Abstract:
A mobile terminal includes a touch panel receiving a first input, a key input unit at least partially overlapping the touch panel and receiving a second input, and a controller selectively processing a first signal transmitted from the touch panel in response to the first input and a second signal transmitted from the key input unit in response to the second input. The controller processes the first signal as a touch input upon determining absence of the second signal within a predetermined period of time after receiving the first input and processes the second signal as a key input upon determining presence of the second signal within the predetermined period of time after receiving the first input.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    Pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §119(a), the present application claims the benefit of earlier filing date and right of priority to Korean Application No. 10-2009-0088595 filed on Sep. 18, 2009, the entire contents of which are hereby incorporated by reference herein in their entirety. 
       FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The present invention relates to a mobile terminal, and more particularly, to a mobile terminal capable of selectively receiving an input via an input unit including keys overlapping with a touch panel and a method of receiving information in the mobile terminal. 
       DISCUSSION OF THE RELATED ART 
       [0003]    Mobile terminals with a touch device such as a touch screen or a touch panel have been developed for convenient entry of input. However, such mobile terminals with the touch device may not be as efficient as conventional input devices such as a key input device. Accordingly, development of an input device capable of employing both the advantage of a conventional key input unit including physical keys and the advantage of the touch device is desired. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0004]    Accordingly, one object of the present invention is to address the above-noted and other drawbacks of the related art. Another object of the present invention is to provide a mobile terminal capable of selectively using an input unit including keys overlapping with a touch panel to receive input via the keys, touch panel or combination of both the keys and touch panel. Still another object of the present invention is to provide a mobile terminal having more efficient input means to users by employing the benefits of both the key input unit and the touch panel. 
         [0005]    According to an embodiment of the present invention, a mobile terminal includes a touch panel receiving a first input, a key input unit at least partially overlapping the touch panel and receiving a second input, and a controller selectively processing a first signal transmitted from the touch panel in response to the first input and a second signal transmitted from the key input unit in response to the second input. The controller processes the first signal as a touch input upon determining absence of the second signal within a predetermined period of time after receiving the first input and processes the second signal as a key input upon determining presence of the second signal within the predetermined period of time after receiving the first input. 
         [0006]    According to another embodiment of the present invention, a method of receiving an input in a mobile terminal having a user input unit key includes a key input unit and a touch panel includes selectively receiving a first input or a second input via the user input unit, generating a first signal in response to the first input or generating a second signal in response to the second input, processing the first signal as a touch input upon determining absence of the second input within a predetermined period of time after receiving the first input, and processing the second signal as a key input upon determining presence of the second input within the predetermined period of time after receiving the first input. In one aspect of the present invention, the key input unit at least partially overlaps with the touch panel. 
         [0007]    According to yet another embodiment of the present invention, a method of receiving information in a mobile terminal includes receiving an input via an input unit of the mobile terminal, wherein the input is for selecting one of a plurality of areas displayed on a display of the mobile terminal for receiving the information, determining distances between a pointer and the plurality of areas displayed on the display in response to the input, selecting one of the plurality of areas which has a shortest distance from the pointer as an area for receiving the information. In one aspect of the present invention, the input unit includes a key input unit at least partially overlapping a touch panel and the input is received via one of a plurality of keys of the key input unit or one of a plurality of touch points on the touch panel. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0008]    The above and other aspects, features, and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent upon consideration of the following description of preferred embodiments, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. 
           [0009]      FIG. 1(   a ) is a block diagram of a mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0010]      FIG. 1(   b ) is a conceptional diagram for a proximity depth of a proximity sensor. 
           [0011]      FIGS. 2(   a )- 5  illustrate various external appearances of a mobile terminal according to embodiments of the present invention. 
           [0012]      FIG. 6  illustrates a structure of an input unit including a touch panel and a key input unit according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0013]      FIG. 7  illustrates a touch region for sensing a touch by an external object according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0014]      FIG. 8  illustrates a mobile terminal including a toggle key for switching between a touch panel and a key input unit according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0015]      FIG. 9  is a flowchart illustrating a method for distinguishing two different signals that can be generated by an input received by a mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0016]      FIGS. 10(   a )- 10 ( c ) illustrate an operation by a mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention to perform the method illustrated in  FIG. 9 . 
           [0017]      FIG. 11  illustrates setting of a touch region in a mobile terminal according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0018]      FIG. 12  illustrates an absolute coordinate system used in a mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0019]      FIG. 13  illustrates a relative coordinate system used in a mobile terminal according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0020]      FIG. 14  illustrates both an absolute coordinate system and a relative coordinate system used in a mobile terminal according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0021]      FIGS. 15-18  illustrate receiving information by a mobile terminal while accessing a web site according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0022]      FIG. 19  illustrates a key input unit used in a mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0023]      FIG. 20  illustrates a key input unit used in a mobile terminal according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0024]      FIGS. 21(   a )- 21 ( c ) illustrate a key input unit used in a mobile terminal according to yet another embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS 
       [0025]    In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawing figures which form a part hereof, and which show by way of illustration specific embodiments of the invention. It is to be understood by those of ordinary skill in this technological field that other embodiments may be utilized, and structural, electrical, as well as procedural changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention. Wherever possible, the same reference numbers will be used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or similar parts. 
         [0026]      FIG. 1(   a ) is a block diagram of a mobile terminal  100  according to an embodiment of the present invention. For example, the mobile terminal  100  includes a radio communication unit  110 , an audio/video (A/V) input unit  120 , a user input unit  130 , a sensing unit  140 , an output unit  150 , a memory  160 , an interface  170 , a controller  180 , and a power supply  190 . 
         [0027]    The radio communication unit  110  includes at least one module that enables radio communication between the mobile terminal  100  and a radio communication system or between the mobile terminal  100  and a network in which the mobile terminal  100  is located. For example, the radio communication unit  110  includes a broadcast receiving module  111 , a mobile communication module  112 , a wireless Internet module  113 , a local area communication module  114  and a position information module  115 . 
         [0028]    The broadcast receiving module  111  receives broadcast signals and/or broadcast related information from an external broadcast management server through a broadcast channel. The broadcast channel may include a satellite channel and a terrestrial channel, and the broadcast management server can be a server that generates and transmits broadcast signals and/or broadcast related information or a server that receives previously created broadcast signals and/or broadcast related information and transmits the broadcast signals and/or broadcast related information to a terminal. 
         [0029]    Further, the broadcast signals can include not only TV broadcast signals, radio broadcast signals and data broadcast signals, but also signals in the form of combination of a TV broadcast signal and a radio broadcast signal. In addition, the broadcast related information can be information on a broadcast channel, a broadcast program or a broadcast service provider. Moreover, the broadcast related information can be provided even through a mobile communication network such that the broadcast related information can be received by the mobile communication module  112 . 
         [0030]    The broadcast related information may exist in various forms. For example, the broadcast related information can exist in the form of an electronic program guide (EPG) of the digital multimedia broadcasting (DMB) system or in the form of an electronic service guide (ESG) of the digital video broadcast-handheld (DVB-H) system. 
         [0031]    In addition, the broadcast receiving module  111  receives broadcast signals using various broadcasting systems. Particularly, the broadcast receiving module  111  can receive digital broadcast signals using digital broadcasting systems such as the digital multimedia broadcasting-terrestrial (DMB-T) system, the digital multimedia broadcasting-satellite (DMB-S) system, the media forward link only (MediaFLO) system, the DVB-H and integrated services digital broadcast-terrestrial (ISDB-T) systems. The broadcast receiving module  111  can also be constructed to be suited to broadcasting systems providing broadcast signals other than the above-described digital broadcasting systems. 
         [0032]    Further, the broadcast signals and/or broadcast related information received through the broadcast receiving module  111  can be stored in the memory  160 . The mobile communication module  112  transmits/receives a radio signal to/from at least one of a base station, an external terminal and a server on a mobile communication network. The radio signal can include a voice call signal, a video telephony call signal or data in various forms according to transmission and reception of text/multimedia messages. 
         [0033]    The wireless Internet module  113  corresponds to a module for wireless Internet access and can be included in the mobile terminal  100  or externally attached to the mobile terminal  100 . A wireless LAN (WLAN) (Wi-Fi), wireless broadband (Wibro), world interoperability for microwave access (Wimax), or high speed downlink packet access (HSDPA) can be used as a wireless Internet technique. 
         [0034]    The local area communication module  114  corresponds to a module for local area communication. For example, BLUETOOTH®, radio frequency identification (RFID), infrared data association (IrDA), ultra wideband (UWB) or ZigBee® can be used as a local area communication technique. 
         [0035]    The position information module  115  confirms or obtains the position of the mobile terminal  100 . In more detail, a global positioning system (GPS) module is a representative example of the position information module  115 . In addition, the GPS module  115  can calculate information on distances between one point or object and at least three satellites and information on the time when the distance information is measured and apply trigonometry to the obtained distance information to obtain three-dimensional position information on the point or object according to the latitude, longitude and altitude at a predetermined time. 
         [0036]    Furthermore, a method of calculating position and time information using three satellites and correcting the calculated position and time information using another satellite can also used. In addition, the GPS module  115  continuously calculates the current position in real time and calculates velocity information using the position information. 
         [0037]    Referring to  FIG. 1(   a ), the A/V input unit  120  is used to input an audio signal or a video signal and includes a camera  121  and a microphone  122 . The camera  121  processes image frames of still images or moving images obtained by an image sensor in a video telephony mode or a photographing mode. Further, the processed image frames can be displayed on a display module  151 . 
         [0038]    The image frames processed by the camera  121  can be stored in the memory  160  or transmitted to an external device through the radio communication unit  110 . The mobile terminal  100  can also include at least two cameras  121 . The microphone  122  receives an external audio signal in a call mode, a recording mode or a speed recognition mode and processes the received audio signal into electric audio data. 
         [0039]    The audio data can then be converted into a form that can be transmitted to a mobile communication base station through the mobile communication module  112  and output in the call mode. Further, the microphone  122  can employ various noise removal algorithms for removing noise generated when the external audio signal is received. 
         [0040]    In addition, the user input unit  130  receives input data for controlling the operation of the mobile terminal  100  from a user. The user input unit  130  may include a keypad, a dome switch, a touch pad (constant voltage/capacitance), jog wheel, or jog switch. 
