Sensor configurations in a user input device

Technical field of sensor structure in user input device

[0001] The present invention generally relates to user input devices. Specifically, the present invention relates to a sensor structure in a user device.

Background technique

[0002] A variety of input devices are used in consumer electronic products. Operations done through these input devices usually involve moving a cursor on a display screen and making selections. Some input devices include buttons, switches, keyboards, mice, trackballs, touch pads, joysticks, and touch screens. When designing consumer electronic devices, each of the above-mentioned devices has advantages and disadvantages that need to be considered. The keys and switches are essentially mechanical in nature, and can only provide limited control over the movement and selection of the cursor (or other selectors). For example, keys and switches are usually only dedicated to moving the cursor in a specific direction (for example, arrow keys) or making specific selections (for example, confirm, delete, number, etc.). In the case of some handheld personal digital assistants (PDAs), the input device uses touch-sensitive display screens. When using this screen, the user makes a selection by directly tapping the target with a stylus or finger.

[0003] In portable computing devices such as laptop computers, the input device is usually a touchpad. With the touchpad, when the finger moves along the surface of the touchpad, the movement of the input pointer (ie, the cursor) corresponds to the relative movement of the user's finger (or stylus). When one or more taps are detected on the surface of the touchpad, the touchpad can also make selections on the display screen. In some cases, you can tap any part of the touchpad, and in other cases, you can tap a dedicated part of the touchpad. In stationary devices such as desktop computers, the input device is usually selected among a mouse and a trackball. Figures 1A-1C show a conventional click wheel that can be used in an electronic device. FIG. 1A shows a click wheel 100 including five mechanical switches 102 (which implement five keys). FIG. 1B shows a top view of the touch sensor located below the top surface of the click wheel. In this example, the touch sensor 104 is composed of eight parts arranged in a ring structure. Figure 1C shows both the mechanical switch and the touch sensor.

[0004] One of the problems with the above-mentioned conventional dial is that as the size of the dial decreases (which is ideal for portable electronic devices such as MP3 players and cellular phones), multiple mechanical switches are assembled into the conventional dial It becomes more and more difficult. As shown in FIG. 1C, the space between the two mechanical switches indicated by arrow 106 will be very small, and manufacturing will be difficult and costly. On the other hand, it is undesirable to reduce the size of the mechanical switch to be smaller than a specific size, because it is difficult for the user to feel the switch, thereby degrading the user's experience. Another problem with the above-mentioned conventional click wheel is that the area below the click wheel is crampedly arranged with both mechanical switches and touch sensors. Therefore, it may be difficult to transmit the signal from the mechanical switch through the touch sensor to the controller that processes the signal generated by the mechanical switch. Another problem with the above-mentioned conventional click wheel is that it only provides angle information instead of the position distance input by the user. However, if the user presses a position between the center switch and one of the four peripheral switches, the conventional jog wheel may not be able to accurately determine which of the two switches the user wants to press.

[0005] Therefore, there is a need for a method and device for implementing multiple keys in a user device to solve the problem of the conventional dial wheel. And an improved sensor structure is needed to solve the problem of the conventional dial wheel.

Summary of the invention

[0006] This application discloses an improved sensor structure for a user device. It makes things like cellular phones or MP3 players

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The jog wheel in the user device of the device can be miniaturized. The user input device with an improved sensor structure may include a switch, one or more touch sensors, and a processor. The switch is configured to detect the force applied by the user, and the one or more touch sensors are configured to detect relative The switch is located at an angular position input by the user on the periphery, and the processor is configured to generate a signal according to the pressure and angular position input by the user, and the signal is used to execute a task selected from a plurality of predetermined tasks. Touch sensors can include capacitive, resistive, surface acoustic wave, pressure, and optical sensors. The mechanical switch may include a universal key. The universal key has a universal plate, a flexible member that is located below the universal plate and can be set to deform in response to a force input by a user, and is arranged to support the flexible member and the universal plate The supporting surface. A processor can generally be employed to generate a signal based on the force and position applied by the user, the signal indicating that one of the keys is being pressed.

Description of the drawings

[0007] After reading the detailed description of the embodiments of the present invention in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, you will better understand the above-mentioned features and advantages of the present invention, as well as other additional features and advantages. The same reference numerals are used in the drawings.

[0008] FIGS. 1A-1C show a conventional dial wheel device.

[0009] FIGS. 2A-2D illustrate a method for implementing multiple keys in an input device according to some embodiments of the present invention.

[0010] FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate another method for implementing multiple keys in an input device according to some embodiments of the present invention.

[0011] FIGS. 4A and 4B show methods for implementing a group of buttons according to some embodiments of the present invention.

[0012] FIGS. 5A-5C show a sensor structure for implementing multiple keys in an input device according to some embodiments of the present invention.

[0013] FIGS. 6A-6C illustrate implementation examples of universal keys in an input device according to some embodiments of the present invention.

[0014] FIGS. 7A-7C show other implementation examples of the input device according to some embodiments of the present invention.

[0015] FIGS. 8A-8C illustrate the operation of a dial wheel device according to some embodiments of the present invention.

[0016] FIG. 9 shows an example of a simplified block diagram of a computing system according to some embodiments of the invention.

[0017] FIG. 10 shows a simplified perspective view of an input device according to some embodiments of the invention.

[0018] FIGS. 11A-11D illustrate the application of the dial wheel device according to some embodiments of the present invention.

[0019] FIGS. 12A and 12B illustrate the installation of an input device in a media player according to some embodiments of the present invention.

[0020] FIG. 13 shows a simplified block diagram of a remote control including an input device according to some embodiments of the present invention.

Detailed ways

[0021] This application provides methods and devices for improving sensor structures in user input devices. The following description is made to enable those skilled in the art to implement and use the present invention. The descriptions of specific embodiments and applications are for illustration only. For those skilled in the art, various changes and combinations of the examples described here are obvious. The basic principles defined here can be applied to other examples and applications without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. Therefore, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the examples described and shown here, but should have the widest scope consistent with the principles and features disclosed herein.

[0022] Some parts of the detailed description below are represented as flowcharts, logical blocks, and other schematic diagrams of processing information that can be completed on a computer system. Here, processes, computer-executed steps, logic boxes, programs, etc. are regarded as a self-consistent sequence of one or more steps or instructions that lead to a desired result (self-consistent sequence)_oThe step is to take advantage of

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The steps of the physical manipulation of physical quantities. The aforementioned physical quantities may take the form of electrical, magnetic, or radio signals that can be stored, transmitted, combined, compared, and manipulated in other ways in a computer system. These signals can sometimes be referred to as bits, values, elements, symbols, characters, items, or numbers. Each step can be executed by hardware, software, firmware, or a combination thereof.

