Method of inputting user command and electronic apparatus using the same

• US 10,739,896 B2
• Filed: 06/12/2009
• Issued: 08/11/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Kim, Hyun-jin, Kwak, Ji-yeon, Park, Yong-gook, Park, Min-kyu
• Primary Examiner(s): Keaton, Sherrod L
• Application Number:
  US12/483,337
• Publication Number:
  US 20100017710A1
• Time in Patent Office: 4,078 Days
• Field of Search: 715702, 715863
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04806 Zoom, i.e. interaction techniques or interactors for controlling the zooming operation
• 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 3/0414 using force sensing means to determine a position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0416 Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• 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 3/0485 Scrolling or panning
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

A method of inputting user commands, and an electronic apparatus using the same. A method of inputting user commands includes setting a function of an apparatus implemented with a touch screen based on a pressure level input to the apparatus, and if the touch is sensed after setting the function of the apparatus, executing the set function based on the touch. Accordingly, user commands can be input using touch and pressure.

Claims

1. A method of inputting user commands in an apparatus, the method comprising:

displaying, on a touch screen of the apparatus, a plurality of objects;

detecting a first touch on one of the plurality of objects with a first pressure level;

when the first pressure level is within a first range, displaying, on the touch screen of the apparatus, a first menu associated with the touched object while the touched object is displayed, the first menu comprising a first element for executing a first function associated with the touched object;

when the first pressure level is within a second range,

displaying, on the touch screen of the apparatus, a second menu associated with the touched object, the second menu comprising a second element for executing a second function associated with the touched object and the second function being different from first function;

detecting a second touch on the displayed menu with a second pressure level; and

executing a displayed function in response to the second touch, wherein the executed displayed function is a preview function, the preview function providing a plurality of preview images in sequence while the second pressure level is maintained, and in response to the second touch ending when a first preview image of the plurality of preview images is displayed, maintaining a display of the first preview image, and

wherein the second touch includes a touch trace, where the touch trace is a touch formed continuously across a portion of the touch screen.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein in an operation of executing the function, if the second touch is sensed after the pressure level of the first touch changes from higher than to lower than a first pressure level, the function is executed.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein when the change of the pressure level of the first touch increases to greater than the first pressure level, from higher than to lower than the first pressure level the function of the apparatus is determined.

4. The method according to claim 2, wherein the pressure level of the first touch changes to be lower than the first pressure level within a predetermined period of time.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein in an operation of determining the function of the apparatus, if the pressure level of the first touch is within a predetermined pressure level range for a predetermined period of time, a function corresponding to the predetermined pressure level range is determined as the function of the apparatus.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

if the second touch is finished, finishing the execution of the function.

7. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

setting the apparatus to a touch mode or a pressure mode based on a comparison of the pressure level of the first touch and a predetermined pressure level,

wherein an operation of determining the function of the apparatus is performed when the apparatus is in the pressure mode.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the operation of executing the function of the apparatus is performed when the apparatus changes from the pressure mode to the touch mode.

9. The method according to claim 1,

wherein the displayed menu comprises a plurality of items corresponding to a plurality of functions, and

wherein in an operation of executing the function, if the second touch on one of the plurality of items is detected, a function corresponding to the one of the plurality of items which is detected by the second touch, is executed.

10. The method according to claim 1, wherein the displayed menu comprises at least one of an item associated with the preview function and an item associated with a history function.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the touch screen comprises a touch detector which detects a touch, and a pressure detector which detects a pressure level.

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the touch detector detects coordinates of a touched area and the pressure detector detects a pressure level of touch input at the touched area.

13. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first pressure level is higher than the second pressure level.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein the menu is displayed if the first touch is detected on one of the plurality of objects during a predetermined period of time.

15. A method of inputting user commands, the method comprising:

receiving a first touch at an apparatus implemented with a touch screen;

determining a function of the apparatus based on a first pressure level of the first touch;

displaying a first menu based on the determined function of the apparatus while a touched object is displayed, the first menu comprising a first element for executing a first function associated with the touched object;

when the first pressure level is within a second range, displaying, on the touch screen of the apparatus, a second menu associated with the touched object, the second menu comprising a second element for executing a second function associated with the touched object and the second function being different from first function; and

executing the determined function when a second touch with a second pressure level is detected on the first menu,

wherein the determined function is a preview function, the preview function providing a plurality of preview images in sequence while the second pressure level is maintained, and in response to the second touch ending when a first preview image of the plurality of preview images is displayed, maintaining a display of the first preview image, and

wherein the second touch includes a touch trace, where the touch trace is a touch formed continuously across a portion of the touch screen.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the pressure level of the touch changes from higher than to lower than the first pressure level within a predetermined period of time.

