METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR UNLOCKING A PORTABLE TERMINAL USING PIEZOELECTRIC SENSORS

• US 20100090564A1
• Filed: 09/14/2009
• Published: 04/15/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Shin, Seung Woo, OH, Jung Yeob
• Granted Patent: US 8,536,765 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 310/328
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/67 by electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72403 with means for local support of applications that increase the functionality
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for unlocking a portable terminal, and more particularly, to a method and apparatus for unlocking a portable terminal capable of canceling a hold state of the portable terminal without using a hold key. A portable terminal may include at least one piezoelectric sensor. When a squeeze operation signal is generated as pressure is applied to the at least one piezoelectric sensor, the hold state of the portable terminal is canceled.

Claims

1. A portable terminal, comprising:

at least one piezoelectric sensor positioned on at least one side of the portable terminal and configured to generate a voltage difference when a pressure is applied on the at least one piezoelectric sensor; and

a controller to cancel a hold state of the portable terminal in response to a squeeze operation signal, the squeeze operation signal being generated in response to the pressure being greater than or equal to a threshold level.

2. The portable terminal of claim 1, wherein the at least one piezoelectric sensor comprises:

a first piezoelectric sensor positioned on a first side of the portable terminal; and

a second piezoelectric sensor positioned on a second side of the portable terminal.

3. The portable terminal of claim 2, wherein the controller cancels the hold state of the portable terminal if the pressure is simultaneously applied to the first piezoelectric sensor and the second piezoelectric sensor.

4. The portable terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller executes a preset function upon cancellation of the hold state.

5. The portable terminal of claim 4, wherein the preset function comprises a function list that lists functions available in the portable terminal.

6. The portable terminal of claim 5, further comprising a storage unit to store a usage history for each function of the portable terminal.

7. The portable terminal of claim 6, wherein the preset function comprises one of a function selected and predefined by a user of the portable terminal, a function performed most recently according to the usage history, and a function most frequently performed during a predetermined period of time.

8. The portable terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller terminates power supplied to a display unit of the portable terminal and sets the portable terminal to the hold state if an input signal is not received for a determined period of time.

9. The portable terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller cancels the hold state if the squeeze operation signal is input, and sets the portable terminal to the hold state if the squeeze operation signal is not input.

10. A method of unlocking a portable device using a piezoelectric sensor, the method comprising:

generating a squeeze operation signal in response to application of a pressure to at least one piezoelectric sensor, the pressure having a pressure level being greater than a threshold level; and

canceling a hold state of the portable terminal in response to the generation of the squeeze operation signal.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

positioning a first piezoelectric sensor on a first side of the portable terminal; and

positioning a second piezoelectric sensor on a second side of the portable terminal.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the squeeze operation signal is generated when the pressure is simultaneously applied to the first piezoelectric sensor and the second piezoelectric sensor.

13. The method of claim 10, further comprising performing a predefined function upon canceling the hold state of the portable terminal.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein performing a predefined function comprises displaying, on a display unit, a function list that lists functions available in the portable terminal.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein performing a predefined function comprises performing one of a function selected and predefined by a user of the portable terminal, a function performed most recently according to a usage history, and a function most frequently performed during a determined period of time.

16. The method of claim 10, further comprising one of:

canceling the hold state of the portable terminal if the squeeze operation signal is input, and setting the portable terminal to the hold state if the squeeze operation signal is not input; and

setting the portable terminal to the hold state if an input signal is not received for a determined period of time.

17. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one piezoelectric sensor to detect a pressure associated with a touch of a user of the apparatus;

a controller configured to operate the apparatus in a first mode and a second mode and to receive a first signal from the at least one piezoelectric sensor; and

a display unit to receive, from the controller, an activation signal in response to the first signal,

wherein, in response to receiving the first signal, the controller cancels the first mode and executes a function in the second mode if the pressure is greater than a threshold value.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the at least one piezoelectric sensor comprises:

a first piezoelectric sensor on a first side of the apparatus; and

a second piezoelectric sensor on a second side of the apparatus, the second side being situated on an opposite side of the apparatus relative to the first side, and

wherein the pressure is applied simultaneously to the first piezoelectric sensor and the second piezoelectric sensor.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the first mode comprises a hold mode of the apparatus and the second mode comprises an active mode of the apparatus,

wherein, in the hold mode, the controller does not respond to an input of the user,

wherein, in the active mode, the controller executes a function, and

wherein if the pressure is less than the threshold value, the controller operates in the first mode, and

wherein, if no user input is detected and the display unit is not activated for a predetermined period of time, the controller operates in the first mode.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the function comprises one of a function selected and predefined by the user, a function performed most recently according to a usage history stored in a storage unit of the apparatus, and a function most frequently performed during a determined period of time.