         [0041]    According to an embodiment of the present invention, the user input unit  130  includes a touch panel  131  and a key input unit  132 . The touch panel  131  performs the same function as that of a touch sensor or a touch screen which will be explained later. The touch panel  131  generates a touch signal in response to a touch input and transmits the touch signal to the controller  180 . 
         [0042]    For example, the key input unit  132  includes a plurality of dome keys. Each of the plurality of dome keys generates a different key signal and transmits the key signal to the controller  180 . The key input unit  132  may also include a key PCB, a dome sheet and a key pad. 
         [0043]    The sensing unit  140  senses the current state of the mobile terminal  100 , such as an open/close state of the mobile terminal  100 , the position of the mobile terminal  100 , whether a user touches the mobile terminal  100 , the direction of the mobile terminal  100  and the acceleration/deceleration of the mobile terminal  100 , and generates a sensing signal for controlling the operation of the mobile terminal  100 . For example, the sensing unit  140  can sense whether a slide phone is opened or closed when the mobile terminal  100  is a slide phone. Furthermore, the sensing unit  140  can sense whether the power supply  190  supplies power and whether the interface  170  is connected to an external device. The sensing unit  140  can also include a proximity sensor  141 . 
         [0044]    Referring to  FIG. 1(   a ), the proximity sensor  141  of the sensing unit  140  may be located in an internal region of the mobile terminal  100 , surrounded by the touch screen, or near the touch screen. The proximity sensor  141  senses an object approaching a predetermined sensing face or an object located near the proximity sensor  141  using an electromagnetic force or infrared rays without having mechanical contact. Further, the proximity sensor  141  may have a lifetime longer than that of a contact sensor, and thus, has a wide application in the mobile terminal  100 . 
         [0045]    Furthermore, the proximity sensor  141  includes a transmission type photo-electric sensor, a direct reflection type photo-electric sensor, a mirror reflection type photo-electric sensor, a high-frequency oscillating proximity sensor, a capacitive proximity sensor, a magnetic proximity sensor, or an infrared proximity sensor. Further, a capacitive touch screen is constructed such that proximity of a pointer is detected through a variation in an electric field according to the proximity of the pointer. In this instance, the touch screen or touch sensor can be classified as a proximity sensor  141 . 
         [0046]    For convenience of explanation, the action of the pointer approaching the touch screen without actually touching the touch screen is referred to as “proximity touch” and an action of bringing the pointer into contact with the touch screen is referred to as “contact touch” in the following description. In addition, the proximity touch point of the pointer on the touch screen corresponds to a point of the touch screen to which the pointer makes contact. 
         [0047]    Further, the proximity sensor  141  senses the proximity touch and a proximity touch pattern, such as a proximity touch distance, a proximity touch direction, a proximity touch velocity, a proximity touch time, a proximity touch position, or a proximity touch moving state. Information corresponding to the sensed proximity touch action and proximity touch pattern can then be displayed on the touch screen. 
         [0048]    In addition, the output unit  150  generates visual, auditory or tactile output and includes, for example, the display module  151 , an audio output module  152 , an alarm  153  and a haptic module  154 . The display module  151  displays information processed by the mobile terminal  100 . 
         [0049]    For example, the display module  151  displays a user interface (UI) or graphic user interface (GUI) related to a telephone call when the mobile terminal  100  is in the call mode. The display module  151  also displays a captured or/and received image, UI or GUI when the mobile terminal  100  is in the video telephony mode or the photographing mode. 
         [0050]    In addition, the display unit  151  may include at least a liquid crystal display, a thin film transistor liquid crystal display, an organic light-emitting diode display, a flexible display or a three-dimensional display. Further, some of these displays can be of a transparent type or a light transmission type. That is, the display module  151  can include a transparent display. 
         [0051]    In more detail, the transparent display includes a transparent liquid crystal display. Further, the rear structure of the display module  151  can also be of the light transmission type. Accordingly, a user can see an object located behind the body of the mobile terminal  100  through the transparent area of the body of the mobile terminal  100 , which is occupied by the display module  151 . 
         [0052]    The mobile terminal  100  may have at least two display modules  151 . For example, the mobile terminal  100  may include a plurality of displays that are arranged on a single face at a predetermined distance or integrated displays. The plurality of displays can also be arranged on different sides. 
         [0053]    In addition, when the display module  151  and a touch sensor that senses touch form a layered structure or a touch screen, the display module  151  can be used as an input device as well as an output device. The touch sensor can be in the form of a touch film, a touch sheet and a touch pad, for example. 
         [0054]    Further, the touch sensor can be constructed to convert a variation in pressure applied to a specific portion of the display module  151  or a variation in capacitance generated at a specific portion of the display module  151  into an electric input signal. The touch sensor can also be constructed to sense pressure of touch as well as the position and area of the touch. 
         [0055]    When the user applies touch input to the touch sensor, a signal corresponding to the touch input is transmitted to a touch controller (not shown). The touch controller then processes the signal and transmits data corresponding to the processed signal to the controller  180 . Accordingly, the controller  180  can detect a touched portion of the display module  151 . 
