Abstract:
The invention relates to a joy-dial for providing input signals to a device. The device would typically include mobile devices such as a portable digital assistant (PDA), hand phones and wireless handsets. With all of these devices it is important to maximise input possibility by the user, whilst minimising the size of the componentry. The joy-dial is rotatable so as to provide additional inputs

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION  
         [0001]    The present invention relates to a joy-dial for providing input signals to a device. The device would typically include mobile devices such as portable digital assistants (PDA), hand phones and wireless handsets.  
         BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
         [0002]    Traditionally, the method of providing an input signal to mobile devices of the type described above have included touch/digitisers, keyboard/buttons and directional motion detectors. These input methods translate user inputs into the device so as to carry out various tasks. One example of such a task is to key in the characters for a word processing application.  
           [0003]    There is an ever-increasing demand to miniaturise hand held devices such as PDA&#39;s. As a consequence of this demand there is generally a restriction in the size and number of buttons or devices which can be retained for the user interface. However, although it is extremely desirable to reduce the size of these devices it is also important to maintain the “user friendly” nature of the device and to ensure that it is possible to input all required information. The present invention seeks to address the abovementioned problems.  
         SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
         [0004]    According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a joy-dial for providing input signals to a device, said joy-dial having a first and a second x-axis input position, a first and a second y-axis input position, and a first and a second directional input position, a joy pad, an elastically deformable diaphragm located below the joy pad corresponding to each of the x-axis and y-axis inputs, a contact located below and associated with each of the diaphragms and arranged so that pressure applied to the joy pad at one of the x- or a y-axis input positions results in deformation of the corresponding diaphragm and closure of the associated contact, and wherein the joy-dial further includes a first and a second directional contact, said first and second directional contacts being arranged so that they are closed upon movement of the joy dial in a first or a second direction respectively.  
           [0005]    Preferably, the first and second directional inputs are closed by respective anti-clockwise and clockwise rotation of the joy pad about a z-axis. Preferably, rotation of the joy pad is simultaneously accompanied with a downward pressure applied to the joy pad by the user.  
           [0006]    Preferably, the joy-dial also includes a diagonal input between each of the first y-axis input and the second x-axis input, the second x-axis input and second y-axis input, the second y-axis input and the first x-axis input and the first x-axis input and the first y-axis input.  
           [0007]    Preferably, the joy-dial also includes a central input. The central input would typically be used as the enter or accept input.  
           [0008]    The joy pad is preferably marked to indicate the position of each of the x-axis, y-axis, diagonal and central inputs. The marking may also indicate to the user how to operate each of the inputs. The joy-dial may also be marked so as to indicate how to operate the first and second directional inputs.  
           [0009]    According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided an information device having at least one joy-dial, said joy-dial being arranged to provide input signals to the device, said joy-dial having a first and a second x-axis input position, a first and a second y-axis input position, and a first and a second directional input position, a joy pad, an elastically deformable diaphragm located below the joy pad corresponding to each of the x-axis and y-axis inputs, a contact located below and associated with each of the diaphragms and arranged so that pressure applied to the joy pad at one of the x- or a y-axis input positions results in deformation of the corresponding diaphragm and closure of the associated contact, and wherein the joy-dial further includes a first and a second directional contact, said first and second directional contacts being arranged so that they are closed upon movement of the joy dial in a first or a second direction respectively.  
           [0010]    Preferably, the information device also includes a microprocessor which is arranged to detect the closure of any one of the contacts and to interpret such as a logical state change. The device preferably also includes an operating system which is arranged to be informed by the microprocessor of any logical state change.  
           [0011]    Biasing means, preferably in the form of at least one spring, is provided to restore the joy-dial to a home position once the user removes a force necessary to move the joy pad in the first or second direction. The home position is a position in which none of the contacts of the joy pad are activated. 
       
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0012]    Embodiments of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:  
         [0013]    [0013]FIG. 1 is a perspective of a personal digital assistant (PDA) incorporating a joy dial in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.  
         [0014]    [0014]FIG. 2 is a schematic illustration of a joy pad of a joy-dial in accordance with an embodiment of the invention and showing inputs A, B, C and D.  
