Mobile terminal and screen displaying method thereof

• US 8,723,811 B2
• Filed: 03/11/2009
• Issued: 05/13/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 03/21/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Kim, Dong Kyu, Ju, Wan Ho, Kim, Tae Hun
• Primary Examiner(s): MERCEDES, DISMERY E
• Application Number:
  US12/402,035
• Publication Number:
  US 20090237371A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,889 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04101 2.5D-digitiser, i.e. digitiser detecting the X/Y position of the input means, finger or stylus, also when it does not touch, but is proximate to the digitiser's interaction surface and also measures the distance of the input means within a short range in the Z direction, possibly with a separate measurement setup
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04108 Touchless 2D- digitiser, i.e. digitiser detecting the X/Y position of the input means, finger or stylus, also when it does not touch, but is proximate to the digitiser's interaction surface without distance measurement in the Z direction
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04806 Zoom, i.e. interaction techniques or interactors for controlling the zooming operation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0416 Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04845 for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

The present invention relates to a mobile terminal. Specifically to a mobile terminal including a display including a touchscreen, a sensing unit for sensing an object contacting the touchscreen and the object in near-proximity to the touchscreen, and a controller for controlling information appearing on the display according to the object contacting the touchscreen and movement of the object relative to the touchscreen.

Claims

1. A mobile terminal, comprising:

a display including a touchscreen configured to receive a contact touch and to display a content, wherein the display comprises a first region and a second region, wherein the first region is included within a perimeter, and wherein the second region is located outside of the perimeter of the first region such that the second region encompasses the first region, and wherein the second region is located near an edge of the content;

a sensor configured to sense an object in near-proximity to the display; and

a controller configured to;

cause the display to display a first graphic element in response to sensing that the object is located in near-proximity to a location on the first region of the display, wherein a displayed location of the first graphic element corresponds to the location on the first region of the display at which the object is sensed,

and wherein a change in location at which the object is sensed causes a corresponding change in the displayed location of the first graphic element;

cause the display to display a second graphic element in response to sensing the object in near-proximity to the second region of the display, wherein a displayed location of the second graphic element is within the second region of the display, and wherein the second graphic element is different than the first graphic element and indicates a direction for scrolling the content; and

cause repeated scrolling of the content in response to repeated sensing that the object is in near-proximity to the second region of the display.

2. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the object is sensed in near-proximity to the display when the object is located within a predetermined distance but apart from the display.

3. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the sensor is configured to sense the object in near-proximity to the display by using electromagnetic force without a mechanical contact.

4. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller controls a scroll speed according to a distance of the sensed object away from the display.

5. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller applies a zoom function to the content appearing on the display when the object contacts a predetermined point on the display and moves away from the predetermined point while in near-proximity to the display.

6. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller applies a rotation function to the content appearing on the display when the object contacts a predetermined point on the display and rotationally moves with respect to the predetermined point while in near-proximity to the display.

7. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller displays the first graphic element when the object is in near-proximity to the display.

8. The mobile terminal of claim 7, wherein the controller applies a zoom function to the content appearing on the display when the object contacts a predetermined portion of the first graphic element and linearly moves with respect to the predetermined portion while contacting the display.

9. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to repeatedly scroll the content as long as the object stays in near-proximity to the second region of the display, and

terminate scrolling the content when the object is no longer being in near-proximity to the second region of the display.

10. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the second region comprises a plurality of areas within the display.

11. The mobile terminal of claim 10, wherein the plurality of areas correspond to at least two of top, bottom, left, or right sides of the display.

12. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to execute a different function other than the scrolling the content when the object is located in near-proximity to the first region.

13. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the content is scrolled when the object stays in near-proximity to the second region for a predetermined time.

14. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the second region comprises a top region and a bottom region,

wherein the top region extends from a top edge of the display toward a top portion of the first region;

wherein the bottom region extends from a bottom edge of the display toward a bottom portion of the first region;

wherein the displayed location of the second graphic element is within the top region in response to sensing the object in near-proximity to the top region; and

wherein the displayed location of the second graphic element is within the bottom region in response to sensing the object in near-proximity to the bottom region.

15. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the repeatedly scrolling of the content causes the content to scroll through the first region and the second region, and wherein the displayed second graphic element obscures a portion of the content.

16. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the repeated sensing that the object is in near-proximity to the second region of the display occurs when the object is maintained in near-proximity to the second region.

17. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the controller is further configured to:

cause the display to display an animation in response to the sensing that the object is located in near-proximity to the location within the first region of the display.

18. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the first graphic element comprises an animation.

19. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the edge of the content is any one of a plurality of edges of the content.

20. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the first region is different from the second region.

21. The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the edge of the content at which the second region is located is an end region of the content.

22. A method for scrolling at a mobile terminal, the method comprising:

displaying, on a display including a touchscreen, content, wherein the display comprises a first region and a second region, wherein the first region is included within a perimeter, and wherein the second region is located outside of the perimeter of the first region such that the second region encompasses the first region, and wherein the second region is located near an edge of the content;

displaying, on the display, a first graphic element in response to sensing that the object is located in near-proximity to a location on the first region of the display, wherein a displayed location of the first graphic element corresponds to the location on the first region of the display at which the object is sensed,

and wherein a change in location at which the object is sensed causes a corresponding change in the displayed location of the first graphic element; and

displaying, on the display, a second graphic element in response to sensing the object in near-proximity to the second region of the display, wherein a displayed location of the second graphic element is within the second region of the display, and wherein the second graphic element is different than the first graphic element and indicates a direction for scrolling the content; and

repeatedly scrolling the content in response to repeated sensing that the object is in near-proximity to the second region of the display.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the object is sensed in near-proximity to the display when the object is located within a predetermined distance but apart from the display.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein the object in near-proximity to the display is sensed by using electromagnetic force without a mechanical contact.

