United States Patent
`Allard et al.
`
`(15)
`
`[54]
`
`|
`
`PERSONAL COMMUNICATOR HAVING
`IMPROVED CONTRAST CONTROL FOR A
`LIQUID CRYSTAL, TOUCH SENSITIVE
`DISPLAY
`
`Inventors: David J. Allard, Boynton Beach;
`Brent A. Beatty, Boca Raton; Francis
`J. Canova, Jr., Boynton Beach;
`Bradley J. DeBauche, Delray Beach;
`Danile M. Hsieh, Coral Springs;
`Debra A. G. Johnson, Fort
`Lauderdale; Charles S. Lanier,
`Delray Beach; James R. Lewis,
`Coconut Creek; Byron K.Tiller,
`Boca Raton; William Villafana,
`Davie; Raymond L. Yee, Coral
`Springs, all of Fla.
`
`[73]
`
`Assignee:
`
`International Business Machines
`Corp., Armonk, NY.
`
`[21]
`
`Appl. No.: 146,342
`
`[22]
`
`Filed:
`
`Noy. 1, 1993
`
`[51]
`[52]
`
`[58]
`
`Tint, C16 ooo cceceescccesesceseeeceeeeesenerereens G09G 3/22
`US. Ch. cieccccccecccctecseeteeteeeeeeeneees 345/173; 345/63;
`345/147
`Field of Search ..............-.0 345/77, 63, 89, 147,
`345/173, 179; 178/18-20; 348/734, 738, 761,
`790, 791, 794
`
`U0AAA
`US005422656A
`[11] Patent Number:
`5,422,656
`[45] Date of Patent:
`Jun. 6, 1995
`
`
`[56]
`
`References Cited
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`5,029,982
`7/1991 NaSH cassssessessssesssceenseeeee 350/331 T
`
`5,119,204
`6/1992 Hashimoto etal... 348/794
`
`5,148,155
`9/1992 Martin et al. ese 345/179 X
`
`5,166,666 11/1992 Tanaka ...cesesssssesresesesseeeen 345/179
`5,260,697 11/1993 Barrett et al. vases 345/179 X
`
`FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`0354703
`9104461
`
`2/1990 European Pat. Off.
`4/1991 WIPO .
`
`.
`
`Primary Examiner—Ulysses Weldon
`Attorney, Agent, or Firm—George E. Grosser; Douglas
`R. McKechnie
`
`ABSTRACT
`[57]
`A personal communicator has a touch sensitive overlay
`coupled with a liquid crystal display (LCD). The com-
`municator has two external (non-screen) up/down but-
`tons for adjusting the volume of a cellular phone
`speaker. These volume buttons are also used to allow
`the user to adjust contrast. In accordance with one
`operation, contrast is adjusted in response to the user
`touching a predetermined area of the screen at the same
`time as one of the up or downbuttons is actuated. In
`accordance with another operation, contrast is adjusted
`in response to the userfirst pressing both speaker vol-
`ume buttons to enter a contrast adjustment mode, and
`thereafter pressing one or the other of such buttons, to
`increase or decrease contrast as desired.
`
`15 Claims, 5 Drawing Sheets 20
`
`1
`
`APPLE 1007
`
`1
`
`APPLE 1007
`
`

`

`Sheet 1 of 5
`
`5,422,656
`
`U.S. Patent
`
`June 6, 1995
`
`FIG. 7
`48
`
`PCMCIA CARD
`
`2
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`June 6, 1995
`
`Sheet 2 of 5
`
`5,422,656
`
`4~
`
`||
`
`0
`
`RF
`
`SPEAKER
`
`22
`
`| MICRO-
`|
`PHONE
`
`44
`
`FIG. 3
`
`98
`
`AUDIO
`MUX
`
`AUDIO
`PORT
`
`|
`
`|
`
`56|i | PHONE
`
`|
`[| porRT
`|
`an
`me
`‘a
`
`1||| L__PORT __|
`
`104-7
`| BEEPER
`|
`
`|
`
`SERIAL
`
`|
`
`94
`
`|
`
`| MEMORY 70
`
`oe
`
`MAIN
`
`SYSTEM
`
`761 BIOS|
`7e—L POST
`
`DISK ROM
`
`72\\
`79
`
`80
`81
`
`83
`
`74
`
`82
`
`TOUCH
`CONTROLS
`
`MAIN
`BATTERY
`
`BACKUP
`BATTERY
`
`3
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`June 6, 1995
`
`Sheet 3 of 5
`
`5,422,656
`
`FIG. 4A
`
`FIG. 4B
`
`| HELP
`
`number.
