Input device and method of entering data into an electronic apparatus

An input device for an electronic device such as a mobile phone includes an analog input device for scanning through an input space of records and a digital input device for selecting a current record presented on a display. The analog input device is a flip pivotably arranged by an attachment device on a housing of the electronic device. The attachment device is provided with a rotational sensor device connected to a processing device incorporated in the housing. An angle between the flip and the housing corresponds to a sensor value, translated and interpreted by the processing device, to show a particular record on the display.

The present invention relates to an input device and a method of entering
 data into an electronic apparatus and more particularly to an input device
 having analog input means for scanning through an input space of records
 and digital input means for selecting a current record presented on a
 display.
 BACKGROUND
 Electronic apparatuses such as mobile telephones, hand-held or desktop
 computers or portable digital organizers etc. process and store data
 created in many places and in many different ways. However, before data
 can be processed and stored they must be entered and translated into a
 form interpretable by the particular apparatus. This is performed by or
 through an input device. After the data have been processed they must be
 translated back into a form readable by the user, which is performed by an
 output device.
 Electronic apparatuses as mentioned above are in most cases provided with
 keyboards or keypads for data entry. Hand-held electronic apparatuses such
 as mobile phones have limited keyboards, wherein each key has several
 functions and, hence, data entry has been synonymous with keystrokes.
 Every operation on a mobile phone requires several keystrokes. In order to
 make a regular phone call on a prior art mobile phone, as disclosed in a
 manual describing the mobile phone ERICSSON GF788, .COPYRGT. Ericsson
 Mobile Communications AB, 1996, the area code and phone number are entered
 on the keypad (keys 0-9) and a YES key is pressed to start the call and
 the call is ended by pressing a NO key.
 The phone is provided with several functions other than making regular
 phone calls. Most of these functions are controlled through a menu system.
 In order to move through the menu system and find the different menus,
 functions or settings arrow keys are used. The arrow keys are pressed
 until the desired menu, function or setting is reached and it is selected
 by pressing the YES key. The operation of moving through the menu system
 is often called scrolling.
 Phone numbers and subscriber names can be stored and recalled from an
 electronic phone book. A phone number is stored by entering the phone
 number on the keypad. Then the arrow key(s) is pressed until the Store
 menu is shown and to confirm the storing the YES key is pressed.
 As mentioned above each key has several functions and represents different
 symbols and letters. For example key 1 corresponds to one space, -, ?, !,
 ,, ., :, ", ', (, ), 1, and key 2 corresponds to A, B, C, .ANG., A, A.xi.,
 a, .cedilla.A, 2 and so on for the remaining keys. Further, * is pressed
 to get lower-case letters, a key is pressed and held to get the number
 directly, and a volume key is pressed together with a numeric key to get
 the second or third position in the list of letters and symbols of each
 key.
 To store a name of a subscriber of the already entered phone number the
 first letter of the name is entered by pressing the appropriate numeric
 key as many times as required to obtain the desired letter or symbol, for
 example three times on key 2 to get a letter C. The next letter of the
 name is entered when the cursor has moved to the next position and so on
 until the name is done. The name is confirmed and stored in a selected
 memory position by pressing the YES key.
 Phone numbers can be recalled in many ways. First a phone number can be
 recalled by name, wherein a RecallName menu is selected and either the
 full name or the first letter is entered and confirmed by the YES key. The
 first name that matches the letter string is displayed. A second way to
 recall a number is to scroll through the phone book to the desired name.
 In both cases the selected name and number will blink on the display until
 the YES key is pressed to call the number.
 Further, the phone numbers and names in the phone book can be changed
 through an EditPhBook menu. The EditPhBook menu is selected, whereupon
 either the full name or the first letter of the desired name is entered
 and is confirmed by pressing the YES key. The first name that matches the
 letter string is displayed. Another way to find the name is to scroll to
 the wanted name. The name is scrolled to change it letter by letter and
 the changed name is confirmed and stored by pressing the YES key. Then the
 phone number is changed in a similar way.
 A problem with the above mentioned prior art mobile phone ERICSSON GF788
 and several other mobile phones having the same or similar functions and
 menu system is the above described way of moving through the menu system
 and finding the different menus, functions or settings by using arrow keys
 or the like and the way of operating the phone and its functions by using
 many difficult, akward and time-consuming keystrokes. In order to activate
 and use some of the functions such as find different symbols, wherein each
 key has several functions, the user must probably read the manual.
 SUMMARY
 It is therefore an object invention to provide an improved input device for
 an electronic apparatus and more particularly an input device having
 analog input means for scanning or scrolling through an input space of
 records and digital input means for selecting a current record presented
 on a display.
 This is accomplished by the input device according to claim 1, wherein said
 analog input means is a flip, pivotably arranged by means of attachment
 means provided with rotational sensor means on a housing of said
 electronic apparatus, where an angle between said flip and said housing
 denotes the current record of said input space.
 Another object of the invention is to provide an input device which is easy
 to operate even on a small electronic apparatus such as a mobile
 telephone. This is obtained by the input device according to the invention
 having the flip which is relatively large and hence easy to grip and
 operate.
