Radiotelephones having contact-sensitive user interfaces and methods of operating same

Abstract

A radiotelephone includes a housing, and a radiotelephone communications transceiver and display are attached to the housing. A contact-sensitive transducer such as a resistive transducer, a capacitive transducer or a semiconductive transducer, is attached to the housing and produces an output signal that characterizes contact with a contact-sensitive surface of the contact-sensitive transducer. A controller is responsive to the output signal and operatively associated with the display and the radiotelephone communications transceiver, and controls at least one of the display and the radiotelephone communications transceiver according to the output signal of the contact-sensitive transducer. The controller, responsive to the contact-sensitive transducer, may determine a position of contact along an axis of the contact-sensitive transducer. A graphical object is selectively displayed based on the determined position of contact to thereby identify the graphical object, e.g., by highlighting one of a plurality of displayed graphical objects or by displaying a cursor that indicates one of a plurality of displayed graphical objects. In yet another embodiment, the controller is configured to cause the display or the radio-telephone communications transceiver to perform a plurality of actions. An action of the plurality of actions may be associated with an identified graphical object, and the controller may initiate the action associated with the identified graphical object in response to, for example, detection of a momentary contact of an object with the contact-sensitive transducer.

Description

This is a continuation application of Application Ser. No. 09/001,173, filed Dec. 30, 1997
T₂=k(R_L2+R_Lc); and
T₃=k(R_L1+R_L2), where
k=−Cln(1−V₁/V_cc).
These equations may be solved for R_L1, R_L2, and R_Lc, and the position of contact P can be determined as:

$P=\frac{R_{L_1}}{R_{L_1}+R_{L_2}}.$
Those skilled in the art will appreciate that similar operations may be performed to determine a position of contact with the right contact strip 150a. It will also be understood that by application of appropriate control signals to the multiplexers 420a, 420b, either one of the transducers 150a, 150b may be disconnected from the capacitor C, effectively preventing input from the disconnected transducer.

FIG. 6A illustrates another embodiment of the present invention, specifically a circuit which may be used in conjunction with the control circuit illustrated in FIG. 4 to control power transfer from a power supply, e.g., a battery supplying a battery voltage V_bat, to the microcontroller 410 and/or other circuits in a radiotelephone based on input signals from a contact-sensitive transducer. Additional switches 610a-610d may be provided in the signal paths connecting the nodes R_c, L_c, R₁, L₁. These switches may be used to connect the associated nodes to the control input for the switch 620 via diodes D₁, D₂ (in the case of nodes R_c, L_c) and to the battery voltage V_bat (in the case of nodes R₁, L₁) in an “off” state, as shown. In the off state, a power switch 620 disconnects the battery voltage V_bat from a regulator 630 that provides a regulated power supply voltage V_cc to the microcontroller 410.

When either of the right or the left strips 150a, 150b is pressed such that a voltage is produced sufficient to overcome the drop across the associated diode D₁, D₂ and the input activation voltage of the power switch 620, the power switch 620 closes and applies the battery voltage V_bat to the regulator 630. Power is thus provided to the microcontroller 410. The microcontroller may then latch the power switch 620 into a sustained “on” state by driving a third diode D₃ and by applying control signals to the switches 610a-610d to connect the nodes R_c, L_c, R₁, L₁ the appropriate multiplexers as illustrated in FIG. 4. The microcontroller 410 may return the power switch 620 to the “off” state by inverting the logic on the line driving the third diode D₃. Because a specific voltage is needed to activate the power switch 620, accidental activation of the radiotelephone can be prevented. According to another embodiment illustrated in FIG. 6B, the circuit of FIG. 6A may be modified such pressure on both of the strips 150a, 150b is required to power up the regulator 630. When the right strip 150b is pressed, the battery voltage V_bat is applied from R₁ and R_c to L₁. If the left strip 150a is simultaneously pressed, the voltage is also applied to the control input of the power switch 620 through D₂. Otherwise, the operation of the circuit of FIG. 6B is similar to that described with respect to the circuit of FIG. 6A.

