WO2021060756A1

WO2021060756A1 - Method for controlling touch pad and electronic device

Info

Publication number: WO2021060756A1
Application number: PCT/KR2020/012387
Authority: WO
Inventors: 설성환
Original assignee: 삼성전자 주식회사
Priority date: 2019-09-26
Filing date: 2020-09-14
Publication date: 2021-04-01
Also published as: KR20210036732A

Abstract

Disclosed is an electronic device. An electronic device according to an embodiment comprises a touch pad and a chipset operatively connected to the touch pad, wherein the touch pad may be configured to acquire a specified user input through the touch pad, change the use area of the touch pad from a first use area to a second use area on the basis of the specified user input, acquire a user input through the touch pad, and transmit information based on the user input acquired in the second use area to the chipset, without transmitting information based on the user input acquired in areas other than the second use area to the chipset. Other embodiments are also possible.

Description

Method and electronic device for controlling a touch pad

Various embodiments relate to a method and an electronic device for controlling a touch pad.

For interaction between the electronic device and the user, the electronic device may include various input devices, for example, a keyboard and a touch pad. Various input devices are required to allow a user to selectively control an operation state of an input device according to an environment in which an electronic device is used or a user's convenience. For example, when the user uses only the keyboard, the state of the touch pad is temporarily deactivated to prevent unnecessary input by the touch pad, and the user may reactivate the touch pad in a situation where input through the touch pad is required. You should be able to.

The conventional method of controlling the operation state of a touch pad includes a method in which a BIOS determines and controls whether to recognize the touch pad based on whether or not to allocate memory for the touch pad in the booting stage of the electronic device, and the method of controlling whether the electronic device is booted. Afterwards, there is a method of controlling through a user interface in an operating system (OS).

In the method of controlling the operation state of the touch pad by the BIOS in the booting stage of the electronic device, there is a problem that it is impossible to control the operation state of the electronic device when the booting is completed. In order to control the operation state of the touch pad, the user may inconveniently reboot the electronic device and change the BIOS settings.

The method of controlling the operating state of the touch pad in the operating system is to control the operating state of the touch pad after the user has navigated to a specific user interface or a specific software panel in the operating system. There is a problem in that it is difficult and uncomfortable to control the touch pad, and intuitive control is difficult because the touch pad as a control target and an operating system as a control unit are separated.

Various embodiments of the present disclosure disclose a method and an electronic device for intuitively controlling a touch pad through a designated user input on a touch pad.

An electronic device according to various embodiments of the present disclosure includes a touch pad and a chipset operatively connected to the touch pad, and the touch pad acquires a specified user input through the touch pad, and based on the specified user input, the touch pad Changes the use area of the pad from the first use area to the second use area, obtains a user input through the touch pad, and transfers information based on the user input acquired in an area other than the second use area to the chipset. It may be set to transmit information based on the user input acquired in the second use area to the chipset without transferring.

An electronic device according to various embodiments of the present disclosure includes a touch pad, a chipset operatively connected to the touch pad, at least one memory storing an application and an operating system (OS), and operably connected to the chipset and the at least one memory. At least one processor, wherein the at least one processor determines the setting state of the touch pad set in the OS by the OS to a first state corresponding to the first state, based on the touch pad being in a first state. 1, the touch pad acquires a first designated user input, and changes a state of the touch pad from the first state to a second state based on the first designated user input, and The at least one processor may be configured to control the OS to change a setting state of the touch pad set in the OS from the first setting state to a second setting state corresponding to the second state.

A method for controlling a touch pad configured to receive a user input according to various embodiments of the present disclosure includes, based on that the touch pad is in a first state, a setting state of the touch pad set in an operating system (OS) as the first. An operation of setting to a first setting state corresponding to a state, an operation of acquiring a specified user input through the touch pad, and the designated user input include a plurality of touch inputs sensed by the touch pad at designated positions on the touch pad. Each dragged input is an input, the area formed by the plurality of touch inputs before the dragging is a first area, the area formed at the designated positions after the dragging is a second area, and the acquired designated user Based on an input, determining whether the second area includes a first designated area, in response to determining that the second area includes a first designated area, the state of the touch pad An operation of changing from a first state to a second state, and an operation of changing a setting state of the touch pad set in the OS from the first setting state to a second setting state corresponding to the second state, wherein the The first state of the touch pad is a state set to ignore the acquired user input when the user input acquired by the touch pad is not the designated user input, and the second state of the touch pad is the touch The pad is set to transmit data based on the user input to the OS through the chipset, and the first setting state of the OS is to postpone the OS from processing data based on the user input provided from the touch pad. And the second setting state of the OS may be a state in which the OS is set to process data based on the user input provided from the touch pad.

According to various embodiments disclosed in this document, a user of an electronic device may intuitively control an operation state of a touch pad according to various use environments or user convenience.

In addition, by synchronizing the operation state of the touch pad in the BIOS and the operating system, it is possible to prevent the hassle of having to manually change the other setting when a user changes one setting.

The effects obtainable in the present disclosure are not limited to the above-mentioned effects, and other effects not mentioned can be clearly understood by those of ordinary skill in the technical field to which the present invention belongs from the following description. will be.

1 is a block diagram of an electronic device in a network environment according to various embodiments of the present disclosure.

2 illustrates an electronic device according to an embodiment.

3 is a simplified block diagram of an electronic device according to an exemplary embodiment.

4 is a simplified block diagram of an electronic device according to another exemplary embodiment.

5 is a flowchart illustrating a method of changing a use area of a touch pad according to an exemplary embodiment.

6 is a flowchart illustrating a method of changing a state of a touch pad according to an exemplary embodiment.

7 is a flowchart illustrating a method of changing a state of a touch pad and a state of a touch pad set in an operating system according to an exemplary embodiment.

8 is a flowchart illustrating a method of changing a state of a touch pad and a state of a touch pad set in an operating system according to another exemplary embodiment.

9 is a flowchart illustrating a method of synchronizing a state of a touch pad and a state of a touch pad set in an operating system.

10 is a diagram illustrating examples of a designated user input according to an exemplary embodiment.

1 is a block diagram of an electronic device 101 in a network environment 100 according to various embodiments. Referring to FIG. 1, in a network environment 100, the electronic device 101 communicates with the electronic device 102 through a first network 198 (for example, a short-range wireless communication network), or a second network 199 It is possible to communicate with the electronic device 104 or the server 108 through (eg, a long-distance wireless communication network). According to an embodiment, the electronic device 101 may communicate with the electronic device 104 through the server 108. According to an embodiment, the electronic device 101 includes a processor 120, a memory 130, an input device 150, an audio output device 155, a display device 160, an audio module 170, and a sensor module ( 176, interface 177, haptic module 179, camera module 180, power management module 188, battery 189, communication module 190, subscriber identification module 196, or antenna module 197 ) Can be included. In some embodiments, at least one of these components (eg, the display device 160 or the camera module 180) may be omitted or one or more other components may be added to the electronic device 101. In some embodiments, some of these components may be implemented as one integrated circuit. For example, the sensor module 176 (eg, a fingerprint sensor, an iris sensor, or an illuminance sensor) may be implemented while being embedded in the display device 160 (eg, a display).

The processor 120, for example, executes software (eg, a program 140) to implement at least one other component (eg, a hardware or software component) of the electronic device 101 connected to the processor 120. It can be controlled and can perform various data processing or operations. According to an embodiment, as at least a part of data processing or operation, the processor 120 may transfer commands or data received from other components (eg, the sensor module 176 or the communication module 190) to the volatile memory 132. It is loaded into, processes commands or data stored in the volatile memory 132, and the result data may be stored in the nonvolatile memory 134. According to an embodiment, the processor 120 includes a main processor 121 (eg, a central processing unit or an application processor), and a secondary processor 123 (eg, a graphic processing unit, an image signal processor) that can be operated independently or together. , A sensor hub processor, or a communication processor). Additionally or alternatively, the coprocessor 123 may be set to use lower power than the main processor 121 or to be specialized for a designated function. The secondary processor 123 may be implemented separately from the main processor 121 or as a part thereof.