         [0056]    The audio output module  152  can output audio data received from the radio communication unit  110  or stored in the memory  160  in a call signal receiving mode, a telephone call mode or a recording mode, a speech recognition mode and a broadcasting receiving mode. Further, the audio output module  152  outputs audio signals related to functions performed in the mobile terminal  100 , such as a call signal incoming tone and a message incoming tone. The audio output module  152  may include a receiver, a speaker, and a buzzer. 
         [0057]    The alarm  153  outputs a signal for indicating the generation of an event of the mobile terminal  100 . For example, a signal can be generated by the alarm  153  when receiving a call signal, receiving a message, receiving a key signal, or receiving touch input. The alarm  153  can also output signals in forms different from video signals or audio signals, such as a signal for indicating generation of an event through vibration. The video signals or the audio signals can be also output through the display module  151  or the audio output module  152 . 
         [0058]    The haptic module  154  generates various haptic effects that the user can feel. One representative example of the haptic effects is vibration. The intensity and pattern of vibration generated by the haptic module  154  can also be controlled. For example, different vibrations can be combined and output or can be sequentially output. 
         [0059]    Further, the haptic module  154  can generate a variety of haptic effects. The haptic effects include an effect of stimulus according to arrangement of pins vertically moving against a contact skin surface, an effect of stimulus according to a jet force or sucking force of air through a jet hole or a sucking hole, an effect of stimulus of rubbing the skin, an effect of stimulus according to contact of an electrode, an effect of stimulus using an electrostatic force, and an effect according to a reproduction of cold and warmth using an element capable of absorbing or radiating heat in addition to vibrations. 
         [0060]    The haptic module  154  can transmit not only haptic effects through direct contact but also allow the user to feel haptic effects through a kinesthetic sense of the user&#39;s fingers or arms. The mobile terminal  100  may include multiple haptic modules  154 . 
         [0061]    The memory  160  can store a program for the operation of the controller  180  and temporarily store input/output data, such as phone book, messages, still images, and moving images. The memory  160  can also store data related to vibrations and sounds in various patterns, which are output when a touch input is applied to the touch screen. 
         [0062]    Further, the memory  160  can include a flash memory, a hard disk type memory, a multimedia card micro type memory, a random access memory (RAM), a static RAM (SRAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an electrically erasable programmable ROM (EEPROM), a programmable ROM (PROM) magnetic memory, a magnetic disk, an optical disk, or a card type memory such as SD or XD memory. The mobile terminal  100  can also operate in relation to a web storage performing the storing function of the memory  160  via the Internet. 
         [0063]    The interface  170  serves as a path to external devices connected to the mobile terminal  100 . Further, the interface  170  receives data from the external devices or power and transmits the data or power to the internal components of the mobile terminal  100  or transmits data of the mobile terminal  100  to the external devices. Also, the interface  170  can include a wired/wireless headset port, an external charger port, a wired/wireless data port, a memory card port, a port for connecting a device having a user identification module, an audio I/O port, a video I/O port, or an earphone port, for example. 
         [0064]    The interface  170  can also interface with a user identification module that is a chip that stores information for authenticating the authority to use the mobile terminal  100 . For example, the user identification module includes a user identify module (UIM), a subscriber identify module (SIM) or a universal subscriber identify module (USIM). 
         [0065]    An identification device including the user identification module can also be manufactured in the form of a smart card. Accordingly, the identification device may be connected to the mobile terminal  100  through a port of the interface  170 . 
         [0066]    The interface  170  can also be a path through which power from an external cradle is provided to the mobile terminal  100  when the mobile terminal  100  is connected to the external cradle or a path through which various command signals input by the user through the cradle are transmitted to the mobile terminal  100 . The various command signals or power input from the cradle can be used as signals for confirming whether the mobile terminal  100  is correctly set in the cradle. 
         [0067]    The controller  180  controls the overall operations of the mobile terminal  100 . For example, the controller  180  performs control and processing for voice communication, data communication and video telephony. As shown in  FIG. 1(   a ), the controller  180  also includes a multimedia module  181  for playing multimedia. The multimedia module  181  may be included in the controller  180  as shown in  FIG. 1(   a ) or can be separated from the controller  180 . 
         [0068]    Further, the controller  180  can perform a pattern recognition process capable of recognizing handwriting input or picture-drawing input applied to the touch screen as characters or images. In addition, the power supply  190  receives external power and internal power and provides power required for the operations of the components of the mobile terminal  100  under the control of the controller  180 . 
         [0069]    According to hardware implementation, the embodiments of the present invention can be implemented using application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), digital signal processors (DSPs), digital signal processing devices (DSPDs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), field programmable gate arrays (FPGAs), processors, controllers, micro-controllers, microprocessors, or electrical units for executing functions. In some cases, the embodiments of the present invention may be implemented by the controller  180 . 
         [0070]    According to software implementation, embodiments such as procedures or functions can be implemented with a separate software module executing at least one function or operation. Software codes can be implemented according to a software application written in an appropriate software language. Furthermore, the software codes can be stored in the memory  160  and executed by the controller  180 . 
         [0071]    Various embodiments of the present invention will be explained. In the specification, a touch signal or a touch operation may include both a contact touch and a proximity touch. Further, the touch signal or the touch operation may include a point touch or a stroke including a flicking operation and a dragging operation. The proximity touch will be described in detail with reference to  FIG. 1(   b ). 
