Method for selecting functional icons on touch screen

• US 20110138275A1
• Filed: 05/12/2010
• Published: 06/09/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Fonestock Technology Inc.
• Original Assignee: Fonestock Technology Inc.
• Inventors: Yu, Jo Hai
• Application Number:
  US12/800,351
• Publication Number:
  US 20110138275A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/702
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• 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

Abstract

A method for selecting functional icons is provided for use with an electronic device having a touch screen. A plurality of functional icons are shown on the touch screen, in which each functional icon represents an executable function of the electronic device. The method comprises the steps of: when the touch screen is touched, selecting a functional icon corresponding to the touched position, and showing an enlarged image corresponding to that selected functional icon; if the touched position is moved, selecting a new functional icon according to the vector of movement of the touched position, and showing an enlarged image corresponding to the newly selected functional icon; and if the touched position is relieved, activating the executable function represented by the functional icon corresponding to the enlarged image shown on the touch screen.

Claims

1. A method for selecting functional icons on a touch screen, applicable to an electronic device with the touch screen, the method comprising steps of:

starting the method for selecting functional icons;

displaying a plurality of functional icons on the touch screen, wherein each said functional icon represents an executable function;

detecting a touched state of the touch screen; and

if the touch screen is touched at a position thereof, selecting from the plurality of functional icons a said functional icon that corresponds to the touched position, and displaying on the touch screen an enlarged image corresponding to the selected functional icon; and

continuing detecting the touched state of the touch screen;

if the touched position is displaced to a new location, selecting another said functional icon according to a vector of displacement of the touched position, and displaying on the touch screen an enlarged image that corresponds to the newly selected functional icon; and

if the touched state is released, activating a said executable function represented by the newly selected functional icon corresponding to the enlarged image displayed.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein each said enlarged image is larger than the corresponding functional icon.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein each said enlarged image is one of:

(i) a proportionally enlarged image of the selected functional icon, (ii) an image larger than the selected functional icon and corresponding to the executable function represented by the selected functional icon, (iii) a motion picture corresponding to the executable function represented by the selected functional icon, and (iv) an image including explanatory text corresponding to the executable function represented by the selected functional icon.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising issuing a sound by the electronic device to signal that a said functional icon is selected, while a corresponding said enlarged image is displayed.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the selecting from the plurality of functional icons a said functional icon that corresponds to the touched position comprises selecting a said functional icon nearest to the touched position.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the touch screen is divided into a plurality of sensing regions extending parallel from and corresponding to the plurality of functional icons respectively, such that when the touch screen is touched, the touch screen senses a touched region, and the selecting from the plurality of functional icons a said functional icon that corresponds to the touch position comprises selecting a said functional icon that corresponds to a said sensing region having a largest overlapping area with the touched region.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the touch screen comprises a function window in which the plurality of functional icons are arranged, and a main display window in which a said enlarged image is displayed, such that the enlarged image displayed in the main display window does not cover any said functional icon in the function window.

8. A method for selecting functional icons on a touch screen, applicable to an electronic device with the touch screen, wherein the touch screen is divided into a function window and a main display window and is configured to display a plurality of functional icons in the function window, each said functional icon representing an executable function, the method comprising steps of:

when the touch screen is touched at a position thereof, selecting from the plurality of functional icons a said functional icon that corresponds to the touched position, and displaying in the main display window an image corresponding to the selected functional icon;

if the touched position is relieved, activating a said executable function represented by the functional icon corresponding to the image displayed in the main display window; and

if the touched position is not relieved but is displaced to a new location, selecting another said functional icon according to a vector of displacement of the touched position, and displaying in the main display window an image corresponding to the newly selected functional icon,

wherein the image displayed in the main display window does not cover any said functional icon in the function window.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein said image displayed in the main display window is larger than the corresponding functional icon.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein said image displayed in the main display window is one of:

(i) a proportionally enlarged image of the selected functional icon, (ii) an image larger than the selected functional icon and corresponding to the executable function represented by the selected functional icon, (iii) a motion picture corresponding to the executable function represented by the selected functional icon, and (iv) an image including explanatory text corresponding to the executable function represented by the selected functional icon.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising issuing a sound by the electronic device to signal that a said functional icon is selected, while a corresponding said image is displayed.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the selecting from the plurality of functional icons a said functional icon that corresponds to the touched position comprises selecting a said functional icon nearest to the touched position.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the touch screen is divided into a plurality of sensing regions extending parallel from and corresponding to the plurality of functional icons respectively, such that when the touch screen is touched, the touch screen senses a touched region, and the selecting from the plurality of functional icons a said functional icon that corresponds to the touch position comprises selecting a said functional icon that corresponds to a said sensing region having a largest overlapping area with the touched region.