The co-processor 123 is, for example, in place of the main processor 121 while the main processor 121 is in an inactive (eg, sleep) state, or the main processor 121 is active (eg, executing an application). ) While in the state, together with the main processor 121, at least one of the components of the electronic device 101 (for example, the display device 160, the sensor module 176, or the communication module 190) It is possible to control at least some of the functions or states associated with it. According to an embodiment, the coprocessor 123 (eg, an image signal processor or a communication processor) may be implemented as a part of other functionally related components (eg, the camera module 180 or the communication module 190). have.

The memory 130 may store various data used by at least one component of the electronic device 101 (eg, the processor 120 or the sensor module 176 ). The data may include, for example, software (eg, the program 140) and input data or output data for commands related thereto. The memory 130 may include a volatile memory 132 or a nonvolatile memory 134.

The program 140 may be stored as software in the memory 130, and may include, for example, an operating system 142, middleware 144, or an application 146.

The input device 150 may receive a command or data to be used for a component of the electronic device 101 (eg, the processor 120) from outside (eg, a user) of the electronic device 101. The input device 150 may include, for example, a microphone, a mouse, a keyboard, or a digital pen (eg, a stylus pen).

The sound output device 155 may output an sound signal to the outside of the electronic device 101. The sound output device 155 may include, for example, a speaker or a receiver. The speaker can be used for general purposes such as multimedia playback or recording playback, and the receiver can be used to receive incoming calls. According to one embodiment, the receiver may be implemented separately from the speaker or as part of the speaker.

The display device 160 may visually provide information to the outside of the electronic device 101 (eg, a user). The display device 160 may include, for example, a display, a hologram device, or a projector and a control circuit for controlling the device. According to an embodiment, the display device 160 may include a touch circuitry set to sense a touch, or a sensor circuit (eg, a pressure sensor) set to measure the strength of a force generated by the touch. have.

The audio module 170 may convert sound into an electrical signal, or conversely, may convert an electrical signal into sound. According to an embodiment, the audio module 170 acquires sound through the input device 150, the sound output device 155, or an external electronic device (eg: Sound can be output through the electronic device 102) (for example, a speaker or headphones).

The sensor module 176 detects an operating state (eg, power or temperature) of the electronic device 101, or an external environmental state (eg, a user state), and generates an electrical signal or data value corresponding to the detected state. can do. According to an embodiment, the sensor module 176 is, for example, a gesture sensor, a gyro sensor, an atmospheric pressure sensor, a magnetic sensor, an acceleration sensor, a grip sensor, a proximity sensor, a color sensor, an infrared (IR) sensor, a biometric sensor, It may include a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor, or an illuminance sensor.

The interface 177 may support one or more designated protocols that may be used for the electronic device 101 to directly or wirelessly connect with an external electronic device (eg, the electronic device 102). According to an embodiment, the interface 177 may include, for example, a high definition multimedia interface (HDMI), a universal serial bus (USB) interface, an SD card interface, or an audio interface.

The connection terminal 178 may include a connector through which the electronic device 101 can be physically connected to an external electronic device (eg, the electronic device 102). According to an embodiment, the connection terminal 178 may include, for example, an HDMI connector, a USB connector, an SD card connector, or an audio connector (eg, a headphone connector).

The haptic module 179 may convert an electrical signal into a mechanical stimulus (eg, vibration or movement) or an electrical stimulus that a user can perceive through tactile or motor sensations. According to an embodiment, the haptic module 179 may include, for example, a motor, a piezoelectric element, or an electrical stimulation device.

The camera module 180 may capture a still image and a video. According to an embodiment, the camera module 180 may include one or more lenses, image sensors, image signal processors, or flashes.

The power management module 188 may manage power supplied to the electronic device 101. According to an embodiment, the power management module 188 may be implemented as at least a part of, for example, a power management integrated circuit (PMIC).

The battery 189 may supply power to at least one component of the electronic device 101. According to an embodiment, the battery 189 may include, for example, a non-rechargeable primary cell, a rechargeable secondary cell, or a fuel cell.

The communication module 190 includes a direct (eg, wired) communication channel or a wireless communication channel between the electronic device 101 and an external electronic device (eg, the electronic device 102, the electronic device 104, or the server 108). It is possible to support establishment and communication through the established communication channel. The communication module 190 operates independently of the processor 120 (eg, an application processor) and may include one or more communication processors supporting direct (eg, wired) communication or wireless communication. According to an embodiment, the communication module 190 is a wireless communication module 192 (eg, a cellular communication module, a short-range wireless communication module, or a global navigation satellite system (GNSS) communication module) or a wired communication module 194 (eg : A local area network (LAN) communication module, or a power line communication module) may be included. Among these communication modules, a corresponding communication module is a first network 198 (for example, a short-range communication network such as Bluetooth, WiFi direct or IrDA (infrared data association)) or a second network 199 (for example, a cellular network, the Internet, or It can communicate with external electronic devices through a computer network (for example, a telecommunication network such as a LAN or WAN). These various types of communication modules may be integrated into a single component (eg, a single chip), or may be implemented as a plurality of separate components (eg, multiple chips). The wireless communication module 192 uses subscriber information stored in the subscriber identification module 196 (eg, International Mobile Subscriber Identifier (IMSI)) in a communication network such as the first network 198 or the second network 199. The electronic device 101 can be checked and authenticated.

The antenna module 197 may transmit a signal or power to the outside (eg, an external electronic device) or receive from the outside. According to an embodiment, the antenna module may include one antenna including a conductor formed on a substrate (eg, a PCB) or a radiator formed of a conductive pattern. According to an embodiment, the antenna module 197 may include a plurality of antennas. In this case, at least one antenna suitable for a communication method used in a communication network such as the first network 198 or the second network 199 is, for example, provided by the communication module 190 from the plurality of antennas. Can be chosen. The signal or power may be transmitted or received between the communication module 190 and an external electronic device through the at least one selected antenna. According to some embodiments, other components (eg, RFIC) other than the radiator may be additionally formed as part of the antenna module 197.

At least some of the components are connected to each other through a communication method (e.g., a bus, general purpose input and output (GPIO), serial peripheral interface (SPI), or mobile industry processor interface (MIPI))) between peripheral devices and a signal ( E.g. commands or data) can be exchanged with each other.

According to an embodiment, commands or data may be transmitted or received between the electronic device 101 and the external electronic device 104 through the server 108 connected to the second network 199. Each of the

electronic devices

102 and 104 may be a device of the same or different type as the electronic device 101. According to an embodiment, all or part of the operations executed by the electronic device 101 may be executed by one or more of the external

electronic devices

102, 104, or 108. For example, when the electronic device 101 needs to perform a function or service automatically or in response to a request from a user or another device, the electronic device 101 In addition or in addition, it is possible to request one or more external electronic devices to perform the function or at least part of the service. One or more external electronic devices receiving the request may execute at least a part of the requested function or service, or an additional function or service related to the request, and transmit a result of the execution to the electronic device 101. The electronic device 101 may process the result as it is or additionally and provide it as at least a part of a response to the request. For this, for example, cloud computing, distributed computing, or client-server computing technology may be used.

