TWI531930B - Electronic device, control method, and computer-readable recording medium - Google Patents

Description

Electronic device, control method, and computer readable recording medium

The present invention relates to a control mechanism of an electronic device, and more particularly to an electronic device, a control method, and a computer readable recording medium.

In order to save power, electronic devices such as smart phones and tablets automatically enter sleep mode after a period of inactivity. In sleep mode, some buttons have no effect, such as adjusting the volume of the button will not work. The ease of use of these electronic devices is very important to the user. The ineffective button can be said to reduce the function of the electronic device, which is equivalent to reducing the convenience of the electronic device.

The present invention provides an electronic device, a control method, and a computer readable recording medium that can function as a button that does not function in the sleep mode.

The electronic device of the present invention includes a button, a display, an inductor, and a processor. The sensor detects if the display is covered. The processor is coupled to a button, a display, and a sensor. When the electronic device is in the normal mode and the button receives an operation When the processor performs the first function. The processor performs the second function when the electronic device is in the sleep mode and the display is not overwritten and the button receives the same operation. The processor performs a third function when the electronic device is in sleep mode and the display is overwritten and the button receives the same operation. The first function, the second function, and the third function described above are different.

The control method of the present invention is performed by an electronic device including a button and a display. The above control method includes the following steps: when the electronic device is in the normal mode and the button receives an operation, performing the first function; when the electronic device is in the sleep mode and the display is not covered and the button receives the same operation, performing the second function; The third function is performed when the electronic device is in the sleep mode and the display is overwritten and the button receives the same operation. The first function, the second function, and the third function described above are different.

The computer readable recording medium of the present invention stores a computer program. When the electronic device loads and executes the computer program, the control method as described above can be completed.

Based on the above, the present invention allows buttons such as volume control keys that do not function in the sleep mode to have various preset functions, such as launching various different applications to enhance the convenience of the electronic device.

The above described features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description.

100‧‧‧Electronic devices

101, 102‧‧‧ button

110‧‧‧ Controller

120‧‧‧ sensor

130‧‧‧Processor

140‧‧‧ display

150‧‧‧ camera

160‧‧‧Speakers

205~255‧‧‧ method steps

300‧‧‧ front cover

305‧‧‧ hole

310‧‧‧Time

320‧‧‧ patterns

410~430‧‧‧Box

510‧‧‧ pattern

600‧‧‧ front cover

610‧‧‧ empty window

620‧‧‧ thumbnail

1 is a schematic diagram of an electronic device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

2 is a flow chart of a control method in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.

3 through 6 are schematic views of an electronic device in accordance with various embodiments of the present invention.

1 is a schematic diagram of an electronic device 100 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. The electronic device 100 may be a smart phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a tablet computer, or a notebook computer. The electronic device 100 includes buttons 101 and 102, a controller 110, a sensor 120, a processor 130, a display 140, a camera 150, and a speaker 160. The controller 110 and the processor 130 are coupled to each other. The button 101 is coupled to the controller 110 and the processor 130. The button 102 is also coupled to the controller 110 and the processor 130. The sensor 120 is coupled to the controller 110. The display 140, the camera 150, and the speaker 160 are all coupled to the processor 130.

The keys 101 and 102 are physical keys that are disposed on the outer casing of the electronic device 100. When the electronic device 100 is in the normal mode, it is detected by the processor 130 whether the buttons 101 and 102 receive the user's operation, such as whether it is pressed by the user. When the electronic device 100 is in the sleep mode, it is detected by the controller 110 whether the buttons 101 and 102 receive the user's operation. The processor 130 executes various high-level functions such as an operating system and an application of the electronic device 100. The controller 110 performs a relatively low-level function, such as receiving the output signal of the sensor 120. The processor 130 will stop operating in the sleep mode to save power, and the controller 110 will not stop operating. If If necessary, the controller 110 will wake up the processor 130 in sleep mode. For example, when processor 130 is required to execute an application, controller 110 wakes up processor 130 in sleep mode.

The sensor 120 can detect whether the display 140 is covered. To achieve this, the sensor 120 can be a light sensor, a proximity sensor, or a Hall effect sensor. If the sensor 120 is a light sensor, since the ambient brightness is lowered when the display 140 is covered, the sensor 120 can detect a change in brightness for the controller 110 to determine whether the display 140 is covered. If the sensor 120 is a proximity sensor, the distance between the display 140 and the cover can be detected for the controller 110 to determine whether the display 140 is covered. If the sensor 120 is a Hall effect sensor, the cover is usually the front cover of the electronic device 100, and the front cover includes a magnet, and the sensor 120 can detect the change of the magnetic field when the magnet is close to the controller 110 to determine the display 140. Whether it is covered.

The display 140 can be a simple display or a touch display. The camera 150 can be used to take digital images. The speaker 160 can be used to play sound signals such as sound effects, voice or music.

