Touch screen device and method of displaying images thereon

• US 7,916,125 B2
• Filed: 12/28/2006
• Issued: 03/29/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Shin, Sang Hyun, Chae, Ji Suk, Yoo, Kyung Hee, Kim, Yu Mi, Kim, Ji Ae, Ham, Young Ho, Park, Ho Joo
• Primary Examiner(s): Hjerpe; Richard
• Assistant Examiner(s): Steinberg; Jeffrey S
• Application Number:
  US11/646,586
• Publication Number:
  US 20070247440A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,552 Days
• Field of Search: 345/104, 345173-178, 345/179, 178 1801- 1809, 178/18.11, 715790-791, 396/157, 396/159
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04807 Pen manipulated menu
• 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

Abstract

A touch screen device and method of displaying images using display windows and selecting execution menus displayed on the display windows in a touch screen device are provided. The touch screen device includes a screen, a display configured to display images thereon and a detector configured to detect a touch on the screen, and a controller configured to control operation of the touch screen device in accordance with the screen touch detected by the detector. The controller causes two or more display windows to be displayed in an overlapped manner. Further, if the touch is detected on an underlying display window covered by an overlying display window, the controller causes a display form to be changed in response to the touch. That is, if a touch is detected on the display window covered by the overlying display window, the touched display window is displayed as an overlying display window.

Claims

1. A method of displaying a plurality of menu pages on a touch screen device having a touch screen display having a predetermined viewing area and a detector configured to detect a touch on the touch screen display and a controller configured to control operation of the touch screen device in accordance with the screen touch detected by the detector, the method comprising:

displaying the plurality of menu pages in an overlapped manner, each of the plurality of menu pages having a title and a plurality of menu execution portions, wherein a title and the plurality of menu execution portions are displayed for an uppermost displayed menu page and only the title is displayed for the underlying menu pages, and wherein the title for the uppermost displayed menu page is displayed adjacent an upper edge of the uppermost displayed menu page and the title for the underlying menu pages is displayed adjacent a side or bottom edge of the uppermost displayed menu page; and

if a touch is detected by the detector on a surface of the touch screen display, changing the uppermost displayed menu page to display one of the underlying menu pages as a new uppermost displayed menu page, wherein when one of the underlying menu pages is displayed as the new uppermost displayed menu page, the title for the new uppermost displayed menu page automatically moves to a position adjacent an upper edge of the new uppermost displayed menu page.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising, if a double touch is detected by the detector on one of the underlying menu pages covered by the uppermost displayed menu page, canceling a toggle mode in which the menu pages are displayed in an overlapped manner and displaying the double touched underlying menu page on the touch screen display in a full size.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising providing a toggle mode cancel area for canceling a toggle mode, in which the menu pages are displayed in an overlapped manner, such that a single display window is displayed on the touch screen display in a full size when the toggle mode cancel area is touched;

and

providing a toggle mode selection area for switching a display mode to the toggle mode when the toggle mode selection area is touched.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising providing on the uppermost displayed menu page a toggle mode cancel area for canceling a toggle mode, in which the menu pages are displayed in an overlapped manner, when the toggle mode cancel area is touched.

5. A method of displaying a plurality of menu pages on a touch screen device mounted on digital equipment, comprising the method of claim 1.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the digital equipment comprises a MP3 player, a portable media player, a portable terminal, a navigation system, or a notebook computer.

7. A touch screen device configured to display a plurality of menu pages, the touch screen device comprising:

a touch screen display having a predetermined viewing area;

a detector configured to detect a touch on the touch screen display; and

a controller configured to control operation of the touch screen device in accordance with the screen touch detected by the detector, wherein the controller displays the plurality of menu pages on the touch screen display in an overlapped manner, each of the plurality of menu pages having a title and a plurality of menu execution portions, wherein a title and the plurality of menu execution portions are displayed for an uppermost displayed menu page and only the title is displayed for the underlying menu pages, wherein the title for the uppermost displayed menu page is displayed adjacent an upper edge of the uppermost displayed menu page and the title for the underlying menu pages is displayed adjacent a side or bottom edge of the uppermost displayed menu page, and wherein if a touch is detected by the detector on a surface of the touch screen display, the controller changes the uppermost displayed menu page to display one of the underlying menu pages as a new uppermost displayed menu page, wherein when one of the underlying menu page is displayed as the new uppermost displayed menu page, the controller automatically moves the title for the new uppermost displayed menu page to a position adjacent an upper edge of the new uppermost displayed menu page.

8. The touch screen device as claimed in claim 7, wherein, if a double touch is detected by the detector on one of the underlying menu pages covered by the uppermost displayed menu page, the controller cancels a toggle mode in which the menu pages are displayed in an overlapped manner and displays the double touched underlying menu page on the touch screen display in a full size.

9. The touch screen device as claimed in claim 7, wherein, where a toggle mode in which the menu pages are displayed in an overlapped manner is canceled and a single display window is displayed on the touch screen display in a full size when a toggle mode cancel area is touched, the controller provides a toggle mode selection area for switching a display mode to the toggle mode when the toggle mode selection area is touched on the single display window.

10. The touch screen device as claimed in claim 7, wherein the controller provides on the uppermost displayed menu page a toggle mode cancel area for canceling a toggle mode, in which the menu pages are displayed in an overlapped manner, when the toggle mode cancel area is touched.

11. Digital equipment, comprising the touch screen device of claim 7.

12. The touch screen device of claim 11, wherein the digital equipment comprises a MP3 player, a portable media player, a portable terminal, a navigation system, or a notebook computer.