An electronic device according to various embodiments disclosed in this document may be a device of various types. The electronic device may include, for example, a portable communication device (eg, a smart phone), a computer device, a portable multimedia device, a portable medical device, a camera, a wearable device, or a home appliance. The electronic device according to the embodiment of the present document is not limited to the above-described devices.

Various embodiments of the present document and terms used therein are not intended to limit the technical features described in this document to specific embodiments, and should be understood to include various modifications, equivalents, or substitutes of the corresponding embodiment. In connection with the description of the drawings, similar reference numerals may be used for similar or related components. The singular form of a noun corresponding to an item may include one or more of the above items unless clearly indicated otherwise in a related context. In this document, “A or B”, “at least one of A and B”, “at least one of A or B,” “A, B or C,” “at least one of A, B and C,” and “A Each of the phrases such as "at least one of, B, or C" may include any one of the items listed together in the corresponding one of the phrases, or all possible combinations thereof. Terms such as "first", "second", or "first" or "second" may be used simply to distinguish the component from other Order) is not limited. Some (eg, a first) component is referred to as “coupled” or “connected” to another (eg, a second) component, with or without the terms “functionally” or “communicatively”. When mentioned, it means that any of the above components may be connected to the other components directly (eg by wire), wirelessly, or via a third component.

The term "module" used in this document may include a unit implemented in hardware, software, or firmware, and may be used interchangeably with terms such as logic, logic blocks, parts, or circuits. The module may be an integrally configured component or a minimum unit of the component or a part thereof that performs one or more functions. For example, according to an embodiment, the module may be implemented in the form of an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC).

Various embodiments of the present document include one or more instructions stored in a storage medium (eg, internal memory 136 or external memory 138) that can be read by a machine (eg, electronic device 101). It may be implemented as software (for example, the program 140) including them. For example, the processor (eg, the processor 120) of the device (eg, the electronic device 101) may call and execute at least one command among one or more commands stored from a storage medium. This enables the device to be operated to perform at least one function according to the at least one command invoked. The one or more instructions may include code generated by a compiler or code executable by an interpreter. A storage medium that can be read by a device may be provided in the form of a non-transitory storage medium. Here,'non-transitory' only means that the storage medium is a tangible device and does not contain a signal (e.g., electromagnetic waves), and this term refers to the case where data is semi-permanently stored in the storage medium. It does not distinguish between temporary storage cases.

According to an embodiment, a method according to various embodiments disclosed in the present document may be provided by being included in a computer program product. Computer program products can be traded between sellers and buyers as commodities. The computer program product is distributed in the form of a device-readable storage medium (e.g. compact disc read only memory (CD-ROM)), or through an application store (e.g. Play Store ^TM ) or two user devices (e.g. It can be distributed (e.g., downloaded or uploaded) directly between, e.g. smartphones) In the case of online distribution, at least a part of the computer program product may be temporarily stored or temporarily generated in a storage medium that can be read by a device such as a server of a manufacturer, a server of an application store, or a memory of a relay server.

According to various embodiments, each component (eg, module or program) of the above-described components may include a singular number or a plurality of entities. According to various embodiments, one or more components or operations among the above-described corresponding components may be omitted, or one or more other components or operations may be added. Alternatively or additionally, a plurality of components (eg, a module or program) may be integrated into one component. In this case, the integrated component may perform one or more functions of each component of the plurality of components in the same or similar to that performed by the corresponding component among the plurality of components prior to the integration. . According to various embodiments, operations performed by a module, program, or other component may be sequentially, parallel, repeatedly, or heuristically executed, or one or more of the operations may be executed in a different order or omitted. Or one or more other actions may be added.

2 illustrates an electronic device according to an embodiment.

Referring to FIG. 2, the electronic device 101 according to an embodiment may include a first part 202 and a second part 204.

According to an embodiment, the first part 202 may be combined with the second part 204. The first part 202 may be combined with the second part 204 and rotated around the second part 204 (pivot or rotate), or may be folded or bent (flex or bend). Although not shown in FIG. 2, the electronic device 101 according to an embodiment may further include a connection member for connecting the first part 202 and the second part 204. In one embodiment, the connection member may be formed integrally with the first part 202 or the second part 204, and unlike the above, the first part 202 and the second part 204 It can also be formed in an independent configuration.

According to an embodiment, the first part 202 may include a first housing 203 and a display 160.

In an embodiment, the first housing 203 may form at least a portion of a side surface, a rear surface, and a front surface of the first part 202. In one embodiment, the first housing 203 may be formed of a metal (eg, magnesium, aluminum), a composite fiber material (eg, carbon fiber), or a combination thereof, but is not limited thereto.

In one embodiment, the display 160 may provide various visual information to the user.

In an embodiment, the display 160 may be disposed in a space formed by the first housing 203. At least a portion of the display 160 may be located inside the first housing 203. In an embodiment, the display 160 may form at least a portion of the front surface of the first part 202. For example, most of the front surface of the first part 202 may be formed by the display 160, and the rest of the front surface may be formed by the first housing 203 surrounding the display 160. Unlike the above, the front surface of the first part 202 may be formed by a glass plate (or glass cover) not shown in FIG. 2. The display 160 and visual information provided from the display 160 may be visible to a user through a visually transparent glass plate.

In one embodiment, the second part 204 may be combined with the first part 202. The second part 204 may be combined with the first part 202 and rotated around the first part 202 (pivot or rotate), or may be folded or bent (flex or bend).

According to an embodiment, the second part 204 may include a second housing 205, a keyboard 258, a microcontroller 256, and a touch pad 252.

In an embodiment, the second part 204 may receive various user inputs through the keyboard 258 and the touch pad 252. In addition, the second part 204 is an output including various information through the keyboard 258 and the touch pad 252 (e.g., haptic, light output, and/or vibration output). ) Can be provided to the user. The second part 204 may further include various physical buttons and/or soft buttons not shown in FIG. 2.

In one embodiment, the second housing 205 may form at least a portion of a side surface, a rear surface, and a front surface of the second part 204. In one embodiment, the second housing 205 may be formed of a metal (eg, magnesium, aluminum), a composite fiber material (eg, carbon fiber), or a combination thereof, but is not limited thereto.

In one embodiment, the keyboard 258 is disposed at least in part in the space formed by the second housing 205 so that it can be seen from the outside.

In one embodiment, the keyboard 258 may receive user input. The user input may be an input pressed by a user by a key button included in the keyboard 258.

In one embodiment, the microcontroller 256 may be electrically connected to the keyboard 258 and disposed inside the second part 204. In another embodiment, the microcontroller 256 may be disposed inside the first part 202 while being electrically connected to the keyboard 258.

In an embodiment, the microcontroller 256 may include at least one processor, at least one memory, and at least one input/output interface that are distinguished from the processor 120.

In an embodiment, when a user input is acquired through the keyboard 258, the microcontroller 256 may process the acquired user input to generate data corresponding to a key button pressed by the user. The microcontroller 256 may transmit the generated data to other components of the electronic device 101. For example, data generated by the microcontroller 256 may be transferred to the processor 120 of the electronic device 101, and the processor 120 operates based on the data provided from the microcontroller 256. A command for controlling the system 142 or a running program (or application) may be generated, and the command may be transmitted to the operating system 142.

In an embodiment, the touch pad 252 is disposed at least in part in the space formed by the second housing 205 so that it can be seen from the outside.

In an embodiment, the touch pad 252 may include a touch input area 252-1 and a touch pad controller 252-2 electrically connected to the touch input area 252-1. In one embodiment, the touch pad 252 may be operated in a capacitive method, an induction method, a strain gauge method, a piezoelectric method, or a capacitance method, but is not limited thereto.