 An advantage of the input device according to the invention is that the
 scanning or scrolling through the input space and the selecting of
 records, such as alpha numeric characters and menu options presented on a
 display are performed in an easy none time-consuming way requiring a small
 number of keystrokes.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION
 With reference to FIGS. 1 and 2, a mobile phone is shown, having a housing
 1, an antenna 2, a status light 3, an earpiece 4, volume keys 5, a display
 6, a keypad 7, an inside microphone 8 and microphone channel 9, a battery
 10, a flip 11, pivotably arranged on sad housing 1 by means of attachment
 means 12. Further, processing means such as a CPU, control circuits and
 memory means are provided inside the housing 1 and connected to the
 different components and means discribed above.
 According to the invention, the mobile phone is provided with an input
 device comprising analog input means for scanning through an input space
 of records and digital input means for selecting a current record
 presented on a display except the conventional keypad input means. The
 analog input means is in form of the flip 11, pivotably arranged by means
 of the attachment means 12, such as a hinge, provided with rotational
 sensor means 13, integrated in the attachment means 12, on the housing 1
 of the phone. An angle .alpha. between the flip and the housing denotes
 the current record of said input space.
 In the following description, numerous specific details, such as key names,
 function names etc. are provided in detail in order to give a more
 thorough description of the present invention. It will be obvious for
 those skilled in the art that the present invention may be practiced
 without these specific details. Some well-known features are not described
 in detail so as not to make the present invention unclear.
 In order to make a regular phone call on the mobile phone in the drawings
 the area code and phone number are entered on the 0-9 keys on the keypad 7
 and a YES key or another action key is pressed to start the call and the
 call is ended by pressing a NO key in a similar way as on a conventional
 mobile phone.
 The mobile phone having an input device according to the invention is
 provided with several functions other than making regular phone calls.
 Most of these functions are controlled through a menu system. In order to
 move through the menu system and find the different menus, functions or
 settings the input device according to the invention is used. The input
 device is activated and deactivated by pressing an action key such as one
 of the volume keys 5 or by selecting a particular menu in the menu system.
 If the flip 11 is moved, i.e. opened or closed, illustrated by a double
 directed arrow 14 in FIG. 2, the rotational sensor means 13 detects the
 position or angle .alpha. is translated and interpreted by the processing
 means and a particular record, i.e. a menu, function or setting, is shown
 on the display 6. The flip 11 is moved until the desired menu, function or
 setting is reached and it is selected by pressing the digital input means
 or an action key, preferrably a side mounted key such as one of the volume
 keys 5. The operation of moving through the menu system is often called
 scrolling.
 Phone numbers and subscriber names can be stored and recalled from an
 electronic phone book. A phone number is stored by entering the phone
 number on the keypad. Then the flip 11 is opened or closed until the Store
 menu is shown, and to confirm the storing the YES key is pressed. However,
 it is also possible to scroll through an input space including all
 necessary alpha numeric characters such as digits, alphabet letters and
 punctuation marks by moving the flip and selecting each digit by pressing
 the action key.
 In order to store a name of a subscriber of the already entered phone
 number the first letter of the name is entered by scrolling the input
 space and then the desired character is selected by pressing the action
 key. The next letter of the name is entered when the cursor has moved to
 the next position and so on until the complete name is entered. The name
 is confirmed and stored in a selected memory position by pressing the YES
 key. Of course the memory position can be selected by moving the flip 11
 as described.
 Phone numbers can be recalled in many ways. First a phone number can be
 recalled by scrolling the menu system and selecting a RecallName menu and
 then either the full name or the first letter is entered as described
 above an confirmed by the YES key. The first name that matches the letter
 string is displayed. A second way to recall a number is to scroll through
 the phone book, by moving the flip, to the desired name. In both cases the
 selected name and number will blink on the display until the YES key is
 pressed to call the number.
 Further, the phone numbers and names in the phone book can be changed
 through an EditPhBook menu. The EditPhBook menu is selected, whereupon
 either the full name or the first letter of the desired name is entered by
 means of flip motion and is confirmed by pressing the action key. The
 first name that matches the letter string is displayed. Another way to
 find the name is to scroll to the wanted name. The name is scrolled to
 change it letter by letter and the changed name is confirmed and stored by
 pressing the YES key. Then the phone number is changed in a similar way.
 All the scrolling and letter finding is performed by moving the flip to a
 position, in which the flip has an appropriate angle corresponding to a
 desired letter position or letter in the alphabet.
 Although the invention has been described by way of a specific embodiment
 thereof it should be apparent that the present invention provides a mobile
 telephone that fully satisfies the aims and advantages set forth above,
 and alternatives, modifications and variations are apparent to those
 skilled in the art.
 It is also possible to combine the flip scrolling function with a
 keystroke. For example, if an action key, such as #, is pressed the
 different menus in the menu system are shown in another language.
 Other electronic apparatuses such as hand-held computers or portable
 digital organizers etc. can be provided with an input device according to
 the invention, not necessarily a flip but similar means.