System and method for navigating a mobile device user interface with a directional sensing device

1. An electronic mobile device comprising:

a display for displaying a graphical element;

a tilt sensor configured to sense first and second tilt angles of the mobile device; and

a processor coupled to the display and the tilt sensor and configured to:

move the graphical element relative to the display in a first direction based on the first tilt angle; and

move the graphical element relative to the display in a second direction based on the second tilt angle.

2. The electronic mobile device of claim 1 wherein the first tilt angle relates to forward backward tilting and the second tilt angle relates to side-to-side tilting, the first and second tilt angles being orthogonal.

3. The electronic mobile device of claim 1 wherein the processor does not alter the position of the graphical element unless at least one of the first and second tilt angles exceed a threshold.

4. The electronic mobile device of claim 1 wherein the graphical element's position in the first direction is altered at a rate based on the first tilt angle.

5. The electronic mobile device of claim 1 wherein the graphical element's position in the first direction is altered at a rate based on an amount of time that the first tilt angle has exceeded a threshold.

6. The electronic mobile device of claim 1 wherein the graphical element's position in the first direction is altered at a rate based on a number of different thresholds the first tilt angle has exceeded.

7. The electronic mobile device of claim 1 wherein the processor stores a current first tilt angle as a first reference tilt angle and a current second tilt angle as a second reference tilt angle, relative to which subsequently-sensed first and second tilt angles are compared by the processor.

8. A method comprising:

displaying a graphical element on a display of an electronic mobile device;

sensing first and second tilt angles of the mobile device;

moving the graphical element relative to the display in a first direction based on the first tilt angle; and

moving the graphical element relative to the display in a second direction based on the second tilt angle.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the first tilt angle relates to forward backward tilting and the second tilt angle relates to side-to-side tilting, the first and second tilt angles being orthogonal.

10. An electronic mobile device comprising:

a display for displaying a graphical element;

a sensor configured to sense at least one tilt angle of the mobile device and generate a sensor signal; and

a processor coupled to the display and the sensor and configured to:

receive the sensor signal and alter the position of the graphical element on the display based on changes in the sensor signal.

11. The electronic mobile device of claim 10 , wherein the at least one tilt angle includes a first tilt angle and a second tilt angle, the first tilt angle relates to forward backward tilting and the second tilt angle relates to side-to-side tilting, the first and second tilt angles being orthogonal.

12. The electronic mobile device of claim 11 , wherein the processor stores a current first tilt angle as a first reference tilt angle and a current second tilt angle as a second reference tilt angle, relative to which subsequently-sensed first and second tilt angles are compared by the processor.

13. The electronic mobile device of claim 10 , wherein the processor alters the position of the graphical element when the at least one tilt angle exceeds a threshold.

14. The electronic mobile device of claim 10 , wherein the graphical element's position is altered in a first direction at a rate based on the at least one tilt angle.

15. The electronic mobile device of claim 10 , wherein the graphical element's position is altered in a first direction at a rate based on an amount of time that the at least one tilt angle has exceeded a threshold.

16. The electronic mobile device of claim 10 , wherein the graphical element's position is altered in a first direction at a rate based on a number of different thresholds the at least one tilt angle has exceeded.

17. A method comprising:

displaying a graphical element on a display of an electronic mobile device;

generating a signal indicative of at least one tilt angle of the mobile device; and

altering a position of the graphical element on the display based on changes in the generated signal.

18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the at least one tilt angle includes a first tilt angle and a second tilt angle, the first tilt angle relates to forward backward tilting and the second tilt angle relates to side-to-side tilting, the first and second tilt angles being orthogonal.

19. The method of claim 17 , wherein the position of the graphical element is altered when the at least one tilt angle exceeds a threshold.

20. The method of claim 17 , wherein the graphical element's position is altered in a first direction at a rate based on the at least one tilt angle.

21. The method of claim 17 , wherein the position of the graphical element is altered in a first direction at a rate based on an amount of time that the at least one tilt angle has exceeded a threshold.

22. The method of claim 17 , wherein the position of the graphical element is altered in a first direction at a rate based on a number of different thresholds the at least one tilt angle has exceeded.

23. The method of claim 17 , wherein a current first tilt angle is stored as a first reference tilt angle and a current second tilt angle is stored as a second reference tilt angle, relative to which subsequently-sensed first and second tilt angles are compared.