Mobile device and method for preventing undesired key depression in the same

• US 7,602,377 B2
• Filed: 11/09/2004
• Issued: 10/13/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Kim, Chan-Woo
• Primary Examiner(s): Edouard; Patrick N.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Perez; Julio R
• Application Number:
  US10/983,707
• Publication Number:
  US 20050107126A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,799 Days
• Field of Search: 455/565, 455/511, 455/575.3, 455/575.4, 345/169
• US Class Current: 345/169
• CPC Class Codes: H04B 1/38 Transceivers, i.e. devices in which transmitter and receiver form a structural unit and in which at least one part is used for functions of transmitting and receiving
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/67 by electronic means

Abstract

Undesired key depression of a mobile device is prevented using a predetermined key activation pattern. This pattern includes successively pressing one or more keys of the mobile device a predetermined number of times. When this occurs, the mobile device converts from a key depression preventing mode to a half-operation mode. During this latter mode, functions corresponding to key inputs are automatically performed, provided they are input within a prescribed period of time. Otherwise, the mobile device converts back to the key depression preventing mode. As a result, undesired operation and power consumption of the mobile device is prevented.

Claims

1. A method for preventing undesired key depression of a mobile device that has at least three modes, the method comprising:

providing a depression preventing mode, the depression preventing mode being a mode in which an operation of the mobile device is not performed even though a corresponding first key of the mobile device is pressed, wherein the mobile device is in the depression preventing mode when the mobile device is a sliding mobile phone in a closed state;

providing a half-operation mode, the half-operation mode being a mode in which the operation is automatically performed upon receiving an input from the first key, and the mobile device switches from the half-operation mode to the depression preventing mode when no input is received from the first key or another key within a prescribed time;

providing a full-operation mode upon opening of a slide of the sliding mobile phone to an opened position, the full-operation mode being a mode in which the operation is directly performed according to an input from the first key;

switching from the full-operation mode to the depression preventing mode in direct response to the slide moving from the opened position to a closed position; and

switching from the depression preventing mode to the half-operation mode when a second key is double-clicked, wherein the first key and the second key are a same key, and

wherein each of the depression preventing mode, the half-operation mode and the full-operation mode are separate modes.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying a specific indication on a display unit to notify a user of whether the mobile device is currently in the depression preventing mode or is currently in a state where the depression preventing mode has been released.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the indication is an icon having a predetermined color, shape, picture, letter, numeral, or symbol.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the indication is displayed as an ‘

X’

when the mobile device is in the depression preventing mode, and the indication is displayed as an ‘

O’

when the mobile device is in the state that the depression preventing mode has been released.

5. A method for preventing undesired key depression in a mobile device that has at least three modes of operation, the method comprising:

determining whether a depression preventing mode has been set when input from a first key occurs;

determining whether the first key input is a double click when the depression preventing mode has been set;

switching the mobile device from the depression preventing mode to a half-operation mode when the first key input is determined to be the double click, the mobile device remaining in the half-operation mode when input from a second key occurs within a prescribed time after the first key input, and the mobile device switching from the half-operation mode to the depression preventing mode when the second key input does not occur within the prescribed time after the first key input;

providing a full-operation mode from the depression preventing mode upon opening of a slide of the mobile device to an opened position, the full-operation mode being a mode in which an operation is directly performed according to an input from a key;

providing the full-operation mode from the half-operation mode upon opening of the slide to the opened position; and

directly switching from the full-operation mode to the depression preventing mode in direct response to the slide moving from the opened position to a closed position, wherein each of the depression preventing mode, the half-operation mode and the full-operation mode are separate modes of the mobile device.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the first key and a second key are the same key.

7. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

directly performing the operation corresponding to the first key input when the depression preventing mode has not been set.

8. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

maintaining the depression preventing mode when the first key input is determined to not be a double click.

9. The method of claim 5, further comprising:

notifying a user whether the mobile device is currently in the depression preventing mode or is currently in a state where the depression preventing mode has been released, by displaying a predetermined indication on a display unit.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the indication is an icon having a predetermined color, shape, picture, letter, numeral, or symbol.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the indication is

displayed as ‘

X’

when the mobile device is in the depression preventing mode, and the indication is displayed as ‘

O’

when the mobile device is in the state that the depression preventing mode has been released.

