Patent Publication Number: US-2005140653-A1

Title: Character key incorporating navigation control

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention relates to on-screen navigation control for computer devices.  
      Compact electronic devices such as personal digital assistants (PDAs), cell phones, pagers, organizers and wireless mobile computing devices generally have limited surface area on which user input keys and buttons can be located. Devices having on-screen navigation typically have a plurality of keys dedicated to cursor or caret movement control. For example, right, left, up and down navigation control keys are often grouped close together. Such devices may also include separate keys for character entry, for example a QWERTY style keyboard, or a telephone-keypad layout. The use of a large number of keys takes up valuable space on compact electronic devices, and can increase tooling and manufacturing costs.  
      Thus, there is a need for a keyboard configuration for a compact electronic device having reduced space requirements while at the same time is comfortable and efficient to use.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      In an example of the invention a common key on a keyboard is used for both for both character entry and on-screen navigation for an electronic device.  
      According to one example of the invention is an electronic device including a display screen and a keyboard. The keyboard is coupled by a processor to the display screen and has a plurality of keys, including a combined character and navigation key having a plurality of detectable input positions including at least one character input position corresponding to a character input for a displayable character and at least one navigation control input position corresponding to a navigation control input for movement of a navigation indicator on the display screen. The combined character and navigation key provides tactile single click feedback to a user when the combined character and navigation key is moved to any of the input positions.  
      According to another example of the invention is a hand-held electronic device that includes a display screen, a keyboard mounted within a face of the device and comprising a plurality of alphanumeric keys arranged in a plurality of rows across the face between an upper edge and a bottom edge of the face, and a space bar key arranged closer to bottom edge of the face than the alphanumeric keys for inputting a space character for display on the display screen, the space bar key including a navigational input component for moving a navigation indicator on the display screen. The device includes a processor for controlling the hand-held device. The processor is coupled to the keyboard for receiving input signals therefrom and is operatively coupled to the display screen. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      Embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the attached Figures, wherein:  
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a mobile device and a communications system to which embodiments of the present invention may be applied;  
       FIG. 2  is a front or plan view of a mobile device according to example embodiments;  
       FIG. 3  shows a further visual user interface as displayed on a display screen of the device of  FIG. 2 ;  
       FIG. 4   a  to  4   c  are partial sectional side views of a space bar key and associated switches of the device of  FIG. 2  in various states according to one example embodiment of the invention;  
       FIG. 5   a  to  5   c  are partial sectional side views of a space bar key and associated switches in various states according to another example embodiment of the invention;  
       FIG. 6   a  to  6   c  are partial sectional side views of a space bar key and associated switches in various states according to yet another example embodiment of the invention;  
       FIG. 7  is a front or plan view of a mobile device according to another example embodiment;  
       FIG. 8  is a partial sectional side view taken along the lines viii-viii of  FIG. 7 ; and  
       FIG. 9  is a partial sectional side view taken along the lines ix-ix of  FIG. 7 . 
    
    
      Like reference numerals are used throughout the Figures to denote similar elements and features.  
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
      Referring to  FIG. 1 , there is a block diagram of a mobile device  10  to which example embodiments of the present invention may be applied. In one example embodiment, the mobile device  10  is a hand-held two-way mobile communication device  10  having at least data and possibly also voice communication capabilities. In an example embodiment, the device has the capability to communicate with other computer systems on the Internet. In various embodiments, mobile device  10  is a data communication device, a multiple-mode communication device configured for both data and voice communication, a mobile telephone, a PDA (either enabled or not enabled for wireless communications), 1-way or 2-way pagers and/or any type of mobile electronic device having a keyboard or keypad and on-screen display. In the presently described embodiment, the mobile device  10  is configured to operate within a wireless network  50 .  
      The device  10  includes a communication subsystem  11 . As will be apparent to those skilled in the field of communications, the particular design of the communication subsystem  11  will be dependent upon the communication network in which the device is intended to operate. Wireless mobile network  50  is, in an example embodiment, a wireless packet data network, which provides radio coverage to mobile devices  10 , although it could be any other types of wireless networks.  
