Abstract:
A user input device for providing 8-way directional control, comprising a first set of sensors consisting of a first sensor adjacent a second sensor, constituting a first pair of sensors, and a third sensor adjacent the second sensor, constituting a second pair of sensors; and a second set of sensors, adjacent the second set of sensors, consisting of a fourth sensor adjacent a fifth sensor, constituting a third pair of sensors, and a sixth sensor adjacent the fifth sensor, constituting a fourth pair of sensors; wherein user actuation of a respective one of at least four of the six sensors provides for control in a respective one of four different directions and user actuation of a respective one of the first, second, third and fourth pairs of sensors provides for control in a respective one of the remaining four different directions.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to a user interface for a hand portable device. In particular, it relates to a input mechanism using the keypad of the hand portable device. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   At the present time, desktop computers use peripheral devices for user input. The mouse is the standard cursor control device used for most applications. The joystick is the standard input device used for gaming. Both of these devices are relatively bulky and are connected to the desktop computer. They are therefore generally unsuitable for portable computing. In one type of portable computer, the keyboard has integrated within it a joystick-like device which can be used to control the cursor instead of a mouse. 
   It would be desirable to provide joystick-like control in a hand portable device without having to integrate a joystick or use peripheral devices. 
   One way of providing joystick like control on a mobile phone would be to assign a key in a numeric keypad to each of 8 directional movements: North, South, East, West, North-East, South-East, South-West and North West. Thus the keypad would be operable as an 8-way directional controller. This would be achieved using the array of three columns and four rows of data input keys on a mobile phone by assigning three of the rows to 8-way directional control. For example, the keys for inputting “1”, “2”, “3”, “4”, “6”, “7”, “8” and “9” would respectively be used for moving NW, N, NE, W, E, SW, S and SE. The key for inputting “5” would be redundant. 
   The inventor has realised that such an arrangement is not intuitive and generally requires a user to locate a key visually before it is pressed. The inventor has additionally realised that this disadvantage arises from the presence of a redundant key, the use of a large number of keys to achieve the control, and the relatively large separation between, for example, keys for inputting “1” and “9”, that is for moving from NW to SE. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   It therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved joystick-like control in a hand portable device using a keypad. 
   According to one aspect of the present invention there is provided a hand portable device comprising: a user input device comprising a plurality of sensors for tactile actuation by a user including a first sensor and a second sensor adjacent thereto; and control means responsive to the actuation of the first sensor by itself to produce a first control signal, responsive to the actuation of the second sensor by itself to produce a second control signal different from the first control signal, and responsive to the simultaneous actuation of the first and second sensors in combination to produce a third control signal different from the first and second control signals. 
   According to another aspect of the invention there is provided a method of providing directional control, using the sensors of a keypad of a hand portable device, comprising the steps of: simultaneously sensing an input from each one of a plurality of sensors; associating predetermined control signals with predetermined combinations of simultaneous inputs; detecting simultaneous combinations of inputs to produce a first control signal in response to the actuation of a first sensor by itself, to produce a second control signal in response to actuation of a second sensor by itself, and to produce a third control signal in response to actuation of the first sensor and the second sensor together. 
   According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a user input device for providing 8-way directional control, comprising: a first set of sensors consisting of a first sensor adjacent a second sensor, constituting a first pair of sensors, and a third sensor adjacent the second sensor, constituting a second pair of sensors; and a second set of sensors, adjacent the second set of sensors, consisting of a fourth sensor adjacent a fifth sensor, constituting a third pair of sensors, and a sixth sensor adjacent the fifth sensor, constituting a fourth pair of sensors; wherein user actuation of a respective one of at least four of the six sensors provides for control in a respective one of four different directions and user actuation of a respective one of the first, second, third and fourth pairs of sensors provides for control in a respective one of the remaining four different directions. 
   According to a further aspect of the present invention there is provided a method of providing 8-way directional control using a user input device comprising a first set of sensors consisting of a first sensor adjacent a second sensor, constituting a first pair of sensors, and a third sensor adjacent the second sensor, constituting a second pair of sensors and a second set of sensors, adjacent the second set of sensors, consisting of a fourth sensor adjacent a fifth sensor, constituting a third pair of sensors, and a sixth sensor adjacent the fifth sensor, constituting a fourth pair of sensors, comprising the step of: actuating predetermined ones of the sensors to move in any one of a first four orthogonal directions, and actuating predetermined ones of the four pairs of the sensors to move in any one of a second four orthogonal directions, off-set by 45 degrees from the first four orthogonal directions. 
