Method of unlocking a mobile electronic device

• US 20100099394A1
• Filed: 10/17/2008
• Published: 04/22/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Snaptrack Incorporated (Qualcomm, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications USA Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Hainzl, Richard Andreas Axel
• Granted Patent: US 8,385,885 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/418
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/32 Means for saving power
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04105 Pressure sensors for measuring the pressure or force exerted on the touch surface without providing the touch position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 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: H04M 1/673 the user being required to key in a code
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/027 by controlling a display operation or backlight unit
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0274 by switching on or off the equipment or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A method of unlocking a mobile electronic device and a mobile electronic device are disclosed. The mobile electronic device is operable in a locked state with the touch screen of the mobile electronic device being deactivated. In an embodiment, the mobile electronic device comprises a pressure sensor coupled to the touch-screen for detecting an application of pressure to the touch screen.

Claims

1. A method of unlocking a mobile electronic device, wherein the mobile electronic device is in a locked state with a touch screen of the mobile electronic device being deactivated, the method comprising the steps of:

detecting with at least one pressure sensor coupled to the touch screen an application of pressure to the touch screen;

in response to the detecting of an application of pressure, determining if an unlock event occurred; and

if an unlock event occurred, unlocking the mobile electronic device by activating the touch screen.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining if an unlock event occurred comprises:

activating at least a touch sensitive touch panel of the touch screen;

detecting a touch of the touch screen as an input; and

if the detected input corresponds to a predetermined actuation of the touch screen, determining that an unlock event occurred.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the predetermined actuation of the touch screen comprises at least one actuation selected from a group comprising a touch of the touch screen by a pre-determined object;

a touch of the touch screen by an electrically grounded object;

a predetermined movement of an object on the touch screen;

a predetermined sequence of touches of the touch screen; and

a touch of the touch screen according to a predetermined pattern.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said pressure sensor is coupled to a first portion of the touch screen, the mobile electronic device further comprising at least one second pressure sensor coupled to a second portion of the touch screen for determining an area of the touch screen to which the pressure is applied,

wherein it is determined that an unlock event occurred if an application of pressure according-to a predetermined sequence to different areas of the touch screen is detected.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the application of the pressure to the touch screen is only detected if the applied pressure has a magnitude above a predetermined pressure threshold.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said pressure sensor is coupled to a first portion of the touch screen, the mobile electronic device further comprising at least one second pressure sensor coupled to a second portion of the touch screen for determining an area of the touch screen to which the pressure is applied,

wherein the determining if an unlock event occurred is only performed in response to detecting an application of pressure according to a predetermined sequence to different areas of the touch screen.

7. A mobile electronic device being operable in a locked state with a touch screen of the mobile electronic device being deactivated, the mobile electronic device comprising:

at least one pressure sensor coupled to the touch screen and adapted to detect an application of pressure to the touch screen;

a control unit adapted to determine if an unlock event occurred when the mobile electronic device is operating in said locked state and in response to the pressure sensor detecting an application of pressure to the touch screen, and, if an unlock event occurred, unlock the mobile electronic device by activating the touch screen.

8. The mobile electronic device of claim 7, wherein the pressure sensor comprises a piezoelectric sensor.

9. The mobile electronic device of claim 7, wherein the pressure sensor comprises a polyvinylidene fluoride film.

10. The mobile electronic device of claim 7, wherein the touch screen comprises a touch sensitive touch panel, and wherein the control unit is adapted to determine if an unlock event occurred by activating at least said touch panel, detecting a touch of the touch screen as an input, and, if the detected input corresponds to a predetermined actuation of the touch screen, determining that an unlock event occurred.

11. The mobile electronic device of claim 7, comprising at least two pressure sensors coupled to different portions of the touch screen, the control unit being adapted to determine an area of the touch screen to which pressure is applied when detecting the application of pressure to the touch screen by said at least two pressure sensors.

12. The mobile electronic device of claim 11, wherein the control unit is adapted to determine that an unlock event occurred if the application of pressure according to a predetermined sequence to different areas of the touch screen is detected.

13. The mobile electronic device of claim 7, further comprising a filter adapted to filter a pressure signal delivered by said at least one pressure sensor to said control unit so that the control unit is only informed of the application of pressure to the touch screen if the applied pressure has a magnitude above a predetermined pressure threshold.

14. The mobile electronic device of claim 7, wherein the mobile electronic device is selected from a group comprising a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant, a personal navigation device, a digital camera and a portable music player.

15. The mobile electronic device of claim 7, wherein the touch screen comprises a display, the at least one pressure sensor being a contact or an electrical switch integrated into the display.

16. A method of operating a mobile electronic device, wherein the mobile electronic device is in a locked state with a touch screen of the mobile electronic device being deactivated, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving at least one pressure signal from at least one pressure sensor coupled to the touch screen in response to an application of pressure to the touch screen;

activating at least a touch panel of the touch screen in response to receiving the pressure signal;

receiving an input signal from said touch panel in response to a touch of said touch screen; and

if the received input signal corresponds to a predetermined actuation of the touch screen, operating the mobile electronic device in an unlocked state with said touch screen being activated.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the touch panel is only activated if said pressure signal and at least one second pressure signal from a second pressure sensor coupled to said touch screen correspond to a predetermined actuation of the touch screen.

18. A mobile electronic device being operable in a locked state with a touch screen of the mobile electronic device being deactivated, said touch screen comprising a touch panel and being adapted to deliver an input signal in response to a touch of the touch screen, the mobile electronic device comprising:

at least one pressure sensor coupled to the touch screen and adapted to deliver a pressure signal upon an application of pressure to the touch screen;

a control unit adapted to activate at least said touch panel in response to receiving the pressure signal from said pressure sensor when the mobile electronic device is operating in said locked state, and operating the mobile electronic device in an unlocked state with said touch screen being activated if the input signal received from said touch panel in response to a touch of said touch screen corresponds to a predetermined actuation of the touch screen.

19. The mobile electronic device according to claim 18, wherein the touch panel is selected from a group comprising a capacitive touch screen panel, a resistive touch screen panel, an optical touch screen panel, and a total internal reflection based touch screen panel.