WO2008082142A1

WO2008082142A1 - Media device having touch sensor, and control method for the same

Info

Publication number: WO2008082142A1
Application number: PCT/KR2007/006852
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sang-Kil Lee; Sang-Ho Lee
Original assignee: Kaonmedia Co., Ltd.
Priority date: 2007-01-02
Filing date: 2007-12-26
Publication date: 2008-07-10
Also published as: KR20080063537A

Abstract

Provided is a media device having touch sensor including an LCD screen that is controlled by a control unit and displays a program for driving multimedia data and an execution screen of the multimedia data; a horizontal touch sensor that detects a motion and delivers the value of the detected motion to the control unit such that the motion is displayed on the LCD screen; a vertical touch sensor that detects a motion and delivers the value of the detected motion to the control unit such that the motion is displayed on the LCD screen; and the control unit that receives the value of the motion detected by the horizontal or vertical touch sensor and performs control to display the motion on the LCD screen.

Description

MEDIA DEVICE HAVING TOUCH SENSOR, AND CONTROL

METHOD FOR THE SAME

Technical Field

[1] The present invention relates to a media device having touch sensors, and more specifically, to a media device having touch sensors, in which horizontal and vertical touch sensors are mounted to increase user's convenience, and a control method for the same. Background Art

[2] In general, media devices serve to output image data such as multimedia data. Such media devices are widely used in PMPs (Portable Multimedia Player), monitors, electronic schedulers and so on.

[3] PMP may have a digital camera function as well as a music and moving-image reproducing function. PMP is referred to as a next-generation portable convergence device, and the basic structure thereof is similar to that of an MP3 player.

[4] However, PMP can reproduce moving images and has a digital camera function, unlike an MP3 player having only a music playing function. Further, the size of PMP is so small that PMP is easy to carry, and the weight of the PMP is less than 25Og. PMP which has been developed at the initial stage has a 4.3-inch LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) screen mounted thereon. Recently, the size of the LCD screen is being increasing. Further, PMP has various functions such as an Internet function, a character input function, a game function, an electronic- scheduler function, a moving-image reproduction function, a digital camera function and so on, in addition to the MP3 player function.

[5] However, such a conventional PMP has no touch sensor mounted thereon.

Therefore, move keys of a keyboard or keypad connected to the media device are used to move between program menus on the screen displayed on the media device, which decreases user's convenience. Disclosure of Invention

Technical Problem

[6] An advantage of the present invention is that it provides a media device having touch sensors, in which horizontal and vertical touch sensors are mounted to increase user's convenience.

Technical Solution [7] According to an aspect of the invention, a media device having touch sensor comprises an LCD screen that is controlled by a control unit and displays a program for driving multimedia data and further displays an execution screen of the multimedia data; a horizontal touch sensor that detects a motion and delivers the value of the d etected motion to the control unit such that the motion is displayed on the LCD screen; a vertical touch sensor that detects a motion and delivers the value of the detected motion to the control unit such that the motion is displayed on the LCD screen; and a control unit that receives the values of the motion detected by the horizontal touch sensor and the vertical touch sensor and performs control so as to let the motion displayed on the LCD screen.

[8] According to an aspect of the invention, a control method for a media device having touch sensors comprises a 1st step of defining specific regions of vertical and horizontal touch sensors; a 2nd step of driving a program in accordance with control of a control unit such that the program is displayed on the LCD program; a 3rd step of judging whether the vertical or horizontal touch sensor is touched or not; and a 4th step of recognizing the touch, when judged that the vertical or horizontal touch sensor is touched, as a hot key to carry out a specific function, and then returning the process to the 3rd step.

Advantageous Effects

[9] According to the present invention, the horizontal and vertical touch sensors are mounted on the media device such as PMP, thereby increasing user's convenience.

Brief Description of the Drawings [10] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a media device having touch sensors according to an embodiment of the invention. [11] FIG. 2 is a conceptual view showing an example where the configuration of FIG. 1 is applied to PMP. [12] FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing a control method for a media device having touch sensors according to an embodiment of the invention. [13] FIG. 4 is a conceptual view showing an example of the initial menu screen of a program driven by applying the invention. [14] FIG. 5 is a conceptual view showing an example where an audio player is driven to use the horizontal and vertical touch sensors in FIG. 4.