   Thus embodiments of the present invention provides for the control of the element (for example a cursor or a character in a game) on the screen, for example, by using an existing keypad in a non-standard manner. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     For a better understanding of the present invention and to understand how the same may be brought into effect, reference will now be made by way of example only to the accompanying drawings in which: 
       FIG. 1  is a schematic illustration of a hand portable device; 
       FIG. 2   a  illustrates a mobile phone having a conventional 4×3 keypad array for data entry; 
       FIG. 2   b  illustrates a mobile phone having a QWERTY keypad for data entry; 
       FIG. 3  illustrates circuitry which converts the input from six discrete keys into eight distinct signals for controlling directional movement; and 
       FIG. 4  is a table illustrating how the actuation of keys in a 2×3 array provides eight directional control signals. 
   

   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
     FIG. 1  is a schematic illustration of a hand portable device  2  which in this example is a mobile phone. The hand portable device  2  comprises a user interface  10 , a processor  20 , an input controller  30  and a radio frequency transceiver  40 . The processor  20  is bi-directionally connected, to receive an input and provide an output to the user interface  10  and the radio frequency transceiver  40 . The user interface  10  comprises a display  12 , an audio output  14 , an audio input  16  and a keypad  100 . The keypad  100  is connected to the input controller  30  which in turn is connected to the processor  20 . The keypad  100  comprises a number of function keys  110  and a number of data input keys  120  for inputting numerals and/or alphanumeric characters. 
     FIG. 2   a  illustrates a hand portable mobile phone  2  having a twelve key arrangement (three columns and four rows) of keys  120 . The data input keys  120  have a sub-set of a plurality of keys  130  arranged as three columns and two rows of six keys. The top left (TL) key  131  is at column one, row one (1, 1). The top centre (T) key  132  is at row one, column two (1, 2). The top right (TR) key  133  is at row one, column three (1, 3). The bottom left (BL) key  134  is at row two, column one (2, 1). The bottom centre (B) key  135  is at row two, column two (2, 2). The bottom right (BR) key  136  is at row two, column three (2, 3). 
     FIG. 2   b  illustrates a hand portable mobile phone  2  having a keypad  100  for typing. The data input keys  120  includes a key for each letter in the alphabet (e.g. a QWERTY keyboard). The data input keys are divided into two portions. A first half  120   a  and a second half  120   b  are separated by the display  12  and the function keys  110 . The data input keys  120  have a sub-set of a plurality of keys  130  arranged as three columns and two rows of six keys. The top left (TL) key  131  is at column one, row one (1, 1). The top centre (T) key  132  is at row one, column two (1, 2). The top right (TR) key  133  is at row one, column three (1, 3). The bottom left (BL) key  134  is at row two, column one (2, 1). The bottom centre (B) key  135  is at row two, column two (2, 2). The bottom right (BR) key  136  is at row two, column three (2, 3). 
   The keys  131 ,  132  and  133  are arranged linearly with no intermediate key between them and they form a first set of keys. Although the first set of keys, as illustrated in  FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b , are arranged substantially rectilinearly they may in other embodiments be arranged curvilinearly. The keys  134 ,  135  and  136  are arranged linearly with no intermediate key between them and they form a second set of keys. Although the second set of keys, as illustrated in  FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b , are arranged substantially rectilinearly they may in other embodiments be arranged curvilinearly. The second set of keys and the first set of keys extend substantially parallel to each other without any intermediate keys between them. The key pairs  131  and  134 ,  132  and  135  and  133  and  136  are aligned substantially parallel to each other. 
