METHOD FOR EXECUTING MOUSE FUNCTION OF ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND ELECTRONIC DEVICE THEREOF

• US 20090295720A1
• Filed: 04/13/2009
• Published: 12/03/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/02/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ASUSTek Computer, Inc.
• Original Assignee: ASUSTek Computer, Inc.
• Inventors: Wu, Chia-Hsin, Chen, Shih-Ying, Su, Wei-Yin, Liao, Chao-Chia, Tsui, Chia-Chang, Tai, Tzu-Wei, Tseng, Wen-Chieh, Tsai, Hsin-Wen, Lin, Sheng-Ta, Cheng, Yi-Hsuan
• Granted Patent: US 8,462,113 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/158
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

A method for executing a mouse function of electronic device and an electronic device thereof are provided. In the present method, an amount and a relative position of input signals are detected by a sensor module. Then, whether the amount and the relative position are respectively conformed to a predetermined value is determined. If the predetermined values are conformed, whether the input signal is conformed to a specific signal is determined when a variation of the relative position is occurred. Finally, a corresponding mouse function is executed according to a type of the variation if the variation is conformed to the specific signal. As a result, a mouse device is no longer needed for a user to accomplish a directional operation on the electronic device so as to prevent inconvenience of particularly carrying a mouse device.

Claims

1. A method for executing a mouse function of an electronic device, the electronic device comprising a sensor module, and the method comprising:

detecting an amount of a plurality of input signals and a relative position of the input signals via the sensor module;

judging whether the amount and the relative position are respectively conformed to a predetermined value;

if the predetermined values are conformed, and when a variation of the relative position of the input signals is occurred, judging whether the variation is conformed to a specific signal; and

if the variation is conformed to the specific signal, executing a corresponding mouse function according to a type of the variation.

2. The method for executing a mouse function of an electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensor module is a touch input unit, and the input signal is a touch signal.

3. The method for executing a mouse function of an electronic device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the variation represents that the touch signal is disappeared or a position thereof is shifted.

4. The method for executing a mouse function of an electronic device as claimed in claim 2, wherein if the predetermined values are conformed, and when the relative position of the input signals is varied, the step of determining whether the variation is conformed to the specific signal comprises:

judging the varied touch signal is conformed to a first specific signal if counting from a specific direction, the varied touch signal is an i-th touch signal of the touch signals; and

judging the varied touch signal is conformed to a second specific signal if counting from the specific direction, the varied touch signal is a j-th touch signal of the touch signals, wherein i and j are positive integers less than or equal to the predetermined value, and i is not equal to j.

5. The method for executing a mouse function of an electronic device as claimed in claim 4, wherein if the variation is conformed to the specific signal, the step of executing the corresponding mouse function according to the type of the variation comprises:

obtaining an amount of the touch signal detected by the touch input unit during a first time period when the varied touch signal is conformed to the first specific signal;

executing a function of single-clicking a left button of a mouse if the amount is 1; and

executing a function of double-clicking the left button of the mouse if the amount is 2.

6. The method for executing a mouse function of an electronic device as claimed in claim 5, wherein if the variation is conformed to the specific signal, the step of executing the corresponding mouse function according to the type of the variation comprises:

obtaining a motion track of the touch signal if a time for the touch input unit continually detecting the touch signal exceeds a second time period, and when the varied touch signal is conformed to the first specific signal, wherein the second time period is greater than the first time period; and

executing a mouse wheel function according to a direction of the motion track.

7. The method for executing a mouse function of an electronic device as claimed in claim 4, wherein if the variation is conformed to the specific signal, the step of executing the corresponding mouse function according to the type of the variation comprises:

obtaining an amount of the touch signal detected by the touch input unit during the first time period when the varied touch signal is conformed to the second specific signal; and

executing a function of single-clicking a right button of the mouse if the amount is 1.

8. The method for executing a mouse function of an electronic device as claimed in claim 4, wherein if the variation is conformed to the specific signal, the step of executing the corresponding mouse function according to the type of the variation comprises:

obtaining an amount of the varied touch signal detected by the touch input unit during the first time period when the varied touch signal is simultaneously conformed to the first specific signal and the second specific signal; and

executing a function of single-clicking a middle button of the mouse if the amount is 1.

9. The method for executing a mouse function of an electronic device as claimed in claim 2, wherein after the amount is judged to be conformed to the predetermined value, the method further comprises:

obtaining a motion track of the touch signal if a time for the touch input unit continually detecting the touch signals exceeds a third time period, and when the touch signals are simultaneously varied; and

correspondingly moving a mouse cursor according to the motion track.

