Feedback method according to touch level and touch input device performing the same

• US 10,331,337 B2
• Filed: 04/11/2017
• Issued: 06/25/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HiDeep Inc.
• Original Assignee: HiDeep Inc.
• Inventors: Kim, Yunjoung, Kim, Seyeob, Yun, Hyongsub, Yoon, Sangsic, Kim, Bonkee, Moon, Hojun, Kim, Taehoon, Kwon, Sunyoung
• Primary Examiner(s): Mengistu, Amare
• Assistant Examiner(s): Mathews, Crystal
• Application Number:
  US15/484,332
• Publication Number:
  US 20170220244A1
• Time in Patent Office: 805 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/00 Security arrangements for protecting computers, components thereof, programs or data against unauthorised activity
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/36 by graphic or iconic representation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/83 input devices, e.g. keyboards, mice or controllers thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04105 Pressure sensors for measuring the pressure or force exerted on the touch surface without providing the touch position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0445 using two or more layers of sensing electrodes, e.g. using two layers of electrodes separated by a dielectric layer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0446 using a grid-like structure of electrodes in at least two directions, e.g. using row and column electrodes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0447 Position sensing using the local deformation of sensor cells
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

In one embodiment, the invention can be a touch input device capable of unlocking a passcode accordance with a touch pressure. The device can include a touch screen which displays a passcode input window; a controller which generates a first control signal as to whether or not a touch on the passcode input window matches a predetermined passcode; and a memory which stores the predetermined passcode. The passcode input window can include a plurality of nodes which are disposed in different positions. The number of touched nodes among the plurality of nodes, the order of the touched nodes among the plurality of nodes, and a pressure level of the touch on each of the touched nodes among the plurality of nodes can be set as the predetermined passcode. Further, the pressure level of the touch can be classified into at least two levels.

Claims

1. A touch input device capable of unlocking a passcode in accordance with a touch pressure, the touch input device comprising:

a touch screen which displays a passcode input window;

a controller which generates a first control signal as to whether or not a touch on the passcode input window matches a predetermined passcode; and

a memory which stores the predetermined passcode;

wherein the passcode input window comprises a plurality of nodes which are disposed in different positions on a background image displayed on the touch screen;

wherein a number of touched nodes among the plurality of nodes and a pressure level of the touch on each of the touched nodes among the plurality of nodes are set as the predetermined passcode;

wherein the pressure level of the touch is classified into at least two levels;

wherein the pressure level set for at least one node of the plurality of nodes is different from the pressure level set for the other nodes;

wherein a touch order of the touched nodes among the plurality of nodes is not set as the predetermined passcode; and

wherein when a combination of a touch position of the touched nodes and the pressure level matches that of the predetermined passcode regardless of the touch order, the controller generates the first control signal.

2. The touch input device of claim 1, wherein shapes of at least two of the plurality of nodes are different from each other.

3. The touch input device of claim 2, wherein the controller generates a second control signal for a feedback according to the pressure level of the touch, and wherein the feedback on each of the pressure levels of the touch is uncorrelated with the pressure level.

4. The touch input device of claim 1, wherein a position or shape of at least one of the plurality of nodes is set by a user.

5. The touch input device of claim 4, wherein the controller generates a second control signal for a feedback according to the pressure level of the touch, and wherein the feedback on each of the pressure levels of the touch is uncorrelated with the pressure level.

6. The touch input device of claim 1, wherein the pressure level of the touch is calculated on the basis of a capacitance change amount which is generated from a touch sensing module included in the touch screen.

7. The touch input device of claim 1, wherein the memory further stores a relation between the pressure level of the touch and a capacitance change amount which is generated from a touch sensing module included in the touch screen, and wherein the pressure level of the touch is determined with reference to the memory.

8. The touch input device of claim 1, wherein the controller generates a second control signal for a feedback according to the pressure level of the touch, and wherein the feedback on each of the pressure levels of the touch is uncorrelated with the pressure level.

9. A method for unlocking a passcode in a touch input device in accordance with a touch pressure, the method comprising:

displaying a passcode input window on a touch screen;

determining a pressure level of a touch on the passcode input window; and

generating a first control signal as to whether or not the touch on the passcode input window matches a predetermined passcode;

wherein the passcode input window comprises a plurality of nodes which are disposed in different positions on a background image displayed on the touch screen;

wherein a number of touched nodes among the plurality of nodes and the pressure level of the touch on each of the touched nodes among the plurality of nodes are set as the predetermined passcode;

wherein the pressure level of the touch is classified into at least two levels; and

wherein the pressure level set for at least one node of the plurality of nodes is different from the pressure level set for the other nodes;

wherein a touch order of the touched nodes among the plurality of nodes is not set as the predetermined passcode; and

wherein in the generating the first control signal, when a combination of a touch position of the touched nodes and the pressure level matches that of the predetermined passcode regardless of the touch order, the first control signal is generated.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein shapes of at least two of the plurality of nodes are different from each other.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising, after the determining of the pressure level of the touch before the generating of the first control signal,

generating a second control signal for a feedback according to the pressure level;

and

performing the feedback in accordance with the second control signal;

wherein the feedback on each of the pressure levels of the touch is uncorrelated with the pressure level.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein a position or shape of at least one of the plurality of nodes is set by a user.

13. The method of claim 9, wherein the pressure level of the touch is calculated on the basis of a capacitance change amount which is generated from a touch sensing module included in the touch screen.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the determining the pressure level of the touch is performed by making reference to a memory which stores a relation between the pressure level of the touch and a capacitance change amount which is generated from a touch sensing module included in the touch screen.

15. The method of claim 9, further comprising, after the determining of the pressure level of the touch before the generating of the first control signal,

generating a second control signal for a feedback according to the pressure level;

and

performing the feedback in accordance with the second control signal;

wherein the feedback on each of the pressure levels of the touch is uncorrelated with the pressure level.

16. The method of claim 9, further comprising, after the determining of the pressure level of the touch before the generating of the first control signal,

generating a second control signal for a feedback according to the pressure level;

and

performing the feedback in accordance with the second control signal;

wherein the feedback on each of the pressure levels of the touch is provided such that the pressure level corresponding to the feedback is not recognizable from the feedback by a third party except for a user of the touch input device.