199 A CA 2012199A CA 2012199 A1 CA2012199 A1 CA 2012199A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- handset
- switch
- menu
- rotary switch
- display
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Classifications
-
- G—PHYSICS
- G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
- G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
- G06F3/00—Input arrangements for transferring data to be processed into a form capable of being handled by the computer; Output arrangements for transferring data from processing unit to output unit, e.g. interface arrangements
- G06F3/01—Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer
- G06F3/03—Arrangements for converting the position or the displacement of a member into a coded form
- G06F3/033—Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user, e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor
- G06F3/0362—Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user, e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor with detection of 1D translations or rotations of an operating part of the device, e.g. scroll wheels, sliders, knobs, rollers or belts
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
- H04M1/00—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
- H04M1/26—Devices for calling a subscriber
- H04M1/27—Devices whereby a plurality of signals may be stored simultaneously
- H04M1/274—Devices whereby a plurality of signals may be stored simultaneously with provision for storing more than one subscriber number at a time, e.g. using toothed disc
- H04M1/2745—Devices whereby a plurality of signals may be stored simultaneously with provision for storing more than one subscriber number at a time, e.g. using toothed disc using static electronic memories, e.g. chips
- H04M1/27467—Methods of retrieving data
- H04M1/2747—Scrolling on a display
-
- H—ELECTRICITY
- H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
- H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
- H04M1/00—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
- H04M1/72—Mobile telephones; Cordless telephones, i.e. devices for establishing wireless links to base stations without route selection
- H04M1/724—User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones
- H04M1/72469—User interfaces specially adapted for cordless or mobile telephones for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Human Computer Interaction (AREA)
- Signal Processing (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Computer Networks & Wireless Communication (AREA)
- Telephone Set Structure (AREA)
- Input From Keyboards Or The Like (AREA)
- Telephone Function (AREA)
Abstract
COMMUNICATIONS HANDSET WITH MENU SELECTION
Abstract of the Disclosure A communications handset comprises a rotary switch on a side of the handset and a display panel. The position, and direction of movement, of the switch is determined and translated so as to cause highlighting of soft keys, or items, within a menu of soft keys displayed on the display panel.
Selection of a particular soft key is made by depressing the switch when the desired soft key is highlighted. The display can be supplemented with or replaced by an audible voice signal representing the menu selections. The handset provides convenient and one-handed access to menu selections.
- i -
Abstract of the Disclosure A communications handset comprises a rotary switch on a side of the handset and a display panel. The position, and direction of movement, of the switch is determined and translated so as to cause highlighting of soft keys, or items, within a menu of soft keys displayed on the display panel.
Selection of a particular soft key is made by depressing the switch when the desired soft key is highlighted. The display can be supplemented with or replaced by an audible voice signal representing the menu selections. The handset provides convenient and one-handed access to menu selections.
- i -
Description
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COMMUNICATIONS HANDSET WITH MENU SELECTION
Field of the Invention The present invention relates to communications handsets, and is particularly concerned with a handset which provides for the presentation and selection of items of a menu.
Backaround of the Invention The use of menus for accessing various levels of options for such devices as computers and telephones is well known. Visual display and voice are both used for presenting menu selections. However, known techniques for accessing voice or visual selections have disadvantages.
With display based menus, the user typically -accesses soft keys displayed on a screen by pressing on keys on a keyboard associated with the soft keys. This technology is difficult to use where keys are hard to operate due to their size or where display areas are too small to display properly the available options. The display based menu also requires that the user be in close proximity both to reach the keys and to interpret the soft keys shown on the display. The use of such display based menus can further require the use of both hands, which can be difficult in such fields as telephony where one hand may be required to hold the handset of a telephone. --With voice menu based services, the user typically has to listen to a number of alternative choices from a voice synthesized menu. With such a menu the user must remember desired options in the menu and respond only when and as required.
Thus both display and voice menus can be awkward to use in certain situations such as telephony applications where one hand is usually required to hold the handset of the 2~2~
telephone, and especially in situations such as cellular phones where the user's attention can be on driving and therefore one hand is required to drive a vehicle while the other is required to hold the handset of the cellular phone unit.
Summary of the Invention It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved communications handset.
According to the present invention there is provided a communications handset comprising: presenting means for -presenting items of a menu; first switch means; control means responsive to the first switch means for controlling the presenting means to identify an item of the menu for selection of the item; and second switch means; the control means being responsive to the second switch means for performing a function corresponding to the currently identified item of the -menu.
In an embodiment of the invention described in .: ~ :- -detail below, the second switch means is arranged to be operated by pressure on the first switch means, which can be a rotary switch to the direction of rotation of which the control means is responsive, and which is conveniently positioned on a side of the handset to be operable by a thumb of a hand holding the handset, thereby facilitating one-handed use of the handset. The presenting means can comprise a visual display and/or an audible voice signal. ;~
The interface provided by the present invention is particularly useful in applications such as portable or cellular phones where a large number of services and features can be made available within a limited display size. The interface is also useful in wireless, or cordless, telephones and pocket pagers. ~ -~''~'.' :' '`
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2012 ~ ~ 9 Brief Description of the Drawinqs The invention will be further understood from the following description, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is an isometric view of a telephone handset according to an embodiment of the invention;
Figure 2 is a top plan view of a known form of rotary switch which is incorporated in the handset of Figure l;
Figure 3 is a top plan view of the telephone handset of Figure l;
Figure 4 illustrates in more detail how the rotary -switch is incorporated in the handset;
Figure 5 is a block diagram of circuitry connected to the rotary switch; and Figures 6 and 7 are top plan views of the telephone handset of Figure l with different information displays.
