ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND OPERATION METHOD THEREFOR

An operation method for an electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a display area and a non-display area. The non-display area includes a sensing area. The operation method includes: detecting whether an application program is executed on the electronic device or not, and when the application program is executed on the electronic device, enabling a touch control area in the sensing area, where a position of the touch control area is related to the application program; and receiving a touch control signal on the touch control area and executing a function of the application program in response to the touch control signal. An electronic device for executing the operation method is also provided.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the priority benefit of Taiwan application serial No. 111100606, filed on Jan. 6, 2022. The entirety of the above-mentioned patent application is hereby incorporated by reference herein and made a part of the specification.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Field of the Invention

The disclosure relates to an electronic device and an operation method therefor, and in particular, to an electronic device of a touch control operation and an operation method therefor.

Description of the Related Art

With the performance enhancement of handheld electronic devices, more and more users use the handheld electronic devices to perform complex operations, such as word processing or online gaming. However, because touch control screens of the handheld electronic devices are not large enough, it is usually not easy for the users to perform the operations or the line of sight is blocked by fingers.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The disclosure provides an operation method for an electronic device. The electronic device includes a display area and a non-display area. The non-display area includes a sensing area. The operation method includes: detecting whether an application program is executed on the electronic device or not, and when the application program is executed on the electronic device, enabling a touch control area in the sensing area, where a position of the touch control area is related to the application program; and receiving a touch control signal on the touch control area and executing a function of the application program in response to the touch control signal.

The disclosure further provides another operation method for an electronic device. The electronic device includes a display area and a non-display area. The non-display area includes a sensing area. The operation method includes: detecting whether an application program is executed on the electronic device or not, and when the application program is executed on the electronic device, enabling a plurality of touch control areas in the sensing area, where each touch control area corresponds to a function of the application program; and receiving a touch control signal on one of the touch control areas and executing the corresponding function based on the touch control area in which the touch control signal is located.

The disclosure further provides an electronic device. The electronic device includes a display area, a non-display area, a processing unit, and a control unit. The non-display area includes a sensing area. The processing unit is configured to execute an application program. The control unit is configured to detect whether the processing unit executes the application program or not, when the processing unit executes the application program, enable a touch control area in the sensing area, where a position of the touch control area is related to the application program, and instruct the processing unit to execute a function of the application program in response to a touch control signal received in the touch control area.

The function of the application program is triggered by using the non-display area based on the electronic device and the operation method therefor provided in the disclosure. In this way, more diversified operation modes are provided without installing extra extended accessories on the electronic device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

More detailed descriptions of specific embodiments of the disclosure are provided below with reference to the schematic diagrams. The features and advantages of the disclosure are described more clearly according to the following description and claims. It should be noted that all of the drawings use very simplified forms and imprecise proportions, only being used for assisting in conveniently and clearly explaining the objective of the embodiments of the disclosure.

Referring toFIG.1,FIG.2, andFIG.3together,FIG.1is a schematic front view of an embodiment of an electronic device according to the disclosure.FIG.2is a schematic rear view of an embodiment of an electronic device according to the disclosure.FIG.3is a schematic block diagram of an embodiment of an electronic device according to the disclosure. An electronic device10of the disclosure includes an outer frame122, a back cover124, a processing unit14, and a control unit16.

In an embodiment, the electronic device10of the disclosure is a mobile phone, a handheld game console, or a tablet computer.

The electronic device10includes a display area12aand a non-display area12b. The display area12ais located on the front of the electronic device10. The non-display area12bis mainly located on the back of the electronic device10and extends to an edge of the front of the electronic device10. The non-display area12bincludes a sensing area A1and a touch control area B1.

In an embodiment, as shown inFIG.1andFIG.2, a display module is accommodated in the outer frame122, to form the display area12a. The back cover124covers the back of the electronic device10. A housing12of the electronic device10is formed by the outer frame122and the back cover124. The sensing area A1is located on the back cover124. The sensing area A1is alternatively located on the outer frame122, such as an edge of the front of the outer frame122, or a side of the outer frame122.

In an embodiment, as shown inFIG.3, the electronic device10includes a touch control controller18. The touch control controller18receives and processes a touch control signal S1from the sensing area A1, and converts the touch control signal into a digital signal S2to be outputted outward.

The control unit16is configured to detect whether the processing unit14executes an application program AP or not, and when the processing unit14executes the application program AP, enable a touch control area B1in the sensing area A1.

In an embodiment, the processing unit14is a central processing unit, or a function unit in a central processing unit.

In an embodiment, the control unit16is a function unit in the central processing unit, firmware, a software program, or a combination thereof.

In an embodiment, the application program AP is a phone calls program, a camera program, a game program, or a video player program.

