CONTROL OF INPUT/OUTPUT THROUGH TOUCH

• US 20100137027A1
• Filed: 05/15/2009
• Published: 06/03/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: KIM, Bong Soo
• Granted Patent: US 8,730,180 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/556.100
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6008 in the transmitter circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6016 in the receiver circuit
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6041 Portable telephones adapted for handsfree use
• 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: H04M 2250/52 including functional features of a camera constructional features concerning the integration of cameras in portable phones H04M1/0264
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/62 Control of parameters via user interfaces

Abstract

A mobile terminal including a speaker configured to output sound data, a microphone configured to receive voice data, a sensing unit configured to sense a touching operation of at least one of 1) the speaker or the microphone and 2) a neighborhood area of the speaker or the microphone, and a controller configured to control a volume of the speaker or the microphone based on the sensed touching operation of said at least one of 1) the speaker or the microphone and 2) the neighborhood area of the speaker or the microphone.

Claims

1. A mobile terminal, comprising:

a speaker configured to output sound data;

a microphone configured to receive voice data;

a sensing unit configured to sense a touching operation of at least one of

     1) the speaker or the microphone and

     2) a neighborhood area of the speaker or the microphone; and

a controller configured to control a volume of the speaker or the microphone based on the sensed touching operation of said at least one of

     1) the speaker or the microphone and

     2) the neighborhood area of the speaker or the microphone.

2. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the touching operation includes at least one of a contact touch and a proximity touch of said at least one of 1) the speaker or the microphone and 2) the neighborhood area of the speaker or the microphone.

3. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the touching operation includes a touch and drag operation of said at least one of 1) the speaker or the microphone and 2) the neighborhood area of the speaker or the microphone, and

wherein the controller is further configured to increase or decrease the volume of the speaker or the microphone based on a direction of the touch and drag operation.

4. The mobile terminal of claim 3, wherein the touch and drag operation includes a clockwise or counter-clockwise touch and drag operation in the neighborhood area of the speaker or microphone, and

wherein the controller is further configured to increase or decrease the volume of the speaker or the microphone based on the clockwise or counter-clockwise touch and drag operation in the neighborhood area of the speaker or microphone.

5. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the touching operation includes at least one direct touching operation of said at least one of 1) the speaker or the microphone and 2) the neighborhood area of the speaker or the microphone, and

wherein the controller is further configured to increase or decrease the volume of the speaker or the microphone based on a number of the at least one direct touching operation.

6. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the touching operation includes at least one direct touching of said at least one of 1) the speaker or the microphone and 2) the neighborhood area of the speaker or the microphone, and

wherein the controller is further configured to increase or decrease the volume of the speaker or the microphone based on a length of time of the touching operation.

7. The mobile terminal of claim 1, further comprising:

a mobile communication module configured to perform a calling function with at least one other terminal; and

a touch-screen display configured to display call information related to the calling function,

wherein the controller is further configured to control the touch-screen display to display a speaker phone function mode allowing a speakerphone mode to be selected on the mobile terminal when the touching operation includes touching the speaker or the neighborhood area of the speaker and dragging the touch into an area of the touch-screen display, and to control the display to display a microphone mute function mode allowing a microphone mute mode to be selected on the mobile terminal when the touching operation includes touching the microphone or the neighborhood area of the microphone and dragging the touch into an area of the touch-screen display.

8. The mobile terminal of claim 1, further comprising:

a mobile communication module configured to perform a calling function with at least one other terminal; and

a touch-screen display configured to display call information related to the calling function,

wherein the controller is further configured to control the touch-screen display to display a recording function mode allowing a record mode for recording the calling function to be selected on the mobile terminal when the touching operation includes touching the touch-screen display and dragging the touch to the speaker or the neighborhood area of the speaker.

9. A mobile terminal, comprising:

a camera configured to capture image data;

a sensing unit configured to sense a touching operation of at least one of the camera or a neighborhood area of the camera; and

a controller configured to control an operation of the camera based on the sensed touching operation of the camera.

10. The mobile terminal of claim 9, wherein the touching operation includes at least one of a contact touch and a proximity touch of said at least one of the camera and the neighborhood area of the camera.