      The device  10  includes a microprocessor  38  that controls the overall operation of the device. The microprocessor  38  interacts with communications subsystem  11  and also interacts with further device subsystems such as the display  22 , flash memory  24 , random access memory (RAM)  26 , auxiliary input/output (I/O) subsystems  28 , thumbwheel  44 , serial port  30 , keyboard or keypad  32 , speaker  34 , microphone  36 , a short-range communications subsystem  40 , and any other device subsystems generally designated as  42 .  
      Some of the subsystems shown in  FIG. 1  perform communication-related functions, whereas other subsystems may provide “resident” or on-device functions. Notably, some subsystems, such as keyboard  32  and display  22  for example, may be used for both communication-related functions, such as entering a text message for transmission over a communication network, and device-resident functions such as a calculator or task list.  
      Operating system software  54  and various software applications  58  used by the microprocessor  38  are, in one example embodiment, stored in a persistent store such as flash memory  24  or similar storage element. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the operating system  54 , specific device applications  58 , or parts thereof, may be temporarily loaded into a volatile store such as RAM  26 . It is contemplated that received communication signals may also be stored to RAM  26 .  
      The microprocessor  38 , in addition to its operating system functions, preferably enables execution of software applications  58  on the device. A predetermined set of applications  58  which control basic device operations, including at least data and voice communication applications for example, will normally be installed on the device  10  during manufacture. Further applications may also be loaded onto the device  10  through the network  50 , an auxiliary I/O subsystem  28 , serial port  30 , short-range communications subsystem  40  or any other suitable subsystem  42 , and installed by a user in the RAM  26  or a non-volatile store for execution by the microprocessor  38 . Such flexibility in application installation increases the functionality of the device and may provide enhanced on-device functions, communication-related functions, or both. For example, secure communication applications may enable electronic commerce functions and other such financial transactions to be performed using the device  10 .  
      In a data communication mode, a received signal such as a text message or web page download will be processed by the communication subsystem  11  and input to the microprocessor  38 , which will preferably further process the received signal for output to the display  22 , or alternatively to an auxiliary I/O device  28 . A user of device  10  may also compose data items such as email messages for example, using the keyboard  32  in conjunction with the display  22  and possibly an auxiliary I/O device  28 . Such composed items may then be transmitted over a communication network through the communication subsystem  11 .  
      The serial port  30  in  FIG. 1  would normally be implemented in a personal digital assistant (PDA)-type communication device for which synchronization with a user&#39;s desktop computer (not shown) may be desirable, but is an optional device component. Such a port  30  would enable a user to set preferences through an external device or software application and would extend the capabilities of the device by providing for information or software downloads, including user interface information, to the device  10  other than through a wireless communication network.  
      A short-range communications subsystem  40  is a further component which may provide for communication between the device  10  and different systems or devices, which need not necessarily be similar devices. For example, the subsystem  40  may include an infrared device and associated circuits and components or a Bluetooth™ communication module to provide for communication with similarly enabled systems and devices.  
      With reference to  FIG. 2 , in an example embodiment, the components and subsystems of mobile device  10  are housed within a rigid case  62  that is configured to be held with one or two hands while the device  10  is in use. The mobile device  10  is, in various example embodiments, small enough to fit inside a standard purse or suit jacket pocket. In an example embodiment, the keyboard  32  is horizontally positioned symmetrically between a left edge and a right edge of a face  63  of the device  10 . The keyboard  32  includes character input buttons or keys for user input of displayable characters, such as substantially similarly sized alphanumeric buttons or keys  64  and a larger elongated space bar button or key  66 . The keyboard  32  also includes non-alphanumeric command or control buttons or keys such as line feed or enter key  67 , CAP key  68  and CTRL key  69 . In the example embodiment of  FIG. 2 , the keys on the face of device  10  are positioned to be actuated by the thumbs of the user while the back of the device  10  is supported by the fingers of the user. In one example embodiment, alphanumeric keys  64  and space bar key  66  are arranged in a QWERTY-style or Dvorak-style keyboard having the plurality of alphanumeric keys  64  arranged in a plurality of rows across the face  63  of case  62 , with the elongate space bar key  66  centrally located below the last row of alphanumeric keys  64 . Alternative keyboard layouts and configurations are used in other embodiments of device  10 . Thumbwheel system  44  includes a rotate-able and push-able thumbwheel  70 .  
