Abstract:
In an electronic device having a multi-dimensional input device to input information, a mechanical restraining mechanism is used to mechanically engage with at least a part of the multi-dimensional device when the latter is not used so as to prevent unintended input of information in the electronic device. The multi-dimensional input device can be a joystick or a sliding disc, which can be latched to a docking slot or engaged with a clamp.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     The present invention relates to an information inputting means disposed on an exterior surface of an electronic device for inputting information in the electronic device and, more particularly, to a method and a mechanism for preventing unintended input of information in the electronic device.  
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     In an electronic device, such as a mobile phone, a PDA and a communicator device, keys and buttons are usually used to allow a user to input information either by creating a signal or disrupting a signal in the electronic device. If the keys or buttons are located on an exposed surface, they could be pressed unintentionally when the electronic device is placed in a pocket or a purse, for example. This can be annoying. One way to prevent unintended pressing is to turn off the electronic device or to disable some of the keys using a keypad lock function. However, many mobile phone users prefer keeping the phone turned on so that they will not miss incoming calls. Furthermore, a keypad locking function, in general, is found not to be intuitive.  
         [0003]     A foldable mobile phone usually has a main body linked to a cover. The cover has an inner surface facing the main body when the mobile phone is folded. The cover also has an outside surface opposing the inner surface. A foldable mobile phone has an interior display disposed on the inner surface of the cover. Some foldable mobile phones have an exterior display located on the outside surface of the cover. The exterior display is usually used to display the time of the day or a short text message related to an incoming call. The exterior display can also be used to display a longer text message if there are some keys or buttons located on the outside surface of the cover so as to allow the user to move and shift the displayed text. Preferably, the user is not required to disable these “exposed” keys or buttons when they are not used to input information in the mobile phone.  
         [0004]     It would be advantageous to provide a method and a device for preventing unintended input of information in the mobile phone if these “exposed” input devices are located on an exterior surface of the mobile phone.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0005]     The present invention uses a multi-directional input device such as a joystick disposed on the exterior surface for inputting information in an electronic device. By moving the multi-directional input device in one or more directions relative to the exterior surface, the user provides electronic signals to the electronic components in the electronic device. In order to prevent unintended moving of the multi-directional input device, the present invention provides a mechanical restraining mechanism such that the multi-directional input device can be effectively locked when it is engaged with the restraining mechanism.  
         [0006]     On a foldable mobile phone, for example, a joystick can be disposed on the outside surface of the phone cover to allow a user to move the joystick in order to input information in the mobile phone. A docking slot on the cover adjacent to the joystick is used to latch the joystick in place, rendering the joystick immobile. Thus, when the joystick is not used, it can be moved into the docking position so as to prevent unintended moving of the joystick.  
         [0007]     In another embodiment, a clamp having a restraining slot is disposed adjacent to the joystick. When the joystick is not used, the clamp can be slid toward the joystick to immobilize the joystick. Furthermore, the joystick can be relocated between a first position and a section position. In the first position, the joystick can be moved in different directions. In the second position, the joystick is engaged with a mechanical restraining mechanism, rendering the joystick substantially immobile.  
         [0008]     The multi-directional input device can also have a contact plate and a sliding disc slidably mounted on the contact plate. The sliding disc can be caused to mechanically engage with a mechanical restraining mechanism.  
         [0009]     The present invention will become apparent upon reading the description taken in conjunction with FIGS.  1  to  11   b.   
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0010]      FIG. 1   a  is a schematic representation showing a side view of a foldable phone having a display screen and a joystick on the cover, wherein the joystick is in an unlocked position.  
         [0011]      FIG. 1   b  is a schematic representation showing the side view of the foldable phone wherein the joystick is in a locked position.  
         [0012]      FIG. 2   a  is a schematic representation showing a plan view of the foldable phone, wherein the joystick is in the unlocked position.  
         [0013]      FIG. 2   b  is a schematic representation showing the plan view of the foldable phone wherein the joystick is in the locked position.  
         [0014]      FIG. 3   a  is a schematic representation showing a side view of a joystick assembly wherein the joystick is in an unlocked position.  
         [0015]      FIG. 3   b  is a schematic representation showing a side view of the joystick assembly wherein the joystick is in the locked position.  
