WO2002031634A2

WO2002031634A2 - Subscriber device of a radio communication system, in particular, a mobile telephone

Info

Publication number: WO2002031634A2
Application number: PCT/DE2001/003759
Authority: WO
Inventors: Harald Bader; Stefan Bischof
Original assignee: Siemens Aktiengesellschaft
Priority date: 2000-10-12
Filing date: 2001-10-01
Publication date: 2002-04-18
Also published as: WO2002031634A3; DE10050598A1

Abstract

At least one touch-sensitive film (WFL) is applied to the border section only of a display device for a mobile telephone and is configured in such a way that the display surface of the display device that was originally available remains largely clear for representing information and that the film (WFL) acts as input means for entering information.

Description

description

Subscriber device of a radio communication system, in particular a mobile radio device

The invention relates to a subscriber device, in particular a mobile radio device, of a radio communication system with a display device for displaying information.

In the case of mobile radio devices, in particular cellular telephones (= cell phones), more and more features, that is, applications lead to more and more operating difficulties. In particular, future, extensive Internet queries with the help of mobile telephones will bring conventional mechanical keyboards to the limits of their specified performance.

The invention is based on the object of demonstrating a way in which the input options for subscriber devices of radio communication systems, in particular mobile radio devices, can be improved. This object is achieved in the case of a subscriber device of the type mentioned at the outset in that at least one touch-sensitive film is attached to at least one point only in the edge region of the display device in such a way that the display field of the display device for the information display remains largely free, and that the film as Input means for information is formed.

With at least one touch-sensitive film at least at one point only in the edge area of the display device, the display area of the display device originally available for the information display remains largely free. At the same time, the touch-sensitive film is available as a direct input device for information or data that follows the movement of the hand, in addition to the conventional keyboard, for example. This additional input option via the At least one touch-sensitive film can be used to improve the ease of use, in particular of mobile radio devices, compared to those mobile radio devices that only have a conventional keyboard. In addition, such a touch-sensitive film allows simple and reliable

Handling in the display control and / or data input by the user, since the user already flawlessly controls the pixels of the display device or menu items in display software menus of the mobile radio device by moving them with his bare thumb or other finger in a controlled manner, i.e. e.g. can start with a cursor or mouse pointer and activate it if necessary. It is in particular a direct assignment of a finger or pen to display fields e.g. a software menu on the display. This ensures better clarity for the user when inputting and / or outputting data or information. In addition, this type of input is faster than scrolling in software menus, since menu items can be accessed and selected directly through the touch-sensitive film and not one after the other as when scrolling.

Other developments of the invention are given in the subclaims.

The invention and its developments are explained in more detail below with reference to drawings.

Show it:

FIG. 1 shows a schematic and enlarged illustration of a first exemplary embodiment of a subscriber device according to the invention, in particular a mobile radio device for a radio communication system,

FIG. 2 shows a schematic and enlarged illustration of a cross section of the display device of the subscriber device according to FIG. 1, 3 shows a schematic and enlarged cross-sectional representation of a modification of the display device according to FIG. 2, and

FIGS. 4, 5 each show a further cross section of two further modifications of the display device according to FIG. 2.

Elements with the same function and mode of operation are provided with the same reference numerals in FIGS. 1 and 5.

FIG. 1 shows a schematic and enlarged plan view of a mobile radio device CP, in particular a mobile radio telephone or cell phone, as a subscriber device of a radio communication system. The mobile radio device CP has in its housing GH at least one transmitting / receiving unit which is operatively connected to at least one antenna via at least one data line. Such a transmitting / receiving unit SEE with associated data line DL to a transmitting / receiving antenna AT is shown in dash-dot lines in FIG. With the aid of this transceiver unit SEE and the assigned antenna AT, the mobile radio device CP can communicate with at least one base station and / or at least one other subscriber device of the radio communication system, that is to say send and / or receive messages or data. Via the air interface between the mobile radio device CP and that base station, which is preferably assigned to the respective stay / radio cell of the mobile radio device CP, the mobile radio device CP can also receive messages and / or data signals from at least one fixed network, from at least one server in the Internet or other storage medium in and / or outside of the mobile network are leaked. These data or message signals downloaded from the mobile radio network and / or a fixed network can be stored, for example, in a memory such as SP of the mobile radio CP. In this memory SP can additionally or irrespective of this, it is also expedient for the pre-implemented data to be permanently stored. The storage unit SB is coupled to the transmitting / receiving unit SEE for data exchange via a data line LEI. In particular, data for an operating menu of the mobile radio device can be stored in the storage unit SP. This menu data can be transmitted to a display device DP via a data line LE2. This display device DP visualizes the user menu for the mobile radio CP. In addition or independently of this, this display device DP also displays other data and / or message signals such as, for example, games, phone numbers of incoming or outgoing calls, software settings for operating the mobile radio device, for example volume of the ring tone, etc. With the help of a

