Unlocking Mechanism for a Touch Screen Device

• US 20130328813A1
• Filed: 06/11/2013
• Published: 12/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Inputek Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Inputek Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: KUO, Sheng Chang, HUNG, Ming Hui, CHEN, Chi Chin
• Application Number:
  US13/914,726
• Publication Number:
  US 20130328813A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/32 Means for saving power
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0416 Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

A method for unlocking a touchscreen device comprises no involvement of pressing a physical button of the touchscreen device. Rather, it employs a pre-defined touchscreen area as the unlocking spot. The location and size of this unlocking spot can be redefined by a user. When this spot is touched by a finger, a counter will start to count numbers. When it passes a pre-defined number threshold, the activation signal will be sent to a micro control unit (MCU) to activate the MCU. In this way, the touchscreen device is unlocked. In addition, a power saving circuit is provided to execute such unlocking function and reduce power consumption.

Claims

1. A method for unlocking a touchscreen device, comprising

defining an area on a touchscreen as an unlocking spot;

said unlocking spot comprising a location and a size;

defining a threshold of length of time;

determining whether said unlocking spot is touched;

counting a length of time when said unlocking spot is touched;

determining whether said length of time is equal to or larger than said threshold of length of time;

sending a first signal to a detection unit when said length of time is equal or larger than said threshold of length of time;

sending an activation signal to a micro control unit (MCU) of said touchscreen device;

activating said MCU; and

unlocking said touchscreen device.

2. The method for unlocking a touchscreen device of claim 1, comprising

redefining said location of said unlocking spot;

and

redefining said size of said unlocking spot.

3. The method for unlocking a touchscreen device of claim 1, comprising

redefining said threshold of length of time.

4. The method for unlocking a touchscreen device of claim 2, comprising

redefining said size of said unlocking spot as 2 rows and 2 columns of sensor bars on said touchscreen, or redefining said size of said unlocking spot as 3 rows and 3 columns of sensor bars on said touchscreen.

5. The method for unlocking a touchscreen device of claim 3, comprising

redefining said threshold of length of time as 1 second.

6. The method for unlocking a touchscreen device of claim 1, comprising

counting numbers by a counter;

sending a second signal to a logic operation when a counted number passes a pre-defined number threshold; and

transferring said second signal through said logic operation; and

generating said activation signal.

7. The method for unlocking a touchscreen device of claim 6, comprising

said logic operation being an OR gate.

8. The method for unlocking a touchscreen device of claim 1, comprising

generating a third signal from a hardware system of said touchscreen device;

transferring said third signal through an OR gate; and

sending a second activation signal to said MCU.

9. The method for unlocking a touchscreen device of claim 1, comprising

determining the state of said touchscreen device;

sending a first interrupt when said state is a locking state;

disabling said MCU; and

disabling an amplifier and an analog to digital converter (ADC).

10. The method for unlocking a touchscreen device of claim 1, comprising

determining the state of said touchscreen device;

sending a second interrupt when said state is an unlocking state;

activating said MCU; and

activating an amplifier and an analog to digital converter (ADC).

11. The method for unlocking a touchscreen device of claim 9, comprising

sweeping said unlocking spot with a clock rate of a frequency less than 100 Hz.

12. The method for unlocking a touchscreen device of claim 10, comprising

sweeping all sensor bars of said touchscreen device with a clock rate of a frequency greater than 1 KHz.

13. The method for unlocking a touchscreen device of claim 1, comprising

detecting by a comparator whether said unlocking spot being touched;

and

said comparator being high when said unlocking spot is touched by a finger.

14. A method for unlocking a touchscreen device, comprising

defining an area on a touchscreen as an unlocking spot;

said unlocking spot comprising a location and a size;

defining a threshold of length of time;

determining whether said unlocking spot is touched;

counting a length of time when said unlocking spot is touched;

determining whether said length of time is equal to or larger than said threshold of length of time;

sending a first signal to a detection unit when said length of time is equal or larger than said threshold of length of time;

sending an activation signal to a micro control unit (MCU) of said touchscreen device;

activating said MCU;

unlocking said touchscreen device;

generating a third signal from a hardware system of said touchscreen device;

transferring said third signal through an OR gate; and

sending a second activation signal to said MCU.

15. The method for unlocking a touchscreen device of claim 14, comprising

redefining said location of said unlocking spot;

redefining said size of said unlocking spot; and

redefining said threshold of length of time.

16. The method for unlocking a touchscreen device of claim 15, comprising

redefining said size of said unlocking spot as 2 rows and 2 columns of sensor bars on said touchscreen, or redefining said size of said unlocking spot as 3 rows and 3 columns of sensor bars on said touchscreen;

and

redefining said threshold of length of time as 1 second.

17. The method for unlocking a touchscreen device of claim 14, comprising

counting numbers by a counter;

sending a second signal to a logic operation when accounted number passes a pre-defined number threshold;

transferring said second signal through said logic operation;

generating said activation signal; and

said logic operation being an OR gate.

18. The method for unlocking a touchscreen device of claim 14, comprising

determining the state of said touchscreen device;

sending a first interrupt when said state is a locking state;

disabling said MCU;

disabling an amplifier and an analog to digital converter (ADC); and

sweeping said unlocking spot with a clock rate of a frequency less than 100 Hz.

19. The method for unlocking a touchscreen device of claim 14, comprising

determining the state of said touchscreen device;

sending a second interrupt when said state is an unlocking state;

activating said MCU;

activating an amplifier and an analog to digital converter (ADC); and

sweeping all sensor bars of said touchscreen device with a clock rate of a frequency greater than 1 KHz.

20. The method for unlocking a touchscreen device of claim 14, comprising

detecting by a comparator whether said unlocking spot being touched;

and

said comparator being high when said unlocking spot is touched by a finger.