APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A TOUCHSCREEN IN A WIRELESS TERMINAL

• US 20140035858A1
• Filed: 10/15/2013
• Published: 02/06/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/10/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. (Samsung Group)
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd. (Samsung Group)
• Inventors: LEE, Byeong-Kuk
• Granted Patent: US 9,465,469 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0214 Foldable telephones, i.e. with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position combined with translation movement H04M1/0235
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0235 Slidable or telescopic telephones, i.e. with a relative translation movement of the body parts; Telephones using a combination of translation and other relative motions of the body parts
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0245 using open/close detection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/16 including more than one display unit
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041

Abstract

An apparatus and method for controlling a touchscreen in a wireless terminal are provided. The apparatus includes a display unit which is activated when the wireless terminal is in a first operation state, a touchscreen unit which is activated and displays an icon for performing a corresponding function at a current mode when the wireless terminal is in the first operation state, and a control unit which activates the display unit and controls the icon for performing a corresponding function at a current mode to be displayed on the touchscreen unit when the wireless terminal is in the first operation state. The method includes activating a display unit and displaying an icon for performing a corresponding function at a current mode on a touchscreen unit when the wireless terminal is in a first operation state, and deactivating the display unit and converting a function of the touchscreen unit into a function of the display unit or activating the display unit when the wireless terminal is in a second operation state contrary to the first operation state.

Claims

1. An apparatus for controlling a touchscreen in a wireless terminal, the apparatus comprising:

a display unit configured to display images generated while performing a function in at least one of a first operating state and a second operating state of the wireless terminal;

a touch screen unit configured to display first operating state objects used to perform associated functions in the first operating state, and to display second operating state objects used to perform associated functions in the second operating state when the mobile terminal switches from the first operating state to the second operating state; and

a control unit configured to control the touch screen unit to display the first operating state objects on the touch screen when the mobile terminal switches to the first operating state as the mobile terminal is in an active operation state, and to display the second operating state objects on the touch screen when the mobile terminal switches to the second operating state as an object is selected from among the first operating state objects.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the active operation state comprises at least one of a slide-up state of a slide-type wireless terminal, a folder-open state of a folder-type wireless terminal and a key input state of a bar-type wireless terminal.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein, when an event occurs in the active operation state of the wireless terminal, the control unit controls an object indicating a type of the occurred event to be displayed on at least one of the display unit and the touchscreen unit at a full screen size

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein, when the wireless terminal is in an inactive operation state, the control unit deactivates the display unit, and controls a function of the touchscreen unit to be converted into a function of the display unit.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the inactive operation state comprises at least one of a slide-down state of a slide-type wireless terminal and a folder-close state of a folder-type wireless terminal.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein, when an event occurs in the inactive operation state of the wireless terminal, the control unit controls an object indicating a type of the occurred event to be displayed on the touchscreen unit at a full screen size.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the object is set by at least one of default and a user for performing a corresponding function at the first operating state or the second operating state.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein, if the wireless terminal is a slide-type terminal,

the control unit is configured to control the touch screen unit to display the first operating state objects on the touch screen when the mobile terminal switches to the first operating state as the mobile terminal is in a slide-up state, and to display the second operating state objects on the touch screen when the mobile terminal switches to the second operating state as an object is selected from among the first operating state objects.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the control unit controls an object indicating a type of an occurred event to be displayed on the touchscreen unit at a full screen size when the wireless terminal is in a slide-down state, and controls the object to be displayed on at least one of the display unit and the touchscreen unit at a full screen size when the wireless terminal is in a slide-up state.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein, if the wireless terminal is a folder-type terminal,

the control unit is configured to control the touch screen unit to display the first operating state objects on the touch screen when the mobile terminal switches to the first operating state as the mobile terminal is in a folder-open state, and to display the second operating state objects on the touch screen when the mobile terminal switches to the second operating state as an object is selected from among the first operating state objects.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein the control unit controls an object indicating a type of an occurred event to be displayed on the external display unit at a full screen size when the wireless terminal is in a folder-close state, and controls the object to be displayed on at least one of the internal display unit and the touchscreen unit at a full screen size when the wireless terminal is in a folder-open state.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein, if the wireless terminal is a bar-type terminal,

