WO2007005506A1 - Interface utilisateur mobile pour dispositif electronique - Google Patents

Interface utilisateur mobile pour dispositif electronique Download PDF

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Publication number
WO2007005506A1
WO2007005506A1 PCT/US2006/025335 US2006025335W WO2007005506A1 WO 2007005506 A1 WO2007005506 A1 WO 2007005506A1 US 2006025335 W US2006025335 W US 2006025335W WO 2007005506 A1 WO2007005506 A1 WO 2007005506A1
Authority
WO
WIPO (PCT)
Prior art keywords
user interface
covering position
electronic device
screen
carriage
Prior art date
Application number
PCT/US2006/025335
Other languages
English (en)
Inventor
Hai-Lin Huang
Xiao-Ying Lu
Xin-Kui Ye
Original Assignee
Motorola Inc.
Priority date (The priority date 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 date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Motorola Inc. filed Critical Motorola Inc.
Publication of WO2007005506A1 publication Critical patent/WO2007005506A1/fr

Links

Classifications

    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M1/00—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
    • H04M1/02—Constructional features of telephone sets
    • H04M1/0202—Portable telephone sets, e.g. cordless phones, mobile phones or bar type handsets
    • H04M1/0206—Portable telephones comprising a plurality of mechanically joined movable body parts, e.g. hinged housings
    • H04M1/0208—Portable telephones comprising a plurality of mechanically joined movable body parts, e.g. hinged housings characterized by the relative motions of the body parts
    • H04M1/0235—Slidable or telescopic telephones, i.e. with a relative translation movement of the body parts; Telephones using a combination of translation and other relative motions of the body parts
    • H04M1/0237—Sliding mechanism with one degree of freedom
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F1/00—Details not covered by groups G06F3/00 - G06F13/00 and G06F21/00
    • G06F1/16—Constructional details or arrangements
    • G06F1/1613—Constructional details or arrangements for portable computers
    • G06F1/1615—Constructional details or arrangements for portable computers with several enclosures having relative motions, each enclosure supporting at least one I/O or computing function
    • G06F1/1624—Constructional details or arrangements for portable computers with several enclosures having relative motions, each enclosure supporting at least one I/O or computing function with sliding enclosures, e.g. sliding keyboard or display
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F1/00—Details not covered by groups G06F3/00 - G06F13/00 and G06F21/00
    • G06F1/16—Constructional details or arrangements
    • G06F1/1613—Constructional details or arrangements for portable computers
    • G06F1/1633—Constructional details or arrangements of portable computers not specific to the type of enclosures covered by groups G06F1/1615 - G06F1/1626
    • G06F1/1637—Details related to the display arrangement, including those related to the mounting of the display in the housing
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F1/00—Details not covered by groups G06F3/00 - G06F13/00 and G06F21/00
    • G06F1/16—Constructional details or arrangements
    • G06F1/1613—Constructional details or arrangements for portable computers
    • G06F1/1633—Constructional details or arrangements of portable computers not specific to the type of enclosures covered by groups G06F1/1615 - G06F1/1626
    • G06F1/1675—Miscellaneous details related to the relative movement between the different enclosures or enclosure parts
    • G06F1/1677—Miscellaneous details related to the relative movement between the different enclosures or enclosure parts 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
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G06—COMPUTING; CALCULATING OR COUNTING
    • G06F—ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING
    • G06F1/00—Details not covered by groups G06F3/00 - G06F13/00 and G06F21/00
    • G06F1/16—Constructional details or arrangements
    • G06F1/1613—Constructional details or arrangements for portable computers
    • G06F1/1633—Constructional details or arrangements of portable computers not specific to the type of enclosures covered by groups G06F1/1615 - G06F1/1626
    • G06F1/1684—Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675
    • G06F1/169—Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675 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
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M1/00—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
    • H04M1/02—Constructional features of telephone sets
    • H04M1/23—Construction or mounting of dials or of equivalent devices; Means for facilitating the use thereof
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M1/00—Substation equipment, e.g. for use by subscribers
    • H04M1/02—Constructional features of telephone sets
    • H04M1/23—Construction or mounting of dials or of equivalent devices; Means for facilitating the use thereof
    • H04M1/233—Construction or mounting of dials or of equivalent devices; Means for facilitating the use thereof including a pointing device, e.g. roller key, track ball, rocker switch or joystick
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M2250/00—Details of telephonic subscriber devices
    • H04M2250/16—Details of telephonic subscriber devices including more than one display unit
    • H—ELECTRICITY
    • H04—ELECTRIC COMMUNICATION TECHNIQUE
    • H04M—TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION
    • H04M2250/00—Details of telephonic subscriber devices
    • H04M2250/18—Details of telephonic subscriber devices including more than one keyboard unit

