ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND METHOD FOR EXECUTING COMMANDS IN THE SAME

• US 20090167693A1
• Filed: 12/30/2008
• Published: 07/02/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HTC Corporation
• Original Assignee: HTC Corporation
• Inventors: Chu, Yen Lee, KUO, Yien Chun
• Granted Patent: US 8,593,405 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/168
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus

Abstract

The present invention provides a method for executing commands in an electronic device, which has a touch sensing element, a keyboard unit and a display. First, the touch sensing element is configured for detecting a touch on one of the keys on the keyboard unit and generating a responsive signal corresponding to the touched key. Afterward, a plurality of items corresponding to the touched key is shown on the display according to the responsive signal. Subsequently, the touch on the key is moved onto another key on the keyboard unit so as to mark one of the items. Finally, a command associated with the marked item is executed when the touch on the key is terminated.

Claims

1. A method for executing a command in an electronic device having a keyboard unit, a touch sensing element disposed under the keyboard unit, and a display, the method comprising:

detecting a touch on a first key of the keyboard unit by the touch sensing element;

showing a plurality of items corresponding to the first key on the display in response to the touch;

when the touch is detected and moved from the first key to a second key of the keyboard unit, marking one of the items; and

executing a command associated with the marked item.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the step of executing a command comprises:

terminating the touch on the second key to execute the command.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the touch is moved over the keyboard unit in a manner corresponding to the arrangement of the items on the display.

4. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the step of showing a plurality of items on the display comprises:

showing the items on the display in a straight line arrangement.

5. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the step of showing a plurality of items on the display comprises:

showing the items on the display in a radial arrangement.

6. The method as claimed in claim 3, wherein the step of showing a plurality of items on the display comprises:

showing the items on the display in a circular arrangement.

7. An electronic device for implementing the method of claim 1.

15. An electronic device for implementing the method of claim 1.

8. A method for executing a command in an electronic device having a keyboard unit, a touch sensing element disposed under the keyboard unit, a plurality of switches disposed under the keyboard unit, and a display, the method comprising:

detecting a press on a corresponding first key of the keyboard unit by one of the switches;

showing a plurality of items corresponding to the first key on the display in response to the press;

detecting a touch on the first key by the touch sensing element;

when the touch is detected and moved from the first key to a second key of the keyboard unit, marking one of the items; and

executing a command associated with the marked item.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the step of showing a plurality of items on the display comprises:

enabling the touch sensing element in response to the press.

10. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the step of executing a command comprises:

terminating the touch on the second key to execute the command.

11. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the touch is moved over the keyboard unit in a manner corresponding to the arrangement of the items on the display.

12. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the step of showing a plurality of items on the display comprises:

showing the items on the display in a straight line arrangement.

13. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the step of showing a plurality of items on the display comprises:

showing the items on the display in a radial arrangement.

14. The method as claimed in claim 11, wherein the step of showing a plurality of items on the display comprises:

showing the items on the display in a circular arrangement.

16. An electronic device, comprising:

a keyboard unit having at least a first key and a second key;

a switch disposed under the keyboard unit and configured for detecting a press on the first key;

a touch sensing element disposed under the keyboard unit and configured for detecting a touch on the first key when the switch detects the press;

a display configured for showing a plurality of items corresponding to the first key in response to the press, and for marking one of the items in response to the touch moved over the keyboard unit from the first key to the second key; and

a processor configured for executing a command associated with the marked item.

17. The electronic device as claimed in claim 16, wherein the touch sensing element is a capacitive touch sensor.

18. The electronic device as claimed in claim 16, wherein the keyboard unit is a QWERTY keyboard.

19. The electronic device as claimed in claim 16, wherein the keyboard unit has a plurality of keys, and the keys, the first key and the second keys are integrally formed on a same surface.