the control unit is configured to control the touch screen unit to display the first operating state objects on the touch screen when the mobile terminal switches to the first operating state as a key is input, and to display the second operating state objects on the touch screen when the mobile terminal switches to the second operating state as an object is selected from among the first operating state objects.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the control unit controls an object indicating a type of an occurred event to be displayed on at least one of the display unit and the touchscreen unit at a full screen size.

14. A method for controlling a touchscreen in a wireless terminal, the method comprising:

if the mobile terminal enters an active operation state, switching to a first operating state, and displaying, on the touch screen, first operating state objects used to perform associated functions in the first operating state; and

displaying, on the touch screen, second operating state objects used to perform associated functions in a second operating state, if the mobile terminal switches to the second operating state as an object is selected from among the first operating state objects.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the active operation state comprises at least one of a slide-up or a slide-down state of a slide-type wireless terminal, a folder-open or a folder-close state of a folder-type wireless terminal, and a key input state of a bar-type wireless terminal.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising displaying an object indicating a type of the occurred event on at least one of the touchscreen unit and the display unit at a full screen size when an event occurs in the wireless terminal.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the object is set by at least one of default and a user for performing a corresponding function at the first operating state or the second operating state.

18. The method of claim 14, further comprising, if the wireless terminal is a slide-type terminal:

converting a function of the touchscreen unit into a function of the display unit when the wireless terminal is in a slide-down state;

changing and displaying a type of object for performing a corresponding function according to a type of current mode on the touchscreen unit when the wireless terminal is in a slide-up state;

if the mobile terminal is in a slide-up state, switching to a first operating state, and displaying, on the touch screen, first operating state objects used to perform associated functions in the first operating state; and

displaying, on the touch screen, second operating state objects used to perform associated functions in a second operating state, if the mobile terminal switches to the second operating state as an object is selected from among the first operating state objects.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

determining whether the wireless terminal is in a slide-up state or in a slide-down state when an event occurs in the wireless terminal;

displaying an object indicating a type of the occurred event on the touchscreen unit at a full screen size when the wireless terminal is in a slide-down state; and

displaying an object indicating a type of the occurred event on at least one of the display unit and the touchscreen unit at a full screen size when the wireless terminal is in a slide-up state.

20. The method of claim 14, further comprising, if the wireless terminal is a folder-type terminal:

if the mobile terminal is in a folder-open state, switching to a first operating state, and displaying, on the touch screen, first operating state objects used to perform associated functions in the first operating state; and

displaying, on the touch screen, second operating state objects used to perform associated functions in a second operating state, if the mobile terminal switches to the second operating state as an object is selected from among the first operating state objects.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising:

determining whether the wireless terminal is in a folder-open state or in a folder-close state when an event occurs in the wireless terminal;

displaying an object indicating a type of the occurred event on the external display unit at a full screen size when the wireless terminal is in a folder-close state; and

displaying an object indicating a type of the occurred event on at least one of the internal display unit and the touchscreen unit at a full screen size when the wireless terminal is in a folder-open state.

22. The method of claim 14, further comprising, if the wireless terminal is a bar-type terminal:

determining whether a key is input to the wireless terminal;

changing and displaying a type of object for performing a corresponding function according to a type of current mode on a touchscreen unit when the key is input;

if the key is input, switching to a first operating state, and displaying, on the touch screen, first operating state objects used to perform associated functions in the first operating state; and

displaying, on the touch screen, second operating state objects used to perform associated functions in a second operating state, if the mobile terminal switches to the second operating state as an object is selected from among the first operating state objects.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising displaying an object indicating a type of the occurred event on at least one of the display unit and the touchscreen unit at a full screen size when an event occurs in the wireless terminal.