Definitions

  • the invention relates generally to a moveable user interface for an electronic device.
  • the invention is particularly useful for, but not necessarily limited to, varying the relative positions of user interfaces of an electronic device.
  • One form of user interface is an alphanumeric keypad comprising keys representing the numbers 0-9, letters A-Z and function keys such as # and *, which effect operations other than inputting numbers and text.
  • Another form of user interface is a navigation keypad, which typically comprises directional buttons, such as up, down, left and right, for moving a cursor or pointer or the like on a screen or for navigating through menus. The directional buttons may also be used to play games.
  • the navigation keypad typically also comprises one or more additional buttons that enable the user to make selections, for example, from menus, or perform other functions.
  • Other forms of navigational controls for electronic devices are known, such as touch sensitive pads, joysticks and jog wheels, the latter usually being limited to allowing the user to scroll through menus and make selections therefrom.
  • both the alphanumeric keypad and the navigation keypad are provided in a single electronic device to enable the user to perform the various functionalities the device has to offer. Whilst the aforementioned user interfaces perform their functions satisfactorily, the provision of both types of user interface consumes surface area of the electronic device, thus reducing the surface area available for other functions. For example, providing both the alphanumeric keypad and the navigation keypad reduces the surface area of the device available for output, such as via a screen. Larger screens are desirable to display more information and/or enhance the experience of, for example, playing games.
  • the user often only requires one type of user interface at any one time. For example, when making a telephone call, the user typically only requires the alphanumeric keypad to dial a number or the navigation keypad to select a stored number from a menu and only a small display area of the screen is required to display the dialed number and/or the name corresponding to the number. As another example, if the user is playing a game on the electronic device, typically only the navigation pad is required and a larger display area of the screen is desirable to maximize the playing area.
  • the invention is an electronic device comprising: a housing; a screen mounted to the housing, the screen having at least a user interface coverable display area and another display area; a lower user interface mounted to the housing; and an upper user interface moveably mounted to the housing, the upper user interface being moveable relative to the lower user interface between a screen covering position and a lower user interface covering position; wherein, when the upper user interface is in the screen covering position the coverable display area is covered by the upper user interface and when the upper user interface is in the lower covering position, the upper user interface at least partially covers the lower user interface whilst revealing at least part of the coverable display area.
  • the upper user interface when the upper user interface is in the lower covering position, the upper user interface completely covers the lower user interface.
  • both the lower user interface and the upper user interface are operable.
  • the upper user interface when the upper user interface is in the lower covering position, the upper user interface is operable and the lower user interface is inoperable.
  • the coverable display area when the upper user interface is in the screen covering position, the coverable display area is inoperable and the another display area is operable.
  • both the coverable display area and the another display area are operable.
  • the upper user interface is a screen controller, a cursor controller, a pointer controller, or a joystick.
  • the lower user interface is a keypad module.
  • the lower user interface is located in a fixed position.
  • one or more applications of the device of a first category are enabled when the upper user interface is in the screen covering position and one or more applications of the device of a second category are enabled when the upper user interface is in the lower covering position.
  • the lower user interface is rendered inoperable by a user interface position sensor.
  • the length of the electronic device remains constant irrespective of whether the upper user interface is in the screen covering position or the lower covering position.
