Touch screen device and operating method thereof

• US 8,302,032 B2
• Filed: 12/28/2006
• Issued: 10/30/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Shin, Sang Hyun, Chae, Ji Suk, Park, Ho Joo, Ham, Young Ho, Kim, Jun Hee, Yoo, Kyung Hee, Kim, Yu Mi
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Cao “Kevin”
• Application Number:
  US11/646,587
• Publication Number:
  US 20070277123A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,133 Days
• Field of Search: 715/716, 715/723, 715/853, 715/862, 715/810, 715/779, 715/860, 715/835, 715/788, 715/787, 715762-765, 345/156, 345/173
• US Class Current: 715/862
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

A touch screen device and operating method thereof are provided. The touch screen device includes a screen including a display configured to display images thereon and a detector configured to detect a user touch and movement thereof, a storage device configured to store image information corresponding to the movement, and a controller configured to retrieve and display an image corresponding to the detected drag. The image may include at least one of a trace image representing a moving trajectory, an icon image, or a text image.

Claims

1. A method of displaying a plurality of menu icons on a touch screen device having a touch screen having a predetermined viewing area configured to display images thereon and a detector configured to detect a touch and movement on the touch screen, and a controller configured to retrieve and display an image corresponding to the detected movement, the method comprising:

detecting a touch on the touch screen corresponding to a location of one of the plurality of menu icons and movement of the touch on the touch screen;

retrieving from a storage device one or more image corresponding to the one of the plurality of menu icons, the one or more image being one or more of a drag image, a trace image, an icon or combination of icons, or a text image, wherein the one or more image is different from the one of the plurality of menu icons; and

generating, on the touch screen, the retrieved one or more image to be displayed together with the one of the plurality of menu icons with which the touch is associated during the movement, wherein the one or more image gradually fades away as time passes during the movement of the touch.

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

retrieving voice information corresponding to the movement; and

outputting the retrieved voice information.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the one or more image gradually fades away as time passes during the movement of the touch.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the one or more image is changed after a period of time.

5. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein the image is changed based on a distance of movement.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the one or more image is a drag image.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the one or more image is an icon or a combination of icons previously assigned in accordance with the movement.

8. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the one or more image is text.

9. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein the one or more image is a word or sentence previously assigned in accordance with the movement.

10. A method of operating digital equipment mounted with a touch screen device, comprising the method of claim 1.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the digital equipment comprises a MP3 player, a portable media player, a portable terminal, a navigation system, or a notebook computer.

12. A touch screen device configured to display a plurality of menu icons, the touch screen device comprising:

a touch screen having a predetermined viewing area configured to display images thereon and a detector configured to detect a touch and movement on the touch screen;

a storage device configured to store images therein corresponding to the plurality of menu icons; and

a controller configured to;

detect a touch on the touch screen corresponding to a location of one of the plurality of menu icons and movement of the touch on the touch screen;

retrieve from the storage device one or more image corresponding to the one of the plurality of menu icons, the one or more image being one or more of a drag image, a trace image, an icon or combination of icons, or a text image, wherein the one or more image is different from the one of the plurality of menu icons; and

generate, on the touch screen, the retrieved one or more image to be displayed together with the one of the plurality of menu icons with which the touch is associated during the movement, wherein the one or more image gradually fades away as time passes during the movement of the touch.

13. The touch screen device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the controller is further configured to retrieve voice information corresponding to the movement, and output the retrieved voice information.

14. The touch screen device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the one or more image gradually fades away as time passes during the movement of the touch.

15. The touch screen device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the one or more image is changed after a period of time.

16. The touch screen device as claimed in claim 15, wherein the one or more image is changed based on a distance of movement.

17. The touch screen device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the one or more image is a drag image.

18. The touch screen device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the one or more image is an icon or a combination of icons previously assigned in accordance with the movement.

19. The touch screen device as claimed in claim 12, wherein the one or more image is text.

20. The touch screen device as claimed in claim 19, wherein the one or more image is a word or sentence previously assigned in accordance with the movement.

21. Digital equipment comprising the touch screen device of claim 12.

22. The digital equipment of claim 21, wherein the digital equipment comprises a MP3 player, a portable media player, a portable terminal, a navigation system, or a notebook computer.