         [0016]      FIG. 4   a  is a schematic representation showing a top view of the joystick assembly wherein the joystick is in the unlocked position.  
         [0017]      FIG. 4   b  is a schematic representation showing a top view of the joystick assembly wherein the joystick is in the locked position.  
         [0018]      FIG. 5   a  is a schematic representation showing a side view of a foldable phone having a display screen and a joystick on the cover, wherein the joystick is disengaged from a restraining clamp.  
         [0019]      FIG. 5   b  is a schematic representation showing the side view of the foldable phone wherein the joystick is engaged with the clamp.  
         [0020]      FIG. 6   a  is a schematic representation showing a plan view of the foldable phone, wherein the joystick is disengaged from the clamp.  
         [0021]      FIG. 6   b  is a schematic representation showing the plan view of the foldable phone wherein the joystick is engaged with the clamp.  
         [0022]      FIG. 7   a  is a schematic representation showing a side view of the joystick assembly wherein the joystick is in a disengaged position.  
         [0023]      FIG. 7   b  is a schematic representation showing a side view of the joystick assembly wherein the joystick is in the engaged position.  
         [0024]      FIG. 8   a  is a schematic representation showing a top view of the joystick assembly wherein the joystick is in the disengaged position.  
         [0025]      FIG. 8   b  is a schematic representation showing a top view of the joystick assembly wherein the joystick is in the engaged position.  
         [0026]      FIG. 9   a  is a schematic representation of another joystick assembly, according to the present invention, wherein the joystick is in a disengaged position.  
         [0027]      FIG. 9   b  is a schematic representation of joystick assembly of  FIG. 9   a,  wherein the joystick is in an engaged position.  
         [0028]      FIG. 10   a  is a schematic representation of another multi-directional input device, according to the present invention, wherein the device is in a disengaged position.  
         [0029]      FIG. 10   b  is a schematic representation of the multi-directional input device of  FIG. 10   a,  wherein the device is in an engaged position.  
         [0030]      FIG. 11   a  is a schematic representation of yet another multi-directional input device, according to the present invention, wherein the device is in a disengaged position.  
         [0031]      FIG. 11   b  is a schematic representation of the multi-directional input device of  FIG. 11   a,  wherein the device is in an engaged position. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION  
       [0032]      FIGS. 1   a  to  2   b  are schematic representations showing a side view and a plan view of a foldable mobile phone. As shown in  FIGS. 1   a  to  2   b,  the mobile phone  1  has a housing  20  to house various electronic components  40  and antenna  10 . The housing  20  has a main body  22  linked to a cover  24 . The cover  24  has an exterior surface  25  and a display  30  disposed on the exterior surface  25 . The mobile phone  1  also has a joystick assembly  50  for inputting information in the mobile phone  1 . The joystick assembly  50  has ajoystick  60  and a retaining block  70  to retain the joystick. As shown in  FIGS. 1   a  to  2   b,  the joystick  60  has a ball  62 , a head  66  connected to the ball  62  by a stem  64 . The retaining block  70  has a well  72  to allow the joystick to move in different directions in the well. The retaining block  70  further has a docking slot  74  for latching the joystick head  66 .  
         [0033]      FIGS. 1   a  and  2   a  show the mobile phone  1  when the joystick  60  is in a normal operational position.  FIG. 1   b  and  2   b  show the mobile phone  1  when the joystick  60  is in its docking position.  FIGS. 3   a  to  3   b  show a side view and a top view of the joystick assembly  50  when the joystick is in its normal operational position. In this position, the user can push the joystick head  66  in different directions.  FIG. 4   a  and  4   b  show a side view and a top view of the joystick assembly when joystick is in its docking position. In this position, the joystick head  66  is latched in the docking slot  74 , rendering the joystick head  66  substantially immobile. As such, unintended moving of the joystick can be prevented even though the joystick is located on an outside surface of the mobile phone.  
         [0034]      FIGS. 5   a  to  11   b  show another embodiment of the present invention.  FIGS. 5   a  to  6   b  are schematic representations showing a side view and a plan view of a foldable mobile phone having ajoystick assembly  50 . As shown in  FIGS. 5   a  to  6   b,  the joystick assembly  50  has a joystick  60  and a retaining body  80  to retain the joystick. The retaining body  80  has a well  82  to allow the joystick to move in different directions in the well. The retaining body has a clamp  90  with a restraining slot  92  to be engaged with the joystick stem  64 . The clamp  90  can be slid from one position to another.  
