KR20160031276A - Electronic device, and method thereof - Google Patents

Abstract

An electronic device and its method of operation are disclosed. A method of operating an electronic device according to an embodiment includes the steps of sensing an input of a user, generating a proximity detection field within a certain distance based on a display, And determining whether to maintain the operation mode for the specific operation associated with the input according to the determination result.

Description

ELECTRONIC DEVICE, AND METHOD OF OPERATING THE SAME,

The following embodiments relate to an electronic device, and a method of operation thereof.

In an electronic device including a touch screen, the touch screen interface allows natural and intuitive manipulation, but has input limitations over conventional mouse based interfaces due to the simplicity of the touch and the absence of a modifier key.

Most of the actions (or control) are made through touching and releasing the user's finger on the touch screen. That is, starting from touch and ending from release.

For example, a tap operation is a control operation that is released immediately after touching the touch display. Drag is an operation in which movement occurs after touching and is terminated with release.

However, in the case of a more complicated operation, many touches and release operations are accompanied. For example, a double-tap is defined as a touch and a release, that is, a tap twice. In this case, the time difference between the two tab operations must be equal to or less than a certain threshold in order to distinguish that the two tab operations are not separate operations but one operation. That is, time-out is used to maintain the mode of operation.

Embodiments may provide a technique capable of maintaining an operation mode for a specific operation associated with a user's input depending on whether or not the touch-sensitive object leaves the proximity detection field.

Embodiments can also provide a technique for providing an operation in which a touch and a proximity motion are sequentially constructed within a proximity detection field for one purpose.

A method of operating an electronic device according to an embodiment includes the steps of sensing an input of a user, generating a proximity detection field within a certain distance based on a display, And determining whether to maintain the operation mode for the specific operation associated with the input according to the determination result.

The input may be a touch to the display of the user.

The determining may include tracking movement of the touch sensing object within the proximity sensing field.

Wherein the determining includes maintaining the operation mode when the touch sensing object is present in the proximity sensing field and releasing the operation mode when the touch sensing object is detached from the proximity sensing field .

The method may further include the step of releasing the proximity detection field when the touch sensing object is detached from the proximity sensing field.

According to one embodiment, an electronic device includes a display, a display, and a display device, wherein the proximity detection field is generated within a predetermined distance based on the display in response to a user input, And a control module for determining whether to maintain the operation mode for the specific operation associated with the input.

The control module includes a sensing module for sensing the input of the user, a field generating module for generating the proximity sensing field, and a controller for determining whether or not the touch sensing object is deviated from the proximity sensing field, And an operation control module for determining whether to maintain the operation mode for the specific operation associated with the operation mode.

The input may be a touch to the display of the user.

The control module maintains the operation mode when there is the touch sensing object in the proximity sensing field and can release the operation mode when the touch sensing object is detached from the proximity sensing field.

The control module may release the proximity detection field when the touch sensing object is deviated from the proximity sensing field.

The control module may track the movement of the touch sensing object within the proximity sensing field.

1 is a schematic block diagram of an electronic device according to one embodiment.
Figure 2 is a schematic block diagram of the control module shown in Figure 1;
FIG. 3 is a state diagram for explaining a process of an operation performed through the electronic device shown in FIG. 1. FIG.
Fig. 4 is a view for explaining an operation to be connected by a plurality of touch operations (or operations) while the operation mode is maintained. Fig.
FIG. 5 is a diagram showing FIG. 4. FIG.
6 is a diagram for explaining an embodiment of one operation connected by a plurality of touch operations (or operations) while the operation mode is maintained.
7 is a view for explaining another embodiment of one operation connected by a plurality of touch operations (or operations) while the operation mode is maintained.
8 is a view for explaining another embodiment of one operation connected by a plurality of touch operations (or operations) while the operation mode is maintained.
9 is a flowchart for explaining an operation method of the electronic device shown in Fig.

It is to be understood that the specific structural or functional descriptions of embodiments of the present invention disclosed herein are presented for the purpose of describing embodiments only in accordance with the concepts of the present invention, May be embodied in various forms and are not limited to the embodiments described herein.

