KR20140061042A

KR20140061042A - Terminal and method of rearranging input elements in a screen terminal using sensors

Info

Publication number: KR20140061042A
Application number: KR1020120128172A
Authority: KR
Inventors: 김정훈
Original assignee: 김정훈
Priority date: 2012-11-13
Filing date: 2012-11-13
Publication date: 2014-05-21

Abstract

The present invention relates to a terminal which uses an input element rearrangement method and includes a first area which is bigger than a hand of a user and outputting multiple input elements in a normal mode. The input element rearrangement terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention includes: a sensor unit which detects one-handed operation of the user; a control unit which responds to a control signal from the sensor unit, determines the one-handed operation of the user, and implements a second area as an input element arrangement area enabling the one-handed operation of the user; and a display unit which outputs the second area when the control unit determines the user is intending to operate the terminal by one hand.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention [0001] The present invention relates to a terminal and method for rearranging input elements,

The present invention relates to a user interface, and more particularly, to a portable terminal having a function of rearranging and / or resizing an input element by confirming an intention of a user's operation method and a method of adjusting the same.

As wireless Internet technology evolves, handsets are moving away from the level of being able to receive phone calls and texts, and are making progress in the form of smart phones.

Such a terminal can execute various applications, and interacts with a user by using various user input elements in the form of an icon / keypad displayed on a display window of a touch screen function.

FIG. 1 is a configuration diagram of a conventional terminal having a larger screen size than one hand. Referring to FIG. 1, there is a model (Samsung Galaxy Note 2 5.5 inches) in which a male adult can manipulate the entire display unit with one hand, but the display portion tends to increase. Recently, Samsung Electronics' Galaxy 10.1 inch 262mm × 180mm), Galaxy Note, etc., and it is not easy for adult men to work with just one hand. Tablet type handsets such as Apple's iPad 3 9.70 inch (242mm × 185mm) impossible.

Especially, in case of children and women, it is very inconvenient to use both hands because it is difficult to manipulate one hand of a general smartphone-sized portable terminal such as Galaxy S and the like.

The present invention provides a portable terminal capable of re-arranging and / or resizing user input elements such as icons so that a user can easily operate the portable terminal with one hand by confirming the intention of the user to operate the one hand and a control method thereof The purpose.

An input element rearranging terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a sensor unit for detecting whether one hand of the user is operated or not in a terminal having a first area larger than a one-hand size of a user and having a plurality of input elements displayed on a screen; A control unit for determining whether the user operates one hand in response to a control signal from the sensor unit and implementing a second region that is an input element arrangement region in which the user can operate with one hand in response to the determination; And a display unit for displaying the second area when the controller determines that the user intends to operate one hand.

According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for relocating an input element, the method comprising: acquiring a one-hand operation mode input of a user in a terminal having a first region in which a plurality of execution input elements are displayed on a screen, step; Obtaining an input element relocation mode input in response to the mode input; Setting a second area that is an input element placement area operable with one hand of the user in response to the relocation mode input; Rearranging the input elements of the first region; And retrieving the relocated input element in the second region.

According to the present invention, an area that a user can adjust by one hand is set in a terminal that senses one hand of a user using a sensor and has a relatively large screen compared to one hand, and the size of an input element such as an icon or a keypad button Adjusted to a small size or rearranged. Therefore, it is possible to fundamentally solve the problem of using two hands or an input tool (e.g., a pen) in a terminal having a large screen in comparison with a conventional one, so that the use of a child, a woman, This inconvenient handicapped person can easily use the portable terminal.

In addition, it is possible to attach the sensor to the side of the product or the bottom of the palm of the hand without making major changes to the component or product design, installing applications that detect one-handed or two-handed use, or operate the basic operating system (OS) The icon size is adjusted or the relocation or the interval between the icons is adjusted so that it is convenient for the user and the economic efficiency is secured when the product is implemented.

