APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR ELECTRONIC DEVICE CONTROL

• US 20110012849A1
• Filed: 04/21/2010
• Published: 01/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/15/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: CHO, Cheon-yong, CHO, Seung-kee, LEE, In-ki, CHOI, Jin-wook
• Application Number:
  US12/764,697
• Publication Number:
  US 20110012849A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3203 Power management, i.e. event-based initiation of a power-saving mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1632 Pen holder integrated in the computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus

Abstract

Provided are a method and apparatus for controlling an electronic device having a removable stylus for operating a touch screen of the electronic device, and at least one button for operating the electronic device, the method including: determining whether the stylus is removed from the electronic device, and deactivating the at least one button if the stylus is removed from the electronic device.

Claims

1. A method for controlling an electronic device having a removable stylus for operating a touch screen of the electronic device, and at least one button for operating the electronic device, the method comprising:

determining whether the stylus is removed from the electronic device; and

deactivating the at least one button if the stylus is removed from the electronic device.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

activating the touch screen if the stylus is removed from the electronic device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

deactivating the touch screen if the stylus is inserted into the electronic device.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

activating the at least one button if the stylus is inserted into the electronic device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one button is part of the touch screen.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the at least one button is separate from the touch screen.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the deactivating of the at least one button is performed by switching off power to the at least one button.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the deactivating of the at least one button is performed by ignoring input from the at least one button.

9. The method of claim 3, wherein the deactivating of the touch screen is performed by switching off power to the touch screen.

10. The method of claim 3, wherein the deactivating of the touch screen is performed by ignoring input from the touch screen.

11. A method for controlling an electronic device having an insertable stylus for operating a touch screen of the electronic device, and at least one button for operating the electronic device, the method comprising:

determining whether the stylus is inserted into the electronic device; and

enabling the at least one button if the stylus is inserted into the electronic device.

12. An apparatus comprising:

a removable stylus;

a touch screen which is operable with the stylus;

at least one button for operating the apparatus; and

a controller which determines whether the stylus is removed from the apparatus and disables the at least one button if the stylus is removed from the apparatus.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the controller enables the touch screen if the stylus is removed from the apparatus.

14. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the controller disables the touch screen if the stylus is inserted into the apparatus.

15. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the controller enables the at least one button if the stylus is inserted into the apparatus.

16. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the at least one button is part of the touch screen.

17. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the at least one button is separate from the touch screen.

18. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the controller disables the at least one button by switching off power to the at least one button.

19. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the controller disables the at least one button by ignoring input from the at least one button.

20. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the controller disables the touch screen by switching off power to the touch screen.

21. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the controller disables the touch screen by ignoring input from the touch screen.