         [0015]    [0015]FIG. 3 illustrates the joy pad of FIG. 2 with diagonal inputs E, F, G and H.  
         [0016]    [0016]FIG. 4 is view similar to FIGS. 2 and 3 but showing rotational input I and J and an enter input K.  
         [0017]    [0017]FIG. 5 is an assembly view of a joy-dial in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.  
         [0018]    [0018]FIG. 6 is a schematic side view of a diaphragm and its associated contact.  
         [0019]    [0019]FIG. 7 is a schematic illustration of the mechanical construction of the joy-dial together with an electrical connection to a microprocessor.  
         [0020]    [0020]FIG. 8 is an assembly view of a joy-dial in accordance with another embodiment of the invention. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0021]    [0021]FIG. 1 illustrates a personal digital assistant or device  5  having a screen  7  and incorporating a joy dial  10  in accordance with an embodiment of the invention.  
         [0022]    FIGS.  2  to  4  schematically illustrate the various inputs of the joy-dial  10  in accordance with an embodiment of the invention. The joy-dial  10  has a first and a second x-axis inputs D, B, first and second y-axis inputs A, C and first and second directional inputs I and J. The directional inputs I, J are operated in this embodiment by applying a rotational movement to the joy-dial about a z-axis. The z-axis extends substantially perpendicular to the planar surface of the joy-dial  10 . As illustrated in FIG. 3, the joy-dial  10  also includes diagonal inputs E, F, G, H. In addition, the joy-dial  10  includes a centrally located input K. The centrally located input K would typically be used as the enter or accept input.  
         [0023]    As illustrated in FIG. 5, in one form, the joy-dial  10  is formed from an upper cage or ring  14 , a base  16  and a joy pad  18  arranged to be mounted there between. The base  16  is attached to the device  5  or to the printed circuit board (PCB) of such a device  5 . The upper ring  14  is arranged to be connected to the base  16  and to locate the joy pad  18  there between. The upper ring  14  and base  16  are sized so that they can retain there between the joy pad  18 . As illustrated in FIG. 5, the upper ring  14  is tapered so that it has a lower diameter larger than its upper diameter. The base  16  is tapered so that its upper diameter is larger than its lower diameter. The lower edge  14   a  of the upper ring  14  is therefore arranged to be engaged with the upper edge  16   a  of the base  16  using an adhesive or other locking mechanism.  
         [0024]    The joy pad  18  has a diameter just greater than the upper diameter of the upper ring  14  and the lower diameter of the base  16  so that the upper ring  14  retains the joy pad  18  between itself and the base  16 . However, rotational movement of the joy pad  18  is possible because of the difference in diameter of the joy pad  18  and the lower edge  14   a  and upper edge  16   a  of the upper ring  14  and base  16  respectively. The height of the upper ring  14  and base  16  is such that there is sufficient gap there between to allow up and down movement of the joy pad  18 . This movement will be described in more detail subsequently.  
         [0025]    As explained previously, the joy pad  18  is mounted within the base  16  and a ring shaped cage  14  for rotational movement so as to enable the anti-clockwise and clockwise rotation about the z-axis required for the first and second directional inputs I, J. The joy pad  18  is also arranged so that it can move towards the base  16  when it is pressed by the user.  
         [0026]    As shown in the Figures, the joy pad  18  is substantially circular in shape, although other shaped pads are envisaged. The joy pad  18  is preferably made from a plastics material such as polycarbonate and may include grid like patterns on its upper surface so as to enhance grip thereof by the user&#39;s finger when depressing or rotating the joy pad  18 . The joy pad  18  also includes a pair of thumb rails  30  which are fused onto or integrally formed with the upper surface of the joy pad  18 . The thumb rails  30  are located respectively on the left and right side of the joy pad  18  adjacent the periphery of the joy pad  18 . The function of the thumb rails  30  is to aid the user to rotate the joy pad  18  in a clockwise or anticlockwise direction by allowing the user to easily apply a “forward up” push or rotation on either the left or right thumb rail  30  respectively.  
