Abstract:
A wireless communications device, such as a cellular telephone, is provided with a touch-sensitive panel that is moveable between a normal position and a select position. The display on the wireless communications device is preferably graphical and includes a cursor; the movement of the cursor is controlled, at least in part, by the user&#39;s interaction with the touch-sensitive panel. The touch-sensitive panel is movable by rotation or simple vertical displacement between a normal up position and a select or down position. When the user pushes down on the touch-sensitive panel, the touch-sensitive panel is rotated or otherwise displaced into the second position. A detector, such as a reed switch or dome spring switch, senses when the touch-sensitive panel is moved to the select position and, in response, changes from an unselected state to a selected state. This state change is communicated to the main electronics of the wireless communications device to signal that a selection is occurring. When the touch-sensitive panel returns to the first position, the detector returns to the unselected state. Optionally, the touch-sensitive panel rests on a support which provides a bias force to urge the touch-sensitive panel to return to the normal position from the select position. This arrangement allows the user to select, and optionally, “drag-and-drop,” without removing their finger from the touch-sensitive panel, preferably with suitable tactile and audible feedback to the user.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates generally to wireless communications devices, and more particularly to wireless communications devices having touch-sensitive panels. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Wireless communications devices, such as cellular telephones, have proven very popular. Over time, these devices have been reduced greatly in size and weight. At the same time, the complexity of functions offered by such devices is increasing, adding such functions as internet access and two way text messaging. Increased functionality has led to a demand for wireless communications devices with larger displays and more keys. However, as the overall size of such devices shrinks, there is less space for keys or other input means. 
     In addition, displays for wireless communications device have evolved from character based designs to full graphic displays. Accordingly, there is a growing need to a user to navigate through the text input or selection menus in two dimensions. That is, there is growing need for the user to be able to direct a cursor to various locations on the display without being limited to strictly up-down or side-to-side movement on the display. In addition to movement of the cursor (“cursor movement” function), the user must be able to select information once the pointer is moved (“select” function) and preferably maintain a selection for subsequent movement of the cursor (“drag and drop” function). 
     Manufacturers of wireless communications device employ a number of approaches to supply the desired functionality. For instance, some wireless communications device employ two directional keys (up/down or left/right) in combination with some sort of selection key such as an “enter,” “yes,” or “OK” key. Other units employ four arrow keys or a combined rocking-key in combination with a selection key. Some more advanced wireless communications devices employ pen-based inputs. Still other wireless communications devices employ touch-sensitive panels integrated as part of the display, sometimes referred to as touch-sensitive displays. When touch-sensitive displays are used, selection is either via a dedicated selection key or via a quick tap on the display. When a tap is used, it is the quick duration of a tap that differentiates the “select” function from the “cursor movement” function. 
     One problem with the use of touch-sensitive displays with tap selection is that the user must physically remove her finger from the touch-sensitive panel before initiating the tap. As a result, there is increased chance for key mis-hits and accidental alteration of the cursor&#39;s location. Another problem arising from the use of touch-sensitive displays with tap selection is the typical lack of suitable user feedback. Users prefer to have tactile, and preferably audible, feedback of the selection. For instance, when a key is pressed, users prefer to have a tactile feedback such as a click sensation. Users typically further prefer to have audible feedback such as a click sound or a beep. Current touch-sensitive displays do not typically provide such feedback. 
     In light of the above, there remains a need for wireless communications devices incorporating touch-sensitive panels having an associated selector that can be activated without removing the user&#39;s finger. Such touch-sensitive panels may be a separate portion of the wireless communications device or may be integrated with the wireless communications device&#39;s display. Further, it is preferred, but not required, that such a touch-sensitive panels give a user suitable tactile, and preferably audible, feedback. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention provides a wireless communications device, such as a cellular telephone, with a touch-sensitive panel that is moveable between a normal position and a select position, thereby allowing for selection without removing the users finger from the touch-sensitive panel. The display on the wireless communications device is preferably graphical and includes a cursor; the movement of the cursor is controlled, at least in part, by the user&#39;s interaction with the touch-sensitive panel. The touch-sensitive panel is movable by rotation or simple vertical displacement between a first position and a second position. For instance, the first position can be the normal up position and the second position can be the select or down position. When the user pushes down on the touch-sensitive panel, preferably with a force at or above a predetermined level, the touch-sensitive panel is rotated or otherwise displaced into the second position. A detector, such as a reed switch or dome spring switch, senses when the touch-sensitive panel is moved to the select position and, in response, changes from an unselected state to a selected state. This state change is communicated to the main electronics of the wireless communications device, such as a microprocessor, to signal the wireless communications device that a selection is occurring. When the touch-sensitive panel returns to the first position, the detector returns to the unselected state. Optionally, the touch-sensitive panel rests on a support which provides a bias force to urge the touch-sensitive panel to return to the first position from the second position. Further, an optional seal helps prevent ingress of moisture, etc. around the moveable touch-sensitive panel. In some embodiments, the touch-sensitive panel may be integrated with the display of the wireless communications device. 