  • the electronic device further comprises: a track supported by the housing; and a carriage moveably mounted to the track, wherein the upper user interface is mounted on the carriage.
  • the invention is a moveable user interface mechanism for an electronic device comprising; a housing; a lower user interface mounted to the housing; a carriage moveably mounted to the housing; and an upper user interface mounted on the carriage; wherein the carriage is moveable relative to the lower user interface between a screen covering position and a lower user interface covering position; and wherein, when the carriage is in the screen covering position a coverable display area of the screen is covered by the carriage and when the carriage is in the lower covering position, the carriage at least partially covers the lower user interface whilst revealing at least part of the coverable display area.
  • the carriage when the carriage is in the lower covering position, the carriage completely covers the lower user interface.
  • both the lower user interface and the upper user interface are operable.
  • the upper user interface is operable and the lower user interface is inoperable.
  • the carriage is urged into either the screen covering position or the lower covering position by a biasing mechanism.
  • the moveable user interface mechanism further comprises a user interface position sensor to render the lower user interface inoperable when the carriage is in the lower covering position.
  • FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram illustrating an embodiment of an electronic device according to an embodiment of the present invention
  • FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the electronic device of FIG. 1 with an upper user interface in a screen covering position;
  • FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the electronic device of FIG. 1 with the upper user interface in a lower user interface covering position;
  • FIG. 4 is an exploded perspective view of part of the electronic device of FIG. 1;
  • FIG. 5 is a perspective cross-sectional view through 3-3 of FIG. 3;
  • FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a moveable user interface mechanism of the electronic device of FIG. 1;
  • FIG.7 is a perspective view of an alternative moveable user interface mechanism of the electronic device of FIG. 1.
  • FIG. 1 there is a schematic diagram illustrating an electronic device 100 in the form of a mobile station or mobile telephone comprising a radio frequency communications unit 102 coupled to be in communication with a processor 103.
  • the electronic device 100 also has a screen 105, a lower user interface 106 and an upper user interface 150.
  • the screen 105, lower user interface 106 and upper user interface 150 are coupled to be in communication with the processor 103.
  • the screen 105 or an area thereof may be in the form of a touch screen 105.
  • the processor 103 includes an encoder/decoder 111 with an associated code Read Only Memory (ROM) 112 for storing data for encoding and decoding voice or other signals that may be transmitted or received by the mobile telephone 100.
  • the processor 103 also includes a micro-processor 113 coupled, by a common data and address bus 117, to the encoder/decoder 111, a character Read Only Memory (ROM) 114, a Random Access Memory (RAM) 104, static programmable memory 116 and a Removable User Identity Module (RUIM) interface 118.
  • ROM Read Only Memory
  • RAM Random Access Memory
  • RUIM Removable User Identity Module
  • the static programmable memory 116 and a RUIM card 119 (commonly referred to as a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card) operatively coupled to the RUIM interface 118 each can store, amongst other things, Preferred Roaming Lists (PRLs), subscriber authentication data, selected incoming text messages and a Telephone Number Database (TND phonebook) comprising a number field for telephone numbers and a name field for identifiers associated with one of the numbers in the name field. For instance, one entry in the Telephone Number Database may be 91999111111 (entered in the number field) with an associated identifier "Steven C! at work" in the name field.
  • the RUIM card 119 and static memory 116 may also store passwords for allowing accessibility to password-protected functions on the mobile telephone 100.
  • the micro-processor 113 has ports for coupling to the lower user interface 106, the upper user interface 150, screen 105 and an alert 115 that typically contains an alert speaker, vibrator motor and associated drivers. Also, micro-processor 113 has ports for coupling to a microphone 135, communications speaker 140 and a camera 145.
