Input device for a portable terminal

This case claims priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Applications 60/359,199 and 60/359,200, both filed on Feb. 21, 2002.

The present invention relates to an input device for use with a combined wireless terminal and PDA.

Hand-held processors, often referred to as a Personal Digital Assistant (“PDA”), are becoming increasingly popular. PDA\'s possess a relatively limited amount of information processing, storage and retrieval capabilities. With these limited capabilities, the PDA performs specific tasks, such as functioning as an electronic diary, phone book, personal database, memo taker, calculator, alarm clock, etc. A user can input data directly into a PDA using a stylus or a reduced-size keyboard. Additionally, PDAs are generally capable of exchanging information with a desk-top computer, either by a physical connection or an infrared transceiver. PDAs typically include a relatively large display (i.e., relative to the overall size of the PDA) and several buttons or keys for accessing specific applications and for scrolling to view information. Some PDAs also include a reduced-size keyboard.

Lately, wireless telecommunications capabilities have been incorporated into PDAs. Doing so provides advanced functions such as transmitting, receiving and displaying text messages. And it relieves a user of having to transport both a PDA and a wireless terminal (e.g., cellular telephone, pager, etc.).

Currently, most of the combined PDA/wireless terminals have one or more shortcomings that relate, among other areas of deficit, to compromised ergonomics or “user-friendliness” relative to a dedicated PDA or a dedicated wireless terminal. For example, some combined PDA/wireless terminals have hinged keyboards that rotate from a closed position to an open position for use. In some of these devices, the telecommunications capabilities can be accessed whether the keyboard is in the open or the closed position. While this arrangement provides a convenience for the user, it causes problems related to the usability of the display and the keys.

The illustrative embodiment of the present invention is a combined PDA/wireless terminal (hereinafter a “portable terminal”). The cover of the portable terminal includes an input device. The input device is used to access the telecommunications capabilities and/or PDA capabilities of the portable terminal.

The input device is a compound switch that has five binary switching elements. The input device includes an outer, ring-shape element and inner, circular-shape element. Four of the five binary switching elements are associated with the ring-shape element and the fifth binary switching element is associated with the circular-shape element.

When a switching element is actuated, the portable terminal responds (e.g., accepts a call, accesses a menu, selects a menu item, increases speaker volume, etc.). The particular response is a function of the operating mode of the portable terminal. The response can be a transition to a different operating mode (e.g., idle active call, etc.), or to take an action incident to the transition (e.g., ending or holding a current call to accept a new call, etc.), or to take an action independent of a mode transition (e.g., increase voice volume, etc.). In some modes, not all of the switching elements are active.

In some embodiments, the input device is the only device on the cover that is capable of accessing the portable terminal\'s telecommunications capabilities. The input device cannot be used to input integers (i.e., as is normally done to input a telephone number to place a call via the portable terminal); rather, as indicated above, it accesses various menus, selects from among menu items (including phone numbers), and takes various actions.

A graphical representation of the input device appears in the display screen of the portable terminal. The graphical representation includes, as a function of operating mode, up to five icons. Each icon corresponds to one of the five binary switching elements and is visually suggestive of the function of the associated switching element. The icons change, as a function of operating mode, to reflect the change in function of the switching elements from mode to mode.

These and other variations of the illustrative embodiments of the present invention are described in further detail in the Detailed Description.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 depicts a plan view of a portable terminal in accordance with the illustrative embodiment of the present invention, wherein the portable terminal is closed.

FIG. 2 depicts a back perspective view of the portable terminal of FIG. 1, wherein the portable terminal is closed.

Continue reading about Input device for a portable terminal...
Full patent description for Input device for a portable terminal

Brief Patent Description - Full Patent Description - Patent Application Claims

Click on the above for other options relating to this Input device for a portable terminal patent application.

Patent Applications in related categories:

20090289899 - Keypad module for character input, electronic devices utilizing the same, and method thereof - A keypad module (114) including at least one key (20) is described. The key includes a keycap (24), a rocker (28) and a plurality of domes (32). The rocker includes a central shaft (281 ) and extending portions (282) extending from the central shaft. A top (2811a) of the central ...


###


How KEYWORD MONITOR works... a FREE service from FreshPatents
1. Sign up (takes 30 seconds). 2. Fill in the keywords to be monitored.
3. Each week you receive an email with patent applications related to your keywords.  
Start now! - Receive info on patent apps like Input device for a portable terminal or other areas of interest.
###


Previous Patent Application:
Ergonomic hand-held text input device
Next Patent Application:
Computer keyboard having an enhanced ergonomic and intuitive design
Industry Class:
Computer graphics processing, operator interface processing, and selective visual display systems

###

Design/code © 2009 FreshContext LLC/Freshpatents.com. Website Terms and Conditions - Also read: About this Page
Patent data source: patents published by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO)
Information published here is for research/educational purposes only (and in conjunction with our Keyword Monitor) and is not meant to be used in place of the full USPTO patent document/images or a comprehensive patent archive search. Complete official applications are on file at the USPTO and often contain additional data/images (Freshpatents is currently text-only). FreshPatents.com is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO or firms/individuals or products/designs/ideas related to listed patents.

FreshPatents.com Support
Thank you for viewing the Input device for a portable terminal patent info.
IP-related news and info


Results in 2.15033 seconds


Other interesting Feshpatents.com categories:
Electronics: Semiconductor ,  Audio ,  Illumination ,  Connectors ,  Crypto ,  paws