WO2001046901A9 - Roller key user interface - Google Patents
Roller key user interfaceInfo
- Publication number
- WO2001046901A9 WO2001046901A9 PCT/US2000/035163 US0035163W WO0146901A9 WO 2001046901 A9 WO2001046901 A9 WO 2001046901A9 US 0035163 W US0035163 W US 0035163W WO 0146901 A9 WO0146901 A9 WO 0146901A9
- Authority
- WO
- WIPO (PCT)
- Prior art keywords
- user interface
- rollers
- switch
- belt
- frame
- Prior art date
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
- H04M1/72—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
Definitions
- the invention relates to methods and apparatus for providing a user interface, and more particularly, to a method and apparatus for providing a user interface on a mobile device mobile device.
- a navigation key has become a fairly essential part of any mobile device that has a multiplicity of communications or customizable functions.
- a navigation key typically permits at least one degree of freedom, that is, along a single axis as up and down.
- More versatile up-down navigation keys have included a roller which may be moved a variety of speeds by the user.
- a selection feature has been built into some of these by attaching a switch to the roller that measures the occurrence of pressure through the axis of rotation, and generally into the body of the mobile device. This has enormous advantages when selecting items on a list, as occur with a menuing user interface.
- a menuing user interface generally operates on a display, e.g. a LCD, to permit a user to select a function from a list.
- Feedback is generally provided by highlighting the current menu choice. Often there are cascading menus, wherein a user selects an item that causes yet another menu of choices to be displayed. T ie choices for navigating a menu are generally, up, down, and select-the-current-iighlighted-item.
- roller key is susceptible to dirt accumulations and tends to fail quicker than a rubber keypad.
- One solution to this is to put a flip-type or slidable cover over the roller key. In order to accomplish this, while keeping open volume to a minimum between the closed cover and the user interface, a very small roller radius is needed.
- the problem with small roller radiuses though, is that applying the pressure to 'select' a roller tends to put narrow zones of pressure on the fingertips, leading to fatigue and general customer dissatisfaction with the feel of the roller keys. This can generally be described as the fingertip-fatigue problem.
- the present invention provides an apparatus for providing a user interface for a device by using roller keys.
- the user interface at least two roller keys are positioned parallel to one another.
- a belt may be mounted on the rollers.
- a sensor may be engaged to detect rotational movement of the assembly of rollers and belt as would be produced by rubbing a finger across the belt. The rotational movement of the rollers may be translated into scrolling movements on a display of the device.
- An embodiment adds a switch or keyswitch to detect a downward pressure on a roller. The keyswitch helps to signal a key depression, or selection to the user interface.
- Fig. 1 is a diagram of a portable device including an embodiment of the invention located on one side;
- Fig. 2 is a view of a roller sensor of an embodiment of the invention
- Fig. 3a is a view of a top of a roller key assembly according to an embodiment of the invention.
- Fig. 3b is a view of a top of a roller key assembly according to another embodiment of the invention.
- Fig. 4 is a view of yet another embodiment of the invention.
- Fig. 5 is a close-up view of still yet another embodiment of the invention.
- Fig. 1 shows a mobile device 100 which may have an elongated shape that fits within the contours of a box.
- Mobile device may have a number of connectors that permit it to be recharged, or interfaced to a computer or other accessories.
- the aspect of connecting the mobile device to a less mobile device does not diminish its categorization as a mobile device.
- a roller-key embodiment of the invention 101 may be positioned in alternative locations on the mobile device 100, for example near the center of gravity or near the center of an external panel of the mobile device 100.
- the important aspect is that the roller- key be accessible to the fingers, especially while the device is being grasped.
- Fig. 2 shows a roller sensor 200, a basic component to embodiments of the invention. It has an axle 201 which may be fixed.
- a roller 203 rotates about the axis of the axle 201 , either because the roller 203 is loosely engaged with the axle, or because the roller 203 is rigidly attached to the axle, and the axle rotates in a support.
- the axle may be a part of a larger roller support structure.
- the roller may have one or more indicia of rotation 205a and 205b, which may comprise opposing poles on a magnet.
- the indicia of rotation 205a and 205b operatively couple to a rotation sensor array 207, e.g. magnetoresistive or Hall sensors.
- a rotation sensor array 207 may be connected to the inputs of a computer or wireless transmitter through means known in the art.
- the sensor array 207 may have multiple sensing elements to provide at least two offset waveforms that suggest the direction, as well as the speed of rotation.
- the waveforms produced, from e.g. regularly spaced indicia, should be other than 180° offset from each other to provide adequate information concerning direction, e.g. 90 (+- 30) degree offset between the two waveforms.
- Fig. 3a and 3b show embodiments of the invention which are comprised of at least two rollers.
- the rollers have a small radius, permitting the assembly to have a lower profile than would be possible with a single roller.
- a first fixed axle 301 supports a first roller 303.
- a second fixed axle 311 supports a second roller 313.
- the first roller and second roller may be referred to as first belt roller and second belt roller in the instance where a belt is in contact with the rollers.
- At least one of the first belt roller 303 and the second belt roller 313 will have indicia of rotation according to the basic component previously described.
- a rotation sensor array may be located nearby the indicia of rotation, e.g. between the rollers.