     The touch-sensitive panel with selector of the present invention allows the user to select, and optionally, “drag-and-drop,” without removing their finger from the touch-sensitive panel. In addition, the touch-sensitive panel with selector of the present invention optionally provides suitable tactile and audible feedback to the user. As such, the touch-sensitive panel with selector of the present invention should provide greater user satisfaction. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a cellular telephone incorporating the present invention. 
     FIG. 2 is a partial sectional view along line II—II of FIG. 1 showing a touch-sensitive panel in the normal, or up, position. 
     FIG. 3 is a partial sectional view along line II—II of FIG. 1 showing a touch-sensitive panel in the select, or down, position. 
     FIG. 4 is a partial sectional view along line II—II of FIG. 1 showing an alternative embodiment with the touch-sensitive panel in the normal, or up, position. 
     FIG. 5 is a partial sectional view along line II—II of FIG. 1 showing another alternative embodiment with the touch-sensitive panel in the normal, or up, position 
     FIG. 6 is a simplified block diagram of one embodiment of a wireless communications device of the present invention. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     FIG. 1 illustrates a hand-held cellular telephone  10  constructed in accordance with the present invention. The cellular telephone  10  is a fully functional radio transceiver capable of transmitting and receiving digital signals. The cellular telephone  10  typically includes an antenna  11 , a speaker  12 , a microphone  13 , a display  14 , and a keypad  16  which interact in a manner well known in the art. Speaker  12  converts received audio signals to an audible output that can be heard by the user. The microphone  13  converts the users speech or other audible input into audio signals. The display  14  allows the operator to see dialed digits, call status information, and prompts. It is preferred, but not required, that the display  14  have multi-line capability and more preferably have full graphical capability. On the display  14  is a moveable cursor  18 . The keypad  16  allows the operator to dial numbers, enter commands, and the like. 
     In addition, the cellular telephone  10  of the present invention includes a touch-sensitive panel  30 . The touch-sensitive panel  30  has a top surface  32 , sides  36 , and a bottom surface  34 . In general, a touch-sensitive panel  30  is a device which detects the presence of a pointing device and monitors motion of that pointing device across its top surface  32 . As is well known in the art, a pointing device may be wide variety of objects, including a person&#39;s finger or a pen. For clarity, a finger will be used as an illustrative example of a pointing device. When using a touch-sensitive panel  30 , the finger is free to move in any direction across the top surface  32  and is not constrained to only orthogonal movement such as north-south and east-west. Using technology well known in the art, the touch-sensitive panel  30  monitors the movement of finger and communicates that movement to the telephone&#39;s electronics via an electrical connection such as a cable  38 . Based on this information, the cursor  18  on the display  14  is made to move accordingly. That is, when the finger moves northeast on the touch-sensitive panel  30 , the cursor  18  moves northeast on the display  14 . This “cursor movement” function of a touch-sensitive panel  30  is well known in the art. 
     In contrast with existing cellular telephones  10  having touch-sensitive displays with fixed touch-sensitive panels  30 , the touch-sensitive panel  30  of the present invention may be vertically displaced so as to function as a selector. Referring to FIG. 2, associated with the touch-sensitive panel  30  is a support  50  and an optional seal  40 . The seal  40  surrounds the touch-sensitive panel  30  and provides a slidable interface between the touch-sensitive panel  30  and the keypad casing  17  on the front face of the telephone  10 . Preferably, the seal  40  creates and maintains a water-, humidity-, and dust-tight seal  40  around the touch-sensitive panel  30  so as to prevent the ingress of moisture, dirt, and other debris into the interior of the phone  10 . The seal  40  may be attached to the touch-sensitive panel  30 , the keypad casing  17  of the phone  10 , or both. The support  50  urges the touch-sensitive panel  30  into its normal operating, or up, position (FIG. 2) and detects when the touch-sensitive panel  30  is in the select, or down, position (FIG.  3 ). 