      With reference to  FIG. 1 , among the software applications or modules resident on device  10  is a keystroke interpreter  60  that maps various inputs received by the microprocessor  38  from keyboard system  32  and thumbwheel system  44  to associated character and control codes and provides such codes to the operating system  54  and/or software applications  58 . In various embodiments, the functions of the keystroke interpreter may be partly or completely integrated into the operating system  54  or other software applications  58 .  
      With reference again to  FIG. 2 , the display system  22  of the device  10  includes a display screen  72  that is vertically positioned between the keyboard  32  and a top edge of the device face and horizontally positioned symmetrically between the left edge and the right edge of the device face. In various alternative embodiments, the display screen  72  may be housed in a casing that is pivotally mounted to the casing housing the keyboard, or the keyboard may be divided into two sections in housing case  62  with the display screen being located between the keyboard sections.  
      A visual user interface  74  is generated on display screen  72  by microprocessor  38  under the control of operating system  54  and/or software applications  58 . The visual user interface  74  of  FIG. 2  illustrates an example client screen in which a plurality of menu items  76  such as application icons  76 ( 1 ) to  76 ( n ) (referred to generically herein by reference  76 ) are displayed, each of which is selectable to launch an associated application. An on-screen position indicator  78 , commonly referred to as a caret or cursor, scrolls through the menu items  76  in response to manipulation of a navigation key or keys by the user. When a menu item is highlighted or focussed by the on-screen indicator  78 , a further predetermined user input (for example pressing thumbwheel  70  or other selection key) results on the associated application being linked to or launched.  
      Different visual user interface screens will generally be associated with the different software applications  58  resident on device  10 . For example,  FIG. 3  shows a text entry mode user interface on display screen  72  that could be associated with an email compose application or other application that has a text entry mode. In such visual user interface, cursor or on-screen indicator  78 , provides visual feedback as to the current input location in the text field. The on-screen position indicator  78  scrolls through the characters of the text field  80  in response to manipulation of a navigation key or keys by the user.  
      According to example embodiments of the mobile device  10 , a multifunction key having multiple input positions is used both for character input and for on-screen navigation. For example, in various embodiments an elongate space bar key  66  of keyboard system  32  is used both for inputting a space character and also for on-screen navigation. Space bar key  66  is referred to generically by reference  66  herein, with specific example embodiments being denoted by references  66   a ,  66   b ,  66   c  and  66   d  throughout. With reference to  FIG. 2 , the space bar key  66  and device  10  are configured so that: (a) pressing down on the left side  82  of the space bar key  66  while simultaneously pressing a further predetermined command key (for example ALT key  68 ) is mapped to a “left arrow” or “scroll back” control code by the keyboard interpreter; (b) pressing down on the right side  84  of the space bar key  66  while simultaneously pressing the further predetermined key is mapped to a “right arrow” or “scroll forward” control code; and (c) pressing down anywhere on the space bar key while in a text entry mode independently of pressing the further predetermined key is mapped to a “space” character.  
      By way of example, and with reference to the text entry mode user interface display shown in  FIG. 3 , depressing the left side  82  of the space bar  66  while depressing ALT key  68  results in visual indicator  78  scrolling backwards to the left through text field  80  (with wraparound to the end of the previous line when the beginning of a current line of text is reached), and depressing the right side  84  while depressing ALT key  68  causes the visual indicator  78  to scroll forward to the right through text field  80  (with wraparound to the front of the next line when the end of current line of text is reached). Depressing the space bar in any location without also pressing the ALT key  68  results in a “space” character being added to the text field at the location of the on-screen indicator  78  and the on-screen indicator  78  being advanced to the next location in the text field. If a key or key combination is pressed for more than a predetermined duration, the control code or character mapped to the key or key combination is repeatedly generated until the key or key combination is released or a buffer size exceeded.  
