User interface and method of adapting a sensor signal to actuate multiple dimensions
AssigneeResearch In Motion Limited
InventorArun Munje
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A user interface for a mobile device includes an input sensor having one degree of freedom operable by the user to generate a sensor signal, a screen having a two-dimensional surface showing a graphical user interface object, a processor coupled to the sensor and to the screen to actuate the graphical user interface object along the two actuated axis, and a sensor adapter software module executed by the processor to adapt the sensor signal to actuate the graphical user interface object along both actuated axis. The adapter software module selectively drives the sensor signal to actuate the graphical user interface object along the first actuated axis, to actuate the graphical user interface object along the second actuated axis, and to change actuated axis.
Claims21
A mobile device, comprising:
- a sensor having a degree of freedom operable in opposite directions to generate a sensor signal;
- a graphical user interface object to be actuated along a first actuated axis in opposite directions corresponding to a first dimension and along a second actuated axis in opposite directions corresponding to a second dimension;
- a processor for receiving the sensor signal and for actuating the graphical user interface object along a selected actuated axis in opposite directions and for adapting the sensor signal to actuate the graphical user interface object in opposite directions along both of the first and second actuated axes;
- and
- a key coupled to the processor to signal a change of actuated axis;
- wherein the graphical user interface object is actuated along the selected actuated axis in relation to the sensor signal when the sensor is operated in one direction, and wherein the selected actuated axis changes to the other actuated axis when the sensor is operated in the opposite direction or in response to the signal from the key.
A mobile device, comprising:
- a sensor having a degree of freedom operable to generate a sensor signal;
- actuation means for two dimensions actionable along a first dimension and a second dimension;
- a processor coupled to the sensor to receive the sensor signal and coupled to the actuation means to drive the actuation means;
- means for adapting the sensor signal to select an actuated axis within the two dimensions and for adapting the sensor signal to drive the actuation means along the actuated axis in opposite directions based on the sensor signal;
- and
- a key adjacent to the sensor and coupled to the processor to signal a change of actuated axis to the adaptation means.
A method in a mobile device having a sensor and a key of adapting a sensor signal to actuate an object in a plurality of dimensions on a display of the mobile device, comprising:
- (a) determining a value of the sensor signal, the value being a positive value for a signal corresponding to a first stimulus of the sensor and a negative value for a signal corresponding to a second stimulus;
- (b) defining an actuated axis associated with the object position on the display, the axis having a direction spanning at least one of the plurality of dimensions;
- (c) actuating the object along the actuated axis in opposite directions in relation to the value;
- and
- (d) changing the direction of the actuated axis upon detection of a trigger corresponding to a third stimulus that is generated by state transitions between the first stimulus and second stimulus or by a change of axis signal generated by the key.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.