Apple patent is for a touch pad for handheld device
TweetFollow Us on Twitter

Apple patent is for a touch pad for handheld device

It's for a media device for storing and playing media such as audio, video or images, includes a memory device configured to store a plurality of media items in a digital format. The media device also includes a display configured to present a group of media items from the plurality of stored media items and to present a visual indicator that is capable of scrolling through the displayed group of media items in order to designate a specific media item from the group of media items. The media deice further includes a touch pad configured to receive input from a sliding motion or a tapping motion of a finger. The sliding motion of the finger controls the movement of the visual indicator through the group of media items. The tapping motion of the finger selects the specific media item that is designated by the visual indicator.

Here's Apple's summary of the invention: "In view of the foregoing, it would be desirable to provide a media player with a touch pad. It would also be desirable to provide a hand held device with a touch pad. It would additionally be desirable to provide a touch pad that can sense and resolve angular and/or radial positions of a moving object (e.g., finger) as it is moved in a rotating and/or radial manner across the touch pad. That is, a touch pad that is based on polar coordinates rather than Cartesian coordinates. It would be further desirable to transform the angular or radial movements into translational movements in the GUI of the display screen for scrolling and other related linear actions.

"The invention relates, in one embodiment, to a media player for storing and playing media such as audio, video or images. The media player includes a housing that encloses internally various electrical components that provide computing operations for the media player. The media player also includes a touch pad supported by the housing and configured to provide one or more control functions for controlling various applications associated with the media player.

"The invention relates, in another embodiment, to a pocket sized handheld computing device. The computing device includes computing hardware for providing at least one application. The computing device also includes a display screen configured to display text and graphics associated with the at least one application. The computing device additionally includes a touch pad configured to provide one or more control functions for allowing a user of the computing device to provide inputs to the at least one application.

"The invention relates, in another embodiment, to a touch pad assembly for use in a computing device. The touch pad assembly has a touch sensitive surface for accepting contact with an object. The touch pad assembly is configured to provide polar coordinate information of the object relative to the touch sensitive surface when the object is moved about the touch sensitive surface.

"The invention relates, in another embodiment, to a user input system having a touch pad, a display and a controller. The system is configured to convert angular or radial data associated with the touch pad into control inputs associated with the display. By way of example, the control inputs may correspond to translational movements associated with scrolling or other related linear actions.

"The invention relates, in another embodiment, to a handheld electronic device for storing and playing media such as audio, video or images. The handheld electronic device includes a memory device configured to store a plurality of media items in a digital format. The handheld electronic device also includes a display configured to present a group of media items from the plurality of stored media items and to present a visual indicator that is capable of scrolling through the displayed group of media items in order to designate a specific media item from the group of media items. The handheld electronic device further includes a touch pad configured to receive input from a sliding motion or a tapping motion of a finger. The sliding motion of the finger controls the movement of the visual indicator through the group of media items. The tapping motion of the finger selects the specific media item that is designated by the visual indicator.

"The invention relates, in another embodiment, to a battery powered handheld music player. The battery powered music player includes a housing that supports various electrical components that provide computing operations for the music player. The battery powered music player also includes a memory device disposed inside the housing and configured to store a plurality of songs in a digital format. The battery powered music player further includes a display screen provided at a first portion of a front surface of the housing and configured to present a list of songs from the plurality of stored songs and to present a visual indicator that is capable of linearly traversing through the list of songs in order to designate a specific song from the list of songs. The battery powered music player additionally includes a single integrated input arrangement provided at a second portion of the front surface of the housing. The single integrated input arrangement includes a plurality of input regions that are adjacent one another and that provide control functions for operating the music player. At least one of the input regions being implemented with a touch pad. Moreover, the battery powered music player includes audio output components for outputting music associated with a selected specific song from the list of songs.

"The invention relates, in another embodiment, to a battery powered handheld device capable of playing media. The battery powered handheld device includes a housing that supports various electrical components that provide computing operations for the battery powered handheld device. The battery powered handheld device also includes a memory device disposed inside the housing and configured to store a plurality of menu items. The battery powered handheld device further includes a display screen provided at a first portion of a front surface of the housing, and configured to present a list of menu items and to present a visual indicator that is capable of linearly traversing through the list of menu items in order to designate a specific menu item from the list of menu items. The battery powered handheld device additionally includes an input arrangement provided at a second portion of the front surface of the housing. The input arrangement includes an inner input region and one or more outer input regions that provide control functions for operating the battery powered handheld device. The outer input regions are disposed outside the inner input region. The inner input region includes at least a touch pad."