[0023] The representative embodiment described herein relates to a device that uses signals from a motion indicator and a position indicator to generate commands substantially simultaneously. The platform installed in the frame of the device may include a sensor that can indicate the position of a target (for example, a user's finger) in contact with the platform. In addition, the movement indicator on the device can detect the movement of the platform relative to the frame. The user can press the platform to generate key commands. Because the position of the driving force on the touch panel can be determined according to the position indicator, different button commands can be generated according to where the user presses the platform on the platform.

[0024] FIGS. 2A-2D illustrate a method for implementing multiple keys in an input device according to some embodiments of the present invention. Figure 2A shows a top view of an input device using universal keys and a target sensing device. The outer circle 200 represents the bottom surface of the universal button, and the inner circle 201 represents the top surface of the universal button. The detailed description and cross-sectional views of the universal button are described below with reference to FIGS. 6A-6C. Figures 7A-7C describe another feasible implementation example of a universal key according to an embodiment of the present invention. The combination of signals sensed by the universal button and the touch sensor can provide the system with information related to the demand control that the user wants to complete. Figure 2B shows a possible structure of the target sensing device located below the top surface of the universal key. In this example, the target sensing device includes sixteen sensors 202 arranged along one side of the universal plate, and a sensor 204 located in the center of the universal plate. Each sensor 202 can be electrically connected or electrically separated, and the sensor 202 and the sensor 204 can be electrically separated by a space 203. Note that target sensing devices can be used to represent various sensing devices, including (not limited to) touch sensing devices and/or proximity sensing devices, such as touch pads, touch screens, and so on.

[0025] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 2B, the sensor structure can sense, for example, both angle information and radial distance information measured from the center of the universal button. Using the above-mentioned angle and distance information, the click wheel device can locate any position touched or pressed by the user.

[0026] According to some embodiments of the present invention, a polar coordinate system may be used to determine the position input by the user in the area. Each position in the polar coordinate system can be determined by two polar coordinates (that is, radial coordinates and angular coordinates). The radial coordinate (usually denoted as R) represents the distance of a particular location from the center point called the pole. The angle coordinate (also called the polar angle, usually expressed as θ) represents 0 from the polar coordinate system. The counterclockwise angle required for the ray (that is, the polar axis) to reach a specific position.

[0027] For example, if the sensor senses that a position very close to the polar coordinate (0,0°) is touched or pressed, the sensing information can be used to indicate that the center button is pressed. Similarly, if the sensor senses that a position very close to polar coordinates (R,0°), (R,90.), (R,180.), or (R,270.) is pressed, the sensing information can be used It indicates that the right, upper, left, or bottom buttons of Fig. 1A are pressed. Using this method, a single switch (for example, a universal button) can be used in conjunction with a group of touch sensors shown in FIGS. 2A-2C to simulate multiple keys.

[0028] Note that in the example of FIG. 2B, eight sensor parts are used. In other implementation examples of the present invention, a different number of touch sensor parts (for example, sixteen) may be used to implement the outer sensor ring. For example, in order to achieve 96 angular positions around the click wheel, 8 sensor parts or 16 sensor parts can be used. In either case, 96 separate angular positions can be detected by inserting sensor signals acquired by 8, 16, or any other conventional number of sensors.

[0029] When a smaller sensor group (for example, 8) is used, each sensor occupies a larger area, so the sensor structure can provide a better signal-to-noise ratio. However, in the case of this sensor structure, the number of sensors that can be used as sources of information to collect is small. On the other hand, when using a larger sensor group (for example, 16), each sensor will cover a smaller area, which means that a larger number of sensors can be used to collect information, so the sensor structure can be used in the sensor letter

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The noise ratio is compromised while providing better sensing resolution. Therefore, for a sensor of any given structure, there will be a compromise design solution between the sensor size (and therefore the number) and the signal-to-noise ratio.

[0030] In a design solution where the sensor has produced a better signal-to-noise ratio, the number of sensors can be increased (ie, the area of each sensor is reduced) to collect finer resolution information generated by the sensor. In a design solution where the sensor has a poor signal-to-noise ratio, the number of sensors can be reduced (ie, the area of each sensor is increased) to increase the signal-to-noise ratio generated by the sensor.

[0031] FIG. 2C illustrates a method for determining the radial accuracy of a user's press in a polar coordinate system according to some embodiments of the present invention. As shown in the example of FIG. 2C, the sensors are arranged in three different areas, namely the inner area 212, the middle area 210, and the outer area 202 of the universal key. 2C also shows a circle 214, which represents the area touched or pressed by the user, and a centroid 215, which represents the center of the circle 214 on which the user exerts force or pressure. In order to determine whether the circle 214 has pressed the center button or the left button, one method is to calculate the threshold line represented by the dotted line 216 between the center button and the left button. As shown in FIG. 2C, in order to generate the left button press, the centroid 215 will be outside the threshold line 216. In order to generate a central key press, the centroid 215 will be inside the threshold line 216 (not shown). Multiple threshold lines (not shown) can also be used together with the threshold line 216 to provide different resolutions of the radial position of the centroid 215 of the user button.

[0032] FIG. 2D illustrates a method for determining the angular accuracy of a user's press in a polar coordinate system according to some embodiments of the present invention. In this example, the circle 218 represents the vicinity of the area touched by the user. In order to determine whether the circle has pressed the top button or the left button, one method is to use the dotted lines 45°, 135°, 225°, and 315. The four quadrants of the mark are identified. For example, in order to generate a top button press, the centroid 219 will fall between 45° and 135 in the counterclockwise direction. The line marks between the quadrants. Similarly, the left button can be 135. And 225. The area between the lines is defined, and the bottom button can be 225° and 315°. The area between the lines is defined, and the right button can be 315. And the 45° line. In other embodiments, different numbers of regions can be defined to implement different numbers of keys in the sensor structure. For example, six 60° areas can be used to implement six buttons along the outer ring of the click wheel, and eight 45° areas can be used to implement eight buttons along the outer ring of the click wheel.

[0033] Among other means, the method may further consider the position experience of the user's finger (or stylus). For example, if the user's finger was previously recorded in the first area, the method may require the touch sensor to confirm that the user's finger has moved to the second area before the button press in the second area can be confirmed. In this way, errors caused by sudden shaking or slipping of fingers can be avoided.

[0034] Note that in FIG. 2C, the signals from the sensors 211, 213, and 210 can be used to insert the distance of the centroid 215 of the finger from the center of the polar coordinate system. Signals from auxiliary proximity sensors (eg, from central sensor 212) can also be used. Similarly, in FIG. 2D, the signals from the proximity sensors 209, 210, and 211 can be used to insert the centroid 219 of the finger from 0. The angular position of the polar axis. The signal from an auxiliary proximity sensor (eg, from the center sensor 212) may also be used to insert the angular position of the centroid 219.