10. The method for executing a mouse function of an electronic device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the touch input unit comprises a touch pad or a touch screen.

11. The method for executing a mouse function of an electronic device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the sensor module comprises an image capturing unit and a sensing unit, the image capturing unit is used for capturing an image of a hand, wherein the hand comprises at least a finger, and the input signals are motion variation signals of the finger that are detected by the sensing unit.

12. The method for executing a mouse function of an electronic device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the step of capturing the image of the hand comprises:

defining a specific region where the hand is located according to the image of the hand; and

judging whether the hand has a specific pose in the specific region for generating a motion variation signal.

13. The method for executing a mouse function of an electronic device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the specific signal is a motion variation signal of a specific finger.

14. The method for executing a mouse function of an electronic device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the specific pose comprises a vertical movement or a horizontal movement of the finger.

15. The method for executing a mouse function of an electronic device as claimed in claim 13, wherein if the predetermined values are conformed, and when the relative position of the input signals is varied, the step of determining whether the variation is conformed to the specific signal comprises:

judging the finger having the motion variation is conformed to a first specific finger if counting from a specific direction, the finger having the motion variation is an i-th finger of the fingers; and

judging the finger having the motion variation is conformed to a second finger if counting from the specific direction, the finger having the motion variation is a j-th finger of the fingers, wherein i and j are positive integers less than or equal to a predetermined value, and i is not equal to j.

16. The method for executing a mouse function of an electronic device as claimed in claim 15, wherein if the variation is conformed to the specific signal, the step of executing the corresponding mouse function according to the type of the variation comprises:

obtaining an amount of vertical movements of the finger during a first time period when the finger having the motion variation is conformed to the first specific finger;

executing a function of single-clicking a left button of the mouse if the amount is 1; and

executing a function of double-clicking the left button of the mouse if the amount is 2.

17. The method for executing a mouse function of an electronic device as claimed in claim 16, wherein if the variation is conformed to the specific signal, the step of executing the corresponding mouse function according to the type of the variation comprises:

obtaining a motion track of the finger if the finger is judged to be horizontally moved after a second time period, and when the finger having the motion variation is conformed to the first specific finger, wherein the second time period is greater than the first time period; and

executing a mouse wheel function according to a direction of the motion track.

18. The method for executing a mouse function of an electronic device as claimed in claim 15, wherein if the variation is conformed to the specific signal, the step of executing the corresponding mouse function according to the type of the variation comprises:

obtaining an amount of vertical movements of the finger during the first time period when the finger having the motion variation is conformed to the second specific finger; and

executing a function of single-clicking a right button of the mouse if the amount is 1.

19. The method for executing a mouse function of an electronic device as claimed in claim 15, wherein if the variation is conformed to the specific signal, the step of executing the corresponding mouse function according to the type of the variation comprises:

obtaining an amount of vertical movements of the finger by the sensing unit during the first time period when the finger having the motion variation is the first specific finger and the second specific finger; and

executing a function of single-clicking a middle button of the mouse if the amount is 1.

20. The method for executing a mouse function of an electronic device as claimed in claim 12, wherein after the step of judging whether the hand located at the specific region has the specific pose for generating the motion variation signal, the method further comprises:

obtaining a motion track of the finger if the fingers are horizontally moved after a third time period, and

moving a mouse cursor according to the motion track.

21. The method for executing a mouse function of an electronic device as claimed in claim 11, wherein the sensing unit includes an infrared projection device.

22. An electronic device having a mouse executing function, suitable for executing a plurality of mouse functions according to motion variations of a hand, the electronic device comprising:

a display, having a screen capable of displaying a mouse cursor;

a sensor module, coupled to the display for detecting an amount of a plurality of input signals and a relative position of the input signals; and

a judging module, simultaneously coupled to the display and the sensor module for judging whether the amount and the relative position are respectively conformed to a predetermined value, wherein if the predetermined values are conformed, and when the relative position of the input signals is varied, whether the variation is conformed to a specific signal is determined, and a corresponding mouse function is executed according to a type of the variation if the variation is conformed to the specific signal.

23. The electronic device as claimed in claim 22, wherein the sensor module is a touch input unit, and the input signal is a touch signal.

24. The electronic device as claimed in claim 23, wherein the variation represents that the touch signal is disappeared or a position thereof is shifted.

