Electronic device and method of controlling the electronic device

• US 8,108,000 B2
• Filed: 04/03/2009
• Issued: 01/31/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/26/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
• Inventors: Ou Yang, Ming-Shiu, Wu, Kuan-Lin, Chang, Li-Ying
• Primary Examiner(s): Doan, Kiet
• Application Number:
  US12/417,659
• Publication Number:
  US 20100056213A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,033 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173, 345/156, 345/102, 345/169, 455/566, 455/418, 455/567, 455/41.3, 340/521, 340/815.4, 340/573.1, 340/156
• US Class Current: 455/556.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1613 for portable computers cooling arrangements therefor G06F1/203; constructional details or arrangements for pocket calculators, electronic agendas or books G06F15/0216; constructional details of portable telephone sets: with several bodies H04M1/0202
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/83 input devices, e.g. keyboards, mice or controllers thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0339 Touch strips, e.g. orthogonal touch strips to control cursor movement or scrolling; single touch strip to adjust parameter or to implement a row of soft keys
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0416 Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers
• 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

An electronic device having a temperature sensor is provided. The temperature sensor detects information of a touch operation from an object on a surface of the temperature sensor, determines if the touch operation is valid by determining if the detected information meet preset standards, and executes a corresponding command to activate an action of the electronic device, in response to a determination that the touch operation is valid.

Claims

1. An electronic device, comprising:

at least one temperature sensor comprising a plurality of temperature sensing units for detecting a touch operation on a surface of the temperature sensor from an object, and detecting information of the touch operation, wherein the detected information of the touch operation comprises time spent by the touch operation on passing through adjacent temperature sensing units;

a storage system for storing predetermined information, wherein the predetermined information comprises predetermined standards for determining if any touch operation on the surface of the temperature sensor is a valid touch operation, and a command corresponding to the valid touch operation, the predetermined standards comprising a predetermined time range of the time spent by the valid touch operation on passing through adjacent temperature sensing units; and

at least one processor that analyzes the detected information from the temperature sensor, compares the detected information with the predetermined standards to determine if the touch operation is a valid touch operation, and executes the command to activate a corresponding action of the electronic device, in response to a determination that the touch operation is a valid touch operation,

wherein the predetermined standards further comprise a predetermined sliding direction of a valid touch operation on the surface of the temperature sensor, and a predetermined temperature range of the valid touch operation.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the temperature sensor is positioned on a front cover or a back cover of the electronic device.

3. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the corresponding action is unlocking the electronic device.

4. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the detected information further comprises a sliding direction of the touch operation on the surface of the temperature sensor, and a temperature of the touch operation detected by each of the temperature sensing units.

5. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the plurality of temperature sensing units are arranged in a straight line or an arc.

6. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the electronic device is a mobile phone or a personal digital assistant.

7. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the storage system is selected from the group consisting of a smart media card, a secure digital card, and a compact flash card.

8. A method for controlling an electronic device, the method comprising:

detecting, information of a touch operation from an object by a temperature sensor of the electronic device, wherein the temperature sensor comprises a plurality of temperature sensing units, and the detected information of the touch operation comprises time spent by the touch operation on passing through adjacent temperature sensing units;

analyzing the detected information from the temperature sensor, comparing the detected information with predetermined standards stored in a storage system of the electronic device to determine if the touch operation is a valid touch operation, wherein the predetermined standards comprise a predetermined time range of the time spent by a valid touch operation on passing through adjacent temperature sensing units; and

executing a predetermined command corresponding to the valid touch operation to activate a corresponding action of the electronic device, in response to a determination that the touch operation is a valid touch operation,

wherein the predetermined standards further comprise a predetermined sliding direction of a valid touch operation on the surface of the temperature sensor, and a predetermined temperature range of the valid touch operation.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the temperature sensor is positioned on a front cover or a back cover of the electronic device.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the corresponding action is unlocking the electronic device.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein the detected information further comprises a sliding direction of the touch operation on the surface of the temperature sensor and a temperature of the touch operation detected by each of the temperature sensing units.

12. The method of claim 8, wherein the plurality of temperature sensing units are arranged in a straight line or an arc.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the electronic device is a mobile phone or a personal digital assistant.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the storage system is selected from the group consisting of a smart media card, a secure digital card, and a compact flash card.