12. The method of claim 5, wherein the half-operation mode is a mode in which an operation is performed upon receiving an input from a key.

13. A method for preventing undesired key depression in a mobile device that has at least three modes, the method comprising:

receiving an input from a first key of the mobile device;

determining whether the mobile device is in a depression preventing mode;

determining whether the first key was double-clicked when the mobile device is determined to be in the depression preventing mode;

switching the mobile device from the depression preventing mode to a half-operation mode when the first key is double-clicked;

determining whether a second key of the mobile device is pressed within a prescribed time when the mobile device switches to the half-operation mode, wherein a corresponding operation is immediately performed in the half-operation m ode when the second key is pressed before the prescribed rime elapses;

switching the mobile device from the half-operation mode to the depression preventing mode when the second key is not pressed within the prescribed time;

providing a full-operation mode from the half-operation mode upon opening of a slide of the mobile device to an open position, the full-operation mode being a mode in which an operation is directly performed according to an input from a key;

providing the full-operation mode from the depression preventing mode upon the opening of the slide to the open position; and

directly switching from the full-operation mode to the depression preventing mode in response to the slide moving from the open position to a closed position, and wherein each of the depression preventing mode, the half-operation mode and the full-operation mode are separate modes of the mobile device.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the first key and second key are a same key.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

directly performing an operation corresponding to the first key input when the mobile device is determined to not be in the depression preventing mode.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

maintaining the depression preventing mode when the first key is not double clicked.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

notifying a user whether the mobile device is currently in the depression preventing mode or is currently in a state where the depression preventing mode has been released, by displaying a predetermined indication on a display unit.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein the indication is an icon having a predetermined color, shape, picture, letter, numeral, or symbol.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein the indication is displayed as ‘

X’

when the mobile device is in the depression preventing mode, and the indication is displayed as ‘

O’

when the mobile device is in the state that the depression preventing mode has been released.

20. A mobile device that has at least three modes of operation, the mobile device comprising:

a plurality of keys; and

a processor, wherein the processor switches the mobile device from a non-operation mode to a half-operation mode according to a key input of a specific pattern, the processor switches the mobile device from the half-operation mode to the non-operation mode when there is no key input within a prescribed time, the processor switches the mobile device to a full-operation mode from the non-operation mode upon opening of a slide of the mobile device and the processor switches the mobile device to the full-operation mode from the half-operation mode upon opening of the slide, and the processor switches the mobile device from the full-operation mode directly to the non-operation mode upon closing of the slide, wherein each of the non-operation mode, the half-operation mode and the full-operation mode are separate modes, and wherein when a second key input is received during the half-operation mode, the processor automatically executes a corresponding operation.

21. The mobile device of claim 20, wherein the specific pattern is that a first key is pressed at least twice.

22. The mobile device of claim 20, wherein the first key input and the second key input are generated by a same key.

23. A mobile device, comprising:

input means; and

control means for switching the mobile device from a non-operation mode to a half-operation mode according to a key input of a specific pattern, and for switching the mobile device from the half-operation mode to the non-operation mode when there is no key input within a prescribed time, the half-operation mode being a mode in which the control means automatically executes an operation when a key input is received, the control means further for switching the mobile device to a full-operation mode from the non-operation mode upon opening of a slide of the mobile device and for switching the mobile device from the half-operation mode to the full-operation mode upon opening of the slide, the full-operation mode being a mode in which an operation is directly performed according to an input from the input means, and the control means for directly switching the mobile device from the full-operation mode to the non-operation mode upon closing of the slide.