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a conventional terminal having a larger screen size than one hand. FIG.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention [0001]
3 is a configuration diagram of a sensor unit according to an embodiment of the present invention;
4 is a flowchart of an input element relocation method according to an embodiment of the present invention;
5 illustrates icon size changes in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
6 illustrates icon position changes in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.
7 is a flowchart of an input element relocating method operable with both hands according to an embodiment of the present invention;
8 illustrates icon position changes in a two-hand operable mode according to an embodiment of the present invention;

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The advantages and features of the present invention and the manner of achieving them will become apparent with reference to the embodiments described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The present invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as being limited to the embodiments set forth herein. Rather, these embodiments are provided so that this disclosure will be thorough and complete, and will fully convey the concept of the invention to those skilled in the art. To fully disclose the scope of the invention to a person skilled in the art, and the invention is defined by the scope of the claims. It is to be understood that the terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. In the present specification, the singular form includes plural forms unless otherwise specified in the specification. As used herein, the terms " comprises, " and / or "comprising" refer to the presence or absence of one or more other components, steps, operations, and / Or additions.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of an input element rearrangement terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 3 is a configuration diagram of a sensor unit according to an embodiment of the present invention. 2 and 3, the input element rearrangement terminal 100 includes a sensor unit 110, a control unit 120, and a display unit 130.

The sensor unit 110 includes a touch sensor 112, a proximity sensor 113, a tilt sensor 114, an acceleration sensor 116 and a touch sensor 118, The proximity sensor 113 senses the presence or absence of the user's finger by using the force of the electromagnetic field without physical contact between the user's finger and the terminal, The detection sensor 114 detects that the terminal 100 itself is deflected to the left or right. The acceleration sensor 118 senses the shaking of the terminal itself, and the touch sensor 118 senses the touch screen input of the user.

The control unit 120 can sense one hand operation of the user by using at least one of the touch sensor 112, the proximity sensor 113, the tilt detection sensor 114, the acceleration sensor 116 and the touch sensor 118 .

For example, when the left hand of the user touches the left side of the terminal 100, the touch sensor 112 senses the left hand of the user, and when the right hand of the user is adjacent to the display 130 of the terminal, Detects the proximity of the index finger. When the user lifts the terminal 100 with his or her left hand, the terminal 100 is deflected to the left, and the tilt detection sensor 114 will detect this.

Also, when the user touches the touch screen with a finger, the touch sensor 118 senses it, and when the user shakes the terminal 100, the acceleration sensor 116 detects the shake of the terminal itself through the amount of change in acceleration.

Accordingly, the control unit 120 can recognize the intention of one-hand operation based on the detection signal from the sensor unit 110. That is, the control unit 120 can check which hand held the terminal 100 according to a signal from the touch sensor 112. When the user holds the terminal 100 with only one hand or only one hand, I believe there is a doctor.

Alternatively, the controller 120 determines that there is an intention to operate one hand with only the left or right hand when detecting a tilt that is deflected in any direction in the up, down, left, and right directions according to the tilt detection signal from the tilt sensor 114.

In addition, when the user presses the remaining space or the specific input element (e.g., one-handed operation-enabling function start icon) for a predetermined time (for example, two seconds) It is determined that the user intends to operate one hand.

In another embodiment, when the user shakes the terminal itself, the control unit 120 may determine that there is an intention to operate one hand only with the left or right hand according to the shake detection signal from the acceleration sensor 116. [

In order to increase the reliability, the control unit 120 may take a configuration in which the control unit 120 determines the intention of one-hand operation in consideration of all the detection signals from the touch sensor 112 and the tilt detection sensor 114.

For example, when the touch sensor 112 senses the left-hand grip and the tilt sensor 114 senses the tilt to the left, the controller 120 can be configured to determine that the user intends to operate one hand only with the left hand.

