APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR INPUTTING KEY IN TERMINAL HAVING TOUCH SCREEN

• US 20090225035A1
• Filed: 10/12/2007
• Published: 09/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 10/25/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: BAIK, Jong-Min
• Application Number:
  US11/871,674
• Publication Number:
  US 20090225035A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• 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

Provided are an apparatus and a method for inputting a key in a terminal having a touch screen. The apparatus includes a display; a touch sensor positioned above the display to sense a touch; and a controller for overlapping a semitransparent keyboard on one of a background and executed application screens output on the display when a key input event occurs, checking whether the touch is for a key input, if the touch is for the key input, receiving a key in a position corresponding to the touch, and outputting the key to the display.

Claims

1. An apparatus for inputting a key in a terminal having a touch screen, comprising:

a display for outputting a semitransparent keyboard overlapping one of a background screen and an executed application screen;

a touch sensor positioned above the display to sense a touch; and

a controller for overlapping the semitransparent keyboard on one of the background and executed application screens output on the display when a key input event occurs, checking whether the touch is for a key input, when the touch is for the key input, receiving a key in a position corresponding to the touch, and controlling the key to be output on the display.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein when the touch is for a pointer, the controller controls the pointer to correspond to the touch.

3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the controller determines whether the touch is for the key input or for the pointer, depending on whether the touch is long or quick.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein when the touch is quick, the controller determines the touch is for the key input, and when the touch is long, the controller determines the touch is for the pointer.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, further comprising an input selection key for setting the touch for one of the key input and the pointer.

6. A method of inputting a key in a terminal having a touch screen, comprising:

overlapping a semitransparent keyboard on an output screen of one of a background and an executed application when a key input event occurs;

sensing a touch to the touch screen;

checking whether the touch is for a key input; and

when the touch is for the key input, receiving and outputting a key in a position corresponding to the touch.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising, when the touch is for a pointer, performing a function corresponding to the pointer.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the touch is for the key input or for the pointer depending on whether the touch is long or quick.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein when the touch is quick, the touch is for the key input, and when the touch is long, the touch is for the pointer.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein when an input selection key is activated, the touch is for the key input.

11. An apparatus for inputting a key in a portable terminal having a touch screen, comprising:

means for overlapping a semitransparent keyboard on an output screen of one of a background and an executed application when a key input event occurs;

means for sensing a touch to the touch screen; and

means for inputting a key in a position corresponding to the touch.

12. A method for inputting a key in a portable terminal having a touch screen, comprising:

overlapping a semitransparent keyboard on an output screen of one of a background and an executed application when a key input event occurs;

sensing a touch to the touch screen; and

inputting a key in a position corresponding to the touch.

13. A computer-readable recording medium having recorded thereon a program for inputting a key in a portable terminal having a touch screen, comprising:

a first code segment, for overlapping a semitransparent keyboard on an output screen of one of a background and an executed application when a key input event occurs;

a second code segment, for sensing a touch to the touch screen; and

a third code segment, for inputting a key in a position corresponding to the touch.