[0035] Other examples of touch pads based on polar coordinates are described in US Patent No. 7,046,230 named Touch Pad for Hand-held Device, and the entire contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.

[0036] FIGS. 3A and 3B illustrate another method for implementing multiple keys in an input device according to some embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 3A shows a universal key, where the outer circle 300 represents the bottom surface of the universal key, and the inner circle 301 shows the top surface of the universal key. FIG. 3B shows a method of sensing a user's finger (or stylus) by using a sensor arranged as a two-dimensional grid. In one example, a two-dimensional grid can implement a χ-γ grid to determine the position of the user's finger (or stylus)

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Set (or centroid).

[0037] As shown in FIG. 3B, a two-dimensional X-Y grid can be defined by two axes that are at right angles to each other and form a plane (xy plane). The horizontal axis is usually called the X axis, and the vertical axis is usually called the y axis. In the three-dimensional coordinate system, another axis, usually called the z-axis (not shown), is added to set the three dimensions of spatial measurement. When the user applies force to press the universal button, the movement of the user's finger on the z-axis is measured. The axes can be defined as orthogonal to each other (at right angles to each other).

[0038] The point of intersection where the axes converge is referred to as the origin 306. The x-axis and y-axis define a plane called the xy plane. In order to determine a specific point on a two-dimensional coordinate system, first specify the X unit (abscissa) in the form of an ordered pair (x, y), and then specify the y unit (ordinate). For example, the point 308 can be represented by an ordered pair (xi, yj, indicating its horizontal distance (xj and vertical distance (yj) from the origin 306. According to the XY grid, the radius and angle information of the polar coordinate system can be obtained. For example, for The ordered pair area, yj, has a radial distance from the origin equal to the square root of (xj+yj), and its distance from 0. The angular position of the polar axis (0) is equal to tanT (yi/xJ. Use the calculated radius and angle Information, the techniques described for the polar coordinate system in FIGS. 2A-2D can also be applied to the XY grid shown in FIG. 3B.

[0039] FIGS. 4A and 4B show methods for implementing button groups according to some embodiments of the present invention. FIG. 4A shows a conventional device 400 composed of three keys 402, 404, and 406, where each key is implemented by a mechanical switch (not shown). FIG. 4B shows an example of implementing the three buttons of FIG. 4A using a sensor group and only one switch (for example, a universal button). In the example shown in FIG. 4B, the device can be configured as sensor areas 407, 408, and 409 to sense user input corresponding to the dummy keys 410, 412, and 414 (shown in dashed lines), respectively. In this approach, for example, a switch realized by a universal button can be located at the position of the center button 412. Using a principle similar to the example of FIGS. 2A-2D, the combination of three sensor areas and universal keys can simulate the functions of the three independent mechanical switches shown in FIG. 4A.

[0040] FIGS. 5A-5C illustrate a sensor structure for implementing multiple keys in an input device according to some embodiments of the present invention. The example in FIG. 5A shows a top view of an input device including five switches 501 (which implement five keys, in which the touch sensor 502 is arranged outside the area including the switch 501). The above-mentioned sensor structure solves the problem of space constraints of the conventional dial wheel shown in Fig. 1C. In the above arrangement, because the sensor is no longer arranged in the same area as the switch, there is more space around the switch to propagate the generated signal. Similarly, because the switch is no longer arranged in the same area as the sensor, there is more space under the touch sensor to propagate the signal generated by the touch sensor. In the above sensor structure, the sensor group detects the angular position of the user's finger (or stylus), and thus provides the scrolling function of the click wheel. In addition, these sensors can be used to detect positional information (for example, radial distance) to determine whether the user has pressed the center button or the top, bottom, left, or right button.

[0041] In a case where the click wheel is small (for example, less than about 20 mm), the entire click wheel will be covered by the user's finger, which makes it difficult to detect the circular scrolling movement of the user's finger. By arranging the touch sensor outside the cutout area, the sensor structure gives the user more space for scrolling, thereby improving the user experience of the input device.

[0042] FIG. 5B shows a top view of a click wheel device implemented using universal keys, in which the touch sensor 502 is arranged outside the area including the mechanical switch. Similar to FIG. 5A, this sensor structure solves the problem of space constraints of the conventional dial wheel of FIG. 1C. In the above configuration, the combination of the universal button 503 and the touch sensor 502 can realize the functions of the multiple mechanical switches described in connection with FIGS. 2A-2D, 3A and 3B. An optional supplementary sensor group 504 is added to FIG. 5C to improve the accuracy of the position and angle information detected by the sensor 502.

[0043] FIGS. 6A-6C show examples of implementing universal keys in an input device according to some embodiments of the present invention. The input device 600 may include a touch panel 604 installed on the universal board 605. The top plate 602 can be used to hold the universal plate in the space 601 in the housing. The gimbal plate 604 may be arranged on the top of the flexible member 608.

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[0044] The movement of the gimbal 605 drives one or more motion detectors. For example, one or more motion detectors may be arranged around or on the gimbal plate 605, and these detectors may be driven by the tilt of the gimbal plate 605 or other desired movements. The flexible member 608 may be part of a motion detector, such as a surface mounted dome switch.

[0045] The flexible member 608 can be formed into a bubble shape, which can provide elastic force to push the universal plate to matingly engage with the top wall of the frame 602 and away from the supporting surface of the flexible member 608. The fin 606 may protrude from the side of the universal plate 606 and extend below the top plate 602.

[0046] The gimbal plate 605 may be allowed to float in the cutout 601. The shape of the cutout 601 can roughly match the shape of the universal plate 604. Therefore, the above-mentioned unit can be generally restricted along the X-axis and the y-axis by the side wall 603 of the top plate 602, and can be restricted along the z-axis by the engagement of the top plate 602 and the tab 606 on the universal plate 604. Therefore, the universal plate 604 can move in the space 601, and at the same time, the wall of the top plate 602 can prevent it from moving completely out of the space 601.

[0047] Referring to FIGS. 6B and 6C, according to one embodiment, the user presses a desired key function position on the universal board 604. As shown in FIG. 6B, if the user presses one side of the gimbal plate 604, the gimbal plate is inclined, thereby causing asymmetrical deformation of the flexible member 608. The fin 606 and the supporting surface 610 can limit the amount of tilt of the gimbal. The gimbal can be tilted around the axis in a 360-degree pattern around the gimbal. One or more motion detectors can be arranged to monitor the motion of the gimbal.

[0048] FIG. 6C shows that if the user presses down the center of the universal plate 604, the universal plate moves downward in the housing without tilting, thereby causing the flexible member 608 to undergo symmetrical deformation. However, the gimbal is still confined in the housing by the wall of the top plate 602.

