METHOD OF GENERATING KEY CODE IN COORDINATE RECOGNITION DEVICE AND VIDEO DEVICE CONTROLLER USING THE SAME

• US 20100090968A1
• Filed: 04/18/2007
• Published: 04/15/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Lee, Jae Kyung, Heo, Ji Min
• Granted Patent: US 8,525,803 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0339 Touch strips, e.g. orthogonal touch strips to control cursor movement or scrolling; single touch strip to adjust parameter or to implement a row of soft keys
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/023 Arrangements for converting discrete items of information into a coded form, e.g. arrangements for interpreting keyboard generated codes as alphanumeric codes, operand codes or instruction codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0338 with detection of limited linear or angular displacement of an operating part of the device from a neutral position, e.g. isotonic or isometric joysticks
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42212 Specific keyboard arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42224 Touch pad or touch panel provided on the remote control

Abstract

A controller (101) and method for generating a key code enable key code generation by a single instance of manipulation of the controller (101) by a user, obviating repetitive keypad manipulation and thereby facilitating controller operation. A plurality of direction keys for determining a shifting direction of an object within an OSD image are provided beneath a surface of a touch pad (110) and are arranged to perform corresponding functions of the touch pad (110). The controller (101) includes a touch pad (110) having a predetermined touch pattern; a coordinate recognition unit (120) for recognizing coordinate values corresponding to a touch trajectory executed with respect to the touch pad (110); a key signal input unit (130), having a plurality of key input buttons, for generating a key signal according to a user selection of at least one of the key input buttons, the plurality of key input buttons disposed beneath the touch pad (110) and arranged according to the predetermined pattern; a system controller (140) for calculating values of at least one of a direction, speed, and distance of the touch trajectory using the recognized coordinate values and for outputting a command signal based on the calculated values and the key signal; and a key code generator (150) for generating a key code corresponding to the command signal.

Claims

1. A controller, comprising:

a touch pad having a predetermined touch pattern;

a coordinate recognition unit for recognizing coordinate values corresponding to a touch trajectory executed with respect to said touch pad;

a key signal input unit, having a plurality of key input buttons, for generating a key signal according to a user selection of at least one of the key input buttons, the plurality of key input buttons disposed beneath said touch pad and arranged according to the predetermined pattern;

a system controller for calculating values of at least one of a direction, speed, and distance of the touch trajectory using the recognized coordinate values and for outputting a command signal based on the calculated values and the key signal; and

a key code generator for generating a key code corresponding to the command signal.

2. The controller of claim 1, wherein the predetermined pattern of the touch pad is divided into a plurality of focus areas.

3. The controller of claim 2, wherein each focus area of the touch pad corresponds to one of the plurality of key input buttons.

4. The controller of claim 2, wherein each focus area of the touch pad corresponds to a separate function of a device under control of the controller.

5. The controller of claim 1, said key signal input unit comprising:

a selection key configured to select one of an active operation of said touch pad and an active operation of the plurality of key input buttons.

6. The controller of claim 5, wherein the selection key is disposed beneath the touch pad and is arranged in a hollow of the predetermined pattern.

7. The controller of claim 1, said key signal input unit comprising:

a selection key disposed beneath the touch pad and is arranged in a hollow of the predetermined pattern,

wherein, if one of a plurality of displayed OSD items is selected using the touch pad, operation of the selection key confirms a function corresponding to the selected OSD item.

8. The controller of claim 1, the plurality of key input buttons comprising:

a set of first-function keys respectively corresponding to a first set of focus areas of the predetermined pattern of said touch pad; and

a set of second-function keys respectively corresponding to a second set of focus areas of the predetermined pattern of said touch pad.

9. The controller of claim 8, wherein the first-function keys include a plurality of direction keys for moving an object of a device under control of the controller and wherein the second-function keys include a plurality of function keys for controlling functions of the device under control.

10. The controller of claim 9, wherein the plurality of direction keys includes at least one a play key, a pause key, a rewind key, and a fast-forward key.

11. The controller of claim 9, wherein the plurality of direction keys includes at least one a normal play key, a stop key, a reverse play key, and a fast play key.

12. The controller of claim 9, wherein the plurality of function keys includes at least one of up/down key and at least one left/right key.

13. The controller of claim 8, the plurality of key input buttons further comprising:

a selection key configured to select one of an active operation of said touch pad and an active operation of the plurality of key input buttons.

14. The controller of claim 1, the plurality of key input buttons comprising:

a plurality of direction keys corresponding to an up key, a down key, a left key, and a right key, respectively;

a confirmation key disposed under an open central area of said touch pad;

a time-shifting play key;

a time-shifting stop key;

a time-shifting reverse-play key; and

a time-shifting fast-play key.

15. The controller of claim 1, the plurality of key input buttons comprising:

four direction keys including an arrow key corresponding to each of an up direction, a down direction, a left direction, and a right direction.

16. The controller of claim 15, the plurality of key input buttons further comprising:

a confirmation key disposed under an open central area of the touch pad and configured to select one of an active operation of said touch pad and an active operation of any one of the four direction keys.

17. The controller of claim 15, wherein the command signal is configured to shift an object displayed on a video device according to the generated key code, the object being shifted in a direction corresponding to an operation of the four direction keys.

18. The controller of claim 17, the plurality of key input buttons further comprising:

a confirmation key disposed under an open central area of said touch pad,

wherein, if one of a plurality of displayed OSD items is selected using the touch pad, operation of the confirmation key confirms a function corresponding to the selected OSD item.

19. The controller of claim 1, further comprising:

a wireless signal generator for generating a wireless signal corresponding to the key code; and

a wireless signal transmitter for transmitting the wireless signal to a video device.

20. The controller of claim 1, wherein the plurality of key input buttons of said key signal input unit are integrally formed with said touch pad as one unified body.

21. A method of generating a key code in a controller having a touch pad of a predetermined touch pattern and a plurality of key input buttons disposed beneath the touch pad and arranged according to the predetermined pattern, the method comprising:

generating a first command signal in response to a touch trajectory executed with respect to the touch pad, the first command signal being generated by recognizing coordinate values corresponding to the touch trajectory and by calculating at least one value of a direction, speed, and distance of the touch trajectory using the recognized coordinate values;

generating, in response to a user selection of at least one of the key input buttons, a second command signal according to the user selection; and

outputting a key code corresponding to one of the first and second command signals.

22. The method of claim 21, wherein the first command signal corresponds to the calculated values and wherein the second command signal corresponds to the selected key input button.

23. The method of claim 21, wherein the predetermined pattern of the touch pad is divided into a plurality of focus areas and wherein each focus area of the touch pad corresponds to one of the plurality of key input buttons.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein, while an OSD function of a video device is turned on, one of the touch pad and the plurality of key input buttons is used as a set of direction keys for shifting an object in a specific direction within an OSD image of the video device.

25. The method of claim 21, wherein, while an OSD function of a video device is turned off, operation of one of the touch pad and the plurality of key input buttons is recognized for a channel adjustment of the video device.

26. The method of claim 21, wherein, while an OSD function of a video device is turned off, operation of one of the touch pad and the plurality of key input buttons is recognized for a volume adjustment of the video device.

27. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

determining, in response to an actuation via the touch pad of one of the plurality of key input buttons, a finger position with respect to the touch pad,

wherein, if information of the finger position fails to match position information of the actuated key input button, the second command signal is preferentially generated according to the key input button corresponding to the finger position information.