The inventors are Stephen Paul Zadesky and Tang Yew Tan. The graphic below is a perspective view of a media player, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention.

image

The “Macsimum MWSF 2007 Coupon Book” is available for download. You can find it [url=http://macosg.co.uk/MWSF_2008_Coupon_Book.PDF]here[/url] and print it as a PDF. It has discounts, special offers and promotions.

 
AAPL
$493.17
Apple Inc.
+16.49
GOOG
$611.46
Google Inc.
+1.61
MSFT
$30.77
Microsoft Corpora
+0.11
MacNews Search:
Community Search:

Ragdoll Blaster 3 Review
Ragdoll Blaster 3 Review By Carter Dotson on February 9th, 2012 Our Rating: :: A BLASTiPhone App - Designed for the iPhone, compatible with the iPad Ragdoll Blaster 3 is the newest, most colorful entry in the Ragdoll Blaster franchise from Backflip Studios.   | Read more »
Call of Cthulhu: The Wasted Land Review
Call of Cthulhu: The Wasted Land Review By Rob Thomas on February 9th, 2012 Our Rating: :: ANSWER THE CALLUniversal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad Battle foul cultists and star-spawned evils amid the gas-soaked trenches of World War I in this turn-based strategy game, courtesy of Red Wasp Design.   | Read more »
Tweetbot for iPad Review
Tweetbot for iPad Review By Carter Dotson on February 9th, 2012 Our Rating: :: WELL-BUILT MACHINEiPad Only App - Designed for the iPad Tweetbot for iPad is a Twitter client, created by design-conscious iOS developer Tapbots.   | Read more »
Tic Tac Viewr is a Minty Fresh Augmented...
Smartphones are changing how we see the world. With the cameras on them becoming more and more powerful, phones are now able to see our reality and present it back to us in an augmented form. It may ultimately just be an advertisement for their “Shake it Up” campaign, but Tic Tac mints’ new Tic Tic Viewr app still shows off how novel augmented... | Read more »
Huntville Review
Huntville Review By Kevin Stout on February 9th, 2012 Our Rating: :: GREAT MULTIPLAYERiPad Only App - Designed for the iPad While Huntville may not be the most enjoyable game, it has some awesome features that can’t be overlooked.   | Read more »
The 60beat GamePad Adds Support for More...
One of the concerns with 60beat’s GamePad has been whether the device would see enough support from developers to make it worthwhile. As promised by 60beat back when it was announced, February has rolled around and some titles are beginning to support the 60beat. | Read more »
Unstoppable Gorg Review
Unstoppable Gorg Review By Kevin Stout on February 9th, 2012 Our Rating: :: UNFORGETTABLEiPad Only App - Designed for the iPad Unstoppable Gorg is an unforgettable tower defense for the iPad with a 50s sci-fi theme and some incredibly unique gameplay elements.   | Read more »
Pirates of Black Cove: Sink ‘Em All Will...
Nitro Games have announced an iOS spinoff of their pirate-themed PC game Pirates of Black Cove, Sink ‘Em All – and they have an entertaining trailer to go along with it. This will take the ship combat gameplay of the PC version and make it the featured element, essentially a naval isometric shooter with cannons to fire, and booty to plunder. Well... | Read more »
Boy Loves Girl Review
Boy Loves Girl Review By Jennifer Allen on February 9th, 2012 Our Rating: :: TOUCHINGUniversal App - Designed for iPhone and iPad A charming and memorable game about a boy desperate to impress a girl.   | Read more »
Interview with Grubby Hands’s Company Di...
With Valentine’s Day just around the corner, we’ve been focusing on the romantic aspects of the App store. Alongside reviewing Boy Loves Girl, the tale of a boy keen to woo the lady in his life, we had the opportunity to interview Dr Danny Pearce, Company Director for the game’s British developer, Grubby Hands. One particular question that’s bound... | Read more »
All contents are Copyright 1984-2010 by Xplain Corporation. All rights reserved. Theme designed by Icreon.