17. An apparatus, comprising:

a touch screen; and

a processor configured to;

control the touch screen to display a plurality of objects, control the touch screen to detect a first touch on one of the plurality of objects with a first pressure level, when the first pressure level is within a first range, control the touch screen to display a first menu associated with the touched object while the touched object is displayed, the first menu comprising a first element for executing a first function associated with the touched object;

when the first pressure level is within a second range, displaying, on the touch screen of the apparatus, a second menu associated with the touched object, the second menu comprising a second element for executing a second function associated with the touched object and the second function being different from first function;

control the touch screen to detect a second touch on the displayed menu with a second pressure level; and

executing a displayed function in response to the second touch,

wherein the displayed function is a preview function, the preview function providing a plurality of preview images in sequence while the second pressure level is maintained, and in response to the second touch ending when a first preview image of the plurality of preview images is displayed, maintaining a display of the first preview image, and

wherein the second touch includes a touch trace, where the touch trace is a touch formed continuously across a portion of the touch screen.

18. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the processor is further configured to control the apparatus to execute the function based on the touch trace of a touch input and if the first pressure level of the touch input changes from higher than to lower than a first pressure level and the touch trace is formed, where the touch trace is a touch formed continuously across a portion of the touch screen.

19. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the first pressure level is lower than the pressure level to determine the function of the apparatus.

20. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the first pressure level of the touch input changes from higher than to lower than the first pressure level within a predetermined period of time.

21. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein if the pressure level of a touch input is within a predetermined pressure level range for a predetermined period of time, the processor is further configured to determine the function of the apparatus as a function corresponding to the predetermined pressure level range.

22. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the processor is further configured to control the apparatus to finish execution of the function of the apparatus if a touch input is finished.

23. The apparatus according to claim 18, wherein the processor is further configured to control the apparatus to execute the function of the apparatus based on the touch trace when the apparatus changes from a pressure mode to a touch mode.

24. The apparatus according to claim 17,

wherein the displayed menu comprises a plurality of items corresponding to a plurality of functions, and

wherein in an operation of executing the function, if the second touch on the one of the plurality of items is detected, a function corresponding to the one of the plurality of items which is detected by the second touch, is executed.

25. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the displayed menu comprises at least one of an item associated with the preview function and an item associated with a history function.

26. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the touch screen comprises a touch detector which detects a touch, and a pressure detector which detects a pressure level.

27. The apparatus according to claim 26, wherein the touch detector detects coordinates of a touched area and the pressure detector detects a pressure level of touch input at the touched area.

28. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the first pressure level is higher than the second pressure level.

29. The apparatus according to claim 17, wherein the menu is displayed if the first touch is detected on one of the plurality of objects during a predetermined period of time.

30. An apparatus, comprising:

an input device including a touch screen to receive touch input and to detect a first pressure level of the touch input; and

a processor configured to;

determine a function of the apparatus based on the first pressure level of the touch input,

control the touch screen to display a first menu based on the determined function of the apparatus while a touched object is displayed and when the first pressure level is in a first range, the first menu comprising a first element for executing a first function associated with the touched object,

when the first pressure level is within a second range, displaying, on the touch screen of the apparatus, a second menu associated with the touched object, the second menu comprising a second element for executing a second function associated with the touched object and the second function being different from first function; and

execute the determined function when a second touch with a second pressure level is detected on the first menu,

wherein the determined function is a preview function, the preview function providing a plurality of preview images in sequence while the second pressure level is maintained, and in response to the second touch ending when a first preview image of the plurality of preview images is displayed, maintaining a display of the first preview image, and

wherein the second touch includes a touch trace, where the touch trace is a touch formed continuously across a portion of the touch screen.

31. The apparatus according to claim 30, wherein the input pressure level changes from higher than to lower than the first pressure level within a predetermined period of time.