Keyboard or a keyboard KB, the user can select certain menu items from the menu control of the mobile radio device CP and / or independently enter new data which are further processed by the memory / computing unit SP. The data input via the keyboard KB is usually shown graphically in the display device DP. The speech is usually input via a microphone MF, which is also shown in dash-dot lines in FIG. 1. Listening to calls is possible via a loudspeaker LS.

In order to improve the data input, selection of menu subdivisions of a software interface, and / or the selective control of the plurality of pixels of the display device DP compared to the mere keyboard input, at least one touch-sensitive film is attached and designed in this way at at least one point in the edge area of the display device that the originally available display area of the display device for the information display remains largely free, but the film itself serves as an input means for information. In other words, this means that only in the marginal area of the display device DP additionally at least one touch-sensitive film for controlling menu items and / or even individual pixels of the display device DP is provided. In the mobile radio device CP of FIG. 1, the approximately rectangular display device AF1 of the display device DP is framed in a U-shape by three sections WFL, WFR, WFU of a touch-sensitive film. When the mobile radio device CP is oriented in a user-oriented manner, there is a horizontally distancing, strip-shaped, touch-sensitive film WFU along the lower edge of the display field AF1, and also a vertically running, strip-shaped, touch-sensitive film WFL, WFR on the two adjoining long sides arranged. Each of these strip-shaped film parts WFL, WFR, WFU is essentially flat and rectangular. They can be applied individually or continuously in one piece to the outer surface of the display device DP in the edge zone area around its display window AF1. The three film sections or elements WFL, WFU and WFR frame the essentially rectangular display area AF1 approximately U-shaped, ie partially. The film section WFU forms the lower part of this imaginary U, while the two side parts WFL, WFR correspond to the legs of this imaginary U geometry. The side parts WFL, WFR run essentially perpendicular to the film section WFU. The U-shaped, here one-piece, touch-sensitive film BF of the mobile device CP is connected to the control / evaluation device CPU of the mobile device CP via a dash-dotted data line DLR. This control / evaluation device CPU is coupled to the memory unit SP for data exchange.

A capacitive, inductive and / or electrical resistance film is preferably used as the touch-sensitive film. It sets the one touched