      In addition to permitting navigation through a text field when the device  10  is in a text input mode (as shown in  FIG. 3 ), in various embodiments the spacebar  66  can also be used to navigate through menu item selection screens (such the icon screen shown in  FIG. 2 ) when the device  10  is in a selection mode. For example, in one embodiment, pressing of the left side  82  of the space bar key  66  while pressing alt key  68  allows the user to scroll to the left and backwards through the selectable icons shown on the screen  72  in  FIG. 2 , while pressing the right side  84  of the space bar key  66  while pressing alt key  68  allows the user to scroll to the right and forwards through the selectable icons. In interfaces displaying a column or vertical list of selectable items, pressing of the left side  82  of the space bar key  66  while pressing alt key  68  allows the user to scroll upwards and backwards through the menu items, while pressing the right side  84  of the space bar key  66  while pressing alt key  68  allows the user to scroll downwards and forwards through the menu items.  
       FIGS. 4   a  to  4   c  show a sectional side view of a space bar key  66   a  according to one example embodiment of the invention. The space bar key  66   a  includes an upper user contact portion  86  that protrudes through an opening in the face  63  of rigid housing case  62 . A lower surface  90  of the space bar key  66   a  inside the rigid case  62  faces a printed circuit board  96  on which are mounted two resilient binary contact dome switches  98  and  100  that are part of the keyboard assembly  32 . A first protuberance  92  extends from the lower surface  90  of the left side  82  of space bar  66   a  to rest on the first contact dome switch  98 , and a second protuberance  94  extends from the lower surface  90  of the right side  84  of the space bar  66   a  to rest on the second contact dome switch  100 .  FIG. 4   a  shows the space bar key  66   a  in a normal un-depressed state in which the resilient contact dome switches  98  and  100  bias a stop member  102  of the space bar key  66   a  against an inside surface of the face  63  of the case  62 .  FIG. 4   b  shows the space bar key  66   a  in a uniformly depressed state where pressure is applied to the center of upper portion  86  as indicated by arrow  104 . In such state, both contact dome switches  98 ,  100  are pressed and thus in an opposite binary state than in  FIG. 4   a .  FIG. 4   c  shows the space bar key  66   a  when only the right side  84  of the key  66   a  is depressed through pressure applied as indicated by arrow  106 , resulting in compression of contact dome switch  100 , but not contact dome switch  98 . Similarly, contact dome switch  98  can be individually compressed by applying pressure only to the left side  82  of key  66 . Thus, in the configuration shown in  FIGS. 4   a - 4   c , depression of first contact dome switch  98  together with the ALT key  68  but independent of the second contact dome switch  100  is mapped by keystroke interpreter  60  to a left arrow or backward movement control code and the on-screen indicator  78  moved accordingly, the independent depression of the second contact dome  100  together with the ALT key  68  is mapped to a right arrow or forward movement control code and the on-screen indicator  78  moved accordingly. In a text input mode, the depression of either or both of the contact dome switches  98 ,  100  in the absence of depression of the ALT key  68  is mapped to a space character input.  
      In one embodiment having the configuration shown in  FIGS. 4   a - 4   c , the contact dome switches  98 ,  100  are resilient members that bias the key  66   a  outward into its normal un-depressed state when no user pressure is applied to the key. Such switches each provide a tactile “click” feel feedback to the user when depressed. Thus, pressing the center of the key  66   a  of  FIGS. 4   a - 4   c  provides a “double click” tactile feel as two contact domes switches are activated, and pressing of either of the right and left sides provides a “single click” tactile feel as only one contact dome switch is activated.  
      In various example embodiments, different space bar key and switch configurations are used to provide on-screen navigation control. For example,  FIGS. 5   a  to  5   c  show an alternative example embodiment of space bar key  66   b  for the mobile device  10  of  FIG. 2  in which a third central protuberance  110  extends from the bottom  90  of the space bar key  66   b  to pivotally engage a third resilient contact dome switch  112 . The third protuberance  110  is centrally located on the space bar key between left and right side protuberances  92  and  94 , and the dome switch  112  has a corresponding location on circuit board  96  between dome switches  98  and  100 . In the example embodiment of  FIGS. 5   a - 5   c , the central third protuberance  110  extends further from the key bottom  90  then the side first and second protuberances  92 ,  94  so that only the central protuberance  110  contacts its respective dome switch  112  when the space bar key is in its normal resting position as shown in  FIG. 5   a . Alternatively or additionally, the central contact switch  112  can extend further from the circuit board  96  than the side contact switches  98 ,  100 .  
