METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR TOUCH INPUT FOR ELECTRONIC DEVICE

• US 20120162084A1
• Filed: 12/16/2011
• Published: 06/28/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Lee, Sang-Cheol
• Granted Patent: US 9,372,615 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/169
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0626 for control of overall brightness
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/36 characterised by the display of a graphic pattern, e.g. using an all-points-addressable [APA] memory

Abstract

An apparatus and a method for a touch screen in an electronic device. The method includes determining whether a constant touch input is detected. The method also includes, when a constant touch input is detected, determining whether an input of an additional key button of the device is detected. The method further includes, when the input of the additional key button is detected, performing a second function that is different than a first function of the additional key button. Since a separate new additional function may be intuitively performed besides a unique function of the additional key button by pressing the touch screen and the additional key button together, user convenience of the device increases.

Claims

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

determining whether a constant touch input is detected;

when the constant touch input is detected, determining whether an input of an additional key button of the device is detected; and

when the input of the additional key button is detected, performing a second function that is different than a first function of the additional key button.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining of whether the input of the additional key button of the device is detected is performed only when the constant touch input is performed for a predetermined time.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein a constant touch input time of the touch screen that detects the input of the additional key button is in a range of 0.5 second˜

2 seconds.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the second function performed by the additional key button comprises one of brightness control of the touch screen and storing a captured image of a currently displayed screen.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

storing functions of newly defined additional key buttons input from a user.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic device comprises a wireless mobile communication terminal.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the additional key button comprises one of a volume up/down key button, a power on/off button, and a sleep mode release button.

8. A touch input apparatus of an electronic device, the apparatus comprising:

a touch screen configured to perform data input and output;

at least one additional key button installed at a pertinent position of the device that excludes the touch screen; and

a controller configured, when detecting an input of the additional key button during a constant input of the touch screen, to control to perform a second function that is different than a first function of the additional key button.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the controller detects the input of the additional key button only during a constant touch input for a predetermined time to perform a new function.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein a constant touch input time of the touch screen that detects the input of the additional key button is in a range of 0.5 second˜

2 seconds.

11. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the second function performed by the additional key button comprises one of brightness control of the touch screen and storing a captured image of a currently displayed screen.

12. The apparatus of claim 8, further comprising a memory configured to store functions of newly defined additional key buttons input from a user.

13. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the electronic device comprises a wireless mobile communication terminal.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the additional key button comprises one of a volume up/down key button, a power on/off button, and a sleep mode release button.

15. A method for an electronic device, the method comprising:

determining whether a touch input on a touch screen is detected;

when the touch input on the touch screen is detected, determining whether an input of a key button of the device other than the touch screen is detected; and

when the input of the key button is detected, performing a second function that is different than a first function of the key button.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the determining of whether the input of the key button of the device is detected is performed only when the touch input is performed for a predetermined time.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein a touch input time of the touch screen that detects the input of the key button is in a range of 0.5 second˜

2 seconds.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the second function performed by the key button comprises one of brightness control of the touch screen and storing a captured image of a currently displayed screen.

19. The method of claim 15, further comprising:

storing functions of newly defined key buttons input from a user.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the key button comprises one of a volume up/down key button, a power on/off button, and a sleep mode release button.