Embodiments in accordance with the concepts of the present invention are capable of various modifications and may take various forms, so that the embodiments are illustrated in the drawings and described in detail herein. It should be understood, however, that it is not intended to limit the embodiments according to the concepts of the present invention to the particular forms disclosed, but includes all modifications, equivalents, or alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the invention.

The terms first, second, or the like may be used to describe various elements, but the elements should not be limited by the terms. The terms may be named for the purpose of distinguishing one element from another, for example without departing from the scope of the right according to the concept of the present invention, the first element being referred to as the second element, Similarly, the second component may also be referred to as the first component.

It is to be understood that when an element is referred to as being "connected" or "connected" to another element, it may be directly connected or connected to the other element, . On the other hand, when an element is referred to as being "directly connected" or "directly connected" to another element, it should be understood that there are no other elements in between. Expressions that describe the relationship between components, such as "between" and "between" or "neighboring to" and "directly adjacent to" should be interpreted as well.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting of the invention. The singular expressions include plural expressions unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. In this specification, the terms "comprises ", or" having ", and the like, are used to specify one or more of the features, numbers, steps, operations, elements, But do not preclude the presence or addition of steps, operations, elements, parts, or combinations 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 to which this invention belongs. Terms such as those defined in commonly used dictionaries are to be interpreted as having a meaning consistent with the meaning of the context in the relevant art and, unless explicitly defined herein, are to be interpreted as ideal or overly formal Do not.

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

1 is a schematic block diagram of an electronic device according to one embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 1, an electronic device 10 may include a display 100 and a control module 200.

The electronic device 10 may be implemented as a personal computer (PC), a data server, or a portable device.

Portable devices include laptop computers, mobile phones, smart phones, tablet PCs, mobile internet devices (MIDs), personal digital assistants (PDAs), enterprise digital assistants (EDAs) A digital still camera, a digital video camera, a portable multimedia player (PMP), a personal navigation device or portable navigation device (PND), a handheld game console, (e-book).

The display 100 may receive an input of a user of the electronic device 10. [ That is, the display 100 may serve as an input interface of the electronic device 10. [

The display 100 may include a liquid crystal display (LCD), a touch screen display, a thin film transistor-liquid crystal display (TFT), an LED (Light Emitting Diode) display, an OLED , Or a flexible display.

The control module 200 may generate a proximity detection field within a certain distance based on the display 100 in response to the user's input of the electronic device 10. [

The control module 200 may determine whether the operation mode for the specific operation related to the input of the user is maintained according to whether the user's touch sensing target is departed from within the proximity sensing field. For example, the touch sensing object may be the user's finger (or fingers).

Figure 2 is a schematic block diagram of the control module shown in Figure 1;

1 and 2, the control module 200 may include a sensing module 210, a field generation module 230, and an operation control module 250. have.

The sensing module 210 may sense a user input. For example, the user's input may be a touch to the user's display 100.

The field generation module 230 may generate a proximity detection field within a certain distance based on the display 100. [

The operation control module 250 may determine whether or not the user's touch sensing target is deviated from the proximity sensing field and determine whether to maintain the operation mode for the specific operation related to the input of the user according to the determination result.

For example, the operation control module 250 may maintain an operation mode for a specific operation associated with a user's input when there is a touch sensitive object within the proximity detection field. The operation control module 250 may release the operation mode for the specific operation associated with the user's input when the touch sensing object is released within the proximity detection field. At this time, the field creation module 230 may release the proximity detection field under the control of the operation control module 250.

The operation control module 250 can track the movement of the touch sensing object within the proximity sensing field. The motion may include static and / or dynamic motion within the proximity detection field. In addition, the movement may include a touch to the display 100 of the touch sensitive object.

A module in this specification may mean hardware capable of performing the functions and operations according to the respective names described in this specification or may include computer program codes capable of performing specific functions and operations May mean an electronic recording medium, e.g. a processor, with computer program code embodied thereon or capable of performing a particular function and operation.

In other words, a module may mean a functional and / or structural combination of hardware for carrying out the technical idea of the present invention and / or software for driving the hardware. Each module may be referred to as a device.

FIG. 3 is a state diagram for explaining a process of an operation performed through the electronic device shown in FIG. 1, and FIG. 4 illustrates one operation connected by a plurality of touch operations (or operations) And Fig. 5 is a schematic view of Fig. 4. In Fig.

