Portable device control method using an electric pen and portable device thereof

• US 9,817,464 B2
• Filed: 10/10/2013
• Issued: 11/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 01/07/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co. Ltd.
• Inventors: Je, Seongmin, Park, Jiyoon, Yeo, Jaeyung, Lee, Seungeun
• Primary Examiner(s): Sadio, Insa
• Application Number:
  US14/051,350
• Publication Number:
  US 20140192031A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,496 Days
• Field of Search: 345156-184
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/3218 of display devices
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a method of controlling a portable device using an electric pen, and a portable device thereof, and more particularly, to a method of controlling a portable device using an electric pen capable of controlling the portable device based on an interrupt event generated by a manipulation of the electric pen, and a portable device thereof.

The method includes controlling a portable device using an electric pen, including sensing an interrupt event by manipulation of the electric pen positioned in a area within a sensible distance of the electric pen, sensing separation of the electric pen from the area within the sensible distance, and performing a control operation of the portable device in response to the separation.

Claims

1. A method of controlling a portable device using an electric pen, the method comprising:

establishing a wireless communication between the portable device and the electric pen;

generating a first event in response to detecting, via the wireless communication, an input on a button of the electric pen, if the electric pen is hovering over the portable device under a distance less than a threshold from the portable device;

performing a first control operation corresponding to the first event, the first control operation being associated with an application executed currently, the first control operation including a conversion to a writing mode;

generating a second event in response to detecting the distance between the electric pen and the portable device exceeds the threshold while the input on the button of the electric pen is maintained; and

in response to generating the second event, after generating the first event, performing a second control operation corresponding to the second event of the portable device, the second control operation comprising a conversion from the writing mode.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the first event comprises:

sensing one of;

a touch and a hovering operation of the electric pen; and

generating the first event by the input of the electric pen while one of;

the touch and the hovering operation is sensed.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

determining whether there is a second control operation corresponding to the one of;

the touch and the hovering operation; and

in response to the determining of the second control operation, performing the second control operation.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the first event comprises:

sensing a change of at least one of an electric signal and a magnetic signal by one of;

a touch and a hovering operation of the electric pen; and

generating the first event by a change of a frequency of at least one of the electric signal and the magnetic signal.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the change of the frequency occurs by an input of at least one of the button, a wheel, a dial or a switch of the electric pen.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the first event comprises:

receiving a wireless signal including interrupt information from the electric pen; and

generating the first event based on the interrupt information.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein generating the first event comprises:

sensing a user input for generating an interrupt event; and

generating the first event based on the user input.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the performing of the first control operation comprises:

determining whether a preset time has passed after the distance between the electric pen and the portable device exceeded the threshold; and

in response to the preset time passing, performing the first control operation.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the performing of the first control operation comprises:

terminating an application under operation; and

displaying a standby screen or a home screen.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the performing of the first control operation comprises:

entering a locking mode; and

displaying a locking screen as the portable device enters the locking mode.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the performing of the first control operation comprises:

storing or temporarily storing a working state of an application under operation.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the performing of the first control operation comprises:

turning off a power of at least one of components of the portable device except an input sensor for sensing the electric pen.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

after turning of the power to the at least one of components, sensing the distance between the electric pen and the portable device being less than the threshold; and

turning on a power of at least one of components that had power turned off.

14. A portable device comprising:

a display configured to display information;

a controller configured to;

generate a first event in response to detecting an input on a button of a electric pen, if the electric pen is hovering over the portable device under a distance less than a threshold from the portable device;

perform a first control operation corresponding to the first event, the first control operation being associated with an application executed currently, the first control operation including a conversion to a writing mode;

generate a second event in response to detecting the distance between the electric pen and the portable device exceeds the threshold while the input on the button of the electric pen is maintained; and

in response to generating the second event after generating the first event, perform a second control operation corresponding to the second event of the portable device, the second control operation comprising a conversion from the writing mode.

15. The portable device of claim 14, further comprising an input sensor is configured to sense a frequency change of at least one of an electric signal and a magnetic signal by one of:

a touch and a hovering operation of the electric pen, and to sense the first event by a frequency change of at least one of the electric signal and the magnetic signal.

16. The portable device of claim 15, wherein the frequency change occurs by the input on at least one of the button, a wheel, a dial or a switch of the electric pen.

17. The portable device of claim 14, further comprising:

a transmitter configured to transmit and a receiver configured to receive a wireless signal with the electric pen,

wherein, the controller is configured to;

in response to receiving a wireless signal including interrupt information through the receiver, generate the first event based on the interrupt information.

18. The portable device of claim 14, further comprising:

an input sensor configured to sense a user input for generating an interrupt event,

wherein the controller is further configured to generate the first event based on the user input.

19. The portable device of claim 14, wherein the controller is configured to perform at least one of:

an operation of controlling the display to terminate an application under operation, and to display at least one of a standby screen and a home screen,

an operation of entering a locking mode, and an operation of at least one of storing and temporarily storing a working state of the application under operation.

20. The portable device of claim 14, wherein the controller is further configured to:

turn off at least one of components of the portable device except an input sensor, and

in response to a sensing the distance between the electric pen and the portable device is less than the threshold, turn on a power of at least one of components that had power turned off.