Electronic device and operating method thereof

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017192599-A1
Application number	US-201715398190-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jan 4, 2017
Priority date	Jan 4, 2016
Publication date	Jul 6, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

An electronic device is provided which includes a housing, a first plate, a second plate, and a side member, a touch screen display that includes a touch panel, the touch screen display located within the housing and exposed through at least a part of the first plate, a sensor within the housing and configured to detect an atmospheric pressure variation, a processor electrically connected with the touch screen display and the sensor, and a memory electrically connected to the processor, the memory stores instructions which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to receive a touch input caused by pressing a part of the touch screen display by using the touch screen display, monitor the atmospheric pressure variation using the sensor while receiving the touch input, and provide a changed and/or selected function of the touch screen display based on the monitored atmospheric pressure variation and the touch input.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . An electronic device comprising:
a housing that comprises a first plate extending in a first direction, a second plate extending in a second direction opposite to the first direction, and a side member configured to surround the space between the first plate and the second plate; a touch screen display comprising a touch panel, the touch screen display being located within the housing and exposed through at least a part of the first plate; a sensor provided within the housing and configured to detect an atmospheric pressure variation; a processor electrically connected with the touch screen display and the sensor; and a memory electrically connected to the processor, wherein the memory stores instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to: receive a touch input caused by pressing a part of the touch screen display, monitor the atmospheric pressure variation using the sensor while receiving the touch input, and provide at least one of a changed function and a selected function of the touch screen display based at least in part on the monitored atmospheric pressure variation and the touch input.

2 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the sensor comprises an atmospheric pressure sensor.

3 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is located in at least one area of the space between the first plate and the second plate, and the at least one area of the space between the first plate and the second plate is at least partially sealed.

4 . The electronic device of claim 3 , wherein the at least one area of the space between the first plate and the second plate is not in fluid communication with the outside of the housing.

5 . The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
compare the atmospheric pressure variation with a threshold value, and perform the selected function based at least in part on the comparison result.

6 . The electronic device of claim 5 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform the selected function based on the atmospheric pressure variation and the location of the touch input when the atmospheric pressure variation is greater than the threshold value.

7 . The electronic device of claim 5 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform the selected function based on the location of the touch input irrespective of the atmospheric pressure variation when the atmospheric pressure variation is less than the threshold value.

8 . The electronic device of claim 5 , wherein the touch panel comprises a plurality of sub-areas, and at least two of the plurality of sub-areas have different threshold values for the atmospheric pressure variation.

9 . The electronic device of claim 8 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
determine the location on the touch panel based on the touch input, determine a first sub-area containing the determined location among the plurality of sub-areas, and compare a threshold value associated with the first sub-area and the atmospheric pressure variation.

10 . The electronic device of claim 1 , further comprising a printed circuit board provided within the housing located between the touch screen display and the second plate,
wherein the printed circuit board comprises a surface extending toward the touch screen display, and the sensor is disposed on the surface extending toward the touch screen display.

11 . An operating method for an electronic device, comprising:
receiving, by the electronic device, a touch input caused by pressing a part of a touch screen display, wherein the electronic device comprises a housing having an inner space, the touch screen display exposed through one surface of the housing, and a sensor configured to detect an atmospheric pressure variation within the inner space; monitoring, by the electronic device, the atmospheric pressure variation using the sensor while receiving the touch input; and providing, by the electronic device, at least one of a changed function and a selected function of the touch screen display based at least in part on the monitored atmospheric pressure variation and the touch input.

12 . The operating method of claim 11 , wherein providing the selected function comprises:
comparing the atmospheric pressure variation with a threshold value; and performing the selected function based at least in part on the comparison result.

13 . The operating method of claim 12 , wherein providing the selected function further comprises:
performing the selected function based on the atmospheric pressure variation and the location of the touch input when the atmospheric pressure variation is greater than the threshold value.

14 . The operating method of claim 12 , wherein providing the selected function further comprises:
performing the selected function based on the location of the touch input irrespective of the atmospheric pressure variation when the atmospheric pressure variation is less than the threshold value.

15 . The operating method of claim 12 , further comprising:
dividing a touch panel contained in the touch screen display into a plurality of sub-areas; and setting at least two of the plurality of sub-areas to have different threshold values for the atmospheric pressure variation.

16 . The operating method of claim 15 , wherein comparing the atmospheric pressure variation and the threshold value comprises:
identifying the location on the touch panel based on the touch input; determining a first sub-area containing the determined location among the plurality of sub-areas; and comparing a threshold value associated with the first sub-area and the atmospheric pressure variation.

17 . An electronic device comprising:
a housing that comprises a first plate extending in a first direction, a second plate extending in a second direction opposite to the first direction, and a side member configured to surround a space between the first plate and the second plate; a connecting member connected to the housing and detachably mounted on a part of a user's body; a touch screen display comprising a touch panel, the touch screen display being located within the housing and exposed through at least a part of the first plate; an atmospheric pressure sensor provided within the space between the first plate and the second plate and configured to detect an atmospheric pressure variation; a processor electrically connected with the touch screen display and the atmospheric pressure sensor; and a memory electrically connected with the processor, wherein the memory stores instructions, which when executed by the processor, cause the processor to: receive a touch input caused by pressing a part of the touch screen display, and monitor the atmospheric pressure variation using the atmospheric pressure sensor while receiving the touch input.

18 . The electronic device of claim 17 , wherein the instructions, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to provide at least one of a changed function and a selected function of the touch screen display based at least in part on the monitored atmospheric pressure variation and the touch input.

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Jin Myoung-Dae
• Kim Taewoo

Classifications

• G06F2203/04105

  Pressure sensors for measuring the pressure or force exerted on the touch surface without providing the touch position · CPC title

• G06F3/0416 Primary

  Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers · CPC title

• G09G2354/00

  Aspects of interface with display user · CPC title

• G06F3/147

  using display panels · CPC title

• G06F3/04883 Primary

  for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text · CPC title