The conceptual illustrations of FIGS. 7A-7B and the flowchart illustrations of FIGS. 8-10 illustrate methods and apparatus for determining contact with a contact-sensitive transducer to identify graphical objects on a display and for initiating functions associated with the identified objects. It will be understood that blocks of the flowchart illustrations, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations, can be implemented by computer program instructions which may be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine such that the instructions which execute on the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus create means for implementing the functions specified in the flowchart block or blocks. The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer or other programmable apparatus to produce a computer implemented process such that the instructions which execute on the computer or other programmable apparatus provide steps for implementing the functions specified in the flowchart block or blocks. Accordingly, blocks of the flowchart illustrations support combinations of means for performing the specified functions and combinations of steps for performing the specified functions. It will also be understood that each block of the flowchart illustrations, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustration, can be implemented by special purpose hardware which performs the specified functions or steps, or combinations of special purpose hardware such as microcontrollers, microprocessors, digital signal processing (DSP) chips, application-specific integrated circuits (ASICS) or the like, which execute computer instructions.

FIGS. 7A-7C illustrate operations for controlling display of an image on a radiotelephone display according to another aspect of the present invention, in particular, operations for “scrolling” graphical objects, here shown as rows, on a radiotelephone display 120, and for initiating a function associated with a graphical object identified on the display 120. At least one graphical object is displayed on a radiotelephone display 120. As illustrated in FIG. 7B, a user makes a swiping or displacement motion in contact with a contact-sensitive strip 150 mounted on a side of the radiotelephone 100, causing the display rows to “scroll” along the direction of the user's movement. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that “scrolling” in a generic sense refers to selective display of a row on the display 120, and may be encompass a number of different graphical operations. For example, as depicted in FIGS. 7A-7C, a plurality of rows may be displayed on the display 120, and a selected one of displayed rows may be highlighted or otherwise identified in response to the user input. Different rows may be sequentially displayed on the display 120, giving the appearance of a scrolling movement. In addition, actions such as scrolling by sequentially highlighting rows or other graphical objects or moving a cursor to sequentially indicate rows or other graphical objects responsive to a swiping motion on the transducer 150 may also be employed. As illustrated in FIG. 7C, a function associated with an item identified by, for example, highlighting or cursor positioning, is initiated with the user performs a predetermined number of momentary contacts or taps on the contact-sensitive transducer 150, as illustrated in FIG. 7C. These momentary contacts or taps may occur anywhere along the contact-sensitive transducer 150. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that a number of variations on the above-described operations may be performed within the scope of the present invention. For example, instead of providing multi-graphical object display, the display 120 may be configured to display only one row at a time, sequentially displaying rows stored in memory to give the appearance of scrolling.

FIG. 8 illustrates exemplary operations for detecting a swiping contact with a contact-sensitive transducer (Blocks 800 et seq.). The transducer output signal is sampled (Block 805). If the sample indicates contact of an object with the transducer, a starting position P_start of contact is next determined (Blocks 810-815). The transducer output signal is again sampled (Block 820), and if contact is still detected, an ending position P_end is determined (Blocks 825-830). A distance D is then determined from the starting and ending positions P_start, P_end (Block 835). If the magnitude of the distance D is less than a minimum distance D_min, the movement is disregarded and another sample obtained (Blocks 840-820). If the distance D is sufficiently large, however, the controller determines the direction of the movement by looking at the sign of the distance D (Block 845). If the distance D is negative, the display is scrolled in a first direction (Block 850a); if the distance D is positive, however, the display is scrolled in a second direction (Block 850b). The ending position is then used as a new starting position (Block 855).

FIG. 9 illustrates exemplary operations (Blocks 900 et seq.) for detecting a momentary contact or tap on a contact-sensitive transducer according to another aspect of the present invention. Generally speaking, a momentary contact or tap is detected by satisfaction of a series of three conditions: (1) absence of contact with the contact-sensitive transducer; (2) contact with the contact-sensitive transducer; and (3) termination of contact with the contact-sensitive transducer within a predetermined time period. In the exemplary operations shown, a timer T₁(for example, a software timer implemented in the microcontroller 410 of FIG. 4) is initialized (Block 905). The output signal from a contact-sensitive transducer is sampled (Block 910). If the sampled output signal indicates that an object is in contact with the transducer, the output signal is repeatedly sampled until contact is not detected (Blocks 910-915). Once no contact is detected, the first condition for a tap is satisfied. A second round of sampling is then initiated, with the output being sampled until contact is again detected (Blocks 920-925). Once contact is again detected, the second condition for a tap is satisfied. The timer T₁ is then started (Block 930). As long as contact continues and the time measured by the timer T₁ is less than a predetermined maximum time interval T_max, the output of the transducer is repeatedly sampled (Blocks 935-945). If contact ceases before the timer T₁ exceeds the maximum time T_max, the third condition for a tap has been satisfied, and a valid single tap has been detected (Block 550). However, if the timer T₁ exceeds the maximum time T_max before contact ceases, the timer T₁ is reinitialized (Block 905) and the detection process begins anew.

