Electronic device, input device, and method for controlling electronic device using the input device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9696824-B2
Application number	US-201514628671-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 23, 2015
Priority date	Feb 24, 2014
Publication date	Jul 4, 2017
Grant date	Jul 4, 2017

Abstract

An electronic device, an input device, and a method for controlling the electronic device using the input device are provided. The electronic device includes an input device sensor configured to detect mounting of an input device, a reception unit configured to receive a button input signal received from the input device mounted on the electronic device, and a controller configured to set a button portion provided in the input device as a button of the electronic device in response to a mounting of the input device on the electronic device, and to perform a function corresponding to the button input signal if the button input signal of the input device is received from the reception unit. Other embodiments are also possible.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An electronic device comprising:
an input device sensor configured to detect insertion of an input device in the electronic device;
a reception unit configured to receive a button input signal received from the input device inserted in the electronic device; and
a controller configured to:
set a button portion provided in the input device as a button of the electronic device in response to detecting insertion of the input device in the electronic device, and
perform a function corresponding to the button input signal when the button input signal of the input device is received from the reception unit.

2. The electronic device of claim 1 ,
wherein the reception unit comprises a reception terminal that is connected with a transmission terminal of the input device inserted in the electronic device, and
wherein the reception unit is configured to transmit the button input signal received from the transmission terminal to the controller.

3. The electronic device of claim 1 ,
wherein the reception unit comprises a first communication unit that is communication-connected with a second communication unit of the input device inserted in the electronic device, and
wherein the reception unit is configured to transmit a button input signal received from the second communication unit to the controller.

4. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
determine whether the input device inserted in the electronic device comprises a power supply unit, and
supply power to the input device through a power supply unit of the electronic device when the controller determines that the input device does not comprise the power supply unit.

5. The electronic device of claim 4 , wherein the controller is further configured to determine whether the input device comprises the power supply unit according to a sensing signal transmitted to the controller in response to detecting insertion of the input device to the electronic device.

6. The electronic device of claim 4 , wherein when the reception unit comprises a reception terminal, the controller is further configured to supply power to a button portion of the input device through the power supply unit of the electronic device, when the input device does not comprise the power supply unit.

7. The electronic device of claim 4 , wherein the reception unit comprises a first communication unit, the controller is further configured to supply power to a button portion and a second communication unit of the input device through the power supply unit of the electronic device, when the input device does not comprise the power supply unit.

8. The electronic device of claim 1 , wherein the controller is further configured to:
determine a current mode of the electronic device when the button input signal is received,
determine a function corresponding to the button input signal, which is preset for the current mode of the electronic device, and
perform a function corresponding to the button input signal.

9. An input device comprising:
a button portion configured to be set and used as a button of an electronic device when the input device is inserted in the electronic device; and
a transmission unit configured to transmit a button input signal received from the button portion to the electronic device when the input device is inserted in the electronic device.

10. The input device of claim 9 , wherein the button portion is provided in an end portion of the input device at which the input device is exposed when the input device is inserted in the electronic device.

11. The input device of claim 9 , wherein the transmission unit comprises a transmission terminal that is connected with a reception terminal of the electronic device and transmits the button input signal received from the button portion to the reception terminal of the electronic device, when the input device is inserted in the electronic device.

12. The input device of claim 9 , wherein the transmission unit comprises a second communication unit that is connected with a first communication unit of the electronic device and transmits the button input signal received from the button portion to the first communication unit of the electronic device, when the input device is inserted in the electronic device.

13. The input device of claim 9 , wherein, when the transmission unit comprises a transmission terminal and the input device comprises a power supply unit, power is supplied to the button portion through the power supply unit of the input device.

14. The input device of claim 9 , wherein, when the transmission unit comprises a second communication unit and the input device comprises a power supply unit, power is supplied to the button portion and the second communication unit of the input device through the power supply unit of the input device.

15. A method for controlling an electronic device using an input device, the method comprising:
setting a button portion provided in the input device as a button of the electronic device in response to detecting insertion of the input device on the electronic device; and
performing a function corresponding to a button input signal, upon receiving the button input signal from the input device.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein the receiving of the button input signal comprises:
connecting a reception terminal of the electronic device with a transmission terminal of the input device, when the input device is inserted in the electronic device;
generating a button input signal, when the button portion of the input device is inserted in the electronic device is input; and
transmitting the button input signal to the reception terminal of the electronic device through the transmission terminal of the input device.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:
supplying power to the button portion of the input device when the input device is inserted in the electronic device.

18. The method of claim 15 , wherein the receiving of the button input signal comprises:
connecting a first communication unit of the electronic device to a second communication unit of the input device when the input device is inserted in the electronic device;
generating a button input signal when the button portion of the input device is inserted in the electronic device is input; and
transmitting the button input signal to the first communication unit of the electronic device through the second communication unit of the input device.

19. The method of claim 18 , further comprising:
supplying power to the button portion and the second communication unit of the input device when the input device is inserted in the electronic device.

20. The method of claim 15 , wherein the performing of the function comprises:
determining a current mode of the electronic device upon receiving the button input signal;
determining a function corresponding to the button input signal, which is preset for the current mode of the electronic device; and
performing the function corresponding to the button input signal.

Assignees

• Samsung Electronics Co Ltd

Inventors

• Cho Dong-Hyun

Classifications

• G06F1/266 Primary

  Arrangements to supply power to external peripherals either directly from the computer or under computer control, e.g. supply of power through the communication port, computer controlled power-strips · CPC title

• G06F3/03545

  Pens or stylus · CPC title

• G06F3/0202

  Constructional details or processes of manufacture of the input device · CPC title

• G06F2200/1632

  Pen holder integrated in the computer · CPC title

• G06F3/038 Primary

  Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry · CPC title