         [0035]      FIGS. 5   a  and  6   a  show the mobile phone  1  when the joystick  60  is in a normal operational position and the clamp is remote from the joystick.  FIG. 5   b  and  6   b  show the mobile phone  1  when the clamp  90  is moved toward the joystick  60  so that the restraining slot  92  of clamp  90  is engaged with the joystick stem  64 , rendering the joystick  60  immobile.  
         [0036]      FIGS. 7   a  to  7   b  show the relative position of the restraining clamp  90  and the joystick  60  when the joystick is in its normal operational position. In this position, the user can push the joystick head  66  in different directions.  FIG. 8   a  and  8   b  show the relative of position of the restraining clamp  90  and the joystick  60  when the joystick is in the engaged position. In this position, the joystick stem  64  is restrained by the slot  92 . As such, unintended moving of the joystick can be prevented even though the joystick is located on an outside surface of the mobile phone.  
         [0037]     In another embodiment of the present invention, the retaining block  71  has a deep well  73  to retain the joystick  60  and a restraining ring  75  having an opening  77 . When the joystick  60  is operated in its normal operational position, it is caused to stay in the upper portion of the well  73 , as shown in  FIG. 9   a.  Because the opening  77  in the restraining ring  75  is sufficiency wide as compared to the stem  64  of the joystick  60 , the joystick can be moved around in different directions. When the joystick is not used, it can be pushed downward so that the head  66  is engaged with the restraining ring  75 , rendering the joystick  60  immobile, as shown in  FIG. 9   b.    
         [0038]     In yet another embodiment of the present invention, the joystick or multi-directional input device  61  comprises a contact plate  63  and a sliding disc  65  disposed on top of the contact plate  63 . The retaining block  175  has a well  176  and the lower portion of the well  176  is used to retain the contact plate  63 . The retaining block  175  further comprises a clamp  177 -located on one side of the upper portion of the well  176 . When the joystick  61  is in its normal operational position, the sliding disc  65  is disengaged from the clamp  177 . In this position, the sliding disc  65  can be slid in different directions, as shown  FIG. 10   a.  When the sliding disc is slid into the clamp  177 , it is restrained from moving, as shown in  FIG. 10   b.    
         [0039]     In a different embodiment, the depth of the lower portion  180  of the well  176  is greater than the height of the contact plate  63  and a ring  178  is disposed on top of the lower portion  180 . When the joystick  61  is operated in its normal operational position, it is caused to stay upward so that the sliding disc is positioned above the ring  178 , as shown in  FIG. 11   a.  In this position, the sliding disc  65  can be slid in different directions. When the joystick is not used, it can be pushed downward so that the sliding disc  65  is also engaged with the ring  178 , rendering the sliding disc  65  immobile, as shown in  FIG. 11   b.    
         [0040]     In sum, the present invention uses a mechanical means to restrain a multi-directional inputting device in an electronic device. When the multi-directional inputting device is not used, it can be engaged with a latching mechanism so as to render the inputting device immobile. As such, unintended moving of the multi-directional inputting device can be prevented. In particular, the multi-directional inputting device is a joystick and the mechanical restraining means is a docking slot in a well or a restraining slot of a clamp. It should be appreciated that the joystick as shown in  FIGS. 1   a  to  11   b  is disposed on an exterior surface of a foldable mobile phone. However, the same joystick assembly can be disposed on a surface of a non-foldable phone. On such a non-foldable electronic device, when the joystick is in the locked or engaged position, it can be also be used to disable other keys or buttons as well. It should be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the various embodiments shown in  FIGS. 1-11   b  are for illustration purposes only. For example, the electronic device  1  can be a mobile phone, but it can also be a communicator device, a PDA or the like. Furthermore, the antenna  10  in the electronic device  1  can be disposed within the housing  20  or replaced by an internal antenna of a different form.  
         [0041]     Thus, although the invention has been described with respect to one or more embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the foregoing and various other changes, omissions and deviations in the form and detail thereof may be made without departing from the scope of this invention.