Mobile electronic apparatus with touch input device and display method using the same

• US 8,300,017 B2
• Filed: 06/22/2007
• Issued: 10/30/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 01/20/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Optis Cellular Technology LLC (Brevet Capital)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Kim, Tae Hun
• Primary Examiner(s): Mengistu, Amare
• Assistant Examiner(s): LAM, VINH TANG
• Application Number:
  US11/766,912
• Publication Number:
  US 20080174562A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,957 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173, 715/784
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning
• 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

Abstract

A mobile terminal having a touch input device and a method using the same are provided. The mobile terminal includes a display unit having a touch screen for displaying a data information, the touch screen having a display area configured for a touch input area, and a controller for controlling movement of at least part of the data information on the display area configured in response to a touching location on the touch input area, wherein the touch input area corresponds to an area where the data information is displayed.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a touch screen of a mobile terminal, the method comprising:

displaying data information in a display area of the touch screen;

receiving a touch input at a position of the data information displayed in the display area of the touch screen;

scrolling the displayed data information in response to the touch input, the scrolling comprising controlling movement of at least a portion of the data information displayed in the display area according to the position of the touch input; and

displaying new data information in the display area when the displayed data information is scrolled, wherein the new data information has a continuity with the data information displayed in the display area before the scrolling,

wherein the data information displayed in the display area is distinguishable from graphic icons and menu icons displayed in the display area,

wherein the display area comprises a reference position,

wherein a speed of the movement of the at least the portion of the data information is determined based on a distance between the position of the touch input and the reference position, and

wherein a direction of the movement of the at least the portion of the data information is determined according to the position of the touch input with regard to the reference position.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the reference position is a point or a line.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the speed of the movement is increased in proportion to an increase in the distance between the position of the touch input and the reference position.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the movement of the at least the portion of the data information in the display area is controlled in response to a touching manner of the touch input.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the touching manner comprises a touch duration.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the speed for the movement of the at least the portion of the data information is adjusted in response to the touch manner of the touch input.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the movement of the at least the portion of the data information is performed in a page-by-page manner.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the movement of the at least the portion of the data information is performed in a file-by-file manner.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the data information is displayed in the display area in response to executing an application program.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating a feedback in response to the touch input.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the feedback comprises a vibrating feedback or an indicator icon being displayed in the display area.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the reference position is established when an amount of the data information is greater than the display area, such that all of the data information cannot be displayed to fit in the display area.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the reference position is defined at a center of the display area.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the display area is divided into a plurality of regions to which different directions are assigned with respect to the reference position, and

the direction of the movement of the at least the portion of the data information is determined according to a direction assigned to one of the regions in which the position of the touch input is included.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein:

if the position of the touch input belongs to a first region of the plurality of regions, the direction of the movement of the at least the portion of the data information is determined as an up direction, and

if the position of the touch input belongs to a second region of the plurality of regions, the direction of the movement of the at least the portion of the data information is determined as a down direction.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the data information displayed in the display area before the scrolling is not displayed after the scrolling when the new data information is displayed in the display area.

17. A mobile terminal, comprising:

a display unit comprising a touch screen for;

displaying data information in a display area of the touch screen; and

receiving a touch input at a position of the data information displayed in the display area of the touch screen; and

a controller for;

scrolling the displayed data information in response to the touch input, the scrolling comprising controlling movement of at least a portion of the data information in the display area according to the position of the touch input; and

causing the display unit to display new data information in the display area when the displayed data information is scrolled, wherein the new data information has a continuity with the data information displayed in the display area before the scrolling,

wherein the data information displayed in the display area is distinguishable from graphic icons and menu icons displayed in the display area,

wherein the display area comprises a reference position,

wherein a speed of the movement of the at least the portion of the data information is determined based on a distance between the position of the touch input and the reference position, and

wherein a direction of the movement of the at least the portion of the data information is determined according to the position of the touch input with regard to the position.

18. The mobile terminal of claim 17, wherein the movement of the at least the portion of the data information is performed in a page-by-page manner.

19. The mobile terminal of claim 17, wherein the movement of the at least the portion of the data information is performed in a file-by-file manner.

20. The mobile terminal of claim 17, wherein the controller generates a feedback in response to the touch input.

21. The mobile terminal of claim 20, wherein the feedback comprises a vibrating feedback or an indicator icon being displayed in the display area.

22. The mobile terminal of claim 17, wherein an entire portion of the data information displayed in the display area is moved when the displayed data information is scrolled.

23. The mobile terminal of claim 17, wherein the speed of the movement is increased in proportion to an increase in the distance between the position of the touch input and the reference position.

24. The mobile terminal of claim 17, wherein the speed of the movement of the at least the portion of the data information is increased when the touch input is maintained.

25. The mobile terminal of claim 17 wherein:

the display area is divided into a plurality of regions to which different directions are assigned with respect to the reference position, and

the direction of the movement of the at least the portion of the data information is determined according to a direction assigned to one of the regions in which the position of the touch input is included.

26. The mobile terminal of claim 25, wherein:

if the position of the touch input belongs to a first region of the plurality of regions, the direction of the movement of the at least the portion of the data information is determined as an up direction, and

if the position of the touch input belongs to a second region of the plurality of regions, the direction of the movement of the at least the portion of the data information is determined as a down direction.

27. The method of claim 17, wherein at least a portion of the data information displayed in the display area before the scrolling is not displayed after the scrolling when the new data information is displayed in the display area.