Electronic device using auxiliary input device and operating method thereof

• US 10,198,172 B2
• Filed: 12/15/2014
• Issued: 02/05/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Choi, Bo-Kun, Oh, Jun-Suk
• Primary Examiner(s): Mengistu, Amare
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nadkarni, Sarvesh J
• Application Number:
  US14/570,302
• Publication Number:
  US 20150169080A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,513 Days
• Field of Search: 345156-184
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0393 Accessories for touch pads or touch screens, e.g. mechanical guides added to touch screens for drawing straight lines, hard keys overlaying touch screens or touch pads
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

An electronic device includes a display for detecting touch input, and at least one processor for recognizing a type of an auxiliary input device placed on the display. A method for utilizing the electronic device includes detecting via a touch screen a type of an auxiliary input device placed on a display based on a configuration of at least one or more conductors on the auxiliary input device, detecting an input event generated by the auxiliary input device, and executing via a processor at least one function of an executing program corresponding to the detected input event.

Claims

1. An electronic device, comprising:

a touch screen for detecting a touch input;

a memory; and

at least one processor configured to;

execute an application program for playing hack media;

while an auxiliary input device is positioned on the touch screen, detect the auxiliary input device using a capacitance change detected by the touch screen;

identify the executing application program to determine whether the application program supports the auxiliary input device;

in response that the application program supports the auxiliary input device, display a user interface of the application program associated with the auxiliary input device, wherein the user interface is displayed before a rotational input is received from the auxiliary input device;

while the user interface is displayed, receive the rotational input from the auxiliary input device;

adjust an audio volume of the media based on the rotational input;

execute another application program for displaying an electronic document on the touch screen; and

scroll the electronic document based on the rotational input,

wherein the scroll of the electronic document removes from the touch screen a portion of the electronic document displayed prior to receiving the rotational input.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

execute a third application program; and

in response that the third application program supports the auxiliary input device, display another user interface of the third application program associated with the auxiliary input device,

wherein the other user interface is displayed on the touch screen to surround the auxiliary input device,

wherein the other user interface is displayed before the rotational input is received from the auxiliary input device, and

wherein the other user interface is different from the user interface.

3. The electronic device of claim 2, wherein each of the user interface and the other user interface comprises a circular user interface.

4. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the user interface further comprises one or more menu items.

5. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the user interface further comprises an indicator indicating a current position of a rotary knob of the auxiliary input device.

6. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein, to detect the auxiliary input device, the at least one processor is configured to detect a contact area of the auxiliary input device when the auxiliary input device is positioned on the touch screen.

7. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:

detect, while displaying the user interface of the application program, the rotational input for selecting a function among a plurality of functions that are available through the auxiliary input device in the application program; and

in response to detecting the rotational input, provide the function in the application program.

8. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further configured to concurrently detect a plurality of points generated when the auxiliary input device is placed on the touch screen.

9. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein a contact area between the auxiliary input device and the touch screen provides an area for the auxiliary input device to stably rest on the touch screen.

10. An electronic device, comprising:

a touch screen for detecting a touch input;

a memory; and

at least one processor configured to;

execute an application program for playing back media;

while an auxiliary input device is positioned on the touch screen, detect the auxiliary input device using a capacitance change detected by the touch screen;

identify the executing application program to determine whether the application program supports the auxiliary input device;

in response that the application program supports the auxiliary input device, display a user interface of the application program associated with the auxiliary input device;

adjust an audio volume of the media based on rotational input received from the auxiliary input device;

execute another application program for displaying an electronic document on the touch screen; and

scroll the electronic document based on the rotational input,

wherein the scroll of the electronic document removes from the touch screen a portion of the electronic document displayed prior to receiving the rotational input, and

wherein the user interface is displayed before the rotational input is received from the auxiliary input device.