In an embodiment, the touch input area 252-1 may be formed in an area on the front surface of the second part 204. However, the area in which the touch input area 252-1 is formed is not limited to any one area. For example, different from that shown in FIG. 2, all of the remaining areas on the front surface of the second part 204 except for the keyboard 258 may be formed as the touch input area 252-1.

In an embodiment, the touch input area 252-1 may include a touch sensor and/or a pressure sensor. The touch input area 252-1 may receive or acquire a user input through a touch sensor and/or a pressure sensor. The user input may be an input (eg, a touch input) in which a user's body (eg, a finger) comes into contact with the touch input area 252-1. In an embodiment, the acquired user input may be provided to the touch pad controller 252-2.

In one embodiment, the touch pad controller 252-2 is electrically connected to the touch input area 252-1 to generate data based on a user's touch input received through the touch input area 252-1. I can. For example, based on the user's touch input, the touch pad controller 252-2 may store data including information on the location where the touch input was made, the time the touch input was maintained, and the intensity (or pressure) of the touch input. Can be generated. The touch pad controller 252-2 may provide the generated data to other components of the electronic device 101. For example, data generated by the touch pad controller 252-2 may be provided to the processor 120 of the electronic device 101, and the processor 120 may be based on the received data, and the operating system ( 142) Or, a command for controlling a running program (or application) may be generated, and the command may be transmitted to the operating system 142.

In an embodiment, the touch pad controller 252-2 may control the state of the touch pad 252. For example, the touch pad controller 252-2 may change the state of the touch pad 252 from the first state to the second state based on a designated user input acquired through the touch input area 252-1. have. For example, the first state of the touch pad 252 may be a state set to process only the specified user input among user inputs received through the touch input area 252-1. For example, the first state of the touch pad 252 is that the touch pad 252 (or the touch pad controller 252-2) acquires a user input through the touch input area 252-1, and the obtained It is determined whether the user input is the designated user input, and transmits the designated user input or data based on the designated user input to another component (eg, the chipset 254 of FIG. 3) based on the determination, and the designated user input The user input other than this may be set to postpone or give up processing, ignore it, or not provide it to the other component.

In one embodiment, examples of the designated user input will be described later with reference to FIG. 10.

In one embodiment, the touch pad controller 252-2 is configured to change the use area (or active area) of the touch pad 252 based on the user's touch input acquired through the touch input area 252-1. The touch input area 252-1 can be controlled.

In an embodiment, the touch pad controller 252-2 may be disposed inside the second part 204 and may not be visible from the outside.

In an embodiment, the touch pad controller 252-2 may include at least one processor, at least one memory, and at least one input/output interface that are distinguished from the processor 120.

Among the components of FIG. 3, descriptions of the same components as those of FIG. 2 will be omitted.

Referring to FIG. 3, the electronic device 101 may include a touch pad 252 and a chipset 254. The electronic device 101 may drive the operating system 142 by executing instructions associated with the operating system 142 stored in the memory through the chipset 254.

In an embodiment, the operating system 142 (or commands for driving the operating system 142) may be stored in at least one memory of the electronic device 101. The operating system 142 may include, for example, Android ^TM , iOS ^TM , Windows ^TM , Symbian ^TM , Tizen ^TM , or Bada ^TM .

The operating system 142 may control management (eg, allocation or retrieval) of one or more system resources (eg, process, memory, or power) of the electronic device 101. Operating system 142, additionally or alternatively, drives other hardware devices of electronic device 101, such as display 160, touch pad 252, keyboard 258, or chipset 254. It may include one or more driver programs for.

In an embodiment, the chipset 254 may be connected to the touch pad 252 through the first interface 253-1. The first interface 253-1 may be an I ² C (inter-integrated circuit), but is not limited thereto.

In an embodiment, the chipset 254 may transmit and receive signals or data to and from the touch pad 252 through the first interface 253-1. For example, data based on a user input acquired from the touch pad 252 may be provided to the chipset 254 through the first interface 253-1. The chipset 254 may provide the received data to the operating system 142. Data provided from the touch pad 252 to the chipset 254 may be transferred to the operating system 142 by the processor 120.

The electronic device 201 of FIG. 4 may include at least some of the components of the electronic device 101 illustrated in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3. Since at least some of the components of the electronic device 101 shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 3 are the same as the components of the electronic device 201 shown in FIG. 4, a description of the overlapping components will be omitted. I will do it.

Referring to FIG. 4, the electronic device 201 (eg, the electronic device 101) may include a second interface 253-2. The electronic device 201 executes instructions associated with the microcontroller firmware 246 and the BIOS 242 stored in the memory through the chipset 254, so that the microcontroller firmware 246 and the BIOS 242 Can drive.

In an embodiment, the second interface 253-2 may electrically connect the touch pad 252 to the chipset 254. In an embodiment, the touch pad 252 may transmit a signal to the chipset 254 through the second interface 253-2. The signal transmitted through the second interface 253-2 may include, for example, a control signal for changing a value of a register stored in the chipset 254. The second interface 253-2 may be an I ² C (inter-integrated circuit), but is not limited thereto.

According to an embodiment, the microcontroller firmware 246 may be stored in at least one memory included in the microcontroller 256. The memory in which the microcontroller firmware 246 is stored may be a read only memory (ROM), but is not limited thereto.

In one embodiment, the microcontroller firmware 246 may be software programmed to cause the microcontroller 256 to perform a specified operation.

According to an embodiment, the BIOS 242 is a nonvolatile memory 134 of the electronic device 201, for example, a ROM, an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), or a flash memory. Can be stored in. However, it is not limited thereto.

In an embodiment, the BIOS 242 may manage or control hardware and software of the electronic device 201.

In an embodiment, when power is applied to the electronic device 201 and a booting procedure of the electronic device 201 is started, the BIOS 242 may be loaded and driven from the memory 130. The BIOS 242 initializes various hardware of the electronic device 201, for example, the processor 120 and the memory 130, and drives the operating system 142 for booting the electronic device 201. A system file of the operating system 142 stored in the memory 130 may be loaded.

In one embodiment, the BIOS 242 may control the microcontroller 256 by calling the microcontroller firmware 246.

The method illustrated in FIG. 5 may be executed by the electronic device 101, the electronic device 201, and the touch pad 252. 5 is described based on the electronic device 101, but may be applied to the

electronic devices

101 and 201 and other electronic devices corresponding thereto.

Referring to FIG. 5, in operation 501, the electronic device 101 may acquire a specified user input through the touch pad 252. For example, the touch pad controller 252-2 may acquire a specified user input through the touch input area 252-1. The designated user input may be an input in which a plurality of touch inputs sensed in the touch input area 252-1 are dragged to designated positions of the touch input area 252-1, respectively. In an embodiment, a first region may be formed by the plurality of touch inputs before the dragging, and a second region may be formed at designated positions after the dragging. Each of the first region and the second region may have a substantially symmetrical shape. For example, the shapes of the first area and the second area may include a quadrangle, but are not limited to the above-described example.

In operation 503, the electronic device 101 may change the use area of the touch pad 252. For example, the touch pad controller 252-2 may change the usage area of the touch input area 252-1 from the first usage area to the second usage area based on the designated user input. In an embodiment, the second use area may be defined based on a designated user input. For example, a first region may be formed by a plurality of touch inputs before the dragging, and a second region may be formed at the designated positions after the dragging. In an embodiment, the second use area may correspond to the second area formed by a designated user input. The second use area may be defined based on the second area. For example, the second use area may be substantially the same as or similar to the second area.