In an embodiment, the back cover124has a three-dimensional texture at a position corresponding to the touch control area B1, to help a user determine the position of the touch control area B1. In an embodiment, the three-dimensional texture is a three-dimensional pattern, letter, or symbol.

When the processing unit14executes the application program AP, a window or a screen corresponding to the application program AP is displayed in the display area12a. In this case, the control unit16enables a touch control function of the sensing area A1through the touch control controller18. Meanwhile, the control unit16performs subsequent processing on only the digital signal S2whose touch control position is located within a preset area (that is, the touch control area B1), rather than a digital signal S3whose touch control position is located out of the preset area (that is, the touch control area B1). In this way, for the touch control function of the sensing area A1of the electronic device10, the touch control function of only the touch control area B1is enabled.

After the control unit16enables the touch control area B1, when the touch control area B1receives the touch control signal S1, the control unit16instructs the processing unit14to execute a function of the application program AP in response to the touch control signal S1. The function differs as the application program AP differs.

In an embodiment, when the application program AP is the phone calls program, the function is a volume adjustment function. When the application program AP is the camera program, the function is an image scaling function. When the application program AP is the game program, the function is a specific key corresponding to an application program screen displayed in the display area. When the application program AP is the video player program, the function is a volume adjustment function or a fast forward and reverse function.

In an embodiment, the control unit16pre-defines a trigger signal S4. When the touch control signal S1received by the control unit16through the touch control area B1matches the trigger signal S4, the control unit16immediately instructs the processing unit14to execute the function of the application program AP.

In an embodiment, the trigger signal S4is a gesture signal, and a trigger travel of the gesture signal is greater than a preset distance, to prevent the control unit16from making a misjudgment.

In this embodiment, the control unit16sets a single trigger signal S4. In other words, the control unit16responds to only one type of touch control signals S1, and instructs the processing unit14to execute the function of the application program AP.

In another embodiment, the control unit16sets many different types of trigger signals S4, such as a horizontal slide gesture and a vertical slide gesture, and sets different functions for the different trigger signals S4. In this way, the user controls the processing unit14to execute the different functions of the application program AP based on different touch control signals S1.

In an embodiment, when the display area12aof the electronic device10further has a touch control input function, the user adjusts a size, a shape, and a position of the touch control area B1in the sensing area A1by means of touch control through the display area12abased on a personal usage habit, and selects an enabling function corresponding to the touch control area B1.

In the foregoing embodiments, the control unit16enables only a single touch control area B1in the sensing area A1, to receive the touch control signal S1. Based on actual requirements, the control unit16alternatively enables a plurality of touch control areas B1in the sensing area A1, to provide more diversified operation modes.

In an embodiment, referring toFIG.4,FIG.4is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of an electronic device according to the disclosure. The control unit16detects whether the processing unit14executes the application program AP or not, and when the processing unit14executes the application program AP, enables a plurality of independent touch control areas (four touch control areas B2, B3, B4, and B5are shown in the figure) in the sensing area A1.

In an embodiment, the control unit16detects types of application programs AP that the processing unit14executes, and enables touch control areas with different shapes, sizes, or numbers in the sensing area A1according to different application programs AP.

The touch control areas B2, B3, B4, and B5respectively correspond to different functions of the application program AP. In an embodiment, the touch control areas B2, B3, B4, and B5are approximately bilaterally symmetrically distributed on the back of the housing12, to correspond to operations of fingers except the thumbs of the left and right hands of the user.

FIG.5is a schematic block diagram of still another embodiment of an electronic device according to the disclosure. Compared with the embodiment inFIG.3, the electronic device20in this embodiment further includes a gyroscope29, configured to detect an orientation of the electronic device20, to generate an orientation signal S5.

When a processing unit14executes an application program AP, in addition to enabling a touch control controller18, a control unit16enables a touch control area B1in a sensing area based on the orientation signal S5from the gyroscope29. After enabling the touch control area B1, the control unit16instructs a processing unit14to execute a function of the application program AP in response to a touch control signal S1received in the touch control area B1.

Referring toFIG.6andFIG.7together,FIG.6is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of an electronic device20inFIG.5in a horizontal state according to the disclosure.FIG.7is a schematic diagram of an embodiment of an electronic device20inFIG.5in a vertical state according to the disclosure.

The orientation signal S5generated by the gyroscope29reflects the electronic device20in a horizontal state or in a vertical state. When the processing unit14executes the application program AP, the control unit16selectively changes a size, a shape, or a position of the touch control area in the sensing area Al based on the orientation signal S5, to match a usage mode of horizontal holding or vertical holding of the user.

As shown inFIG.6, when the electronic device20is in the horizontal state, the control unit16generates a touch control area B6in the sensing area A1. As shown inFIG.7, when the electronic device20is in the vertical state, the control unit generates a touch control area B7in the sensing area A1. The positions and the sizes of the touch control area B6and the touch control area B7are both different.