  • the character Read Only Memory 114 stores code for decoding or encoding text messages that may be received by the communications unit 102.
  • the character Read Only Memory 114, RUIM card 119, and static memory 116 may also store Operating Code (OC) for the micro-processor 113 and code for performing functions associated with the mobile telephone 100.
  • OC Operating Code
  • the radio frequency communications unit 102 is a combined receiver and transmitter having a common antenna 107.
  • the communications unit 102 has a transceiver 108 coupled to the antenna 107 via a radio frequency amplifier 109.
  • the transceiver 108 is also coupled to a combined modulator/demodulator 110 that couples the communications unit 102 to the processor 103.
  • the electronic device 100 can be any electronic device including a radio telephone, a conventional type telephone, a hand held PC, a PDA or an electronic gaming device with mobile telephone capabilities.
  • a user can select and use applications of the electronic device 100 by, for example, traversing menus and/or selecting icons displayed on the screen 105 using the lower user interface 106 and/or the upper user interface 150 and/or, according to one embodiment, the touch screen 105. Which of the upper and/or lower user interfaces 106, 150 and/or the touch screen 105 is used depends on, for example, the relative positions of the user interfaces 106, 150 of the electronic device 100.
  • the present invention is particularly concerned with selectively varying the relative positions of the user interfaces 106, 150 of the electronic device 100 by virtue of the upper user interface 150, which is moveable between a screen covering position and a lower user interface covering position, thus varying the area of the screen 105 visible to the user.
  • the electronic device 100 comprises a housing 200 having an upper portion 201 and a lower portion 202. Speaker and microphone apertures 280, 290 are located in the housing 200 at suitable positions relative to the speaker 140 and microphone 135.
  • the screen 105 is mounted to the housing 200 and is visible through an aperture 203 in the upper portion 201 of the housing 200.
  • the screen 105 has two areas one of which is permanently uncovered in this embodiment and is referred to as another display area 252 and is illustrated in phantom.
  • the screen 105 may be, for example, a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD), an active-matrix display, a passive-matrix display or an Organic Light-Emitting Diode (OLED) display.
  • the electronic device 100 may also comprise a protective lens covering the screen 105 to provide additional protection for the screen against scratches and the like and to provide a magnifying effect to increase the size of the displayed information.
  • the protective lens will be omitted.
  • the lower user interface 106 is mounted to the housing 200 and in one embodiment, the lower user interface 106 is a keypad module in the form of an alphanumeric keypad 204.
  • the alphanumeric keypad 204 is a typical alphanumeric keypad comprising keys 207 representing the numbers 0-9, letters, and other function keys such as # and *, which effect operations other than inputting numbers and text, such as redialing a previously dialed number or signaling the end of a voicemail message.
  • the upper user interface 150 is moveably mounted to the housing 200 in the exemplary embodiments shown in FIGs 2-7 and moveable movement of the upper user interface 150 relative to the lower user interface 106 is guided, at least partially, from the screen covering position shown in FIG. 2, by guide slots 229 in the upper portion 201 of the housing 200.
  • the upper user interface 150 may be a screen controller, a cursor controller or a pointer controller and according to one embodiment, the upper user interface 150 comprises a navigation pad 216.
  • the navigation pad 216 typically comprises directional buttons 220 for moving a cursor or pointer or the like displayed on the screen 105 or for moving other forms of positional indicators, such as highlighting or borders.
  • the directional buttons 220 may also be used, for example, to play games.
  • the navigation pad 216 may also comprise a central button 221 and/or one or more peripheral buttons 222 to enable the user to make selections, for example, from menus, or perform other functions.
  • the upper user interface 150 may comprise a joystick or touchpad, which can be used for navigation and selection purposes.
