Abstract:
An input element for a telephone for inputting data having two rotary functions in respectively opposite directions, and which also has two key functions which are independent of the rotary functions, the key functions being triggered by a movement in a plane substantially perpendicular to the plane of the rotary movement. In addition, the input element preferably being coupled to a display with menu items or numbers being arranged essentially on a circle.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to an input element or dialing element and an input device for a telephone; in particular, for a mobile telephone. 
   Dialing elements or operator controls both for a key telephone and a mobile telephone are known. Usually, the input or selection of menu items and/or numbers is made using a 12-key block and further keys for selecting other functions. The selection of the other functions is frequently made by sequentially pressing a key or a pair of keys (for example, by sequentially scrolling up or down), and then selecting via cursor keys. 
   A further known form of operator control of a mobile telephone is to use what is referred to as a Jog Dial, such as is implemented, for example, in newer mobile telephones from Sony and is described in the publication EP-A-0 797 336. Here, the Jog Dial is an actuator wheel which is arranged in the mobile telephone and has a rotary function and a pressing function. For example, by rotating the Jog Dial actuator wheel, it is possible to scroll through a menu or the numbers 0–9, a confirmation of selection function of the function or number which is selected by the rotary movement being implemented by pressing on the wheel in the radial direction. The disadvantage with this solution is that this form of input takes too long, particularly in the case of relatively long telephone numbers, and leads to a comparatively high level of cognitive and motor stress. 
   Interactive displays are also proposed for miniaturized devices. In the document WO97/16912, a wrist watch with such a display is described. A disadvantage here is that, in order to activate individual points which are illustrated on the display, an additional pin is appropriately used (cf. page 2, lines 10 et seq.) in order, for example, to keep the size of the menu items small. 
   In addition, inputting or control by voice input is a further possible way of inputting data. For miniaturized devices, this form has not yet become ready for introduction to the market or is technically and financially still too costly. 
   Generally, the course of further miniaturization, the area on information and communications terminals, for example GSM and DECT telephones, which is available for the user interface is becoming smaller and smaller so that on future devices there will no longer be any space for the traditional twelve key block. 
   The present invention is, therefore, directed toward an input element and an input device which requires less space and avoids the disadvantages of the Jog Dial. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   Thus, the input element according to the present invention has an input which includes a rotary function in two directions (i.e., forward and backward), and two key functions. The directions of movement for generating the key functions are arranged in a plane perpendicularly to the plane of rotation and are opposed to one another. According to the present invention, the input is formed by an actuator wheel which is capable of being tilted out of the plane of rotary movement on each side by exerting an appropriate pressure so that it is possible to speak of a pressing function or tilting function. The tilting causes an appropriate device to generate a signal, so that two possible signals are available. 
   The visualization or acknowledgement of the selection via elements which are provided in a circular shape (for example, illuminated numbers), in a way analogous to the rotary movement of the actuator wheel, is largely self-explanatory and promotes the generation of sensomotive abilities on the part of the user, which makes using the device easier overall in cognitive terms and faster in motor terms. 
   The movement of the actuator wheel is preferably freely rotating or provided with a stop, the rotary movement being capable of being latched or non-latched. These further features are respectively dependent on the particular application. 
   In addition, the input device according to the present invention which includes an actuator wheel can be coupled to a display to an input device, which display is cognitively compatible with the rotary movement of the actuator wheel. The display preferably has a large area, particularly circular, on which the respective menus, submenus, menu items or numbers are arranged substantially on a circle so that a direct assignment is provided between the display and the actuator wheel for the user. The combination of the rotary movement of the actuator wheel and the display which is matched thereto facilitates and speeds up the selection and input operation and reduces perception errors. 
   For example, the selected entry or the selected number which are respectively represented on the display preferably can be actuated by pressing on one side of the actuator wheel transversely to the direction of rotation; i.e., with a first key function. By pressing on the other side of the actuator wheel transversely to the direction of rotation, it is possible to trigger a further function; for example, exiting from a menu (ESC) or the deletion of a character (Backspace) with a second key function. 
   The advantages of the solution according to the present invention are as follows: 
   Reduction of the space required in comparison with the traditional key solutions such as, for example, the 12-digit key block; and reduction of the probability of incorrect operator control operations such as frequently occur with an actuator wheel solution with a pressing function in the direction of rotation because the rotation of the actuator wheel always exerts a pressure in the axial direction of the actuator wheel which, under certain circumstances, triggers the key function. The complete decoupling of the rotary functions from the two pressing functions or key functions prevents inadvertent triggering of the key function. In addition, the display of the current selection via the circular arrangement is more concise and less easily confused than in known solutions. 
   In comparison with conventional actuator wheel solutions, a further key function is available as a result of which current dialog prompting, such as “Cursor up/down” or “OK” and “Escape”, can be implemented without the arrangement of a further key which is difficult to operate or a complex Help structure, such as “Escape” as an illustrated menu item, permitting the solution according to the present invention to provide significantly more convenient user prompting. The input device according to the present invention, therefore, integrates all the elements required for convenient user prompting in one input element. 
   Additional features and advantages of the present invention are described in, and will be apparent from, the following Detailed Description of the Invention and the Figures. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES 
       FIG. 1  shows a basic view of the input element according to the present invention. 
       FIG. 2  shows a detailed view of a possible way of supporting the actuator wheel of the input element in  FIG. 1 . 