         [0027]    The joy pad  18  is marked with input positions  19  for each of the x-axis, y-axis, diagonal and central inputs. The joy pad  18  is also preferably marked to identify the first and second directional inputs. The joy pad  18  may also be marked so as to inform the user how to activate each input. In one preferred embodiment, triangular shaped markers  19  are included on the joy-pad  18  to indicate the positioning of each of the inputs A-G.  
         [0028]    Located beneath the joy-pad  18  and in contact therewith are four elastically deformable diaphragms  20 . Each diaphragm  20  is dome shaped and will conduct electricity when depressed. One diaphragm  20  is positioned below each of the input positions A, B, C and D. Positioned below each elastically deformable diaphragm  20  and in contact therewith is an associated mechanical contact  22 . (FIG. 5 only illustrates the positioning of the contacts  22  and not the contacts  22  themselves.) An example of one of the diaphragms  20  and its associated contact  22  is shown in FIG. 6.  
         [0029]    Each mechanical contact  22  is connected to an electrical circuit which includes a micro processor  24  or the like. This connection is illustrated, somewhat schematically, in FIG. 7 and will be described in more detail below.  
         [0030]    When a user presses one of the input positions  19  on the joy pad  18 , for example input position A, the diaphragm  20  under input A is elastically deformed so that it conducts electricity and closes the mechanical contact  22  positioned there beneath.  
         [0031]    Diagonal inputs E-H and input K do not have a diaphragm  20  positioned there beneath. Instead, pressure applied to any one of the diagonal input positions E-H results in deformation of the diaphragms  20  below the adjacent x- and y-axis inputs. Consequently, this results in closure of both of the associated mechanical contacts  22 . For example, if the user presses input position E on the joy pad  18 , the diaphragms  20  under input positions A and D deform to conduct electricity and close both of their associated contacts  22 . When both of the contacts  22  are closed, an input pin of the microprocessor  24  or the like detects a change in logical state and interprets this in a manner which will be detailed below. When input K is depressed, all of the diaphragms  20  are deformed resulting in closure of all of the mechanical contacts  22 .  
         [0032]    When the pressure on an input position  19  on the joy pad  18  is removed by the user, the deformed diaphragm  20  or diaphragms  20  restore to their original condition and return the joy pad  18  to a home position. In the home position, none of the diaphragms  20  are deformed and none of the contacts  22  are closed.  
         [0033]    [0033]FIG. 7 schematically illustrates the contacts  22  of inputs A, B, C and D and their electrical connection to the microprocessor  24 . Also shown located centrally of the joy pad  18  in this Figure, the contacts  22   a ,  22   b  for the first and second directional inputs. In this embodiment, the first and second directional inputs  22   a ,  22   b  are anti-clockwise and clockwise rotational inputs. As will be readily appreciated, each of the contacts  22  is connected between an electrical ground and the microprocessor  24 . The microprocessor  24  includes an input pin which is arranged to sense a change in voltage across any of the contacts  22  when a contact  22  is closed. This change in voltage is interpreted by the microprocessor  24  as a change in logical state. The software that runs on the microprocessor  24  is triggered when a change of state is notified and the software in turn informs the operating system of the logical state change. The software of the operating system in turn channels the information to a software application which interprets the information so as to execute a corresponding or associated action.  
         [0034]    As stated previously, the joy-dial  10  is mounted so that the user can apply limited rotational movement in either a clockwise or anti-clockwise direction about the z-axis to the joy pad  18 . In order to activate either of the inputs I, J the user simply rotates the joy pad  18  using the thumb rails  30 . During rotation of the joy pad  18 , a stub or contact pad  26 , as shown in FIG. 5, is engaged and is arranged to push against a biasing means  28  to close a corresponding contact  22   a ,  22   b . The biasing means  28 , preferably in the form of a spring, restores the joy pad  18  of the joy-dial  10  to the home position once the rotational force applied to the joy pad  18  by the user is removed.  
         [0035]    The stub or contact pad  26  is, for example, fixedly attached to the joy pad  18  so that when the joy pad  18  is rotated, the stub  26  engages (or pushes against) the biasing means  28  to close the associated contact  22   a ,  22   b . The associated contacts  22   a ,  22   b  may not necessarily comprise a diaphragm and may, for example, be a normal switch.  
