Portable device that performs an action in response to magnitude of force, method of operating the portable device, and computer program

1. A portable device having a user input comprising a touch sensitive area, wherein

the user input is arranged to output a signal responsive to amount of force applied to the touch sensitive area,

the device further having a controller arranged to discriminate one of a plurality of levels of said signal for provision of a corresponding control signal to thereby cause the device to perform an action which is selected, in dependence on a magnitude of the force applied to the touch sensitive area and independently of a rate of change of the magnitude of the force applied to the touch sensitive area, from a plurality of actions, and

the touch sensitive area consists of a single touch sensitive area,

wherein the controller increases an audio volume when the magnitude of the force a lied to the touch sensitive area is eater than a threshold level, and the controller decreases an audio volume when the magnitude of the force applied to the touch sensitive area is less than said threshold level and greater than a minimum threshold level, when said user input is actuated.

2. The portable device according to claim 1 , being a headset.

3. The portable device according to claim 2 , wherein the headset is arranged to communicate wirelessly via Bluetooth technology.

4. The portable device according to claim 1 , wherein the user input comprises a load cell, in mechanical connection with the touch sensitive area, forming a transducer for converting applied force of the user input into said signal.

5. The portable device according to claim 4 , wherein the load cell is one of a group comprising a electroactive polymer, a microelectromechanical sensor, a strain gauge, and a piezoelectric sensor.

6. A method of operating a portable device having a user input comprising a touch sensitive area, wherein the touch sensitive area consists of a single touch sensitive area, the method comprising;

providing a signal responsive to amount of force applied to the touch sensitive area;

discriminating one of a plurality of levels of said signal;

providing a control signal corresponding to the discriminated level to thereby cause the device to perform an action which is selected, in dependence on a magnitude of the force applied to the touch sensitive area and independently of a rate of change of the magnitude of the force applied to the touch sensitive area, from a plurality of actions,

controlling an audio volume in response to the control signal

increasing said audio volume when the magnitude of the force applied to the touch sensitive area is greater than a threshold level; and

decreasing said audio volume when the magnitude of the force applied to the touch sensitive area is less than said threshold level and greater than a minimum threshold level,

when said user input is actuated.

7. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the portable device being a headset, further comprising communicating wirelessly via Bluetooth technology.

8. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the touch sensitive area comprises a load cell forming a transducer, further comprising converting applied force of user input into said signal by said load cell.

9. A portable device having a user input comprising a touch sensitive area, wherein

the user input is arranged to output a signal responsive to amount of force applied to the touch sensitive area,

the device further having a controller arranged to discriminate one of a plurality of levels of said signal for provision of a corresponding control signal to thereby cause the device to perform an action which is selected, in dependence on a magnitude of the force applied to the touch sensitive area and independently of a rate of change of the magnitude of the force applied to the touch sensitive area, from a plurality of actions, and

the touch sensitive area consists of a single touch sensitive area,

wherein the portable device is a headset arranged to communicate wirelessly via Bluetooth technology,

wherein the control signal is arranged to control handling of a call, and

wherein the control signal is arranged such that said call is rejected when the magnitude of the force applied to the touch sensitive area is greater than a threshold level, and the control signal is arranged such that said call is accepted when the magnitude of the force applied to the touch sensitive area is less than the threshold level and greater than a minimum threshold level, when said call is received and said user input is actuated.

10. The portable device according to claim 9 , wherein the user input comprises a load cell, in mechanical connection with the touch sensitive area, forming a transducer for converting applied force of the user input into said signal.

11. The portable device according to claim 10 , wherein the load cell is one of a group comprising a electroactive polymer, a microelectromechanical sensor, a strain gauge, and a piezoelectric sensor.

12. A portable device having a user input comprising a touch sensitive area, wherein

the user input is arranged to output a signal responsive to amount of force applied to the touch sensitive area,

the device further having a controller arranged to discriminate one of a plurality of levels of said signal for provision of a corresponding control signal to thereby cause the device to perform an action which is selected, in dependence on a magnitude of the force applied to the touch sensitive area and independently of a rate of change of the magnitude of the force applied to the touch sensitive area, from a plurality of actions, and

the touch sensitive area consists of a single touch sensitive area,

wherein the portable device is a headset arranged to communicate wirelessly via Bluetooth technology,

wherein the control signal is arranged to control handling of a call, and

wherein the control signal is arranged such that voice control is activated for initiating said call when the magnitude of the force applied to the touch sensitive area is less than a threshold level and greater than a minimum threshold level, and the control signal is arranged such that redialing of most recent telephone number is performed for initiating said call when the magnitude of the force applied to the touch sensitive area is greater than said threshold level, when said headset is in a stand-by mode and said user input is actuated.

13. The portable device according to claim 12 , wherein the user input comprises a load cell, in mechanical connection with the touch sensitive area, forming a transducer for converting applied force of the user input into said signal.

14. The portable device according to claim 13 , wherein the load cell is one of a group comprising a electroactive polymer, a microelectromechanical sensor, a strain gauge, and a piezoelectric sensor.

15. A method of operating a portable device having a user input comprising a touch sensitive area, wherein the touch sensitive area consists of a single touch sensitive area, the method comprising;

providing a signal responsive to amount of force applied to the touch sensitive area;

discriminating one of a plurality of levels of said signal;

providing a control signal corresponding to the discriminated level to thereby cause the device to perform an action which is selected, in dependence on a magnitude of the force applied to the touch sensitive area and independently of a rate of change of the magnitude of the force applied to the touch sensitive area, from a plurality of actions

handling a call based on the control signal

rejecting said call when the magnitude of the force applied to the touch sensitive area is greater than a threshold level, and accepting said call when the magnitude of the force applied to the touch sensitive area is less than said threshold level, when said call is received and said user input is actuated,

wherein the portable device being a headset, further comprising communicating wirelessly via Bluetooth technology.

16. The method according to claim 15 , wherein the touch sensitive area comprises a load cell forming a transducer, further comprising converting applied force of user input into said signal by said load cell.

17. A method of operating a portable device having a user input comprising a touch sensitive area, wherein the touch sensitive area consists of a single touch sensitive area, the method comprising;

providing a signal responsive to amount of force applied to the touch sensitive area;

discriminating one of a plurality of levels of said signal;

providing a control signal corresponding to the discriminated level to thereby cause the device to perform an action which is selected, in dependence on a magnitude of the force applied to the touch sensitive area and independently of a rate of change of the magnitude of the force applied to the touch sensitive area, from a plurality of actions

handling a call based on the control signal; and

activating voice control for initiating said call when the magnitude of the force applied to the touch sensitive area is less than a threshold level and greater than a minimum threshold level, and performing redialing of most recent telephone number for initiating said call when the magnitude of the force applied to the touch sensitive area is greater than said threshold level, when said headset is in a stand-by mode and said user input is actuated

wherein the portable device being a headset, further comprising communicating wirelessly via Bluetooth technology.

18. The method according to claim 17 , wherein the touch sensitive area comprises a load cell forming a transducer, further comprising converting applied force of user input into said signal by said load cell.