- FIG. 3a and 3b shows the inclusion of a belt 315 that snuggly engages the first belt roller 303 and the second belt roller 313.
- the rollers can be as small as the reliability and flexibility of the belt permits, without causing undue pressure and fatigue on fingers when pressing into the assembly.
- the tension on the belt may be adjusted to reduce wear on the belt and absorb some of the pressure exerted by a finger or other body part upon the belt.
- the at least two rollers may be used without any belts.
- Fig. 3b shows the incl jsion of a support member 351 which has an elongated body which is generally parallel to the first belt roller 303. The purpose of the support member 351 is to support and distribute pressure of a finger or other body part as it presses against the roller key.
- the support member may itself be a roller.
- the support member may be of similar size as an adjacent roller
- the support member may be in contact with a belt 315 or be so thin as to not touch the belt absent the intentional or unintentional pressing of the belt. If the support member is a roller, it may have an axis of rotation that is coplanar with a first belt roller and/or a second belt roller.
- Fig. 4 shows an axle frame 401 which is slidably mounted to the mobile device.
- the axle frame 401 may trigger a circuit closure such as by a switch, such as, e.g. a membrane keyboard keyswitch.
- the axle frame may have a springing bias that returns the axle frame 401 to its normal extended position.
- the axle frame may have a range of travel, which is biased, as by a spring, to be in an up position at rest, without anything pressing against the embodiment.
- axle frame 401 Located on the top of axle frame 401 may be the configuration of Fig. 3a or Fig. 3b.
- Force from a finger applied downward 411 occurs directly to a roller (with a belt between, in some embodiments).
- the roller transmits force to an axle - the axle transmits force to the axle frame 401 , thus producing travel until the axle frame 401 engages the keyswitch to close a circuit.
- Circuit closure occurs when the axle frame moves through a terminal range of motion near the bottom of the range of travel.
- the circuit closure may operate under software control to actuate an option that is selected by the linear motion of an object or body part across the rollers.
- Fig. 5 shows another embodiment wherein rollers are on fixed axles, yet free to move in a rotating fashion.
- a first fixed axle 501 supports a first roller 503.
- a second fixed axle 511 supports a second roller 513.
- the first roller and second roller 503 and 513 may be referred to as first belt roller 503 and second belt roller 513 in the embodiment where a belt 521 is in contact with the rollers.
- At least one of the first belt roller 503 and the second belt roller 513 will have indicia of rotation according to the basic component previously described.
- a rotation sensor array 515 may be located nearby the indicia of rotation.
- a switch or keyswitch 551 is located such that the upper surface of the switch 551 is near or in contact with the underside of the belt 553.
- the switch surface may be broad and flat so that it may absorb much of the force as the belt 521 is pushed downward by, for example, a finger, thereby closing a circuit, or otherwise changing an input signal to a mobile device.
- the embodiment of Fig. 5 has no axle frame, and the rollers may be mounted to the outer surface or cover of the mobile device.
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
- Human Computer Interaction (AREA)
- Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
- Input From Keyboards Or The Like (AREA)
- Telephone Set Structure (AREA)
Abstract
Description
Claims
Priority Applications (1)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
AU27372/01A AU2737201A (en) | 1999-12-23 | 2000-12-22 | Roller key user interface |
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
US47185599A | 1999-12-23 | 1999-12-23 | |
US09/471,855 | 1999-12-23 |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
WO2001046901A1 WO2001046901A1 (en) | 2001-06-28 |
WO2001046901A9 true WO2001046901A9 (en) | 2002-05-16 |
Family
ID=23873242
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
PCT/US2000/035163 WO2001046901A1 (en) | 1999-12-23 | 2000-12-22 | Roller key user interface |
Country Status (2)
Country | Link |
---|---|
AU (1) | AU2737201A (en) |
WO (1) | WO2001046901A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (4)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
KR100675179B1 (en) | 2005-05-16 | 2007-01-30 | 엘지전자 주식회사 | Scroll type input apparatus for mobile communication terminal |
US20100110044A1 (en) * | 2008-11-06 | 2010-05-06 | Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications Ab | Jog dial actuating device |
EP2917813A1 (en) * | 2012-11-07 | 2015-09-16 | Pepe, Davide | Input device, particularly for computers or the like, and corresponding graphical user interface system |
CN103780937A (en) * | 2013-09-10 | 2014-05-07 | 叶如康 | Television remote controller |
Family Cites Families (3)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US5191320A (en) * | 1990-12-15 | 1993-03-02 | Sony Corporation Of America | Variable scale input device |
DE4237844C1 (en) * | 1992-11-10 | 1994-03-31 | Neumann Gerd | Computer keyboard with integrated cursor control units - has cursors in form of linear belt elements along two adjacent sides operated by fingers and with pulse generating switches |
EP1028572A1 (en) * | 1999-02-12 | 2000-08-16 | Alcatel | Control element for a menu driven device and radio telephone comprising such a control element |
-
2000
- 2000-12-22 AU AU27372/01A patent/AU2737201A/en not_active Abandoned
- 2000-12-22 WO PCT/US2000/035163 patent/WO2001046901A1/en active Application Filing
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
AU2737201A (en) | 2001-07-03 |
WO2001046901A1 (en) | 2001-06-28 |
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