Input method for touch panel and related touch panel and electronic device

• US 9,019,210 B2
• Filed: 04/28/2009
• Issued: 04/28/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Wistron Corporation
• Original Assignee: Wistron Corporation
• Inventors: Qian, Jian-Jun
• Primary Examiner(s): Mengistu, Amare
• Assistant Examiner(s): Khoo, Stacy
• Application Number:
  US12/430,898
• Publication Number:
  US 20090295745A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,191 Days
• Field of Search: 345156-158, 345/168, 345/169, 345172-179, 715/800, 715/801, 715/808, 715/815
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0236 using selection techniques to select from displayed items
• 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 input method for a touch panel comprising displaying a plurality of selecting objects each corresponding to a control signal, enlarging a plurality of neighboring selecting objects in the plurality of selecting objects when the plurality of neighboring selecting objects are selected because a first selecting object of the plurality of neighboring selecting objects is not precisely selected, receiving a direction indication signal corresponding to a direction toward the first selecting object of the plurality of neighboring selecting objects from a first position, and outputting a control signal corresponding to the first selecting objects according to the direction indication signal.

Claims

1. An input method for a touch panel comprising:

displaying a plurality of selecting objects each corresponding to a control signal;

only enlarging a first selecting object and a plurality of neighboring selecting objects selected by a touch event in the plurality of selecting objects by a pop-up display method because the first selecting object is not precisely selected by the touch event and before the touch event is ended, wherein the touch event is caused by an object touching on the touch panel at a first position, and ended by the object leaving the touch panel at a second position;

receiving a direction indication signal corresponding to a direction toward the second position from the first position, wherein the direction toward the second position from the first position substantially parallels with a direction from a center of a pop-up display toward the enlarged first selecting object within the pop-up display, and the pop-up display is generated by the pop-up display method for only enlarging the first selecting object and the plurality of neighboring selecting objects; and

outputting a control signal corresponding to the first selecting object according to the direction indication signal, to determine the first selecting object is selected;

wherein the pop-up display for enlarging the plurality of neighboring selecting objects in the plurality of selecting objects is located other than where the touch event is located.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the direction indication signal is generated by the situation that the object moves along the direction on the touch panel.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the object is a finger.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first position is a center of the first selecting object and the plurality of neighboring selecting objects.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of selecting objects forms a keyboard.

6. A touch panel for an electronic device comprising:

a first display area for displaying a plurality of selecting objects each corresponding to a control signal;

a second display area for only enlarging a first selecting object and a plurality of neighboring selecting objects selected by a touch event in the plurality of selecting objects by a pop-up display method because the first selecting object is not precisely selected by the touch event and before the touch event is ended, wherein the touch event is caused by an object touching on the touch panel, and ended by the object leaving the touch panel;

a sensor unit for receiving a direction indication signal corresponding to a direction toward the second position from the first position, wherein the direction toward the second position from the first position substantially parallels with a direction from a center of a pop-up display toward the enlarged first selecting object within the pop-up display, and the pop-up display is generated by the pop-up display method for only enlarging the first selecting object and the plurality of neighboring selecting objects; and

an output unit for outputting a control signal corresponding to the first selecting object according to the direction indication signal, to determine the first selecting object is selected;

wherein the pop-up display for enlarging the plurality of neighboring selecting objects in the plurality of selecting objects is located other than where the touch event is located.

7. The touch panel of claim 6, wherein the direction indication signal is generated by the situation that the object moves along the direction on the touch panel.

8. The touch panel of claim 7, wherein the object is a finger.

9. The touch panel of claim 6, wherein the first position is a center of the first selecting object and the plurality of neighboring selecting objects.

10. The touch panel of claim 6, wherein the plurality of selecting objects forms a keyboard.

11. An electronic device comprising:

a housing;

an operation unit built inside the housing for performing functions of the electronic device; and

a touch panel built upon the housing and coupled to the operation unit for controlling the operation unit, comprising;

a first display area for displaying a plurality of selecting objects each corresponding to a control signal;

a second display area for only enlarging a first selecting object and a plurality of neighboring selecting objects selected by a touch event in the plurality of selecting objects by a pop-up display method because the first selecting object is not precisely selected by the touch event and before the touch event is ended, wherein the touch event is caused by an object touching on the touch panel, and ended by the object leaving the touch panel;

a sensor unit for receiving a direction indication signal corresponding to a direction toward the second position from the first position, wherein the direction toward the second position from the first position substantially parallels with a direction from a center of a pop-up display toward the enlarged first selecting object within the pop-up display, and the pop-up display is generated by the pop-up display method for only enlarging the first selecting object and the plurality of neighboring selecting objects; and

an output unit for outputting a control signal corresponding to the first selecting object according to the direction indication signal, to determine the first selecting object is selected;

wherein the pop-up display for enlarging the plurality of neighboring selecting objects in the plurality of selecting objects is located other than where the touch event is located.

12. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the direction indication signal is generated by the situation that the object moves along the direction on the touch panel.

13. The electronic device of claim 12, wherein the object is a finger.

14. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the first position is a center of the first selecting object and the plurality of neighboring selecting objects.

15. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the plurality of selecting objects forms a keyboard.