In addition, when the user executes an application installed in the terminal and explicitly displays the intention of one-hand operation, it is determined that there is an intention to operate one hand, or the terminal executes an application for querying the intention to operate the one- You can check your intention to operate one hand. The application may be embedded in the basic operating system (OS) in which the user downloads from the app store or drives the terminal 100. [

Or if the control unit 120 determines that there is a possibility that the user's hand touches the side surface of the terminal 100 or that the terminal is biased to the left or right side, It is possible to confirm the intention of one-handed operation in such a manner that the input window is displayed on the display unit 130 and the user's explicit intention is inputted.

However, there is a possibility that the automatic determination of the one-handed manipulation by the sensor unit 110 may misjudge the one-handed manipulation even if the user does not intend to manipulate the one-handed manipulation. It is preferable that the user can select whether the one-hand operation function is activated because the frequent appearance of the input window may cause operational troubles when the window is developed and the user's intention is explicitly acquired.

When the controller 120 determines that the user intends to detect one hand, the controller 120 implements a second area capable of one-hand operation in response to the determination.

Throughout this specification, the first area is used as a whole area of the display panel and is used as a term referring to a screen area in which a plurality of execution icons or input elements such as an input keypad are displayed in a normal manner, and the second area is used as a term Quot; refers to an area in which an input element is disposed. More specifically, the second area will be the range of the thumb of the hand when gripping the terminal with either hand.

The rearrangement mode is used as a term including an input element size change mode, an input element position change mode, and an input element interval change mode.

For example, a terminal such as a Galaxy Note series has a diagonal size of about 5.5 inches and is difficult to be manipulated by one hand, so that the second area is implemented within a size (for example, width x length / 60 mm x 120 mm) .

It is preferable that the position of the second area is set to be within the area of the thumb finger when the position held by the user is grasped by the touch sensor 112 or the like.

For example, in case of a terminal having a rounded or rounded corner, it is preferable to locate the second area near the edge near the gripped position. If the terminal is a cornerless type such as a circle or an ellipse, It would be better to place the second area in the range.

As another embodiment, it is possible to provide a setting function to allow the user to set the second area position, thereby allowing the user to set the second area position that is most convenient for him or her, It is also possible to set an area which is convenient for operation in advance.

When the user confirms the one-handed intent of the user through a method based on one of the above-described methods or the same technical idea, the control unit 120 displays an icon (e.g., a 60 mm x 120 mm area in the lower corner of the terminal) The input element is rearranged in such a manner that the input element size is reduced or the input element position is changed.

Alternatively, it can be rearranged in such a manner that an interval between input elements such as an icon or a keypad button is reduced without changing the size or position of the input elements.

Examples of the input element rearrangement may be various. For example, a user who is mainly used without changing the size reduction of the icon or rearranges the icon associated with the recently used program in the second area, or rearranges the keypad button mainly used as the second area, It also includes an input element relocation method considering experience.

Meanwhile, in the embodiment of the present invention, when the control unit 120 confirms the one-hand operation intention, the icon size change mode and icon position change mode input window are displayed on the display unit 130, , And the input element rearrangement may be performed in the second area by reducing the icon size or changing the icon position according to user input. In this case, adjustments such as expanding or reducing the interval between the icons are possible.

Hereinafter, one of various embodiments falling within the technical scope of the present invention will be described with reference to FIG. 4 is a flowchart of an icon relocation method according to an embodiment of the present invention.

For convenience of explanation, the icon will be described as an example of a user input element. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and it goes without saying that the present invention encompasses the case of size change, position and interval adjustment of various user input elements such as icons and keypad buttons.

At the beginning of the one-hand operation method, the terminal determines whether the user operates one hand (S210). When the user's hand touch is detected through the sensor unit 110 on the left or right side of the terminal, or when the touch screen input is detected in a space or a specific input element where the user senses the shaking of the terminal or places the input element, 120 acquires the user input by determining whether the user intends to operate the one-handed operation or to open the one-hand operable mode input window in the first area to clearly confirm the user's intention.