2 is a flow chart of a control method that can be performed by the electronic device 100 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. First, at step 205, it is checked whether the current electronic device 100 is in the normal mode or the sleep mode. If it is in the normal mode, it is checked in step 210 which button received the user's operation. If the button 101 receives the user's operation, then the first function is performed at step 215. If the button 102 receives the user's operation, then the second function is performed at step 220.

If the electronic device 100 is in the sleep mode, then at step 225 it is checked if the display 140 is overwritten. If the display 140 is not overwritten, then at step 230 it is checked which button received the user's operation. If the button 101 receives the user's operation, the third function is performed at step 235. If the button 102 receives the user's operation, then the fourth function is performed at step 240. On the other hand, if the display 140 is overwritten, then at step 245 it is checked which button received the user's operation. If the button 101 receives the user's operation, the fifth function is performed at step 250. If the button 102 receives the user's operation, then the sixth function is performed at step 255.

The above first to sixth functions are all preset functions, all of which are executed by the processor 130, and the first to sixth functions are different. That is, when a button receives the same operation, three different conditions are triggered in the three different cases in the normal mode, in the sleep mode and when the display 140 is not covered, and in the sleep mode and the display 140 is covered. Features. For example, the first function of step 215 may be to increase the volume of the music played by the speaker 160. The second function of the step 220 may be to reduce the volume of the music played by the speaker 160. The third function of step 235 may be an application for transmitting and receiving a text message or an email. The fourth function of step 240 may be an application for taking a photo. The fifth function of step 250 may be an application for performing recording or remote control, and the sixth function of step 255 may be an application for performing quick photo taking.

The first to sixth functions described above are merely examples, in other embodiments. It can be set to other functions. The keys for adjusting the volume of the buttons 101 and 102 generally have no effect in the sleep mode. In the present embodiment, the buttons 101 and 102 can also function in the sleep mode, which can increase the convenience of the electronic device 100.

In the above embodiment, the electronic device 100 includes two buttons. In other embodiments, the electronic device 100 may include one button, three buttons, or more buttons.

FIG. 3 is a schematic diagram of an electronic device 100 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the display 140 is a touch display, and the sensor 120 can detect whether the display 140 is covered by the front cover 300 of the electronic device 100. The front cover 300 includes a plurality of holes, such as holes 305. In this embodiment, the sixth function of step 255 is an application that performs recording, and the application displays a low-resolution user interface. For example, as shown in FIG. 3, the low resolution user interface includes a length of time 310 for recording and a pattern 320 representing the recording function. Such low resolution text and graphics are suitable for viewing through a plurality of holes in the front cover 300.

As long as the front cover 300 is not too thick, the touch display 140 can sense the user's operations such as clicking, sliding, and dragging on the front cover 300. In this embodiment, the user can touch the front cover 300 to control the application to start recording or stop recording. That is to say, even if covered by the front cover 300, the touch display 140 can display the user interface and accept user operations. Through the buttons 101 and 102, the user can quickly launch the application in the sleep mode without opening the front cover 300.

In this embodiment, the fourth function of step 240 is also an application that performs recording, but since the display 140 is not overwritten, the application displays the general High-resolution user interface. The resolution of the high-resolution user interface is higher than the low-resolution user interface described above, and may include more details and functions.

As another example, the fourth function of step 240 and the sixth function of step 255 may be an application that executes a television remote control. When the current cover 300 does not cover the display 140, the application can display a general high-resolution user interface. The high-resolution user interface can include several virtual buttons, and its functions include power on and off, and channel up and down switching. And enter the number directly to select the channel. The user can use buttons 101 and 102 to adjust the volume of the TV up and down. When the front cover 300 covers the display 140, the application can display a simplified low-resolution user interface. The low-resolution user interface can also include several virtual buttons as described above, but simply simplifies the pattern of the keys. Alternatively, the low-resolution user interface can omit the ability to enter numbers to select a channel because it is more difficult to arrange multiple numeric buttons on a low-resolution screen. At this point, voice input can be used instead to select a channel, and the electronic device 100 can include a microphone to receive voice input.

In a previous embodiment, the fourth function triggered by the button 102 in step 240 may be an application for taking a photo, and the sixth function triggered by the same button 102 at step 255 may be an application that performs a quick photo taking. The fourth function and the sixth function may be to execute the same application, but the application may display different user interfaces on the display 140 depending on whether the display 140 is covered by the front cover of the electronic device 100.

For example, FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram of an electronic device 100 in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. As described above, the sixth function triggered by the button 102 at step 255 can be So that the application for taking a photo is executed, because the display 140 is covered by the front cover 300, the application displays a low-resolution user interface for quick taking, in which there are boxes 410, 420 and 430, respectively indicating three focusable Objects (such as faces) are available for the user to select. The user can click on one of the boxes to specify the focus position, and then press the button 101 or 102 to complete the shooting. In this way, the user can take a quick photo without opening the front cover 300.