Detailed Description Figure 1 illustrates a telephone handset 10 ~ -incorporating a selecting means constituted by a rotary switch 20 which is located in the handset 10 for convenient rotation by the thumb of a person's hand holding the handset. The handset also includes presenting means, constituted by a display panel 30 using liquid crystal or other display technology. The display panel 30 displays information such as menu choices, soft keys, or prompts 32b, 32c which can be selected as described below to cause a controller to perform desired tasks. The menu choices, for example, can include a list of names and phone numbers, a selection of telephone services, or a selection of operational parameters, or a~
combination of any of the above.
Figure 2 illustrates the rotary switch 20 in greater detail. The rotary switch 20 is of known form and comprises a thumbwheel 22 having a number of ridges 23 thereon for facilitating the rotation of the thumbwheel 22. The :: ::::.--3 ~
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thumbwheel 22 further comprises a member 21 having a plurality of arcuate formations 24 around the periphery of the member 21. The formations 24 are of such size and shape as to conveniently allow a ball 29 to fit therein. A spring 28 keeps the ball 29 in contact with the member 21 and thereby ::
provides resistance to rotational motion of the thumbwheel 22.
With such an arrangement the rotation of the rotary switch 20 is well defined into discrete steps as the ball 29, the spring 28, and the arcuate formations 24 prevent the thumbwheel 22 -~:
from revolving more than a defined number of degrees at one time, in this instance 22.5. ~:
Member 21 has thereon a conductive pattern 40 which comprises an array of conductors 42 having conductive pads 44 and 46. A controller 50 is used to determine in known manner :~
the position (step count), and direction of rotation, of the :~
rotary switch 20. The controller 50 determines current flow between contacts 25, 26 and contact 27 in resilient contact ~:
with the member 41 and the conductive pattern 40 and assigns a : :-~
logical value of 1 or 0 depending on whether each of the contacts 25 and 26 is conducting current or not, respectively.
Contact 27 is always in contact with the central portion of the conductive pattern 40 and acts as a common terminal. The : ::
direction of motion of the rotary switch 20 is determined by the connections the contacts 25, 26 make with the conductors 42. ~ .
' : ' ' For instance, starting with the contacts 25, 26 in a : ~ -position between conductors 42 (as illustrated in Figure 2) a logical value of 00 is obtained (ie. as each contact 25, 26 is .
in a non-conductive region of the rotary switch 20 no current ~
flows in either contact 25, 26 as there is no electrical path ~::
to contact 27, therefore a logical value of 0 results for each contact 25, 26). A clockwise movement C of the rotary switch -:~
20 will cause contact 25 to come into contact with a conductive pad 44 on one of the conductors 42, thus causing :~
current to flow in contact 25 due to the electrical path ~i;,` ', '''~ ", 2~ 2~
created between contacts 25, 27. Consequently a logical value of 1 for contact 25 is determined resulting in a logical value of 10 for the contacts 25, 26. Further clockwise rotation of the rotary switch 20 will bring the contacts 25, 26 into contact with both conductive pads 44, 46 of conductor 42 thus producing a logical value of 11. continuation of the clockwise motion will cause contact 25 to disengage from the conductive pad 44 thus resulting in a logical value of 01 for the contacts 25, 26. Thus a sequence of logical signals 00, 10, 11, 01, 00 is created as the rotary switch 20 is rotated in a clockwise direction C. If the rotary switch 20 is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction A the resultant logical sequence 00, 01, 11, 10, 00 is created. Consequently the controller 50 can easily detect the direction of rotation of the rotary switch 20 by recognizing the resultant logical sequence created.
The controller 50 responds to rotation of the rotary switch 20 to change information displayed on the display panel 30. Preferably, the display panel 30 displays a plurality of selectable items or menu choices, one of which is highlighted at any time. Rotation of the switch 20 in either direction causes the controller 50 to change the highlighted item. If the display panel 30 can simultaneously display all possible selectable items, this can be achieved by changing the highlighted position on the display. Alternatively, it can be achieved by scrolling the display of the selectable items through a fixed highlighted position, in a direction corresponding to the direction of rotation of the switch 20.
A combination of these techniques may be used, or with a small -;~
display only one selectable item could be displayed at a time, without highlighting, in a selection position, using the latter technique. In the following description only -highlighting is referred to for brevity and convenience, but it should be understood that any of these possible techniques may be used.
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Thus on each transition from a value of 00 in the above logical sequences, the controller 50 highlights the next soft key 32 on the display panel 30 in the appropriate direction as determined by the direction of rotation of the rotary switch 20 (eg. referring to Figure 1, a clockwise rotation C of the rotary switch 20 will cause a soft key 32c to the right of the presently highlighted soft key 32b to be highlighted, and a counter-clockwise rotation A of the rotary ;
switch 20 will cause a soft key 32a (not shown in Figure 1) to the left of the presently highlighted soft key 32b to be highlighted).
Other methods of determining the position and direction of rotation of the rotary switch 20 may be used, and -many exist in the prior art, an example of which is optical coupling. The selection of which technology to use depends on the specific application requirements and conditions, such as costs.
Figure 3 illustrates a possible display of soft keys 32 on the display panel 30 of the handset 10. As the controller 50 within the handset 10 monitors the position of ~;~
the rotary switch 20 it causes a soft key 32 (a, b, or c) to be highlighted (eg. by placing a box around the soft key 32 or by displaying the soft key 32 as underlined, in reverse video, or, as illustrated by soft key 32b in Figure 3, in bold ; -~
characters). The highlighting is used to inform the user of which soft key 32 (a, b, or c) is currently selected. As the rotary switch 20 is rotated, the controller 50 highlights each ~ ;
of the soft keys 32 in turn in the appropriate direction (right or left) according to the direction of movement ~
(counter-clockwise or clockwise, respectively) of the rotary -switch 20.
