Electronic device, non-transitory computer-readable recording medium, and method for controlling electronic device

• US 9,563,299 B2
• Filed: 11/26/2014
• Issued: 02/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
• Inventors: Atsumi, Yoshihiko
• Primary Examiner(s): BALAOING, ARIEL A
• Application Number:
  US14/555,481
• Publication Number:
  US 20150084902A1
• Time in Patent Office: 804 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1643 the display being associated to a digitizer, e.g. laptops that can be used as penpads details related to the relative motion of the display enclosure with respect to the body enclosure, e.g. to move between laptop and tablet PC configuration G06F1/1615
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1684 Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1688 the I/O peripheral being integrated loudspeakers
• 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 3/167 Audio in a user interface, e.g. using voice commands for navigating, audio feedback
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/03 Constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. telephone hand-sets
• 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: H04R 17/00 Piezoelectric transducers; Electrostrictive transducers piezoelectric or electrostrictive elements in general H10N30/00; details of piezoelectric or electrostrictive motors, generators or positioners H10N30/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2420/07 Applications of wireless loudspeakers or wireless microphones
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2460/13 Hearing devices using bone conduction transducers
• CPC Class Codes: H04R 2499/11 Transducers incorporated or for use in hand-held devices, e.g. mobile phones, PDA's, camera's

Abstract

An electronic device is provided with a display panel, a touch panel, and a piezoelectric vibration module configured to vibrate to vibrate a cover panel located on a front surface of the electronic device. The electronic device is also provided with a controller configured to control the display panel and the touch panel and vibrates the piezoelectric vibration module based on a sound signal. The controller disables a function of the touch panel when starting to vibrate the piezoelectric vibration module based on a sound signal.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

a display;

a touch panel;

a piezoelectric vibration element configured to vibrate a cover panel located on a front surface of said electronic device; and

at least one processor configured to

control said display and said touch panel,

vibrate said piezoelectric vibration element based on a sound signal,

upon initiation of the vibration of said piezoelectric vibration element, disable a function of said touch panel, and,

when sound is output through an earphone connected to said electronic device, not disable the function of said touch panel.

2. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein said at least one processor, upon initiation of the vibration of said piezoelectric vibration element, also stops a display of said display in addition to disabling the function of said touch panel.

3. The electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising at least one hardware key, wherein said at least one processor:

upon initiation of the vibration of said piezoelectric vibration element, performs a display of information on the display while disabling the function of the touch panel, and

upon manipulation of said at least one hardware key after the function of said touch panel has been disabled, enables the function of said touch panel.

4. The electronic device according to claim 3, wherein, while vibrating said piezoelectric vibration element based on the sound signal and performing the display of information on the display, said at least one processor enables the function of said touch panel upon said at least one hardware key being manipulated after the function of said touch panel has been disabled, and then, disables the function of said touch panel again upon said at least one hardware key being manipulated again.

5. The electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising:

at least one hardware key; and

a microphone,

wherein, while vibrating said piezoelectric vibration element based on the sound signal during a conversation via said electronic device, said at least one processor enables the function of said touch panel upon said at least one hardware key being manipulated after the function of said touch panel has been disabled, and then, disables the function of said touch panel again upon a volume of a sound input to said microphone exceeding a threshold.

6. The electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising:

at least one hardware key; and

a proximity sensor,

wherein, while vibrating said piezoelectric vibration element based on the sound signal and after disabling the function of said touch panel, said at least one processor, upon manipulation of said at least one hardware key, enables the function of said touch panel and also enables a function of said proximity sensor, and then, disables the function of said touch panel again upon said proximity sensor detecting proximity of an object.

7. The electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising:

a receiver configured to be controlled by said controller and outputs sound through a receiver hole located at an end portion of said cover panel; and

a proximity sensor that detects that an object has approached said receiver hole,

wherein said at least one processor enables a function of said proximity sensor when starting to cause said receiver to output sound and disables the function of said touch panel upon said proximity sensor detecting that an object has approached said receiver hole.

8. The electronic device according to claim 1, wherein said piezoelectric vibration element vibrates said cover panel such that air conducted sound and conduction sound are transmitted to a user from said cover panel.

11. The electronic device according to claim 1, further comprising an acceleration sensor, wherein, while vibrating said piezoelectric vibration element based on the sound signal and after disabling the function of said touch panel, said at least one processor enables the function of said touch panel upon determining that a predetermined vibration manipulation has been performed on said electronic device based on an output signal of said acceleration sensor.

9. A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium configured to store a control program for controlling an electronic device,

said electronic device including a display, a touch panel, and a piezoelectric vibration element configured to vibrate a cover panel located on a front surface of said electronic device,

said recording medium storing said control program which causes said electronic device to,

upon initiation of vibration of the piezoelectric vibration element based on a sound signal, disable a function of said touch panel, and,

when sound is output through an earphone connected to said electronic device, not disable the function of said touch panel.

10. A method for controlling an electronic device,

said electronic device including a display, a touch panel, and a piezoelectric vibration element configured to vibrate a cover panel located on a front surface of said electronic device,

the method comprising:

upon initiation of vibration of the piezoelectric vibration element based on a sound signal, disabling a function of said touch panel; and

,

when sound is output through an earphone connected to said electronic device, not disabling the function of said touch panel.