DISTINGUISHING INPUT SIGNALS DETECTED BY A MOBILE TERMINAL

• US 20090322497A1
• Filed: 04/27/2009
• Published: 12/31/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: CHO, Seon Hwi, KU, Ja Hoon, KIM, Jong Hwan
• Granted Patent: US 8,531,319 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/407.2
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1624 with sliding enclosures, e.g. sliding keyboard or display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1643 the display being associated to a digitizer, e.g. laptops that can be used as penpads details related to the relative motion of the display enclosure with respect to the body enclosure, e.g. to move between laptop and tablet PC configuration G06F1/1615
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/014 Force feedback applied to GUI
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04808 Several contacts: gestures triggering a specific function, e.g. scrolling, zooming, right-click, when the user establishes several contacts with the surface simultaneously; e.g. using several fingers or a combination of fingers and pen
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0416 Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers
• 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

A method of distinguishing input signals detected by a mobile terminal is provided. The method comprises detecting at least a first and a second input signal, wherein a first vibration signal is associated with the first input signal and a second vibration signal is associated with the second input signal; and outputting a combined vibration signal corresponding to at least the first and second input signals. The first and second input signals may be proximity signals, touch signals, or a combination thereof. The combined vibration signal may be outputted according to a characteristic of at least the first and second input signals.

Claims

1. A method of distinguishing input signals detected by a mobile terminal, the method comprising:

detecting a proximity signal and a touch signal inputted to the mobile terminal, wherein a first vibration signal is associated with the proximity signal and a second vibration is associated with the touch signal;

determining a first location through which the proximity signal is inputted and a second location through which the touch signal is inputted; and

outputting a combined vibration signal that is a mix of the first and the second vibration signals, in response to determining that the first and second locations are the same.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising outputting the first vibration signal, in response to determining that the first and second locations are different.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising outputting the second vibration signal, in response to determining that the first and second locations are different.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying an execution screen corresponding to the first location, in response to determining that the first and second locations are the same.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the combined vibration signal is an addition or subtraction of the first and second vibration signals.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the first or second vibration signal is generated by a user.

7. A method of distinguishing proximity signals detected by a proximity sensor of a mobile terminal, the method comprising:

detecting a first proximity signal at a first proximity distance from the proximity sensor and a second proximity signal at a second proximity distance from the proximity sensor, wherein a first vibration signal is associated with the first proximity signal and a second vibration signal is associated with the second proximity signal; and

outputting a combined vibration signal corresponding to the first and second proximity signals.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising outputting the first vibration signal.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the combined vibration signal is an addition or subtraction of the first and second vibration signals.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein the first or second vibration signal is generated by a user.

11. A method of distinguishing touch signals detected by a touch screen of a mobile terminal, the method comprising:

detecting a first touch signal inputted at a first area of the touch screen and a second touch signal inputted at a second area of the touch screen, wherein a first vibration signal is associated with the first touch signal and a second vibration signal is associated with the second touch signal; and

outputting a combined vibration signal corresponding to the first and second touch signals.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the combined vibration signal is an addition or subtraction of the first and second vibration signals.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the combined vibration signal is outputted according to a distance between the first area and the second area.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising detecting a third touch signal inputted at a third area of the touch screen and a fourth touch signal inputted at a fourth area of the touch screen, wherein the combined vibration signal is outputted according to a change in a distance between the first and second areas and a distance between the third and fourth areas.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising detecting a third touch signal inputted at a third area of the touch screen and a fourth touch signal inputted at a fourth area of the touch screen, wherein the combined vibration signal is outputted according to a speed difference between the first and second touch signals inputted through the first and second areas and the third and fourth touch signals inputted through the third and fourth areas.

16. The method of claim 11, further comprising outputting a first alarm vibration, in response to determining that the first and second touch signals enlarge or maximize an image displayed on the touch screen.

17. The method of claim 11, further comprising outputting a second alarm vibration in response to determining that the first and second touch signals reduce or minimize an image displayed on the touch screen.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein the first or second vibration signal is generated by a user.

19. A method of distinguishing input signals detected by a mobile terminal, the method comprising:

detecting at least a first and a second input signal, wherein a first vibration signal is associated with the first input signal and a second vibration signal is associated with the second input signal; and

outputting a combined vibration signal corresponding to at least the first and second input signals.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the first and second input signals are proximity signals detected by a proximity sensor of the mobile terminal.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein proximity signals are detected at different proximity speeds through the proximity sensor.

22. The method of claim 20, wherein the proximity signals are detected at different proximity areas through the proximity sensor.

23. The method of claim 20, wherein the proximity signals are detected at different locations by the proximity sensor.

24. The method of claim 19, wherein the first and second input signals are touch signals inputted through a touch screen of the mobile terminal.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the touch signals are inputted through different areas of the touch screen.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein the touch signals are inputted with different pressures through the touch screen.