[0049] The touch pad 605 installed on the gimbal board 604 provides the user's finger position when the gimbal board 604 is pressed. The input device uses the location information to determine which key function the user wants. For example, as shown in Figure 10, the interface can be divided into different button areas. In this case, the driving of a single motion detector that monitors the motion of the universal plate 604 can be used to provide several key commands. For example, the first signal generated by the gimbal plate 604 on the touch panel 605 may generate the first signal indicating the position of the user's finger on the gimbal plate. A motion detector, such as a dome switch, can then be used to generate a second signal indicating that the gimbal has moved (eg, has been pressed down).

[0050] As shown in FIG. 9, an input device including a gimbal and a touch panel may be a part of the computer system 439. The communication interface 454 can provide the computing device 442 including the processor 457 with the first and second signals provided by the touch panel and the motion detector, respectively. The processor can then determine which command is related to the combination of the first and second signals. In this way, driving of the motion detector by pressing at different positions on the touch panel may correspond to different actions, and a single motion detector may be used to provide the function of a plurality of keys arranged around the universal plate 604.

[0051] One advantage of using the touch panel 605 and the universal plate 604 as shown in FIGS. 6A-6C is that a single motion detector can be used to simulate multiple key functions. Compared with devices that use different motion detectors to generate various key commands, this method can be used to generate devices with fewer components.

[0052] Arranging a single motion detector under the gimbal can also improve the tactile feel of the input device. On any part of the universal plate pressed by the user, the user of the device will only feel a single click. Placing multiple mechanical switch-type motion detectors under the gimbal will bring about a sense of crunching, in which the user feels a series of multiple clicks when the gimbal is pressed down.

[0053] FIGS. 7A-7C show other implementation examples of the input device according to some embodiments of the present invention. In the example shown in FIGS. 7A-7C, the first dome switch 622 can be driven by the user pressing any position around the click wheel 624, and the second dome switch 626 can be driven by pressing the center button 628.

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[0054] FIGS. 7A-7C show cross-sectional views of the click wheel 624 around the center button 628 (which is arranged in the center of the click wheel). The jog wheel 624 includes a touch pad 625. The click wheel 624 is set to perform a universal movement relative to the frame 630 to provide a click action at any position on the click wheel 624.

[0055] The click wheel 624 is restricted in the space 632 provided in the frame 630. The click wheel 624 can move in the space 632, and at the same time, the wall of the frame 630 can still prevent it from moving to be completely out of the space 632. The shape of the space 632 roughly matches the shape of the click wheel 624. Therefore, the unit is substantially restricted along the x-axis and the y-axis by the side walls 634 of the frame 630, and is substantially restricted along the z-axis by the top wall 636 and the bottom wall 640 of the frame 630. A small gap is provided between the side wall and the platform to allow the touchpad to move 360 degrees around its axis without obstruction (for example, slight movement). In some cases, the platform may include fins extending along the x-axis and y-axis to prevent rotation along the z-axis.

[0056] The center button 628 may be arranged in the space 642 in the click wheel 624. The central button 628 can be confined in the space 642 by the sidewall 644 of the click wheel 624 along the x-axis and the y-axis, and by the tabs 646 and the bottom wall 640 of the click wheel 624 along the z-axis. When the central button 628 is pressed, The bottom wall 640 is connected to the leg 647.

[0057] Two dome switches 622 and 626 are arranged below the center button 628. These two dome switches provide a mechanically elastic action center button 628 and a click wheel 624. The reinforcement 648 is arranged between the two dome switches. The reinforcement 648 extends through the hole in the leg 647 and is located below the click wheel 624. In this case, the reinforcing member 648 can transmit the elastic force of the dome switches 622 and 626 to the click wheel 624, and transfer the force that can be applied by the user to the click wheel 624 to the dome switch 622.

[0058] FIG. 7B shows how to drive only the click wheel dome switch 622 when the user presses the click wheel 624. When the user presses any position on the click wheel 624, it moves in a universal direction in the area 632, and the force applied by the user is transmitted to the inverted dome switch 622 through the reinforcement 648 and the bottom wall 640. The bottom wall 640 may include small pieces 650, used to transfer the force of the click to the center of the dome switch 622. Because it pivots together with the click wheel 624, the center button dome switch 626 will not be driven. When it pivots with the click wheel, the gap between the center button 628 and the transient dome below it remains approximately the same.

[0059] FIG. 7C shows how to drive only the center dome switch when the center button 628 is pressed. The feet 647 can prevent the center button 628 from exceeding the stroke of the upper dome 626. In order to ensure that only the upper dome 626 is driven, the driving force of the lower dome 622 may be higher than the driving force of the upper dome 626. The center button 628 may include a small block 652 to transmit the pressing force to the center of the upper dome 626.

[0060] For the structure described with reference to FIGS. 7A-7C, the signal from the touch pad 625 forming part of the click wheel 624 can be used together with the signal obtained from the driving of the dome switch 622 to simulate the installation in different areas around the click wheel 624 Several buttons. This structure allows the use of a separate center button. This is particularly useful when using a touch pad that can only sense angular positions in the jog wheel 624. When measuring only the angular position, because the position of the user's finger relative to the center of the click wheel cannot be measured, the center button cannot be simulated.

[0061] Although not shown, the touch panel may be backlit in some cases. For example, light-emitting diodes (LEDs) can be placed on either side of the circuit board to mark the button area, provide additional feedback, and so on.

[0062] FIGS. 8A-8C illustrate the operation of the input device according to some embodiments of the present invention. In the example shown in FIG. 8A, the input device 430 may be roughly configured to send information or data to the electronic device to perform operations on the display screen (for example, through a graphical user interface). Examples of operations that can be performed include moving the input pointer, making selections, and providing commands. The input device may interact with the electronic device through a wired connection (for example, a cable/connector) or a wireless connection (for example, IR, Bluetooth, etc.). The input device 430 may be an independent unit or may be integrated in the electronic device. As an independent unit,

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The input device may have its own housing. When integrated in an electronic device, the input device can usually use the housing of the electronic device. In any case, the input device can be structurally connected to the housing, for example, by screws, hooks, holders, adhesives, and the like. In some cases, the input device may be removably connected to the electronic device through a docking site, for example. The electronic device connected with the input device can correspond to any consumer electronic product. For example, the electronic device may correspond to a computer such as a desktop computer, a laptop computer, or a PDA, a media player such as a music player, a communication device such as a cellular phone, and other input devices such as a keyboard.

[0063] As shown in FIG. 8A, in this embodiment, the input device 430 may include a frame 432 (that is, a supporting structure) and a touch panel 434. The frame 432 may provide a structure for supporting the input device components. The frame 432 in the form of a housing may also enclose or house components of the input device. The components including the touch panel 434 may correspond to electrical, optical, and/or mechanical components used to operate the input device 430.

[0064] The touch panel 434 may provide position information of a target in contact with or close to the touch panel. The above information can be used together with the information provided by the motion indicator to generate a single command related to the motion of the touchpad. The touchpad itself can be used as an input device, for example, the touchpad can be used to move objects or scroll through a list of items on the device.