   In the embodiments illustrated in  FIGS. 2   a  and  2   b  the keys  131 - 136  form an array of 2 rows and 3 columns. A portion of each of the keys  131 - 133  lies on a first rectilinear axis defining the first row and a portion of each of the keys  134 - 136  lies on a second rectilinear axis, parallel to the first rectilinear axis, defining the second row. A portion of each of the keys  131  and  134  lies on a third rectilinear axis, perpendicular to the first axis, defining the first column. A portion of each of the keys  132  and  135  lies on a fourth rectilinear axis, parallel to the third axis, defining the second column. A portion of each of the keys  133  and  136  lies on a fifth rectilinear axis, parallel to the third axis, defining the third column. 
   The distance between the adjacent keys in the first set and the adjacent keys in the second set is from 2 to 6 mm. The distance between the first and second sets of keys is between 3 and 8 mm. Thus each of the keys  131 - 136  can be actuated by rolling a thumb or index digit about a fixed position. The key  132  or  135  preferably has a textured surface to allow orientation of the thumb or index finger on the keypad without using sight. 
     FIG. 3  illustrates the plurality of keys  130  including the keys  131 ,  132 ,  133 ,  134 ,  135  and  136 . Each key ha an underlying switch which in a steady state is open. The actuation of a key by the user closes the switch. The input of each of the switches is connected to a clock signal. The output of the switch corresponding to key  131  provides the first bit of an address to a programmed read-only memory (PROM)  32 . The output of the switch corresponding to key  132  provides a second bit of an address to the PROM  32 . The output of the switch corresponding to key  133  provides the third bit of an address to PROM  32 . The output of the switch corresponding to key  134  provides the fourth bit of an address to PROM  32 . The output of the switch corresponding to the key  135  provides the fifth bit of an address to the PROM  32 . The output of the switch corresponding to the key  136  provides the sixth bit of an address to the PROM  132 . When a switch is in the open, non-actuated position, it provides a logic LOW value as the address bit. When the switch is closed, it provides a logic HIGH value as the address bit with each clock pulse. Consequently, each of the permutations in which the plurality of keys  130  can be actuated either by themselves or in any combination, has a corresponding unique six bit address which is inputted to the PROM  32 . The PROM  32  produces a four bit parallel output for each distinct address applied to its input. Thus each possible permutation of actuations of the plurality of keys  130  produces a predefined four bit output  34 . The first bit of the four bit output  34  is an enable signal and the remaining three bits is an information signal which represents one of the eight possible directional movements of a joystick which corresponds on a compass to North (moving the joystick forward), South (moving the joystick back), West (moving the joystick to the left), East (moving the joystick to the right), North West (moving the joystick forward and to the left), North East (moving the joystick forward and to the right), South East (moving the joystick back and to the right) and South West (moving the joystick back and to the left). 
     FIG. 4  illustrates a table which shows the relationship between the actuation of the switches  131  to  136  and the output  34  from the PROM  32 . The table has six columns one for each of the keys  131  to  136 . An “X” in a column headed by a particular key indicates the actuation of that key if one then moves along the row in which that X occurs to columns seven and eight of the table, they indicate the four bit signal  34  including the first enable bit and the three information bits. Column nine of the table indicates which of the eight possible directional movements the output  34  from the PROM  32  indicates to the processor  20 . 
   It will therefore be apparent from the table of  FIG. 4  that the actuation of the top centre (T) key  132  by itself corresponds to the movement of a joystick in the North direction. Actuation of the bottom centre (B) key  135  by itself corresponds to the movement of a joystick in the South direction. Actuation of the top left (TL) key  131  by itself or actuation of the bottom left (BL) key  134  by itself or actuation of the top left (TL) key  131  and the bottom left (BL) key  134  together corresponds to the movement of a joystick in the West direction. Actuation of the top right (TR) key  133  by itself or the bottom right (BR) key  136  by itself or actuation of the top right (TR) key  133  and the bottom right (BR) key  136  together corresponds to the movement of a joystick in the East direction. Actuation of the top left (TL) key  131  and the top centre (T) key  132  together corresponds to movement of a joystick in the North West direction. Actuation of the top centre (T) key  132  and the top right (TR) key  133  together corresponds to the movement of a joystick in the North East direction. Actuation of the bottom left (BL) key  134  and the bottom centre (B) key  135  together corresponds to the movement of a joystick in the South West direction. Actuation of the bottom centre (B) key  135  and the bottom right (BR) key  136  together corresponds to movement of a joystick in the North East direction. All other input permutations of the plurality of keys  130  results in the first bit of the output of the PROM  32  being logic LOW which corresponds to no movement of a joystick. 