For generation manners of the touch control areas B6and B7, in an embodiment, the control unit16presets different touch control areas B6and B7, to correspond to different orientation signals S5. The touch control areas B6and B7are both located in the sensing area A1. When the processing unit14executes the application program AP, the control unit16selects one of the touch control areas (such as the touch control area B7) according to the received orientation signals S5, and is set to preform subsequent processing on only a digital signal S2whose touch control position is located within the selected touch control area B7.

In an embodiment, the control unit16calculates an adjusted touch control area B7from the original touch control area B6based on the received orientation signals S5. When the processing unit14executes the application program AP, the control unit16calculates an adjusted touch control area (such as the touch control area B7) according to the received orientation signals S5, and preforms subsequent processing on only the digital signal S2whose touch control position is located within the adjusted touch control area B7.

After enabling the touch control areas B6and B7, the control unit16further determines a touch control signal S1inputted by the user based on an orientation indicated by the orientation signal S5. As shown by directions of arrows inFIG.6andFIG.7, regardless of being in the horizontal state or in the vertical state, the control unit16responds to horizontal slide gestures in the touch control areas B6and B7. In this way, regardless of whether the electronic device20is in the horizontal state or in the vertical state, the control unit16confirms the touch control signal S1inputted by the user, and then determines whether the touch control signal S1inputted by the user matches the trigger signal S4.

FIG.8is a flowchart of an embodiment of an operation method for an electronic device according to the disclosure. The operation method is applicable to the electronic device10shown inFIG.1toFIG.3.

First, as described in step S120, whether an application program AP is executed on the electronic device10or not is detected, and when the application program AP is executed on the electronic device10, a touch control area B1is enabled in the sensing area A1. A position of the touch control area B1is related to the application program AP.

Then, as described in step S140, a touch control signal S1is received in the touch control area B1, and a function of the application program AP is executed in response to the touch control signal S1. The function is a function that is easily operated by a gesture among functions of the application program AP.

FIG.9is a flowchart of another embodiment of an operation method for an electronic device according to the disclosure. The operation method is applicable to the electronic device10shown inFIG.4.

First, as described in step S220, whether an application program AP is executed on the electronic device10or not is detected, and when the application program AP is executed on the electronic device10, touch control areas B2, B3, B4, and B5are enabled in a sensing area A1. The touch control areas B2, B3, B4, and B5each correspond to a function of the application program AP.

In an embodiment, when the application program AP is a phone calls program, each of the functions corresponding to the touch control areas B2, B3, B4, and B5is a volume adjustment function. When the application program AP is a camera program, the function corresponding to the touch control area B1is an image scaling function. When the application program AP is a game program, the function corresponding to the touch control area B1corresponds to a plurality of different keys in an application program screen displayed in the display area12a. When the application program AP is a video player program, each of the functions corresponding to the touch control areas B2, B3, B4, and B5is a volume adjustment function or a fast forward and reverse function.

Then, as described in step S240, a touch control signal S1is received through one of the touch control areas B2, B3, B4, and B5, and the corresponding function is executed based on the touch control area in which the touch control signal S1is located.

FIG.10is a flowchart of still another embodiment of an operation method for an electronic device according to the disclosure. The operation method is applicable to the electronic device20shown inFIG.5toFIG.7.

First, as described in step S320, whether an application program AP is executed on the electronic device20or not is detected, and when the application program AP is executed on the electronic device20, a touch control area is enabled in a sensing area A1based on an orientation signal S5.

The orientation signal S5indicates that the electronic device20is in a vertical state or a horizontal state. In an embodiment, whether the electronic device20is in the vertical state or the horizontal state is determined based on the orientation signal, to change a position of the touch control area, such as a touch control area B6in the horizontal state inFIG.6, or a touch control area B7in the vertical state inFIG.7, to facilitate a holding operation of the user.

Then, as described in step S340, a touch control signal S1is received in the touch control area, and a function of the application program AP is executed in response to the touch control signal S1. The function is a function that is easily operated by a gesture among functions of the application program AP.

According to the electronic devices10and20, and the operation methods therefor provided in the disclosure, the function of the application program AP is triggered by using a non-display area12bof the electronic device, to facilitate a real-time operation of the user. In addition, more diversified operation modes are provided through a touch control function of the non-display area12b, without installing extra extended accessories on the electronic devices10and20.

The above is merely exemplary embodiments of the disclosure, and does not constitute any limitation on the disclosure. Any form of equivalent replacements or modifications to the technical means and technical content disclosed in the disclosure made by a person skilled in the art without departing from the scope of the technical means of the disclosure still fall within the content of the technical means of the disclosure and the protection scope of the disclosure.