FIG. 10 illustrates operations (Block 1000 et seq.) for detecting a double tap on the contact-sensitive transducer. A second timer T₂ is initialized (Block 110). Once a valid single tap is detected, the second timer T₂ is started (Blocks 1015-1020). As long as the time measured by the second time T₂ remains less than a second maximum time interval T_2max, and no contact with the transducer is detected, the transducer is repeatedly sampled (Blocks 1025-1035). If the timer has yet to expire when contact is detected, it is next determined whether the contact constitutes a valid single tap (Block 1040). If a valid single tap is detected, a valid double tap has occurred (Block 1045). If not, the second timer T₂ is reinitialized (Block 1005), starting the detection process anew.

FIG. 11 illustrates another embodiment according to the present invention, a radiotelephone 100′ which includes a horizontally-arranged contact-sensitive transducer 150c, here shown mounted on a front fact of the radiotelephone housing 110, near the display 120. In a manner similar to that described with respect to the side-mounted transducers of FIG. 3, the transducer 150c may be used to selectively display column-organized graphical objects on the display 120 based on contact of an object, e.g., a finger or stylus, with the contact-sensitive transducer 150c. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 11, icons 1110 may be displayed in columns on the display 120, and may be selectively identified according to contact with the contact sensitive transducer 150c, using apparatus and operations similar to those described with respect to FIGS. 4-10. An icon may be identified by several techniques, such as by highlighting or by displaying a cursor 1120 adjacent the identified icon. A function associated with the identified icon may be selected using apparatus and operations manner similar to those described with respect to FIGS. 7A-7C. Those skilled in the art will also appreciate that other embodiments may include side-mounted contact-sensitive strips such as those illustrated in FIG. 3 in combination with a horizontally-mounted contact-sensitive strip as illustrated in FIG. 11 to provide both row and column-oriented controls for the display 120.

In the drawings and specification, there have been disclosed typical embodiments of the invention and, although specific terms are employed, they are used in a generic and descriptive sense only and not for purposes of limitation, the scope of the invention being set forth in the following claims.

Claims

1. A radiotelephone, comprising:

a housing having a front surface, a rear surface and first and second side surfaces adjoining respective opposite edges of the front surface and extending from the respective opposite edges of the front surface to respective opposite edges of the rear surface, the housing configured to be held in a user's hand such that the rear surface confronts the user's palm;

a radiotelephone communications transceiver, supported by the housing;

a display, supported by the housing, that displays an image at the front surface of the housing;

a contact-sensitive transducer, supported by the housing and having a contact-sensitive surface disposed at at least one of the first and second side surfaces said front surface, which produces an output signal that characterizes in response to moving contact of an object along the contact-sensitive surface of the contact-sensitive transducer; and

a controller, responsive to the output signal and operatively associated with the display and the radiotelephone communications transceiver, which controls at least one of the display and the radiotelephone communications transceiver according to and which scrolls displayed rows along an axis of the display based upon the output signal of the contact-sensitive transducer, the controller having a first mode wherein the controller is responsive to contact with the contact-sensitive transducer and a second mode wherein the controller is unresponsive to contact with the contact-sensitive transducer, the second mode being entered in response to an input from a user.

2. A radiotelephone according to claim 1, wherein the contact-sensitive surface, when the housing is held within the user's hand such that the rear surface confronts the user's palm, confronts a finger or a thumb of the holding hand.

3. A radiotelephone according to claim 1, wherein the controller is operative to selectively display an image on the display according to the output signal of the contact-sensitive transducer.

4. A radiotelephone according to claim 3, wherein the controller is operative to selectively display a graphical object on the display according to the output signal of the contact-sensitive transducer.

5. A radiotelephone according to claim 4, wherein the controller is operative to selectively display a row on the display according to the output signal of the contact-sensitive transducer.

6. A radiotelephone according to claim 4, wherein the controller is operative to display a plurality of graphical objects on the display and to identify one of the displayed plurality of graphical objects responsive to the output signal of the contact-sensitive transducer.

7. A radiotelephone according to claim 4, wherein the controller is operative to determine a position of contact of an object along an axis of the contact-sensitive transducer responsive to the output signal of the contact-sensitive transducer, and to selectively display a graphical object based on the determined position of contact to thereby identify the graphical object.

8. A radiotelephone according to claim 7, wherein the controller is operative to highlight one of a plurality of displayed graphical objects responsive to the output signal of the contact-sensitive transducer.