[0065] There are many changes to the touch panel 434. For example, it may be a conventional touchpad based on a Cartesian coordinate system, or it may be a touchpad based on a polar coordinate system. An example of a touch panel based on polar coordinates can be found in US Patent No. 7,046,230 named TOUCHPAD FOR HANDHELD DEVICE, the entire content of which is included in this specification by reference. In addition, the touch panel 434 can be used in at least two different modes, which can be referred to as a relative mode and/or an absolute mode. In the absolute mode, the touch panel 434 can report the absolute coordinates of the touched position, for example. For example, it can be "χ" and "y" coordinates in the case of a standard Cartesian coordinate system, or (r, θ) in the case of a polar coordinate system_οIn the relative mode, the touchpad 434 can report the changed direction and/or distance, for example, left/right, and up/down. In most cases, when a finger moves across the surface of the touch pad 434, the signal generated by the touch pad 434 can guide a direction similar to the direction of the finger movement on the display screen.

[0066] The shape of the touch pad 434 can be changed in many ways. For example, it may be a circle, an ellipse, a square, a rectangle, a triangle, and the like. Generally, the outer circumference can define the working boundary of the touch panel 434. In the illustrated embodiment, the touchpad is circular. The circular touchpad may allow the user to surround the finger in a free manner, that is, the finger can be rotated in a 360-degree rotation without stopping. This form of movement can, for example, produce incremental or accelerated scrolling of a list of songs displayed on the display screen. In addition, users can rotate their fingers tangentially from all sides, thereby providing a larger range of finger positions. The above two features can be helpful when performing scrolling functions. In addition, the size of the touch pad 434 roughly corresponds to a size that allows it to be easily operated by the user (for example, the size of the tip of a finger or a larger size).

[0067] The touchpad 434, which may generally take the form of a rigid flat platform, includes a touchable outer surface 436 for receiving a finger (or object) to operate the touchpad. Although not shown in FIG. 8A, the sensor structure is below the touchable outer surface 436, which can sense the pressure and movement of a finger, such as on it. The sensor structure may generally include multiple sensors, which may be configured to be driven when a finger is placed, tapped, or passed on it. In the simplest case, an electrical signal can be generated every time a finger is placed on the sensor. The number of signals in a given period may indicate the position, direction, speed, and acceleration of the finger on the touchpad 434, that is, the more signals, the more the user moves his finger. In most cases, the signal can be monitored through an electronic interface, which can convert the number, combination, and frequency of the signal into position, direction, speed, and acceleration information. The electronic device can then use this information to perform the desired control function on the display screen. The sensor structure can have many changes. For example, the sensor can be based on impedance sensing, surface acoustic wave sensing, pressure sensing (for example, strain gauges), light sensing, and capacitance sensing.

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[0068] In the illustrated embodiment, the touch panel 434 may be based on capacitive sensing. A touch panel based on capacitance sensing can be set to detect changes in capacitance when the user moves an object such as a finger around the touch panel. In most cases, a capacitive touch panel can include a protective cover, one or more electrode layers, a circuit board, and associated electronic devices including an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC). The protective cover can be arranged above the electrode; the electrode can be mounted on the top surface of the circuit board; and the ASIC can be mounted on the bottom surface of the circuit board. The protective cover can be used to protect the lower layer and provide a surface for allowing fingers to slide on it. The surface can be substantially smooth, so that the fingers are not obstructed during movement. The protective cover can also provide an insulating layer between the finger and the electrode layer. The electrode layer may include a plurality of spatially separated electrodes. Any suitable number of electrodes can be used. As the number of electrodes increases, the resolution of the touch panel also increases.

[0069] Capacitive sensing can work according to the principle of capacitance. It should be understood that once the two conductive members are close to each other without actually touching each other, the electric fields of the two will interact to form a capacitance. In the above arrangement, the first conductive member may be one or more electrodes, and the second conductive member may be a user's finger. Therefore, when a finger approaches the touchpad, a tiny capacitance is formed between the finger and the electrode very close to the finger. The capacitance in each electrode can be measured by an ASIC located on the back side of the circuit board. By detecting changes in the capacitance of each electrode, the ASIC can determine the position, direction, speed, and acceleration of the finger when the finger moves through the touchpad. The ASIC can also report this information in a form that can be used by electronic devices.

[0070] According to one embodiment, the touch pad 434 can move relative to the frame 432. The above motion can be detected by a motion detector that generates another control signal. For example, the touchpad 434 in the form of a rigid flat platform can rotate, pivot, slide, translate, and/or bend with respect to the frame 432. The touch pad 434 may be connected to the frame 432, and/or it may be restricted by the frame 432 in a movable form. For example, the touch pad 434 may be connected to the frame 432 through shafts, pin joints, sliding seat joints, ball and seat joints, bending joints, magnets and/or pads, and the like. The touch pad 434 may also float in the space of the frame (for example, gimbal movement). Note that the input device 430 may additionally include combinations of joints such as pivoting/translational joints, pivoting/bending joints, pivoting/ball and seat joints, and translational/bending joints to increase the range of motion (for example, increase Degrees of freedom).

[0071] When moving, the touch panel 434 can be set to drive a motion detector circuit that generates one or more signals. The circuit may generally include one or more motion detectors such as switches, sensors, and encoders.

[0072] In the illustrated embodiment, the touchpad 434 may be part of a pressable platform. The touchpad functions as a button and performs one or more mechanical tapping actions. Many functions of the device can be accessed by pressing the touchpad 434 at different locations. The motion detector signals that the touchpad 434 has been pressed, and the touchpad 434 signals that the position on the platform has been touched. By combining both the motion detector signal and the touch panel signal, the touch panel 434 functions as a plurality of keys, so that pressing the touch panel at different positions corresponds to different keys. As shown in FIGS. 8B and 8C, according to one embodiment, when a certain force from a finger 438, palm, hand, or other object is applied to the touch pad 434, the touch pad 434 can be in an upright position (FIG. 8B) and a pressing position (Figure 8C) between movement. The touch pad 434 is usually elastically biased in an upright position, for example, by an elastic member. When the elastic bias is overcome by an object pressing on the touch pad 434, the touch pad 434 moves to the pressed position.

[0073] As shown in FIG. 8B, when an object such as a user's finger moves on the top surface of the touch panel in the x, y plane, the touch panel 434 generates a tracking signal. As shown in FIG. 8C, at the pressed position (z direction), the touch panel 434 generates two pieces of position information and the motion indicator generates a signal indicating that the touch panel 434 has moved. Combine position information and motion instructions to form key commands. Different key commands may correspond to pressing the touch pad 434 at different positions. Different key commands can be used for various different functions, including (but not limited to) making selections or issuing commands in association with operating the electronic device. For example, in the case of a music player, key commands can be used to open menus, play songs, fast forward songs, and

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Search in the menu, etc. related.