25. The electronic device as claimed in claim 23, wherein the judging module judges that the varied touch signal is conformed to a first specific signal if counting from a specific direction, the varied touch signal is an i-th touch signal of the touch signals;

and judges the varied touch signal is conformed to a second specific signal if counting from the specific direction, the varied touch signal is a j -th touch signal of the touch signals, wherein i and j are positive integers less than or equal to the predetermined value, and i is not equal to j.

26. The electronic device as claimed in claim 25, wherein the judging module obtains an amount of the touch signal detected by the touch input unit during a first time period when the varied touch signal is conformed to the first specific signal, and executes a function of single-clicking a left button of a mouse if the amount is 1, or executes a function of double-clicking the left button of the mouse and if the amount is 2.

27. The electronic device as claimed in claim 26, wherein when the varied touch signal is conformed to the first specific signal, and if a time for the touch input unit continually detecting the touch signal exceeds a second time period, the judging module obtains a motion track of the touch signal, and executes a mouse wheel function according to a direction of the motion track, wherein the second time period is greater than the first time period.

28. The electronic device as claimed in claim 25, wherein the judging module obtains an amount of the touch signal detected by the touch input unit during the first time period when the varied touch signal is conformed to the second specific signal, and executes a function of single-clicking a right button of the mouse if the amount is 1.

29. The electronic device as claimed in claim 25, wherein the judging module obtains an amount of the varied touch signal detected by the touch input unit during the first time period when the varied touch signal is simultaneously conformed to the first specific signal and the second specific signal, and executes a function of single-clicking a middle button of the mouse if the amount is 1.

30. The electronic device as claimed in claim 23, wherein when the judging module judges the touch signals are simultaneously varied, and if a time for the touch input unit continually detecting the touch signals exceeds a third time period, the judging module obtains a motion track of the touch signal, and correspondingly moves a mouse cursor according to the motion track.

31. The electronic device as claimed in claim 23, wherein the touch input unit comprises a touch pad or a touch screen.

32. The electronic device as claimed in claim 22, wherein the sensor module comprises an image capturing unit and a sensing unit, the image capturing unit is used for capturing an image of a hand, wherein the hand includes at least a finger, and the input signals are motion variation signals of the finger that are detected by the sensing unit.

33. The electronic device as claimed in claim 32, wherein the sensing unit defines a specific region where the hand is located according to the image of the hand, and the judging module judges whether the hand has a specific pose in the specific region for generating the motion variation signal.

34. The electronic device as claimed in claim 32, wherein the specific signal is a motion variation signal of a specific finger.

35. The electronic device as claimed in claim 33, wherein the specific pose comprises a vertical movement or a horizontal movement of the finger.

36. The electronic device as claimed in claim 34, wherein the judging module judges the finger having the motion variation is conformed to a first specific finger if counting from a specific direction, the finger having the motion variation is an i-th finger of the fingers, and judges the finger having the motion variation is conformed to a second finger if counting from the specific direction, the finger having the motion variation is a j-th touch signal of the fingers, wherein i and j are positive integers less than or equal to a predetermined value, and i is not equal to j.

37. The electronic device as claimed in claim 36, wherein the judging module obtains an amount of vertical movements of the finger during a first time period when the finger having the motion variation is conformed to the first specific finger, and executes a function of single-clicking a left button of the mouse if the amount is 1, and executes a function of double-clicking the left button of the mouse if the amount is 2.

38. The electronic device as claimed in claim 37, wherein the judging module obtains a motion track of the finger if the finger is judged to be horizontally moved after a second time period, and when the finger having the motion variation is conformed to the first specific finger, and executes a mouse wheel function according to a direction of the motion track, wherein the second time period is greater than the first time period.

39. The electronic device as claimed in claim 36, wherein the judging module obtains an amount of vertical movements of the finger during the first time period when the finger having the motion variation is conformed to the second specific finger, and executes a function of single-clicking a right button of the mouse if the amount is 1.

40. The electronic device as claimed in claim 36, wherein the judging module obtains an amount of vertical movements of the finger having the motion variation during the first time period when the finger having the motion variation is the first specific finger and the second specific finger, and executes a function of single-clicking a middle button of the mouse if the amount is 1.

41. The electronic device as claimed in claim 33, wherein the judging module obtains a motion track of the finger if the fingers are horizontally moved after the third time period, simultaneously, and moves the mouse cursor according to the motion track.

42. The electronic device as claimed in claim 32, wherein the sensing unit includes an infrared projection device.