Touchscreen device with grip sensor and control methods thereof
First Claim
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1. An apparatus for controlling operations of a terminal, the apparatus comprising:
- a grip sensor unit configured to output a grip signal when the terminal is gripped;
a touchscreen unit that receives touch input commands; and
a controller configured to establish a touch-inactive area in the touchscreen unit upon detection of a touch signal while the grip signal is detected, and to determine that the touch signal generated in the touch-inactive area results from a gripping touch and that the touch signal not generated in the touch-inactive area results from the touch input commands,wherein the controller, upon detection of the touch signal received from the touchscreen unit while detecting a plurality of grip signals received from the grip sensor unit, detects a grip area where each of the grip signals has been generated, determines a vertical length h of each grip area, establishes a variable horizontal length t according to the vertical length h, establishes a touch-inactive area having the vertical length h and the horizontal length t in the touchscreen unit, and determines that a touch signal results from the gripping touch when coordinates of the touch signal are contained in the touch-inactive area,wherein when first and second grip signals are generated due to grip touches on spaced apart first and second grip areas on a common side of the terminal, first and second touch-inactive areas are generated adjacent to the first and second grip areas, respectively, the first and second touch-inactive areas each being of a rectangular shape and spaced apart from one another vertically, and each having a variable horizontal length determined according to a vertical length thereof.
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Abstract
Apparatus and methods for controlling operations of a touchscreen terminal having grip sensors are disclosed. A grip signal is detected when the terminal is gripped. A touch-inactive area is established in the touchscreen area based at least upon the grip signal. Touches occurring within the touch-inactive area are designated as non-executable gripping touches. Accordingly, unintentional touch executions due to an overlapping grip are prevented.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. An apparatus for controlling operations of a terminal, the apparatus comprising:
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a grip sensor unit configured to output a grip signal when the terminal is gripped; a touchscreen unit that receives touch input commands; and a controller configured to establish a touch-inactive area in the touchscreen unit upon detection of a touch signal while the grip signal is detected, and to determine that the touch signal generated in the touch-inactive area results from a gripping touch and that the touch signal not generated in the touch-inactive area results from the touch input commands, wherein the controller, upon detection of the touch signal received from the touchscreen unit while detecting a plurality of grip signals received from the grip sensor unit, detects a grip area where each of the grip signals has been generated, determines a vertical length h of each grip area, establishes a variable horizontal length t according to the vertical length h, establishes a touch-inactive area having the vertical length h and the horizontal length t in the touchscreen unit, and determines that a touch signal results from the gripping touch when coordinates of the touch signal are contained in the touch-inactive area, wherein when first and second grip signals are generated due to grip touches on spaced apart first and second grip areas on a common side of the terminal, first and second touch-inactive areas are generated adjacent to the first and second grip areas, respectively, the first and second touch-inactive areas each being of a rectangular shape and spaced apart from one another vertically, and each having a variable horizontal length determined according to a vertical length thereof. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of controlling operations of a terminal including a grip sensor unit and a touchscreen unit that receives touch input commands, the method comprising:
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detecting first and second grip signals when the terminal is gripped; establishing first and second touch-inactive areas in the touchscreen area while the first and second grip signals are detected; and determining that a touch signal generated in one of the touch-inactive areas results from a gripping touch and that a touch signal not generated in one of the touch-inactive areas results from the touch input commands, wherein establishing first and second touch-inactive area comprises detecting, upon detection of a touch signal received from the touchscreen unit while detecting the first and second grip signals received from the grip sensor unit, first and second grip areas where the first and second grip signals have been generated, respectively; wherein when the first and second grip signals are generated due to the first and second grip touches on spaced apart first and second grip areas on a common side of the terminal, first and second touch-inactive areas are generated adjacent to the first and second grip areas, respectively, the first and second touch-inactive areas each being of a rectangular shape and spaced apart from one another vertically, and each having a variable horizontal length determined according to a vertical length thereof. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification