User interface for a mobile device using a user's gesture in the proximity of an electronic device

• US 8,219,936 B2
• Filed: 08/21/2008
• Issued: 07/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 08/30/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Kim, Joo Min, Jung, Deok Hwa, Lee, Man Ho, Kim, Young Hwan, Kim, Ki Hyun, Shin, Dong Soo
• Primary Examiner(s): Lo, Weilun
• Assistant Examiner(s): Hassan, Rashedul
• Application Number:
  US12/196,104
• Publication Number:
  US 20090265670A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,419 Days
• Field of Search: 715/863, 715/862, 715/859, 715/705, 715/708, 715/711, 715/715
• US Class Current: 715/862
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04806 Zoom, i.e. interaction techniques or interactors for controlling the zooming operation
• 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

An electronic device having a user interface on a display and method for controlling the device, the method including: detecting a proximity of an object to the display; detecting a two-dimensional motion pattern of the object; and controlling the user interface according to the detected two-dimensional motion pattern. Also, a method including: detecting an object in a space over a border between first and second zones of a plurality of touch-sensitive zones and outputting a detection signal; and simultaneously displaying first and second information elements corresponding to the first and second zones in response to the detection signal.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a user interface of an electronic device having a display comprising:

detecting a proximity of an object to the display;

detecting a two-dimensional motion pattern of the object; and

controlling the user interface according to the detected two-dimensional motion pattern,

wherein the two-dimensional motion pattern comprises a spiral, and the step of controlling includes zooming the user interface in or out based on a direction of the spiral, and

wherein the user interface is incrementally zoomed in or out by a certain ratio whenever the object turns one circle of the spiral.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein

the two-dimensional motion pattern further comprises a circle pattern and

the step of controlling further includes rotating the user interface based on a direction of the circle pattern.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein

the two-dimensional motion pattern further comprises one of an alphabet character, a number and a symbol, and

the step of controlling the user interface further comprises one of:

controlling a volume control menu, and

locking or unlocking the user interface.

4. A method for controlling a user interface of an electronic device having a touch screen divided into a plurality of touch-sensitive zones, comprising:

detecting an object in a space over a border between a first and second zone of the plurality of touch-sensitive zones and outputting a corresponding detection signal, wherein the plurality of touch-sensitive zones are corresponding to a plurality of icons displayed on the touch screen respectively;

simultaneously displaying first and second information elements, different than the plurality of icons, explaining the first and second zones in response to the detection signal;

detecting movement of the object away from the border and to a space over the first zone; and

displaying the first information element while not displaying the second information element.

5. A portable device, comprising:

a display;

a proximity sensor configured to detect a proximity of an object over the display, to detect a two-dimensional motion pattern of the object, and to output corresponding proximity and motion signals; and

a processor configured to control a user interface displayed on the display based on the proximity and motion signals,

wherein the two-dimensional motion pattern comprises a spiral, and the processor is configured to zoom the user interface in or out based on a direction of the spiral, and

wherein the user interface is incrementally zoomed in or out by a certain ratio whenever the object turns one circle of the spiral.

6. A portable device, comprising:

a display having a touch screen divided into a plurality of touch-sensitive zones;

a proximity sensor configured to detect an object in a space over a border between a first and second zone of the plurality of touch-sensitive zones and to output a corresponding sensor signal, wherein the plurality of touch-sensitive zones are corresponding to a plurality of icons displayed on the touch screen respectively; and

a processor configured to control the display to simultaneously display first and second information elements, different than the plurality of icons, explaining the first and second zones, respectively, in response to the sensor signal,

wherein the processor displays the first information element while not displaying the second information element when the proximity sensor detects movement of the object away from the border and to a space over the first zone.