`
`Phoneoff: Turn off the
`phone power.
`Phone on: Tur on the |
`phone power.
`Dial: Dial the phone
`number.
`CLR: Clear the
`
`4
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`June 6, 1995
`
`Sheet 4 of 5
`
`5,422,656
`
`FIG. 5
`
`130
`
`
`
`PRESS HELP BUTTON
`AND ONE OF
`
`UP/DOWN BUTTONS
`
`START INTERRUPT
`i?
`
`HANDLER EVERY
`
`7.5 MS
` HELP
`
`
`BUTTON
`TOUCHED
`
` UP
`
`
`BUTTON
`PRESSED
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`ADJUST
`SPEAKER
`VOLUME
`DOWN
`
` INHIBIT HELP
`
`SET INHIBIT HELP
`SCREEN FLAG
`
`186
`
`DISPLAY
`HELP SCREEN|
`
`
` 158
`
`5
`
`

`

`U.S. Patent
`
`June 6, 1995
`
`Sheet 5 of 5
`
`5,422,656
`
`FIG. 6
`170|APPLICATION
`re] Fe
`
`
`NAVIGATOR
`
`174
`
`SCAN LOOP
`
`
`
` TIMEOUT
`REACHED
`
`?
`
`
`18
`
`|
`
`INCREASE
`TIMEOUT
`
`
`
`WASIT THE
`
`UP BUTTON
`
`
`
`
`DECREASE
`INCREASE
`|
`
`|_ CONTRAST
`
`194
`
`CONTRAST
`
`6
`
`

`

`1
`
`5,422,656
`
`2
`contrast control is needed to allow the user to adjust the
`contrast of the LCD to compensate for the extreme
`temperature effects. Such a contro] should also be us-
`able to allow a user to adjust contrast to suit personal
`preferences.
`This general problem is known in the art, but the
`solutions differ as to how contrast control is provided.
`U.S.Pat. No. 5,029,982-Nash discloses an “LCD CON-
`TRAST ADJUSTMENT SYSTEM”for a portable
`computer. The systern includes a user adjustable power
`supply whichthe usersets to achieve a desired contrast.
`A temperature sensor is used to generate a correction
`voltage that is added to the power supply voltage to
`maintain the user setting. The patent is silent as to the
`apparatus for adjusting the power supply. Presumably,
`adjustmentis done by a standard knob or external, man-
`ually actuated slider or rotary knob.
`The problem becomes more complex dueto a design
`restraint of limiting the external controls to the three
`buttons discussed above and not allowing any addi-
`tional external button or knob that would be dedicated
`to contrast control. Furthermore, the use of the touch-
`screen display itself to provide the contrast adjustment,
`appears to be ruled out since any simulated control
`buttons may not be visible under the extreme tempera-
`ture conditions.
`
`SUMMARYOF THE INVENTION
`
`PERSONAL COMMUNICATOR HAVING
`IMPROVED CONTRAST CONTROL FOR A
`LIQUID CRYSTAL, TOUCH SENSITIVE DISPLAY
`
`un
`
`RELATED APPLICATIONS
`
`The following applications are all assigned to the
`assignee of this invention, and cover different inven-
`tions related to a common development project:
`(1) Application serial number 07/976,127, filed Nov.
`13, 1992, for “NAVIGATOR APPLICATION
`FOR PERSONAL COMMUNICATOR”by B A.
`Beaity et al
`filed concurrently
`(2) Application serial number,
`herewith, for “PERSONAL COMMUNICATOR
`HAVING IMPROVED ZOOM AND PAN
`FUNCTIONS FOR EDITING IMAGES ON
`TOUCH SENSITIVE DISPLAY”, by D. J. Al-
`lard et al.
