APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DETECTING AN INPUT TO A TERMINAL

• US 20140009401A1
• Filed: 07/05/2012
• Published: 01/09/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/05/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: BAJAJ, Nitin, ANKAPURA, Madan
• Granted Patent: US 10,437,392 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04106 Multi-sensing digitiser, i.e. digitiser using at least two different sensing technologies simultaneously or alternatively, e.g. for detecting pen and finger, for saving power or for improving position detection
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0416 Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/043 using propagating acoustic waves
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

An apparatus and a method for detecting a touch input to a touchscreen and distinguishing between different types of touch inputs are provided. The method includes detecting the input to a touch screen of the terminal, and determining an input type that is input to the touch screen based on characteristics of the input.

Claims

1. A method for detecting an input to a terminal, the method comprising:

detecting the input to a touch screen of the terminal; and

determining an input type that is input to the touch screen based on characteristics of the input.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the input type is determined based on physical characteristics of the input.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the detecting of the input to the touch screen includes determining a location on the touch screen at which the input occurred.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining of the input type that is input to the touch screen includes determining whether the input is a hard touch or a soft touch.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the determining of whether the input is the hard touch or the soft touch includes detecting a sound generated by the input to the touch screen.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein a plurality of acoustic sensors positioned around the touch screen detect the sound generated by the input, and

wherein a controller determines whether the input is the hard touch or the soft touch.

7. The method of claim 4, wherein if the input is a soft touch, then the terminal performs a first function, and

wherein if the input is a hard touch, then the terminal performs a second function.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the first function corresponds to a function associated with a location at which the input occurred.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the second function corresponds to a function associated with an advanced function.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the advanced function includes at least one of initiating unlocking of the terminal, and initiating display of a menu.

11. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

defining at least one of the first function and the second function according to a user input.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein each input type that is input to the touch screen is associated with a corresponding functionality.

13. An apparatus for detecting an input to a terminal, the apparatus comprising:

a touch screen comprising a plurality of first sensors;

a plurality of second sensors; and

a controller for determining, based on data corresponding to characteristics of the input received from the plurality of second sensors, an input type that is input to the touch screen.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the controller is configured to determine the input type based on physical characteristics of the input detected by the plurality of second sensors.

15. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the controller is configured to determine, based on data received from the plurality of first sensors, a location on the touch screen at which an input occurred.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the controller is configured to determine whether the input is a hard touch or a soft touch.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the controller determines whether the input is the hard touch or the soft touch according to sound generated by the input to the touch screen.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the plurality of second sensors are positioned around the touch screen and are configured to detect the sound generated by the input.

19. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein if the input is a soft touch, then the terminal performs a first function, and

wherein if the input is a hard touch, then the terminal performs a second function.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the first function corresponds to a function associated with a location at which the input occurred.

21. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the second function corresponds to a function associated with an advanced function.

22. The apparatus of claim 21, wherein the advanced function includes at least one of initiating unlocking of the terminal, and initiating display of a menu.

23. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the controller is configured to define at least one of the first function and the second function according to a user input.

24. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein each input type that is input to the touch screen is associated with a corresponding functionality.