Patent ID: 9377893
Filing Date: 2016-06-28
CPC Classification: G06F

Claim Text:
1. An apparatus for controlling operations of a terminal, the apparatus comprising: a grip sensor unit configured to output a grip signal when the terminal is gripped; a touchscreen unit that receives touch input commands; and a controller configured to establish a touch-inactive area in the touchscreen unit upon detection of a touch signal while the grip signal is detected, and to determine that the touch signal generated in the touch-inactive area results from a gripping touch and that the touch signal not generated in the touch-inactive area results from the touch input commands, wherein the controller, upon detection of the touch signal received from the touchscreen unit while detecting a plurality of grip signals received from the grip sensor unit, detects a grip area where each of the grip signals has been generated, determines a vertical length h of each grip area, establishes a variable horizontal length t according to the vertical length h, establishes a touch-inactive area having the vertical length h and the horizontal length t in the touchscreen unit, and determines that a touch signal results from the gripping touch when coordinates of the touch signal are contained in the touch-inactive area, wherein when first and second grip signals are generated due to grip touches on spaced apart first and second grip areas on a common side of the terminal, first and second touch-inactive areas are generated adjacent to the first and second grip areas, respectively, the first and second touch-inactive areas each being of a rectangular shape and spaced apart from one another vertically, and each having a variable horizontal length determined according to a vertical length thereof.