`filed concurrently
`(3) Application serial number,
`herewith, for “PERSONAL COMMUNICATOR
`HAVING COLLAPSIBLE KEYBOARD FOR
`EDITING DOCUMENTSON TOUCH SENSI-
`TIVE DISPLAY”, by D. J. Allard et al.
`The above related application (1) deals primarily
`with an operating system called the “Navigator” which
`Manages screen displays and controls switching be-
`tween the different communication and data processing
`functions. Related application (2) deals with managing
`the data presented on the screen of ona relatively small
`touch sensitive display and providing novel pan and
`zoom functions for viewing portions of a relatively
`large image. Related application (3) deals with manag-
`ing a relatively small touch sensitive display in which a
`simulated collapsible keyboard is used to edit/enter
`information in a data viewing area. The present applica-
`tion deals with an improved contrast control for a touch
`sensitive display.
`BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
`
`One of the objects of the invention is to provide an
`improved contrast control for an touchscreen display
`having an LCD subject to use under a wide range of
`temperature conditions,
`including those which may
`eliminate any visible contrast.
`Another object of the inventionis to provide a mobile
`personal communicator with an improved LCD-con-
`trast control.
`A further object of the invention is to provide a per-
`sonal communicator, which includes a cellular phone
`having external buttons for adjusting speaker volume,
`with a touchscreen display having an LCD and novel
`The invention was designed as part of a personal
`contrast control means.
`communicator that combines a cellular phone, a data
`Still another object of the invention is to provide a
`and fax modem, and a data processing system, into a
`personal communicator of the type discussed above,
`mobile, compact, lightweight, battery operated, hand-
`with a novel contrast control that solves and overcomes
`held device having a variety of data processing and
`the problems noted above.
`communication functions. These functions include op-
`A still further object of the invention is to provide a
`erating the device as a standard cellular phone; a calen-
`personal communicator, including a cellular phone and
`dar showingalist of things to do at various times; an
`a touchscreen display, with means for adjusting LCD
`address book for organizing names, addresses and
`contrast in response to the user pressing an external
`phone numbers; a calculator; a note pad allowing text
`phone speaker volume control button and a simulated
`entry and editing; and a communication devicefor fax,
`HELPscreen control button.
`E-mail, and various data bases and services.
`Another object of the invention is to provide a per-
`The personal communicatoris in the form of a hand-
`sonal communicator, including a cellular phone and a
`set having an earphoneor speakerat one end, a micro-
`touchscreen display, with means for adjusting LCD
`phoneat the other end, and a small touchscreen display
`contrast in response to the user pressing external phone
`between the speaker and the microphone. The display
`speaker volume control buttons in a particular sequence
`has a touch or pressure sensitive overlay, and a fine
`or fashion.
`pitch liquid crystal display (LCD) operated as a stan-
`Briefly, in accordance with the invention, a personal
`dard CGA display with a resolution of 640 x 200 pixels.
`communicator has a touch sensitive overlay coupled
`The touchscreen display provides a graphic user inter-
`face, input/output device for a variety of functions or
`with a liquid crystal display (LCD). The communicator
`applications.
`has two external (non-screen) up/down buttons for
`The general problem, which the invention addresses,
`adjusting the volumeof a cellular phone speaker. These
`is that due to the mobility of the communicator, the
`volume buttons are also used to allow the user to adjust
`contrast. In accordance with one embodiment of the
`LCD may be exposed to wide temperature extremes
`which affect the LCD contrast. Extreme cold renders
`invention, contrast is adjusted in response to the user
`the liquid crystal material opaque and extreme heat
`touching a predetermined area of the screen at the same
`makes the material transparent. Thus, some form of
`time as one of the up or downbuttonsis actuated. In
`
`7
`
`

`

`3
`accordance with another embodiment of the invention,
`contrast is adjusted in responseto the userfirst pressing
`both speaker volume buttons to enter a contrast adjust-
`ment mode, and thereafter pressing one or the other of
`such buttons, to increase or decrease contrast as desired.