[0074] For illustration, the touch pad 434 may be provided to drive a motion detector, which together with the touch pad position information may form a key command when the touch pad 434 is moved to the pressed position. Generally, the motion detector can be arranged in the frame 432, and can be connected to the touch panel 434 and/or the frame 432. The motion detector can be any combination of switches and sensors. The switch is usually set to provide pulsed (ie, binary) data such as driven (on) or not driven (off). For example, the lower part of the touch panel 434 may be configured to contact or cooperate with the switch (thereby driving) when the user presses on the touch panel 434. On the other hand, sensors are usually set up to provide continuous or analog data. For example, a sensor may be provided to measure the position or tilt amount of the touch panel 434 relative to the frame when the user presses on the touch panel 434. Any suitable mechanical, electrical and/or optical switches or sensors can be used. For example, tactile switches, force sensing resistors, pressure sensors, proximity sensors, etc. can be used. In some cases, an elastic bias may be provided by a motion detector including an elastic action to set the touch panel 434 in an upright position.

[0075] FIG. 9 shows an example of a simplified block diagram of a computing system 439. The computing system may generally include an input device 440 operatively connected to the computing device 442. For example, the input device 440 may roughly correspond to the input device 430 shown in FIGS. 1, 2A, and 2B, and the computing device 442 may correspond to a computer, a PDA, or a media player, or the like. As shown, the input device 440 includes a depressible touch pad 444 and one or more motion detectors 446. When the touch pad is pressed, the touch pad 444 may be set to generate a tracking signal, and the motion detector 446 may be set to generate a motion signal. Although the touch panel 444 may have many changes, in this embodiment, the touch panel 444 may include a capacitive sensor 448 and a control system 450 for acquiring a position signal from the sensor 448 and supplying the signal to the computing device 442. The control system 450 may include an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) that may be configured to monitor the signal from the sensor 448 to calculate the angular position, direction, velocity, and acceleration of the monitored signal, and report the above information to the processor of the computing device 442. The motion detector 446 may also have many changes. However, in this embodiment, the motion detector 446 may take the form of a switch that generates a motion signal when the touch panel 444 is pressed. The switch 446 may correspond to a mechanical, electrical or optical type switch. In a specific application, the switch 446 is a mechanical type switch, which includes a protruding actuator 452, which can be pressed by the touch pad 444 to generate a motion signal. For example, the switch can be a tactile or dome switch.

[0076] Both the touchpad 444 and the switch 446 are operatively connected to the computing device 442 through the communication interface 454. The communication interface provides a connection point for direct or indirect connection between the input device and the electronic device. The communication interface 454 may be wired (wire, cable, connector) or wireless (for example, transmitter/receiver).

[0077] For the computing device 442, it roughly includes a processor 457 (for example, a CPU or a microprocessor), which is configured to execute commands and complete operations associated with the computing device 442. For example, using commands obtained from the memory, the processor can control the reception and operation of input and output data between the components of the computing device 442. The processor 457 can be configured to receive inputs from both the switch 446 and the touch panel 444, and can form signals/commands that depend on both of the aforementioned inputs. In many cases, the processor 457 can execute commands under the control of the operating system or other software. The processor 457 may be a single-chip processor, or may also be implemented in multiple components.

[0078] The computing device 442 also includes an input/output (I/O) controller 456 operatively connected to the processor 457. The (I/O) controller 456 may be integrated with the processor 457, or it may be a separate component as shown. The I/O controller 456 may be generally configured to control the interaction with one or more I/O devices (such as the input device 440) connectable with the computing device 442. The I/O controller 456 can generally work by exchanging data between the computing device 442 and the I/O device that is to communicate with the computing device 442.

[0079] The computing device 442 also includes a display controller 458 operably connected to the processor 457. Display controller

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458 may be integrated with processor 457, or it may be a separate component as shown. The display controller 458 may be configured to process display commands to generate text and graphics on the display screen 460. For example, the display screen 460 may be a monochrome display, a color graphics adapter (CGA) display, an enhanced graphics adapter (EGA) display, a variable graphics array (VGA) display, a super VGA display, a liquid crystal display (e.g., active matrix , And passive matrix, etc.), cathode ray tube (CRT), and plasma display, etc. In the illustrated embodiment, the display device corresponds to a liquid crystal display (LCD).

[0080] In many cases, the processor 457 works with an operating system to execute computer code and generate usage data. Computer codes and data can be stored in a program storage area 462 operably connected to the processor 457. The program storage area 462 may generally provide space to hold data that can be used by the computing device 442. For example, the program storage area may include read-only memory (ROM), random access memory (RAM), and/or hard disk drive. Computer codes and data can also be stored on a removable program medium and loaded or installed on a computing device when needed. In one embodiment, the program storage area 462 can be set to store information to control the way that the tracking and motion signals generated by the input device are used in combination by the computing device 442 to generate a single key command.

[0081] FIG. 10 shows a simplified perspective view of the input device 470. Similar to the input device shown in the embodiment of FIG. 8B and FIG. 8C, the input device 470 directly combines the functions of one or more buttons in the touch panel 472, that is, the touch panel works like a button. However, in this embodiment, the touch panel 472 can be divided into a plurality of independent and spatially separated key areas 474. The key area 474 may represent an area where the touch panel 472 can be moved by the user to implement different key functions. The dotted line may indicate the area where the touch pad 472 constitutes a separate key area. For example, any number of two or more (four, eight, etc.) keypads can be used. In the illustrated embodiment, the touch panel 472 includes four key areas 474 (ie, areas A-D).

[0082] It should be understood that the key functions generated by pressing on each key zone may include selecting items on the screen, opening documents or files, executing commands, launching programs, and/or viewing menus, etc. Key functions can include functions that make it easier to navigate through the electronic system, such as zooming, scrolling, opening different menus, returning the input pointer, and performing keyboard-related actions, such as confirm, delete, insert, and scroll up/down Pages etc. In the case of a music player, a key area can be used to access the menu on the display screen, the first key area can be used to search forward through the song list or to fast forward through the currently playing song, and the third key area can be used to go backward Search the song list or rewind through the currently playing song, and you can use the fourth button area to pause or stop the currently playing song.

[0083] To illustrate, the touch panel 472 can move relative to the frame 476, thereby generating a click action. The frame 476 may be formed by a single component, or it may be a combination of assembled parts. The click action can drive the motion detector contained in the frame 476. The motion detector can be set to sense the motion of the key area during the click action, and send a signal corresponding to the motion to the electronic device. For example, the motion detector may be a switch, and/or a sensor, etc.

[0084] In addition, the touch panel 472 can be set to send position information about which key zone is operating when a tapping action occurs. This position information may allow the device to determine which key zone is being driven when the touchpad moves relative to the frame.