Or the one-hand operable application is executed to acquire the user input by opening the one-hand operable mode input window in the first area.

Next, the input element rearrangement mode input is obtained in response to the mode input (S230). Specifically, the icon size change mode, the icon position change mode, and the cancel mode input window are displayed on the first screen. When the cancellation mode input is obtained, the first area is displayed on the screen of the terminal 100 without changing the size or position of the icon, and operates in the normal mode (S220).

Then, in response to the icon size change mode or the position change mode input, a second area that is an icon arrangement area that can be operated by one hand of the user is set (S250). Specifically, a second area of a size that can be manipulated with one hand is set nearest to a hand position of a user in contact with the terminal among four corners in the terminal.

For example, the Samsung Galaxy Tab 10.1 inch model (173mm x 260mm) is bigger than one hand. It is difficult to manipulate the icon in one hand of the user. Therefore, it is preferable that the size of the area when setting the second area is set to a size (60 mm x 120 mm) which is operable in one hand of the user. There are four corners in the terminal, and the second area is set at an edge closest to the hand position of the user.

Subsequently, the icon size is reduced (S260) or the icon position is changed (S290). Specifically, icon size reduction is to reduce the size of a plurality of icons displayed in the first area to a predetermined ratio so as to enter the second area.

The display unit 130 displays an input element such as an icon according to the above-described manner in the second area when the control unit 120 determines that the hand is to be manipulated by one hand. The user then grasps the terminal with one hand, So that the terminal can be operated and used (S270, S300).

The rearrangement of the input elements such as icons will be described in more detail with reference to FIG. 5 and FIG.

5 is a diagram illustrating an icon size change according to an embodiment of the present invention. The control unit 120 reduces all of the icon sizes displayed in the first area to a predetermined ratio so as to enter the second area. Specifically, in order to display the 4 × 6 array icons displayed in the first area in the second area smaller than the first area, the controller 120 maintains the number of icons in the 4 × 6 array, while the horizontal size is 50% and the vertical size is 33 Reduce the size of the icon by%.

6 is a diagram illustrating icon position change according to an embodiment of the present invention. The control unit 120 changes the position of the icon displayed in the first area so as to enter the second area by adjusting the number of icons while maintaining the size of the icon displayed in the first area, , Or an icon to be placed in the second area in the order of recently executed input elements.

For example, the icon execution counts are counted for two weeks, 12 of the 4 × 6 arrays are selected in order of frequent use, and the positions are changed to the positions of the 3 × 4 array icons in the second area. Or counts the most recently executed sequence for two weeks, selects 12 in order and changes to the position of the 3x4 array icon. In this case, adjustments such as expanding or reducing the interval between the icons are possible.

As another embodiment, it is possible to count the number of execution of the input element such as an icon for a predetermined period of time, to kick the input element having a large execution count closer to the user's thumb, Or counts the number of times the input element is executed for a predetermined period of time and changes the position of the input element closer to the thumb in the order of the input elements.

On the other hand, the technical idea of the present invention can be applied to a terminal having a size that can not be operated by one hand, such as a Galaxy Tab 10.1 inch model (173 mm x 260 mm) or an iPad.

That is, the technical idea of the present invention can be applied equally or similarly to a case where both hands are used, and the system is not gripped by one hand and operated by the other hand, but is gripped by both hands and operated by both hands.

That is, in the present specification, the term " operating with both hands " means a case of gripping with both hands and operating with both hands.

This will be described in detail below.

7 is a flowchart of an input element relocating method operable with both hands according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to FIG. 7, first, a user's intention to operate both hands is confirmed (S310). Specifically, if the user senses the hand held by both hands through the sensor unit 110, the user can immediately enter the both-handed operation mode.

