KR20090103068A - Touch input method, apparatus and computer readable record-medium on which program for executing method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE: A touch input method, an apparatus thereof, and a recording media in which is a program is recorded are provided to modify the touch input which is inputted by the user by controlling the movement of an indicator through the tough input. CONSTITUTION: A touch input method using a touch operation in a touch inputting apparatus is as follows. The main touch contacted with a first touch region in which it indicates an input key is sensed(S210). The indicator of the predetermined in which it indicates the contact position of the main touch is indicated in the first touch region(S220). The second touch contacted with the second touch region is sensed. The movement of the indicator is controlled according to the movement route of the secondary touch.

Description

Touch input method, apparatus and computer readable record-medium on which program for executing method

The present invention relates to a touch input method, and more particularly, to a touch input method for controlling a movement of a displayed mark with an additional touch area, an apparatus, and a recording medium having recorded thereon a program for performing the method.

In recent years, with the rapid development of electronic engineering, communication engineering, and terminal technology, various portable terminals such as a mobile terminal, a notebook PC (Portable PC), a portable multimedia player (PMP), and an MP3 (MPEG Audio Layer-3) player have been developed. Electronic devices are used.

Recently, such portable electronic devices continue to be miniaturized. The size of the keypad, which has the largest influence on the size of portable electronic devices, is also miniaturized, but the number of keys used is greatly increasing due to the addition of functions of portable electronic devices (especially mobile communication terminals). It is a reality.

As a result, in order to increase the number of keys and decrease the size of the keypad, the area of each key to be pressed by the user becomes smaller.

Meanwhile, recently, portable electronic devices have a touch screen, and an input method according to a user's touch has been used. In general, a touch screen is a device that generates a predetermined electrical signal by only touching an object or a part of a body (finger, etc.) without touching or turning a physical structure, that is, without pressing or turning.

A method using a touch screen (ie, a touch input method) may provide a more convenient and powerful UI (User Interface) than a conventional button input method, and may provide a better input device aesthetically.

In addition, since the touch input method does not require moving parts accessible to the user, there is an advantage of less wear compared to the corresponding mechanical parts.

On the other hand, due to these advantages, recently, the touch input method using a touch screen is being adopted as an input method of a portable electronic device.

However, in the related art, portable electronic devices (especially mobile communication terminals) using a touch input method have often been touched incorrectly when inputting a message or a call button due to the miniaturization of the input unit (touch screen, etc.).

In this case, after the user touches the input key, the user can recognize that the touch is performed incorrectly after the touch is recognized.

After all, since the touched input key can be known after the operation, the user has to move to the previous menu or delete the unwanted input by touching the delete key in case of an unwanted action or input, and then touch the input key again. There was this.

Therefore, the present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, an object of the present invention is to provide a touch input method for displaying a mark so that the user knows the touch position when the user touches the touch.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a touch input method in which a user can correct an incorrect touch input.

According to an aspect of the present invention, a touch input method is disclosed.

According to one or more exemplary embodiments, a touch input method includes: detecting a main touch contacting a first touch area displaying an input key; Displaying a predetermined mark indicating the contact position of the main touch on the first touch area; Detecting an auxiliary touch in contact with the second touch area; And controlling the movement of the displayed mark according to the movement trajectory of the auxiliary touch maintaining the contact state.

The touch input method may further include generating an input signal for activating a function of an input key indicated by the marker when releasing the contact of the auxiliary touch after controlling the movement of the displayed marker.

The touch input method may include generating an input signal for activating a function of an input key indicated by the marker when a selection button input signal for selecting an input key is applied after controlling the movement of the displayed marker. Can contain more.

The displayed mark may be moved within a predetermined range from the contact position among the first touch areas.

The predetermined range may include a touch input key corresponding to the contact position and a peripheral input key adjacent to the touch input key.

The marker may include at least one of a pointer, a shape change of an input key corresponding to the contact position, and a color change of the input key corresponding to the contact position.

The controlling of the movement of the displayed marker may be characterized by using distance and direction information between the start point and the end point of the movement trajectory.