11. The mobile terminal of claim 9, further comprising:

a touch-screen display configured to display information related to the mobile terminal,

wherein the touching operation includes a touch operation of the camera or the neighborhood area of the camera or a touch and drag operation which includes touching the camera or the neighborhood area of the camera and dragging the touch into an area of the touch-screen display, and

wherein the controller is further configured to turn on and off the camera based on the touching operation.

12. The mobile terminal of claim 9, further comprising:

a mobile communication module configured to perform a calling function with at least one other terminal; and

a touch-screen display configured to display call information related to the calling function,

wherein the controller is further configured to control the touch-screen display to display a video phone mode for the calling function when the touching operation includes touching the camera or the neighborhood area of the camera and dragging the touch to an area of the touch-screen display.

13. The mobile terminal of claim 10, wherein the controller is further configured to change a zooming function of the camera based on the touching operation.

14. A method of controlling a mobile terminal, the method comprising:

sensing a touching operation of at least one of

     1) a speaker or microphone included on the mobile terminal and

     2) a neighborhood area of the speaker or the microphone; and

controlling a volume of the speaker or the microphone based on the sensed touching operation of said at least one of

     1) the speaker or the microphone and

     2) the neighborhood area of the speaker or the microphone.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the touching operation includes at least one of a contact touch and a proximity touch of said at least one of 1) the speaker or the microphone and 2) the neighborhood area of the speaker or the microphone.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the touching operation includes a touch and drag operation of said at least one of 1) the speaker or the microphone and 2) the neighborhood area of the speaker or the microphone, and

wherein the controlling step increases or decreases the volume of the speaker or the microphone based on a direction of the touch and drag operation.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the touch and drag operation includes a clockwise or counter-clockwise touch and drag operation in the neighborhood area of the speaker or microphone, and

wherein the controlling step increases or decreases the volume of the speaker or the microphone based on the clockwise or counter-clockwise touch and drag operation in the neighborhood area of the speaker or microphone.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the touching operation includes at least one direct touching operation of said at least one of 1) the speaker or the microphone and 2) the neighborhood area of the speaker or the microphone, and

wherein the controlling step increases or decreases the volume of the speaker or the microphone based on a number of the at least one direct touching operation.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein the touching operation includes at least one direct touching of said at least one of 1) the speaker or the microphone and 2) the neighborhood area of the speaker or the microphone, and

wherein the controlling step increases or decreases the volume of the speaker or the microphone based on a length of time of the touching operation.

20. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

performing a calling function with at least one other terminal; and

displaying call information related to the calling function,

wherein the displaying step displays a speaker phone function mode allowing a speakerphone mode to be selected on the mobile terminal when the touching operation includes touching the speaker or the neighborhood area of the speaker and dragging the touch into an area of the touch-screen display, and displays a microphone mute function mode allowing a microphone mute mode to be selected on the mobile terminal when the touching operation includes touching the microphone or the neighborhood area of the microphone and dragging the touch into an area of the touch-screen display.

21. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

performing a calling function with at least one other terminal; and

displaying call information related to the calling function,

wherein the displaying step displays a recording function mode allowing a record mode for recording the calling function to be selected on the mobile terminal when the touching operation includes touching the touch-screen display and dragging the touch to the speaker or the neighborhood area of the speaker.

22. A method of controlling a mobile terminal, the method comprising:

sensing a touching operation of at least one of a camera included on the mobile terminal or a neighborhood area of the camera; and

controlling an operation of the camera based on the sensed touching operation of the camera.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the touching operation includes at least one of a contact touch and a proximity touch of said at least one of the camera and the neighborhood area of the camera.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the touching operation includes a touch operation of the camera or the neighborhood area of the camera or a touch and drag operation which includes touching the camera or the neighborhood area of the camera and dragging the touch into an area of a touch-screen display included on the mobile terminal, and

wherein the controlling step turns on and off the camera based on the touching operation.

25. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

performing a calling function with at least one other terminal; and

displaying on a touch-screen display of the mobile terminal call information related to the calling function,

wherein the displaying step displays a video phone mode for the calling function when the touching operation includes touching the camera or the neighborhood area of the camera and dragging the touch to an area of the touch-screen display.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein the controlling step further comprises changing a zooming function of the camera based on the touching operation.