Alternatively, if the user obtains a touch screen input for a predetermined time (for example, 2 seconds) on a specific icon with symmetrical margins (e.g., left and right margins, top and bottom margins) Hand operation mode input window in the first area (width x length / 260 mm x 173 mm) and obtains the user input for whether or not the both hands are operated when the shake is detected or the terminal executes the both-hands operable application.

Next, in response to the mode input, the icon size change mode (S330) or the position change mode input is obtained (S340). Specifically, the icon size change mode and the location change mode can be automatically determined by the terminal or by a predetermined setting.

Then, in response to the icon size change mode or the position change mode input, a third region of the same shape is set on the opposite side of the second region, which is the icon arrangement region that can be operated by one hand of the user (S350, S380) . Specifically, a second area (60 mm x 120 mm) of a size that can be manipulated with both hands is set nearest to the hand position of the user who is in contact with the terminal 100 among the four corners of the terminal 100, (60 mm x 120 mm) is set.

Next, the icon size of the first area is reduced (S360) or the position is changed (S370). Specifically, a plurality of icon sizes displayed in the first area are all reduced in a predetermined ratio to enter the second area (60 mm x 120 mm) and the third area (60 mm x 120 mm).

8 is a diagram showing icon position change in the two-hand operable mode according to the embodiment of the present invention. The number of icons is adjusted while maintaining the size of the icon displayed in the first area and displayed in the first area (260 mm x 173 mm) so as to enter the second area (60 mm x 120 mm) and the third area (60 mm x 120 mm) Change the icon position.

The icon position change counts the icon execution times for a predetermined period (for example, one month) and changes them in order of execution.

Specifically, the icon execution count is counted for one month, and 12 pieces are selected in the order of execution of the 4x6 array in order to change the icon position to the 3x4 array in the second area, and the 3x4 array icon Position.

Alternatively, 12 icons may be counted based on the most recently executed criterion for one month, and the icon positions may be changed to 3 × 4 array positions in that order. In this case, adjustments such as expanding or reducing the interval between the icons are possible.

Finally, a reduced icon is displayed in the second area and the third area (S370) or the changed icon is displayed (S400)

According to the present invention, an area that a user can adjust by one hand is set in a terminal that senses one hand of a user using a sensor and has a relatively large screen compared to one hand, and the size of an input element such as an icon or a keypad button Adjusted to a small size or rearranged. Therefore, it is possible to fundamentally solve the problem of using two hands or an input tool (e.g., a pen) in a terminal having a large screen in comparison with a user's one hand, so that the use of a child, a woman, This inconvenient handicapped person can easily use the portable terminal.

In addition, attach sensors to the side or palm of the product without adding components or major changes to the product design, install applications that detect one-handed or two-handed use, or add features to the basic operating system (OS) The icon size can be adjusted, the relocation or the interval between the icons can be adjusted so that it is convenient for the user and economical efficiency is realized when the product is implemented.

The foregoing description is merely illustrative of the technical idea of the present invention and various changes and modifications may be made without departing from the essential characteristics of the present invention. Therefore, the embodiments described in the present invention are not intended to limit the scope of the present invention, but are intended to be illustrative, and the scope of the present invention is not limited by these embodiments. It is intended that the present invention cover the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents, which fall within the scope of the present invention as claimed.

110: sensor unit 112: contact sensor
113: proximity sensor 114: tilt detection sensor
116: Accelerometer
118: Touch sensor
120:
130:

Claims

In a terminal having a first area larger than a size of one hand of a user and having a plurality of input elements displayed on the screen,
A sensor unit for detecting whether the user operates one hand;
A control unit for determining whether the user operates one hand in response to a control signal from the sensor unit and implementing a second region that is an input element arrangement region in which the user can operate with one hand in response to the determination; And
When the control unit determines that the user intends to operate one hand, the display unit
And an input element rearranging terminal.

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the sensor unit
A touch sensor attached to left and right sides of the terminal for recognizing the user touch, a tilt sensing sensor for sensing the left / right deflection of the terminal, a touch sensor for sensing the touch screen input of the user, Detecting one-handed operation of the user by using at least one of the acceleration sensors to be sensed
Input element rearrangement terminal.