`DRAWINGS
`
`Other objects and advantages of the invention will be
`apparent from the following description taken in con-
`nection with the accompanying drawings wherein:
`FIG. 1 is a plan view of a personal communicator
`embodying the invention;
`FIG. 2 is a longitudinal view through the personal
`communicator shown in FIG.1, schematically illustrat-
`ing various components;
`FIG.3 is a is a block diagram ofelectrical compo-
`nents of the personal communicator shown in FIG. 1;
`FIG.4 is an illustration of two exemplary user inter-
`face screens,useful in understanding a first embodiment
`of the invention;
`FIG. 5 is a flow chart illustrating contrast control
`operations ofthe first embodimentof the invention; and
`FIG.6 is a flow chart illustrating contrast control
`operations of a second embodimentof the invention.
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION
`
`General System Organization
`Referring now to the drawings, andfirst to FIG. 1, a
`personal communicator (PC) 10 is of the type generally
`set forth above and comprises a cellular phone and a
`complete data processing system further details of
`which are described below. PC 10 includes a housing or
`casing 12 having mounted along one side thereof a
`plurality of external, manually operated push buttons
`including an ON/OFF push button 14, an UP push
`button 16, and a DOWNpush button 18. PC 10 has a
`size facilitating usage as a hand-held device and buttons
`16 and 18 are located so that a right handed user can
`wrap his/her fingers around the rear of the casing and
`actuate the buttons to adjust speaker volume while the
`user is listening to the phone speaker. A pull-out an-
`tenna 20 is mounted at the top of the casing. A speaker
`22 is mounted near the top of the casing and a micro-
`phone 44 (FIG. 2) is mounted inside the bottom of the
`casing behind port holes 24. A touchscreen display 26 is
`mounted on the middle portion of the casing between
`the speaker and the microphone, and provides an input-
`/output (I/O) device and user interface for entering
`information into and receiving information, from the
`PCandthe data processing system therein. The general
`shape of PC 10 is similar to the shape of commercially
`available portable phones except that display 26 occu-
`pies the space normally used for a standard, electrome-
`chanical, twelve push-buttons, phone keyboard. Dis-
`play 26 includes a touch sensitive overlay 28 the outer
`surface of whichis flush with adjacent portions of cas-
`ing 12.
`Referring to FIG. 2, PC 10 has a plurality of minia-
`turized components mounted within casing 12. The
`components include speaker 22 and microphone 44
`spaced apart a distance corresponding to the distance
`between an ear and the mouthof an averagesize user to
`facilitate use as a phone. PC 10 is battery operated and
`includes a battery 46 detachably mounted on the back
`wall of the casing. A cellular phone transceiver 48 is
`mounted inside casing 12 and is connected to antenna
`20, the antennal being extensible outwardly from the
`casing for radio frequency (RF) communications. Dis-
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`40
`
`60
`
`65
`
`5,422,656
`
`4
`play 26 is rectangularly shaped and comprises a touch
`sensitive overlay 28 that overlies a liquid crystal display
`(LCD)38, and a backlight 40. The LCD has a viewing
`area of 36mm by 115mm andis operated as an all points
`addressable display. A planar card 50 is mounted within
`the centerof casing 12 and has mounted thereon various
`components including a power supply 52, a central
`processing unit (CPU)54 that forms the system control-
`ler (FIG. 3), a modem 56, and other components 58
`including a connectorfor connecting and supporting an
`optional Personal Computer Memory Card Interna-
`tional Association (PCMCIA)card 57 that conformsto
`published standards of the Association for a version 2.0
`card support.
`Referring to FIG. 3, system controller 54 is single
`chip implementation of a PC/XT class portable com-
`puter, the chip being a Model VG230 processor com-
`mercially available from Vadem,Inc., San Jose, Calif.
`Controller 54 comprises a plurality of subsystems in-
`cluding a microprocessor 60 for executing various pro-
`grams stored in the communicator, an LCD controller
`62, a COM1 communication port 64, and pinouts for
`connection to various devices the major ones of which
`are shownin FIG. 3. A bus 66 interconnects controller
`54 with a main memory68, a read only memory (ROM)
`70, a disk ROM 72, touch controls 74, and modem 56.
