Touch input processing method and electronic device for supporting the same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016306491-A1
Application number	US-201615095413-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 11, 2016
Priority date	Apr 15, 2015
Publication date	Oct 20, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A method and electronic device are provided. The electronic device includes a first touch sensor and a processor. The processor implements the method, which includes detecting, via a first touch sensor of the electronic device, sensor information from a touch object, determining, via a processor of the electronic device, a state of the touch object based on analysis of the detected sensor information, and adjusting a touch sensitivity for the electronic device according to the determined state of the object.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An electronic device comprising:
a first touch sensor configured to detect sensor information from a touch object; and a processor configured to:
determine a state of the touch object based on analysis of the detected sensor information, and
adjust a touch sensitivity for the electronic device according to the determined state of the touch object.

2 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the first touch sensor comprises at least one of a fingerprint recognition sensor, a tactile sensor, a pH concentration sensor, and a touch sensor.

3 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the processor is configured to determine the state of the touch object by:
comparing the detected sensor information to normal state information for the touch object to detect whether a foreign material is present between the touch object and the first touch sensor, wherein pattern information of the foreign material includes at least one of pH concentration corresponding to the foreign material, surface state information corresponding to the foreign material, electrical conductivity information of the foreign material, and frequency spectrum information of the foreign material, and wherein the pattern information is detected via the first touch sensor and included in the detected sensor information.

4 . The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising a display, wherein the processor is further configured to adjust a touch area of display objects outputted to the display according to the determined state of the touch object.

5 . The electronic device of claim 4 , wherein the processor is further configured to change at least one of a size and position of the display objects to correspond to the touch area.

6 . The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising a display, wherein the processor is further configured to:
control the display to display a touch function selection object including at least one item corresponding to a configurable state of the touch object, in response to detecting selection of at last one item from the touch function selection object, set a touch sensitivity of a second touch sensor according to the configurable state of the touch object corresponding to the selected item.

7 . The electronic device of claim 6 , wherein the processor controls the display to display the touch function selection object in response to detecting at least one of:
activation of the display from a deactivated state, activation of touch input processing function from a deactivated state, selection of a specific physical button of the electronic device, execution of a specific application program of the electronic device is executed, detection of a request generated by the specific application program, detection of an input to a predetermined area of the display generated by the touch object, detecting of movement of the touch object in one of a predetermined direction and a predetermined distance within a predetermined time, and detection of one of movement and rotation of the electronic device at a predetermined interval in a predetermined direction for a predetermined number of times.

8 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the processor is further configured to:
in response to detecting lapse of a pre-specified time period, update the determined state of the touch object by detecting additional sensor information via the first touch sensor and adjust the touch sensitivity according to the updated determined state, wherein the pre-specified time period indicates a time interval for re-determining the state of the touch object.

9 . The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising a display wherein the processor is further configured to control the display to display an icon indicating the determined state of the touch object in a predetermined area of the display,
wherein at least one of a form, color, and size of the icon changes corresponding to a change in the determined state of the touch object.

10 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein in response to detecting a change to the determined state of the touch object, the processor is further configured to execute at least one of:
controlling a display of the electronic device to display an object including at least one of a text, an image, or an icon indicating the change to the determined state of the touch object, and controlling a voice output device of the electronic device to audibly produce voice information indicating the change to the determined state of the touch object.

11 . A method in an electronic device, comprising:
detecting, via a first touch sensor of the electronic device, sensor information from a touch object; determining, via a processor of the electronic device, a state of the touch object based on analysis of the detected sensor information; and adjusting a touch sensitivity for the electronic device according to the determined state of the object.

12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein the sensor information is detected in response to an approach or contact of the touch object to the first touch sensor which comprises at least one of a fingerprint recognition sensor, a tactile sensor, a pH concentration sensor, and a touch sensor.

13 . The method of claim 11 , wherein determining the state of the touch object further comprises:
comparing the detected sensor information to normal state information for the touch object to detect whether a foreign material is present between the touch object and the first touch sensor; wherein pattern information of the foreign material includes at least one of pH concentration corresponding to the foreign material, surface state information corresponding to the foreign material, electrical conductivity information of the foreign material, and frequency spectrum information of the foreign material; and wherein the pattern information is detected via the first touch sensor and included in the detected sensor information.

14 . The method of claim 11 , wherein determining the state of the touch object further comprises:
displaying a touch function selection object including at least one item corresponding to a configurable state of the touch object; and in response to detecting selection of the at least one item from the touch function selection object, setting the touch sensitivity of a second touch sensor according to the configurable state of the touch object corresponding to the selected at least one item.

15 . The method of claim 14 , wherein the touch function selection object is displayed in response to at least one of:
activation of the display from a deactivated state, activation of touch input processing function from a deactivated state, selection of a specific physical button of the electronic device, execution of a specific application program of the electronic device is executed, detection of a request generated by the specific application program, detection of an input to a predetermined area of the display generated by the touch object, detecting of movement of the touch object in one of a predetermined direction and a predetermined distance within a predetermined time, and detection of one of movement and rotation of the electronic device at a predetermined interval in a predetermined direction for a predetermined number of times.

16 . The method of claim 11 , further comprising adjusting a touch area of display objects as displayed on a display according to the determined state of the touch object.

17 . The method of claim 16 , where

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Lee Sung Jun
• Kim Min Jung
• Huh Won

Classifications

• G06F3/0488 Primary

  using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures · CPC title

• G06F3/04845

  for image manipulation, e.g. dragging, rotation, expansion or change of colour · CPC title

• G06F3/04817

  using icons (graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34) · CPC title

• G06F3/04847

  Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials · CPC title

• G06F3/0416 Primary

  Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers · CPC title