         [0036]    The rotation movement of the joy pad is typically about 45° in either the clockwise or anti-clockwise direction about a reference line extending between input positions A and C.  
         [0037]    When the joy pad  18  is rotated in either a clockwise or anti-clockwise direction the inputs J, I are activated respectively. The rotational movement closes the associated contact  22   a ,  22   b . As explained previously, when the contact  22   a ,  22   b  is closed, the resultant change in voltage across the contact  22   a ,  22   b  is detected by the input pin of the microprocessor  24 . The software that runs on the microprocessor  24  recognises the change of voltage as being a change in logical state of the contact. The software informs the operating system of the logical state change, which in turn channels the information to a software application which interprets the information for executing a corresponding or an associated action. One use for the I and J inputs would be to control the volume or screen contrast of a device to which the joy-dial  10  is connected.  
         [0038]    It will be appreciated by those skilled in the art that the method of equating the input applied to the joy-dial  10  by the user to an action by the micro processor  24  or the like may occur in a number of different ways. Similarly, the manner in which an input from the first and second directional inputs I, J is translated into an action by the microprocessor  24  or the like can also be varied.  
         [0039]    [0039]FIG. 8 illustrates another embodiment of a joy-dial  200 . The joy-dial  200  in accordance with this embodiment is constructed slightly differently to the joy-dial  10  shown in FIG. 5, although it works in a similar manner. The joy-dial  200  includes a base  216  and a joy pad  218 . The base  216  includes a centrally located support  217  on which the joy pad  218  is arranged to be mounted. The support  217  is connected to the base  216  and is made from a firm non-compressible material. One suitable material for the support  217  is a polycarbonate material. The joy-dial  200  further includes diaphragms  220 , contacts  222 , a pair of contact stubs  226  and biasing means, in the form of a spring  228 .  
         [0040]    The joy pad  218  has a tapered peripheral edge  218   a  so that it can fit within a peripheral wall  216   a  of the base  216 . The bottom face of the joy pad  218  contains a centrally located aperture or hollow  229  for receiving a top portion of the support  217 . Located within the aperture or hollow  229  and connected to the joy pad  218  is an engaging member which is arranged to engage within an annular groove formed in the top surface of the support  217 . In this manner the joy pad is able to turn in a clockwise or anticlockwise direction.  
         [0041]    The base  216 , support  217  and joy pad  218  are configured so that downward pressure applied to the joy pad  218  at marked input positions  219  causes the joy pad  218  to pivot about the support  217  so as to apply pressure to one or more of the diaphragms  220  located below the joy pad  218 . The pressure applied to the diaphragms  220  causes them to deform so that an associated contact  222  is closed.  
         [0042]    Rotational movement of the joy pad  218  about the centrally located support  217  causes the contact stubs  226  to engage against the spring  228  to close a corresponding contact  222   a ,  222   b . Rotational movement is achieved by applying a “forward up” push or rotation to either of the thumb rails  230 .  
         [0043]    The spring  228  may adopt different shapes and may be wound around the support  217 . The spring  228  must be shaped so that it contacts the stubs  226  when the joy pad  218  is rotated by the user.  
         [0044]    The embodiment of the present invention is particularly advantageous because it enables an increased number of inputs to be available to the user. The additional degree of freedom of the joy-dial  10 ,  200  about the z-axis is particularly advantageous because of the extra input possibilities it provides.  
         [0045]    An embodiment of the present invention is also advantageous because it reduces the space required for the user&#39;s input facility, while still maintaining and in fact increasing the number of possible inputs available for use by the user. This is achieved with minimal additional componentry thereby minimising any additional production costs. It is also believed that the described embodiment will have shorter electrical routing, which will thereby reduce electrical noise when the joy-dial  10 ,  200  is connected to a micro processor  24  or the like. This translates to a cleaner electrical signal which is an important criteria for most mobile devices.  
         [0046]    It will also be appreciated that a joy-dial in accordance with an embodiment of the invention can be operated one-handed. Left or right hand control is possible.  
         [0047]    While the embodiments described herein are preferred it will be appreciated from the specification that various alternatives, modifications, variations or improvements therein which may be made by those skilled in the art are within the scope of the invention, which is defined by the claims.