32. A method of inputting a command, the method comprising:

sensing a first pressure on a touch screen;

determining a function to perform when a first pressure level of the sensed first pressure is within a first range;

activating the function according to the sensed first pressure, when the sensed first pressure is maintained for a first predetermined time;

displaying a first menu based on the activated function, the first menu displayed while a touched object is displayed, the first menu comprising a first element for executing a first function associated with the touched object;

determining whether the sensed first pressure changes to a second pressure, and whether the second pressure is maintained for a second predetermined period of time, a second pressure level being within a second range;

when the first pressure level is within a second range, displaying, on the touch screen of an apparatus, a second menu associated with the touched object, the second menu comprising a second element for executing a second function associated with the touched object and the second function being different from first function; and

executing a displayed function in response to a second touch having the second pressure level,

wherein the executed displayed function is a preview function, the preview function providing a plurality of preview images in sequence while the second pressure level is maintained, and in response to the second touch ending when a first preview image of the plurality of preview images is displayed, maintaining a display of the first preview image, and

wherein the second touch includes a touch trace, where the touch trace is a touch formed continuously across a portion of the touch screen.

33. The method of claim 32, further comprising:

after displaying the object according to the function corresponding to the second pressure, determining whether the second pressure changes to a third pressure that is lower than a touch level for a third predetermined period of time;

entering a touch mode when the second pressure changes to the third pressure for the third predetermined period of time; and

when in the touch mode, executing the displayed function.

34. The method of claim 32, wherein the function corresponds to a range of pressure levels defined by a lower threshold and a higher threshold, and

after displaying the object according to the function, determining whether the second pressure changes to a third pressure that is greater than the higher threshold and whether the third pressure is maintained for a third predetermined period of time;

and

displaying a subsequent function when the third pressure is maintained for the third predetermined period of time.

35. The method of claim 32, wherein the function corresponds to a range of pressure levels defined by a lower threshold and a higher threshold, and

after displaying the function, determined whether the second pressure changes to a third pressure which is less than the lower threshold and whether the third pressure is maintained for a third predetermined period of time;

and

displaying a previous function when the third pressure is maintained for the third predetermined period of time.

36. A method of inputting a command, the method comprising:

receiving a touch input;

detecting a first pressure level of the touch input;

determining a touch mode or a pressure mode based on a comparison of the detected first pressure level of the touch input with a predetermined pressure level;

determining a function according to the detected first pressure level of the touch input when an apparatus is set to the pressure mode;

displaying a first menu based on the determined function, the first menu displayed while the touched object is displayed, the first menu comprising a first element for executing a first function associated with the touched object;

when the first pressure level is within a second range, displaying, on a touch screen of the apparatus, a second menu associated with a touched object, the second menu comprising a second element for executing a second function associated with the touched object and the second function being different from first function; and

executing a displayed function in response to a second touch input having the second pressure level,

wherein the executed displayed function is a preview function, the preview function providing a plurality of preview images in sequence while the second pressure level is maintained, and in response to the second touch ending when a first preview image of the plurality of preview images is displayed, maintaining a display of the first preview image, and

wherein the second touch includes a touch trace, where the touch trace is a touch formed continuously across a portion of the touch screen.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the function selected is a first function or a second function according to the first pressure level or a second pressure level, respectively.

38. A method of inputting a command, the method comprising:

sequentially displaying a plurality of menu items according to a varying pressure level of a touch input on a touch screen, each of the plurality of menu items associated with a function corresponding to a touched object, a menu item of the plurality of menu items displayed while a corresponding touched object is displayed, a first menu item comprising a first element for executing a first function associated with the touched object and a second menu item comprising a second element for executing a second function associated with the touched object and the second function being different from first function; and

selecting one of the plurality of menu items if the pressure is released, wherein an execution screen corresponding to the selected one of the plurality of menu items is displayed in response to the selection,

wherein the executed screen is a preview function, the preview function providing a plurality of preview images in sequence while a second pressure level is maintained, and in response to a second touch ending when a first preview image of the plurality of preview images is displayed, maintaining a display of the first preview image, and

wherein the second touch maintains the second pressure level and includes a touch trace, where the touch trace is a touch formed continuously across a portion of the touch screen.

39. The method of claim 38, further comprising:

executing a command related to the selected menu item according to a touch input on the touch screen.

40. The method of claim 38, wherein the pressure is input for a predetermined period of time.