If the user opens the front cover 300 while in the sleep mode, the fourth function triggered by the button 102 in step 240 may be an application that executes the same photo, but the application displays a high resolution for general shooting. User interface.

FIG. 5 is a schematic diagram of an electronic device 100 in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the above-described photo taking application can display another low-resolution user interface for quick shooting when the display 140 is covered by the front cover 300. This application will automatically focus on the object in the center of the screen (such as a human face). When the focus is completed, the application will display the sight pattern 510. At this time, the user can press the button 101 or 102 to complete the shooting, and the shooting operation is simple. rapid.

In the previous embodiment, the same application triggered by the same button visually displays whether the display 140 is overlaid and displays a different user interface on the display 140, and the user interface differs in resolution. In another embodiment, the difference in the user interface may be different in the display area of the display 140.

For example, the front cover of the electronic device 100 may include an empty window. A portion of the screen of display 140 can be seen through this empty window. In the sleep mode and the front cover does not cover the display 140, the display area of the user interface of the application triggered by a button can occupy the entire screen of the display 140. In the sleep mode and the front cover covers the display 140, the display area of the user interface of the same application triggered by the same button can occupy only a part of the screen of the display 140, and the display area can be the same size as the empty window of the front cover. position. In one embodiment, the user interface when the display 140 is overlaid may be a thumbnail of the user interface when the display 140 is not covered.

Taking the image capturing application as an example, when the display 140 is not covered, the entire screen of the display 140 displays a preview image for the user to compose. When the display 140 is covered, only a portion of the screen corresponding to the empty window of the front cover displays a preview image. The preview image when the display 140 is overwritten is a thumbnail of the preview image when the display 140 is not covered. For example, FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram of an electronic device 100 in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In this embodiment, the front cover 600 of the electronic device 100 includes an empty window 610 through which the user can see a thumbnail 620 of the preview image through the empty window 610. After the composition is completed, the user can press the button 101 or 102 to complete the shooting.

In addition to the electronic device and control method described above, the present invention also provides a computer readable recording medium. This recording medium can store computer programs. After the electronic device loads and executes the computer program, the control method as described in the embodiment of FIG. 2 can be completed.

Based on the above, the present invention can assign buttons that have no effect in the sleep mode. Pre-set functions, such as executing a variety of different applications. With a special front cover design, these applications can be used regardless of whether the front cover is opened or not. This greatly improves the convenience of use of the electronic device.

Although the present invention has been disclosed in the above embodiments, it is not intended to limit the present invention, and any one of ordinary skill in the art can make some changes and refinements without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The scope of the invention is defined by the scope of the appended claims.

101, 102‧‧‧ button

205~255‧‧‧ method steps

Claims (15)

An electronic device comprising: a button; a display; a sensor for detecting whether the display is covered; a processor coupled to the button, the display, and the sensor; when the electronic device is in a normal mode When the button receives an operation, the processor performs a first function; when the electronic device is in a sleep mode and the display is not covered and the button receives the operation, the processor performs a second function; When the electronic device is in the sleep mode and the display is overwritten and the button receives the operation, the processor performs a third function; wherein the first function, the second function, and the third function are different. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the second function is to execute a first application, the third function is to execute a second application, the first application is different from the second application . The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the second function is to execute an application and the application displays a first user interface on the display, the third function is to execute the application and the application The program displays a second user interface on the display, the first user interface being different from the second user interface. The electronic device of claim 3, wherein the second user interface has a lower resolution than the first user interface. The electronic device of claim 4, wherein the sensor detects whether the display is covered by a front cover, the front cover includes a plurality of holes, and the second user interface is adapted to pass through the plurality of holes Watch. The electronic device of claim 3, wherein the second user interface is smaller than the first user interface in a display area of the display. The electronic device of claim 6, wherein the second user interface is a thumbnail of the first user interface. The electronic device of claim 6, wherein the sensor detects whether the display is covered by a front cover, the front cover includes an empty window, the display area of the second user interface, and the empty window Have the same size and position. A control method is performed by an electronic device, the electronic device comprising a button and a display, the control method comprising: when the electronic device is in a normal mode and the button receives an operation, performing a first function; When the electronic device is in a sleep mode and the display is uncovered and the button receives the operation, performing a second function; and when the electronic device is in the sleep mode and the display is overwritten and the button receives the operation, A third function is performed, wherein the first function, the second function, and the third function are different. The control method of claim 9, wherein the second function is to execute a first application, the third function is to execute a second application, the first application is different from the second application . The control method of claim 9, wherein the second function is to execute an application and the application displays a first user interface, the third function is to execute the application and the application displays a The second user interface is different from the second user interface. The control method of claim 11, wherein the second user interface has a lower screen resolution than the first user interface. The control method of claim 11, wherein the second user interface is smaller than the first user interface in a display area of the display. The control method of claim 13, wherein the second user interface is a thumbnail of the first user interface. A computer readable recording medium storing a computer program, and when an electronic device loads and executes the computer program, the control method as described in claim 9 can be completed.