3 to 5, an operation (operation or control or handling) can be started by touching the display 100, for example, a user's finger. For example, the operation may be a touch-related operation. That is, the operation may mean all operations associated with the touch that are made on the display 100. In addition, the operation may include controlling the content displayed on the electronic device 10 and / or the display 100. The content may include text-based content or digital information. In addition, the content may include static images and / or dynamic images.

When a finger is within a proximity sensing field generated within a certain distance based on the display 100, for example, an operation associated with the touch can be continuously maintained. When a finger leaves the proximity detection field, the operation associated with the touch may be terminated.

As shown in FIG. 4, the operation can be started by touching the display 100 with the touch sensing object (S401). Thereafter, the touch sensing object can move to the proximity state within the proximity sensing field (S402, S404). In addition, the touch sensing target may touch the display 100 again (S403). That is, while the operation mode is maintained, the movement of the touch sensing object in the proximity sensing field, for example, the movement in the proximity state and / or the touch operation, can be continuously performed with one target. If the touch sensing object leaves the proximity sensing field, the operation can be terminated (S405). That is, for one purpose of the electronic device 10, the touch and the movement in the proximity of the display 100 can provide a continuously configured operation.

It can also be schematized as shown in FIG. 5 depending on the start of operation, end of operation, and proximity distance.

6 is a diagram for explaining an embodiment of one operation connected by a plurality of touch operations (or operations) while the operation mode is maintained.

In FIG. 6, one operation is assumed to be a polyline input for convenience of explanation.

Referring to FIG. 6, a vertex of a polyline can be determined when the touch sensing target touches the display 100 (S601, S603, and S605). While the operation mode is being maintained, the display 100 may display a preview of the polyline to be drawn according to the movement of the proximity state of the touch sensing object (S602, S604). In addition, the position of the vertex can be adjusted by dragging while the touch sensing target is touched on the display 100 (S606). One operation, that is, a polyline input, may be terminated by moving the touch sensing object out of the proximity sensing field (S607). One operation can be terminated without the need for a gesture for a separate termination. That is, the user can draw a polygon as shown in FIG. 6 by touching the display 100 a plurality of times while the operation mode is maintained.

7 is a view for explaining another embodiment of one operation connected by a plurality of touch operations (or operations) while the operation mode is maintained.

In Fig. 7, for convenience of explanation, one operation is assumed to be a multi-level menu operation.

Referring to FIG. 7, when a touch target is selected by tapping (or touching) an item in the menu, a sub-menu corresponding to the selected item is displayed when it is within the proximity detection field (S701) The menu can be selected again (S702). At this time, if the touch sensing object leaves the proximity sensing field, the selection can be canceled (S703).

8 is a view for explaining another embodiment of one operation connected by a plurality of touch operations (or operations) while the operation mode is maintained.

In FIG. 8, for convenience of description, one operation is assumed to be a multi-tab character input.

8, the character selected by the second touch operation may be changed between the first touch operation (S801) and the second touch operation (S803) when the touch sensing target is within the proximity sensing field (S802) (S803). On the other hand, when the touch sensing target is deviated from the proximity sensing field after the second touch operation (S803) (S804), the currently selected character, that is, the character selected by the second touch operation, can be input. Thereafter, when the same input button is again selected by the third touch operation, a new character other than the character selected by the second touch operation can be input (S805). For example, the new character may be the same as or different from the character selected by the first touch operation.

9 is a flowchart for explaining an operation method of the electronic device shown in Fig.

Referring to FIG. 9, the control module 200 may sense the user's input of the electronic device 10 (910).

The control module 200 may generate a proximity detection field within a certain distance based on the display 100 (930).

The control module 200 determines whether the user's touch sensing target is deviated from the proximity sensing field, and determines whether the operation mode for the specific operation related to the user's input is maintained according to the determination result (950).