According to another aspect of the present invention, a touch input device is disclosed.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, a touch input device includes: a first touch area in which an input key is displayed and a main touch is touched; A second touch area to which the auxiliary touch is in contact; A touch sensing unit sensing the main touch and the auxiliary touch; A display control unit which displays a predetermined mark indicating a contact position of the main touch on the first touch area and controls the movement of the displayed mark according to a movement trajectory of the auxiliary touch maintaining a contact state; Include.

The touch input device may further include a signal processor configured to generate an input signal for activating a function of an input key indicated by the marker when the touch is released from the auxiliary touch.

The touch input device may further include a signal processor configured to input an input signal for activating a function of an input key indicated by the marker when a selection button input signal for selecting an input key is applied.

The displayed mark may be moved within a predetermined area from the contact position among the first touch areas.

The predetermined area may include a touch input key corresponding to the contact position and a peripheral input key adjacent to the touch input key.

The marker may include at least one of a pointer, a shape change of an input key corresponding to the contact position, and a color change of the input key corresponding to the contact position.

The display control unit may control the movement of the displayed marker using distance and direction information between the start point and the end point of the movement trajectory.

The second touch area may be included in the remaining area except the contact position among the first touch areas.

According to still another aspect of the present invention, a recording medium on which a program for executing a touch input method is recorded is disclosed.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, a recording medium on which a program for executing a touch input method is recorded may include: detecting a main touch contacting a first touch area displaying an input key; Displaying a predetermined mark indicating the contact position of the main touch on the first touch area; Detecting an auxiliary touch in contact with the second touch area; And controlling the movement of the displayed mark according to the movement trajectory of the auxiliary touch maintaining the contact state.

Therefore, the present invention has an effect of displaying a mark on the touch position, so that the user can know the touch position.

In addition, the present invention has the advantage that the user can correct the wrong touch input by controlling the movement of the displayed marker through the touch input.

1 is a block diagram of a touch input device according to an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a flowchart illustrating a touch input process according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3 is an exemplary diagram for describing a touch input method according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

3 is an exemplary view for explaining a touch input method according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

<Description of the symbols for the main parts of the drawings>

110: touch input device 111: touch sensing unit

112: display control section 113: signal processing section

114: storage unit 115: first touch area

116: touch screen 117: second touch area

310: first touch region example 1 320: second touch region example 1

410: Example of the first touch area 2 420: Example of the second touch area 2

As the invention allows for various changes and numerous embodiments, particular embodiments will be illustrated in the drawings and described in detail in the written description. However, this is not intended to limit the present invention to specific embodiments, it should be understood to include all modifications, equivalents, and substitutes included in the spirit and scope of the present invention.

Terms including ordinal numbers, such as second and first, may be used to describe various components, but the components are not limited by the terms. The terms are used only for the purpose of distinguishing one component from another. For example, without departing from the scope of the present invention, the second component may be referred to as the first component, and similarly, the first component may also be referred to as the second component. The term and / or includes a combination of a plurality of related items or any item of a plurality of related items.

When a component is referred to as being "connected" or "connected" to another component, it may be directly connected to or connected to that other component, but it may be understood that other components may be present in between. Should be. On the other hand, when a component is said to be "directly connected" or "directly connected" to another component, it should be understood that there is no other component in between.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular example embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the present invention. Singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. In this application, the terms "comprise" or "have" are intended to indicate that there is a feature, number, step, operation, component, part, or combination thereof described in the specification, and one or more other features. It is to be understood that the present invention does not exclude the possibility of the presence or the addition of numbers, steps, operations, components, components, or a combination thereof.

Unless defined otherwise, all terms used herein, including technical or scientific terms, have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art. Terms such as those defined in the commonly used dictionaries should be construed as having meanings consistent with the meanings in the context of the related art and shall not be construed in ideal or excessively formal meanings unless expressly defined in this application. Do not.

Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, and the same or corresponding components will be denoted by the same reference numerals regardless of the reference numerals and redundant description thereof will be omitted.

In the present specification, the touch input device is a device that detects a touch from the outside. In detail, the touch input device includes all devices that detect a user's touch input and activate a function of the touched input key.