Pressure into electrical signals SIR and forwards these to the control / evaluation device CPU. The tax- / Evaluation device CPU in turn generates control signals SIS with which the display device DP can be checked via a control line SL. In particular, a local movement with the finger and / or a pen on the surface of the respective film can be converted into a corresponding change in a display signal in the display window AF1 of the display device DP. For example, a cursor or pointer MZ can thereby be moved in the display of the display device DP. It is also possible to select a certain desired menu item from a given menu collection shown on the display on the touch-sensitive film by touching the film BF. This is illustrated in FIG. 1 in that three menu items MEP1, MEP2, MEP3 are shown positioned one below the other in the display of the display panel. The three menu items ME1, ME2, ME3 are indicated by dot-dash lines by rectangular frames. At the same time, the outline of a thumb is indicated by dash-dotted lines in the area of the right-hand film section WFR, which rests on the latter and can slide along there. In terms of data technology, the first menu item MEP1 is assigned to the local area POS, which is at approximately the same height as the location area POS. This logical assignment between the location positions on the touch-sensitive film BF and application software for user control of the mobile radio device, the user interface of which is displayed to the user with corresponding menu items in the display device DP, is stored in the control / evaluation unit CPU. If sufficient pressure is now exerted with the thumb, for example at the point POS of the film WFR, an electrical control signal SIR is generated, which is passed on to the computing / control unit CPU via the line DLR. This then controls the menu item MEP1 on the basis of the assignment known to it via the data line SL by means of a control signal. In general terms, symbols on the display of the display device can be uniquely assigned to location positions on the touch-sensitive film BF. This corresponds to the provision of so-called soft keys, ie a kind of keyboard replacement. Additional mechanical keys of a conventional keyboard for selecting additional menu items in the application software of the mobile radio device are therefore not required, which is very space-saving. In addition, handling is easier because the touch-sensitive film allows finger-sensitive input. The width of the film is preferably chosen to be between about 50% and 100% of the fingertip diameter of an average user. By simply sliding along and exerting slight pressure at the desired location position, control signals for actuating assigned, displayed menu items or selection criteria can be generated. Typing errors that can occur in a conventional mechanical cell phone keyboard due to unwanted pressing or pressing a wrong key are largely avoided. This new type of input by means of foil enables the mobile device to be operated properly on the train, while walking, in the car, etc., even where there is a risk of camera shake due to operator movements and input using conventional mechanical keys is too severely impaired or too tedious. In addition, the mobile radio device according to the invention can be operated much faster using such a touch-sensitive film.

FIG. 2 shows schematically and enlarged in cross section the display device DP of the mobile radio device CP from FIG. 1 along the section line AA ′ shown in dash-dot lines there, in particular perpendicular to the longitudinal extension of the housing GH. The display device DP has a display, in particular an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) LCD, with the aid of which symbols or characters are actually visualized. This display LCD is housed in the housing GH in a lower chamber VT1, which is approximately rectangular when viewed from above. This is covered on the outside by a transparent, approximately rectangular aperture CS corresponding size. The CS cover closes the recess fung VT1 is essentially flush with regard to the other design of the geometric shape of the housing surface.

The display LCD is preferably accommodated in the lower shell of the mobile radio MP. This is shown in FIG. 4, where the transparent cover or cover CS is integrated in the upper shell OS of the mobile radio device MP, while the display LCD is inserted in the lower shell US.

The display LCD is viewed from above in FIG. 2

(see FIG. 1) is essentially rectangular. It is preferably essentially centered, that is to say arranged in the center within the approximately rectangular recess VT1 with play on the side walls thereof.

In the area of the side edges of the display, the touch-sensitive film strips WFL, WFR, WFU are applied on three adjacent sides on the transparent panel CS. These coherent, continuous strips of the touch-sensitive film BF only cover the edge region of the transparent film, that is to say the transition region between the display edges and the inner walls of the recess VT1 towards the outside. For the viewer from the outside, only the display field AF1 of the LCD display is visible, while the other "interior" in the depression VTl remains largely invisible.

The film strips WFL, WFR of the display device DP from FIG. 2 extend essentially along the entire high side of the panel CS (see FIG. 1) substantially parallel to the longitudinal extent of the housing GH. Each individual touch-sensitive film is connected to the control / evaluation device CPU via one or more separate data lines. In detail, the right-hand, touch-sensitive film WFR is connected to the control / evaluation device CPU via an electrical data line DLR. The pressure signals exerted when touched are reflected in the film WFR Corresponding electrical signals SIR converted and forwarded to the control / evaluation device CPU for further processing. In a corresponding manner, pressure signals on the left-hand film WFL are converted into corresponding signals SIL and fed to the control / evaluation device CPU for evaluation via a data line DLL. The control / evaluation device CPU, in turn, generates control signals SIS from the electrical signals SIR, SIL obtained, with the aid of which, for example, the plurality of pixels of the display or menu items in the LCD display can be specifically controlled or checked via a control line SL. This makes it possible to convert a finger or a pen along the longitudinal extension of the respective touch-sensitive film strip, such as WFR, into a corresponding movement, for example of a mouse pointer or other display symbol in the display LCD.