  • the upper user interface 150 of the electronic device 100 When the upper user interface 150 of the electronic device 100 is in the screen covering position, the another display area 252 of the screen is visible to the user and both the lower user interface 106 and the upper user interface 150 are operable.
  • a lower part of the upper user interface 150 in the screen covering position, may overlap a small, upper part of the lower user interface 106, but both the lower and upper user interfaces 106, 150 are fully operable.
  • the other one of the two areas of the screen 105 is called a user interface coverable display area 350, illustrated in phantom.
  • the upper user interface 150 is in a lower user interface covering position such that all of the coverable display area 350 is revealed and the upper user interface 150 completely covers the lower user interface 106.
  • the upper user interface 150 in the lower user interface covering position, at least partially covers the lower user interface 106 whilst revealing at least part of the coverable display area 350.
  • the coverable display area 350 of the screen 105 is a lower area of the screen 105 and extends the full visible width of the screen 105.
  • the coverable display area 350 may occupy a larger or smaller area of the screen 105, depending on, for example, the overall size of the screen 105, the size of the electronic device 100 and/or the size of the upper user interface 150.
  • the upper user interface 150 in the lower covering position, is operable and the covered, or at least partially covered, lower user interface 106 is inoperable. For example, in one embodiment, 75% of the lower user interface 106 may be covered by the upper user interface 150, but the lower user interface 106 is still rendered inoperable.
  • the lower user interface 106 in the lower covering position, is completely covered by the upper user interface 150 and therefore is inaccessible to a user, but the lower user interface 106 may not be deactivated, hi the lower covering position, the area of the screen 105 visible to the user comprises the revealed area of the coverable display area 350 and the another display area 252. As shown, in the lower covering position, the area of the screen 105 visible to the user is the full area of the screen 105 comprising the coverable display area 350 and the another display area 252.
  • the coverable display area 350 is not visible to the user, in this embodiment the coverable display area 350 is not in use and therefore battery power is not wasted in driving and illuminating the coverable display area 350.
  • the coverable display area 350 and another display area 252 are operable.
  • the enabled applications of the electronic device 100 of the first category do not use the coverable display area 350 because the coverable display area 350 is not visible to the user, thus saving energy.
  • the enabled applications of the electronic device 100 of the second category use another display area 252 and the revealed area of the coverable display area 350.
  • the applications of the first category that are enabled in the screen covering position include, but are not limited to, making and receiving telephone calls, creating, sending and receiving messages such as SMS, MMS and/or EMS messages and other applications that only require or utilize another display area 252 of the screen 105 that is visible.
  • the applications of the second category that are enabled in the lower covering position include, but are not limited to, playing games, browsing the internet, creating and/or editing documents, capturing, viewing and/or editing images and other applications that utilize, require and/or benefit from the larger area of the screen 105 comprising the revealed area of the coverable display area 350 and another display area 252 of the screen 105.
  • the applications of the first category that are enabled in the screen covering position can also be performed with the larger area of the screen 105 when at least part of the coverable display area 350 is revealed. Therefore, some applications of the electronic device 100 may appear in both the first category and the second category of applications.
  • the length of the electronic device 100 remains constant irrespective of whether the upper user interface 150 is in the screen covering position or the lower covering position. Therefore, the electronic device 100 maintains a compact size and does not become unwieldy or difficult to use when the relative positions of the user interfaces 106, 150 of the device 100 are changed.
  • the alphanumeric keypad 204 is mounted on a flexible printed circuit board 406.