For example, the touch input device may be a personal digital assistant (PDA), a cellular phone, a personal communication service (PCS) phone, a WCDMA phone, a CDMA-2000 phone, or a mobile broadband and system (MBS) phone having a touch switch or a touch screen. It may be a communication terminal that communicates with a wired or wireless Internet network, such as a personal computer (PC), a hand-held PC, and a notebook PC. In addition, the touch input device includes not only the above-described communication terminal but also all input devices that detect and operate a user's touch, such as a portable device (PMP, MP3, etc.) or a household device (television, air conditioner, etc.).

Hereinafter, a description will be given on the assumption that the touch input device is a communication terminal such as a WCDMA phone implemented to use a communication service while moving. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the touch input device is not limited to such a communication terminal type.

In addition, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the touch input device may include a plurality of physically divided touch regions (hereinafter, divided into a first touch region and a second touch region). In this case, the user may touch each touch area to perform an input for controlling the operation of the touch input device.

Here, the first touch area may be implemented by the above-described touch screen method, and the second touch area may be implemented by the touch pad method.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the touch input device may be implemented as having one touch area. In detail, the touch input device according to the present embodiment uses one touch area as the first touch area, and the second touch area may be implemented in a form included in the first touch area when necessary as the virtual touch area. have. This will be described later in detail with reference to FIG. 4.

In the present specification, a touch input device including two touch areas will be described as a representative example.

However, the touch area of the present invention is not limited thereto, and as described above, additionally detects an auxiliary touch, such as one touch area, and includes all touch input devices in which a touch input is performed using the auxiliary touch.

Hereinafter, a touch input device will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 1.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a configuration of a touch input device 110 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

In the present invention, the touch input device 110 includes a first touch area 115 and a second touch area 117. Here, the first touch area 115 may be an area where a user's touch is performed while displaying an input image like the touch screen 116. The second touch area 117 may be an area where a user's touch is performed, such as a touch pad. That is, unlike the first touch region 115, the second touch region 117 may not include a function of displaying an input image.

In addition, the touch input device 110 displays a predetermined mark on the first touch area 115 when a touch (hereinafter, referred to as “main touch”) occurs in the first touch area 115 of the user. do. At this time, the mark indicates the contact position of the generated touch. The marker may be a pointer indicating an input key, a change in shape of the input key corresponding to the contact position, a change in color of the input key corresponding to the contact position, and the like.

Subsequently, the touch input device 110 of the present invention does not generate an input signal during the main touch. In addition, the touch input device 110 detects an auxiliary touch through the second touch area 117. Thereafter, the touch input device 110 controls the movement of the above-described mark as the auxiliary touch moves while maintaining the contact state.

Thereafter, the touch input device 110 may generate an input signal when the contact of the auxiliary touch is released or when the user presses a button for selecting an input key.

As a result, the present invention may allow the user's intended touch input to be accurately made. That is, according to the present invention, the user can see the marker (pointer, etc.) displayed at the contact position of the main touch after the main touch. Thereafter, the user can control the movement of the marker (pointer, etc.) using the auxiliary touch to accurately select the intended input key.

Hereinafter, referring to FIG. 1, the functions of the touch input device 110 according to the present invention will be divided into components to be described in detail.

Referring to FIG. 1, the touch input device 110 may include a touch detector 111, a display controller 112, a signal processor 113, a first touch region 115, a second touch region 117, and a storage unit. 114 may be included.

The touch detector 111 detects a touch from the outside. In detail, the touch detector 111 detects a user's touch. For example, the touch sensing unit 111 may use a capacitive touch screen 116 (or a touch sensor, or the like, hereinafter referred to as touch screen 116) that uses a change in electrostatic voltage formed according to a touched object or a human body. The touch from the outside may be sensed using the piezoelectric touch screen 116 that senses the pressure of the touched object.

Since the technology of detecting the touch (the technology of implementing the touch screen 116) is well known to those skilled in the art, a detailed description thereof will be omitted.

In the present invention, the touch from the outside is divided into a main touch and an auxiliary touch as described above. Here, the main touch is a touch sensed from the first touch region 115, and the auxiliary touch is a touch sensed from the second touch region 117.

Therefore, the touch detector 111 may distinguish and detect a touch detected from the first touch region 115 and a touch detected from the second touch region 117.