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention [15] Hereinafter, a media device having touch sensors and a control method for the same according to the invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. [16] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a media device having touch sensors according to an embodiment of the invention. FIG. 2 is a conceptual view showing an example where the configuration of FIG. 1 is applied to PMP. [17] As shown in FIG. 1, the media device includes an LCD screen 10 which is controlled by a control unit 40 and displays a program for driving multimedia data and an execution screen of multimedia data; a horizontal touch sensor 20 which detects a motion and delivers the value of the detected motion to the control unit 40 such that the motion is displayed on the LCD screen 10; a vertical touch sensor 30 which detects a motion and delivers the value of the detected motion to the control unit 40 such that the motion is displayed on the LCD screen 10; and the control unit 40 which receives the value of a motion detected by the horizontal or vertical touch sensor 20 or 30 and performs control to display the motion on the LCD screen 10.

[18] The horizontal and vertical touch sensors 20 and 30 may be composed of an electrostatic touch sensor.

[19] Preferably, the horizontal and vertical touch sensors 20 and 30 detect a motion through a horizontal lattice 21 and a vertical lattice 31, respectively.

[20] The horizontal and vertical touch sensors 20 and 30 may be constructed by using one or more than one of electrostatic capacitive coupling, resistance film, infrared light, ultrasonic wave, surface acoustic wave (SAW), force-based, and electromagnetic induction coupling.

[21] When a user touches the horizontal or vertical touch sensor 20 or 30, the touch sensor can deliver the value of a clicked or double-clicked portion to the control unit 40.

[22] When a motion is detected in a predetermined region of the horizontal or vertical touch sensor 20 or 30, the control unit 40 can perform control such that a value corresponding to the detected motion is applied as a hot key of a specific program displayed on the LCD screen 10.

[23] When a motion is detected by the horizontal or vertical touch sensor 20 or 30, the control unit 40 can perform control such that a value corresponding to the detected motion is applied to menu navigation for selecting a specific menu of a specific program displayed on the LCD screen 10.

[24] When a motion is detected by the horizontal or vertical touch sensor 20 or 30, the control unit 40 can perform control such that a value corresponding to the detected motion is applied to navigation of an icon displayed on the LCD screen 10.

[25] When a motion is detected by the horizontal touch sensor 20, the control unit 40 can perform control such that a value corresponding to the detected motion is applied to the scroll of reproduction position on a menu screen of a program displayed on the LCD screen 10.

[26] When a motion is detected by the horizontal touch sensor 20, the control unit 40 can perform control such that a value corresponding to the detected motion is applied to volume control on a menu screen of a program displayed on the LCD screen 10. [27] The media device having touch sensors shown in FIGs. 1 and 2 may be applied to

PMP.

[28] FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing a control method for a media device having touch sensors according to an embodiment of the invention.

[29] As shown in FIG. 3, the control method includes the steps of: defining specific regions of horizontal and vertical touch sensors 20 and 30 (step STl); driving a program in accordance with control of a control unit 40 such that the program is displayed on an LCD screen 10 (step ST2); judging whether the vertical or horizontal touch sensor 20 or 30 is touched or not (step ST3); and when it is judged that the vertical or horizontal touch sensor 20 or 30 is touched, recognizing the touch as a hot key to perform a specific function, and returning the process to step ST3.

[30] In step ST3, when the horizontal or vertical touch sensor 20 or 30 is touched by a user, the value of a clicked or double-clicked portion is used to judge whether the horizontal or vertical touch sensor 20 or 30 is touched or not.

[31] In step ST4, when a specific function is carried out, the value of a motion detected by the horizontal or vertical touch sensor 20 or 30 is controlled to be applied to menu navigation for selecting a specific menu of a specific program displayed on the LCD screen 10.

[32] In step ST4, when a specific function is carried out, the value of a motion detected by the horizontal or vertical touch sensor 20 or 30 is controlled to be applied to navigation of an icon displayed on the LCD screen 10.

[33] In step ST4, when a specific function is carried out, the value of a motion detected by the horizontal touch sensor 20 is controlled to be applied to the scroll of reproduction position on a menu screen of a program displayed on the LCD screen 10.