     A wide variety of assemblies may act as the support  50 . One embodiment of the support  50  is shown in FIG.  2  and FIG.  3 . The support  50  of FIG. 2 includes a plurality of shafts  52 , a plurality of guides  60 , a plurality springs  70 , and a plurality of switches  80 ; preferably there are at least three of each. The shafts  52  extend downwardly from the bottom surface  34  of the touch-sensitive panel  30 . The shafts  52  may be integral with the touch-sensitive panel  30  or may alternatively be affixed to the bottom surface  34  thereof. On a lower portion of at least one, and preferably each, shaft  52  is a small bump  54 . Surrounding the upper portion of the shaft  52  is a collar  56  of larger diameter. Guides  60  extend up from a stationary portion of the cellular telephone  10 , such as from the printed circuit board  19 . Each guide  60  includes a vertical channel  62  of slightly larger diameter than the lower portion of the shaft  52  and a horizontal ring  64  of slightly larger diameter than the channel  62 . The channels  62  may have round, square, hexagonal, or any other cross section, including variable cross sections corresponding to the cross sections of the shafts  52 . In the bottom of the channel  62  is the spring  70 . 
     The depth of the channel  62  and the location of the ring  64  are chosen so that the bump  54  on the shaft  52  rests in the ring  64  when the touch-sensitive panel  30  is in its normal operating, or up, position and the spring  70  is either not compressed or only slightly compressed. When the touch-sensitive panel  30  is in the select, or down, position, the bump  54  is displaced out of the ring  64 , the spring  70  is compressed, and the collar  56  bottoms out against the top of the guide  66 . 
     Associated with each guide  60 , such as attached to the outside thereof, is a switch  80  for sensing when the touch-sensitive panel  30  is in the select position. For purposes of illustration, a magnet and reed switch  80  arrangement is shown in FIG.  2  and FIG.  3 . In such an arrangement, a small magnet is molded into the shaft  52  to form the bump  54 . The corresponding reed switch  80  detects the close proximity of the magnetic bump  54 . The reed switch  80  is vertically located so as to be tripped when the touch-sensitive panel  30  is in the down, or select, position. The switch  80  communicates with the electronics. Preferably, the switches  80  are connected to the electronics in parallel so that the activation of any one of the switches  80  will close the circuit thereby indicating to the electronics that the touch-sensitive panel  30  is in the select, or down, position. 
     In operation, the touch-sensitive panel  30  operates normally in the up position. Due to the friction of the seal  40  and the presence of the bump  54  in the ring  64 , a moderate level of pressure may be applied to the touch-sensitive panel  30 , such as by a finger, without displacing the touch-sensitive panel  30 . Thus, the touch-sensitive panel  30  remains a stable platform for light pressing such as that used to move the cursor  18 . When a user desires to “select” something that is indicated at the cursor  18  position, the user applies a higher level of pressure to the touch-sensitive panel  30 . This higher level of pressure should be some pre-determined level of force, such as two Newtons, five Newtons, ten Newtons, or some other level appropriate for user satisfaction. When this higher level of pressure overcomes the resisting force of the seal  40 , the bump  54 , and whatever light force applied by the spring  70 , the touch-sensitive panel  30  is displaced downwardly. When the bump  54  is displaced from the ring  64 , the amount of pressure to keep pushing the touch-sensitive panel  30  down is lower than that required to start the downward movement. This action provides some tactile feedback to the user. In addition, in the fully down position, the collars  56  bottom out against the guides  60 , providing a positive stop feedback to the user. In the fully down position, the switches  80  are tripped, thereby notifying the electronics that a “selection” is occurring. With this embodiment, horizontal movement of the touch-sensitive panel  30 , such as what might be expected when a finger is moved about on the top surface  32 , will not trigger the selection. 