In addition, when the above-described main touch is detected, the touch detector 111 may detect a contact position of the corresponding main touch. For example, the touch detector 111 may generate coordinate information about the contact location. The touch sensing unit 111 may determine that the main touch by the user is in contact with the position of the horizontal axis of 5 cm and the vertical axis of 3 cm with the lower left vertex as the origin on the square touch screen 116. In this case, the coordinate information may be generated as (x, y) = (5, 3). Here, x means the horizontal axis, y means the vertical axis. Here, the method of detecting the contact position using the coordinate information is only an embodiment of the present invention, and the present invention is not limited thereto and may include various methods of detecting the contact position (touched position).

In addition, a user who performs the auxiliary touch according to the present invention may perform the movement of the auxiliary touch while maintaining the contact state of the auxiliary touch. Through this, the user controls the movement of the pointer displayed due to the main touch as described above.

In this case, the touch sensing unit 111 may detect a movement trajectory of the contact position according to the movement of the auxiliary touch maintaining the contact state. For example, suppose that a user performs an auxiliary touch using a finger. The user may move the finger while maintaining a contact state between the finger and the second touch area 117. In this case, the touch detector 111 may detect a movement of a finger, that is, a movement trajectory (hereinafter, referred to as a “movement trajectory”) of the contact position.

Here, the touch detector 111 may detect the movement trajectory through a method of generating coordinate information about a contact position periodically. For example, the touch detector 111 may generate coordinate information about a contact position in units of 0.1 second. The touch sensor 111 may determine that the contact position is moved when the coordinate information is changed. In addition, the touch detector 111 may detect the movement trajectory by updating or continuously storing the coordinate information of the contact position determined to be moved.

Alternatively, the touch detector 111 may detect the movement trajectory by using distance and direction information between the start point and the end point. In detail, the touch detector 111 detects an initial contact position (ie, a starting point) of the auxiliary touch. In addition, when there is a change in the contact position of the auxiliary touch, the touch sensing unit 111 may generate distance information between the initial contact position and the changed contact position (ie, the end point). In addition, the touch detector 111 may generate direction information from the initial contact position (start point) to the changed contact position (that is, end point). Here, the movement information and the direction information may be calculated using a vector from the start point to the end point.

Here, the detected movement trajectory is used as information for controlling the movement of the mark displayed on the first touch region 115 in the display control unit 112 to be described later.

The display control unit 112 may display predetermined image data on the first touch area 115. As described above, the first touch region 115 may display an image using the touch screen 116 method.

In detail, the display controller 112 may display an input image on the first touch area 115. Here, the input image may be a keypad image including one or more input keys.

Accordingly, the user may perform a main touch with reference to the input image. Thus, the user may control the operation of the touch input device 110.

For example, the input key may be an alphanumeric key of the keypad of the mobile communication terminal. Alternatively, the input key may be a play key, a stop key, a fast play key, a rewind key, a volume control key, or the like when the video file or the music file MP 3 is played by the touch input device 110. The user may want to touch the displayed play key to play the music file.

Therefore, in the present invention, the input key includes not only a button shaped key constituting the keypad but also all input keys for controlling a corresponding device such as a volume control key to perform a specific operation.

In addition, the display controller 112 may display a predetermined mark (pointer or the like) on the first touch area 115. In detail, when the touch detector 111 detects the main touch, the display controller 112 displays a predetermined mark indicating the contact position of the main touch on the first touch region 115.

As described above, the predetermined mark may include a shape change of a pointer, an input key, and a color change.

In addition, the display control unit 112 controls the movement of the marker displayed on the first touch area 115. In detail, when the auxiliary touch is touched, the display controller 112 may control the movement of the marker according to the movement trajectory of the auxiliary touch.

Here, the movement trajectory of the auxiliary touch can be detected through the detection of the periodic touch position or the vector using the start point and the end point of the touch position.

For example, suppose a user touches an input key that is not intended (main touch). In this case, the user may make an auxiliary touch and move the auxiliary touch 2 cm to the left from the initial contact position while maintaining the contact. In this case, the display controller 112 may move the displayed mark 2 cm to the left in the same manner as the movement trace of the auxiliary touch. Alternatively, the display control unit 112 may move the displayed marker by 1 cm according to a preset ratio (for example, 1/2).