`ROM 70stores a basic input/output system (BIOS)
`76 and a poweronself test (POST) program 78, and is
`accessed in the usual manner. Disk ROM 72, however,
`is accessed, in a mannerthat simulates a disk drive, and
`stores files containing a disk operating system (DOS)
`79, the Navigator program 80 which is an extension to
`the DOS,application programs 81 that produce various
`communication and data processing functions in PC 10,
`and interrupt handlers 83 for handling interrupts spe-
`cific to the applications. Additional memory and appli-
`cation programs can be added by the PCMCIAcard.
`When the communicatoris turned on, POST program
`78 is executed. In response to a successful completion of
`the test, a kernel of DOS 79 is then loaded from disk
`ROM72 into main memory 68, for execution. DOS 79
`accesses disk ROM 72 and loads the Navigator and the
`application programs, as needed, into main memory 68
`for execution by microprocessor 60. The Navigator
`controls the information displayed on the LCD,paints
`the various screens associated with the application pro-
`grams on the LCD, and spawns new programsin re-
`sponse to user selection through actuation of the touch-
`screen interface.
`Communication functions are handled by RF deck 48
`and modem 56. RF deck is connected to a beeper 94
`that is sounded or actuatedto alert the user to an incom-
`ing call. Controller 54 is also connected to beeper 94
`and is able to selectively actuate the beeper such as
`when a screen button is selected. Deck 48 is also con-
`nected to an audio mux 96 which controls the routing of
`audio signals between deck 48, speaker 22, microphone
`44, modem 56, and audio port 98. Modem 56 is con-
`necied to a phone port 100 by means of which PC 10
`can be connected by a cable (not shown) into a phone
`network or system. Deck 48 is also connected to a mux
`102 that in turn is connected further to a serial port 104
`and to COM]port 64 of controller 54.
`Battery 46 is connected to power supply 52 and
`supplies the primary power for operating PC 10. A
`backup battery 82 is also connected to the power supply
`and supplies power to volatile memory when the main
`
`8
`
`

`

`rae 0
`
`—_ 5
`
`5
`battery is removed for replacement. Power supply 52 is
`connected to a backlight inverter 84 that,
`in turn,
`is
`connected to backlight 40 for controlling back lighting
`of the LCD to allow PC 10 to be operated under low
`light conditions. PC 10 preferably includes power man-
`agement functions (not shown) for conserving energy
`usage and prolonging battery life.
`LCD controller 62 is connected by a data bus 88 to
`supply data to LCD 38 to control the contents of the
`information displayed by the LCD. Controller 62 drives
`a contrast control signal (CCS) onto line 90 for trans-
`mission to power supply 52. In response to the CCS,
`powersupply 52 drives a contrast voltage signal (CVS)
`onto line 92 that determines the contrast of LCD 38.
`Touch overlay 28 is a resistive pressure sensitive
`overlay that produces an analog voltage signal indica-
`tive of an overlay location being pressed. Overlay 28 is
`connected to touch controls 74 that convert the analog
`signal into a digital signal representing the X,Y coordi-
`nates of the overlay location being pressed. Thedigital
`coordinates are then transmitted over bus 66 to control-
`ler 54 and memory 68 for use in determining the pur-
`pose of the location being pressed. Touch controls 74
`are further connected to multifunction logic 86. In re-
`sponse to sensing that the overlay 28 has been touched,
`controls 74 generate an interrupt request that is trans-
`mitted to logic 86 and logic 86 then transmitsthe inter-
`rupt request to controller 54. UP and DOWNbuttons
`16 and 18 are also connected to logic 86 which de-
`bounces any signals due to the mechanical nature and
`generates a button numberidentifying which button has
`been pressed. The numbersare stored in I/O ports (not
`shown) which can be polled by the system. Multifunc-
`tion logic 86 is also connected to RF deck 48 and audio
`mux 96 allowing controller 54 to communicate there-
`with and provide functions not done by the system
`controller, such functions not being germane to the
`invention.
