ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND METHOD FOR INPUTTING ADAPTIVE TOUCH USING DISPLAY OF ELECTRONIC DEVICE

• US 20170308227A1
• Filed: 04/26/2017
• Published: 10/26/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 04/26/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Park, Jin-Seok
• Granted Patent: US 10,268,364 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 2203/04108 Touchless 2D- digitiser, i.e. digitiser detecting the X/Y position of the input means, finger or stylus, also when it does not touch, but is proximate to the digitiser's interaction surface without distance measurement in the Z direction
• 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 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04845 for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0486 Drag-and-drop
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback

Abstract

An electronic device includes a display, a sensor and a processor. The processor is configured to activate the display in a first input mode to acquire a first touch input through the display, and to identify context information related to the electronic device through the display or the sensor. The processor also is configured to change the display to a second input mode to acquire a second touch input through one or more areas of the display when the context information meets a predetermined condition. In addition, the processor is configured to execute a predetermined function related to at least one object displayed on the display based on the second touch input acquired through the one or more areas while the display is in the second input mode.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

a display;

a sensor; and

a processor,

wherein the processor is configured to activate the display in a first input mode to acquire a first touch input through the display, to identify context information related to the electronic device through the display or the sensor, to change the display to a second input mode to acquire a second touch input through one or more areas of the display when the context information meets a predetermined condition, and to execute a predetermined function related to at least one object displayed on the display based on the second touch input acquired through the one or more areas while the display is in the second input mode.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to display a representation indicating the one or more areas that have changed to the second input mode on the display.

3. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to display at least one representation corresponding to the second touch input on an external electronic device.

4. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the sensor includes a microphone, and the processor is configured to acquire voice information related to the context information of the electronic device through the microphone and to change the display from the first input mode to the second input mode based on the acquired voice information.

5. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to perform another predetermined function different from the predetermined function when the first touch input is acquired through the one or more areas while the display is in the second input mode.

6. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the context information includes at least one of a location and an attitude of the electronic device, a time preset to the electronic device, or an execution of a predetermined application or content.

7. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the first touch input and the second touch input include at least one of a hovering touch input, a proximity touch input, or a pressure touch input.

8. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to perform at least one of selection or movement of the at least one object, or enlargement or reduction of at least a part of the object, as at least a part of the predetermined function.

9. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to execute an application corresponding to the at least one object as at least a part of the predetermined function.

10. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to display, on the display, at least one input pointer indicating a navigated input on the display in accordance with the second touch input acquired through the one or more areas while the display is in the second input mode.

11. A method of performing an adaptive touch input using a display of an electronic device, the method comprising:

activating the display in a first input mode to acquire a first touch input through the display;

identifying context information related to the electronic device through the display or the sensor;

changing the display to a second input mode to acquire a second touch input through one or more areas of the display when the context information meets a predetermined condition; and

executing a predetermined function related to at least one object displayed on the display based on the second touch input acquired through the one or more areas while the display is in the second input mode.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising displaying a representation indicating that the one or more areas that have changed to the second input mode on the display.

13. The method of claim 11, further comprising displaying a representation corresponding to the second touch input on an external electronic device.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein changing the display to the second input mode comprises:

acquiring voice information related to the context information of the electronic device through a microphone of the electronic device; and

changing the display from the first input mode to the second input mode based on the acquired voice information.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising deactivating the second input mode when the first touch input is acquired through the one or more areas while the display is in the second input mode.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the context information includes at least one of a location and an attitude of the electronic device, a time preset to the electronic device, or an execution of a predetermined application or content.

17. The method of claim 11, wherein executing the predetermined function related to the at least one object displayed on the display comprises at least one of performing selection or movement of the object, or enlargement or reduction of at least a part of the object, as at least a part of the predetermined function.

18. The method of claim 11, wherein executing the predetermined function related to the at least one object displayed on the display comprises executing an application corresponding to the object as at least a part of the predetermined function.

19. The method of claim 11, further comprising displaying, on the display, at least one input pointer indicating a navigated input on the display in accordance with the second touch input acquired through the one or more areas while the display is in the second input mode.

20. A computer-readable recording medium having a program recorded therein to be executed in a computer, the program comprising executable instructions to cause, when executed by a processor, the processor to perform operations, the operations comprising:

activating the display in a first input mode to acquire a first touch input through the display;

identifying context information related to the electronic device through the display or the sensor;

changing the display to a second input mode to acquire a second touch input through one or more areas of the display when the context information meets a predetermined condition; and

executing a predetermined function related to at least one object displayed on the display based on the second touch input acquired through the one or more areas while the display is in the second input mode.