      Thus, in the embodiment of  FIGS. 5   a - 5   c , the central contact dome switch  112  provides a biasing force against the central protuberance  110  keeping the space bar key in its normal resting position biased against the case  62 . When the center of the space bar key  66   b  is pressed, as shown in  FIG. 5   b , the central dome contact switch  112  has its binary state changed as it is compressed out of its normal position, but the side contact switches  98  and  100  are not compressed. Such a configuration allows the user to feel the tactile feedback “click” of only a single contact dome switch when the center of the space bar key  66   b  is pressed, rather than the “double click” tactile feel that results from the double contact dome switch activation associated with pressing the center of the space bar key  66   a  of  FIGS. 4   a - 4   c.    
      Turning again to  FIG. 5   c , when the right side  84  of the space bar key  66   b  is pressed the central protuberance  110  pivots on, compresses and activates central dome contact switch  112 , the right side protuberance  94  compresses and activates its respective contact dome switch  100 , and the left side contact dome switch  98  is not activated. Similarly, when the left side  82  of the space bar key  66   b  is pressed the central protuberance  110  pivots on, compresses and activates central dome contact switch  112 , the left side protuberance  92  compresses and activates its respective contact dome switch  98 , and the right side contact dome switch  100  is not activated. Thus, pressing either side of the space bar key results in pivoting of the key in the corresponding direction and a tactile “double click” feel.  
      In one example embodiment of the configuration shown in  FIGS. 5   a - 5   c , depression of first contact dome switch  98  and the central contact dome switch  112  together with the ALT key  68  but independent of the second contact dome switch  100  is mapped by keystroke interpreter  60  to a left or forward movement control code resulting in a corresponding movement of the on-screen indicator  78 . The depression of the second contact dome switch  100  and the central contact dome switch  112  together with the ALT key  68  is mapped to an right or backward movement control code resulting in a corresponding movement of the on-screen indicator  78 . In a text input mode, the depression of the central contact dome switch  112 , either on its own or in combination with either of the side contact dome switches  98 ,  100 , but independent of the alt key  68 , is mapped to a space character input.  
      In will be appreciated that contact switches that provide tactile “click” feedback can be constructed in a variety of ways. The “click” feel results from resistance being provided by the switch against the key throughout its depression until it hits a point of maximum depression. Such tactile “click” feel is provided by contact dome switches mounted on the circuit board. In alternative embodiments, other switch configurations can be used—for example, the tactile “click” feedback can be provided by individual coil springs as in conventional computer keyboards. In another example embodiment, a resilient web may be positioned between the keys  64 ,  66  and  68  of the keyboard system  32 , with electrical contact switches being located under corresponding portions of the web that can be momentarily displaced by a respective key protuberance to activate the electrical contact switch, after which the web biases the key back to a normal resting position. In some embodiments, the keys may be integrated right into such a web.  
       FIGS. 6   a - 6   c  show yet another example embodiment of a space bar key  66   c  and switch configuration that can be used in the device  10  of  FIG. 2 .  FIG. 6   a  shows the space bar key in a normal biased resting state,  FIG. 6   b  shows the space bar key when pressed in the center, and  FIG. 6   b  shows the space bar key when pressed on the right side. The space bar key  66   c  is substantially identical space bar key  66   b  to that of  FIGS. 5   a - 6   a , however first and second side resilient contact dome switches  98  and  100  have been replaced with non-click contact switches  114  and  116  that do not have compressible resilient domes and hence do not provide tactile “click” feedback when activated. Rather, the switches  114  and  116  simply provide a hard stop when activated. Tactile “single click” feedback is provided by central contact dome switch  112  regardless of where the space bar key  66   c  is pressed.  