`
`5,422,656
`
`6
`button or a non-button area. Asa fingeris slid across the
`overlay, new buttons are highlighted while the old
`buttons are returned to normal, non-highlighted condi-
`tions, thereby providing the user with visual feedback
`as to which button will be selected when the finger is
`removed from the overlay. Each application program
`stores one or more maps correlating the X,Y positions
`of the overlay with the different buttons. The Navigator
`scans the map,
`in response to receiving X,Y coordi-
`nates, to determine the function of a selected area or
`button, and take appropriate action.
`Screen 108 includes a simulated cellular phone key-
`board 120 and a data entry area 122 in which phone
`numbers are displayed as the respective digits of a
`phone numberare entered by the keyboard. Screen 108
`also comprises a row 111 of selectable buttons including
`a HELP button 112, a PHONEbutton 114, a TOOLS
`button 116, and a BACK button 118, located along the
`bottom edge ofthe screen. These four selectabie buttons
`are common to other menu screens and appear at the
`same locations on screen 110 and other portrait screens.
`PHONE button 114is used to transfer control to the
`phoneapplication from other applications, to allow the
`user to place or receive a phone call regardless of the
`current application. TOOLS button 116is used to trans-
`fer control to an office tools screen allowing the user to
`select another application. BACK button 118 is used to
`transfer control back to the previously selected
`screen(s).
`,
`Help screen 110 contains a description 124 of the
`functions of keys presented on screen 108, which is
`deemed the current screen at the time the HELP button
`thereof is selected. In addition to the commonselection
`buttons 112, 114, 116, and 118, screen 110 further con-
`tains selection buttons 126 and 128 for paging up and
`down between pages of the information presented on
`the Help screen.
`
`Operation
`As indicated above, when PC 10 is turned on, DOS
`79 and Navigator 80 are loaded into main memory 68,
`along with an application. By default, the first applica-
`tion to be loaded is a phone application that provides
`and controls cellular phone operations. Such applica-
`tion is executed and interacts with the Navigator pro-
`gram to create a Phone screen 108 on LCD 38, which
`screen is shown in FIG. 4. The various screens dis-
`played on LCD 38 are painted by Navigator 80 using
`information from the specific application program to
`which the screen is relevant. When being used as a
`cellular phone, UP/DOWNbuttons 16 and 18 may be
`used to adjust speaker volume. FIG. 4 also shows a
`Help screen 110 that is displayed when the HELP but-
`ton 112, of screen 108, is selected.
`The screens include selectable buttons having thin
`solid lines along their left and top edges and shadow
`lines along their bottom and right edges. The buttons
`also bear labels or icons, or both. A button is selected by
`a touch and release action. That is, a button is selected
`when the user touches overlay 28 in the area overlaying
`the button, and then releases the button by releasing the
`overlay. When a button is so touched,it is highlighted.
`Whena button is so selected, the system sounds beeper
`94 to provide audio feedback to the user. All buttons are
`also operated by a “last contact” method so that a user
`can easily recover from touching an unintended button
`by leaving a finger on the screen andsliding to another
`
`35
`
`65
`
`Contrast Control
`
`In accordance with the first embodiment of the in-
`vention, changes in LCD contrast are made in response
`to the user pressing and holding the HELP button while
`pressing one or the other of UP/DOWNbuttons 16 or
`18 until the desired contrast is achieved. The user usu-
`ally adjusts contrast when the communicator is first
`turned on at which time phone screen 108is displayed.
`The HELP button is located in a predetermined posi-
`tion at the lower left corner of the screen. With such
`knowledge, should the contrast be at the extremes of
`opacity or transparency where the user cannot see the
`button, the user can readily press the area of the overlay
`above the LCD area where the button would normally
`be visible, and adjust contrast.
`With reference to FIG. 5, assume that the communi-
`cator has just been turned on and the main routine is
`being executed at 131. Contrast adjustmentis then done
`in the following manner. First, at step 130, the user
`touches the overlay adjacent the location of the HELP
`button and simultaneously presses either the UP button
`16 or the DOWNbutton 18. When the touchscreen is
`pressed, an interrupt occurs every 7.5 ms and eachinter-
`rupt is handled in step 132 by an interrupt handler
`which performs the handling and then returns control
`to the main routine at 131. The pressing of HELP but-
`ton 112 is detected by using the X,Y positions transmit-
`ted when the touch screen is pressed, and looking up the
`Help function associated with the position. The UP/-
`
`9
`
`

`

`5,422,656
`
`5
`
`-
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`35
`
`40
`
`7
`DOWNbuttons are detected by polling the I/O ports
`for the numberassigned to each button.