     In addition to the “select function,” the present invention allows the touch-sensitive panel  30  to be used to “drag and drop” information from one cursor  18  position to another. To do so, the user keeps sufficient pressure on the touch-sensitive panel  30  to keep it in the down position while moving her finger to move the cursor  18  to the desired location and then releases the touch-sensitive panel  30  to return to the up position. With the present invention, only one finger is required to be used to perform cursor movement, selection, and dragging/dropping operations and that finger need not be removed from the touch-sensitive panel  30  to complete the task except to initiate the “drop.” 
     Audible feedback may be achieved in a wide variety of ways. For instance, the speaker  12  may beep when the switch  80  circuit is closed. Similarly, a separate piezoelectric buzzer or the like may be used. Alternatively, any mechanical method well known in the key art, such as a cantilevered spring, may be used to generate a mechanical clicking sound when the touch-sensitive panel  30  is pushed into the down position. 
     An alternative embodiment of the present invention employs a touch-sensitive panel  30  that is hinged from one side, a spring  70  urging upwardly against the opposite side, and a switch  80  that is tripped when the touch-sensitive panel  30  swings down. There are numerous other equivalent embodiments; all that is required is that the touch-sensitive panel  30  be movable, preferably vertically, and a switch  80  or other detector positioned so as to detect when the touch-sensitive panel  30  is in the select position so as to activate a “select” function, and preferably enable a “drag and drop” function. 
     Another alternative embodiment of the support  50  is shown in FIG.  4 . Like the support  50  shown in FIG.  2  and FIG. 3, this alternative support  50  includes a plurality of guides  60  and shafts  52 . Preferably, there are three guides  60  arranged in a triangular fashion, but other numbers or arrangements may also suffice. In addition, there is a selector shaft  90  extending downwardly from the bottom surface  34  of the touch-sensitive panel  30 . Preferably, the selector shaft  90  is centrally located on the touch-sensitive panel  30  and includes a rounded tip  92 . The tip  92  is either composed of a conductive material or coated in a conductive material. Underneath the selector shaft  90  is a contact pad  94 . The contact pad  94  may be of any type which closes a circuit upon being impinged by conductive surface of suitable size, such as an interleaved keypad contact well known in the art. When the touch-sensitive panel  30  is displaced downwardly, the tip  92  of the selector shaft  90  contacts the contact pad  94  and thereby completes an electrical circuit which notifies the electronics that a “selection” is occurring. In this manner, the combined tip  92  and contact pad  94  function as a switch  80 . For such a physical contact approach, the selector shaft  90  should impact upon the contact pad  94  before the collars  56  of the shafts  52  impinge upon the top of the guides  66 ; the components should be sized accordingly. In addition, is may be desirable for the selector shaft  90  to be made slightly over-length but from a somewhat flexible material so as insure a good connection without damaging the contact pad  94 . 
     In another embodiment shown in FIG. 5, the support  50  includes a plurality of guides  60  and shafts  52 . However, the guides  60  of this embodiment include neither the horizontal rings  64  nor springs  70  of the embodiment shown in FIG.  4  and the shafts  52  do not include bumps  54 . Preferably, there are three guides  60  arranged in a triangular fashion, but other numbers or arrangements may also suffice. In a like manner to the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, there is a selector shaft  90  extending downwardly from the bottom surface  34  of the touch-sensitive panel  30 . In this embodiment, the tip  92  need not be conductive. Instead, directly underneath the selector shaft  90  is a domed switch  100 . The domed switch  100  includes a deflectable dome  102  and a contact pad  104 . The dome  102  is preferably make from thin spring steel or other material that can both spring back into the dome shape after being deformed and can withstand such deformation multiple times. When the touch-sensitive panel  30  is displaced downwardly, the tip  92  of the selector shaft  90  contacts the dome  102  and deflects it downwardly. Initially, the force required will be higher, but will thereafter be lower as the dome  102  begins to collapse. In the fully down position, the tip  92  of the selector shaft  90  will drive the dome  102  down into contact with the contact pad  104 , thereby completing an electrical circuit which notifies the electronics that a “selection” is occurring. No springs  70  are required in the guides  60  of this embodiment because, when the user releases the touch-sensitive panel  30 , the dome  102  will spring back into shape, thereby driving the touch-sensitive panel  30  back up into the normal position via its action against the selector shaft  90 . In this embodiment, the selector shaft  90  should drive the dome  102  into contact with the contact pad  104  before the collars  56  of the shafts  52  impinge upon the top of the guides  66 ; the components should be sized accordingly. 