9. A radiotelephone according to claim 7, wherein the controller is operative to display a cursor that indicates one of a plurality of displayed graphical objects responsive to the output signal of the contact-sensitive transducer.

10. A radiotelephone according to claim 7, wherein the controller is operative to cause at least one of the display or the radiotelephone communications transceiver to perform a plurality of actions, wherein an action of the plurality of actions is associated with the identified graphical object and wherein the controller is further operative, responsive to the contact-sensitive transducer, to initiate the action associated with the identified graphical object.

11. A radiotelephone according to claim 10, wherein the controller is operative, responsive to the contact-sensitive transducer to detect a momentary contact with the contact-sensitive transducer and to initiate the action associated with the identified graphical object responsive to detection of the momentary contact.

12. A radiotelephone according to claim 11, wherein the controller is operative to initiate the action in response to detection of a plurality of momentary contacts occurring within a predetermined time interval.

13. A radiotelephone according to claim 1, wherein the contact-sensitive transducer further comprises an elongate contact-sensitive strip disposed at at least one of the first and second side surfaces of the housing.

14. A radiotelephone according to claim 13, wherein the contact-sensitive transducer further comprises a first contact-sensitive strip mounted at the first side surface and a second contact-sensitive strip mounted at the second side surface.

15. A radiotelephone according to claim 1, wherein the contact-sensitive transducer comprises one of a resistive transducer, a capacitive transducer and a semiconductive transducer.

16. An apparatus, comprising:

a housing having a front surface, a rear surface and first and second side surfaces adjoining respective opposite edges of the front surface and extending from the respective opposite edges of the front surface to respective opposite edges of the rear surface, the housing configured to be held in a user's hand such that the rear surface confronts the user's palm;

a display, supported by the housing, that displays an image at the front surface of the housing;

a contact-sensitive transducer, supported by the housing and having a contact-sensitive surface disposed at at least one of the first and second side surfaces on said front surface, which produces an output signal that characterizes moving contact of an object along the contact-sensitive surface of the contact-sensitive transducer; and

a controller, selectively responsive to the output signal and operatively associated with the display, which is configured to control scroll displayed rows along an axis of the display according to based on the output signal of the contact-sensitive transducer, the controller having a first mode wherein the controller is responsive to contact with the contact-sensitive transducer and a second mode wherein the controller is unresponsive to contact with the contact-sensitive transducer, the second mode being entered in response to an input from a user.

17. An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the contact-sensitive surface, when the housing is held within the user's hand such that the rear surface confronts the user's palm, confronts a finger or a thumb of the holding hand.

18. An apparatus according to claim 16, wherein the controller is operative to selectively display an image on the display responsive to the output signal of the contact-sensitive transducer.

19. An apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the controller is operative to selectively display a graphical object on the display responsive to the output signal of the contact-sensitive transducer.

20. An apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the controller is operative to selectively display a row on the display responsive to the output signal of the contact-sensitive transducer.

21. An apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the controller is operative to display a plurality of graphical objects on the display, and to identify one of the displayed plurality of graphical objects responsive to the output signal of the contact-sensitive transducer.

22. An apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the controller is operative, responsive to the contact-sensitive transducer, to determine a position of contact along the axis of the contact-sensitive transducer, and to selectively display a graphical object based on the determined position of contact to thereby identify the graphical object.

23. An apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the controller is operative to highlight one of a plurality of displayed graphical objects responsive to the output signal of the contact-sensitive transducer.

24. An apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the controller is operative to display a cursor that indicates one of a plurality of displayed graphical objects responsive to the output signal of the contact-sensitive transducer.

25. An apparatus according to claim 24, wherein the controller is operative, responsive to the contact-sensitive transducer, to scroll displayed rows along an axis of the display responsive to the output signal of the contact-sensitive transducer.

26. An apparatus according to claim 25, wherein the controller is operative, responsive to the output signal of contact-sensitive transducer, to detect moving contact with the contact-sensitive transducer along the axis of the contact-sensitive transducer, and to scroll displayed rows along the axis of the display based on the detected moving contact.

27. An apparatus according to claim 19, wherein the contact-sensitive transducer further comprises an elongate contact-sensitive strip disposed at at least one of the first and second side surfaces of the housing.

28. An apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the contact-sensitive transducer comprises a first contact-sensitive surface mounted at the first side surface and a second contact-sensitive strip mounted at the second side surface.

29. An apparatus according to claim 22, wherein the contact-sensitive transducer comprises one of a resistive transducer, a capacitive transducer and a semiconductive transducer.