   According to one embodiment (shown in  FIG. 4 ) the actuation of the top left (TL) key  131 , the top centre (T) key  132  and the top right (TR) key  133  together is interpreted as actuation of only the top centre (T) key  132 . Likewise the simultaneous actuation of the bottom left (BL) key  134 , the bottom centre (B) key  135  and the bottom right (BR) key  136  is interpreted as the actuation of only the bottom centre (B) key  135 . 
   When the first bit of the output of the PROM  32  is HIGH, the processor interprets the three information bits which constitute the remainder of the output of the PROM  32 . Thus the 2×3 array of keys  131  to  136  provides an eight way input which emulates a joystick. 
   It is preferable for the actuation of one or more of the plurality of keys  130  to occur by the pivoting of an index finger or thumb between the top centre (T) key  132  and the bottom centre (B) key  135 . A forward rocking motion of the digit therefore actuates the top centre (T) key  132  and a backward rocking motion of the digit actuates the bottom centre (B) key  135 . A leftwards rocking motion of the digit actuates either one or both of the top left (TL) key  131  and the bottom left (BL) key  134  and a rightwards rocking motion of the digit actuates either one or both of the top right (TR) key  133  and the bottom right (BR) key  136 . A rocking motion of the digit in the North Westerly direction actuates both the top left (TL) key  131  and the top centre (T) key  132 . A rocking of the digit in the North Easterly direction actuates both the top centre (T) key  132  and the top right (TR) key  133 . A rocking motion of the digit in the South Easterly direction actuates both the bottom right (BR) key  136  and the bottom centre (B) key  135 . A rocking motion of the digit in the South Westerly direction actuates both the bottom left (BL) key  134  and the bottom centre (B) key  135 . Thus the plurality of keys  130  provides for eight way control using one digit, which is pivoted about a stationary point. To enable the eight way directional control with the pivoting of a single digit it is preferable for the plurality of keys  130  to lie within a rectangle having a length of approximately 20 mm and a height of approximately 15 mm. Thus the 8-way control provided by the keypad is highly intuitive and does not requires a digit to be lifted from the keypad and re-oriented to simultaneously actuate two keys. The keypad can therefore be easily used for 8-way control without looking at it. 
   It should be made apparent that the plurality of keys  130  are not keys which are dedicated to the aforementioned joystick-like control. They are keys which in a data entry mode indicate a numeral or letter for input but which in a cursor control or gaming mode provide for eight way directional control. In such a data entry mode the simultaneous depression of two keys is ambiguous and processor  20  is programmed not to interpret such a simultaneous depression as a special input. 
   The plurality of key  130  may be used to control a cursor on the display  12  or move an element within a game displayed from a third person perspective. Alternatively, a game may be displayed from a first person perspective of the game character in which case the plurality of keys change the perspective by ‘moving’ the character. 
   Although the plurality of keys  130  are implemented as switches in  FIG. 3 , the invention is not limited to this implementation as any device (sensor) which senses touch may be used. 
   It is envisaged that the normal cover of a mobile phone having twelve openings for each of the twelve data input keys could be replaced by a cover in which keys “1” to “6” or the keys “4” to “#” are replaced by a single key or joystick device. The sensor or switches associated with each of the keys is unaffected. The underside of the single key is arranged so that it actuates a single sensor or pairs of sensors to provide 8-way directional control in the manner previously described. 
   Although a PROM  32  was used in  FIG. 3  to translate the possible permutations of actuations of the plurality of keys into eight control signals, other means exist for carrying out the same purpose. For example, discrete logical elements, programmable logic devices or a programmed microcontroller could be used. In fact, the processor  20 , itself, could carry out the process using software. 
   Although in the foregoing the keys  131 - 136  are in a 2 row by three column arrangement, they could of course be re-oriented in a 3 row by two column arrangement. 
   Whilst endeavouring in the foregoing specification to draw attention to those features of the invention believed to be of particular importance it should be understood that the Applicant claims protection in respect of any patentable feature or combination of features hereinbefore referred to and/or shown in the drawings whether or not particular emphasis has been placed thereon.