[0085] The movement of each key area 474 can be provided through various rotations, pivots, translations, and bending. In one embodiment, the touchpad 472 may be provided to move in a direction relative to the frame 4.76. By universal movement, it roughly means that the touchpad 472 can float relative to the frame 476 in space while still being restricted by it. The universal movement allows the touchpad 472 to move with single or multiple degrees of freedom (DOF) relative to the housing, for example, movement in the x, y and/or z directions and/or rotation around the x, y and/or z axes (θ_χ θ _y θ _ζ) ο

[0086] FIGS. 11A-11D illustrate the application of the dial wheel device according to some embodiments of the present invention. As mentioned above, the input device described herein may be integrated in an electronic device or may be a stand-alone device. Figure 7 and Figure 8 show the integrated in the electronic

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Some application examples of the input device 700 in the device. In FIG. 11A, the input device 700 may be incorporated in the media player 702. In FIG. 11B, the input device 700 can be incorporated in a laptop 704. On the other hand, FIGS. 11C and 11D show an application example of the input device 700 as a separate unit. In FIG. 11C, the input device 700 is a peripheral device, which is connected to the desktop computer 706. In FIG. 11D, the input device 700 may be a remote control wirelessly connected to the mooring location 708, in which the media player 710 is docked. However, it should be noted that the remote control can also be set to directly interact with the media player (or other electronic device), thereby eliminating the need for mooring locations. An example of a mooring part for a media player can be found in the United States Patent Application Serial No. 10/423,490 filed on April 25, 2003 under the name "MEDIA PLAYERSYSTEM", and the entire contents of which are included in this by reference in. It should be noted that these specific embodiments are not restrictive, and many other devices and structures can be used.

[0087] Referring again to FIG. 11A, the media player 702 will be described in more detail. The term "media player" generally refers to computing devices that can be used to process media (for example, audio, video, or other images), such as music players, game consoles, video players, video recorders, and cameras. In some cases, the media player has a single function (for example, a media player dedicated to playing music), while in other cases, the media player has multiple functions (for example, playing music, displaying videos, and storing photos, etc.) Media player). In any case, these devices can generally be portable to allow users to listen to music, play games or play videos, record videos, or take photos no matter where they are.

[0088] In one embodiment, the media player may be a handheld device sized to fit in the user's pocket. By being formed into a pocket size, the user does not need to directly hold the device, so the user can carry the device almost no matter where the user is (for example, the user is not restricted to holding large and usually bulky devices, such as in the knees). In the case of a computer or laptop.) For example, in the case of a music player, the user can use the above devices to exercise at the same time in the gym. In the case of a video camera, the user can use the above device to climb the mountain at the same time. In the case of a gaming machine, the user can use the above-mentioned devices while traveling in the vehicle. In addition, the above-mentioned device can be operated by the user's hand. There is no need for a reference surface such as a desktop. In the illustrated embodiment, the media player 702 may be a pocket-sized handheld MP3 music player that allows the user to store a large amount of collected music (for example, up to 4,000 CD-quality songs in some cases) . For example, the MP3 music player may correspond to the iPod® brand MP3 player manufactured by Apple Computer, Inc. of Cupertino, California. Although it is mainly used to store and play music, the MP3 music player shown here can also have additional functions such as storing calendars and phone lists, storing and playing games, and storing photos. In fact, in some cases, it can be used as a highly portable storage device.

[0089] As shown in FIG. 11A, the media player 702 includes a housing 722 that encloses various electrical components (including integrated circuit chips and other circuits) inside to provide the media player 702 with computing operations. In addition, the housing 722 can also define the shape or style of the media player 702. That is, the outline of the housing 722 will reflect the physical appearance of the media player 702. The integrated circuit chip and other circuits contained in the housing 722 may include a microprocessor (for example, CPU), memory (for example, ROM, RAM), power supply (for example, battery), circuit board, hard disk drive, other memory (Such as flash memory) and/or various input/output (I/O) support circuits. The electronic components may also include components for inputting or outputting music or sound such as microphones, amplifiers, and digital signal processors (DSP). Electronic components may also include components for capturing images such as image sensors (eg, charge coupled devices (CCD) or complementary metal oxide semiconductors (CMOS)) or optical devices (eg, lenses, spectroscopes, filters).

[0090] In the illustrated embodiment, the media player 702 may include, for example, a hard disk drive that gives the media player a large storage capacity. For example, a 20GB hard drive can store up to 4000 songs, or about 266 hours of music. In comparison, flash-based media players can store up to 2GB (approximately two hours) of music on average. Hard disk drive capacity can be

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There are many changes (for example, 10.20GB, etc.). In addition to the hard disk drive, the media player 702 shown here may also include a battery, such as a rechargeable lithium polymer battery. These types of batteries can provide media players with approximately 10 hours of continuous playback time.

[0091] The media player 702 may also have a display screen 724 and related circuits. The display screen 724 can be used to display a graphical user interface and other information (eg, text, objects, graphics) to the user. For example, the display screen 724 may be a liquid crystal display (LCD). In a specific embodiment, the display screen can correspond to a 160 by 128 pixel high-resolution display, which is backlit by white light LEDs to provide clear visibility in daylight and low light conditions. As shown in the figure, the user of the media player 702 can see the display screen 724 through the opening 725 in the housing 722 and through the transparent wall 726 that can be arranged in front of the opening 725. Although transparent, because it helps define the shape and style of the media player 702, the transparent wall 726 can be regarded as a part of the housing 722.

[0092] The media player 702 may also include any type of touch panel 700 such as those described above. The touch panel 700 may be roughly composed of a touchable outer surface 731 for receiving finger operations on the touch panel 730. Although not shown in FIG. 11A, there is a sensor structure under the touchable outer surface 731. The sensor structure may include multiple sensors that are arranged to be driven when a finger is placed, tapped or passed thereon. In the simplest case, an electrical signal can be generated every time the finger is placed on the sensor. The number of signals in a given period can indicate the position, direction, speed and acceleration of the finger on the touchpad, that is, the more the signal, the more the user moves his finger. In most cases, the signal can be monitored through the electronic interface , The electronic interface can convert the number, combination and frequency of signals into position, direction, speed and acceleration information. The media player 702 can then use this information to perform desired control functions on the display screen 724. For example, by rotating a finger around the touch pad 700, the user can easily scroll through the song list.

[0093] In addition to the above settings, the touch panel may also include one or more movable key areas A-D and a center key E. The key area is set to provide one or more dedicated control functions associated with selecting or issuing commands for the operation of the media player 702. For example, in the case of an MP3 player, key functions can be associated with opening menus, playing songs, fast-forwarding songs, searching menus, and making selections. In many cases, the button function is realized by mechanical tapping action.

