HYBRID TOUCH SCREEN DEVICE AND METHOD FOR OPERATING THE SAME

• US 20130222294A1
• Filed: 12/27/2012
• Published: 08/29/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 02/24/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: CHOI, Young-Jin, SHIN, Ho-Seung, LEE, Ju-Seung
• Granted Patent: US 9,261,990 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03547 Touch pads, in which fingers can move on a surface
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04162 for exchanging data with external devices, e.g. smart pens, via the digitiser sensing hardware

Abstract

A hybrid touch screen device applied to an electric device. The hybrid touch screen device preferably includes a touch panel, a pen touch panel, a display panel, and at least one processor. The touch panel detects an input event by a direct touch. The pen touch panel detects a touch pen input and an input event from an entry into a predetermined detection distance before a touch. The display panel displays a screen according to the touch panel, the pen touch panel, and a user operation. The processor also performs control to execute a relevant function according to an input event inputted to the touch panel and the pen touch panel. The processor also performs control so that an input event of the touch pen and an input event of the touch panel are detected independently of each other.

Claims

1. A hybrid touch screen device comprising:

a touch panel that detects a direct touch input event made by a direct touch of the touch panel;

a pen touch panel that detects a touch pen input event from an entry of a touch pen within a predetermined detection distance before a touch;

a display panel for displaying a screen according to selection of the touch panel, the pen touch panel, and a user operation; and

at least one processor controlling execution of a relevant function according to a type of input event as detected by the touch panel and the pen touch panel, respectively.

2. The hybrid touch screen device of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor deactivates the direct touch input event detection function of the touch panel when the touch pen enters within a predetermined detection distance of the pen touch panel and before the touch pen touches the pen touch panel.

3. The hybrid touch screen device of claim 2, wherein the direct touch input event detection function of the touch panel is activated after a lapse of a predetermined time starting when the pen touch panel no longer detects a presence of the touch pen with the predetermined distance.

4. The hybrid touch screen device of claim 1, wherein the touch panel comprises one of a capacitive touch panel, a resistive touch panel, an ultrasonic touch panel, or an optical touch panel.

5. The hybrid touch screen device of claim 1, wherein the pen touch panel comprises an electromagnetic induction touch panel.

6. The hybrid touch screen device of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor discards an input event when an N-point touch being greater than an allowable quantity of input touch points is generated on the touch panel.

7. The hybrid touch screen device of claim 1, further comprising a separate execution unit for activating a function of the pen touch panel.

8. The hybrid touch screen device of claim 7, wherein the at least one processor deactivates an input event detection function of the touch panel when the separate execution unit determines an input to the pen touch panel is detected.

9. The hybrid touch screen device of claim 7, wherein the execution unit controls display of at least one of an icon created by a user, a shortcut key button provided separately, and a touch pen execution menu included in a setting menu.

10. The hybrid touch screen device of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor cancels an input event of the touch panel and deactivates an input event detection function of the touch panel, when the touch pen is detected within the predetermined distance of the pen touch panel while a direct touch input event is continuously detected by the touch panel.

11. The hybrid touch screen device of claim 10, wherein when the touch pen is no longer detected by the pen touch panel, the input event detection function of the touch panel is activated either immediately or after a lapse of a predetermined time measured from when the touch pen is no longer detected by the pen touch panel.

12. An electronic device comprising the hybrid touch screen device according to claim 1.

13. The electronic device of claim 12, wherein the electronic device comprises a portable terminal for communication that further includes a communication module comprising, an RF processing unit, a baseband processing unit, and an antenna.

14. A method for operating a touch screen device including a touch panel for detecting an input event by a direct touch of the touch panel and a pen touch panel for detecting a touch pen input and detecting an entry of the touch pen within a predetermined detection distance of the pen touch panel before a touch, the method comprising:

determining whether an approach of a touch pen is detected by the pen touch panel as being within a predetermined distance of then pen touch panel; and

deactivating a touch panel function and executing only an input event of the touch pen when the approach of the touch pen to the pen touch panel is detected.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

determining whether the touch pen is no longer detected by the pen touch panel during the execution of the touch pen input event; and

determining that the touch pen has been removed and activating the touch panel function after a lapse of a predetermined time measured from when the touch pen is no longer detected as being within the predetermined distance of the pen touch panel.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the pen touch panel comprises an electromagnetic induction touch panel.

17. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

determining whether the direct touch input event is generated on the touch panel when an approach of the touch pen is not detected by the pen touch panel;

determining whether the touch pen is detected by the open touch panel during the generation of the direct touch input event, when the direct touch input event is generated; and

canceling the direct touch input event currently detected by the touch panel and deactivating an direct touch input event detection function of the touch panel, when the touch pen is detected by the pen touch panel.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising:

determining whether the detection of the touch pen by the pen touch panel stops after initially being detected; and

activating the direct touch input event detection function of the touch panel immediately or after a lapse of a predetermined time measured from when the detection of the touch pen stops.

19. A method for operating a touch screen device including a touch panel for detecting a direct touch input event and a pen touch panel for detecting a touch pen input event, the method comprising:

determining whether an N-point touch is greater than an allowable quantity of input touch points is generated on the touch panel;

discarding the direct touch input event and deactivating a touch panel function when the N-point touch is generated; and

executing only a pen touch panel function when a touch pen is detected by the pen touch panel.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising:

determining whether the detection of the touch pen stops during the execution of the touch pen input event by the touch pen; and

activating the touch panel function after a lapse of a predetermined time measured from when the detection of the touch pen stops.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising activating the touch panel function after a lapse of a predetermined time measured from when the touch pen is not detected by the pen touch panel.

22. The method of claim 19, wherein the N-point touch comprises a case where at least three touch points are inputted simultaneously.

23. An electronic device with a hybrid touch screen device, the hybrid touch screen device comprising:

a touch panel that detects a direct touch input event made by a direct touch of the touch panel;

a pen touch panel that detects a touch pen input event from an entry of a touch pen within a predetermined detection distance before a touch;

a display panel for displaying a screen according to selection of the touch panel, the pen touch panel, and a user operation; and

at least one processor controlling execution of a relevant function according to a type of input event as detected by the touch panel and the pen touch panel, respectively.