Electronic device and operating method thereof

• US 10,296,210 B2
• Filed: 01/04/2017
• Issued: 05/21/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 01/04/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Jin, Myoung-Dae, Kim, Taewoo
• Primary Examiner(s): Dharia, Prabodh M
• Application Number:
  US15/398,190
• Publication Number:
  US 20170192599A1
• Time in Patent Office: 867 Days
• Field of Search: 345 13, 345204-212, 345419, 345593, 345633, 345660, 345690, 715769, 36167909
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/2145 the surface being also a display device, e.g. touch screens
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/217 using environment-related information, i.e. information generated otherwise than by the player, e.g. ambient temperature or humidity
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/803 Driving vehicles or craft, e.g. cars, airplanes, ships, robots or tanks
• CPC Class Codes: G04D 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 21/02 Detectors of external physical values, e.g. temperature
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 21/025 for measuring physiological data
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 21/04 using radio waves radio-controlled time-pieces G04R
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 21/08 Touch switches specially adapted for time-pieces
• 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 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• 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 2203/04105 Pressure sensors for measuring the pressure or force exerted on the touch surface without providing the touch position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04845 for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/147 using display panels
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2354/00 Aspects of interface with display user

Abstract

An electronic device is provided which includes a housing, a first plate, a second plate, and a side member, a touch screen display that includes a touch panel, the touch screen display located within the housing and exposed through at least a part of the first plate, a sensor within the housing and configured to detect an atmospheric pressure variation, a processor electrically connected with the touch screen display and the sensor, and a memory electrically connected to the processor, the memory stores instructions which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to receive a touch input caused by pressing a part of the touch screen display by using the touch screen display, monitor the atmospheric pressure variation using the sensor while receiving the touch input, and provide a changed and/or selected function of the touch screen display based on the monitored atmospheric pressure variation and the touch input.

Claims

1. An electronic device, comprising:

a housing;

a touch screen display comprising a touch panel, the touch screen display being located within the housing and exposed through at least a part of the housing;

a sensor provided within the housing and configured to detect an atmospheric pressure;

a processor operatively coupled with the touch screen display and the sensor; and

a memory operatively coupled with the processor,

wherein the memory stores instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to;

display a visual object on the touch screen display,

receive an input pressing the visual object being displayed,

in response to receiving the input, obtain a pressing strength of the input, based on data indicating an atmospheric pressure variation caused by receiving the input, and

in response to obtaining the pressing strength, execute, among a plurality of functions executable through the visual object, a first function, based on identifying that the pressing strength of the input is within a first designated range, and execute, among the plurality of functions, a second function, which is distinct from the first function, based on identifying that the pressing strength of the input is within a second designated range, which is distinct from the first designated range.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises an atmospheric pressure sensor.

3. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the touch panel comprises a plurality of sub-areas, and

wherein at least two of the plurality of sub-areas have different threshold values for the atmospheric pressure variation.

4. The electronic device of claim 3, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:

determine a location on the touch panel based on the input,

determine a sub-area containing the determined location among the plurality of sub-areas, and

execute a third function, based on the atmospheric pressure variation detected by the sensor while receiving the input being within a designated range associated with the sub-area.

5. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to execute a third function among the plurality of functions executable through the visual object, based on identifying that the pressing strength of the input is outside of the first designated range and the second designated range.

6. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to execute a third function based on a location of the input, irrespective of the atmospheric pressure variation.

7. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the housing comprises:

a first plate extending in a first direction,

a second plate extending in a second direction opposite to the first direction, and

a side member configured to surround a space between the first plate and the second plate.

8. The electronic device of claim 7, wherein the sensor is located in at least one area of the space between the first plate and the second plate, and

wherein the at least one area of the space between the first plate and the second plate is at least partially sealed.

9. An electronic device, comprising:

a housing;

a connecting member connected to the housing and detachably mounted on a part of a user'"'"'s body;

a touch screen display comprising a touch panel, the touch screen display being located within the housing and exposed through at least a part of the housing;

a pressure sensor provided within the housing and configured to detect an atmospheric pressure;

a processor operatively coupled with the touch screen display and the atmospheric pressure sensor; and

a memory operatively coupled with the processor,

wherein the memory stores instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to;

receive an input pressing a visual object being displayed on the touch screen display,

in response to receiving the input, obtain a pressing strength of the input, based on data indicating an atmospheric pressure variation caused by receiving the input, and

in response to obtaining the pressing strength, execute, among a plurality of functions executable through the visual object, a first function, based on identifying that the pressing strength of the input is within a first designated range, and execute, among the plurality of functions, a second function distinct from the first function, based on identifying that the pressing strength of the input is within a second designated range distinct from the first designated range.

10. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the touch panel comprises a plurality of sub-areas, and

wherein at least two of the plurality of sub-areas have different designated ranges for the atmospheric pressure variation.

11. An operating method for an electronic device, the operating method comprising:

displaying, by the electronic device, a visual object on a touch screen display, wherein the electronic device comprises a housing having an inner space, the touch screen display exposed through one surface of the housing, and a sensor configured to detect an atmospheric pressure variation within the inner space;

receiving, by the electronic device, an input pressing the visual object being displayed;

in response to receiving the input, obtaining a pressing strength of the input, based on data indicating an atmospheric pressure variation caused by receiving the input; and

in response to obtaining the pressing strength, executing, among a plurality of functions executable through the visual object, a first function, based on identifying that the pressing strength of the input is within a first designated range, and executing, among the plurality of functions, a second function, which is distinct from the first function, based on identifying that the pressing strength of the input is within a second designated range, which is distinct from the first designated range.

12. The operating method of claim 11, further comprising executing a third function among the plurality of functions executable through the visual object, based on identifying that the pressing strength of the is outside of the first designated range and the second designated range.

13. The operating method of claim 11, further comprising providing a fourth function associated with the visual object, based on a location of the input, irrespective of the atmospheric pressure variation.

14. The operating method of claim 11, further comprising:

dividing a touch panel included in the touch screen display into a plurality of sub-areas; and

setting at least two of the plurality of sub-areas to have different designated ranges of atmospheric pressure variation.

15. The operating method of 14, wherein providing the first function comprises:

identifying a location on the touch panel based on the input;

determining a sub-area including the determined location among the plurality of sub-areas; and

executing a third function, based on the atmospheric pressure variation detected by the sensor while receiving the input is within a designated range associated with the sub-area.