     While the preferred displacement of the touch-sensitive panel  30  is vertical, i.e. normal to its top surface  32 , the present invention encompasses devices wherein such movement varies from perfectly normal by at least 30° or more. Further, the displacement need not be linear, such as the arcuate displacement of the hinged embodiment discussed above. Such minor variations do not change the fundamental inventive approach of a movable touch-sensitive panel  30  having an associated switch  80 ,  100  or detector for detecting when the touch-sensitive panel  30  is in a certain position. 
     Further, the movable touch-sensitive panel  30  of the present invention may also function as the display  14 . That is, the touch-sensitive panel  30  may have a variable visible background (when viewed from above) so as to be able to display information. For instance, the keypad  16  may be replaced by a portion of the touch-sensitive panel  30  having a graphical representation of a keypad  16  and the remainder of the touch-sensitive panel  30  may function as a graphical display  14 . When a user pushes a “number” on the “keypad”  16 , the touch-sensitive panel  30  is displaced and the electronics are notified of the finger&#39;s position on the touch-sensitive panel  30  and the displacement of the touch-sensitive panel  30  into a selection position. From this information, the electronics may determine what number has been entered. Further, in such an embodiment, the user may touch the display portion of the touch-sensitive panel  30  so as to utilize the “cursor movement”, “select,” or “drag and drop” functions. In such an embodiment, the touch-sensitive panel  30  is functioning as both an input means and an output means. 
     FIG. 6 is one possible block diagram of the cellular telephone  10 . The cellular telephone  10  includes a microprocessor  122 , program memory  124 , a transmitter  130 , and a receiver  140 . The analog audio signals from the microphone  13  are applied to the transmitter  130 . The transmitter  130  includes an analog to digital converter  132 , a digital signal processor  134 , and a phase modulator/RF amplifier  136 . The analog to digital converter  132  converts the analog audio signals from the microphone  13  into a digital audio signal. The digital audio signal is passed to the digital signal processor (DSP)  134  which compresses the digital audio signal and inserts error detection, error correction and signaling information. The compressed and encoded signal from the digital signal processor  134  is passed to the phase modulator/RF amplifier  136 . The modulator/RF amplifier  136  converts the signal to a form that is suitable for transmission on a RF carrier via the antenna  11 . 
     The receiver  140  includes a detector/amplifier  142 , digital signal processor  144 , and a digital to analog converter  146 . Digital signals received by the antenna  11  are passed to the receiver/amplifier  142  which boosts the low-level RF digital signal to a level appropriate for input to the digital signal processor  144 . The digital signal processor  144  includes an equalizer to compensate for phase and amplitude distortions in the channel corrupted signal, and a demodulator for extracting the transmitted bit sequence from the received signal. A channel decoder detects and corrects channel errors in the received signal. The channel decoder also separates control and signaling data from speech data. The control and signaling data is passed to the microprocessor  122 . Speech data is passed to the digital to analog converter  146 . The output of the DSP  144  is passed to the digital to analog converter  146 . Digital to analog converter  146  converts the digital audio signal into an analog output signal and passes the signal to the speaker  12  to generate an audible output that can be heard by the user. 
     The microprocessor  122  coordinates the operation of the transmitter  130  and the receiver  140  according to program instructions stored in memory  124 . These functions include power control, channel selection, timing, as well as a host of other functions. The microprocessor  122  inserts signaling messages into the transmitted signals and extracts signaling messages from the received signals. The microprocessor  122  responds to any base station commands contained in the signaling messages, and implements those commands. When the user enters commands via the keypad  16 , the commands are transferred to the microprocessor  122  for action. 
     The discussion above has used a digital cellular telephone  10  for illustrative purposes; however, the present invention is not limited to digital cellular telephones  10 . Instead, the present invention encompasses any wireless communications device which includes a movable touch-sensitive panel  30  and an associated switch  80 ,  100  or detector for detecting when the touch-sensitive panel  30  is in a certain position so as to act as a selector. Examples of other wireless communications devices include analog cellular telephone, personal communications assistants, pagers, satellite phones, portable computers with wireless communications capability, and the like. 
     The present invention may, of course, be carried out in other specific ways than those herein set forth without departing from the spirit and essential characteristics of the invention. The present embodiments are, therefore, to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and all changes coming within the meaning and equivalency range of the appended claims are intended to be embraced therein.