[34] In step ST4, when a specific function is carried out, the value of a motion detected by the vertical touch sensor 30 is controlled to be applied to volume control on a menu screen of a program displayed on the LCD screen 10.

[35] The method for the media device touch sensors shown in FIG. 3 may be applied to

PMP.

[36] Now, the media device having touch sensors and the control method for the same will be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. When it is judged that the specific description of related known function or constitution can cloud the point of the invention, the description will be omitted. Terms to be described below are defined in consideration of the functions of the invention. Accordingly, the meaning of the terms should be interpreted on the basis of the content of the specification.

[37] The feature of the invention is to increase user's convenience by mounting horizontal and vertical touch sensors on a media device such as PMP. [38] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of the media device having touch sensors according to an embodiment of the invention.

[39] The LCD screen 10 is controlled by the control unit 40 and displays a program for driving multimedia data and an execution screen of multimedia data. Further, when a motion is detected by the horizontal and vertical touch sensors 20 and 30, the state of the detected motion is displayed on the screen in accordance with control of the control unit 40 such that a specific program can be selected or a specific multimedia file can be executed.

[40] When a motion is detected by the horizontal lattice 21, the horizontal touch sensor

20 delivers the value of the detected motion to the control unit 40 such that the motion is displayed on the LCD screen 10. When a motion is detected by the vertical lattice 31, the vertical touch sensor 30 delivers the value of the detected motion to the control unit 40 such that the motion is displayed on the LCD screen 10.

[41] The horizontal and vertical touch sensors 20 and 30 detect through the respective lattices 21 and 31 that the finger of a user moves while touching the respective touch sensors. Then, the horizontal and vertical touch sensors 20 and 30 deliver the value of the touched portion to the control unit 40.

[42] The horizontal and vertical touch sensors 20 and 30 are input devices for detecting the position of a portion touched by a finger or pen. As for position detection, there are provided electrostatic capacitive coupling, resistance film, infrared light, ultrasonic wave, SAW, force-based, and electromagnetic induction coupling, among which the resistance film and the electrostatic capacitive coupling are widely adopted.

[43] Meanwhile, a touch sensor constructed by the resistance film is composed of a transparent resistance film, a polyethylene terephtalate (PET) film, and a glass film with an air layer interposed therebetween. The transparent resistance film has a conductive portion installed therein. When a finger or the like is contacted with an operation surface, the conductive portion of the transparent resistance film is electrically conducted to the operation surface so as to extract the value of the contacted point. The extracted value is used to detect a motion.

[44] A touch sensor constructed by the electrostatic coupling detects the touch of a body by using one or two poles. The touch sensor is composed of a detection plate, an oscillator, a rectifying unit, a differential amplifier, a comparator, a reference voltage setting unit and so on. The touch sensor generates a body detection signal, which comes from the single-pole detection plate, as a switching signal so as to detect a motion. That is, the touch sensor detects the motion of a finger by recognizing a change in electrostatic capacity for each position, which occurs when the touch sensor is pressed by the finger.

[45] In addition to the resistance film and the electrostatic coupling, the SAW, the force- based, and the electromagnetic induction coupling are well-known techniques. Therefore, the detailed descriptions thereof will be omitted.

[46] When a user touches the horizontal or vertical touch sensor 20 or 30, the touch sensor delivers the value of a clicked or double-clicked portion to the control unit 40.

[47] When the horizontal or vertical touch sensor 20 or 30 detects a motion, the control unit 40 receives a value corresponding to the detected motion and performs control to display the motion on the LCD screen 10.

[48] When the horizontal or vertical touch sensor 20 or 30 detects a motion, the control unit 40 can perform control to apply a value corresponding to the detected motion to menu navigation for selecting a specific menu of a specific program displayed on the LCD screen 10.

[49] When the horizontal or vertical touch sensor 20 or 30 detects a motion, the control unit 40 can perform control to apply a value corresponding to the detected motion to navigation of an icon displayed on the LCD screen 10.

[50] When a motion is detected by the horizontal touch sensor 20 while specific audio or video contents are reproduced on the LCD screen 10, the control unit 40 can perform control to apply a value corresponding to the detected motion to the scroll of reproduction position.

[51] When a motion is detected by the vertical touch sensor 30 while specific audio or video contents are reproduced on the LCD screen 10, the control unit 40 can perform control to apply a value corresponding to the detected motion to volume control.

[52] When a motion is detected in a predetermined region of the horizontal or vertical touch sensor 20 or 30, the control unit 40 can perform control to apply a value corresponding to the detected motion as a hot key of a specific program displayed on the LCD screen 10.

[53] FIG. 2 is a conceptual view showing an example where the configuration of FIG. 1 is implemented into PMP.

[54] As shown in FIG. 2, an LCD screen is composed of a touch screen, a touch sensor under the LCD screen is a horizontal touch sensor 20, a touch sensor in the right side of the LCD screen is a vertical touch sensor 30, and an SD (Secure Digital) card or MMC (Multi-Media Card) is mounted in the left upper side of the LCD screen.

[55] Further, a 24-pin connector is mounted in the right lower side of the LCD screen. In

FIG. 2, MIC represents a microphone mounted in the right side of the LCD screen, A/ V IO stands for Audio/Video Input Output and represents an input/output terminal of audio and video signals, and USB Port represents a universal serial but port.

[56] The media device having touch sensors according to the invention may be applied to the PMP shown in FIG. 2.

[57] FIG. 3 is a flow chart showing the control method for the media device having touch sensors according to an embodiment of the invention.

[58] First, specific regions of the vertical and horizontal touch sensor 20 and 30 are defined (step STl).

[59] Then, a program is driven in accordance with control of the control unit 40 so as to be displayed on the LCD screen 10 (step ST2).

[60] Next, it is judged whether the vertical or horizontal touch sensor 20 or 30 is touched or not. When a user clicks or double-clicks the defined region of the vertical or horizontal touch sensor 20 or 30, a value corresponding to the clicked region can be utilized as a hot key for carrying out a specific function. The specific region and the specific function can be set by a user (step ST3).

[61] When it is judged that the vertical or horizontal touch sensor 20 or 30 is touched by the click or double-click, the control unit 40 recognizes the touch as a hot key and then carries out a specific function. Then, the process returns to step ST3 (step ST4).

[62] At this time, when a specific function is carried out, the value of a motion detected by the horizontal or vertical touch sensor 20 or 30 can be controlled to be applied to menu navigation for selecting a specific menu of a specific program displayed on the LCD screen 10.

[63] FIG. 4 is a conceptual view showing an example of the initial menu screen of a program driven by applying the invention.

[64] As shown in FIG. 4, the value of a motion detected by the horizontal or vertical touch sensor 20 or 30 can be controlled to be applied to navigation of an icon displayed on the LCD screen 10. That is, the horizontal and vertical touch sensors 20 and 30 can be utilized for navigation of icons on the initial menu screen of FIG. 4.

[65] On the screen of FIG. 4, it may be more convenient to click an icon on the LCD touch screen. However, if a menu button in the upper side of the operation screen should be clicked to utilize a sub menu after a specific program is operated, it is more convenient to touch and scroll the horizontal or vertical touch sensor 20 or 30 than to directly touch a portion of the screen.

[66] This corresponds to such a case that when a program such as Hangul 2005 (which is a word processing program) is driven and displayed on the LCD screen 10, 'Save', 'Save as different name', 'Print' or the like is selected as a sub menu of 'File' menu of the program.

[67] FIG. 5 is a conceptual view showing an example where an audio player is driven to use the horizontal and vertical touch sensors in FIG. 4.

[68] On an operation screen of the audio player (or a video player) shown in FIG. 5, the horizontal and vertical touch sensors 20 and 30 can be effectively utilized.

[69] In this case, the horizontal touch sensor 20 is utilized for scrolling a reproduction position. [70] At this time, a position touched by a user in the touch sensors 20 and 30 is not analyzed as an absolute position. That is, when the half position of the entire touch sensor 20 or 30 is touched, contents corresponding to the half position are not reproduced, but the touch is analyzed and processed as an instruction for a relative position. Therefore, the touch of a user is analyzed as an instruction for a relative position so as to process a touch value such as 'Fast Forward and Play' or 'Rewind and Play'.

[71] In FIG. 5, the vertical touch sensor 30 may be utilized as a volume controller.

