Method of unlocking a mobile electronic device

• US 8,385,885 B2
• Filed: 10/17/2008
• Issued: 02/26/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/17/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Snaptrack Incorporated (Qualcomm, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications USA Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Hainzl, Richard Andreas Axel
• Primary Examiner(s): Hu, Jinsong
• Assistant Examiner(s): Shen, Qun
• Application Number:
  US12/288,300
• Publication Number:
  US 20100099394A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,593 Days
• Field of Search: 455/411, 455/418, 455/566, 345/173
• US Class Current: 455/411
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/32 Means for saving power
• 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 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• 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: H04M 1/673 the user being required to key in a code
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/12 including a sensor for measuring a physical value, e.g. temperature or motion telephones including GPS signal receivers H04M2250/10
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/22 including a touch pad, a touch sensor or a touch detector digitizers for touch screens G06F3/041
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/027 by controlling a display operation or backlight unit
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 52/0274 by switching on or off the equipment or parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y02D 30/70 in wireless communication networks

Abstract

A method of unlocking a mobile electronic device and a mobile electronic device are disclosed. The mobile electronic device is operable in a locked state with the touch screen of the mobile electronic device being deactivated. In an embodiment, the mobile electronic device comprises a pressure sensor coupled to the touch-screen for detecting an application of pressure to the touch screen.

Claims

1. A method of unlocking a mobile electronic device, wherein the mobile electronic device is in a locked state with a touch screen of the mobile electronic device being deactivated, the method comprising the steps of:

detecting with at least two pressure sensors coupled to different portions of the touch screen an application of pressure according to a predetermined sequence to different areas of the touch screen;

if the application of pressure to the different areas of the touch screen according to the predetermined sequence is detected, activating only a touch-sensitive touch panel of the touch screen;

detecting a touch of the touch panel as an input; and

if the detected input corresponds to a predetermined actuation of the touch panel, unlocking the mobile electronic device by activating the whole touch screen.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined actuation of the touch screen comprises at least one actuation selected from a group comprising a touch of the touch screen by a pre-determined object;

a touch of the touch screen by an electrically grounded object;

a predetermined movement of an object on the touch screen;

a predetermined sequence of touches of the touch screen; and

a touch of the touch screen according to a predetermined pattern.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the application of the pressure to the touch screen is only detected if the applied pressure has a magnitude above a predetermined pressure threshold.

4. A mobile electronic device being operable in a locked state with a touch screen of the mobile electronic device being deactivated, said touch screen comprising a touch panel and being adapted to deliver an input signal in response to a touch of the touch screen, the mobile electronic device comprising:

at least two pressure sensors coupled to different portions of the touch screen and each adapted to detect an application of pressure to the touch screen, only a touch-sensitive touch panel of the touch screen if it determines the application of pressure is according to a predetermined sequence to different areas of the touch screen based on detection by the at least two pressure sensors, detect a touch of the touch panel as an input, and unlock the mobile electronic device by unlocking the whole touch screen if the detected input corresponds to a predetermined actuation of the touch panel.

5. The mobile electronic device of claim 4, wherein at least one of the pressure sensors comprises a piezoelectric sensor.

6. The mobile electronic device of claim 4, wherein at least one of the pressure sensors comprises a polyvinylidene fluoride film.

7. The mobile electronic device of claim 4, further comprising a filter adapted to filter pressure signals delivered by said at least two pressure sensors to said control unit so that the control unit is only informed of the application of pressure to the touch screen if the applied pressure has a magnitude above a predetermined pressure threshold.

8. The mobile electronic device of claim 4, wherein the mobile electronic device is selected from a group comprising a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant, a personal navigation device, a digital camera and a portable music player.

9. The mobile electronic device of claim 4, wherein the touch screen comprises a display, the at least two pressure sensors each being a contact or an electrical switch integrated into the display.

10. The mobile electronic device according to claim 4, wherein the touch panel is selected from a group comprising a capacitive touch screen panel, a resistive touch screen panel, an optical touch screen panel, and a total internal reflection based touch screen panel.

11. A method of operating a mobile electronic device, wherein the mobile electronic device is in a locked state with a touch screen of the mobile electronic device being deactivated, the method comprising the steps of:

receiving at least two pressure signals from at least two pressure sensors coupled to different portions of the touch screen in response to an application of pressure according to a predetermined sequence to different areas of the touch screen;

if the application of pressure to the different areas of the touch screen according to the predetermined sequence is detected, activating only a touch-sensitive touch panel of the touch screen;

detecting a touch of the touch panel as an input; and

if the detected input corresponds to a predetermined actuation of the touch panel, operating the mobile electronic device in an unlocked state with said whole touch screen being activated.