MOBILE TERMINAL AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING OPERATION OF THE SAME

• US 20090075694A1
• Filed: 09/18/2008
• Published: 03/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/18/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Bang, Sung Eun, Cho, Hang Jun, Hwang, Se Il, Kang, Yun Hwan, Cho, Hye Youn, Park, Min Soo, Lee, Sang Hyun, Shin, Hye Eun, KIM, Min Joo, Suh, Hyo Jin, Yoon, Jeong Hyuk
• Granted Patent: US 8,509,854 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/556.100
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 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 3/0485 Scrolling or panning
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04855 Interaction with scrollbars
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0202 Portable telephone sets, e.g. cordless phones, mobile phones or bar type handsets constructional features of telephone transmitters or receivers, e.g. of speakers or microphones H04M1/03
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2747 Scrolling on a display
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72469 for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons

Abstract

This patent relates to a mobile terminal and a method of controlling an operation of the same. The method of controlling an operation of a mobile terminal includes displaying a file list and scroll arrows for scrolling the file list on a touch screen. When the scroll arrow is touched and entered, the file list is scrolled at a scroll speed previously set in response to a time when the scroll arrow is touched and entered. A vibration signal to identify at least one of a scroll speed and a current scrolling position of the file list is provided. Accordingly, when a file list is scrolled, a scroll speed or a current scrolling position can be easily identified by a tactile sense.

Claims

1. A mobile terminal, comprising:

a communication unit configured to at least one of transmit or receive signals, the signals being one of broadcast signals, mobile communication signals, wireless internet signals, short range communication signals or GPS signals;

a camera configured to capture at least one of a still image or a moving image;

a microphone configured to receive external audio;

a user input having at least one of keypad, a dome switch, a touch pad, a jog wheel, a jog switch, or a finger mouse;

an audio output module to output sound;

vibration unit configure to generate at least one type of vibration;

touch screen configured to display information or configured to receive information;

a controller to control at least one operation of the communication unit, the camera, the microphone, the user input, the audio output module or the touch screen, and based on an operation mode of the mobile terminal, the controller controls the touch screen to display at least one of a list of items, the items being grouped together based on an alphabetical order, a soft keypad having at least one of numbers, or alphabets based on an operational mode of the mobile terminal, and

when the list of items are displayed and the list is scrolled, the vibration unit is configured to generate at least one type of vibration as the items are scrolled from one group to another group,

when the soft keypad with numbers is displayed, the vibration unit generates a different vibration based on the number selected, or

when the soft keypad with alphabets are displayed, the vibration unit generates a different vibration based on the alphabet selected.

2. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein a scroll bar is provided with the list of items and the list of items are scrolled using the scroll bar.

3. The mobile terminal of claim 2, wherein as a speed of scrolling through the list of items changes, the at least one type of vibration corresponds to the speed.

4. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein a different vibration is generated for each group.

5. The mobile terminal of claim 2, wherein a speech balloon is provided for each group based on a position of the scroll bar.

6. The mobile terminal of claim 5, wherein a unique identification is provided within the speech balloon.

7. The mobile terminal of claim 5, wherein a prescribed vibration is provided for speech balloon.

8. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the at least one type of vibration is generated during a transition from one group to another group.

9. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein at least one type of vibration and the different vibration are generated based on controlling at least one of pitch, frequency, strength or duration of the vibration.

10. A method of controlling a mobile terminal having a user input having at least one of keypad, a dome switch, a touch pad, a jog wheel, a jog switch, or a finger mouse, an audio output module to output sound, a vibration unit configure to generate at least one type of vibration;

a touch screen configured to display information or configured to receive information, and a controller to control at least one operation of the user input, the audio output module or the touch screen, comprising;

displaying on the touch screen at least one of a list of items, the items being grouped together based on an alphabetical order, a soft keypad having at least one of numbers, or alphabets based on an operational mode of the mobile terminal, and based on the operational mode,

generating at least one type of vibration as the items are scrolled from one group to another group when the list of items are displayed and the list is scrolled,

generating a different vibration based on the number selected when the soft keypad with numbers is displayed, or

generating a different vibration based on the alphabet selected when the soft keypad with alphabets are displayed.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising displaying a scroll bar with the list of items, and scrolling the list of items using the scroll bar.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein as a speed of scrolling through the list of items changes, the at least one type of vibration corresponds to the speed.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein a different vibration is generated for each group.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising displaying a speech balloon for each group based on a position of the scroll bar.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising providing a unique identification within the speech balloon.

16. The method of claim 14, further comprising providing a prescribed vibration for speech balloon.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the at least one type of vibration is generated during a transition from one group to another group.

18. The method of claim 10, wherein at least one type of vibration and the different vibration are generated based on controlling at least one of pitch, frequency, strength or duration of the vibration.

19. The method of claim 10, wherein the mobile terminal further comprises a communication unit configured to at least one of transmit or receive signals, the signals being one of broadcast signals, mobile communication signals, wireless internet signals, short range communication signals or GPS signals, a camera configured to capture at least one of a still image or a moving image, and a microphone configured to receive external audio.