In an embodiment, the use area of the touch pad 252 may be an area set to selectively process a user input acquired through the touch input area 252-1. In various embodiments, the designated user input that causes the touch pad 252 to change the use area may be referred to as a'third designated user input'. In various embodiments, the third designated user input may be referred to as a'resize gesture' or a'relocate gesture'.

In operation 505, the electronic device 101 may obtain a user input through the touch pad 252. For example, the touch pad controller 252-2 may detect and acquire a user input on the touch input area 252-1.

In operation 507, the electronic device 101 may identify whether a user input is acquired in the use area of the touch pad. For example, the touch pad controller 252-2 may identify whether the acquired user input is acquired in the use area (eg, the second use area) of the touch input area 252-1. When it is identified that the acquired user input is acquired in the use area of the touch pad 252, the electronic device 101 may perform operation 509, and otherwise, may perform operation 511.

In operation 509, when a user input is acquired in the use area of the touch pad 252, the electronic device 101 may transmit data based on the acquired user input to the operating system 142. For example, when a user input is acquired in the use area (eg, the second use area) of the touch input area 252-1, the touch pad controller 252-2 processes the acquired user input, You can generate data based on your input. The generated data may include information on the acquired user input, for example, the location of the user input, the time the user input is maintained, the intensity of the user input, and the like. The touch pad controller 252-2 may transmit the generated data to the chipset 254 through the first interface 253-1. The chipset 254 may provide the transmitted data to the operating system 142. The operating system 142 may control the operating system 142 and running programs based on the provided data. In an embodiment, data generated by the touch pad controller 252-2 may be transferred to the operating system 142 through the processor 120 of the electronic device 101.

In operation 511, if the user input is not acquired in the use area of the touch pad 252, the touch pad 252 may ignore the acquired user input. For example, the touch pad 252 acquires a user input through the touch input area 252-1, and the touch pad controller 252-2 obtains the acquired user input from the touch input area 252-1. It determines whether or not it is acquired within the use area, and does not process, disregard, or postpone processing user input acquired in an area other than the use area (e.g., an area not included in the second use area) ( defer) can. For example, when the acquired user input is acquired in an area other than the use area of the touch input area 252-1 (eg, an area not included in the second use area), the touch pad controller 252-2 Data based on the acquired user input may not be transmitted to the chipset 254.

In various embodiments, the touch pad 252 transmits a user input acquired in the use area of the touch pad input area 252-1 to the chipset 254, and the user input acquired in an area other than the use area is a chipset. In the sense that it is not transmitted to 254, the used area of the touch pad 252 may be referred to as an'active area'.

The method illustrated in FIG. 6 may be executed by the electronic device 101, the electronic device 201, and the touch pad 252. 6 is described with reference to the electronic device 101, but may be applied to the

electronic devices

101 and 201 and other electronic devices corresponding thereto.

Referring to FIG. 6, in operation 601, the electronic device 101 may set the state of the touch pad 252 to the first state. For example, the touch pad controller 252-2 may set the state of the touch pad 252 to the first state. In the first state, for example, the touch pad 252 acquires a user input through the touch input area 252-1, and the touch pad controller 252-2 is a user input to which the acquired user input is designated. It determines whether or not, and processes a specified user input based on the determination and transfers it to the chipset 254. Among the acquired user inputs, a user input other than the specified user input is ignored, or the processing is postponed or abandoned, or the chipset ( 254). In various embodiments, the first state of the touch pad 252 may be referred to as a'deactivation state' or an'off state'.

In operation 603, the electronic device 101 may acquire a specified user input through the touch pad 252. For example, while the touch pad controller 252-2 is in the first state, it may acquire a specified user input through the touch input area 252-1. The designated user input may be, for example, an input in which a plurality of touch inputs sensed in the touch input area 252-1 are dragged to designated positions in the touch input area 252-1, respectively. In an embodiment, a first region may be formed by a plurality of touch inputs before the dragging, and a second region may be formed at the designated positions after the dragging. Each of the first region and the second region may have a substantially symmetrical shape. For example, the shapes of the first area and the second area may include a quadrangle, but are not limited to the above-described example.

In operation 605, the electronic device 101 may identify or determine whether the acquired designated user input satisfies the first condition. For example, the touch pad controller 252-2 may determine whether a designated user input acquired through the touch input area 252-1 satisfies the first condition. The first condition may be, for example, a condition in which a second area formed by a designated user input includes a first designated area. In an embodiment, the first designated area may be substantially similar to a shape of an outer portion of the touch input area 252-1. In addition, according to an embodiment, the first designated area may be an area wide enough to accommodate a touch input input from a user. The first condition may be, for example, a condition in which the area of the second area formed by a designated user input is equal to or greater than the first designated area. In an embodiment, the first designated area may be defined as the area of the first designated area, but is not limited thereto. For example, the first designated area may be set as an area having a size of a designated ratio (eg, 50%, 75%, etc.) of the touch input area 252-1 of the touch pad 252. The designated ratio may be preset by the user in the operating system 142.

In various embodiments, a designated user input that satisfies the first condition may be referred to as a first designated user input. In various embodiments, the first designated user input may be referred to as a'touch pad on gesture'.

In one embodiment, an example of the designated user input will be described later with reference to FIG. 10.

In an embodiment, when it is determined that the specified user input acquired in operation 605 satisfies the first condition, the electronic device 101 may perform operation 607.

In operation 607, the electronic device 101 may set the state of the touch pad to the second state. For example, the touch pad controller 252-2 may change the state of the touch pad 252 from the first state to the second state based on determining that the acquired specified user input satisfies the first condition. have. In the second state, for example, the touch pad 252 is set to process a user input acquired through the touch input area 252-1 and transmit data based on the acquired user input to the chipset 254. It can be a state. In various embodiments, the second state of the touch pad 252 may be referred to as an'active state' or an'on state'.

In an embodiment, operation 607 may be performed in parallel with operation 503 of FIG. 5. For example, the'touch pad on gesture' may include a'size change gesture' or a'position change gesture'. In this case, the touch pad 252 is changed from the'deactivated state' to the'activated state' by the'touch pad on gesture' (operation 607), and the touch pad ( The use area of 252) may be changed (operation 503).

In operation 609, the electronic device 101 may acquire a specified user input through the touch pad. For example, while the touch pad 252 is in the second state, the touch pad controller 252-2 may acquire a specified user input through the touch input area 252-1. The specified user input is the same as the description of operation 603 and thus is omitted.

In operation 611, the electronic device 101 may determine whether the specified user input acquired in operation 609 satisfies the second condition. For example, the touch pad controller 252-2 may determine whether a designated user input acquired through the touch input area 252-1 satisfies the second condition. The second condition may be, for example, a condition in which a second region formed by a designated user input is included in the second designated region. In an embodiment, the second designated area may be substantially similar to a shape of an outer portion of the touch input area 252-1. In an embodiment, the second designated area may be an area having a minimum area required to accommodate a user's touch input in the touch input area 252-1, but is not limited thereto. The second condition may be, for example, a condition in which the area of the second area formed by a designated user input is less than or equal to the second designated area. In an embodiment, the second designated area may be defined as the area of the second designated area, but is not limited thereto. For example, the second designated area may be set as an area having a size of a designated ratio (eg, 5%, 10%, etc.) of the touch input area 252-1 of the touch pad 252. The designated ratio may be preset by the user in the operating system 142.

In another embodiment, the first designated area may be substantially the same as the second designated area. For example, the first designated area and the second designated area may be areas having a minimum required area to accommodate a user's touch input in the touch input area 252-1. However, it is not limited thereto.

In an embodiment, when it is determined that the designated user input acquired in operation 611 satisfies the second condition, the electronic device 101 may perform operation 613.