In addition, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the display control unit 112 may control the movement of the marker in the predetermined area. In detail, the display control unit 112 may control the marking only within a predetermined range from the position where the main touch is in contact with.

Here, the predetermined range may be a range including a touched input key (hereinafter referred to as a "touch input key") and an input key adjacent to the corresponding touch input key (hereinafter referred to as "a peripheral input key"). Alternatively, the predetermined range may be set based on the distance from the contact position. That is, the display controller 112 may control the movement of the marker only within a range away from the main touch.

According to the present invention, after the main touch, the user can release the contact and check the contact position (marked with a marker) of the corresponding main touch. Thereafter, the user can move the displayed marker using the auxiliary touch and the corresponding auxiliary touch.

Thereafter, the user may perform a key input by releasing the auxiliary touch or pressing a separate selection button. Therefore, the user can check whether the intended touch is correctly performed and have an opportunity to correct the wrong touch.

When the user performs a key input, the signal processor 113 generates an input signal for activating a function of a selected input key (hereinafter, referred to as a selection input key), wherein the key input releases the contact of the auxiliary touch. Alternatively, the case may be a case in which a separate selection button is pressed, or a key input may be performed by double-clicking a second touch area for a shorter time than a set time. Although described by way of example, it is apparent to those skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited thereto.

When there is a movement of the user's auxiliary touch and release of contact, the signal processor 113 determines that an input key indicated by the displayed mark is selected. The signal processor 113 generates an input signal for activating the function of the selection input key. Here, the touch input device 110 performs an operation according to the generated input signal.

Accordingly, the touch input device 110 according to the present invention may generate the input signal when the auxiliary touch is released without generating the input signal when the user performs the main touch.

Therefore, in performing the touch input, the user may refer to the marking displayed after the contact of the main touch is released. The user can check whether the intended input key is selected by referring to the displayed marker. In this case, when the desired input key is not selected, the user may move the auxiliary touch without releasing the contact of the auxiliary touch, so that the marker may indicate the intended input key.

The user may release the auxiliary touch when the marker indicates the intended input key. When the auxiliary touch is released, the signal processor 113 generates an input signal for activating the function of the selection input key.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the first touch region 115 and the second touch region 117 may be implemented as physically separated touch regions (for example, two LCD display windows) as described above. Can be.

According to another embodiment of the present invention, the first touch region 115 and the second touch region 117 may be implemented as one touch region. In this case, the second touch area 117 may be set on the first touch area 115 after the contact of the main touch is released.

The storage unit 114 stores data on the contact position of the main touch or the movement trajectory of the auxiliary touch. In addition, the storage unit 114 may store a predetermined program for controlling the overall operation of the touch input device 110, data input and output, and various data processed.

In addition, according to an embodiment of the present invention, when the touch input device 110 is a communication terminal, a communication unit (not shown) for communicating with an external device (including a communication network such as a mobile communication network and an internet network) The apparatus may further include an input unit (not shown) including an output unit (not shown) for output and a button for input control of the touch input device 110.

In the present specification, the communication unit, the input unit, the output unit, the touch sensing unit 111, the display control unit 112, the signal processing unit 113, and the storage unit 114 are expressed functionally. That is, although each functional unit is expressed separately, this is for convenience of description and may be implemented in one circuit (micro circuit as one logic unit).

So far, the touch input device 110 according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention has been described with reference to FIG. 1. Hereinafter, a touch input method will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 2.

2 is a flowchart illustrating a touch input method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, the touch input device 110 detects a main touch in contact with the first touch area 115 and displays a mark such as a pointer at the contact location when the main touch is released. The touch input device 110 then controls the movement of the displayed marker according to the movement trajectory of the auxiliary touch.

Thereafter, the touch input device 110 generates an input signal for activating the function of the input key indicated by the marker according to the user's key input (release of the auxiliary touch, etc.).

Hereinafter, a touch input method using an auxiliary touch will be described in detail with reference to FIG. 2.