         [0072]    The proximity sensor  141  described with reference to  FIG. 1(   a ) will now be explained in more detail with reference to  FIG. 1(   b ).  FIG. 1(   b ) is a conceptual diagram used for explaining a proximity depth of the proximity sensor  141 . 
         [0073]    As shown in  FIG. 1(   b ), when a pointer such as a user&#39;s finger approaches the touch screen, the proximity sensor  141  located inside or near the touch screen senses the approaching pointer and outputs a proximity signal. Further, the proximity sensor  141  can be constructed such that it outputs a proximity signal according to the distance between the pointer approaching the touch screen and the touch screen (referred to as “proximity depth”). 
         [0074]    Also, the distance at which the proximity signal is output when the pointer approaches the touch screen is referred to as a detection distance. The proximity depth can be determined by using a plurality of proximity sensors  141  having different detection distances and comparing proximity signals respectively output from the proximity sensors  141 . 
         [0075]      FIG. 1(   b ) shows the section of the touch screen in which proximity sensors  141  capable of sensing three proximity depths are arranged. Of course, proximity sensors  141  capable of sensing less than three or more than three proximity depths can be arranged in the touch screen. Accordingly, the controller  180  can recognize the proximity touch as various input signals according to the proximity distance and proximity position of the pointer with respect to the touch screen and perform various operations according to the input signals. 
         [0076]    Thus, as shown in  FIG. 1(   b ), when the pointer or user&#39;s finger as in this example completely comes into contact with the touch screen (D 0 ), the controller  180  recognizes this action as the contact touch. When the pointer is located within a distance D 1  from the touch screen without contacting the touch screen, the controller  180  recognizes this action as a proximity touch of a first proximity depth. 
         [0077]    Similarly, when the pointer is located in a range between the distance D 1  and a distance D 2  from the touch screen, the controller  180  recognizes this action as a proximity touch of a second proximity depth. When the pointer is located in a range between the distance D 2  and a distance D 3  from the touch screen, the controller  180  recognizes this action a proximity touch of a third proximity depth. Also, when the pointer is located at a distance greater than D 3  from the touch screen, the controller  180  does not recognize any proximity touch. 
         [0078]    The mobile terminal  100  may have a single body or two or more bodies. For example,  FIGS. 2-4  illustrate the mobile terminal  100  having a first body  200  and a second body  210  and  FIG. 5  illustrates the mobile terminal  100  having a single body. When the mobile terminal  100  has two or more bodies, as shown in  FIGS. 2-4 , the bodies can be connected with each other in various forms. 
         [0079]    Referring to  FIGS. 2(   a ) and  2 ( b ), the mobile terminal  100  may be a folder type.  FIG. 2(   a ) illustrates that the first and second bodies  200  and  210  in a closed state and  FIG. 2(   b ) illustrates that the first and second bodies  200  and  210  in an open state. The mobile terminal  100  may further include a connecting part  300  for rotatably connecting the first and second bodies  200  and  210  such that the mobile terminal  100  can be folded or opened via the connecting part  300 . 
         [0080]    Referring to  FIGS. 3(   a ) and  3 ( b ), the mobile terminal  100  may be a slide type.  FIG. 3(   a ) illustrates that the first and second bodies  200  and  210  in a closed state and  FIG. 3(   b ) illustrates that the first and second bodies  200  and  210  in an open state. The mobile terminal  100  may further include a connecting part (not shown) for slidably connecting the first and second bodies  200  and  210  such that the first and second bodies  200  and  210  can slide against each other. 
         [0081]    Referring to  FIGS. 4(   a ) and  4 ( b ), the mobile terminal  100  may be a flip type.  FIG. 4(   a ) illustrates that the first and second bodies  200  and  210  in a closed state and  FIG. 4(   b ) illustrates that the first and second bodies  200  and  210  in an open state. The mobile terminal  100  may further include a connecting part  300  for rotatably connecting the first and second bodies  200  and  210  with each other such that the mobile terminal  100  can be folded. 
         [0082]    Referring to  FIGS. 2(   a )- 6 , the mobile terminal  100  includes a touch panel  131  and the key input unit  132 . The touch panel  131  and the key input unit  132  may be arranged in parallel such that the touch panel  131  and the key input unit  132  overlap, as illustrated in  FIG. 6 . 
         [0083]    For example, the key input unit  132  may be arranged on top of the touch panel  131 . However, the present invention is not limited to this configuration and the key input unit  132  may be located under the touch panel  131 . 
         [0084]    Referring to  FIG. 5 , the mobile terminal  100  may be a bar type having a single body. Similar to the dual body type mobile terminal  100  of  FIGS. 2(   a )- 4 ( b ), the user input unit  130  of the bar type mobile terminal  100 , as disclosed in  FIG. 5 , includes the touch panel  131  and the key input unit  132  arranged in parallel. 
         [0085]    As described above with reference to  FIGS. 2(   a ) through  6 , the touch panel  131  and the key input unit  132  are arranged in parallel. Accordingly, the touch panel  131  and the key input unit  132  can be at least partially superimposed. 
