METHOD FOR CONTROLLING FUNCTION AND ELECTRONIC DEVICE THEREOF

• US 20160026322A1
• Filed: 04/23/2015
• Published: 01/28/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: LEE, Seung-Eun, CHO, Eun-Hee
• Granted Patent: US 10,114,542 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04808 Several contacts: gestures triggering a specific function, e.g. scrolling, zooming, right-click, when the user establishes several contacts with the surface simultaneously; e.g. using several fingers or a combination of fingers and pen
• 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 operating of an electronic device is provided. The method includes detecting a palm touch on a touch screen of the electronic device while performing a first function of the electronic device, and performing a second function of the electronic device based on the detected palm touch on the touch screen of the electronic device.

Claims

1. A method in an electronic device, the method comprising:

detecting a palm touch on a touch screen of the electronic device while performing a first function of the electronic device; and

performing a second function of the electronic device based on the detected palm touch on the touch screen of the electronic device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first function comprises a function which is performed by execution of an application that requires protection of privacy.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first function comprises at least one of a writing input application, a web application, an authentication application, a Text To Speech (TTS) application, and a multimedia reproduction application.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the second function comprises an alternative function which is pre-set to protect privacy.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the second function comprises at least one of controlling the touch screen, controlling a volume, setting a lock screen, setting a security area, setting an output mode, and executing a specific application.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the palm touch is detected based on a touch area and a touch time of a touch on the touch screen while the first function is being performed.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the second function is performed according to whether the palm touch overlaps a content displayed on the touch screen.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the second function is performed according to whether the palm touch overlaps an object input to the touch screen.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a touch input on the touch screen of the electronic device;

detecting the palm touch in a state in which the touch input is detected;

calculating a distance between the palm touch area and the touch input area; and

performing the second function according to a result of the calculating.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the touch input is a touch input which is performed by a finger or an input pen.

11. An electronic device comprising:

a touch screen configured to detect a palm touch; and

a processor configured to perform a second function of the electronic device based on the detected palm touch while performing a first function of the electronic device.

12. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the first function comprises a function which is performed by execution of an application that requires protection of privacy.

13. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the first function comprises at least one of a writing input application, a web application, an authentication application, a Text to Speech (TTS) application, and a multimedia reproduction application.

14. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the second function comprises an alternative function which is pre-set to protect privacy.

15. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the second function comprises at least one of controlling the touch screen, controlling a volume, setting a lock screen, setting a security area, setting an output mode, and executing a specific application.

16. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the palm touch is detected based on a touch area and a touch time of a touch on the touch screen while the first function is being performed.

17. The electronic device of claim 16, wherein the processor is further configured to perform the second function according to whether the palm touch overlaps a content displayed on the touch screen.

18. The electronic device of claim 16, wherein the processor is configured to perform the second function on whether the palm touch overlaps an object input to the touch screen.

19. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured:

to detect the palm touch on the touch screen in a state in which a touch input is detected,

to calculate a distance between the detected palm touch area and the touch input area, and

to perform the second function of the electronic device based on a result of the calculating.

20. The electronic device of claim 19, wherein the touch input is a touch input which is performed by a finger or an input pen.