30. An apparatus, comprising:

a housing having a front surface, a rear surface and first and second side surfaces adjoining respective opposite sides of the front surface and extending from the respective opposite sides of the front surface to respective opposite sides of the rear surface, the housing configured to be held in a user's hand such that the rear surface confronts the user's palm;

a display, supported by the housing, that displays an image at a front surface of the housing;

a contact-sensitive transducer, supported by the housing, which produces an output signal that characterizes in response to moving contact of an object along the contact-sensitive surface of the contact-sensitive transducer; and

a controller, responsive to the output signal and operatively associated with the display, which scrolls displayed rows along an axis of the display based on the output signal of the contact-sensitive transducer, the controller having a first mode wherein the controller is responsive to contact with the contact-sensitive transducer and a second mode wherein the controller is unresponsive to contact with the contact-sensitive transducer, the second mode being entered in response to an input from a user.

31. An apparatus according to claim 30, further comprising a radiotelephone communications transceiver supported by the housing, and wherein the controller is operative to control the radiotelephone communications transceiver according to the output signal.

32. An apparatus according to claim 30, wherein the contact-sensitive transducer comprises a contact-sensitive strip disposed at side surface of the housing, the side surface disposed adjacent the front surface and inclined away from the front surface.

33. In an apparatus including a housing having a front surface, a rear surface and first and second side surfaces adjoining respective opposite edges of the front surface and extending from the respective opposite edges of the front surface to respective opposite edges of the rear surface, a display that displays an image at the front surface, and a controller that controls the display, a method of providing user input comprising the steps of:

holding the housing in a user's hand such that the rear surface confronts the user's palm and the display projects away from the user's palm; and

providing user input to the controller using a contact-sensitive transducer having a contact-sensitive surface disposed at at least one of the first and second side surfaces said front surface of the housing, the transducer being operable to produce an output signal that characterizes contact with the contact-sensitive surface of the contact-sensitive transducer; and

providing user input to the controller to select a first mode wherein the controller is responsive to contact with the contact-sensitive transducer and a second mode wherein the controller is unresponsive to contact with the contact-sensitive transducer, the second mode being entered in response to a user input.

34. A method according to claim 33, wherein the step of providing comprises the step of contacting the contact-sensitive transducer with a thumb or finger of the holding hand while holding the housing in the user's hand such that the rear surface confronts the user's palm and the display projects away from the user's palm.

35. A method according to claim 33, wherein the apparatus is a radiotelephone that further includes a radiotelephone communications transceiver, wherein the controller is operative to control the radiotelephone communications transceiver, and wherein the step of providing user input comprises the step of controlling at least one of the radiotelephone communications transceiver and the display according to the output signal of the contact-sensitive transducer.

36. A method according to claim 33, wherein the step of controlling comprises the step of selectively displaying an image or the display according to the output signal of the contact-sensitive transducer.

37. An apparatus according to claim 30, wherein the surface of the contact-sensitive transducer, when the housing is held within the user's hand such that the rear surface confronts the user's palm, can be engaged by the thumb of the holding hand.

38. An apparatus according to claim 30, wherein the surface of the contact-sensitive transducer, when the housing is held within the user's hand such that the rear surface confronts the user's palm, can be engaged by a finger of or other object held in the other hand of the user than the holding hand.

39. An apparatus according to claim 38, wherein the contact-sensitive transducer is disposed on the front surface of the housing.

40. An apparatus according to claim 39, wherein the contact-sensitive transducer is an elongate strip.

41. An apparatus according to claim 30, wherein the contact-sensitive transducer comprises one of a resistive transducer a capacitive transducer and a semiconductive transducer.

42. An apparatus according to claim 30, which also includes additional user input interface devices for the apparatus on the front surface of the housing.

43. An apparatus according to claim 42 wherein the additional interface devices are contact-sensitive.

44. An apparatus according to claim 43, wherein an output signal is produced in response to moving contact with the additional contact-sensitive transducer along the axis of the contact-sensitive transducer.

45. An apparatus according to claim 30, wherein the output signal is produced in response to moving contact with the contact-sensitive transducer along the axis of the contact-sensitive transducer.

46. An apparatus according to claim 30, wherein the output signal is produced in response to moving contact with the contact-sensitive transducer along the surface of the contact-sensitive transducer.

47. An apparatus according to claim 30 further comprising:

a second contact-sensitive transducer, supported by the housing, which produces a second output signal that characterizes contact of an object along the contact-sensitive surface of the second contact-sensitive transducer, and

a controller, responsive to the second output signal for controlling a function of the apparatus.