Since the respective touch-sensitive film is only attached to the outer surface of the transparent panel CS, the originally available display area or the field of view AF1 of the LCD display remains largely free.

If appropriate, it may also be expedient to provide a strip-shaped touch-sensitive film only on two opposite edges of the transparent screen CS. The touch-sensitive film strip WFU can also be omitted if necessary. Then, only the two film strips WFL, WFR are applied to the outer surface of the transparent screen CS separately from one another along the opposite transverse sides of the transparent screen CS.

If necessary, it may already be sufficient to provide a single, touch-sensitive film, for example in strip form, only along a partial section or the total length of a single edge side of the display device DP. watching. For example, it may be particularly expedient to attach the strip-shaped film WFL only along the left edge of the transparent panel CS in order to provide an input control according to the invention.

It can be particularly advantageous to provide two touch-sensitive film strips arranged at right angles to one another in the edge region of the display device DP, such as, for example, WFR, WFU. One film strip such as WFR is then assigned to the ordinate of a Cartesian coordinate system, for example, while the other film strip such as WFU to the abscissa is assigned to this coordinate system. In this way, the user is able in a simple manner, for example by moving his thumb or forefinger along, to control a mouse pointer or another symbol in the display field of the display and to activate it if necessary. In this way, the ease of use when entering information or when selecting a menu item is significantly improved compared to mere keyboard input.

FIG. 3 shows a schematic and enlarged cross-sectional representation of a further display device DP *, which is modified compared to the display device DP of FIG. 2. In contrast to FIG. 2, the transparent cover CS as a front pane for mechanical protection of the actual display is now omitted. Rather, the display LCD alone is now embedded in a recess VT2 in the housing GH, such that its outer contour runs essentially in a straight line together with the outer contours of the adjacent housing parts. Its outer surface is therefore essentially in the same positional plane as the outer surface of the adjacent housing parts. The display LCD is preferably dimensioned such that it does not completely fill the recess or depression VT2 in the housing GH, but rather that a strip-shaped, recessed edge zone around the display LCD in the depression VT2 is inevitable. remains filled. The touch-sensitive film strips such as WFL *, WFR * are inserted into this gap between the side edges of the display and the side walls of the housing in the recess VT2. The respective touch-sensitive film WFL *, WFR * is therefore only attached to the display of the display device separately from it in or on the housing GH. The respective touch-sensitive film, such as WFL *, is preferably inserted into the gap between the side edge of the housing GH in the depression VT2 and the side edge of the display LCD, which overall results in an essentially straight outer contour. The housing parts adjoining the recess VT2, the respective touch-sensitive film such as WFL * and the display LCD thus form an essentially flat outer surface. In this embodiment too, the attachment variants of one or more touch-sensitive films described for FIGS. 1 and 2 can be used. In general, in the edge area next to the display LCD, at least one touch-sensitive film can be arranged at least at one point.

If appropriate, it can also be expedient to provide at least one touch-sensitive film directly on the freely accessible outer surface of the display LCD of FIG. 3 along a partial area or the total length of at least one side edge. In FIG. 3, for example, a touch-sensitive film WFL **, WFR ** (shown in broken lines) is applied in each case in strip form to the outer surface of the display LCD along a left and right edge zone.

Figure 5 shows, in a modification of Figure 4, that one or more touch-sensitive film strips such as WFL, WFR, if necessary, can also be integrated into the upper shell OS of the housing GH in at least one edge zone area next to the cover panel CS in such a way that they are freely accessible from the outside to- are common. As a result, the entire viewing window of the aperture CS remains uncovered. The actual display is in turn housed in the lower shell of the housing in accordance with FIG. 4. The touch-sensitive film strips can also be applied on top of the upper shell OS.

An input film, such as is customary for laptops, palm tops, etc., can be expediently used as the touch-sensitive film. Such glued-on input foils are usually designed as electrical resistance foils, which emit an electrical signal when they are touched as soon as they experience a corresponding punctiform pressure. Depending on the location of the pressure applied when touched, the generated signal can be evaluated electronically; touching at different locations can thus be converted into electrical signals that can be evaluated in different ways. As a result, movement on such touch-sensitive foils can even be registered and evaluated.