         [0086]      FIG. 7  illustrates a mobile terminal  100  with a touch region  10  for sensing a touch by an external object. Referring to  FIG. 7 , the controller  180  can receive both a touch signal transmitted from the touch panel  131  and a key signal transmitted from the key input unit  132 . 
         [0087]    The touch region  10  may vary in size or have various configurations, which will be explained later. The size of the touch region  10  may be smaller than or identical to the size of the touch panel  131 . 
         [0088]    Further referring to  FIG. 7 , a user can enter an input through the touch region  10  to generate a touch signal or enter an input through key areas included in the key input unit  132  corresponding to the touch region  10  to generate a key signal. For example, the user can touch the touch region  10  with a finger or push a specific key or key area included in the key input unit  132  to enter an input. In other words, the user can touch and/or push the same point on the touch region  10  and different types of signals may be generated depending on what type of input is received at the same point. 
         [0089]    A method of receiving information through the touch panel  131  and the key input unit  132  will now be explained with reference to the attached drawings. The touch panel  131  and the key input unit  132  may be simultaneously activated or only one of them may be activated as desired depending on set up. 
         [0090]      FIG. 8  illustrates a mobile terminal  100  including a toggle key  135  for switching between the touch panel  131  and the key input unit  132 . When the user presses the toggle key  135 , the controller  180  can activate the touch panel  131  and the key input unit  132  one-by-one in order. 
         [0091]    For example, when the user presses the toggle key  135 , the touch panel  131  is activated and the key input unit  132  is deactivated, and thus the user can input a touch signal through the currently set touch region  10 . Here, the mobile terminal  100  recognizes touch inputs, but does not recognize any key inputs even when the user presses a key included in the inactivated key input unit  132 . 
         [0092]    When the user presses the toggle key  135  while only the touch panel  131  is activated, the touch panel  131  is deactivated and the key input unit  132  is activated. In this case, the user can input only a key signal through the key input unit  132  and no touch signal is generated by the controller  180 . 
         [0093]    When the user pushes the toggle key  135  while only the key input unit  132  is activated, both the touch panel  131  and the key input unit  132  are activated and the user can enter both touch input and key input such that both a touch signal and a key signal can be recognized by the controller  180 . 
         [0094]    The controller  180  can activate only one or both of the touch panel  131  and the key input unit  132  based on an application that has been activated in the mobile terminal  100 . Activation modes of the touch panel  131  and the key input unit  132  according to applications may be set or varied by the user. 
         [0095]    For example, the controller  180  may activate both the touch panel  131  and the key input unit  132  when a web browser is activated. Further, the controller  180  may deactivate the key input unit  132  and activate only the touch panel  131  when an image viewer for displaying or editing a photo or a still image is activated. Moreover, the controller  180  may deactivate the touch panel  131  and activate the key input unit  132  when a message application providing a function for generating a message, such as a short message, a multimedia message and e-mail, is activated. 
         [0096]    In  FIG. 9 , both the touch panel  131  and the key input unit  132  are activated and used. Referring to  FIG. 9 , the controller  180  receives a touch signal transmitted from the touch panel  131  (S 100 ). Then, the controller  180  determines whether a key signal is transmitted from the key input unit  132  within a predetermined time after receiving the touch signal (S 110 ). The controller  180  may determine whether to process the touch signal or the key signal according to the time when the touch signal is input, the time when the touch signal is released and the time when the key signal is input. 
         [0097]    When the controller  180  receives the key signal from the key input unit  132  within the predetermined time after receiving the touch signal, the controller  180  processes the key signal (S 120 ). When the controller  180  does not receive the key signal from the key input unit  132  within the predetermined time after receiving the touch signal, the controller  180  processes the received touch signal (S 130 ). 
         [0098]    Referring to  FIG. 10(   a ), when the controller  180  receives the touch signal from the touch panel  131  in S 200  and the touch signal is released 0.1 seconds after the touch signal is received in S 210 , the touch signal is processed in S 220  because no key signal is received within a predetermined time, for example, 0.2 seconds. Here, the time when the controller  180  processes the touch signal may correspond to the time after a lapse of a predetermined time since the touch signal was received or to the time right after the touch signal was released. 
         [0099]    Referring to  FIG. 10(   b ), when the controller  180  receives the touch signal from the touch panel  131  in S 230  and receives the key signal from the key input unit  132  0.1 seconds after the touch signal is received in S 240 , the controller  180  does not process the touch signal received in S 230  and processes the key signal received in S 240  because the key signal was received within the predetermined time, for example, 0.2 seconds, in S 250 . Here, the time when the controller  180  processes the key signal may correspond to the time after a lapse of a predetermined time since the touch signal was received. 
         [0100]      FIG. 10(   c ) illustrates a case where the touch signal corresponds to a stroke such as a dragging operation or a flicking operation. Referring to  FIG. 10(   c ), the controller  180  receives a first touch signal at a first coordinate in S 260  and receives a second touch signal at a second coordinate that is different from the first coordinate according to a stroke in S 270 . Further, the controller  180  processes the received touch signals when the controller  180  does not receive a key signal within the predetermined time in S 290 . Here, releasing of the touch signals, as shown in S 280 , may be required to process the stroke. 