. , ~,.
Referring to Figure 4, the handset 10 also includes a micro-switch 60 having an actuator 62 positioned adjacent to the rotary switch 20. Pressure on the rotary switch 20, when ~ ;~
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a desired soft key 32 is highlighted as described above, causes the rotary switch 20 to move or pivot about a mounting axis 49 of the switch 20 and come into contact with the actuator 62 of the micro-switch 60, consequently closing its contacts. The contacts of the micro-switch 60 are coupled to the controller 50 to cause it to perform functions associated with the currently highlighted soft key 32 upon such momentary depression of the rotary switch 20.
Figure 5 illustrates, by means of a block diagram, the process involved in selecting and highlighting a particular soft key 32. As illustrated in Figure 5, the controller 50 comprises rotary switch debounce and direction detect circuitry 50a as described above; a microprocessor 50b (including Read Only Memory (ROM) and Random Access Memory (RAM) for firmware control, and Input/Output (I/O) ports); and -a custom silicon integrated circuit 50c for performing telephony functions. The firmware for microprocessor 50b controls the information displayed in the display 30 (eg. soft keys 32 and highlighting) as well as which telephony functions -are being performed. A line A provides the microprocessor 50b with the step count, direction and rotational speed of the rotary switch 20, in response to signals from the rotary switch 20 (via line B and contacts 25, 26, and contact 27 (as illustrated in Figure 2)) being debounced and processed by the ~ ;
debounce and direction detect circuitry 50a. Using this information, the microprocessor 50b displays and highlights the appropriate soft key 32 as described above. The microprocessor 50b is coupled to the micro-switch 60 contacts via a line C, performs debouncing of micro-switch operations under the control of its firmware and performs the functions of the currently selected soft key 32 when the rotary switch 20 is depressed thereby operating the micro-switch 60, also under firmware control.
Figures 6 and 7 illustrate how a telephone number could be selected for dialling. A display area 34 in the '~ . " ' ' . ' ' : ; ' "," ' ' . ' ' ' ~, , ' ' ' ` ' ' ,' , ' ' " ` : ' : ' ,' ' ' ' , .; " . .
2~ 2~ ~fi~
, display panel 30 in this case incl~des a menu containing ~ -selectable items constituted by the digits 1 to 9 and 0, and ~--the word "DIAL", and a display area 36 displays selected ~ ~
digits of the telephone number. In Figure 6 the number 6, ~ -which is highlighted in the display area 34, is the last selected digit in the displayed telephone number in the display area 36, this number having been selected by rotating the rotary switch 20 until 6 was highlighted and then depressing the rotary switch 20, with the controller 50 updating the display in the display area 36. If the rotary switch 20 is depressed a second time the number 6 is again selected and displayed as shown in Figure 7. When it is desired to dial the selected telephone number, the rotary switch 20 is rotated until the soft key "DIAL" is highlighted in the display area 34, and then the rotary switch 20 is depressed which instructs the controller ~0 to proceed to dial ~ -the displayed telephone number.
To provide additional flexibility when viewing long menus, the controller 50 can be designed to allow quick movement through the soft keys 32. For instance, if the rotary switch 20 is rotated in either direction quickly, ~-rather than stepping through each of the soft keys 32 in turn -it is advantageous to skip over the display of one or two, or more, soft keys 32. Consequently a quick indication of the present location within the menu can be obtained. This decreases the amount of time needed to scan long menus. The display increments for soft keys 32 can be determined, for example, by a linear function of the rotational velocity of the rotary switch 20 when above a desired threshold or by other desirable relational functions. In a preferred embddiment the determination of when to speed up the display ~-of the soft keys 32 is determined by the controller 50 by ~
averaging the time for three successive steps of the~ ~ ;
thumbwheel, eg. the step time between the contacts 25, and 26 ~-~
making contact with successive conductors 42. Typically, if the average step time between samples is less than 4 ;~
,~
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milliseconds, the display of soft keys 32 is sped up. An average step time greater than 4 milliseconds will result in the display of each soft key 32 in turn. This feature provides quick access to the soft keys 32 when the number of soft keys 32 is great, or the familiarity of the user with the interface is such that the user can quickly go through the soft keys 32 to select a desired action.
A further feature of the interface allows for the rotation of the rotary switch 20 when it is depressed, with the contacts of the micro-switch 60 closed. In this mode, the soft keys 32 can be quickly highlighted in turn, in the direction defined by the initial rotation of the rotary switch. It is to be noted that the rotary switch 20 need not be constantly turned with this feature, it is only necessary to briefly rotate the rotary switch 20 in the desired direction. The highlighting of the soft keys 32 by the controller 50 is stopped when the rotary switch 20 is released, thus opening the contacts of the micro-switch 60.
Selection of a desired soft key 32 is then completed by depressing the rotary switch 20. The speed of this automatic highlighting can be a function of the number of soft keys 32 currently displayed.
In some instances it is desirable to edit entries in a particular menu, such as a list of names or telephone numbers. To accomplish this the rotary switch 20 can be depressed twice (within a user selectable time window, eg. 24 msec.), the controller 50 responding to this to provide an edit mode for the particular soft key 32 chosen, if that particular soft key 32 is appropriate for editing. Editing is then performed by selecting characters from a given menu in the manner described above.
It should be realized that the menu displayed on the -display panel 30 may be a single level menu offering basic choices, or it may be a hierarchical set of menus in which the 9 .
- 2~ 2~
selection of a soft key 32 in one menu can cause another menu to be displayed. Furthermore, if a large number of soft keys ~ ~ i 32 are available which would not all be able to be displayed on the display panel 30, a scrolling menu may be designed wherein the left or rightmost selection would be scrolled off the screen and replaced by another selection in the right or leftmost position respectively. It should also be realized that rather than having the so~t keys 32 displayed in a left to right fashion, they can be displayed in a top down fashion.