In operation 613, the electronic device 101 may set the state of the touch pad to the first state. For example, the touch pad controller 252-2 may change the state of the touch pad 252 from the second state to the first state based on determining that the acquired specified user input satisfies the second condition. have. In one embodiment, the first state may be, for example, a state set not to transmit the remaining user input to the chipset 254 except for a designated user input among user inputs acquired through the touch input area 252-1. have.

In various embodiments, a designated user input that satisfies the second condition may be referred to as a second designated user input. In various embodiments, the second designated user input may be referred to as a'touch pad off gesture'.

The method illustrated in FIG. 7 may be executed by the electronic device 201 illustrated in FIG. 4 and the processor 120 of the electronic device 201.

Referring to FIG. 7, in operation 701, based on that the touch pad 252 is in the first state, the electronic device 201 determines the setting state of the touch pad 252 set in the operating system 142 as a first setting state. Can be set to. For example, the processor 120 (or the operating system 142) determines the setting state of the touch pad 252 set in the operating system 142 based on the touch pad 252 being in the first state. It can be set to a first setting state corresponding to the state.

In one embodiment, the first setting state of the operating system 142 is such that the operating system 142 ignores or does not process data based on a user input provided from the touch pad 252, or postpones or gives up processing. It may be in a set state. In various embodiments, the first setting state set in the operating system 142 may be referred to as a'deactivation setting state' or a'touch pad OFF setting state'.

In an embodiment, the first state of the touch pad 252 may be the first state described in operation 601 of FIG. 6. In an embodiment, the first state of the touch pad 252 may be a'deactivation state' or an'off state'.

In operation 703, the electronic device 201 may identify whether or not the first designated user input has been acquired. For example, the touch pad controller 252-2 may identify whether a first designated user input has been obtained through the touch input area 252-1. The first designated user input may be a designated user input that satisfies the first condition described in operation 605 of FIG. 6. In an embodiment, the first designated user input may be a'touch pad on gesture'.

In an embodiment, when it is identified in operation 703 that the first designated user input has been obtained, the electronic device 201 may perform operation 705.

In operation 705, the electronic device 201 may change the state of the touch pad 252 to the second state, and may change the state of the touch pad 252 set in the operating system 142 to the second configuration state. For example, the touch pad controller 252-2 changes the state of the touch pad 252 from a first state to a second state based on a first designated user input, and the processor 120 (or the operating system 142 )) may change the setting state of the touch pad 252 set in the operating system 142 from the first setting state to a second setting state corresponding to the second state based on the first designated user input.

In an embodiment, the second setting state of the operating system 142 may be a state in which the operating system 142 is set to process data based on a user input provided from the touch pad 252. In various embodiments, the second setting state set in the operating system 142 may be referred to as an'activation setting state' or a'touch pad ON setting state'.

In an embodiment, the second state of the touch pad 252 may be the second state described in operation 607 of FIG. 6. In an embodiment, the second state of the touch pad 252 may be an'active state' or an'ON state'.

In an embodiment, operation 705 may be performed in parallel with operation 503 of FIG. 5. For example, the first designated user input may include a'size change gesture' or a'position change gesture'. In this case, the touch pad 252 is changed to the'active state' by the first designated user input (operation 705), and the use area of the touch pad 252 is changed by the'size change gesture' or the'position change gesture'. Can be changed (act 503).

In an embodiment, an example of the first designated user input will be described later with reference to FIG. 10.

The method illustrated in FIG. 8 may be executed by the electronic device 201 illustrated in FIG. 4 and the processor 120 of the electronic device 201.

Referring to FIG. 8, in operation 801, based on the touch pad 252 being in the second state, the electronic device 201 determines the setting state of the touch pad 252 set in the operating system 142 to the second setting state. Can be set to. For example, based on that the touch pad 252 is in the second state, the processor 120 determines the setting state of the touch pad 252 set in the operating system 142 as a second setting state corresponding to the second state. Can be set to.

In an embodiment, the second state of the touch pad 252 may be an'active state' or an'ON state'. In an embodiment, the second setting state of the operating system 142 may be an'activation setting state' or a'touch pad ON setting state'.

In operation 803, the electronic device 201 may identify whether a second designated user input has been acquired. For example, the touch pad controller 252-2 may identify whether a second designated user input has been acquired through the touch input area 252-1. The second designated user input may be a designated user input that satisfies the second condition described in operation 611 of FIG. 6. In an embodiment, the second designated user input may be a'touch pad off gesture'.

In an embodiment, in operation 803, when it is identified that the second designated user input has been obtained, the electronic device 201 may perform operation 805.

In operation 805, the electronic device 201 may change the state of the touch pad 252 to the first state and may change the state of the touch pad 252 set in the operating system 142 to the first configuration state. For example, the touch pad controller 252-2 changes the state of the touch pad 252 from the second state to the first state based on a second designated user input, and the processor 120 is a second designated user input. Based on the setting state of the touch pad 252 set in the operating system 142 may be changed from the second setting state to the first setting state corresponding to the first state. In an embodiment, the first state of the touch pad 252 may be a'deactivation state' or an'off state'. In an embodiment, the first setting state of the operating system 142 may be a'deactivation setting state' or a'touch pad OFF setting state'.

In an embodiment, an example of the second designated user input will be described later with reference to FIG. 10.

9 is a flowchart illustrating a method of synchronizing a state of a touch pad and a state of a touch pad set in an operating system. In an embodiment, the operations of FIG. 9 may be detailed operations of operation 705 of FIG. 7 and operation 805 of FIG. 8.

Referring to FIG. 9, in operation 901, the electronic device 201 may transmit a designated control signal to the chipset 254 through the second interface 253-2. For example, the touch pad controller 252-2 may provide a control signal designated to the chipset 254 through the second interface 253-2 based on a first designated user input or a second designated user input. have.

In operation 903, the electronic device 201 may change a value of a register corresponding to the second interface 253-2 stored in the chipset 254. For example, the chipset 254 may change a value of a register corresponding to the second interface 253-2 stored in the chipset 254 in response to the designated control signal.

In operation 905, the operating system 142 of the electronic device 201 may identify whether the register value is changed. For example, the chipset 254 may change a register value in response to a designated control signal and transmit a signal indicating that the register value has changed to the operating system 142. The operating system 142 may identify that the register value has been changed based on the signal.

In operation 907, the electronic device 201 may transmit an event designated to the BIOS 242. For example, the operating system 142 may transmit a designated event to the BIOS 242 in response to identifying that the register value has changed. The designated event may include information on the address of the changed register value.

In operation 909, the electronic device 201 may check the changed register value and transmit a designated command to the microcontroller 256. For example, the BIOS 242 may check or identify whether a register value corresponding to the second interface 253-2 stored in the chipset 254 has been changed based on the designated event. When the BIOS 242 identifies that the value of the register has been changed, it may transmit a designated command to the microcontroller firmware 246.

In operation 911, the electronic device 201 may generate a key value for changing the setting state of the touch pad 252. For example, the microcontroller firmware 246 generates or emulates a key value that causes the microcontroller 256 to change the setting state of the touch pad 252 set in the operating system 142 in response to the designated command. It is possible to control the microcontroller 256 to emulation). The microcontroller 256 is controlled by the microcontroller firmware 246 to generate or emulate a key value that changes the setting state of the touch pad 252 set in the operating system 142. The microcontroller 256 may provide the generated or emulated key value to the operating system 142.

In operation 913, the electronic device 201 may change the setting state of the touch pad 252 set in the operating system 142. For example, the operating system 142 may change the setting state of the touch pad 252 set in the operating system 142 in response to the emulated key value. For example, in response to the key value, the operating system 142 changes the setting state of the touch pad 252 set in the operating system 142 from a first setting state to a second setting state, or It can be changed to the first setting state from.