11. A method for operating an electronic device capable of receiving rotational input from an auxiliary input device, the method comprising:

executing an application program for playing back media;

while the auxiliary input device is positioned on a touch screen, detecting the auxiliary input device using a capacitance change detected by the touch screen;

identifying the executing application program to determine whether the application program supports the auxiliary input device;

in response that the application program supports the auxiliary input device, displaying a user interface of the application program associated with the auxiliary input device;

adjusting an audio volume of the media based on rotational input received from the auxiliary input device;

executing another application program for displaying an electronic document on the touch screen; and

scrolling the electronic document based on the rotational input,

wherein the scroll of the electronic document removes from the touch screen a portion of the electronic document displayed prior to receiving the rotational input, and

wherein the user interface is displayed before the rotational input is received from the auxiliary input device.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

executing a third application program; and

in response that the third application program supports the auxiliary input device, displaying another user interface of the third application program associated with the auxiliary input device,

wherein the other user interface is displayed on the touch screen to surround the auxiliary input device,

wherein the other user interface is displayed before the rotational input is received from the auxiliary input device, and

wherein the other user interface is different from the user interface.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein each of the user interface and the other user interface comprises a circular user interface.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the user interface further comprises one or more menu items.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the user interface further comprises an indicator indicating a current position of a rotary knob of the auxiliary input device.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein detecting the auxiliary input device comprises detecting a contact area of the auxiliary input device when the auxiliary input device is positioned on the touch screen.

17. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

detecting, while displaying the user interface of the application program, the rotational input for selecting a function among a plurality of functions that are available through the auxiliary input device in the application program; and

in response to detecting the rotational input, providing the function in the application program.

18. The method of claim 11, further comprising concurrently detecting a plurality of points generated when the auxiliary input device is placed on the touch screen.

19. The method of claim 11, wherein a contact area between the auxiliary input device and the touch screen provides an area for the auxiliary input device to stably rest on the touch screen.

20. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing a program, wherein the program is executable by a processor to cause an electronic device to:

execute an application program for playing back media;

identify the executing application program to determine whether the application program supports an auxiliary input device;

in response that the application program supports the auxiliary input device, display a user interface of the application program associated with the auxiliary input device, wherein the user interface is displayed before a rotational input is received from the auxiliary input device;

while the user interface is displayed, receive the rotational input from the auxiliary input device;

adjust an audio volume of the media based on the rotational input;

execute another application program for displaying an electronic document on a touch screen of the electronic device; and

scroll the electronic document based on the rotational input,

wherein the scroll of the electronic document removes from the touch screen a portion of the electronic document displayed prior to receiving the rotational input.

21. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 20, wherein the program is further executable by the processor to cause the electronic device to:

execute a third application program; and

in response that the third application program supports the auxiliary input device, display another user interface of the third application program associated with the auxiliary input device,

wherein the other user interface is displayed on the touch screen to surround the auxiliary input device,

wherein the other user interface is displayed before the rotational input is received from the auxiliary input device, and

wherein the other user interface is different from the user interface.

22. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein each of the user interface and the other user interface comprises a circular user interface.

23. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 20, wherein the user interface further comprises one or more menu items.

24. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 20, wherein the user interface further comprises an indicator indicating a current position of a rotary knob of the auxiliary input device.

25. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 20, wherein, to detect the auxiliary input device, the program is further executable by the processor to cause the electronic device to detect a contact area of the auxiliary input device when the auxiliary input device is positioned on the touch screen.

26. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 20, wherein the program is further executable by the processor to cause the electronic device to:

detect, while displaying the user interface of the application program, the rotational input for selecting a function among a plurality of functions that are available through the auxiliary input device in the application program; and

in response to detecting the rotational input, provide the function in the application program.

27. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 26, wherein the program is further executable by the processor to cause the electronic device to:

detect, while displaying the user interface of the application program, another input for selecting another function among the plurality of functions; and

in response to detecting the other input, provide the other function in the application program, and

wherein the other function is different from the function.

28. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 27, wherein the program is further executable by the processor to cause the electronic device to detect, as the other input, a tap, a double tap, or a long press tap of the auxiliary input device.

29. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 20, wherein the program is further executable by the processor to cause the electronic device to concurrently detect a plurality of points generated when the auxiliary input device is placed on the touch screen.

30. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 20, wherein a contact area between the auxiliary input device and the touch screen provides an area for the auxiliary input device to stably rest on the touch screen.