24. The mobile device of claim 23, wherein the specific pattern is that a first key is pressed at least twice.

25. A method of operating a mobile terminal having a body, an input device and a display unit, the method comprising:

providing a locking mode to the input device when the mobile terminal is in at least one of a closed position and an inactive mode;

maintaining the locking mode to the input device when an input signal received from the input device does not include a specific actuation pattern of the input device;

providing an unlocking mode to the input device upon receiving the specific actuation pattern of the input device;

resuming the locking mode for the input device depending upon detecting receiving no input signal from the input device within a specific time limit during the half-operation mode;

operating the mobile terminal in a half-operation mode to allow at least a portion of the input device to be accessible by a user when the unlocking mode is provided;

operating the mobile terminal in a full-operation mode to allow the user to access an entire portion of the input device depending upon detecting a slide of the mobile terminal in an open position; and

switching the mobile terminal from the full-operation mode directly to the locking mode upon detecting the slide of the mobile terminal being switched from the open position to a closed position.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising:

displaying an unlocking mode indicator on at least one of the display unit and an external surface part of a body surrounding the display unit depending upon detecting at least one of the unlocking mode and the slide of the mobile terminal in the open position.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein a certain external portion of the input device is arranged at the external surface part of the body surrounding the display unit and the indicator comprises a display of at least one of a certain color, a color pattern, a certain shape, and a picture.

28. The method of claim 25, further comprising:

resuming the locking mode for the input device when the slide of the mobile terminal is in the closed position.

29. The method of claim 25, wherein the specific actuation pattern of the input device comprises at least one of:

a simultaneous actuation of at least one set of the input device within a specific time limit; and

a first actuation of at least one key of the input device and a second actuation of the at least one key sequentially following the first actuation within a first specific time limit.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the at least one key is designated to perform locking and unlocking of the input device.

31. The method of claim 29, wherein the at least one key comprises a function key associated with a specific function in the mobile terminal and the specific function is performed upon detecting the first and second sequential actuations of the function key within the second specific time limit.

32. The method of claim 25, wherein the mobile terminal comprises a mobile communications terminal.

33. The method of claim 32, wherein the mobile terminal is configured to operate between the open position and the closed position and the mobile communications terminal comprises a sliding mobile communications terminal.

34. The method of claim 25, wherein the half-operation mode is a mode in which an operation is performed upon receiving an input from a key.

35. A mobile terminal having a plurality of operation modes, the mobile terminal comprising:

a body having at least one display unit;

an input unit comprising at least one input element being exposed on an external surface of the body, the input unit configured to be locked upon detecting the mobile terminal in at least one of a closed mode and an inactive mode; and

a controller cooperating with the input unit to unlock at least a certain portion of the input unit to allow a user to operate the mobile terminal in a half-operation mode depending upon detecting a specific actuation pattern of the input unit within a specific time limit,

wherein the locking mode is resumed for the input unit depending upon receiving no input signal from the input unit within the specific time limit during the half-operation mode, wherein the controller further cooperating with the input unit to operate the mobile terminal in a full-operation mode to allow the user to access an entirety of the input unit when the mobile terminal is in an open mode, and the controller to directly switch the mobile terminal from the full-operation mode to being locked when the mobile terminal is changed from the open mode to the closed mode based on moving the slide to a closed position.

36. The mobile terminal of claim 35, wherein the specific actuation pattern of the input unit comprises at least one of:

a simultaneous actuation of at least one set of the input unit within the specific time limit; and

at least two sequential actuation of the at least one input element within the specific time limit,

wherein the at least one input element comprises at least one of;

a key designated to perform locking and unlocking of the input unit, and

a function key associated with a specific function in the mobile terminal in such a way that the user is allowed to perform the specific function in at least one of the half-operation mode and the full-operation mode.

37. The mobile terminal of claim 35, further comprising:

an unlocking mode indicator configured to be displayed on at least one of the display unit and a certain portion of the body surrounding the display unit upon detecting at least one of the half-operation mode and the full-operation mode, wherein the indicator comprises a display of at least one of a certain color, color pattern, a certain shape, and a picture.

38. The mobile terminal of claim 35, wherein the mobile terminal comprises a mobile communications terminal.

39. The mobile terminal of claim 38, wherein the input unit is configured to be locked when the mobile terminal comprises a sliding mobile terminal and a slide of the mobile terminal is in the closed position.

40. The mobile terminal of claim 39, wherein the closed mode is activated depending upon detecting the sliding mobile terminal in the closed position.

41. The mobile device of claim 35, wherein the half-operation mode is a mode in which an operation is performed upon receiving an input from a key.