         [0101]      FIG. 11  illustrates setting the touch region  10  in the mobile terminal  100  according to another embodiment of the present invention. Referring to  FIG. 11 , the touch region  10  is a portion of the touch panel  131  and separated from the key input unit  132 . However, in one aspect of the present invention, the touch region  10  may be partially superimposed on the key input unit  132 . 
         [0102]    That is, the controller  180  recognizes a touch signal applied to the touch region  10  only which corresponds to a portion of the user input unit  130 . Here, the user may enter an input for generating a touch signal through the touch region  10  and an input for generating a key signal through the entire region of the user input unit  130 . 
         [0103]    In one aspect of the present invention, the mobile terminal  100  may use various coordinate systems to control an object displayed on the display module  151  according to a touch input received through the touch region  10 .  FIG. 12  illustrates a case where the mobile terminal  100  uses an absolute coordinate system and  FIG. 13  illustrates a case where the mobile terminal  100  uses a relative coordinate system. Examples of coordinate systems which can be used in the mobile terminal  100  will now be explained with reference to  FIGS. 12 and 13 . 
         [0104]    The controller  180  displays a pointer  30  corresponding to a touch signal on the display module  151  when the controller  180  initially receives or processes the touch signal according to a preset setting. For example, the controller  180  initially receives or processes the touch signal when an image corresponding to a new application is displayed on the display module  151 . Alternatively, when no information is received through the user input unit  130  for a predetermined time, the pointer  30  disappears. 
         [0105]    Referring to  FIG. 12 , the controller  180  may control the pointer  30  displayed on the display module  151  by using an absolute coordinate system which matches the touch region  10  corresponding to the entire touch panel  130  or a portion of the touch panel  131  with the display module  151  one-to-one. For example, points A, B, C, D and E on the display module  151  may be respectively matched with points a, b, c, d and e on the touch region in  FIG. 12 . According to the absolute coordinate system, the position of a point on the touch region  10  touched by the user substantially corresponds to the relative position of the pointer  30  displayed on the display module  151 . 
         [0106]    Referring to  FIG. 13 , the controller  180  may control the pointer  30  displayed on the display module  151  by using a relative coordinate system which relatively matches the touch region  10  with the display module  151 . For example, when point  20   a  touched by the user on the touch region  10  is moved or dragged to point  20   b,  the pointer  30  is moved by a distance corresponding to the distance between  30   a  and  30   b.    
         [0107]    Further, the controller  180  can use both the absolute coordinate system and the relative coordinate system together.  FIG. 14  illustrates a case where the mobile terminal  100  uses both the absolute coordinate system and the relative coordinate system. 
         [0108]    Referring to  FIG. 14 , the relative coordinate system may be used for a first touch region  10   a  in the touch region  10  and the absolute coordinate system may be used for a second touch region  10   b  in the touch region  10 . Specific functions may be allocated to keys included in the first touch region  10   a  for which the relative coordinate system is used. For example, functions of left/right click buttons of a pointing device such as a mouse can be respectively allocated to two dome keys  137  and  138  located at the top of the first touch region  10   a.    
         [0109]    The operation of the mobile terminal  100  when both the touch panel  131  and the key input unit  132  are used will be described in the following embodiments of the invention. The controller  180  may control the mobile communication module  112  or the wireless Internet module  113  to connect the mobile terminal  100  to the Internet. Further, the controller  180  can access a specific web site through the Internet, and then display a web page provided by the specific web site on the display module  151 . 
         [0110]      FIGS. 15-18  illustrate receiving information when the mobile terminal  100  accesses a web site according to an embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 15  illustrates an image displayed on the display module  151  when the mobile terminal  100  accesses a web site, for example “GOOGLE.” 
         [0111]    Referring to  FIG. 15 , the controller  180  displays a web page provided by the “GOOGLE” site on the display module  151 . The web page may include a plurality of input boxes  40 ,  41  and  42 . The first input box  40  is a region through which a search query for web search is input, and the second and third input boxes  41  and  42  correspond to regions through which ID and a password for log-in are respectively input. 
         [0112]    When the controller  180  receives a preset first key signal from the key input unit  132 , for example a navigation key  139 , the controller  180  can activate the input box closest to the current position of the pointer  30  among the input boxes  40 ,  41  and  42 . In a prior art, the user is required to control the pointer  30  by placing it in a desired input box in order to input information to the input box. However, according to an embodiment of the present invention, the user can input information to a desired input box even if the pointer  30  is not actually placed in the input box. 
         [0113]    As shown in  FIG. 15 , the position of the pointer  30  is closest to the first input box  40  or the distance d 1  between the position of the pointer  30  and the first input box  40  is shorter than the distances d 2  and d 3  respectively, to the second  41  and third  42  input boxes. Therefore, the first input box  40  is activated in response to the first key signal, thus placing a cursor  50  in the first input box  40  to receive input information or search query, as shown in  FIG. 16 . 
         [0114]      FIGS. 17 and 18  illustrate receiving information when the mobile terminal  100  accesses a web site according to another embodiment of the present invention. According to this embodiment, the input box does not need to be activated before receiving input information, and the input information can be received even when no cursor is present in the input box. In other words, when input information is received via the user input unit  130 , the input information is displayed in an input box that is located closest to the position of the pointer  30 . 