The apparatus described above may be implemented as a hardware component, a software component, and / or a combination of hardware components and software components. For example, the apparatus and components described in the embodiments may be implemented within a computer system, such as, for example, a processor, a controller, an arithmetic logic unit (ALU), a digital signal processor, a microcomputer, a field programmable gate array (FPGA) , A programmable logic unit (PLU), a microprocessor, or any other device capable of executing and responding to instructions. The processing device may execute an operating system (OS) and one or more software applications running on the operating system. The processing device may also access, store, manipulate, process, and generate data in response to execution of the software. For ease of understanding, the processing apparatus may be described as being used singly, but those skilled in the art will recognize that the processing apparatus may have a plurality of processing elements and / As shown in FIG. For example, the processing unit may comprise a plurality of processors or one processor and one controller. Other processing configurations are also possible, such as a parallel processor.

The software may include a computer program, code, instructions, or a combination of one or more of the foregoing, and may be configured to configure the processing device to operate as desired or to process it collectively or collectively Device can be commanded. The software and / or data may be in the form of any type of machine, component, physical device, virtual equipment, computer storage media, or device , Or may be permanently or temporarily embodied in a transmitted signal wave. The software may be distributed over a networked computer system and stored or executed in a distributed manner. The software and data may be stored on one or more computer readable recording media.

The method according to an embodiment may be implemented in the form of a program command that can be executed through various computer means and recorded in a computer-readable medium. The computer-readable medium may include program instructions, data files, data structures, and the like, alone or in combination. The program instructions to be recorded on the medium may be those specially designed and configured for the embodiments or may be available to those skilled in the art of computer software. Examples of computer-readable media include magnetic media such as hard disks, floppy disks and magnetic tape; optical media such as CD-ROMs and DVDs; magnetic media such as floppy disks; Magneto-optical media, and hardware devices specifically configured to store and execute program instructions such as ROM, RAM, flash memory, and the like. Examples of program instructions include machine language code such as those produced by a compiler, as well as high-level language code that can be executed by a computer using an interpreter or the like. The hardware devices described above may be configured to operate as one or more software modules to perform the operations of the embodiments, and vice versa.

While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited to the disclosed exemplary embodiments. For example, it is to be understood that the techniques described may be performed in a different order than the described methods, and / or that components of the described systems, structures, devices, circuits, Lt; / RTI > or equivalents, even if it is replaced or replaced.

Therefore, other implementations, other embodiments, and equivalents to the claims are also within the scope of the following claims.

Claims (12)

Sensing a user input;
Generating a proximity detection field within a certain distance based on the display; And
Determining whether or not the user's touch sensing target is deviated from the proximity sensing field, and determining whether to maintain the operation mode for the specific operation associated with the input, according to the determination result
Lt; / RTI >
The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the input is a touch to the display of the user.
The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the determining comprises:
Detecting movement of the touch sensing object in the proximity sensing field
Lt; / RTI >
The method according to claim 1,
Wherein the determining comprises:
The method comprising: maintaining the operation mode when the touch sensing object is present in the proximity sensing field; releasing the operation mode when the touch sensing object is departed from the proximity sensing field
Lt; / RTI >
The method according to claim 1,
And releasing the proximity detection field when the touch sensing object is deviated from the proximity sensing field
≪ / RTI >
display; And
The method of claim 1, further comprising: generating a proximity detection field within a predetermined distance based on the display in response to a user input; maintaining an operation mode for a specific operation associated with the input in accordance with whether the user touch- Control module to determine whether
≪ / RTI >
The method according to claim 6,
The control module includes:
A sensing module for sensing an input of the user;
A field generation module for generating the proximity detection field; And
An operation control module for determining whether or not the touch sensing object is deviated from the proximity detection field and for determining whether to maintain the operation mode for a specific operation related to the input,
≪ / RTI >
The method according to claim 6,
Wherein the input is a touch to the display of the user.
The method according to claim 6,
The control module includes:
Wherein the operation mode is maintained when there is the touch sensing object in the proximity sensing field, and when the touch sensing object is released in the proximity sensing field, the operating mode is released.
The method according to claim 6,
Wherein the control module releases the proximity detection field when the touch sensing object is disengaged within the proximity sensing field.
The method according to claim 6,
Wherein the control module tracks movement of the touch sensing object within the proximity sensing field.
A computer-readable recording medium on which a program for executing the method according to any one of claims 1 to 5 is recorded.

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