To help a user locate the beginning or end of a menu, the controller 50 can be arranged to stop the scrolling -~
of the soft keys 32 at the beginning or end of the menu.
Conversely, if a user wishes to be able to continuously scan through a menu, the contrcller 50 can be arranged to wrap the display of the soft keys 32 such that the first soft key 32 of the menu will be displayed following the last soft key 32 of ~ ~ ~
the menu, and vice versa. ;;
To enhance the useability of the handset 10 in such environments as cellular phone use in automobiles, wherein concentration is diverted from the handset 10, audible voice signals may be included in the presenting means. With audible voice signal it is possible for a user to operate the rotary ~
switch 20 without referring to the display panel 30 for an -indication of which soft key 32 is presently highlighted. As each soft key 32 is highlighted it can be read to the user by a voice synthesizer (not shown) included in the unit. The voice synthesizer can be either a text to speech processor which reads the highlighted soft key 32 or it can be a pre~
recorded pronunciation of the highlighted soft key 32. ~-~
: . . . .
As can be readily envisioned, the interface can be designed using a voice feedback method only if it is desired not to have, or space does not permit for, a display panel 30.
,, , -, It can be further realized that the rotary switch 20 can be replaced by other selection means, such as a slide switch, the selection means incorporating a technique for discrete stepping.
Numerous other modifications, variations, and adaptations may be made to the particular embodiments of the invention described above without departing from the scope of the claims.
COMMUNICATIONS HANDSET WITH MENU SELECTION
Field of the Invention The present invention relates to communications handsets, and is particularly concerned with a handset which provides for the presentation and selection of items of a menu.
Backaround of the Invention The use of menus for accessing various levels of options for such devices as computers and telephones is well known. Visual display and voice are both used for presenting menu selections. However, known techniques for accessing voice or visual selections have disadvantages.
With display based menus, the user typically -accesses soft keys displayed on a screen by pressing on keys on a keyboard associated with the soft keys. This technology is difficult to use where keys are hard to operate due to their size or where display areas are too small to display properly the available options. The display based menu also requires that the user be in close proximity both to reach the keys and to interpret the soft keys shown on the display. The use of such display based menus can further require the use of both hands, which can be difficult in such fields as telephony where one hand may be required to hold the handset of a telephone. --With voice menu based services, the user typically has to listen to a number of alternative choices from a voice synthesized menu. With such a menu the user must remember desired options in the menu and respond only when and as required.
Thus both display and voice menus can be awkward to use in certain situations such as telephony applications where one hand is usually required to hold the handset of the 2~2~
telephone, and especially in situations such as cellular phones where the user's attention can be on driving and therefore one hand is required to drive a vehicle while the other is required to hold the handset of the cellular phone unit.
Summary of the Invention It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved communications handset.
According to the present invention there is provided a communications handset comprising: presenting means for -presenting items of a menu; first switch means; control means responsive to the first switch means for controlling the presenting means to identify an item of the menu for selection of the item; and second switch means; the control means being responsive to the second switch means for performing a function corresponding to the currently identified item of the -menu.
In an embodiment of the invention described in .: ~ :- -detail below, the second switch means is arranged to be operated by pressure on the first switch means, which can be a rotary switch to the direction of rotation of which the control means is responsive, and which is conveniently positioned on a side of the handset to be operable by a thumb of a hand holding the handset, thereby facilitating one-handed use of the handset. The presenting means can comprise a visual display and/or an audible voice signal. ;~
The interface provided by the present invention is particularly useful in applications such as portable or cellular phones where a large number of services and features can be made available within a limited display size. The interface is also useful in wireless, or cordless, telephones and pocket pagers. ~ -~''~'.' :' '`
'~
2012 ~ ~ 9 Brief Description of the Drawinqs The invention will be further understood from the following description, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawings, in which:
Figure 1 is an isometric view of a telephone handset according to an embodiment of the invention;
Figure 2 is a top plan view of a known form of rotary switch which is incorporated in the handset of Figure l;
Figure 3 is a top plan view of the telephone handset of Figure l;
Figure 4 illustrates in more detail how the rotary -switch is incorporated in the handset;
Figure 5 is a block diagram of circuitry connected to the rotary switch; and Figures 6 and 7 are top plan views of the telephone handset of Figure l with different information displays.
Detailed Description Figure 1 illustrates a telephone handset 10 ~ -incorporating a selecting means constituted by a rotary switch 20 which is located in the handset 10 for convenient rotation by the thumb of a person's hand holding the handset. The handset also includes presenting means, constituted by a display panel 30 using liquid crystal or other display technology. The display panel 30 displays information such as menu choices, soft keys, or prompts 32b, 32c which can be selected as described below to cause a controller to perform desired tasks. The menu choices, for example, can include a list of names and phone numbers, a selection of telephone services, or a selection of operational parameters, or a~
combination of any of the above.
Figure 2 illustrates the rotary switch 20 in greater detail. The rotary switch 20 is of known form and comprises a thumbwheel 22 having a number of ridges 23 thereon for facilitating the rotation of the thumbwheel 22. The :: ::::.--3 ~
-- 2~12 ~
thumbwheel 22 further comprises a member 21 having a plurality of arcuate formations 24 around the periphery of the member 21. The formations 24 are of such size and shape as to conveniently allow a ball 29 to fit therein. A spring 28 keeps the ball 29 in contact with the member 21 and thereby ::
provides resistance to rotational motion of the thumbwheel 22.
