MOBILE TERMINAL USING PROXIMITY SENSOR AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF

• US 20090251423A1
• Filed: 10/29/2008
• Published: 10/08/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: JUNG, Jang Jae
• Granted Patent: US 8,373,666 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04101 2.5D-digitiser, i.e. digitiser detecting the X/Y position of the input means, finger or stylus, also when it does not touch, but is proximate to the digitiser's interaction surface and also measures the distance of the input means within a short range in the Z direction, possibly with a separate measurement setup
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/945 Proximity switches H03K17/96 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72427 for supporting games or graphical animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector

Abstract

The present invention relates to a mobile terminal using a proximity sensor and a control method thereof. According to the control method of a mobile terminal, a moving image screen in which a moving image is played is displayed on a touch screen and the play speed of the moving image is controlled based on a proximity signal detected by the proximity sensor. Further, when a touch signal is input through the touch screen, a moving image screen is captured and a capture image is created. According to the present invention, various screen controls can be performed using the proximity sensor.

Claims

1. A mobile terminal, comprising:

a touchscreen for displaying a moving image;

a proximity sensor for sensing an object in near-proximity to the touchscreen; and

a controller for controlling a play speed of the moving image according to a state of the object in near-proximity to the touchscreen,

wherein the controller captures an image frame of the moving image when the object contacts the touchscreen while the image frame is displayed.

2. A mobile terminal, comprising:

a touchscreen for displaying a moving image;

a proximity sensor for sensing an object in near-proximity to the touchscreen; and

a controller for controlling a play speed of the moving image according to a state of the object in near-proximity to the touchscreen,

wherein the controller stops movement of the moving image when the object contacts the touchscreen.

3. The mobile terminal of claim 2, wherein the controller incrementally moves the image according to a movement of the object along the touchscreen while contacting the touchscreen.

4. The mobile terminal of claim 2, wherein the controller captures an image frame of the moving image according to a movement of the object along the touchscreen while contacting the touchscreen.

5. The mobile terminal of claim 2, wherein the controller captures an image frame of the moving image and facilitates transmission of the captured image according to a movement of the object along the touchscreen while contacting the touchscreen.

6. The mobile terminal of claim 2, wherein the controller displays a plurality of image frames of the moving image when the object contacts the touchscreen.

7. The mobile terminal of claim 6, wherein the plurality of image frames comprise at least one of:

an image frame previously displayed;

an image frame currently displayed; and

an image frame to be displayed when the moving image restarts movement.

8. A mobile terminal, comprising:

a touchscreen for displaying a moving image;

a proximity sensor for sensing an object in near-proximity to the touchscreen; and

a controller for controlling a play speed of the moving image according to a state of the object in near-proximity to the touchscreen,

wherein the controller provides a screen capture menu on the touchscreen when the object contacts the touchscreen.

9. The mobile terminal of claim 8, wherein the screen capture menu comprises at least one of:

a function for capturing a current image frame;

a function for displaying a plurality of image frames of the moving image; and

a function for capturing a plurality of image frames of the moving image.

10. The mobile terminal of claim 8, wherein the controller provides a selection menu on the touchscreen according to a state of the object in near-proximity to the touchscreen, the selection menu comprising at least one of:

a function for continuing to watch a current broadcast;

a function for watching a stored broadcast; and

a function for ending broadcast watching.

11. The mobile terminal of claim 8, wherein the screen capture menu is provided on the touchscreen via a pop-up window.

12. A method for controlling a mobile terminal, the method comprising:

displaying a moving image on a touchscreen;

sensing an object in near-proximity to the touchscreen;

controlling a play speed of the moving image according to a state of the object in near-proximity to the touchscreen; and

capturing an image frame of the moving image when the object contacts the touchscreen while the image frame is displayed.

13. A method for controlling a mobile terminal, the method comprising:

displaying a moving image on a touchscreen;

sensing an object in near-proximity to the touchscreen;

controlling a play speed of the moving image according to a state of the object in near-proximity to the touchscreen; and

stopping movement of the moving image when the object contacts the touchscreen.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprising incrementally moving the image according to a movement of the object along the touchscreen while contacting the touchscreen.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising capturing an image frame of the moving image according to a movement of the object along the touchscreen while contacting the touchscreen.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising capturing an image frame of the moving image and facilitating transmission of the captured image according to a movement of the object along the touchscreen while contacting the touchscreen.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising displaying a plurality of image frames of the moving image when the object contacts the touchscreen.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the plurality of image frames comprise at least one of:

an image frame previously displayed;

an image frame currently displayed; and

an image frame to be displayed when the moving image restarts movement.

19. A method of controlling the mobile terminal, the method comprising:

displaying a moving image on a touchscreen;

sensing an object in near-proximity to the touchscreen;

controlling a play speed of the moving image according to a state of the object in near-proximity to the touchscreen; and

providing a screen capture menu on the touchscreen when the object contacts the touchscreen.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the screen capture menu comprises at least one of:

a function for capturing a current image frame;

a function for displaying a plurality of image frames of the moving image; and

a function for capturing a plurality of image frames of the moving image.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising providing a selection menu on the touchscreen according to a state of the object in near-proximity to the touchscreen, the selection menu comprising at least one of:

a function for continuing to watch a current broadcast;

a function for watching a stored broadcast; and

a function for ending broadcast watching.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein the screen capture menu is provided on the touchscreen via a pop-up window.