The additional attachment of at least one such touch-sensitive film, for example in strip form, on at least one side of the display device of a mobile radio device, in particular a cell phone, can advantageously be used as an input medium. Such touch-sensitive film strips are expediently arranged as user-friendly as possible on the display and can therefore also be identified very well from the display. This can be done, for example, with the aid of an arrow (see FIG. 1) that is shown in the display for each menu item. For example, in FIG. 1, the arrow AZPL visually points to the menu item MEP1 at the edge position POS. In particular, such a touch-sensitive film, for example in the form of a strip, can have a large number of switching points along its contour, which can also be marked variably from the display at the same time. This means that scrolling on the display at the same time as the finger is movement can be visualized on the touch-sensitive film strip. In this context, it can also be advantageous to provide the respective film strip with switching knobs so that a better clear assignment to the menu items that are shown on the display is provided in a simple manner.

If, in particular, two touch-sensitive strips arranged at right angles to one another are used in the edge areas of the display device, each point on the display can be used as an input point on the complete display in accordance with a matrix, such as the X and Y axes of a Cartesian coordinate system, and selected accordingly without touching the display glass itself. This facilitates the use of appropriately structured operating menus or games. With this arrangement, a so-called scrolling in the X and Y direction is even possible, that is, along the coordinate axes of a Cartesian coordinate system. The comfort can be increased even further if such touch-sensitive strips are arranged on the left and right as well as below the display. The strips can be composed of three individual parts or advantageously also of a single piece, which simplifies the electrical contacting. A frame-like, four-sided arrangement around the display is also possible.

In summary, the display device according to the invention with the at least one associated, touch-sensitive film has in particular the following advantages:

Menu items on the display can be touched directly, ie controlled (no scrolling necessary, additional softkey functions for operating the mobile device are possible without the mechanical softkey buttons that are otherwise required. The subscriber device according to the invention is preferably suitable for upcoming mobile radio generations, such as according to the UMTS standard (universal mobile telecommunication system), which allow the subscriber to choose from a large number of services, operating features, Internet access, etc.

Claims

Claims o

1. A subscriber device, in particular a mobile radio device (CP), of a radio communication system with a display device (DP) for displaying information, characterized in that at least one touch-sensitive film (WFL, WFR, WFU) is located in at least one location only in the edge region of the display device (DP) ) is attached in such a way that the display field (AFl) of the display device (DP) remains largely free for the display of information, and that the film (WFL, WFR, WFU) is designed as an input means for information.

2. Subscriber device according to claim 1, characterized in that the respective touch-sensitive film (WFL) is substantially strip-shaped.

3. Subscriber device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the respective touch-sensitive film (WFL, WFR, WFU) is applied externally only on an edge zone of the display device (DP).

4. Subscriber device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the respective touch-sensitive film (WFL *, WFR *) outside the display device (DP) is attached separately from this.

5. Subscriber device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that two touch-sensitive film strips (BFL, BFR) arranged at right angles to one another are provided in the edge region of the display device (DP).

6. Subscriber device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the edge region of the display device (DP) is framed in a U-shape by a single or more touch-sensitive foils (WFL, WFR, WFU).

7. Subscriber device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the respective touch-sensitive film (WFL) is operatively connected to an evaluation / computing unit (CPU) in such a way that menu items of a software interface or the pixels of the display device are displayed in the display device (DP) (DP) can be controlled selectively by touching the finger.

8. Subscriber device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a capacitive, inductive and / or electrical resistance film is used as the touch-sensitive film (WFL).

9. Subscriber device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the display device (DP) has a display (LCD) which is covered on the outside by a transparent screen (CS).

10. Subscriber device according to claim 9, characterized in that the respective touch-sensitive film (WFL) is provided on and / or next to the transparent panel (CS) in at least one edge zone.

11. Subscriber device according to one of claims 9 or 10, characterized in that that the display (LCD) is housed in the lower shell (US) of a mobile radio device, while the transparent cover (CS) sits in the upper shell (OS).