In operation S210, the touch input device 110 detects a user's main touch. In addition, the touch input device 110 may detect a contact location where the corresponding main touch occurs. In detail, the user performs contact with a finger or the like on the first touch area 115 of the touch input device 110. In this case, the touch input device 110 detects that a main touch has occurred. The touch input device 110 may detect coordinate information of the contact position of the generated main touch.

Here, the coordinate information may use an x-y vertical coordinate system using the center of the touch area as the origin. As described above, the coordinate information may be implemented in any form capable of specifying a contact location.

Subsequently, in step S220, the touch input device 110 senses that the contact of the main touch is released, and displays a mark such as a pointer indicating the contact location calculated in step S210 on the first touch areas 115 and 117. can do.

Subsequently, in steps S230 and S240, the touch input device 110 detects a user's auxiliary touch and a movement trace of the corresponding auxiliary touch.

The user may move the auxiliary touch while maintaining the contact state when the mark indicates an input key not intended to be touched by referring to the displayed mark. That is, the user may move the finger without removing the finger on which the auxiliary touch has been performed from the second touch area 117.

In this case, the touch input device 110 may detect a movement trajectory of the contact position according to the corresponding auxiliary touch. The touch input device 110 may detect the movement trajectory using distance and direction information between the start point and the end point of the auxiliary touch.

Subsequently, in step S250, the touch sensing apparatus controls the movement of the displayed mark according to the detected movement trajectory. Accordingly, the user may move the auxiliary touch in the state of maintaining the contact of the auxiliary touch to move the mark (pointer, etc.) displayed on the first touch area 115.

Subsequently, in operation S260, the touch input device 110 may determine whether contact of the auxiliary touch is released (user's key input is performed). When the mark displayed on the first touch area 115 indicates an input key intended for the user's touch, the user may release the auxiliary touch. That is, the user may lift the finger on which the auxiliary touch has been performed in the first touch area 115.

In this case, when the contact of the auxiliary touch is not released, the touch input device 110 may continuously detect the movement trace of the auxiliary touch.

In operation S270, when the determination result in operation S260 determines that the auxiliary touch is released, the touch input device 110 generates an input signal for activating a function of an input key indicated by the displayed mark.

Therefore, according to the present invention, when the user touches the first touch area 115 (ie, the main touch), the touch input device 110 does not immediately generate an input signal for the corresponding main touch. Thereafter, the touch input device 110 moves the mark corresponding to the contact position of the main touch by using the auxiliary touch.

Thereafter, the user indicates the intended input key by moving the corresponding mark. Thereafter, the touch input device 110 generates an input signal of an input key indicated by the marker according to a key input such as release of contact of the auxiliary touch of the user.

Therefore, according to the present invention, even when the user touches the small touch screen 116 with his or her finger, the user can see the input key hidden by the finger. When the user touches an unintentional input key, the auxiliary touch may be moved to select the intended input key. Therefore, the user has an advantage of reducing the malfunction of the touch input device 110 due to a wrong touch input.

So far, the touch input method according to the exemplary embodiment of the present invention has been described with reference to FIG. 2. Hereinafter, the touch input method will be described in detail with reference to the touch input method with reference to FIGS. 3 and 4.

3 and 4 are exemplary diagrams for describing a touch input method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3 and 4, assuming that a music file (for example, an MP3 file) is executed in the touch input device 110, the first touch area 115 according to the embodiment of the present invention and The second touch area 117 will be described by way of example.

3 is an exemplary diagram for describing a touch input method according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

The first touch region 115 and the second touch region 117 may be physically divided and implemented. As described above, the first touch area 115 may be implemented using the touch screen 116, so that a touch input may be performed and an input image may be displayed. In addition, the second touch area 117 may be implemented in a touch pad method in which only a touch input may be performed.

Referring to FIG. 3, after the user's main touch is performed, the touch input device 110 displays a mark on the first touch area 310.

In this case, the user performs an auxiliary touch on the second touch area 320 to control the movement of the marker. That is, when the user moves the finger that performs the auxiliary touch from left to right, the mark displayed on the first touch area 310 is also moved from left to right.

4 is an exemplary diagram for describing a touch input method according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

The first touch region 115 and the second touch region 117 may be implemented as one touch region. In this case, the second touch area 117 is virtually set in some of the first touch areas 115 when necessary, that is, when the main touch is performed.