  • Mounted on the printed circuit board 406 are aligned switches, typically in the form of poppel switches 460 that are often used in association with keypads.
  • the alphanumeric keypad 204 and flexible printed circuit 406 are received in a recess 410 in the upper portion 201 of the housing 200.
  • the keypad 204 and flexible printed circuit 406 are located in a fixed position such that an upper surface 412 of the alphanumeric keypad 204 is substantially coplanar with an upper surface 414 of the upper portion 201 of the housing 200.
  • the navigation pad 216 is mounted on a flexible printed circuit board 418 and the peripheral buttons 222, central button 221 and directional buttons 220 are aligned with respective poppel switches 490 mounted on the flexible printed circuit board 418.
  • the navigation pad 216 and flexible printed circuit board 418 are both mounted on a carriage 424.
  • the electronic device 100 further comprises parallel tracks 430 supported by the housing 200 in any suitable manner known in the art.
  • the tracks 430 typically comprise elongate grooves in opposite sides of a frame 426 that is supported by the housing 200.
  • the tracks 430 may be, for example, integrally moulded on the inside of the housing 200 or may be provided on the outside of the housing 200.
  • the flexible printed circuit board 418 of the upper user interface 150 is coupled to a main printed circuit board 431 of the electronic device 100 by a ribbon connector 432 having a length thereof residing in a slot 435 in a side of the carriage 424.
  • the ribbon connector 432 is mounted to an underside of elongate support 434, which is mounted to the side of the carriage 424 having the slot 435.
  • the ribbon connector 432 is suitably folded and configured to prevent it restricting movement of the upper user interface 150.
  • elongate support 434 is an inverted T-shape in cross section, shown most clearly in FIG. 5.
  • the ribbon connector 432 is thus prevented from becoming entangled with any other part of the electronic device 100, particularly whilst the carriage 424 is moved between the screen covering position and the lower covering position of the upper user interface 150.
  • the ribbon connector 432 maintains logical and power connection between the upper user interface 150 and the main printed circuit board 431.
  • the main printed circuit board 431 is also coupled to the printed circuit board 406 by an integral flexible ribbon connector 480 passing through an aperture 485 located in the recess 410.
  • the carriage 424 is moveably mounted to the tracks 430 by virtue of inward projections 528 on the carriage 424, which slidingly engage the tracks 430.
  • the carriage 424 supporting the upper user interface 150 comprising the flexible printed circuit board 418 and the navigation pad 216 is moveable (slidable) relative to the lower user interface 106 between the screen covering position and the lower user interface covering position with sliding movement of the carriage 424 being guided by the tracks 430 and by the guide slots 229 in the upper portion 201 of the housing 200.
  • the upper user interface 150 mounted on the carriage 424 is urged into either the screen covering position or the lower covering position by the biasing mechanism 495.
  • the biasing mechanism 495 is an over- centre latching mechanism that couples the carriage 424 to the frame 426.
  • the over-centre latching mechanism comprises a coil spring 636 located in a recess or aperture 637 in the frame 426. A first end of the coil spring 636 is fixedly mounted to the frame 426 with a fastener 638. A second end of the coil spring 636 is pivotally coupled to a first end 639 of a rigid arm 640 and captively located in a slot 642 with a fastener 644.
  • a second end 645 of rigid arm 640 is pivotally mounted, by a fastener 648, to a bracket 646 that extends inwardly from a side of the carriage 424.
  • Fasteners 638, 644, 648 may be rivets or other suitable known fasteners.
  • the coil spring 636 biases or “latches” the carriage 424, and thus the upper user interface 150, via the rigid arm 640 in the screen covering position shown in FIG. 6. In this position, the second end of the coil spring coupled to the first end 639 of the rigid arm 640 is urged against a left hand side of slot 642.
  • the over-centre latching mechanism will urge the upper user interface 150 back into the screen covering position or the lower covering position respectively.
  • the upper user interface 150 mounted on the carriage 424 can only reside in either the screen covering position or the lower covering position and not in any intermediate position.