`The handling routine decides in step 134 if the HELP
`button was touched. If such button was not touched
`(this might occur when the user wants to adjust the
`speaker volume), step 136 decides if the UP button 16
`was pressed. If so, as indicated by the “yes” decision in
`the drawing, then a one second timeout period is en-
`tered at 137. So long as the UP button remainspressed,
`the speaker volume is adjusted incrementally up at 146,
`butif the button is released for more than one second,
`the time out period expires and the process ends at 142
`with control being returned to the Navigator. If step
`136 results in a negative answer, step 138 decidesif the
`DOWNbuiton is pressed. If so, the speaker volumeis
`adjusted downwardly while the DOWN button is
`pressed. When the DOWNbuttonis released for more
`than one second, the adjustment then ends.
`If step 134 results in a “yes” determination, a contrast
`control mode of operation begins. Steps 148 and 152
`determine which of the UP/DOWNbuttons is being
`pressed or actuated, and adjusts the LCD contrast up or
`down in 150 or 154 dependent upon which button is
`pressed. Then step 158 sets an INHIBIT HELP
`SCREENflag and returns to the main routine. When
`either button is released for more than one second,
`timeout decisions 149 and 153 end the contrast control
`mode. Should decision 152 result in a “no” decision,
`step 155 decides if the INHIBIT HELP SCREEN flag
`has beenset. If not, step 156 displays the Help screen. If 30
`the flag has beenset, step 157 resets the flag prior to the
`next
`interrupt. If only the HELP button had been
`pressed in 130, each of decisions 148, 152, and 155 result
`in a negative decisions, and step 156 displays a Help
`screen upon release of the Help button at which timeit
`is considered “selected”.
`FIG.6 showsa second embodimentofthe invention
`in which contrast adjustment is madein responsetofirst
`pressing both UP/DOWNbuttons 16 and 18 to enter
`into contrast adjustment mode, and thereafter pressing
`only one of such buttons to select the direction of ad-
`justment. When the application is executing at 170 and
`reaches a point where a button inputis needed, control
`passes via 172 to the Navigator which performs a scan
`loop and senses touchscreen positions and polls button
`ports. If, for example, a user selects a single button then
`by 176, control is returned to the application programs
`to processthe selection. However,if, as part of the loop,
`step 178 detects that both buttons 16 and 18 are pressed
`simultaneously, the Navigator then enters into contrast
`adjustment mode,
`in which step 180 debounces the
`button signals, and step 182 resets a timeout to zero.
`Then, once the contrast mode is entered, the user can
`release one or both keys. If neither key is then pressed,
`a decision is made in 196 to determine if the time out
`period has expired. If so, control returns to the Naviga-
`tor, and the contrast adjustment mode is exited. If the
`timeout has not expired step 198 incrementally increases
`the timeout and a new decision 184 is madetosee if a
`button is yet pressed. If one button is pressed, step 186
`debouncesthe signal, and step 188 decidesif it was the
`up button or the down button, and steps 190 or 194
`would then adjust contrast according to which button.
`Step 192 would then reset the timeout and return to 184
`to continue the operation until the contrast adjustment
`modeis exited.
`The advantages of both embodiments are that each
`allows a user to adjust contrast without providing a
`
`8
`contrast button specifically dedicated to only adjusting
`contrast, and that each can be used when the LCD
`contrast is initially opaque or transparent and the user
`cannot read data on the LCD screen.
`It should be apparent to those skilled in the art that
`many changes can be madein the details and arrange-
`ments of steps and parts without departing from the
`scope of the invention as defined in the appended
`claims.