         [0115]    Referring to  FIG. 17 , the current position of the pointer  30  is closest to the first input box  40 . If the user presses a key corresponding to “2,” the controller  180  receives a key signal corresponding to “2” and displays “2” in the first input box  40  as illustrated in  FIG. 18 . 
         [0116]    When the pointer  30  is moved to a region around an input box displayed in a specific web page, the controller  180  can control the haptic module  154  to generate vibration to provide feedback to the user, indicating that the pointer  30  is placed at a preset distance from the input window. Here, the controller  180  can control the pointer  30  such that the pointer  30  is not moved any more for a predetermined time after providing the feedback. For the predetermined time, the user may not be able to move the pointer  30  by using the user input unit  130 . 
         [0117]      FIG. 19  illustrates an example of using the key input unit  132  according to an embodiment of the present invention. Referring to  FIG. 19 , when the controller  180  receives a preset second key signal from the key input unit  132 , the controller  180  may display a function key map  60  including a plurality of icons which respectively correspond to at least parts of the keys  61  and are respectively allocated to different menus on the display module  151 . For example, when the user presses a specific key among the plurality of keys  61  while a specific application such as a web browser is activated or in a stand-by state, the function key map  60  may be provided. 
         [0118]    The controller  180  may execute the menu allocated to a specific icon among the plurality of icons when receiving a key signal corresponding to the specific icon from the key input unit  132 . The function key map  60  may be changed according to the currently activated application.  FIG. 19  illustrates the function key map  60  provided when the web browser is activated. 
         [0119]    For example, when the user presses a key corresponding “2” among the plurality of keys  61 , the controller  180  executes a “window change” function because “Window change” is allocated to the icon corresponding to “2” in the function key map  60 . Further, when the user presses a dome key corresponding to “5,” the controller  180  can add the currently accessed web site or web page to “favorite” bookmark or provide a list of web sites or web pages registered to the “favorite” bookmark because “Favorite” is allocated to the icon corresponding to “5” in the function key map  60 . 
         [0120]      FIG. 20  illustrates an example of using the key input unit  132  according to another embodiment of the invention. Referring to  FIG. 20 , the controller  180  may display various objects such as icons on the display module  151 . When the controller  180  receives a preset third key signal from the key input unit  132  while the pointer  30  is pointed to a specific object displayed on the display module  151 , the controller  180  can execute the function allocated to the third key signal and associated with the specific object. 
         [0121]    For example, the pointer  30  is pointing to a specific object  70  in  FIG. 20 . When the user presses a specific key allocated to a selection function (S 300 ), the controller  180  can select the specific object  70  currently indicated by the pointer  30 . The specific object  70  can also be selected by receiving a touch signal through the touch panel  131 . 
         [0122]    For example, assume that a specific function “capture” is allocated to a key corresponding to “2” in  FIG. 20 . When the user presses the key “2” (S 310 ), the controller  180  captures an image of the specific object  70 . 
         [0123]    The controller  180  can receive a touch signal from the point corresponding to the key “2” at the moment when the user presses the key “2”. However, the controller  180  receives a key signal corresponding to the key “2” within a predetermined time according to the above-described embodiment, and thus, the received touch signal can be ignored. In this case, the pointer  30  is not moved from the point indicating the specific object  70 . 
         [0124]    As described above, various functions can be allocated to the plurality of keys included in the key input unit  132 . For example, various functions such as “capture,” “store picture,” “link,” “open in new box,” “store favorite,” “copy &amp; paste,” “view attribute,” “transmit,” “view capacity,” and “designate background image” may correspond to at least portions of the plurality of keys. 
         [0125]      FIGS. 21(   a )- 21 ( c ) illustrate an example of using the key input unit  132  according to another embodiment of the present invention. The controller  180  may move or change the objects displayed on the display module  151  whenever the controller  180  receives a specific key signal from the key input unit  132 . For example, the controller  180  may switch selection of the input boxes  40 ,  41  and  42  whenever the user presses a key corresponding to “0.” 
         [0126]      FIG. 21(   a ) illustrates that the first input box  40  is selected. In this state, selection of the first input box  40  is cancelled and the second input box  41  is selected when the user presses the key corresponding to “0.” When the user presses the key corresponding to “0” one more time, selection of the second input box  41  is cancelled and the third input box  42  is selected. Therefore, the user can easily change the current input box to the next input box by selecting a preset key or pressing the key “0.” 
         [0127]    The above described information inputting method of a mobile terminal according to the present invention can be written as computer programs and can be implemented in digital computers that execute the programs using a computer readable recording medium. The information inputting method of a mobile terminal according to various embodiments of the present invention can be executed through software. The software can include code segments that perform required tasks. Programs or code segments can also be stored in a processor readable medium and transmitted. 
         [0128]    The computer readable recording medium includes all types of recording devices storing data readable by computer systems. Examples of the computer readable recording medium include ROM, RAM, CD-ROM, DVD±ROM, DVD-RAM, magnetic tapes, floppy disks, hard disks, and optical data storage devices. The computer readable recording medium can also be distributed over network coupled computer systems so that the computer readable code is stored and executed in a distributed fashion. 
         [0129]    While the present invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to exemplary embodiments thereof, it will be understood by those of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the following claims.