Mobile terminal and method of controlling the mobile terminal

• US 9,086,755 B2
• Filed: 06/16/2009
• Issued: 07/21/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Cho, Seon Hwi, Kim, Jong Hwan
• Primary Examiner(s): Sasinowski, Andrew
• Assistant Examiner(s): RAYAN, MIHIR K
• Application Number:
  US12/485,877
• Publication Number:
  US 20090322695A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,226 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/014 Force feedback applied to GUI
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0416 Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04845 for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

Provided are a mobile terminal and a method of controlling the mobile terminal in which various operations performed by the mobile terminal can be controlled based on a vibration-indicator image representing the intensity, pattern and frequency of vibration generated by the mobile terminal. Therefore, it is possible for a user to identify the vibration generated by the mobile terminal not only with his or her sense of touch but also with his or her sense of touch. In addition, it is possible to display a vibration-indicator image representing vibration generated upon the detection of an entity near and approaching the mobile terminal and change the vibration-indicator image according to the distance between the entity and the mobile terminal. Thus, it is possible to easily determine the state of the entity.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a mobile terminal comprising a vibration module configured to generate vibration and a touch screen configured to receive a touch input and display information, the method comprising:

generating a vibration signal for controlling the vibration module in response to the touch input, the touch input having a touch pattern comprising at least a touch region and a touch duration;

outputting vibration corresponding to the vibration signal via the vibration module;

displaying a predetermined image at a location on the touch screen where the touch input is detected while outputting the vibration, the displayed predetermined image comprising a visual representation corresponding to the output vibration;

changing a shape of the displayed predetermined image in response to a change of the touch duration; and

moving the displayed predetermined image on the touch screen in response to a change of the touch region.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

changing a screen displayed on the touch screen according to at least an intensity, a pattern, a place of occurrence, a direction of movement or a speed of movement of the output vibration.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein changing the screen comprises changing at least a color, a color of outlines, a sharpness, a shape, or a location of the displayed predetermined image.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined image is a circular image comprising at least a circular line.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

changing at least an intensity or a pattern of the generated vibration according to the touch duration of the detected touch input; and

changing a shape of the displayed circular image according to the touch duration of the detected touch input.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

changing at least an intensity or a pattern of the generated vibration according to a change of the touch region of the detected touch input; and

changing a shape of the displayed circular image according to the change of the touch region.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the displayed predetermined image is a wave image comprising at least one wavy line; and

the at least one wavy line corresponds to the touch duration.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

no longer displaying the predetermined image on the touch screen when the touch input is no longer detected.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

changing at least an intensity, a pattern, a place of occurrence, a direction of movement or a speed of movement of the output vibration according to the touch pattern of the detected touch input.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the displayed shape of the predetermined image comprises a circle; and

changing the displayed shape of the predetermined image occurs when the touch input is received on the touch screen at an area that is proximate to a location where the predetermined image is displayed.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein a duration of the output vibration corresponds to the touch duration of the detected touch input.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the predetermined image indicates an image acquired by visualizing a vibration to be generated in response to the vibration signal.

13. The method of claim 2, wherein changing the screen comprises changing an item displayed on the touch screen when the touch input is detected at an area on the displayed screen that is near the displayed item.

14. The method of claim 2, wherein the at least intensity, pattern, place of occurrence, direction of movement, or speed of movement of the output vibration corresponds to at least a direction of change of the touch region, a speed of change of the touch region, or a duration of a touch applied to the touch screen.

15. The method of claim 2, wherein:

the detected touch input comprises a touch-and-drag input of one of a plurality of objects displayed on the screen; and

the plurality of objects comprise at least a progress bar, an icon, a content item, or a cursor.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein changing the screen comprises:

applying an afterimage effect to the detected touch-and-drag input such that a trail of afterimages remains behind the one of the plurality of objects when the one of the plurality of objects is moved; and

changing at least a sharpness, a color, a shape a direction of movement, or a speed of movement of the trail of afterimages.

17. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

displaying a menu icon on the touch screen; and

displaying a menu screen corresponding to the displayed menu icon such that the menu screen appears to be pulled out from one side of the touch screen when a touch input to the displayed menu icon is detected,

wherein the generated vibration corresponds to at least a direction in which the menu screen is pulled, a speed at which the menu screen is pulled, a sharpness of the menu screen, a color of the menu screen, or a shape of the menu screen.

18. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

displaying a character-editing screen configured to at least receive input characters, edit the input characters, or display the input characters, wherein;

the displayed character-editing screen comprises a ‘

backspace’

key configured to delete one or more characters displayed on the character-editing screen when a touch input to the ‘

backspace’

key is detected for more than a predetermined amount of time; and

the generated vibration corresponds to at least a direction, a speed, or a manner in which the displayed one or more characters are deleted.

19. The method of claim 2, wherein the at least intensity, pattern, place of occurrence, direction of movement or speed of movement of the generated vibration corresponds to at least a number of displayed items from the screen, or a distance between two or more selections from the displayed screen.

20. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

obtaining information related to a distance between the touch screen and a near-and-approaching entity detected via a proximity sensor, a direction of movement of the detected near-and-approaching entity, or a moving speed of the detected near-and-approaching entity,

wherein the at least intensity, pattern, place of occurrence, direction of movement or speed of movement of the generated vibration corresponds to at least the distance between the touch screen and the detected near-and-approaching entity, the direction of movement of the detected near-and-approaching entity, or the speed of movement of the detected near-and-approaching entity.

21. The method of claim 20, further comprising no longer detecting the touch input when the intensity of the output vibration exceeds a threshold level.

22. A mobile terminal comprising:

a vibration module configured to generate vibration;

a touch screen configured to receive a touch input and display information; and

a controller configured to;

detect a touch input received via the touch screen, the touch input having a touch pattern comprising at least a touch region and a touch duration;

generate a vibration signal for controlling the vibration module to generate vibration in response to the detected touch input;

cause the vibration module to output the generated vibration;

cause displaying of a predetermined image at a location on the touch screen where the touch input is detected while the vibration is output, the displayed predetermined image comprising a visual representation corresponding to the output vibration;

cause the touch screen to change a shape of the displayed predetermined image according to a change of the touch duration; and

cause the touch screen to move the displayed predetermined image according to a change of the touch region.

23. The mobile terminal of claim 22, wherein the controller is further configured to cause changing of a screen displayed on the touch screen according to at least an intensity, a pattern, a place of occurrence, a direction of movement or a speed of movement of the output vibration.

24. The mobile terminal of claim 23, wherein the controller is further configured to cause the touch screen to change at least a color, a color of outlines, a sharpness, a shape, or a location of the displayed predetermined image.

25. The mobile terminal of claim 23, wherein:

the at least intensity, pattern, place of occurrence, direction of movement or speed of movement of the generated vibration corresponds to at least a direction of change of the touch region, a speed of change of the touch region, or a duration of a touch input applied to the touch screen.

26. The mobile terminal of claim 22, wherein the predetermined image is a circular image comprising at least a circular line.

27. The mobile terminal of claim 26, wherein the controller is further configured to:

cause the vibration module to change at least an intensity or a pattern of the generated vibration according to the touch duration of the detected touch input; and

cause the touch screen to change a shape of the displayed circular image according to the touch duration of the detected touch input.

28. The mobile terminal of claim 26, wherein the controller is further configured to:

cause the vibration module to change at least an intensity or a pattern of the generated vibration according to a change of the touch region of the detected touch input; and

cause the touch screen to change a shape of the displayed circular image according to the change of the touch region.

29. The mobile terminal of claim 22, wherein:

the displayed predetermined image is a wave image comprising at least one wavy line; and

the at least one wavy line corresponds to the touch duration.

30. The mobile terminal of claim 22, wherein the controller is further configured to control the touch screen to no longer display the predetermined image when the touch input is no longer detected.

31. The mobile terminal of claim 22, wherein the controller is further configured to control the vibration module to change at least an intensity, a pattern, a place of occurrence, a direction of movement or a speed of movement of the output vibration according to the touch pattern of the detected touch input.

32. The mobile terminal of claim 22, wherein:

the displayed shape of the predetermined image comprises a circle; and

the controller is further configured to control the touch screen to change the displayed shape of the predetermined image when the touch input is received on the touch screen at an area that is proximate to a location where the predetermined image is displayed.

33. The mobile terminal of claim 22, wherein a duration of the output vibration corresponds to the touch duration of the detected touch input.

34. The mobile terminal of claim 22, wherein the predetermined image indicates an image acquired by visualizing a vibration to be generated in response to the vibration signal.