  • the lower user interface 106 is rendered inoperable by use of a user interface position sensor 690.
  • the user interface position sensor 690 is typically a Hall Effect sensor coupled to be in communication with the processor 103.
  • the user interface position sensor detects the presence of the upper user interface 150 covering, or at least partially covering, the lower user interface 106 causing the output of a signal to the processor 103 to render the lower user interface 106 inoperable. It will be appreciated that other user interface position sensors may be employed for this purpose. Referring to FIG.
  • the over-centre latching mechanism comprises a pair of rigid arms 740, 741 pivotally coupled together at adjacent first ends 742, 743 of each arm and captively located in a slot 760 with a fastener 761.
  • the second end 744 of rigid arm 740 is pivotally mounted to the frame 426 by a fastener 745 and the second end 746 of the rigid arm 741 is pivotally mounted to a bracket 747 of the carriage 424 by a fastener 748.
  • a pair of helical springs 750, 751 are accommodated in a recess or aperture 749 in the frame 426 and have ends respectively coupled to the frame 426 and rigid arm 740 at about the midpoint of the arm 740.
  • the helical springs 750, 751 urge the upper user interface 150 mounted on the carriage 424 into either the screen covering position or the lower user interface covering position using over-centre latching as will be apparent to a person skilled in the art..
  • the present invention is therefore an electronic device 100 and a moveable user interface mechanism for an electronic device that enables the relative positions of the user interfaces 106, 150 of the electronic device to be selectively changed whilst simultaneously adapting the display area of the screen 105 to the selected relative positions of the user interfaces 106, 150.
  • the upper user interface 150 is moveable (typically slidable) between a screen covering position, in which the upper user interface 150 covers at least a coverable display area 350 of the screen 105 and a lower user interface covering position, in which the upper user interface 150 at least partially covers the lower user interface 106 and reveals at least part of the coverable display area 350 of the screen, thus exposing a larger display area of the screen 105.
  • both the lower user interface 106 and the upper user interface 150 are operable and another, smaller display area 252 of the screen 105 is visible.
  • Applications of the device of a first category may be enabled that utilize the smaller display area and therefore save energy by not powering the covered, coverable display area 350 of the screen unnecessarily, hi the lower covering position, the upper user interface 150 is operable and the lower user interface 106 is inoperable and the larger display area is visible comprising the revealed area of the coverable display area 350 and another display area 252.
  • Applications of the device of a second category may be enabled that utilize the larger display area.
  • a user can use the lower user interface 106 and/or the upper user interface 150 and/or the touch screen 105 for applications that only require or utilize the smaller display area 252.
  • applications include, but are not limited to, making and receiving telephone calls, creating, sending and receiving messages, such as text messages, setting functions of the device such as a clock, alarm, calendar and the like, hi the lower covering position, the lower user interface 106 is inoperable and the user can use the upper user interface 150 in conjunction with the larger display area for applications that benefit from or require a larger display area.
  • Examples of such applications that are enhanced by the larger display area include, but are not limited to, playing games, creating and editing documents, capturing, viewing and/or editing images, browsing the internet and the like.
  • Another advantage of the present invention is that selective changing of the relative positions of the user interfaces 106, 150 of the device and simultaneous adaptation of the display area to the relative positions is achieved whilst maintaining a constant length of the device. Therefore, the device does not become unwieldy, cumbersome or difficult to use when the relative positions of the user interfaces of the device are changed.
  • a further advantage is that the moveable user interface mechanism is concealed within the electronic device 100 in all positions of the user interfaces 106, 150 and is not exposed, thus reducing the opportunities for damage of, or tampering with, the mechanism.