Referring to FIG. 10, for a designated user input, a plurality of touch inputs 1001 sensed in the touch input area 252-1 are respectively dragged to designated positions 1002 on the touch input area 252-1. It may be an input to be used

In one embodiment, the first area 1001-1 may be formed by a plurality of touch inputs before the dragging, and the second area 1002-1 may be formed at the designated positions after the dragging. have. In an embodiment, each of the first area 1001-1 and the second area 1002-1 may have a substantially rectangular shape. For example, the first region 1002-1 and the second region 1002-2 may be rectangular, square, parallelogram, rhombus, or trapezoid, respectively. However, it is not limited thereto.

In an embodiment, the reference numeral 1010 may be an example showing a designated user input that satisfies a first condition, a first designated user input, or a'touch pad on gesture'. Referring to reference numeral 1010, the second region 1002-1 may include a first designated region 1003. The area of the second area 1002-1 may be equal to or larger than the first designated area (eg, the area of the first designated area 1003 ). In an embodiment, the first designated area 1003 may be an area wide enough to accommodate a touch input input from a user in the touch input area 252-1. In another embodiment, the first designated area 1003 may be substantially the same as the second designated area 1004 of the reference numeral 1020.

In an embodiment, the reference numeral 1020 may be an example of a designated user input that satisfies a second condition, a second designated user input, or a'touch pad off gesture'. Referring to reference numeral 1020, the second region 1002-1 may be included in the second designated region 1004. The second designated area 1004 may be an area substantially in which a user cannot perform a touch input. The second designated area 1004 may be an area having a minimum area required to accommodate a user's touch input in the touch input area 252-1. In an embodiment, the area of the second area 1002-1 may be less than or equal to the second designated area (eg, the area of the second designated area 1004 ).

In an embodiment,

reference numerals

1030, 1040, and 1050 may be examples showing a third designated user input, a'size change gesture', or a'position change gesture'. Referring to

reference numerals

1030, 1040, and 1050, the use area 1005 of the touch pad 252 may be set based on the second area 1002-1 based on a third designated user input. For example, the use area 1005 of the touch pad 252 may be substantially the same as the second area 1002-1.

In an embodiment, the "touch pad on gesture" of the reference numeral 1010 may include a "size change gesture" of the

reference numerals

1030, 1040, and 1050. In this case, the state of the touch pad 252 may be changed to the'active state' and the area of use of the touch pad 252 may be changed at the same time.

An electronic device according to various embodiments of the present disclosure includes a touch pad and a chipset operatively connected to the touch pad, and the touch pad acquires a specified user input through the touch pad, and based on the specified user input, the Change the use area of the touch pad from the first use area to the second use area, obtain a user input through the touch pad, and transfer information based on the user input obtained in an area other than the second use area to the chipset The information based on the user input acquired in the second use area may be transferred to the chipset without transferring the data to the chipset.

In one embodiment, the designated user input is an input in which a plurality of touch inputs sensed by the touch pad are dragged to designated positions on the touch pad, respectively, and an area formed by the plurality of touch inputs before the dragging Is a first area, an area formed at the designated positions after the dragging is a second area, and the second use area may correspond to the second area.

In an embodiment, a shape of the first region and a shape of the second region may be substantially symmetrical.

In an embodiment, the touch pad acquires the specified user input through the touch pad while the touch pad is in an inactive state, and when the area of the second area is larger than the first designated area, the touch The state of the pad is further set to change from the deactivated state to the activated state, and the deactivated state prevents the touch pad from transmitting information based on the user input acquired through the touch pad except for the designated user input to the chipset. It is a set state, and the activation state may be a state in which the touch pad transmits information based on the user input acquired in the use area to the chipset.

In one embodiment, the touch pad, while the touch pad is in the active state, when the area of the second area of the designated user input is smaller than the second designated area, the state of the touch pad is set to the active state. It can be changed from to inactive state.

In an embodiment, the first designated area and the second designated area may be substantially the same.

An electronic device according to various embodiments of the present disclosure includes a touch pad, a chipset operatively connected to the touch pad, at least one memory storing an application and an operating system (OS), and operably connected to the chipset and the at least one memory. Including at least one processor, the at least one processor, based on the touch pad in a first state, the OS determines the setting state of the touch pad set in the OS as a first state corresponding to the first state. Control to set to a set state, the touch pad, acquiring a first designated user input, and changing a state of the touch pad from the first state to a second state based on the first designated user input, The at least one processor may control the OS to change a setting state of the touch pad set in the OS from the first setting state to a second setting state corresponding to the second state.

In one embodiment, the touch pad and the chipset are connected through a first interface and a second interface, and the touch pad transmits information based on a user input acquired through the touch pad to the chipset through the first interface. And transmits a control signal designated to the chipset through the second interface in response to the first designated user input, and the at least one processor, in response to the designated control signal, sends the OS to the OS. The set state of the touch pad may be controlled to change from the first setting state to the second setting state.

The electronic device according to an embodiment further includes a read-only memory (ROM) in which a microcontroller and a BIOS are stored, and the at least one processor comprises a register corresponding to the second interface in response to the designated control signal. Change a value, the OS identifies whether the register value is changed, and in response to the identification, controls the OS to transmit a designated event to the BIOS, the BIOS checks the changed register value, and the micro Controls to transfer the changed register value to a controller, and the microcontroller generates a key value for changing a setting state of the touch pad of the OS from the first setting state to the second setting state, and the generated The key value is transmitted to the OS, and the OS may change the setting state of the touch pad from the first setting state to the second setting state in response to the generated key value.

In an embodiment, the first state of the touch pad is a state in which the touch pad is set to not transmit data based on the user input except for the first designated user input to the chipset, and the first state of the touch pad The 2 state may be a state in which the touch pad is set to transmit information based on the user input to the chipset.

In one embodiment, the first setting state of the OS is a state set to postpone processing of information based on the user input by the OS, and the second setting state of the OS is that the OS is the user input It may be in a state set to process information based on.

In one embodiment, the first designated user input is an input in which a plurality of touch inputs sensed by the touch pad are dragged to designated positions on the touch pad, respectively, and a region formed at the designated positions after the dragging The area of may be larger than the first designated area.

In an embodiment, the touch pad is set to change a use area of the touch pad from a first use area to a second use area based on the first designated user input, and the second use area is the dragging It may correspond to an area formed at the designated positions thereafter.

In one embodiment, the touch pad acquires a second specified user input, changes a state of the touch pad from the second state to the first state based on the second specified user input, and the at least one The processor of may control the OS to change the setting state of the touch pad from the second setting state to a first setting state corresponding to the first state.

In one embodiment, the second designated user input is an input in which a plurality of inputs sensed by the touch pad are dragged to designated positions on the touch pad, respectively, and of an area formed at the designated positions after the dragging. The area may be smaller than the second designated area.

In one embodiment, the touch pad acquires a third designated user input, changes the use area of the touch pad from a first use area to a second use area, based on the third designated user input, and It is configured to acquire an input and transmit information based on the user input acquired in the second use area to the chipset, without transferring the user input acquired in an area other than the second use area to the chipset. 3 The designated user input is an input in which a plurality of touch inputs sensed by the touch pad are dragged to designated positions on the touch pad, and an area formed by the plurality of touch inputs before the dragging is a first area. , An area formed at the designated positions after the dragging may be a second area, and the second use area may correspond to the second area.

In an embodiment, the first region and the second region may be substantially rectangular.