      FIGS.  7  to  9  illustrate a further example embodiment in which a space bar key  66   d  can be used to control vertical (Y-axis) on-screen navigation as well as horizontal (X-axis) on-screen navigation. The embodiment of FIGS.  7  to  9  is similar to the embodiment of  FIGS. 2 and 6   a - 6   c , with the exception of differences that will be explained below. The space bar key  66   d  is larger than space bar key  66   c  to provide for pressable up and down regions  128 ,  130  for corresponding y-axis navigation of on-screen indicator  78 . As best seen in  FIG. 8 , similar to space bar key  66   c , the space bar key  66   d  includes a central protuberance  110  mounted to pivotally engage a central contact dome switch  112 , and left and right protuberances  92 ,  94  for respectively activating first and second contact switches  114  and  116 . However, as best seen in  FIG. 9 , the space bar key  66   d  also includes upper and lower protuberances  120 ,  122 , under upper and lower space bar key regions  128 ,  130 , respectively, for activating respective upper and lower contact switches  124  and  126 . The upper and lower protuberances  120  and  122  and their respective contact switches  124  and  126  are dimensioned so that the protuberances  120  and  122  engage the contact switches  124  and  126  when the space bar key  66 D is pivoted by pressing its upper region  128  or its lower region  130 , respectively.  
      In the example embodiment of FIGS.  7  to  9 , activation of first contact switch  114  and the central contact dome switch  112  together with the ALT key  68  but independent of the second contact switch  116  is mapped by keystroke interpreter  60  to a left arrow or negative X movement control code resulting in a corresponding movement of the on-screen indicator  78 . The activation of the second contact switch  116  and the central contact dome switch  112  together with the ALT key  68  is mapped to an right arrow or positive X movement control code resulting in a corresponding movement of the on-screen indicator  78 . The activation of the upper contact switch  124  and the central contact dome switch  112  together with the ALT key  68  is mapped to an up arrow or positive Y movement control code resulting in a corresponding movement for on-screen indicator  78 . The activation of the lower contact switch  126  and the central contact dome switch  112  together with the ALT key  68  is mapped to a down arrow or negative Y movement control code resulting in a corresponding movement of on-screen indicator  78 . In a text entry mode of device  10 , depression of the central contact dome switch  112  without simultaneous depression of the ALT key  68  results in entry of a “space” character regardless of what other switches are also activated by the space bar key  66   d . In various embodiments, various switch activation combinations may be mapped to further on-screen navigation control codes. For example, simultaneous activation of the left contact switch  114  and the upper contact switch  124  together with the ALT key  68  is, in one embodiment mapped to a control code that results in diagonal movement in the negative X, negative Y direction of on-screen indicator  78 . In such embodiment, simultaneous activation of other key combinations also results in on-screen diagonal movement that corresponds to the region of space bar key  66   d  that is pressed. In some embodiments, left and right contact switches  114  and  116  may be omitted and space bar key  66   d  limited to up and down cursor control. In the embodiment illustrated in  FIGS. 8 and 9 , “tactile click” central contact dome switch  112  is activated by central protuberance  110  when any region of the key  66   d  is depressed, providing single click tactile feedback to the user. In such example embodiment, and contact switches  114 ,  116 ,  124  and  126  are not resilient dome switches and thus do not provide tactile click feedback when activated. Thus, as with key  66   c , the user of key  66   d  feels a single click tactile feedback regardless of where key  66   d  is pressed.  
      In various embodiments, one or more control or command keys other than the ALT key could be used to activate the navigational features of the space bar  66 . In some operational modes in some embodiments, simultaneous depression of an additional key such as the ALT key may not be required to use the space bar key  66  as a navigation tool, for example, in a non-text entry mode such as menu item selection mode where space character entry is not needed. In some embodiments, even in a text-input mode, manipulation of the space bar key  66  alone is sufficient for both space character entry and on-screen navigation control—for example, in one alternative embodiment implemented using space bar key  66 A, in a text-entry mode, even in the absence of depression of ALT key  68 , activation of both left and right switches  98  and  100  simultaneously results in a space character input, independent activation of left switch  98  in a move cursor left input, and independent activation of right switch  100  in a move curser right input.  
      The use of the space bar key as both a space character input key and as a navigational control key is useful in some embodiments as the space bar key is traditionally a larger and more visibly prominent key on a keyboard. However, in some embodiments, navigation control may be combined with a further character input key other than or in addition to the space bar key.  
      The above-described embodiments of the present invention are intended to be examples only. Alterations, modifications and variations may be effected to the particular embodiments by those skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the invention, which is defined by the claims appended hereto.