Patent Publication Number: US-2006012569-A1

Title: Scrolling interface for media player

Description:
REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION  
      Reference is made to our earlier Singapore patent application number 20405539-8 filed 19 Jul. 2004 titled “Method and Apparatus for Touch Scrolling” (our “earlier application”), the contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference.  
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
      This invention relates to a scrolling interface for a media player and refers particularly, though not exclusively, to such an interface and method for scrolling through and selection within a menu of the media player.  
     BACKGROUND TO THE INVENTION  
      In our earlier application there is described a method and apparatus for touch scrolling in a portable device. In particular it relates to the use of a linear motion on a scrolling activator for track and/or menu control and selection.  
      When the tracks and/or menu function and/or lists are arranged in a non-linear form (as in a table, plurality of columns, or any array) it can be inconvenient to scroll in one axial direction (e.g. up and down) only and not be able to scroll in the lateral direction (e.g. sideways).  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      According to a first prepared aspect there is provided media player comprising a body comprising a front face; a display mounted in the front face; and a scrolling activator mounted in the front face for controlling longitudinal movement of a censor on the display. Lateral movement of the scrolling activator relative to the front face is used for controlling lateral movement of the cursor on the display.  
      The scrolling activator may be located in an opening in the front face. The opening maybe of a width that is greater than the scrolling activator. Preferably, the width of the opening is equal to the sum of the width of scrolling activator and a total extent of the lateral movement of the scrolling activator.  
      The scrolling activator may comprise a main operational top, there being a peripheral rim around the main operational top for extending over the front face; and two substantially L-shaped sides depending from the peripheral rim and arranged in an opposite manner. Each substantially L-shaped side and the peripheral rim may form a substantially U-shaped channel in which the front face locates.  
      Alternatively, the scrolling activator may be located in an opening in the front face, the front face being bifurcated around the opening to form a groove. The scrolling activator may have a peripheral tongue for engaging in the groove in the manner of a sliding fit. The peripheral tongue may extend completely around the periphery of the scrolling activator, and the groove may extend completely around the opening.  
      The media player may be an MP3 player.  
      According to a second aspect the scrolling activator may have switches mounted on each side thereof for controlling lateral movement of the censor on the display. The switches may be mechanical tact switches. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      In order that the present invention may be fully understood and readily put into practical effect, there shall now be described by way of non-limitative example only preferred embodiments of the present invention, the description being with reference to the accompanying illustrative drawings.  
      In the drawings:  
       FIG. 1  is a front view of a first embodiment in a first operational position;  
       FIG. 2  is an end view corresponding to  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 3  is a view corresponding to  FIG. 1  in a second operational position;  
       FIG. 4  is a view corresponding to  FIGS. 1 and 3  in a third operational position;  
       FIG. 5  is a an enlarged, partial, cross-sectional view along the lines and in the direction of arrows  5 - 5  on  FIG. 1 ;  
       FIG. 6  is a view corresponding to  FIG. 1  of a second embodiment;  
       FIG. 7  is a view corresponding to  FIG. 1  of a third embodiment; and  
       FIG. 8  is a view corresponding to  FIG. 4  of a fourth embodiment. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
      To first refer to  FIGS. 1 and 2 , there is shown a media player  10  such as that shown in our earlier application. In the form illustrated, it is an MP3 player, but it may be any form of portable device capable of media reproduction.  
      The media player  10  has a body  12  with a front face  14  and an end wall  16 ; as well as side walls (not shown), base (not shown) and top wall (not shown). In front face  14  are: a display  18 , functional controls  20 , and a scrolling activator  22  such as that disclosed in our earlier application.  