27. The method of claim 19, wherein the first or second vibration signal is generated by a user.

28. A mobile terminal comprising:

a proximity sensor for detecting a proximity signal and a touch signal inputted to the mobile terminal, wherein a first vibration signal is associated with the proximity signal;

a touch screen for detecting touch signal inputted to the mobile terminal, wherein a second vibration is associated with the touch signal;

a controller for determining a first location through which the proximity signal is inputted and a second location through which the touch signal is inputted; and

a haptic module for outputting a combined vibration signal corresponding to the proximity signal and the touch signal, in response to determining that the first and second locations are the same.

29. The mobile terminal of claim 28, wherein the haptic module is further for outputting the first vibration signal, in response to determining that the first and second locations are different.

30. The mobile terminal of claim 28, wherein the haptic module is further for outputting the second vibration signal, in response to determining that the first and second locations are different.

31. The mobile terminal of claim 28, wherein the controller is further for displaying an execution screen corresponding to the first location, in response to determining that the first and second locations are the same.

32. The mobile terminal of claim 28, wherein the combined vibration signal is an addition or subtraction of the first and second vibration signals.

33. The mobile terminal of claim 28, wherein the first or second vibration signal is generated by a user.

34. A mobile terminal comprising:

a proximity sensor for detecting a first proximity signal at a first proximity distance from the proximity sensor and a second proximity signal at a second proximity distance from the proximity sensor, wherein a first vibration signal is associated with the first proximity signal and a second vibration signal is associated with the second proximity signal; and

a haptic module for outputting a combined vibration signal corresponding to the first and second proximity signals.

35. The mobile terminal of claim 34, wherein the haptic module is further for outputting the first vibration signal.

36. The mobile terminal of claim 34, wherein the combined vibration signal is an addition or subtraction of the first and second vibration signals.

37. The mobile terminal of claim 34, wherein the first or second vibration signal is generated by a user.

38. A mobile terminal comprising:

a touch screen for detecting a first touch signal inputted at a first area of the touch screen and a second touch signal inputted at a second area of the touch screen, wherein a first vibration signal is associated with the first touch signal and a second vibration signal is associated with the second touch signal; and

a haptic module for outputting a combined vibration signal corresponding to the first and second touch signals.

39. The mobile terminal of claim 38, wherein the combined vibration signal is an addition or subtraction of the first and second vibration signals.

40. The mobile terminal of claim 38, wherein the combined vibration signal is outputted according to a distance between the first area and the second area.

41. The mobile terminal of claim 38, the touch screen is further for detecting a third touch signal inputted at a third area of the touch screen and a fourth touch signal inputted at a fourth area of the touch screen, wherein the combined vibration signal is outputted according to a change in a distance between the first and second areas and a distance between the third and fourth areas.

42. The mobile terminal of claim 38, the touch screen is further for detecting a third touch signal inputted at a third area of the touch screen and a fourth touch signal inputted at a fourth area of the touch screen, wherein the combined vibration signal is outputted according to a speed difference between the first and second touch signals inputted through the first and second areas and the third and fourth touch signals inputted through the third and fourth areas.

43. The mobile terminal of claim 38, wherein the haptic module is further for outputting a first alarm vibration, in response to determining that the first and second touch signals enlarge or maximize an image displayed on the touch screen.

44. The mobile terminal of claim 38, wherein the haptic module is further for outputting a second alarm vibration in response to determining that the first and second touch signals reduce or minimize an image displayed on the touch screen.

45. The mobile terminal of claim 38, wherein the first or second vibration signal is generated by a user.

46. A mobile terminal comprising:

a detection unit for detecting at least a first and a second input signal, wherein a first vibration signal is associated with the first input signal and a second vibration signal is associated with the second input signal; and

a haptic module for outputting a combined vibration signal corresponding to at least the first and second input signals.

47. The mobile terminal of claim 46, wherein the first and second input signals are proximity signals detected by a proximity sensor.

48. The mobile terminal of claim 47, wherein proximity signals are detected at different proximity speeds through the proximity sensor.

49. The mobile terminal of claim 47, wherein the proximity signals are detected at different proximity areas through the proximity sensor.

50. The mobile terminal of claim 47, wherein the proximity signals are detected at different locations by the proximity sensor.

51. The mobile terminal of claim 46, wherein the first and second input signals are touch signals inputted through a touch screen.

52. The mobile terminal of claim 51, wherein the touch signals are inputted through different areas of the touch screen.

53. The mobile terminal of claim 51, wherein the touch signals are inputted with different pressures through the touch screen.

54. The mobile terminal of claim 46, wherein the first or second vibration signal is generated by a user.