Electronic device and method for operating application programs in the same

• US 8,130,198 B2
• Filed: 12/30/2008
• Issued: 03/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: HTC Corporation
• Original Assignee: HTC Corporation
• Inventors: Tan, Yun Long, Kuo, Yien Chun
• Primary Examiner(s): Agustin, Peter Vincent
• Application Number:
  US12/346,335
• Publication Number:
  US 20090167692A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,162 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 345/168
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0202 Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/021 Arrangements integrating additional peripherals in a keyboard, e.g. card or barcode reader, optical scanner
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0416 Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0486 Drag-and-drop
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

The present invention provides a method for operating application programs in an electronic device, which has a keyboard unit, a touch sensing element and a display. First, the border information corresponding to a border area of the user interface provided by an application program is transmitted to a driving unit of the keyboard unit. Afterward, the keyboard unit is divided into at least two sensing areas corresponding to the operation areas of the user interface according to the border information. Next, the touch sensing element detects a touch on one of the sensing areas on the keyboard unit and then generates a responsive signal according to the touch. Finally, an action is performed on the corresponding operation area of the user interface according to the responsive signal.

Claims

1. A method for operating an application program in an electronic device having a keyboard unit, a touch sensing element, and a display, wherein the touch sensing element is disposed under the keyboard unit, the method comprising:

showing a user interface by the display, the user interface having a first operation area, a second operation area, and a border area positioned between the first and second operation areas;

acquiring a border information corresponding to the border area;

dividing the keyboard unit into a first sensing area and a second sensing area according to the border information, wherein the first and second sensing areas are corresponding to the first and second operation areas, respectively;

detecting a first touch on the first sensing area of the keyboard unit by the touch sensing element and generating a first responsive signal according to the first touch; and

performing a first action on the first operation area according to the first responsive signal.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

switching the operation mode of the keyboard unit to a symbol input mode for inputting symbols.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a second touch on the second sensing area of the keyboard unit by the touch sensing element and generating a second responsive signal according to the second touch; and

performing a second action on the second operation area according to the second responsive signal.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

moving the position of the border area of the user interface; and

changing the sensing ranges of the first and second sensing areas according to the renewed position of the border area.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

when the first touch is detected and moved over the first sensing area for a specific distance, performing a scrolling action on the first operation area.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising:

when the first touch is detected and moved over the first sensing area for a specific distance, performing a drag action on the first operation area.

7. An electronic device for achieving the method of claim 1.

8. An electronic device, comprising:

a display adapted to show a user interface of an application program, the user interface having a first operation area and a second operation area;

a keyboard unit adapted to be operated in a touch operation mode, wherein when the keyboard unit is operated in the touch operation mode, the keyboard unit has a first sensing area and a second sensing area defined thereon which are corresponding to the first and second operation areas, respectively;

a touch sensing element disposed under the keyboard unit, adapted to detect a first touch on the first sensing area and generate a first responsive signal according to the first touch, and to detect a second touch on the second sensing area and generate a second responsive signal according to the second touch; and

a processor adapted to perform a first action on the first operation area according to the first responsive signal, and to perform a second action on the second operation area according to the second responsive signal.

9. The electronic device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the keyboard unit is further adapted to be operated in a symbol input mode for inputting symbols.

10. The electronic device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the user interface further has a border area positioned between the first and second operation areas, the electronic device further comprises:

a driving unit adapted to divide the keyboard unit into the first and second sensing areas according to a border information corresponding to the border area.

11. The electronic device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first action is a scrolling action.

12. The electronic device as claimed in claim 8, wherein the first action is a drag action.