Tapping Operation Method and Mobile Electrical Apparatus with the Tapping Operation Function

• US 20070151772A1
• Filed: 12/28/2006
• Published: 07/05/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: High Tech Computer Corp (HTC Corporation)
• Original Assignee: High Tech Computer Corp (HTC Corporation)
• Inventors: WU, Kuo-Chen
• Application Number:
  US11/617,071
• Publication Number:
  US 20070151772A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 177/25.140
• CPC Class Codes: G01S 19/13 Receivers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1636 Sensing arrangement for detection of a tap gesture on the housing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0346 with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors

Abstract

A tapping operation method for inputting a signal into an electrical apparatus by tapping includes the following steps. First, at least one gravitational acceleration vector along the electrical apparatus is detected. Then, a signal is inputted into the electrical apparatus when a variation rate of the gravitational acceleration vector with respect to time exceeds a predetermined value. In addition, a mobile electrical apparatus with the tapping operation function, which employs this method, is also disclosed.

Claims

1. A tapping operation method for an electrical apparatus, comprising the steps of:

detecting at least one gravitational acceleration vector along the electrical apparatus; and

inputting a signal into the electrical apparatus when a variation rate of the gravitational acceleration vector with respect to time exceeds a predetermined value.

2. The tapping operation method of claim 1, wherein the number of the gravitational acceleration vectors is three, and the gravitational acceleration vectors are along three axes of the electrical apparatus.

3. The tapping operation method of claim 2, wherein the axes of the electrical apparatus comprises the x-axis of the electrical apparatus, the y-axis of the electrical apparatus and the z-axis of the electrical apparatus.

4. The tapping operation method of claim 1, wherein the step of inputting the signal into the electrical apparatus comprises determining which part of the electrical apparatus is tapped, what tapping sequence is applied to the electrical apparatus or a combination thereof according to the variation rate of the gravitational acceleration vector with respect to time.

5. The tapping operation method of claim 4, wherein the step of inputting the signal into the electrical apparatus comprises determining which type of the signal is inputted according to which part of the electrical apparatus is tapped, what tapping sequence is applied to the electrical apparatus or the combination thereof.

6. The tapping operation method of claim 1, wherein the signal comprises a command for launching an application program.

7. The tapping operation method of claim 1, wherein the electrical apparatus comprises a mobile electrical apparatus.

8. The tapping operation method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

tapping the top-front surface, the right-front surface, the left-front surface, the side surface or the back surface of the electrical apparatus.

9. The tapping operation method of claim 1, wherein the step of detecting the gravitational acceleration vector is performed by an accelerometer.

10. A mobile electrical apparatus with a tapping operation function, comprising:

a base;

an accelerometer coupled to the base for detecting at least one gravitational acceleration vector along the mobile electrical apparatus; and

a manipulator connected to the accelerometer for inputting a signal into the mobile electrical apparatus when a variation rate of the gravitational acceleration vector with respect to time exceeds a predetermined value.

11. The mobile electrical apparatus of claim 10, wherein the accelerometer comprises:

a first axle sensor for sensing a first gravitational acceleration vector along a first direction;

a second axle sensor for sensing a second gravitational acceleration vector along a second direction; and

a third axle sensor for sensing a third gravitational acceleration vector along a third direction.

12. The mobile electrical apparatus of claim 10, wherein the manipulator comprises:

a first determining module connected to the accelerometer to determine which part of the mobile electrical apparatus is tapped, what tapping sequence is applied to the mobile electrical apparatus or a combination thereof according to the variation rate of the gravitational acceleration vector with respect to time.

13. The mobile electrical apparatus of claim 12, wherein the manipulator comprises:

a second determining module connected to the first determining module to determine which type of the signal is inputted according to which part of the mobile electrical apparatus is tapped, what tapping sequence is applied to the mobile electrical apparatus or the combination thereof.

14. The mobile electrical apparatus of claim 12, wherein the tapped part of the mobile electrical apparatus is the top-front surface, the right-front surface, the left-front surface, the side surface or the back surface of the mobile electrical apparatus.

15. The mobile electrical apparatus of claim 12, wherein the signal comprises a command for launching an application program.

16. The mobile electrical apparatus of claim 12, wherein the mobile electrical apparatus is a mobile phone, a global positioning system or a personal digital assistant.

17. The mobile electrical apparatus of claim 12, further comprising a control button for turning on or turning off the tapping operation function.

18. A tapping operating module for an electrical apparatus, comprising:

an accelerometer coupled to the electrical apparatus for detecting at least one gravitational acceleration vector along the electrical apparatus; and

a manipulator connected to the accelerometer for inputting a signal into the electrical apparatus when a variation rate of the gravitational acceleration vector with respect to time exceeds a predetermined value.

19. The tapping operating module of claim 18, wherein the accelerometer comprises:

a first axle sensor for sensing a first gravitational acceleration vector along a first direction;

a second axle sensor for sensing a second gravitational acceleration vector along a second direction; and

a third axle sensor for sensing a third gravitational acceleration vector along a third direction.

20. The tapping operating module of claim 18, wherein the manipulator comprises:

a first determining module connected to the accelerometer to determine which part of the electrical apparatus is tapped, what tapping sequence is applied to the electrical apparatus or a combination thereof according to the variation rate of the gravitational acceleration vector with respect to time.

21. The tapping operating module of claim 20, wherein the manipulator comprises:

a second determining module connected to the first determining module to determine which type of the signal is inputted according to which part of the electrical apparatus is tapped, what tapping sequence is applied to the electrical apparatus or the combination thereof.

22. The tapping operating module of claim 18, wherein the signal comprises a command for launching an application program.