`0 Whatis claimed is:
`1. A mobile, compact personal communicatorinclud-
`ing a data processing system and a communication de-
`vice for performing a wide variety of data processing
`and communication functions comprising:
`a casing ofa size adapted to be held in the hand of a
`user;
`a touchscreen display mounted on said casing and
`including a liquid crystal display (LCD) coupled
`with a touch sensitive overlay;
`first and second selectively actuated push buttons
`mounted on said casing;
`a cellular phone mounted on said casing and includ-
`ing a speaker having adjustable volume;
`speaker volume control means connectedto said first
`and second buttons and to said speaker for increas-
`ing and decreasing said volume of said speaker in
`response to selective actuation of said first and
`second buttons respectively;
`processing means mounted in said casing, said pro-
`cessing means including screen management means
`for painting different screens on said display device
`with contrast control means; and said contrast con-
`trol means connected to said LCD for controlling
`contrast of said LCD,said contrast contro] means
`comprising:
`selectively actuated first means in a screen for
`switching said communicator into a contrast
`control mode of operation and converting the
`first and second buttons from speaker volume
`control to contrast control of the display in re-
`sponse to said first means being actuated,
`second means, operative during said contrast mode
`of operation, for increasing the contrast of said
`LCDin responseto said first push button being
`actuated, and
`third means, operative during said contrast mode of
`operation, for decreasing the contrast of said
`LCD in response to said second push button
`being actuated.
`2. A personal communicator in accordance with
`claim 1 wherein said first means comprises:
`a selectively actuated touchscreen button in a prede-
`termined location on said screen in said touch-
`screen display; and
`fourth means for switching into said contrast control
`mode in response to simultaneous actuation ofsaid
`touchscreen button and one of said push buttons.
`3. A personal communicator in accordance with
`60 claim 2 comprising:
`fifth means for displaying a Help screen on said dis-
`play in response to touching and releasing said
`touchscreen button at a time other than during said
`contrast control mode.
`:
`4. A personal communicator in accordance with
`claim 3 wherein:
`said touchscreen button is actuated by touching said
`touchscreen display, and said contrast control
`
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`10
`cates that one of said push buttons has been actu-
`ated.
`
`9
`mode is ended in response to said touchscreen dis-
`play being released; and
`said communicator further comprises means for in-
`hibiting display of said Help screen in response to
`releasing said touchscreen display to end said con-
`trast control mode.
`in accordance with
`$. A personal communicator
`claim 4 wherein said touchscreen button comprises a
`HELPbuttonin a screen displayed on said LCD and an
`area of said overlay immediately adjacent to said HELP
`button.
`6. A personal communicator in accordance with
`claim 2 comprising:
`said touchscreen button comprises a simulated button
`displayed in the screen on said LCD, and an area of
`said overlay located adjacent
`to said simulated
`button, said button being actuated by touching said
`area of said overlay;
`the data processing means mounted in said casing
`comprising:
`fifth means for indicating that said area of said
`overlay is being touched,
`polling meansfor respectively identifying said push
`buttons when such buttons are actuated,
`interrupt means for periodically generating an in-
`terrupt in response to said touchscreen display
`being touched, and
`interrupt handling means for handling said inter-
`rupt, said interrupt handling means being opera-
`live to scan said polling means and said fourth
`means and operate said second means and said
`third means when said touchscreen button is
`touched and said push buttons are selectively
`actuated.
`7. A personal communicator in accordance with
`claim 1 whereinsaid first means comprises fourth means
`responsive to simultaneous actuation of both said first
`push button and said second push button for switching
`into said contrast control mode, whereby contrast
`changes are effected in response to a sequenceoffirst
`actuating both push buttons and then selectively actuat-
`ing one of said first or second push buttons.
`8. A personal communicator in accordance with
`claim 7 comprising: timeout control means responsive
`to actuation of said push buttons to end said contrast
`control mode when neither push button has been actu-
`ated for a predetermined period of time.
`9. A personal communicator in accordance with
`claim 7 comprising:
`the data processing means mounted in said casing
`including polling meansfor identifying which push
`buttons have been actuated;
`said data processing means further comprising fifth
`meansfor selectively operating said first means and
`said second means when said polling means indi-
`
`40. A personal communicator including a data pro-
`cessing system, a communication device with one or
`more operating buttons, and a touch controlled liqui