[0094] The position of the touch panel 700 relative to the housing 722 can be changed in many ways. For example, the touch panel 700 may be arranged on any (for example, top, side, front, or back) outer surface of the housing 722 that is accessible by the user during the operation of the media player 702. In many cases, the touch sensitive surface 731 of the touch panel 700 is completely exposed to the user. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 11A, the touch panel 700 is arranged in the lower front area of the housing 722. In addition, the touch panel 700 may be concave, flush, or protrude with respect to the surface of the housing 722. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 11A, the touch-sensitive surface 731 of the touch panel 700 may be substantially flush with the outer surface of the housing 722.

[0095] The shape of the touch panel 700 can also be changed in many ways. Although shown as a circle, the touchpad can also be square, rectangular, triangular, and so on. Specifically, the touchpad has a ring shape, that is, it is shaped like a ring or forms a ring. Thus, the inner and outer circumferences of the touchpad define the working boundary of the touchpad.

[0096] The media player 702 may also include a hold switch 734. The hold switch 734 can be set to drive or not drive the touchpad and/or the keys associated with it. This is typically used, for example, to prevent the touchpad and/or keys from causing undesirable commands when the media player is placed in the user's pocket. When placed in the non-driving state, the media player will not send (ie ignore) signals from the buttons and/or touchpad. When placed in the drive state, signals from the buttons and/or touchpad can be sent and received and processed by the media player.

[0097] In addition, the media player 702 may also include one or more headphone jacks 736 and one or more data ports 738. The earphone jack 736 can receive the earphone associated with it (set to listen to the sound output by the media player 702)

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Headphone connector. On the other hand, the data port 738 can receive a data connector/cable assembly that is configured to send and receive data to and from a host such as a general-purpose computer (eg, desktop computer, portable computer). For example, the data port 738 can be used to upload or download audio, video, and other images to/from the media player 702. For example, the data port can be used to download songs and playlists, audio books, e-books, and photos to the storage mechanism of the media player.

[0098] The data port 738 can have many changes. For example, the data port may be a PS/2 port, a serial port, a parallel port, a USB port, and/or a Firewire port. In some cases, the data port 738 may be a radio frequency (RF) connection or an optical infrared (IR) connection to eliminate the need for cables. Although not shown in FIG. 11A, the media player 702 may also include a power port that receives a power connector/cable assembly that is configured to deliver power to the media player 702. In some cases, the data port 738 can function as both a data port and a power port. In the illustrated embodiment, the data port 738 is a Firewire port that has both data and power capabilities.

[0099] Although only one data port is shown, it should be understood that this is not a limitation, and multiple data ports may be combined in the media player. Similarly, a data port may have multiple data functions, that is, the functions of multiple data ports are integrated into a single data port. In addition, it should be understood that the positions of the holding switch, earphone jack, and data port on the housing can be changed in many ways. That is, it is not limited to the position shown in FIG. 11A. It can be placed almost anywhere on the housing (for example, front, back, side, top, bottom). For example, the data port may be arranged on the top surface of the housing instead of the bottom surface as shown.

[0100] FIGS. 12A and 12B illustrate the installation of an input device in a media player according to some embodiments of the present invention. For example , the input device 750 may correspond to any of the aforementioned types, and the media player 752 may correspond to the type shown in FIG. 11A. As shown in the figure, the input device 750 may include a housing 754 and a touch panel assembly 756. The media player 752 may include a housing, namely a housing 758. The front wall 760 of the housing 758 may include an opening 762 that allows the touch panel assembly 756 to be operated when the input device 750 is introduced into the media player 752. The inner side of the front wall 760 may include a slot, namely a channel 764, for receiving the input device 750 in the housing 758 of the media player 752. A slot 764 may be provided to receive the edge of the housing 754 of the input device 750, whereby the input device 750 can be slid to its desired position within the housing 758. The groove has a shape substantially conforming to the shape of the housing 754. During assembly, the circuit board 766 of the touch panel assembly 756 is aligned with the opening 762, and the decoration plate 768 and the button cover 770 are installed on the top surface of the circuit board 766. As shown in the figure, the decorative plate 768 has a shape substantially conforming to the opening 762. The input device can be held in the groove by such as screws, hooks, adhesives, press-fitting mechanisms, and intrusion ribs.

[0101] FIG. 13 shows a simplified block diagram of a remote controller incorporating an input device according to some embodiments of the present invention. For example, the input device 782 may correspond to any type of the aforementioned input device. In this specific embodiment, the input device 782 may correspond to the input device shown in FIGS. 6A-6C and FIGS. 7A-7C, so the input device includes a touch panel 784 and a plurality of switches 786. The touch panel 784 and the switch 786 may be operably connected to the wireless transmitter 788. The wireless transmitter 788 can be set to send information through a wireless communication connection, so that an electronic device with receiving capability can receive information through the wireless communication connection. The wireless transmitter 788 can have many changes. For example, it may be based on wireless technologies such as FM, RF, Bluetooth, 802.11 UWB (Ultra Wide Band), IR, and/or magnetic connection (induction). In the illustrated embodiment, the wireless transmitter 788 based on IRo IR can generally refer to a wireless technology that transmits data through infrared radiation. Therefore, the wireless transmitter 788 may generally include an IR controller 790. The IR controller 790 can obtain the information reported by the touch panel 784 and the switch 786, and can, for example, use the light-emitting diode 792 to convert the above-mentioned information into infrared rays.

[0102] It will be understood that the above clear description has explained embodiments of the present invention with reference to different functional units and processors.

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However, it should be understood that without departing from the present invention, functions may be appropriately distributed among different functional units or processors. For example, the functions shown as being performed by a separate processor or controller can be performed by a single processor or controller. Therefore, the description of a specific functional unit should be regarded as a description of an appropriate device for providing the function, rather than a logical or physical structure or arrangement in a strict sense.

[0103] The present invention can be implemented in any suitable form, including hardware, software, firmware, or any combination thereof. The present invention can also be partially implemented by computer software running on one or more data processors and/or digital signal processors. The elements and components of the embodiments of the present invention may be physically, functionally and logically implemented in any suitable form. In fact, the above functions can be implemented in a single unit, multiple units, or as part of other functional units. Therefore, the present invention can be implemented in a single unit, or physical and functional allocations can be made between different units and processors.

[0104] Those skilled in the art will understand that various possible changes and combinations of the disclosed embodiments can be used, while still using the same basic mechanisms and methods. The foregoing description has been made for illustrative purposes with reference to specific embodiments. However, the foregoing illustrative description is not intended to be an exhaustive example, or is not limited to a description of the specific form disclosed. Many changes and modifications can be made in view of the above teachings. The selection and description of the above-mentioned embodiments are intended to illustrate the principles of the present invention and its practical application, and to enable those skilled in the art to make optimal use of the present invention and various embodiments with various changes suitable for the specific application required.

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