METHOD, SYSTEM AND TERMINAL FOR SUPPORTING TOUCH FUNCTION

• US 20130113754A1
• Filed: 11/07/2012
• Published: 05/09/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: LEE, June
• Granted Patent: US 8,976,150 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/174
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0441 using active external devices, e.g. active pens, for receiving changes in electrical potential transmitted by the digitiser, e.g. tablet driving signals
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0442 using active external devices, e.g. active pens, for transmitting changes in electrical potential to be received by the digitiser

Abstract

A method and a system for supporting a touch function on a terminal for performing a touch operation in which a writing pressure is applied to a touch pen of the system including the touch pen and a terminal are provided. The method includes touching a touch pen to a touch panel of the terminal, the touch pen having a capacitance that corresponds to and varies with pressure applied to the touch pen, generating, by the terminal, an instruction word corresponding to a result of adding the capacitance corresponding to the pressure applied to the touch pen when the touch pen is touched to the terminal and a capacitance of the touch panel, and performing a user function corresponding to the instruction word.

Claims

1. A method for supporting a touch function on a terminal, the method comprising:

touching a touch pen to a touch panel of the terminal, the touch pen having a capacitance that corresponds to and varies with pressure applied to the touch pen;

generating, by the terminal, an instruction word corresponding to a result of adding the capacitance corresponding to the pressure applied to the touch pen when the touch pen is touched to the terminal and a capacitance of the touch panel; and

performing a user function corresponding to the instruction word.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the generating of the instruction word comprises:

generating a new instruction word corresponding to the capacitance of the touch pen when the capacitance is varied according to pressure variation.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the performing of the user function corresponding to the instruction word comprises:

performing a touch function such that a shape of a line denoted on an information input screen of the terminal is varied according to variations of a touch of the touch pen and the capacitance of the touch pen; and

varying at least one of a thickness, a color, and a shade of the line according to the variation of the capacitance of the touch pen.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

summing a value of a predetermined capacitance which is fixed according to a switching operation of the touch pen and the capacitance of the touch pen; and

performing a function switching procedure for supporting a previously supported touch function and another touch function in a mode according to the summed value of the predetermined capacitance and the capacitance of the touch pen.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the performing of the function switching procedure comprises:

when the capacitance of the touch pen has a variation corresponding to contact between the touch pen and a touch panel of the terminal, generating a specific instruction word according to the corresponding variation; and

performing a switched function corresponding to the specific instruction word.

6. A system for supporting a touch function, the system comprising:

a touch pen having a capacitance of a capacitor body connected to a nib of the touch pen, the capacitance being varied according to pressure applied to the nib; and

a terminal including a touch panel which the touch pen touches, the terminal being for sensing a capacitance variation at a touch point, for generating an instruction word according to the capacitance variation, and for executing a specific user function based on the instruction word.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the touch pen comprises:

a writing pressure variable capacitor having a capacitance which is increased or decreased according to the pressure applied to the nib; and

a case encasing the writing pressure variable capacitor and having one end at which the nib is disposed.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein the touch pen further comprises:

at least one supplementary capacitor connected in parallel to the writing pressure variable capacitor; and

a switch disposed between the at least one supplementary capacitor and the writing pressure variable capacitor for controlling a selective connection between the at least one supplementary capacitor and the writing pressure variable capacitor.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein, when a specific capacitance value which is fixed and which corresponds to the supplementary capacitor is detected during a switching operation of the touch pen, the terminal supports a previously supported touch function and a touch function in another mode according to an addition of the specific capacitance value to the capacitance of the touch pen.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein, when the terminal supports the touch function in the other mode, the capacitance of the touch pen has a variation corresponding to a contact between the touch pen and the touch panel of the terminal, and

wherein the terminal generates a specific instruction word according to the corresponding variation and performs a deleting of at least one of a portion and a whole of an information input picture displayed on the terminal, and transmitting information input through the information input picture according to the generated specific instruction word.

11. The system of claim 7, wherein, when the capacitance of the touch pen is varied according to the pressure applied to the nib, the terminal generates an instruction word corresponding to the varied capacitance of the touch pen and supports an operation of a specific touch function based on the instruction word.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the operation of the specific touch function includes operating a function of variably showing a shape of a line denoted on an information input screen according to variations of a contact of the touch pen and the varied capacitance of the touch pen.

13. A touch pen for supporting a touch function of a terminal having a touch screen, the touch pen comprising:

a case;

a nib disposed so as to protrude from an end of the case; and

a writing pressure variable capacitor having a capacitor body, a capacitance of the writing pressure variable capacitor being varied according to pressure applied to the nib.

14. The touch pen of claim 13, further comprising:

at least one supplementary capacitor connected in parallel to the writing pressure variable capacitor;

a switch, disposed between the at least one supplementary capacitor and the writing pressure variable capacitor, for controlling a selective connection between the at least one supplementary capacitor and the writing pressure variable capacitor; and

an elastic assembly for providing elasticity to allow the nib to return to a previous position when the nib moves according to pressure applied to the nib,

wherein, when pressure is applied to the capacitor body, the capacitor body is configured to close or increase a distance between conductive electrode plates of the writing pressure variable capacitor.

15. A terminal for supporting a touch function using a touch pen, the terminal comprising:

a touch panel to which the touch pen is touched, the touch pen generating a capacitance that is varied according to pressure applied to a nib of the touch pen, the nib being disposed at one end of the touch pen; and

a controller for detecting a capacitance variation generated by a touch event of the touch pen at a specific point of the touch panel, for generating an instruction word corresponding to the detected capacitance variation, and for controlling an execution of a specific touch function that is performed according to the detected capacitance variation.

16. The terminal of claim 15, wherein the controller determines whether the terminal is operated in a sensitive mode,

wherein the controller detects the capacitance variation by the touch event, and

wherein the controller generates an instruction word according to the capacitance variation.

17. The terminal of claim 16, wherein the controller stops detecting the capacitance variation by the touch event when the terminal is not operated in the sensitive mode, and

wherein the controller generates an instruction word according to whether the touch event occurs.

18. The terminal of claim 15, further comprising:

a display panel for displaying a line,

wherein a type of the line is varied according to variations of a touch of the touch pen and the capacitance of the touch pen.

19. The terminal of claim 18, wherein at least one of a thickness of the line, a color of the line and a shade of the line is varied according to the variation of the capacitance of the touch pen.

20. The terminal of claim 19, wherein, when a fixed specific capacitance value is added according to a switching operation of the touch pen, the controller is for executing a previously supported touch function and a touch function of another mode according to the addition of the fixed specific capacitance value.