Mobile terminal and method of selecting lock function

• US 10,114,541 B2
• Filed: 12/09/2014
• Issued: 10/30/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/31/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Chu, Se Youp
• Primary Examiner(s): Ngo, Chuong A
• Application Number:
  US14/564,211
• Publication Number:
  US 20150095780A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,421 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04808 Several contacts: gestures triggering a specific function, e.g. scrolling, zooming, right-click, when the user establishes several contacts with the surface simultaneously; e.g. using several fingers or a combination of fingers and pen
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/044 by capacitive means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/165 Management of the audio stream, e.g. setting of volume, audio stream path
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/66 with means for preventing unauthorised or fraudulent calling verifying user identity or authority in secret or secure digital communications H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72448 with means for adapting the functionality of the device according to specific conditions
• 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: H04M 3/02 Calling substations, e.g. by ringing selective calling H04Q

Abstract

A mobile terminal and a method of selecting a lock function thereof are provided. The method of selecting a lock function of a mobile terminal having a touch screen includes: measuring, when at least one touch occurs on the touch screen, at least one of a pressure, a current, and a capacitance of an area of the touch screen in which the touch occurs; and selecting, if at least one of the measured pressure, current, and capacitance is greater than or equal to a preset value, a lock function. Thus, by touching the touch screen in such a manner that a high current or capacitance may be measured in a specific area of the mobile terminal, a user can easily perform a desired function, thereby improving user convenience.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

outputting a sound at an electronic device;

identifying, during the outputting, whether a single touch input covering at least half of an entire area of a touch screen, operatively coupled with the electronic device, is detected; and

performing a silent mode of the electronic device based at least in part on a result of the identification.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the outputting comprises outputting music as the sound.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the performing the silent mode comprises muting the sound.

4. An apparatus comprising:

a touch screen to display an image; and

a controller operatively coupled with the touch screen, the controller configured to;

output a sound;

identify, during the outputting, whether a single touch input covering at least half of an entire area of the touch screen is detected; and

perform a silent mode based at least in part on a result of the identification.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the sound comprises music.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the controller is configured to mute the sound.

7. An apparatus comprising:

a touch screen; and

a controller operatively coupled with the touch screen, the controller configured to;

execute at least one application in a first mode of the apparatus, the first mode supporting one or more functions of the apparatus;

identify whether a single touch input covering at least half of an entire area of the touch screen is detected in the first mode; and

execute the at least one application in a second mode of the apparatus based at least in part on the single touch input, the second mode limiting at least one function of the one or more functions.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the at least one application comprises a music reproducing application or a phone call application.

9. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the one or more functions comprise a first function to output a sound.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the controller is configured to refrain from providing the sound in the second mode.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the controller is configured to refrain from detecting the input in the second mode.