According to various embodiments of the present disclosure, a method for controlling a touch pad configured to receive a user input includes determining a setting state of the touch pad set in an operating system (OS) based on the first state of the touch pad. An operation of setting to a first setting state corresponding to a state 1, an operation of acquiring a specified user input through the touch pad, and the designated user input include a plurality of touch inputs sensed by the touch pad at a designated position on the touch pad. Is an input that is dragged with each of the fields, the area formed by the plurality of touch inputs before the dragging is a first area, and the area formed by the designated positions after the dragging is a second area, the acquired designated Based on a user input, determining whether the second area includes a first designated area, and in response to determining that the second area includes a first designated area, the state of the touch pad is determined. An operation of changing from the first state to a second state, and an operation of changing a setting state of the touch pad set in the OS from the first setting state to a second setting state corresponding to the second state, The first state of the touch pad is a state set to ignore the acquired user input when the user input acquired by the touch pad is not the designated user input, and the second state of the touch pad is the A state in which a touch pad is set to transmit data based on the user input to the OS through a chipset, and the first setting state of the OS is that the OS processes data based on the user input provided from the touch pad. It is a state set to postpone, and the second setting state of the OS may be a state in which the OS is set to process data based on the user input provided from the touch pad.

A method for controlling a touch pad according to an embodiment includes an operation of changing a usage area of the touch pad from a first usage area to a second usage area based on the designated user input, and the second usage area is the Corresponds to a second area, an operation of acquiring a user input through the touch pad, and when the user input is acquired in an area other than the second use area, a user input acquired in an area other than the second use area Ignoring and when the user input is performed in the second use area, transmitting data based on the user input acquired in the second use area to the OS.

A method for controlling a touch pad according to an embodiment includes an operation of transferring data based on a user input acquired through the touch pad to the chipset through a first interface, and a second interface in response to the designated user input. Transferring a designated control signal from the touch pad to the chipset through the touch pad, changing a register value corresponding to the second interface stored in the chipset in response to the designated control signal, and changing the register value by the chipset Notifying the OS of whether or not, the OS transmitting a designated event to the BIOS, the BIOS checking the changed register value and transferring the changed register value to the microcontroller, the microcontroller of the OS Generating a key value for changing the setting state of the touch pad from the first setting state to the second setting state, transmitting the generated key value to the OS, and the OS in response to the generated key value May include an operation of changing a setting state of the touch pad from the first setting state to the second setting state.

In the above-described specific embodiments of the present disclosure, components included in the disclosure are expressed in the singular or plural according to the presented specific embodiments. However, the singular or plural expression is selected appropriately for the situation presented for convenience of description, and the present disclosure is not limited to the singular or plural constituent elements, and even constituent elements expressed in plural are composed of the singular or in the singular. Even the expressed constituent elements may be composed of pluralities.

Meanwhile, although specific embodiments have been described in the detailed description of the present disclosure, various modifications may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. Therefore, the scope of the present disclosure is limited to the described embodiments and should not be defined, and should be determined by the scope of the claims and equivalents as well as the scope of the claims to be described later.

Claims

In the electronic device,

Touch pad; And

Including; a chipset operatively connected to the touch pad,

The touch pad is:

Obtaining a specified user input through the touch pad,

Based on the designated user input, changing the use area of the touch pad from the first use area to the second use area,

Obtaining a user input through the touch pad,

Without transmitting information based on the user input acquired in an area other than the second use area to the chipset,

The electronic device configured to transmit information based on the user input acquired in the second use area to the chipset.
The method according to claim 1,

The designated user input is an input in which a plurality of touch inputs sensed by the touch pad are dragged to designated positions on the touch pad, respectively,

An area formed by the plurality of touch inputs before the dragging is a first area,

The area formed at the designated positions after the dragging is a second area,

The second use area corresponds to the second area.
The method according to claim 2,

The electronic device, wherein the shape of the first area and the shape of the second area are substantially symmetrical.
The method according to claim 2,

The touch pad is:

While the touch pad is in an inactive state, obtains the specified user input through the touch pad,

When the area of the second area is larger than the first designated area, the touch pad is further configured to change the state of the touch pad from the inactive state to the active state,

The inactive state is a state in which the touch pad is set not to transmit information based on a user input acquired through the touch pad except for the designated user input to the chipset,

The activation state is a state in which the touch pad is set to transmit information based on the user input acquired in the use area to the chipset.
The method of claim 4,

The touch pad is:

While the touch pad is in the activated state, if the area of the second area of the designated user input is smaller than the second designated area, the touch pad is further configured to change the state of the touch pad from the activated state to an inactive state, Electronic device.
The method of claim 5,

The electronic device, wherein the first designated area and the second designated area are substantially the same.
In the electronic device,

Touch pad;

A chipset operatively connected to the touch pad;

At least one memory in which an application and an operating system (OS) are stored; And

At least one processor operatively connected to the chipset and the at least one memory; Including,

The at least one processor:

Based on the touch pad being in the first state, controlling the OS to set the setting state of the touch pad set in the OS to a first setting state corresponding to the first state,

The touch pad is:

Acquire a first designated user input,

Changing a state of the touch pad from the first state to a second state based on the first designated user input,

The at least one processor:

The electronic device, wherein the OS is set to control to change a setting state of the touch pad set in the OS from the first setting state to a second setting state corresponding to the second state.
The method of claim 7,

The touch pad and the chipset are connected through a first interface and a second interface,

The touch pad is:

Transferring information based on a user input acquired through the touch pad to the chipset through the first interface,

In response to the first designated user input, a control signal designated to the chipset is transmitted through the second interface,

The at least one processor:

In response to the designated control signal, the electronic device is configured to control the OS to change the setting state of the touch pad set in the OS from the first setting state to the second setting state.
The method of claim 8,

Microcontroller; And

Further comprising a read-only memory (ROM) in which the BIOS is stored,

The at least one processor:

In response to the designated control signal, changing a register value corresponding to the second interface,

The OS identifies whether the register value is changed,

In response to the identification, controlling the OS to transmit a designated event to the BIOS,

Control the BIOS to check the changed register value and transfer the changed register value to the microcontroller,

The microcontroller is:

Generating a key value for changing the setting state of the touch pad of the OS from the first setting state to the second setting state,

Transmit the generated key value to the OS,

The at least one processor:

The electronic device, wherein the OS is set to change the setting state of the touch pad from the first setting state to the second setting state in response to the generated key value.
The method of claim 7,

The first state of the touch pad is a state in which the touch pad is set to not transmit data based on the user input except for the first designated user input to the chipset,

The second state of the touch pad is a state in which the touch pad is set to transmit information based on the user input to the chipset.
The method of claim 7,

The first setting state of the OS is a state set to postpone processing of the information based on the user input by the OS,

The second setting state of the OS is a state in which the OS is set to process information based on the user input.
The method of claim 7,

The first designated user input is an input in which a plurality of touch inputs sensed by the touch pad are dragged to designated positions on the touch pad, respectively,

The electronic device, wherein an area of an area formed at the designated positions after the dragging is larger than a first designated area.
The method of claim 12,

The touch pad is:

It is set to change the use area of the touch pad from the first use area to the second use area based on the first designated user input,

The second use area corresponds to an area formed at the designated positions after the dragging.
The method of claim 7,

The touch pad is:

Acquire a second designated user input,

Change the state of the touch pad from the second state to the first state based on the second designated user input,

The at least one processor:

The electronic device, wherein the OS is set to control to change the setting state of the touch pad from the second setting state to a first setting state corresponding to the first state.
The method of claim 14,

The second designated user input is an input in which a plurality of inputs sensed by the touch pad are dragged to designated positions on the touch pad, respectively,

The electronic device, wherein an area of an area formed at the designated positions after the dragging is smaller than a second designated area.