METHOD FOR CHANGING AN INPUT MODE IN AN ELECTRONIC DEVICE

• US 20150143277A1
• Filed: 11/18/2014
• Published: 05/21/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: YOON, Sung-Jin, CHO, Pyo-Je, HONG, Yoo-Jin
• Granted Patent: US 10,545,663 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/773
• 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 3/0233 Character input methods
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text
• 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: G06F 40/106 Display of layout of documents; Previewing

Abstract

A method in an electronic device is provided. The method includes detecting a number of input tools on a touch screen, switching into one input mode among at least two set input modes according to the number of the detected input tools, and receiving a set content or changing a layout of a displayed content according to a touch-inputted input tool among the detected input tools, a relative length change, and a movement direction of the touch-inputted input tool.

Claims

1. A method in an electronic device, the method comprising:

detecting a number of input tools on a touch screen;

switching into one input mode among at least two set input modes according to the number of the detected input tools; and

receiving a set content or changing a layout of a displayed content according to a touch-inputted input tool among the detected input tools, a relative length change, and a movement direction of the touch-inputted input tool.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting the number of the input tools positioned on the touch screen comprises, when the input tool is positioned on the touch screen at less than a set height and for more than a set time, detecting the number of the input tools.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying a set key pad in an area where hovering over the touch screen is detected by the input tool according to the switched input mode.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising, when a movement of the detected input tool is confirmed, confirming that the key pad displayed in the area where the hovering is detected by the input tool moves together with the input tool each time the input tool moves.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising setting a virtual reference line connecting a set area of each of the detected input tools according to the switched input mode.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising, when the movement of the detected input tool is confirmed, confirming that the set virtual reference line moves together with the input tool each time the input tool moves.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the set content or changing of layout of the displayed content comprises:

receiving a touch input from at least one input tool among the detected input tools;

comparing a relative length change of the at least one touch-inputted input tool and a remaining input tool other than the at least one touch-inputted input tool; and

receiving content among at least two contents set to be received from the touch-inputted input tool according to the relative length change and the movement direction of the at least one touch-inputted input tool and the remaining input tool.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein receiving the content among the at least two contents set to be received from the touch-inputted input tool comprises:

confirming at least two contents set to be received from the at least one touch-inputted input tool;

confirming that a length of the at least one touch-inputted input tool is detected to be relatively longer than a length of the remaining input tool; and

receiving content set to be received when the length of the at least one input tool is detected to be relatively longer than the length of the remaining input tool and is detected in a set movement direction simultaneously, among the at least two set contents.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein receiving the content among the at least two contents set to be received from the touch-inputted input tool comprises:

confirming at least two contents set to be received from the at least one touch-inputted input tool;

confirming that a length of the at least one touch-inputted input tool is detected to be identical to a length of the remaining input tool; and

receiving content set to be received when the length of the at least one input tool is detected to be identical to the length of the remaining input tool and is detected in a set movement direction simultaneously, among the at least two set contents.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein receiving the content among the at least two contents set to be received from the touch-inputted input tool comprises:

confirming at least two contents set to be received from the at least one touch-inputted input tool;

confirming that a length of the at least one touch-inputted input tool is detected to be relatively shorter than a length of the remaining input tool; and

receiving one content set to be received when the length of the at least one input tool is detected to be relatively shorter than the length of the remaining input tool and is detected in a set movement direction simultaneously, among the at least two set contents.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving the set content or the changing of the layout of the displayed content according to the touch-inputted input tool comprises:

receiving a touch input from at least one input tool among the detected input tools;

confirming that, while a touch input is received from the at least one input tool, the touch input is dragged in a set direction; and

confirming that at least one layout of a displayed content is changed as the at least one input tool is dragged in the set direction.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein confirming that the at least one layout of the displayed content is changed as the at least one input tool is dragged in the set direction comprises confirming that at least one of a font, a font size, a thickness, a color, a transparency, and a display type of the displayed content is changed.

13. An electronic device comprising:

a processor configured to detect a number of input tools on a touch screen, switch into one input mode among at least two set input modes according to the number of the detected input tools, and receive a set content or changing a layout of a displayed content according to a touch-inputted input tool among the detected input tools, a relative length change, and a movement direction of the touch-inputted input tool; and

a memory configured to store data controlled by the processor.

14. The device of claim 13, wherein when the input tool is positioned on the touch screen at less than a set height and for more than a set time, the processor detects the number of the input tools.

15. The device of claim 13, further comprising a display module for displaying a set key pad in an area where hovering over the touch screen is detected by the input tool according to the switched input mode.

16. The device of claim 15, wherein when a movement of the detected input tool is confirmed, the processor confirms that the key pad displayed in the area where the hovering is detected by the input tool moves together with the input tool each time the input tool moves.

17. The device of claim 13, wherein the processor sets a virtual reference line connecting a set area of each of the detected input tools according to the switched input mode.

18. The device of claim 17, wherein when the movement of the detected input tool is confirmed, the processor confirms that the set virtual reference line moves together with the input tool each time the input tool moves.

19. The device of claim 13, further comprising a display module for receiving a touch input from at least one input tool among the detected input tools and receiving content among at least two contents set to be received from the touch-inputted input tool according to a relative length change and a movement direction of the at least one touch-inputted input tool and a remaining input tool,

wherein the processor compares a relative length change of the at least one touch-inputted input tool and the remaining input tool other than the at least one touch-inputted input tool.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein the processor confirms at least two contents set to be received from the at least one touch-inputted input tool and confirms that a length of the at least one touch-inputted input tool is detected to be relatively longer than a length of the remaining input tool, and

wherein the display module receives content set to be received when the length of the at least one input tool is detected to be relatively longer than the length of the remaining input tool and is detected in a set movement direction simultaneously, among the at least two set contents.

21. The device of claim 19, wherein the processor confirms at least two contents set to be received from the at least one touch-inputted input tool and confirms that a length of the at least one touch-inputted input tool is detected to be identical to a length of the remaining input tool, and

wherein the display module receives content set to be received when the length of the at least one input tool is detected to be identical to the length of the remaining input tool and is detected in a set movement direction simultaneously, among the at least two set contents.

22. The device of claim 19, wherein the processor confirms at least two contents set to be received from the at least one touch-inputted input tool and confirms that a length of the at least one touch-inputted input tool is detected to be relatively shorter than a length of the remaining input tool, and

wherein the display module receives content set to be received when the length of the at least one input tool is detected to be relatively shorter than the length of the remaining input tool and is detected in a set movement direction simultaneously, among the at least two set contents.

23. The device of claim 13, further comprising a display module for receiving a touch input from at least one input tool among the detected input tools,

wherein the processor confirms that, while a touch input is received from the at least one input tool, the touch input is dragged in a set direction and confirms that at least one layout of a displayed content is changed as the at least one input tool is dragged in the set direction.

24. The device of claim 13, wherein the processor confirms that at least one of a font, a font size, a thickness, a color, a transparency, and a display type of the displayed content is changed.