Abstract:
A method for unlocking a touch screen of an electronic device includes the following steps. First, touch signals are generated in response to manual touch operations on the touch screen. Second, a shape is identified according to the touch signals. Third, the touch screen is unlocked if the identified shape is substantially the same as a predefined shape, wherein the predefined shape is a shape of two fingertips simultaneously sliding in a direction from up to down on the touch screen. An electronic device equipped for unlocking a touch screen thereof is also provided.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Technical Field 
         [0002]    The present disclosure relates to electronic devices and proper and authorized use thereof, and especially to an electronic device with a touch screen and a method for unlocking the touch screen of the electronic device. 
         [0003]    2. Description of Related Art 
         [0004]    Electronic devices with touch screens are very popular nowadays. Such electronic devices include mobile phones, tablet personal computers, digital cameras, digital photo frames, and electronic readers (e-readers), for example. To avoid a user operating the touch screen unintentionally, the touch screen is locked when not in use. An unlocking procedure such as a sliding touch on the touch screen is needed for unlocking the touch screen. However, the unlocking procedure is mundane. Also, a typical unlocking procedure does not prevent an unauthorized user from gaining access to the electronic device. 
         [0005]    Therefore, what is needed is an electronic device and a method for unlocking a touch screen thereof which can alleviate or overcome the limitations described above. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0006]    The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present disclosure. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts or sections throughout the views. 
           [0007]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an electronic device in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0008]      FIG. 2  is a top plan view of the electronic device of  FIG. 1 , showing a slide shape applied on a touch screen of the electronic device. 
           [0009]      FIGS. 3A and 3B  together constitute a single flowchart of a method for unlocking a touch screen of an electronic device, such as the one of  FIG. 1 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0010]      FIGS. 1 and 2  show an electronic device  1  in accordance with an embodiment. The electronic device  1  is typically a terminal device such as a personal computer or a tablet computer, for example. The electronic device  1  has a touch screen  11 . 
         [0011]    The electronic device  1  mainly includes the touch screen  11 , a storage unit  12 , and a processor  13 . 
         [0012]    The touch screen  11  is configured for generating input signals in response to sliding touch operations applied thereon. 
         [0013]    The storage unit  12  stores a predefined shape  121 .  FIG. 2  shows a shape applied on the touch screen  11 . The shape is traced by a user, and is intended to mimic (or duplicate) the predefined shape  121 . In  FIG. 2 , for the purposes of illustration, the shape applied is exactly the same as the predefined shape  121 . In this example, the predefined shape  121  is a slide shape of two fingertips simultaneously sliding in a direction from up to down on the touch screen  11 . The slide shape thus comprises two sliding tracks. Each sliding track includes an origin point and an end point. In this description, unless the context indicates otherwise, a reference to a “shape” can include a reference to a trace(s), pattern or other form that can be applied on the touch screen  11  by a user. 
         [0014]    For each sliding track, the pressure of the origin point applied on the touch screen is different from the pressure of the end point applied on the touch screen. If the pressure applied on the origin point is greater than the pressure applied on the end point, the pressure relationship between the origin point and the end point is that the pressure applied on origin point is greater than the pressure applied on the end point. If the pressure applied on the origin point is less than the pressure applied on the end point, the pressure relationship between the origin point and the end point is that the pressure applied on origin point is less than the pressure applied on the end point. In  FIG. 2 , for the left-side sliding track, the pressure applied on the origin point is greater than the pressure applied on the end point; and for the right-side sliding track, the pressure applied on the origin point is less than the pressure applied on the end point. 
         [0015]    The processor  13  includes a shape identification module  131 , a comparison module  132 , and an unlocking module  133 . 
         [0016]    The shape identification module  131  is configured for identifying a shape in response to the input signals generated by the touch screen  11 . 
         [0017]    The comparison module  132  is configured for comparing the identified shape with the predefined shape  121  stored in the storage unit  12 , and for determining whether the identified shape is substantially the same as the predefined shape  121  stored in the storage unit  12 . The comparison module  132  is further configured for generating a signal for unlocking the touch screen  11  when the identified shape is substantially the same as the predefined shape  121 . 