With such an arrangement the rotation of the rotary switch 20 is well defined into discrete steps as the ball 29, the spring 28, and the arcuate formations 24 prevent the thumbwheel 22 -~:
from revolving more than a defined number of degrees at one time, in this instance 22.5. ~:
Member 21 has thereon a conductive pattern 40 which comprises an array of conductors 42 having conductive pads 44 and 46. A controller 50 is used to determine in known manner :~
the position (step count), and direction of rotation, of the :~
rotary switch 20. The controller 50 determines current flow between contacts 25, 26 and contact 27 in resilient contact ~:
with the member 41 and the conductive pattern 40 and assigns a : :-~
logical value of 1 or 0 depending on whether each of the contacts 25 and 26 is conducting current or not, respectively.
Contact 27 is always in contact with the central portion of the conductive pattern 40 and acts as a common terminal. The : ::
direction of motion of the rotary switch 20 is determined by the connections the contacts 25, 26 make with the conductors 42. ~ .
' : ' ' For instance, starting with the contacts 25, 26 in a : ~ -position between conductors 42 (as illustrated in Figure 2) a logical value of 00 is obtained (ie. as each contact 25, 26 is .
in a non-conductive region of the rotary switch 20 no current ~
flows in either contact 25, 26 as there is no electrical path ~::
to contact 27, therefore a logical value of 0 results for each contact 25, 26). A clockwise movement C of the rotary switch -:~
20 will cause contact 25 to come into contact with a conductive pad 44 on one of the conductors 42, thus causing :~
current to flow in contact 25 due to the electrical path ~i;,` ', '''~ ", 2~ 2~
created between contacts 25, 27. Consequently a logical value of 1 for contact 25 is determined resulting in a logical value of 10 for the contacts 25, 26. Further clockwise rotation of the rotary switch 20 will bring the contacts 25, 26 into contact with both conductive pads 44, 46 of conductor 42 thus producing a logical value of 11. continuation of the clockwise motion will cause contact 25 to disengage from the conductive pad 44 thus resulting in a logical value of 01 for the contacts 25, 26. Thus a sequence of logical signals 00, 10, 11, 01, 00 is created as the rotary switch 20 is rotated in a clockwise direction C. If the rotary switch 20 is rotated in a counter-clockwise direction A the resultant logical sequence 00, 01, 11, 10, 00 is created. Consequently the controller 50 can easily detect the direction of rotation of the rotary switch 20 by recognizing the resultant logical sequence created.
The controller 50 responds to rotation of the rotary switch 20 to change information displayed on the display panel 30. Preferably, the display panel 30 displays a plurality of selectable items or menu choices, one of which is highlighted at any time. Rotation of the switch 20 in either direction causes the controller 50 to change the highlighted item. If the display panel 30 can simultaneously display all possible selectable items, this can be achieved by changing the highlighted position on the display. Alternatively, it can be achieved by scrolling the display of the selectable items through a fixed highlighted position, in a direction corresponding to the direction of rotation of the switch 20.
A combination of these techniques may be used, or with a small -;~
display only one selectable item could be displayed at a time, without highlighting, in a selection position, using the latter technique. In the following description only -highlighting is referred to for brevity and convenience, but it should be understood that any of these possible techniques may be used.
; ~.. , . ... . . . ~
2~2~
Thus on each transition from a value of 00 in the above logical sequences, the controller 50 highlights the next soft key 32 on the display panel 30 in the appropriate direction as determined by the direction of rotation of the rotary switch 20 (eg. referring to Figure 1, a clockwise rotation C of the rotary switch 20 will cause a soft key 32c to the right of the presently highlighted soft key 32b to be highlighted, and a counter-clockwise rotation A of the rotary ;
switch 20 will cause a soft key 32a (not shown in Figure 1) to the left of the presently highlighted soft key 32b to be highlighted).
Other methods of determining the position and direction of rotation of the rotary switch 20 may be used, and -many exist in the prior art, an example of which is optical coupling. The selection of which technology to use depends on the specific application requirements and conditions, such as costs.
Figure 3 illustrates a possible display of soft keys 32 on the display panel 30 of the handset 10. As the controller 50 within the handset 10 monitors the position of ~;~
the rotary switch 20 it causes a soft key 32 (a, b, or c) to be highlighted (eg. by placing a box around the soft key 32 or by displaying the soft key 32 as underlined, in reverse video, or, as illustrated by soft key 32b in Figure 3, in bold ; -~
characters). The highlighting is used to inform the user of which soft key 32 (a, b, or c) is currently selected. As the rotary switch 20 is rotated, the controller 50 highlights each ~ ;
of the soft keys 32 in turn in the appropriate direction (right or left) according to the direction of movement ~
(counter-clockwise or clockwise, respectively) of the rotary -switch 20.
. , ~,.
Referring to Figure 4, the handset 10 also includes a micro-switch 60 having an actuator 62 positioned adjacent to the rotary switch 20. Pressure on the rotary switch 20, when ~ ;~
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f 2 ~
a desired soft key 32 is highlighted as described above, causes the rotary switch 20 to move or pivot about a mounting axis 49 of the switch 20 and come into contact with the actuator 62 of the micro-switch 60, consequently closing its contacts. The contacts of the micro-switch 60 are coupled to the controller 50 to cause it to perform functions associated with the currently highlighted soft key 32 upon such momentary depression of the rotary switch 20.
Figure 5 illustrates, by means of a block diagram, the process involved in selecting and highlighting a particular soft key 32. As illustrated in Figure 5, the controller 50 comprises rotary switch debounce and direction detect circuitry 50a as described above; a microprocessor 50b (including Read Only Memory (ROM) and Random Access Memory (RAM) for firmware control, and Input/Output (I/O) ports); and -a custom silicon integrated circuit 50c for performing telephony functions. The firmware for microprocessor 50b controls the information displayed in the display 30 (eg. soft keys 32 and highlighting) as well as which telephony functions -are being performed. A line A provides the microprocessor 50b with the step count, direction and rotational speed of the rotary switch 20, in response to signals from the rotary switch 20 (via line B and contacts 25, 26, and contact 27 (as illustrated in Figure 2)) being debounced and processed by the ~ ;
debounce and direction detect circuitry 50a. Using this information, the microprocessor 50b displays and highlights the appropriate soft key 32 as described above. The microprocessor 50b is coupled to the micro-switch 60 contacts via a line C, performs debouncing of micro-switch operations under the control of its firmware and performs the functions of the currently selected soft key 32 when the rotary switch 20 is depressed thereby operating the micro-switch 60, also under firmware control.
Figures 6 and 7 illustrate how a telephone number could be selected for dialling. A display area 34 in the '~ . " ' ' . ' ' : ; ' "," ' ' . ' ' ' ~, , ' ' ' ` ' ' ,' , ' ' " ` : ' : ' ,' ' ' ' , .; " . .
2~ 2~ ~fi~
, display panel 30 in this case incl~des a menu containing ~ -selectable items constituted by the digits 1 to 9 and 0, and ~--the word "DIAL", and a display area 36 displays selected ~ ~
digits of the telephone number. In Figure 6 the number 6, ~ -which is highlighted in the display area 34, is the last selected digit in the displayed telephone number in the display area 36, this number having been selected by rotating the rotary switch 20 until 6 was highlighted and then depressing the rotary switch 20, with the controller 50 updating the display in the display area 36. If the rotary switch 20 is depressed a second time the number 6 is again selected and displayed as shown in Figure 7. When it is desired to dial the selected telephone number, the rotary switch 20 is rotated until the soft key "DIAL" is highlighted in the display area 34, and then the rotary switch 20 is depressed which instructs the controller ~0 to proceed to dial ~ -the displayed telephone number.
To provide additional flexibility when viewing long menus, the controller 50 can be designed to allow quick movement through the soft keys 32. For instance, if the rotary switch 20 is rotated in either direction quickly, ~-rather than stepping through each of the soft keys 32 in turn -it is advantageous to skip over the display of one or two, or more, soft keys 32. Consequently a quick indication of the present location within the menu can be obtained. This decreases the amount of time needed to scan long menus. The display increments for soft keys 32 can be determined, for example, by a linear function of the rotational velocity of the rotary switch 20 when above a desired threshold or by other desirable relational functions. In a preferred embddiment the determination of when to speed up the display ~-of the soft keys 32 is determined by the controller 50 by ~
averaging the time for three successive steps of the~ ~ ;
thumbwheel, eg. the step time between the contacts 25, and 26 ~-~
making contact with successive conductors 42. Typically, if the average step time between samples is less than 4 ;~
,~
, . ..
. , , ' : ' ' ':
~L2~9 ........
milliseconds, the display of soft keys 32 is sped up. An average step time greater than 4 milliseconds will result in the display of each soft key 32 in turn. This feature provides quick access to the soft keys 32 when the number of soft keys 32 is great, or the familiarity of the user with the interface is such that the user can quickly go through the soft keys 32 to select a desired action.
A further feature of the interface allows for the rotation of the rotary switch 20 when it is depressed, with the contacts of the micro-switch 60 closed. In this mode, the soft keys 32 can be quickly highlighted in turn, in the direction defined by the initial rotation of the rotary switch. It is to be noted that the rotary switch 20 need not be constantly turned with this feature, it is only necessary to briefly rotate the rotary switch 20 in the desired direction. The highlighting of the soft keys 32 by the controller 50 is stopped when the rotary switch 20 is released, thus opening the contacts of the micro-switch 60.
Selection of a desired soft key 32 is then completed by depressing the rotary switch 20. The speed of this automatic highlighting can be a function of the number of soft keys 32 currently displayed.
In some instances it is desirable to edit entries in a particular menu, such as a list of names or telephone numbers. To accomplish this the rotary switch 20 can be depressed twice (within a user selectable time window, eg. 24 msec.), the controller 50 responding to this to provide an edit mode for the particular soft key 32 chosen, if that particular soft key 32 is appropriate for editing. Editing is then performed by selecting characters from a given menu in the manner described above.
It should be realized that the menu displayed on the -display panel 30 may be a single level menu offering basic choices, or it may be a hierarchical set of menus in which the 9 .
- 2~ 2~
selection of a soft key 32 in one menu can cause another menu to be displayed. Furthermore, if a large number of soft keys ~ ~ i 32 are available which would not all be able to be displayed on the display panel 30, a scrolling menu may be designed wherein the left or rightmost selection would be scrolled off the screen and replaced by another selection in the right or leftmost position respectively. It should also be realized that rather than having the so~t keys 32 displayed in a left to right fashion, they can be displayed in a top down fashion.
To help a user locate the beginning or end of a menu, the controller 50 can be arranged to stop the scrolling -~
of the soft keys 32 at the beginning or end of the menu.
Conversely, if a user wishes to be able to continuously scan through a menu, the contrcller 50 can be arranged to wrap the display of the soft keys 32 such that the first soft key 32 of the menu will be displayed following the last soft key 32 of ~ ~ ~
the menu, and vice versa. ;;
To enhance the useability of the handset 10 in such environments as cellular phone use in automobiles, wherein concentration is diverted from the handset 10, audible voice signals may be included in the presenting means. With audible voice signal it is possible for a user to operate the rotary ~
switch 20 without referring to the display panel 30 for an -indication of which soft key 32 is presently highlighted. As each soft key 32 is highlighted it can be read to the user by a voice synthesizer (not shown) included in the unit. The voice synthesizer can be either a text to speech processor which reads the highlighted soft key 32 or it can be a pre~
recorded pronunciation of the highlighted soft key 32. ~-~
: . . . .