48. An apparatus according to claim 47, wherein the second output signal is produced in response to detection of momentary contact with said second contact-sensitive transducer.

49. An apparatus according to claim 47, wherein the second output signal is produced in response to detection of a predetermined number of momentary contacts with said second contact-sensitive transducer within a predetermined time interval.

50. An apparatus according to claim 30, wherein said controller scrolls the displayed rows by identifying successive ones of the rows displayed along the axis of said display based on the output signal from said transducer.

51. An apparatus according to claim 50, wherein the direction of scroll is transverse to the direction that said rows extend across the display.

52. An apparatus according to claim 50, wherein said rows consist of alphanumeric characters comprising menu selections.

53. An apparatus according to claim 50, wherein said controller identifies successive ones of the rows displayed along the axis of said display by highlighting successive said rows.

54. An apparatus according to claim 30 further comprising a power supply disposed inside said housing.

55. An apparatus according to claim 54, wherein said power supply comprises a battery.

56. An apparatus according to claim 55 further comprising a circuit which controls power transfer from the power supply too another circuit based on the output signal of the contact-sensitive transducer.

57. An apparatus according to claim 30 further comprising a mode of operation wherein the controller is unresponsive to contact with the contact-sensitive transducer.

58. An apparatus for providing user input to a hand-held electronic device, comprising:

a housing for containing the electronics for performing the intended user functions of the device, said housing having a front surface, a rear surface and first and second side surfaces adjoining respective opposite sides of the front surface and extending from the respective opposite sides of the front surface to respective opposite sides of the rear surface, the housing configured to be held in a user's hand such that the rear surface confronts the user's palm;

a display located on the front surface of the housing for displaying user-interface information for the electronic device, said information including an image of rows of menu selectable items;

a contact-sensitive transducer, supported by the front surface of the housing, which produces an output signal that characterizes moving contact of an object along the contact-sensitive surface of the contact-sensitive transducer; and

a controller, responsive to the output signal and operatively associated with the display, which scrolls displayed rows of said menu selectable items along an axis of the display based upon the output signal of the contact-sensitive transducer to enable selection of a particular item by the user to provide input to the electronic device, the controller having a first mode wherein the controller is responsive to contact with the contact-sensitive transducer and a second mode wherein the controller is unresponsive to contact with the contact-sensitive transducer, the second mode being entered in response to an input from a user.

59. An apparatus according to claim 58, wherein the displayed rows of menu selectable items comprise a plurality of items in a list.

60. An apparatus according to claim 58 further comprising a power supply disposed inside said housing.

61. An apparatus according to claim 60, wherein said power supply comprises a battery.

62. An apparatus according to claim 61 further comprising a circuit which controls power transfer from the power supply to another circuit based on the output signal of the contact-sensitive transducer.

63. An apparatus according to claim 58 further comprising a mode of operation wherein the controller is unresponsive to contact with the contact-sensitive transducer.

64. An apparatus, comprising:

a housing having a front surface and a rear surface, the housing configured to be held in a user's hand such that the rear surface confronts the user's palm;

a display, supported by the housing, that displays an image at a front surface of the housing;

a contact-sensitive transducer, supported by a front surface of the housing, which produces an output signal that characterizes moving contact of an object along the contact-sensitive surface of the contact-sensitive transducer; and

a controller, responsive to the output signal and operatively associated with the display which scrolls displayed rows along an axis of the display based on the output signal of the contact-sensitive transducer, the controller having a first mode wherein the controller is responsive to contact with the contact-sensitive transducer and a second mode wherein the controller is unresponsive to contact with the contact-sensitive transducer, the second mode being entered in response to user input.

65. An apparatus according to claim 64, wherein the surface of the contact-sensitive transducer, when the housing is held within the user's hand such that the rear surface confronts the user's palm, can be engaged by the thumb of the holding hand.

66. An apparatus according to claim 64, wherein the surface of the contact-sensitive transducer, when the housing is held within the user's hand such that the rear surface confronts the user's palm, can be engaged by a finger of or other object held in the other hand of the user than the holding hand.

67. An apparatus according to claim 66, wherein the contact-sensitive transducer is disposed on the front surface of the housing.

68. An apparatus according to claim 67, wherein the contact-sensitive transducer is an elongate strip.

69. An apparatus according to claim 64, wherein the contact-sensitive transducer comprises one of a resistive transducer, a capacitive transducer and a semiconductive transducer.