Cleaning touchscreens

• US 6,208,331 B1
• Filed: 07/01/1998
• Issued: 03/27/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ericsson, Inc. (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Original Assignee: Ericsson, Inc. (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Inventors: Singh, Mona, Moon, Billy Gayle
• Primary Examiner(s): Mengistu, Amare
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Jimmy H.
• Application Number:
  US09/108,470
• Time in Patent Office: 1,000 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173-178
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

A method for cleaning a touch screen display in a touch screen device without inadvertently activating a feature or inputting unwanted data by touching the touch screen display. The method operates by entering a clean touch screen mode wherein individual touches of the touch screen display are not recognized by the touch screen device. This allows the user to clean the touch screen display by wiping it with a cloth without inadvertently activating a feature or inputting unwanted data. The touch screen display turns bright white when it is in the clean touch screen mode to illuminate dirt and oil on the touch screen display to allow for easier cleaning of the touch screen display. The touch screen device exits the clean touch screen mode in response to input from the user. The user can depress any key on a keyboard attached to the touch screen device or the user can simultaneously touch opposite corners of the touch screen display to exit the clean touch screen mode. The touch screen device will also exit the clean touch screen mode after a predetermined amount of time without input from the user.

Claims

1. A method for cleaning a touch sensitive screen, comprising the steps of:

disabling an active touch screen mode and enabling a touch screen cleaning mode;

displaying a uniform bright color over the entire screen when the touch screen cleaning mode is enabled;

disabling active screen responses when the touch screen cleaning mode is enabled;

locating at least two deactivation touch sensitive areas at corners of the screen, said deactivation touch sensitive areas also being set the same uniform bright color;

pressing said deactivation areas; and

disabling the touch screen cleaning mode and enabling the active touch screen mode and active screen responses when said deactivation areas are pressed.

2. The method of claim 1, further including the step of using bright white as said uniform bright color.

3. The method of claim 2, further including the step of defining deactivation touch sensitive areas at opposite diagonal corners of said screen.

4. The method of claim 1, further including the step of defining deactivation touch sensitive areas at opposite diagonal corners of said screen.

5. The method of claim 1, further including the step of displaying an active screen warning message on the screen when the cleaning mode is disabled.

6. A method for cleaning a touch sensitive screen, comprising the steps of:

disabling an active touch screen mode and enabling a touch screen cleaning mode;

displaying the screen as a plain, single color when the touch screen cleaning mode is enabled;

disabling active screen responses when the touch screen cleaning mode is enabled;

locating at least two deactivation touch sensitive areas at corners of the screen, said deactivation touch sensitive areas also being set the same plain, single color;

pressing said deactivation areas; and

disabling the touch screen cleaning mode and enabling the active touch screen mode and active screen responses when said deactivation areas are pressed.