As can be readily envisioned, the interface can be designed using a voice feedback method only if it is desired not to have, or space does not permit for, a display panel 30.
,, , -, It can be further realized that the rotary switch 20 can be replaced by other selection means, such as a slide switch, the selection means incorporating a technique for discrete stepping.
Numerous other modifications, variations, and adaptations may be made to the particular embodiments of the invention described above without departing from the scope of the claims.
Claims (8)
1. A communications handset comprising:
presenting means for presenting items of a menu;
first switch means;
control means responsive to the first switch means for controlling the presenting means to identify an item of the menu for selection of the item; and second switch means;
the control means being responsive to the second switch means for performing a function corresponding to the currently identified item of the menu.
presenting means for presenting items of a menu;
first switch means;
control means responsive to the first switch means for controlling the presenting means to identify an item of the menu for selection of the item; and second switch means;
the control means being responsive to the second switch means for performing a function corresponding to the currently identified item of the menu.
2. A communications handset as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first switch means comprises a rotary switch and the control means is responsive to a direction of rotation of the rotary switch.
3. A communications handset as claimed in claim 2 wherein the second switch means is arranged to be operated by pressure on the rotary switch.
4. A communications handset as claimed in claim 1 wherein the second switch means is arranged to be operated by pressure on the first switch means.
5. A communications handset as claimed in claim 1 wherein the presenting means comprises a visual display.
6. A communications handset as claimed in claim 1 wherein the presenting means comprises an audible voice signal.
7. A communications handset as claimed in claim 1 wherein the first switch means is positioned on a side of the handset to be operable by a thumb of a hand holding the handset.
8. A communications handset as claimed in claim 3 wherein the rotary switch is positioned on a side of the handset to be operable by a thumb of a hand holding the handset.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002012199A CA2012199A1 (en) | 1990-03-14 | 1990-03-14 | Communications handset with menu selection |
Applications Claiming Priority (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002012199A CA2012199A1 (en) | 1990-03-14 | 1990-03-14 | Communications handset with menu selection |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2012199A1 true CA2012199A1 (en) | 1991-09-14 |
Family
ID=4144524
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002012199A Abandoned CA2012199A1 (en) | 1990-03-14 | 1990-03-14 | Communications handset with menu selection |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (1) | CA2012199A1 (en) |
Cited By (19)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| EP0679003A2 (en) * | 1994-04-20 | 1995-10-25 | Sony Corporation | Communication terminal apparatus and control method thereof |
| FR2724804A1 (en) * | 1994-09-20 | 1996-03-22 | Motorola Inc | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DYNAMIC RADIOCOMMUNICATION MENU |
| DE19700383A1 (en) * | 1996-01-15 | 1997-07-24 | Lg Electronics Inc | Analog keyboard for a video display device |
| EP0802658A2 (en) * | 1996-04-15 | 1997-10-22 | Nokia Mobile Phones Ltd. | Mobile terminal having improved user interface |
| EP0845893A2 (en) * | 1996-11-29 | 1998-06-03 | Sony Corporation | Telephone data input device |
| DE19700647C1 (en) * | 1997-01-10 | 1998-07-02 | Ericsson Telefon Ab L M | Data entry device |
| DE19708450A1 (en) * | 1997-03-03 | 1998-09-17 | Ericsson Telefon Ab L M | Device for controlling a position indicator on a visual display |
| EP0930760A2 (en) * | 1998-01-14 | 1999-07-21 | Nokia Mobile Phones Ltd. | Method and apparatus for inputting information |
| EP1168777A2 (en) * | 2000-06-22 | 2002-01-02 | Nokia Mobile Phones Ltd. | User interface for radio telephone |
| DE10044534A1 (en) * | 2000-09-05 | 2002-03-14 | Leon Rottwinkel | Image rendering system |
| US6397084B1 (en) * | 1997-02-07 | 2002-05-28 | Sony Corporation | Wireless telephone with metered shuttle on face |
| EP1246364A1 (en) * | 2001-03-27 | 2002-10-02 | Sony International (Europe) GmbH | Method to provide a non-visual control functionality for a device and corresponding device interface |
| US6470076B1 (en) * | 1997-03-18 | 2002-10-22 | Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha | Portable telephone with voice-prompted menu screens |
| WO2004107787A2 (en) * | 2003-05-30 | 2004-12-09 | Inquam (Uk) Limited | Communication handset |
| DE102005015934A1 (en) * | 2005-04-06 | 2006-10-12 | Ibrahim Christian Erki | Operation method for electronic device e.g. mobile phone, organizer involves turning control mechanism to sequentially scroll cursor on indicator to choose from selections |
| DE19753121B4 (en) * | 1997-11-29 | 2007-03-15 | Siemens Ag | Motor vehicle information system with a database |
| USRE39959E1 (en) | 1994-04-20 | 2007-12-25 | Sony Corporation | Communication terminal apparatus and control method thereof |
| EP2375713A1 (en) * | 1999-02-22 | 2011-10-12 | Nokia Corporation | A radiophone provided with an operation key with multiple functionality for handling access to a menu structure |