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Theoretical Computer Science (AREA)
  • Computer Hardware Design (AREA)
  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Human Computer Interaction (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • General Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Signal Processing (AREA)
  • Mathematical Physics (AREA)
  • Telephone Set Structure (AREA)

Abstract

L'invention concerne un dispositif électronique (100) comprenant un boîtier (200) et un écran (105), monté sur le boîtier. Ledit écran comprend au moins une zone de visualisation (350) pouvant être couverte par une interface utilisateur et une autre zone de visualisation (252). Ledit dispositif électronique comprend une interface utilisateur inférieur (106), montée sur le boîtier et une interface utilisateur supérieure (150), montée coulissante sur le boîtier. L'interface utilisateur supérieure peut être déplacée par rapport à l'interface utilisateur inférieur, entre une position couvrant l'écran et une position couvrant l'interface utilisateur inférieure. Lorsque l'interface utilisateur supérieure est en position de couverture d'écran, la zone de visualisation (350) pouvant être couverte est couverte par l'interface utilisateur supérieure et lorsque l'interface utilisateur supérieure est en position de couverture inférieure, l'interface utilisateur supérieure couvre au moins partiellement l'interface utilisateur inférieure, tout en révélant au moins une partie de la zone de visualisation pouvant être couverte.
PCT/US2006/025335 2005-07-05 2006-06-28 Interface utilisateur mobile pour dispositif electronique WO2007005506A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
CN200510082484.X 2005-07-05
CNA200510082484XA CN1893288A (zh) 2005-07-05 2005-07-05 用于电子设备的可移动用户界面

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
WO2007005506A1 true WO2007005506A1 (fr) 2007-01-11

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Country Link
CN (1) CN1893288A (fr)
WO (1) WO2007005506A1 (fr)

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EP2106103A1 (fr) 2008-03-27 2009-09-30 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Terminal mobile ayant un clavier mobile de type coulissant
EP2555080A1 (fr) * 2011-08-05 2013-02-06 Research In Motion Limited Dispositif électronique portable doté d'un affichage souple
US20130222271A1 (en) * 2012-02-28 2013-08-29 Motorola Mobility, Inc. Methods and Apparatuses for Operating a Display in an Electronic Device
US8811032B2 (en) 2011-08-05 2014-08-19 Blackberry Limited Handheld electronic device having a flexible display
US8947382B2 (en) 2012-02-28 2015-02-03 Motorola Mobility Llc Wearable display device, corresponding systems, and method for presenting output on the same
US9098069B2 (en) 2011-11-16 2015-08-04 Google Technology Holdings LLC Display device, corresponding systems, and methods for orienting output on a display
CN114067679A (zh) * 2020-08-07 2022-02-18 乐金显示有限公司 显示装置

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JP5147087B2 (ja) * 2010-07-22 2013-02-20 シャープ株式会社 表示操作装置及び画像処理装置
CN102291477B (zh) * 2011-08-19 2016-09-28 中兴通讯股份有限公司 移动终端及其屏幕布局方法
CN108061220B (zh) * 2017-12-22 2019-09-24 山东广域科技有限责任公司 一种电力通信检测维护装置

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EP2106103A1 (fr) 2008-03-27 2009-09-30 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Terminal mobile ayant un clavier mobile de type coulissant
US8184103B2 (en) 2008-03-27 2012-05-22 Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. Mobile terminal having moving keypad
EP2555080A1 (fr) * 2011-08-05 2013-02-06 Research In Motion Limited Dispositif électronique portable doté d'un affichage souple
US8811032B2 (en) 2011-08-05 2014-08-19 Blackberry Limited Handheld electronic device having a flexible display
US9098069B2 (en) 2011-11-16 2015-08-04 Google Technology Holdings LLC Display device, corresponding systems, and methods for orienting output on a display
US20130222271A1 (en) * 2012-02-28 2013-08-29 Motorola Mobility, Inc. Methods and Apparatuses for Operating a Display in an Electronic Device
WO2013130203A3 (fr) * 2012-02-28 2013-12-05 Motorola Mobility Llc Procédés et appareils pour faire fonctionner un dispositif d'affichage dans un dispositif électronique
US8947382B2 (en) 2012-02-28 2015-02-03 Motorola Mobility Llc Wearable display device, corresponding systems, and method for presenting output on the same
US8988349B2 (en) 2012-02-28 2015-03-24 Google Technology Holdings LLC Methods and apparatuses for operating a display in an electronic device
CN114067679A (zh) * 2020-08-07 2022-02-18 乐金显示有限公司 显示装置

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