TOUCH-SENSITIVE CONTROL SYSTEMS AND METHODS

• US 20100007604A1
• Filed: 07/10/2009
• Published: 01/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/11/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: HTC Corporation
• Original Assignee: HTC Corporation
• Inventors: Chuang, Cheng-Chieh, Wang, Yi-Shen
• Granted Patent: US 8,508,476 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/158
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04805 Virtual magnifying lens, i.e. window or frame movable on top of displayed information to enlarge it for better reading or selection
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

Touch-sensitive control systems and methods are provided. The touch-sensitive control system includes a touch interface and a sensor. The touch interface includes a first zone and a second zone having an icon corresponding to a function. The sensor is disposed under the touch interface for detecting contacts on the physical interface. When a contact on the icon of the second zone is detected by the sensor, the corresponding function is activated. When a movement on the first zone is detected by the sensor, an operation corresponding to the function is performed according to the movement.

Claims

1. A touch-sensitive control system, comprising:

a touch interface comprising at least a first zone and a second zone, wherein the second zone comprises at least one icon corresponding to a function; and

a sensor, disposed under the touch interface, for detecting contacts on the touch interface,

wherein when a contact on the icon of the second zone is detected by the sensor, the corresponding function is activated, and when a movement on the first zone is detected by the sensor, an operation corresponding to the function is performed according to the movement.

2. The system of claim 1 further comprising a display unit for displaying a cursor when the function is activated, wherein when the movement on the first zone is detected by the sensor, the operation is performed by moving the cursor according to the movement.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein when another contact in the first zone is detected, an object located at a position of the cursor is selected.

4. The system of claim 1 further comprising a display unit for displaying a specific region when the function is activated, wherein data within the specific region is magnified, and when the movement on the first zone is detected by the sensor, the operation is performed by moving the specific region according to the movement.

5. The system of claim 1 further comprising a display unit for displaying a plurality of selections when the function is activated, wherein when the movement on the first zone is detected by the sensor, the operation is performed by selecting one of the selections according to the movement.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein each of the selections indicates an input method.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the first zone comprises a plurality of input keys, and when one of the input keys is pressed, a corresponding character, digit or symbol is input.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a capacitive touch-sensitive sensor, a resistive touch-sensitive sensor, an infrared sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, or a pressure sensor.

9. An electronic device, comprising:

a touch interface comprising at least a first zone and a second zone, wherein the second zone comprises at least one icon corresponding to a function;

a sensor, disposed under the touch interface, for detecting contacts on the touch interface, and when a contact on the icon of the second zone is detected by the sensor, the corresponding function is activated; and

a display unit for displaying a function object for operation when the corresponding function is activated,

wherein when a movement on the first zone is detected by the sensor, the function object for operation is moved according to the movement.

10. The electronic device of claim 9, which is a media player, a notebook, a PDA (Personal Digital Assistant), a GPS (Global Positioning System) device, or a mobile phone.

11. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the function object for operation comprises a cursor.

12. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the function object for operation comprises a specific region, and data within the specific region is magnified and displayed on the display unit.

13. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the first zone comprises a plurality of input keys, and when one of the input keys is pressed, a corresponding character, digit or symbol is input.

14. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein the sensor comprises a capacitive touch-sensitive sensor, a resistive touch-sensitive sensor, an infrared sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, or a pressure sensor.

15. A touch-sensitive control method for use in an electronic device comprising a touch interface, wherein the touch interface comprises a first zone and a second zone comprising an icon, the method comprising:

detecting contacts on the touch interface,

activating a function corresponding to the icon when a contact on the icon of the second zone is detected; and

performing an operation corresponding to the function according to a movement when the movement on the first zone is detected.

16. The method of claim 15 further comprising displaying a cursor on a display unit when the function is activated, wherein when the movement on the first zone is detected by the sensor, the operation is performed by moving the cursor according to the movement.

17. The method of claim 16 further comprising selecting an object located at a position of the cursor when another contact in the first zone is detected.

18. The method of claim 15 further comprising displaying a specific region on a display unit when the function is activated, wherein data within the specific region is magnified, and when the movement on the first zone is detected by the sensor, the operation is performed by moving the specific region according to the movement.

19. The method of claim 15 further comprising displaying a plurality of selections on a display unit when the function is activated, wherein when the movement on the first zone is detected by the sensor, the operation is performed by selecting one of the selections according to the movement.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein the first zone comprises a plurality of input keys, and the method further comprises inputting a corresponding character, digit or symbol when one of the input keys is pressed.