Referring to FIG. 4, a mark is displayed on the first touch area 410 according to the user's main touch. Thereafter, the second touch region 420 is temporarily set in a part of the first touch region 410 (the remaining region except the contact position of the main touch). The user may perform an auxiliary touch on the second touch area 420 to control the movement of the displayed marker.

In this way, the touch input device 110 displays the mark according to the main touch, and controls the movement of the mark displayed according to the auxiliary touch. Therefore, according to the present invention, the user can accurately grasp what is the touched input key, and can correct it (using the auxiliary touch) when an incorrect touch is performed.

The invention can also be embodied as computer readable code on a computer readable recording medium. The computer-readable recording medium includes all kinds of recording devices in which data that can be read by a computer system is stored.

For example, the computer-readable recording medium may include a ROM, a RAM, a CD-ROM, a magnetic tape, a floppy disk, an optical data storage device, and the like.

It may also include the implementation in the form of a carrier wave (for example, transmission over the Internet).

The computer readable recording medium can also be distributed over network coupled computer systems so that the computer readable code is stored and executed in a distributed fashion.

And functional programs, codes and code segments for implementing the present invention can be easily inferred by programmers in the art to which the present invention belongs.

Although the above has been described with reference to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as set forth in the claims below It will be appreciated that modifications and variations can be made.

Claims (16)

In the input method using the touch performed by the touch input device, (a) detecting a main touch in contact with a first touch area displaying an input key; (b) displaying a predetermined mark on the first touch area indicating a contact position of the main touch; (c) detecting an auxiliary touch in contact with the second touch area; And (d) controlling the movement of the displayed mark according to the movement trajectory of the auxiliary touch maintaining the contact state. The method of claim 1, After step (d), and (e-1) generating an input signal for activating a function of an input key indicated by the marker when releasing the contact of the auxiliary touch. The method of claim 1, After step (d), and (e-1) generating an input signal for activating a function of an input key indicated by the marker when a selection button input signal for selecting an input key is applied. The method of claim 1, Marker shown above, The touch input method of claim 1, wherein the first touch area moves within a predetermined range from the contact position. The method of claim 4, wherein The predetermined range is And a touch input key corresponding to the contact position and a peripheral input key adjacent to the touch input key. The method of claim 1, The marker is, And at least one of a pointer, a shape change of an input key corresponding to the contact position, and a color change of the input key corresponding to the contact position. The method of claim 1, (D), And a distance and direction information between the start point and the end point of the movement trajectory. A first touch area where an input key is displayed and the main touch is in contact; A second touch area to which the auxiliary touch is in contact; A touch sensing unit sensing the main touch and the auxiliary touch; And A display control unit which displays a predetermined mark indicating a contact position of the main touch on the first touch area and controls the movement of the displayed mark according to a movement trajectory of the auxiliary touch maintaining a contact state; Touch input device comprising. The method of claim 8, And a signal processor configured to generate an input signal for activating a function of an input key indicated by the marker when the auxiliary touch is released from the touch. The method of claim 8, The touch input device further comprising an input signal for activating a function of an input key indicated by the marker when a selection button input signal for selecting an input key is applied. The method of claim 8, Marker shown above, The touch input device of claim 1, wherein the touch input device moves within a predetermined area from the contact position. The method of claim 11, The predetermined area, And a touch input key corresponding to the contact position and a peripheral input key adjacent to the touch input key. The method of claim 8, The marker is, And at least one of a pointer, a shape change of the input key corresponding to the contact position, and a color change of the input key corresponding to the contact position. The method of claim 8, The display control unit, And controlling the movement of the displayed marker by using distance and direction information between the start point and the end point of the movement trajectory. The method of claim 8, The second touch area is And a remaining area except the contact position among the first touch areas. A recording medium readable by an electronic device on which a program consisting of typed instructions for executing an input method using a touch performed by a touch input device is provided. Detecting a main touch in contact with a first touch area displaying an input key; Displaying a predetermined mark indicating the contact position of the main touch on the first touch area; Detecting an auxiliary touch in contact with the second touch area; And And a program for executing a touch input method including controlling the movement of the displayed mark according to the movement trajectory of the auxiliary touch maintaining the contact state.