25. The method of claim 22, further comprising controlling a scroll speed according to a distance of the sensed object away from the display.

26. The method of claim 22, further comprising applying a zoom function to the content appearing on the display when the object contacts a predetermined point on the display and moves away from the predetermined point while in near-proximity to the display.

27. The method of claim 22, further comprising applying a rotation function to the content appearing on the display when the object contacts a predetermined point on the display and rotationally moves with respect to the predetermined point while in near-proximity to the display.

28. The method of claim 22, further comprising displaying the first graphic element when the object is in near-proximity to the display.

29. The method of claim 28, further comprising applying a zoom function to the content appearing on the display when the object contacts a predetermined portion of the first graphic element and linearly moves with respect to the predetermined portion while contacting the display.

30. The method of claim 22, further comprising

repeatedly scrolling the content as long as the object stays in near-proximity to the second region of the display, and

terminating scrolling the content when the object is no longer in near-proximity to the second region of the display.

31. The method of claim 22, wherein the second region comprises a plurality of areas within the display.

32. The method of claim 31, wherein the plurality of areas correspond to at least two of top, bottom, left, or right sides of the display.

33. The method of claim 22, further comprising executing a different function other than the scrolling the content when the object is located in near-proximity to the first region.

34. The method of claim 22, wherein the content is scrolled when the object stays in near-proximity to the second region for a predetermined time.

35. The method of claim 22, wherein the second region comprises a top region and a bottom region,

wherein the top region extends from a top edge of the display toward a top portion of the first region;

wherein the bottom region extends from a bottom edge of the display toward a bottom portion of the first region;

wherein the displayed location of the second graphic element is within the top region in response to sensing the object in near-proximity to the top region; and

wherein the displayed location of the second graphic element is within the bottom region in response to sensing the object in near-proximity to the bottom region.

36. The method of claim 22, wherein the repeatedly scrolling of the content causes the content to scroll through the first region and the second region, and wherein the displayed second graphic element obscures a portion of the content.

37. The method of claim 22, wherein the repeated sensing that the object is in near-proximity to the second region of the display occurs when the object is maintained in near-proximity to the second region.

38. The method of claim 22, wherein the edge of the content is any one of a plurality of edges of the content.

39. The method of claim 22, wherein the first region is different from the second region.

40. The method of claim 22, wherein the edge of the content at which the second region is located is an end region of the content.

41. A mobile terminal, comprising:

a display including a touchscreen configured to receive a contact touch and to display a content, wherein the display comprises a first region, a second region, and a third region, wherein the second region is located near a first edge of the content, wherein the third region is located near a second edge of the content, and wherein the first edge and the second edge are located at opposing sides of the content;

a sensor configured to sense an object in near-proximity to the display; and

a controller configured to;

cause the display to display a first graphic element in response to sensing that the object is located in near-proximity to a location on the first region of the display, wherein a displayed location of the first graphic element corresponds to the location on the first region of the display at which the object is sensed, and wherein a change in location at which the object is sensed causes a corresponding change in the displayed location of the first graphic element;

cause the display to display a second graphic element in response to sensing the object in near-proximity to the second region of the display, wherein a displayed location of the second graphic element is within the second region of the display, and wherein the second graphic element is different than the first graphic element and indicates a first direction for scrolling the content;

cause the display to display a third graphic element in response to sensing the object in near-proximity to the third region of the display, wherein a displayed location of the third graphic element is within the third region of the display, wherein the third graphic element is different than the first graphic element and indicates a second direction for scrolling the content, and wherein the first direction is different from the second direction;

cause scrolling of the content in the first direction in response to sensing that the object is in near-proximity to the second region of the display; and

cause scrolling of the content in the second direction in response to sensing that the object is in near-proximity to the third region of the display.

42. The mobile terminal of claim 41, wherein the first region is adjacent to the second region at a first border,

wherein the first region is adjacent to the third region at a second border;

and

wherein the first border and the second border are physically unobstructed such that information displayed on the display at the first and second borders is visually viewable.

43. The mobile terminal of claim 41, wherein the content comprises information that is currently displayed on the display, and information that can be displayed on the display in response to sensing that the object is in near-proximity to the second region or the third region of the display.

44. The mobile terminal of claim 41, wherein the controller is configured to:

scroll the content in the first direction as long as the object stays in near-proximity to the second region of the display;

scroll the content in the second direction as long as the object stays in near-proximity to the third region of the display;

terminate scrolling the content in the first direction when the object is no longer in near-proximity to the second region of the display; and

terminate scrolling the content in the second direction when the object is no longer in near-proximity to the third region of the display.

45. The mobile terminal of claim 41, wherein the scrolling of the content in either of the first direction or the second direction causes the content to scroll through the first region, the second region, and the third region, and wherein the displayed second graphic element and the displayed third graphic element obscures a portion of the content.

46. The mobile terminal of claim 41, wherein the controller controls a scroll speed according to a distance of the sensed object away from the display.