         [0018]    In detail, the comparison module  132  is configured for determining whether the identified shape is a shape of two fingertips simultaneously sliding in a direction from up to down on the touch screen  11 . If so, the comparison module  132  is further configured for determining whether the distance between the two origin points of the identified shape is substantially equal to the distance between the two origin points of the predefined shape  121 . If so, the comparison module  132  is further configured for determining whether the sliding tracks of the identified shape are substantially identical to the sliding tracks of the predefined shape  121 . If so, the comparison module  132  is further configured for determining whether the pressure relationships between the origin points and the end points of the identified shape are the same as the corresponding pressure relationships between the origin points and the end points of the predefined shape  121 . If so, the comparison module  132  is further configured for generating a signal for unlocking the touch screen  11 . 
         [0019]    The unlocking module  133  is configured for unlocking the touch screen  11  in response to the generated signal. 
         [0020]    In the embodiment, the distance between the two origin points of the identified shape being substantially equal to the distance between the two origin points of the predefined shape  121  relates to the distance between the two origin points of the identified shape being approximately equal to the distance between the two origin points of the predefined shape  121 , with a predefined margin of error. 
         [0021]    In the embodiment, the sliding tracks of the identified shape being substantially identical to the sliding tracks of the predefined shape  121  relates to a degree of similarity between the sliding tracks of the identified shape and the sliding tracks of the predefined shape  121  being greater than a predetermined value. 
         [0022]    In the embodiment, the pressure relationships between the origin points and the end points of the identified shape being the same as the corresponding pressure relationships between the origin points and the end points of the predefined shape  121  relates to the pressure relationship between the origin point and the end point of each identified sliding track being the same as the pressure relationship between the origin point and the end point of the corresponding sliding track of the predefined shape  121 . 
         [0023]      FIGS. 3A and 3B  together constitute a single flowchart of a method for unlocking a touch screen of an electronic device, such as the electronic device  1 , in accordance with an embodiment. The electronic device  1  includes a touch screen  11  and a storage unit  12 . The touch screen  11  is configured for generating input signals in response to sliding touch operations applied thereon. The storage unit  12  stores a predefined shape  121 . The method typically includes the following steps, each of which is related to the various components contained in the electronic device  1 . 
         [0024]    In step S 31 , the touch screen  11  generates input signals in response to applied sliding touch operations. 
         [0025]    In step S 32 , the shape identification module  131  identifies a shape according to the input signals generated by the touch screen  11 . 
         [0026]    In step S 33 , the comparison module  132  compares the identified shape with a predefined shape and determines whether the identified shape is a shape of two fingertips simultaneously sliding in a direction from up to down on the touch screen  11 . If the determination is yes, the process goes to step S 34 . Otherwise, the process ends. 
         [0027]    In step S 34 , the comparison module  132  determines whether the distance between the two origin points of the identified shape is substantially equal to the distance between the two origin points of the predefined shape  121 . If the determination is yes, the process goes to step S 35 . Otherwise, the process ends. 
         [0028]    In step S 35 , the comparison module  132  determines whether each sliding track of the identified shape is substantially identical to the corresponding sliding track of the predefined shape  121 . If the determination is yes, the process goes to step S 36 . Otherwise, the process ends. 
         [0029]    In step S 36 , the comparison module  132  determines whether the pressure relationship between the origin point and the end point of each sliding track of the identified shape is the same as the pressure relationship between the origin point and the end point of the corresponding sliding track of the predefined shape  121 . If the determination is yes, the process goes to step S 37 . Otherwise, the process ends. 
         [0030]    In step S 37 , the comparison module  132  generates a signal for unlocking the touch screen  11 . 
         [0031]    In step S 38 , the unlocking module  133  unlocks the touch screen  11  in response to the generated signal. 
         [0032]    Although the present disclosure has been specifically described on the basis of various embodiments, the disclosure is not to be construed as being limited thereto. Various changes or modifications may be made to the embodiments without departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosure.