UNLOCKING METHOD WITH TOUCH SENSOR

• US 20090166099A1
• Filed: 09/30/2008
• Published: 07/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: HTC Corporation
• Original Assignee: HTC Corporation
• Inventors: Wang, Hui-Wen, Chen, Hsi-Kun
• Application Number:
  US12/241,062
• Publication Number:
  US 20090166099A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 178/18.60
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1613 for portable computers cooling arrangements therefor G06F1/203; constructional details or arrangements for pocket calculators, electronic agendas or books G06F15/0216; constructional details of portable telephone sets: with several bodies H04M1/0202
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1684 Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

An unlocking method with a touch sensor is provided. The method is adapted to a portable device having a touch sensor, wherein the portable device is at a lock state. The method is as follows. First, a signal generated by an input device is received by the touch sensor. Next, a movement of the touch sensor triggered by the input device is sensed. Next, the signal is identified to determine whether or not the input device is an effective unlock device. Finally, when the input device is the effective unlock device and the movement is an effective movement, the lock state of the portable device is switched to an unlock state.

Claims

1. An unlocking method, for a portable device having a touch sensor, wherein the portable device is in a lock state, the unlocking method comprising:

receiving a signal generated from an input device by the touch sensor;

sensing a movement of the touch sensor triggered by the input device;

identifying the signal for determining whether or not the input device is an effective unlock device; and

switching the lock state of the portable device to an unlock state when the input device is the effective unlock device, and when the movement is a relative movement of the touch sensor corresponding to a casing of the portable device.

2. The unlocking method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of determining the input device comprises determining the input device according to a touch area, a touch capacitance or a temperature of the input device sensed by the touch sensor, when the input device touches the touch sensor.

3. The unlocking method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of determining the input device further comprises determining the input device to be the effective unlock device if the input device is a conductor.

4. The unlocking method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the conductor comprises a finger.

5. The unlocking method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of determining the input device further comprises determining the input device to be the effective unlock device when a touch area of the input device sensed by the touch sensor matches a predetermined range.

6. The unlocking method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of sensing the movement of the touch sensor triggered by the input device further comprises confirming a temporary staying time of the input device staying on the touch sensor matches a predetermined unlocking time limit.

7. The unlocking method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of sensing the movement of the touch sensor comprises sensing the movement of the touch sensor triggered by the input device via a variation sensor disposed below the touch sensor.

8. The unlocking method as claimed in claim 7, wherein the variation sensor comprises an optical sensor, a pressure sensor or a thin-film sensor.

9. The unlocking method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the portable device comprises a smartphone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a PDA phone and a touch phone.

10. An unlocking method, for a portable device having a touch sensor, wherein the portable device is in a lock state, and a compressible space is formed below the touch sensor, the unlocking method comprising:

receiving a signal generated from an input device by the touch sensor;

detecting a space variation of the compressible space;

identifying the signal for determining whether or not the input device is an effective unlock device; and

switching the lock state of the portable device to an unlock state when the input device is the effective unlock device, and when the compressible space is decreased.

11. The unlocking method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the step of determining the input device comprises determining the input device according to a touch area, a touch capacitance or a temperature of the input device sensed by the touch sensor, when the input device touches the touch sensor.

12. The unlocking method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the step of determining the input device further comprises determining the input device to be the effective unlock device if the input device is a conductor.

13. The unlocking method as claimed in claim 12, wherein the conductor comprises a finger.

14. The unlocking method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the step of determining the input device further comprises determining the input device to be the effective unlock device when a touch area of the input device sensed by the touch sensor matches a predetermined range.

15. The unlocking method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the step of detecting the space variation of the compressible space further comprises confirming a temporary staying time of the input device staying on the touch sensor matches a predetermined unlocking time limit.

16. The unlocking method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the step of detecting the space variation of the compressible space comprises sensing the space variation of the compressible space below the touch sensor that triggered by the input device via a variation sensor disposed below the touch sensor.

17. The unlocking method as claimed in claim 16, wherein the variation sensor comprises an optical sensor, a pressure sensor or a thin-film sensor.

18. The unlocking method as claimed in claim 10, wherein the portable device comprises a smartphone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a PDA phone and a touch phone.