ELECTRONIC DEVICE WITH UNLOCKING FUNCTION AND METHOD THEREOF

• US 20120050009A1
• Filed: 11/22/2010
• Published: 03/01/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/25/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: FIH (Hong Kong) Limited (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Foxconn Communication Technology Corp. (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: HSIEH, HSING-CHUN
• Granted Patent: US 8,760,259 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/5.51
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/36 by graphic or iconic representation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

An electronic device with unlocking function includes an accelerometer, an unlocking module, a touch screen and a storage. The accelerometer detects a direction of movement of the electronic device. The touch screen provides output and input for the electronic device. The touch screen detects a contact path of a user when the user contacts the touch screen. When the contact path matches an unlocking path stored in the storage, the electronic device is unlocked.

Claims

1. A method for unlocking an electronic device comprising a touch screen, the method comprising:

configuring a first unlocking image on the touch screen;

constructing an unlocking path displaying on the touch screen according to the first unlocking image;

recording a contact path, constructed by coordinates of the touch screen, defined by a user contacting the touch screen;

comparing the unlocking path with the contact path; and

unlocking the electronic device if the unlocking path matches with the contact path.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first unlocking image further comprises an unlocking track and an unlocking object.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining whether the time period exceeds a predefined unlocking period in real time; and

renewing the unlocking path if the time period exceeds the predefined unlocking period.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of recording a contact path on the touch screen comprises:

recording the contact path constructed on the touch screen by receiving output from an accelerometer of the electronic device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of comparing the unlocking path with the path comprises:

comparing the unlocking path with the contact path according to the multiple coordinates in a configuration sequence.

8. The electronic device of claim 2, wherein the configuration module stores the unlocking path in the storage.

6. An electronic device comprising an accelerometer, a touch screen, a storage and a processor, comprising:

a receiving module that receives output from the accelerometer to construct an unlocking path on the touch screen;

a process module that determines whether the changes of gravity direction of the electronic device, as measured by the accelerometer, matches a contact path constructed on the touch screen; and

an unlocking module that unlocks the electronic device from a locked state if the unlocking path matches with the contact path, wherein the receiving module, the process module and the unlocking module are stored in the storage and controlled by the processor.

7. The electronic device of claim 6, further comprising a configuration module to configure the unlocking path to unlock the electronic device.

9. The electronic device of claim 6, wherein the touch screen outputs a message to inform a user when the electronic device is unlocked.