1. A roller-key assembly comprising,
a carrier,
a roller member supported by the carrier and being rotatably mounted in relation to the carrier,
a coding member engaging the roller member in a manner so as to rotate when the roller member rotates,
the carrier being mounted in a supporting structure and being at least partly displaceable relative to the supporting structure so as to render the roller member displaceable from an initial position to a selected displaced position of at least two predetermined displaced positions,
means for detecting rotation of the coding member in relation to the supporting structure,
means for generating a return spring force that returns the roller member to the initial position from the selected displaced position, and
switching means being adapted to indicate the selected displaced position of the roller member.
2. A roller-key assembly according to claim 1, wherein the switching means comprises:
first switching means adapted to generate a first switch signal indicating that the roller member is in a first predetermined position, and
second switching means adapted to generate a second switch signal indicating that the roller member is in a second predetermined position.
3. A roller-key assembly according to claim 2, wherein the roller member is furthermore displaceable relative to the supporting structure to a third predetermined displaced position and wherein the switching means further comprises third switching means adapted to generate a third switch signal indicating that the roller member is in a third predetermined position.
4. A roller-key assembly according to claim 2, wherein the roller member is furthermore displaceable relative to the supporting structure to a third predetermined displaced position and wherein a combination of the first and second switch signals indicates that the roller member is in the third displaced position.
5. A roller-key assembly according to claim 1, wherein the selected displaced position is chosen by applying a predetermined force to an associated part of the roller member.
6. A roller-key assembly according to claim 5, wherein the roller member is displaceable to the first and the second displaced positions,
the first predetermined displaced position being selected by applying the predetermined force to a first end part of the roller member, and
the second predetermined displaced position being selected by applying the predetermined force to a second end part of the roller member.
7. A roller-key assembly according to claim 5, wherein the roller member is displaceable to the first, second and the third displaced positions,
the first predetermined displaced position being selected by applying the predetermined force to a first end part of the roller member,
the second predetermined displaced position the selected by applying the predetermined force to a second end part of the roller, and
the third predetermined displaced position being selected by applying the predetermined force to a substantially middle part of the roller member.
8. A roller-key assembly according to claim 1, wherein the carrier comprises a first and a second part, said first part being substantially rigidly connected to the frame and said second part being adapted to support the roller member and being displaceable relative to the first part of the carrier.
9. A roller-key assembly according to claim 8, wherein the means for generating the return spring force are constituted by the carrier.
10. A roller-key assembly according to claim 9, wherein the carrier is made from a plate-shaped resilient material.
11. A roller-key assembly according to claim 10, wherein the first part and the second part of the carrier are separated by one or more indentations of the carrier to provide regions with a higher resiliency than regions of the carrier abutting the one or more indentations.
12. A roller-key assembly according to claim 1, wherein the carrier is adapted to actuate the switching means.
13. A roller-key assembly according to claim 1, wherein the roller member is adapted to actuate the switching means.
14. A roller-key assembly according to claims 1, wherein the switching means comprises one or several membrane switches.
15. A roller-key assembly according to claim 14, wherein the membrane switches comprise a resilient material and are adapted to provide a return spring force to the roller member when the roller member is displaced towards the switching means.
16. A roller-key assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a resilient material arranged between said switching means and the roller member so as to provide a return spring force to the roller member when the roller member is displaced towards the switching means.
17. A roller-key assembly according to claim 16, wherein said resilient material is a material selected from the group of: rubber, plastic, foam, metal, metal alloys.
18. A roller-key assembly according to claim 1, wherein the supporting structure constitutes a frame, said frame holding the carrier.
19. A roller-key assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a shaft providing a substantially rotationally rigid connection between the roller member and the coding member, said shaft being mounted so as to allow for at least parts of the roller member to be displaced in relation to the coding member along directions substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation of the roller member.
20. A roller-key assembly according to claim 19, wherein the roller member comprises a bore and wherein at least part of the shaft is positioned within said bore.
21. A roller-key assembly according to claim 18, wherein the frame comprises a cavity housing at least the coding member and the means for detecting rotation of the coding member, said cavity being substantially moisture- or watertight
22. A roller-key assembly according to claim 1, further comprising a sealing foil arranged between the switching means and the roller member so as to separate the switching means from the roller member by a substantially moisture- or watertight layer.
23. A roller-key assembly according to claim 22, wherein the roller member is mounted within a substantially moisture- or watertight well formed by the supporting structure and the sealing foil, said well having an opening arranged oppositely to the sealing foil.
24. A roller-key assembly according to claim 23, further comprising means for draining liquids and small particles from within the well, said means comprising a first opening positioned within the well.
25. A hand-held electronic apparatus comprising a roller-key assembly according to any of the preceding claims.
26. A hand-held electronic apparatus according to claim 25, selected from the group of: mobile phones, remote controls pagers handheld computers, discmans, MP3-mans, GPS navigators or personal digital assistants.
27. A hand-held electronic apparatus according to claim 25, further comprising a controller operationally connected to the switching means of the roller-key assembly and adapted to receive the first and second switch signals, said controller being adapted to generate:
a first output if the first switch signal precedes the second switch signal with more than a first delay time, t1,
a second output if the second switch signal precedes the first switch signal with more than t1,
the first output indicating that the first predetermined displaced position was selected and the second output indicating that the second predetermined displaced position was selected.