       FIG. 3  shows the arrangement of an input element in a round housing. 
       FIG. 4  shows a plan view of the installed input element in  FIG. 3 . 
       FIG. 5  shows a first embodiment of a mobile telephone with an “analog” display. 
       FIG. 6  shows a second embodiment of a mobile telephone with a “digital” display. 
       FIG. 7  shows a third embodiment of a mobile telephone with a display with a large area. 
       FIG. 8  shows a further possible way of arranging the input element in a mobile telephone. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 1  shows an input element according to the present invention which has an actuator wheel  11  which serves as the input. The actuator wheel  11  preferably is provided with ribbing. The actuator wheel is supported on an axle  12  and can rotate in two opposite directions  13  and  14 . In addition, the actuator wheel  11  can be tilted into a plane which is substantially perpendicular to the plane of the rotary movement. In other words, the actuator wheel  11  can be moved in the opposite directions  15  and  16 ; i.e., displaced or tilted by applying pressure. A pickup or sensor  17  is provided for determining the rotary movement. This pickup for the measure and the direction of the rotary movement can be formed by a further actuator wheel. Other sensors which are based on electrical and/or optical methods can be used. Sensors  18  and  19  are arranged on each side of the actuator wheel  11  in order to determine the pressing movement or tilting of the actuator wheel. These sensors can be, for example, momentary contact switches. Other sensors which are based on electrical and/or optical methods also can be used. 
     FIG. 2  shows a cross section through the input element. In order to be able to implement the two momentary contact functions of the input element, the actuator wheel  11  is pivotably supported on the axle  12  via a ball and socket joint or ball bearing  20 . For example, the ball and socket joint  20  can be provided by giving the axle  12  an substantially ball-shaped configuration. The maximum tilting angle can be defined by outwardly directed beveling of part of the internal face of the axle hole of the actuator wheel  11 . In addition, the directions of the tilting movement or pressing movement  15  and  16  and the tilting sensors  18  and  19  are also shown. 
     FIG. 3  shows how the actuator wheel  11 , which can be moved in four directions  13 ,  14 ,  15 ,  16 , interacts with a circular display area of a circular mobile telephone  21 . The movement of the actuator wheel  11  can occur in a non-latching (i.e. free) manner, or can alternately incorporate a latching mechanism, shown as reference  36  as an example, to provide latching movement during rotation. Also, a stop, shown as reference  35  as an example, may alternately be incorporated on actuator wheel  11  to restrict movement of the wheel during rotation. 
     FIG. 4  shows a plan view of an actuator wheel  11  which is provided with a ribbing and has the directions of rotation  14  and  15 , represented here by a two-ended arrow, and the tilting directions  15  and  16 . The actuator wheel  11  is arranged here in a section  22  of a mobile telephone (not illustrated). For example, the numbers 0, 1, . . . , 9 can be actuated by turning in one direction  14 ,  15 . Pressing the actuator wheel  11  in  FIG. 4  to the left triggers Escape/Back, while pressing to the right triggers OK/Enter. 
     FIG. 5  shows a view of a first embodiment of a mobile telephone  21  with what is referred to as an “analog” selection display. The mobile telephone has a circular shape which is referred to below as a display area on which menu symbols  23  and numbers  24  are arranged. Here, both the menu symbols and the numbers  24  are each arranged on a circle. The numbers  24  and the menu symbols  23  are backlit (for example, via corresponding LEDs), when they are selected. The selection is made here via the input element which is arranged on the side of the mobile telephone  21 , and from which part of the actuator wheel  11  projects, and is visible here. In the center of the display area of the mobile telephone  21 , there is also a display  25  which serves, for example, for representing the selected numerical sequence. In addition, the mobile telephone  21  has a carrying cord which is embodied as an antenna  26 . 
     FIG. 6  shows a simplified version of a mobile telephone with what is referred to as a “digital” display. Here, only one selection display  27  is arranged on the display area of the mobile telephone  21 . By turning and pressing the actuator wheel  11 , a number or menu is selected and displayed on the display  25 . 
     FIG. 7  shows a third embodiment of a circular mobile telephone  21 . Here, the display area of the mobile telephone  21  is almost completely filled by a circular panel  29  which is formed by a filter, behind which a display  30  is arranged. On this display, the menu symbols  23  and the numbers (not illustrated here) are generated. The menu symbols  23  are also arranged on a circle here. The selection of a menu is performed via the laterally arranged actuator wheel  11 . The display can be multi-colored in order to achieve better visualization. One variant of this solution consists in only a small display for displaying the numbers being located behind the filter  29 , and the menu symbols  23  being arranged directly on the filter  29 , in which case they can be illuminated separately by an illumination device, such as LEDs, in order to clarify and display the respective selection. 
     FIG. 8  shows an embodiment of a mobile telephone  21  in which the actuator wheel is arranged in a recess  31  in the mobile telephone  21 . In addition, a displaceable cover  32  is present. When the mobile telephone  21  is not in use, the cover can be pushed over the actuator wheel which is arranged in a countersunk fashion so that the actuator wheel  11  is protected. In addition, a use lock of the actuator wheel can be connected to the cover. 
   Although the present invention has been described with reference to specific embodiments, those of skill in the art will recognize that changes may be made thereto without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as set forth in the hereafter appended claims.