[72] Further, when a program such as a filer browser is driven and displayed on the LCD screen 10, the horizontal and vertical touch sensors 20 and 30 can be effectively used in navigation for selecting a specific file.

[73] As such, the feature of the invention is to increase user's convenience by mounting the horizontal and vertical touch sensors on a media device such as PMP.

[74] While the present invention has been described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims.

Claims

[1] A media device having touch sensor comprising: an LCD screen that is controlled by a control unit and displays a program for driving multimedia data and further displays an execution screen of the multimedia data; a horizontal touch sensor that detects a motion and delivers the value of the detected motion to the control unit such that the motion is displayed on the LCD screen; a vertical touch sensor that detects a motion and delivers the value of the detected motion to the control unit such that the motion is displayed on the LCD screen; and a control unit that receives the values of the motion detected by the horizontal touch sensor and the vertical touch sensor and performs control so as to let the motion displayed on the LCD screen.

[2] The media device according to claim 1, wherein the horizontal touch sensor and the vertical touch sensors are composed of electromagnetic touch sensors.

[3] The media device according to claim 1, wherein the horizontal touch sensor and the vertical touch sensor detect a motion through horizontal and vertical lattices.

[4] The media device according to claim 1, wherein the horizontal touch sensor and the vertical touch sensor are constructed using one or more than one of electrostatic capacitive coupling, resistance film, infrared light, ultrasonic wave, SAW, force-based, and electromagnetic induction coupling.

[5] The media device according to claim 1, wherein when a user touches the horizontal or vertical touch sensor, the touch sensors deliver the value of a clicked or double-clicked portion to the control unit.

[6] The media device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein when a motion is detected in a predetermined region of the horizontal or vertical touch sensor, the control unit performs control such that a value corresponding to the detected motion is applied as a hot key of a specific program displayed on the LCD screen.

[7] The media device according to claim 6, wherein the control unit performs control such that the value of the motion detected by the horizontal or vertical touch sensor is applied to menu navigation for selecting a specific menu of a specific program displayed on the LCD screen.

[8] The media device according to claim 7, wherein the control unit performs control such that the value of the motion detected by the horizontal or vertical touch sensor is applied to navigation of an icon displayed on the LCD screen.

[9] The media device according to claim 8, wherein the control unit performs control such that the value of the motion detected by the horizontal touch sensor is applied to the scroll of reproduction position on an audio/video reproduction screen displayed on the LCD screen.

[10] The media device according to claim 9, wherein the control unit performs control such that the value of a motion detected by the vertical touch sensor is applied to volume control on the audio/video reproduction screen displayed on the LCD screen.

[11] A control method for a media device having touch sensors, the control method comprising: a 1st step of defining specific regions of vertical and horizontal touch sensors; a 2nd step of driving a program in accordance with control of a control unit such that the program is displayed on the LCD program; a 3rd step of judging whether the vertical or horizontal touch sensor is touched or not; and a 4th step of recognizing the touch, when judged that the vertical or horizontal touch sensor is touched, as a hot key to carry out a specific function, and then returning the process to the 3rd step.

[12] The control method according to claim 11, wherein the 3rd step includes a step of judging whether the horizontal or vertical touch sensor is touched through the value of a clicked or double-clicked portion when a user touches the horizontal or vertical touch sensor.

[13] The control method according to claim 12, wherein the 4th step includes a step of performing control, when a specific function is carried out, such that the value of the motion detected by the horizontal or vertical touch sensor is applied to menu navigation for selecting a specific menu of a specific program displayed on the LCD screen.

[14] The control method according to claim 13, wherein the 4th step includes a step of performing control, when a specific function is carried out, such that the value of the motion detected by the horizontal or vertical touch sensor is applied to navigation of an icon displayed on the LCD screen.

[15] The control method according to claim 11, wherein the 4th step includes a step of performing control, when a specific function is carried out, such that the value of the motion detected by the horizontal touch sensor is applied to the scroll of reproduction position on an audio/video reproduction screen displayed on the LCD screen.

[16] The control method according to claim 15, wherein the 4th step includes a step of performing control, when a specific function is carried out, such that the value of the motion detected by the vertical touch sensor is applied to volume control on the audio/video reproduction screen displayed on the LCD screen.