| DE102019211659A1 (en) * | 2019-08-02 | 2021-02-04 | Audi Ag | Operating device for operating a motor vehicle system, method for operating a motor vehicle system by means of an operating device, and motor vehicle |
-
1990
- 1990-03-14 CA CA002012199A patent/CA2012199A1/en not_active Abandoned
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| EP1298892A2 (en) * | 1994-04-20 | 2003-04-02 | Sony Corporation | Communication terminal apparatus |
| US5999827A (en) * | 1994-04-20 | 1999-12-07 | Sony Corporation | Communication terminal apparatus and control method thereof |
| EP0679003A2 (en) * | 1994-04-20 | 1995-10-25 | Sony Corporation | Communication terminal apparatus and control method thereof |
| USRE39959E1 (en) | 1994-04-20 | 2007-12-25 | Sony Corporation | Communication terminal apparatus and control method thereof |
| EP1298892A3 (en) * | 1994-04-20 | 2003-12-10 | Sony Corporation | Communication terminal apparatus |
| EP1289235A3 (en) * | 1994-04-20 | 2003-12-10 | Sony Corporation | Communication terminal apparatus with mode selection means |
| US6198948B1 (en) | 1994-04-20 | 2001-03-06 | Sony Corporation | Communication terminal apparatus and control method thereof |
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| CN1089534C (en) * | 1994-04-20 | 2002-08-21 | 索尼公司 | Portable telephone |
| US5987336A (en) * | 1994-04-20 | 1999-11-16 | Sony Corporation | Communication terminal apparatus and control method thereof |
| EP0679003A3 (en) * | 1994-04-20 | 1999-06-16 | Sony Corporation | Communication terminal apparatus and control method thereof |
| EP1289235A2 (en) * | 1994-04-20 | 2003-03-05 | Sony Corporation | Communication terminal apparatus with mode selection means |
| FR2724804A1 (en) * | 1994-09-20 | 1996-03-22 | Motorola Inc | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR DYNAMIC RADIOCOMMUNICATION MENU |
| DE19700383C2 (en) * | 1996-01-15 | 2003-03-20 | Lg Electronics Inc | Analog keyboard for a video display device |
| DE19700383A1 (en) * | 1996-01-15 | 1997-07-24 | Lg Electronics Inc | Analog keyboard for a video display device |
| EP0802658A3 (en) * | 1996-04-15 | 2003-02-26 | Nokia Corporation | Mobile terminal having improved user interface |
| EP0802658A2 (en) * | 1996-04-15 | 1997-10-22 | Nokia Mobile Phones Ltd. | Mobile terminal having improved user interface |
| EP0845893A3 (en) * | 1996-11-29 | 2004-07-28 | Sony Corporation | Telephone data input device |
| EP0845893A2 (en) * | 1996-11-29 | 1998-06-03 | Sony Corporation | Telephone data input device |
| DE19700647C1 (en) * | 1997-01-10 | 1998-07-02 | Ericsson Telefon Ab L M | Data entry device |
| US6397084B1 (en) * | 1997-02-07 | 2002-05-28 | Sony Corporation | Wireless telephone with metered shuttle on face |
| US6094190A (en) * | 1997-03-03 | 2000-07-25 | Telefonaktiebolaget Lm Ericsson | Device for controlling a position indicator on a visual display |
| DE19708450A1 (en) * | 1997-03-03 | 1998-09-17 | Ericsson Telefon Ab L M | Device for controlling a position indicator on a visual display |
| US6470076B1 (en) * | 1997-03-18 | 2002-10-22 | Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha | Portable telephone with voice-prompted menu screens |
| DE19753121B4 (en) * | 1997-11-29 | 2007-03-15 | Siemens Ag | Motor vehicle information system with a database |
| EP0930760A2 (en) * | 1998-01-14 | 1999-07-21 | Nokia Mobile Phones Ltd. | Method and apparatus for inputting information |
| EP1783987A2 (en) | 1998-01-14 | 2007-05-09 | Nokia Corporation | Method and apparatus for inputting information |
| US6810272B2 (en) | 1998-01-14 | 2004-10-26 | Nokia Mobile Phones Limited | Data entry by string of possible candidate information in a hand-portable communication terminal |
| EP2063613A1 (en) * | 1998-01-14 | 2009-05-27 | Nokia Corp. | Method and apparatus for inputting information |
| EP1783987A3 (en) * | 1998-01-14 | 2008-07-23 | Nokia Corporation | Method and apparatus for inputting information |
| EP0930760A3 (en) * | 1998-01-14 | 2003-09-10 | Nokia Corporation | Method and apparatus for inputting information |
| EP2375713A1 (en) * | 1999-02-22 | 2011-10-12 | Nokia Corporation | A radiophone provided with an operation key with multiple functionality for handling access to a menu structure |
| EP1168777A3 (en) * | 2000-06-22 | 2003-07-16 | Nokia Corporation | User interface for radio telephone |
| EP1168777A2 (en) * | 2000-06-22 | 2002-01-02 | Nokia Mobile Phones Ltd. | User interface for radio telephone |
| DE10044534A1 (en) * | 2000-09-05 | 2002-03-14 | Leon Rottwinkel | Image rendering system |
| EP1246364A1 (en) * | 2001-03-27 | 2002-10-02 | Sony International (Europe) GmbH | Method to provide a non-visual control functionality for a device and corresponding device interface |
| WO2004107787A3 (en) * | 2003-05-30 | 2005-04-21 | Inquam Uk Ltd | Communication handset |
| WO2004107787A2 (en) * | 2003-05-30 | 2004-12-09 | Inquam (Uk) Limited | Communication handset |
| DE102005015934A1 (en) * | 2005-04-06 | 2006-10-12 | Ibrahim Christian Erki | Operation method for electronic device e.g. mobile phone, organizer involves turning control mechanism to sequentially scroll cursor on indicator to choose from selections |
| DE102019211659A1 (en) * | 2019-08-02 | 2021-02-04 | Audi Ag | Operating device for operating a motor vehicle system, method for operating a motor vehicle system by means of an operating device, and motor vehicle |
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