      Referring now to FIGS.  3  to  5 , the operation of the scrolling activator  22  will be described. The scrolling activator  22  is mounted to front face  14  for movement relative thereto laterally of the scrolling direction within scrolling activator  22 . With the scrolling activator  22  arranged longitudinally of the front face as is shown, the scrolling activator  22  may be moved to the right ( FIG. 3 ) relative to the front face  14 , or to the left ( FIG. 4 ) relative to the front face  14 . For this to be able to be done, front face  14  has an opening  24  therethrough that is wider than the scrolling activator  22 . Preferably the opening is as wide as the scrolling activator  22  plus the total lateral movement of the scrolling activator.  
      As shown in  FIG. 5 , the scrolling activator  22  has a main, operational top  26  has two substantially L-shaped sides  28  depending therefrom and arranged in an opposite manner such that the web portions  30  of each side  28  face away from each other. This creates a channel  32  extending the length of each side  28  of the scrolling activator  22  and in which the front face is received. The top  26  also has a peripheral rim  34  that locates above the front face  14  and preferably is slidably mounted on front face  14 . The rim  34  and sides  28  form channels  32  into a U-shape.  
      The rim  34  extends outwardly from top  26  for a distance at least as great as the total lateral movement—the total lateral distance from the position shown in  FIG. 3  to the position shown in  FIG. 4 . In this way the rim  34  is always over the front face  14  for the entire periphery of top  26  so that opening  24  is not exposed. This assists in the reduction of the introduction through opening  24  of unwanted contaminants.  
      Preferably, the scrolling activator  22  has three defined position—right ( FIG. 3 ), left ( FIG. 4 ) and centre ( FIG. 1 ). These are also shown in partial relief on  FIG. 5 . These may be defined by physical means such as, for example, dimples/projections on scrolling activator  22  and/or front face  14 ; or due to electrical switch pre-set conditions.  
      The scrolling activator  22  can control scrolling laterally on the display  18  by the movement described above. The sensing of the movement may be by sensors (not shown); by a joystick (not shown) connected to scrolling activator  22 ; or by any other suitable or known motion detector.  
      If desired, seals (not shown) may be provided between rim  34  and front face  14  and/or between sides  28  and front face  14 .  
       FIG. 6  shows a second embodiment where instead of scrolling activator  22  being moveable laterally relative to front face  14 , mechanical tact switches  44  are provided on each side of the scrolling activator  22 , the switches being able to be activated by application of pressure on the directional arrows  36 .  
      For  FIG. 7 , the lateral movement is by lateral scrolling within the scrolling activator  22  in the same manner as the longitudinal scrolling of our earlier application.  
      Naturally, the relationship between the front face  14  and the scrolling activator may be reversed. This is illustrated in  FIG. 8 .  
      Here, the front face  14  has a bifurcated portion  42  around the periphery of opening  24  to form a groove  38 . The scrolling activator has a peripheral tongue  40  that engages in the groove  38  in the manner of a sliding fit. This eliminates the need for sides  28 . In this embodiment, the opening  24  and scrolling activator  22  will be more of a rectangular shape than the elliptical shape shown in FIGS.  1  to  7 . In all other respects the structure and operation will be the same as for FIGS.  1  to  7 .  
      The tongue  40  may be on the sides only of scrolling activator  22 , and thus the groove  38  may be only on the sides of opening  24 . Alternatively, the tongue may extend around the complete periphery of scrolling activator  22  and thus the groove  38  will extend around the complete periphery of opening  24 .  
      It is preferable that the size and shape of the tongue  40  corresponds to the size and shape of the groove  38  for smooth operation. Preferably the groove  38  tapers outwardly (i.e. is of greater height) towards the opening  24 . Furthermore, a combination of the form of  FIG. 5  with that of  FIG. 8  may be used.  
      In the embodiments of FIGS.  1  to  5  and  8 , the lateral movement of the scrolling activator  22  causes lateral movement of the cursor on the like o display  18 , and the scrolling activator  22  is for longitudinal movement of the cursor in the manner of our earlier application.  
      Whilst there has been described in the foregoing description preferred embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the technology concerned that many variations or modifications in details of design or construction may be made without departing from the present invention.