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control unit
A determination is made as to whether or not the user's hand touches the side surface of the terminal or that the user's hand is biased toward the terminal
Input element rearrangement terminal.

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control unit
A determination is made that the hand is to be manipulated on the basis of the shaking of the terminal itself
Input element rearrangement terminal.

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control unit
If an input element is arranged in the first area and there is a touch screen input for a predetermined time in a remaining margin or a specific input element,
Input element rearrangement terminal.

The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control unit
The relocation mode input window is displayed on the display unit, the user input for the mode is acquired, and the second area is implemented according to the user input
Input element rearrangement terminal.

In a terminal having a first area larger than a size of one hand of a user and in which a plurality of execution input elements are displayed on a screen in a normal mode,
Obtaining a user's one-hand operable mode input;
Obtaining an input element relocation mode input in response to the mode input;
Setting a second area that is an input element placement area operable with one hand of the user in response to the relocation mode input;
Rearranging the input elements of the first region; And
The step of retrieving the relocated input element in the second region
/ RTI >

8. The method of claim 7,
The step of obtaining the one-hand operable mode input
When a user's hand touch is detected on the left or right side of the terminal or when the terminal itself is detected or the input element is disposed in the first area and a touch screen input for a predetermined time is acquired in a remaining area or a specific input element, It is determined that the user wants to operate and acquires a user input by opening the one-hand operable mode input window in the first area or executes a one-hand operable application to acquire a user input by opening the one- To do
Input element reordering method.

8. The method of claim 7,
The step of setting the second area
Setting a second area within a range of the thumb of the user's hand that is in contact with the hand of the user contacting the terminal
Input element reordering method.

8. The method of claim 7,
The relocating step
And reducing a size of a plurality of input elements displayed in the first area to a predetermined ratio so as to enter the second area
Input element reordering method.

8. The method of claim 7,
The relocating step
Adjusting the number of input elements while maintaining the size of the input element displayed in the first area; And
And changing the position of the input element displayed in the first area to enter the second area
Input element reordering method.

12. The method of claim 11,
Wherein changing the position of the input element
Changing the position of the input element in the most recently executed order in a predetermined period or counting the number of times of execution of the input element for a predetermined period to change the position of the input element in order of execution
Input element reordering method.

In a terminal having a first area larger than a size of one hand of a user and in which a plurality of execution input elements are displayed on a screen in a normal mode,
Confirming the intention of the user to operate the both hands;
Setting a second region that is an input element arrangement region operable by one hand of the user and a third region of the same type that is symmetric with respect to the second region; And
And rearranging the input elements of the first area to advance the input elements in the second area and the third area
/ RTI >

14. The method of claim 13,
Wherein the step of confirming the two-
The user is allowed to operate the both-hands operable application to open the two-hand operable mode input window in the first area to confirm the intention of the two-hand operation
Input element reordering method.

14. The method of claim 13,
Wherein the step of setting the second area and the third area comprises:
Setting a second area of the four corners of the terminal in a size that can be manipulated with both hands in a position closest to a hand position of a user in contact with the terminal and setting a third area of the same shape in the second area symmetrical
Input element reordering method.

14. The method of claim 13,
The step of relocating the input elements of the first region
Reducing a size of a plurality of input elements displayed in the first area to a predetermined ratio so as to enter the second area and the third area
Input element reordering method.

14. The method of claim 13,
Rearranging the input elements of the first region
Adjusting the number of input elements while maintaining the size of the input element displayed in the first area; And
And changing the position of the input element displayed in the first area so as to enter the second area and the third area
Input element reordering method.

14. The method of claim 13,
Wherein changing the position of the input element
Counting the number of times of execution of the input element for a predetermined period of time and changing it in order of execution
Input element reordering method.