Apparatus and Method for Navigating on a Touch Sensitive Screen Thereof

• US 20150029149A1
• Filed: 03/13/2012
• Published: 01/29/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2012
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Andersson, Ola, Skog, Robert
• Application Number:
  US14/383,918
• Publication Number:
  US 20150029149A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/174
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04105 Pressure sensors for measuring the pressure or force exerted on the touch surface without providing the touch position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04815 Interaction with a metaphor-based environment or interaction object displayed as three-dimensional, e.g. changing the user viewpoint with respect to the environment or object
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0483 Interaction with page-structured environments, e.g. book metaphor
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

The present invention relates to a method and apparatus (100), such as a portable electronic device, for navigating on a touch sensitive screen (110) of the apparatus (100). The method comprises sensing the amount of pressure exerted on the touch sensitive screen (100) by means of a pressure sensor (140). A pressure signal indicative of the exerted amount of pressure is generated. The pressure signal is then used to trigger navigation in a z-direction, i.e. a direction perpendicular to the plane of the touch sensitive screen if the pressure signal is above a predetermined threshold.

Claims

1-16. -16. (canceled)

17. A method for navigating on a touch sensitive screen of an apparatus, the method comprising:

sensing the amount of pressure exerted on the touch sensitive screen,

generating a pressure signal indicative of the exerted amount of pressure,

triggering navigation in a z-direction perpendicular to the plane of the touch sensitive screen if the pressure signal is above a predetermined threshold, and

moving an object of interest into the z-direction if the pressure exerted on the touch sensitive screen was exerted on the object of interest.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the method further comprises triggering navigation in the z-direction if the pressure signal is above the predetermined threshold during a time period that is longer than a predetermined time.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the method further comprises controlling the depth of the navigation in the z-direction in response to the amount of time the pressure signal has been above the predetermined threshold.

20. The method of claim 17, wherein the method further comprises controlling the speed of the navigation in the z-direction in response to the amount of pressure exerted on the touch sensitive screen above the predetermined threshold.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein the method further comprises disabling navigation in the z-direction in response to the pressure signal falling below the predetermined threshold.

22. The method of claim 17, wherein the method further comprises dividing a display area of the touch sensitive screen into multiple sections in response to the navigation in the z-direction, each of said sections representing a function or application performable by the apparatus.

23. An apparatus comprising,

a touch sensitive screen having a display area,

a pressure sensor,

a processor, and

a memory for storing a computer program comprising computer program code that, when run in the processor, causes the apparatus to:

sense the amount of pressure exerted on the touch sensitive screen;

generate a pressure signal in response to sensed pressure;

trigger navigation in a z-direction perpendicular to the plane of the touch sensitive screen if the pressure signal is above a predetermined threshold; and

move an object of interest into the z-direction if the pressure exerted on the touch sensitive screen was exerted on the object of interest.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the memory and the computer program are configured to further cause the apparatus to trigger navigation in the z-direction if the pressure signal is above the predetermined threshold during a time period that is longer than a predetermined time.

25. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the memory and the computer program are configured to further cause the apparatus to control the depth of the navigation in the z-direction in response to the amount of time the pressure signal has been above the predetermined threshold.

26. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the memory and the computer program are configured to further cause the apparatus to control the speed of the navigation in the z-direction in response to the amount of pressure exerted on the touch sensitive screen above the predetermined threshold.

27. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the memory and the computer program are configured to further cause the apparatus to disable navigation in the z-direction in response to the pressure signal falling below the predetermined threshold.

28. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the memory and the computer program are configured to further cause the apparatus to divide a display area of the touch sensitive screen into multiple sections in response to the navigation in the z-direction, each of said sections representing a function or application performable by the apparatus.

29. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising, stored thereupon, a computer program comprising computer program code that, when run in a processor of an apparatus having a touch sensitive screen with a display area and further having a pressure sensor, causes the apparatus to:

sense the amount of pressure exerted on the touch sensitive screen;

generate a pressure signal in response to sensed pressure;

trigger navigation in a z-direction perpendicular to the plane of the touch sensitive screen if the pressure signal is above a predetermined threshold; and

move an object of interest into the z-direction if the pressure exerted on the touch sensitive screen was exerted on the object of interest.