Apparatus and method for inputting character using touch screen in portable terminal

• US 9,710,162 B2
• Filed: 05/16/2016
• Issued: 07/18/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Huh, Jung-Chul
• Primary Examiner(s): Karimi, Pegeman
• Application Number:
  US15/155,705
• Publication Number:
  US 20160259549A1
• Time in Patent Office: 428 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04805 Virtual magnifying lens, i.e. window or frame movable on top of displayed information to enlarge it for better reading or selection
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/02 Input arrangements using manually operated switches, e.g. using keyboards or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0233 Character input methods
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0412 Digitisers structurally integrated in a display
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0418 for error correction or compensation, e.g. based on parallax, calibration or alignment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04845 for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04895 Guidance during keyboard input operation, e.g. prompting
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/26 for modifying the character dimensions, e.g. double width, double height
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/0266 for a display module assembly

Abstract

An apparatus and method for inputting a character using a keyboard displayed on a touch screen in a portable terminal. The apparatus and method determines if a touch signal is generated, with the keyboard displayed. Upon generation of the touch signal, a touched character is recognized by analyzing the touch signal. The character is displayed enlarged in a predetermined screen area. It is then determined if the touch has been completed, while the character is displayed enlarged. Upon sensing the touch completion, the character is displayed in a main screen area.

Claims

1. A cellular phone device, comprising:

a memory including a flash memory configured to store programs controlling the cellular phone device and a Random Access Memory (RAM) configured to temporally store data generated while performing the programs; and

a touch screen including a display configured to display a screen, and a touch sensor configured to detect a contact on the touch screen and provide position data according to the contact to a controller;

wherein the controller is configured to;

control the touch screen to display a keyboard in a first area of the touch screen,

identify a contact on a key of the keyboard based on position data provided by the touch screen,

control the touch screen to display an enlarged character corresponding to only the key in a second area of the touch screen,

and

control the touch screen to display a character, corresponding to the displayed enlarged character, at a position of a cursor in an input field in response to detecting a release of the contact while displaying the enlarged character in the second area of the touch screen.

2. The cellular phone device of claim 1, wherein the key comprises at least one of an alphanumeric key, a symbol key and a function key.

3. The cellular phone device of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to remove the displayed enlarged character after detecting the release of the contact.