28. A hand-held electronic apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the controller is further adapted to generate:
a third output if the time interval between the first switch signal and the second switch signal is less than a second delay time, t2,
the third output indicating that the third predetermined displaced position was selected.
29. A hand-held electronic apparatus according to claim 28, wherein the value of t1 equals the value of t2.
30. A hand-held electronic apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the value of t1 is larger than about 10 ms.
31. A hand-held electronic apparatus according to claim 27, wherein the value of t1 is larger than about 50 ms.
32. A method of navigating on an electronic display displaying one or more items by moving an indicator between items, said method comprising the steps of
providing a rotably mounted roller member displaceable from an initial position to a selected displaced position of at least two predetermined displaced positions,
rotating the roller member in a first or a second direction,
detecting rotation of a coding member engaging the roller member in a manner so as to rotate when the roller member rotates,
moving the indicator between items in a first or second direction in response to the detected rotation of the roller member,
applying a predetermined force to a first or second part of the roller member,
detecting the displaced position of the roller member, and
moving the indicator between items in a third or fourth direction in response to the selected displaced position of the roller member.
33. A method of selecting an item on an electronic display comprising the steps of moving the indicator to the item to be selected according to claim 32, wherein the roller member is furthermore displaceable to a third predetermined displaced position, said method further comprising the steps of
applying a predetermined force to a middle part of the roller member,
detecting the displaced position of the roller member, and
selecting the item.
34. A method of selecting an option on an electronic display displaying one or more items at least one of which comprises two options, said method comprising the steps of
providing a rotably mounted roller member displaceable from an initial position to a selected displaced position of at least two predetermined displaced positions,
rotating the roller member in a first or a second direction,
detecting rotation of a coding member engaging the roller member in a manner so as to rotate when the roller member rotates,
moving between items in a first or second direction in response to the detected rotation of the roller member,
applying a predetermined force to a first or second part of the roller member,
detecting the displaced position of the roller member, and
selecting a first or a second option in response to the selected displaced position of the roller member.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A heated eyelash curler, comprising:
a curling head portion having an arcuate top surface on one end and a protection case on the other end serving as a handle, the curling head portion including a heating element laid on the arcuate top surface caged inside a plurality of bridges or protected between protruding comblike spikes, the protection case enclosing a power source for the heating element, the heating element comprising a conducting coil or wire in zigzag configuration inserted into a conducting tube coated on the outside surface with a non-sticking material;
a pigmented silicone piece in direct contact with the heating element, the pigmented silicone piece changing in color corresponding to the temperature of the heating element; and, means for heating the heating element of the eyelash curler.
2. The eyelash curler of claim 1 further comprising an indicator for signaling when the power is switched to on or off.
3. The eyelash curler of claim 1 wherein the power source is a battery.
4. The eyelash curler of claim 1 wherein the conducting tube is a brass tubing.
5. The eyelash curler of claim 1 wherein the non-sticking material is teflon.
6. A heated eyelash curler, comprising:
a curling head portion having an arcuate top surface on one end and a protection case on the other end serving as a handle, the curling head portion including a heating element laid on the arcuate top surface caged inside a plurality of bridges or protected between protruding comblike spikes, the protection case enclosing a power source, the heating element comprising a conducting coil or wire in zigzag configuration inserted into a conducting tube coated on the outside surface with a non-sticking material;
a pigmented silicone piece in direct contact with the heating element, the pigmented silicone piece changing in color corresponding to the temperature of the heating element; and,
means for heating and controlling the temperature of the heating element of the eyelash curler.
7. The eyelash curler of claim 6 further comprising an indicator for signaling when the power is switched to on or off.
8. The eyelash curler of claim 6 further comprising an indicator which emits one color when the heating element is below a desired temperature and emitting another color when the temperature is at the desired temperature.
9. The eyelash curler of claim 6 further comprising an indicator which will emit a flickering light when the power from the power source is low.
10. The eyelash curler of claim 6 further comprising comblike spikes lined parallel to the bridges.
11. The eyelash curler of claim 6 further comprising means for keeping the heating element situated on top of the arcuate top surface of the curling head portion.
12. The eyelash curler of claim 6 wherein the conducting tube is a brass tubing.
13. The eyelash curler of claim 6 wherein the non-sticking material is teflon.
14. The eyelash curler of claim 6 wherein the power source is a battery.
15. The eyelash curler of claim 14 further comprising a converter for boosting the voltage of the battery for hastening the rise in temperature of the heating element.
16. A heating element for use with a temperature controlled eyelash curler having a plurality of bridges to cage the heating element or a plurality of comblike spikes to surround the heating element or a combination of the bridges and comblike spikes, comprising:
a conducting coil or wire in zigzag configuration inserted into a conducting tube coated on the outside surface with a non-sticking material; and, a power source for heating the heating element;
17. The eyelash curler of claim 16 wherein the conducting tube is a brass tubing.
18. The eyelash curler of claim 16 wherein the power source is a battery.
19. The eyelash curler of claim 18 further comprising a converter to boost the voltage from the battery for hastening the rise in temperature of the heating element.
20. The eyelash curler of claim 16 further comprising means for controlling the temperature of the heating element of the eyelash curler.