Abstract:
A mobile input device of a mobile terminal includes: a selection unit for selecting an application program of the mobile terminal; an execution instruction unit for generating an instruction to execute the application program; and a wireless communication unit for transmitting the instruction to execute to the mobile terminal, wherein the mobile input device inputs information to the executed application program.

Description:
CLAIM OF PRIORITY 
       [0001]    This application claims priority to an application entitled “MOBILE INPUT DEVICE OF MOBILE TERMINAL” filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Dec. 10, 2007 and assigned Serial No. 2007-0127420, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0003]    The present invention relates to a mobile input device of a mobile terminal, and more particularly, to a mobile input device that can select various application programs, transmit an execution instruction of a selected application program to the mobile terminal using wireless communication, and input information to the application program executed in the mobile terminal. 
         [0004]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0005]    Currently mobile terminals, such as a mobile phone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), and a smart phone, that can provide various functions are widely used. 
         [0006]    The provision of various functions in the mobile terminal, such as: a wireless Internet function, an electronic scheduler function, a multimedia photographing/reproducing function, and a game function, in addition to a basic communication function, has led to a demand for a variety of function-specific data input devices for input of data to the mobile terminal. 
         [0007]    Typical conventional data input devices of the mobile terminal include, for example, a keypad, a touch pad, and a touch screen. When inputting a character, a user unskilled at using the input device may experience difficulty due to the small size of the input device, a complicated character input system, or a different input method according to a kind of a product. 
         [0008]    At present, one method of data input includes displaying a virtual soft keypad on a touch screen and selecting the virtual soft keypad using a stylus with a touch method. In order to perform the aforementioned exemplary method, a user extracts a stylus mounted in a mobile terminal, and then uses the stylus with a touch method. The touch method includes using the stylus to manually select an application program on the mobile terminal by selecting from a menu of the mobile terminal, executing the application program after a relatively lengthy plurality of steps, and inputting information to the executed application program. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0009]    The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and provides a mobile input device of a mobile terminal and a system that can execute an application program in the mobile terminal using wireless communication and that enables convenient application-specific input of information. 
         [0010]    In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, a mobile input device of a mobile terminal includes: a selection unit for selecting an application program; an execution instruction unit for generating an instruction to execute the application program; and a wireless communication unit for transmitting the instruction to the mobile terminal, wherein the mobile input device inputs information to the application program. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0011]    The above features and advantages of the present invention will be more apparent from the following detailed description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which: 
           [0012]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of a mobile input device according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0013]      FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating operation of the mobile input device of  FIG. 1 ; 
           [0014]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of a mobile input device according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0015]      FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a detailed structure of the mobile input device of  FIG. 3 ; 
           [0016]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of a mobile input device according to a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention; 
           [0017]      FIGS. 6A and 6B  are plan views illustrating a detailed structure of the mobile input device of  FIG. 5 ; 
           [0018]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of a mobile input device according to a fourth exemplary embodiment of the present invention; and 
           [0019]      FIG. 8  is a diagram illustrating a display unit of an icon display device according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0020]    Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are described with reference to the accompanying drawings in detail. The same reference numbers are used throughout the drawings to refer to the same or like parts. The views in the drawings are schematic views only, and are not intended to be to scale or correctly proportioned. Detailed descriptions of well-known functions and structures incorporated herein may be omitted for clarity and conciseness when their inclusion could obscure apprehension of the subject matter of the present invention by a person of ordinary skill in the art. 
         [0021]    While the present invention may be embodied in many different forms, specific exemplary embodiments of the present invention are shown in drawings and are described herein in detail, with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered exemplary of the principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the invention to the specific exemplary embodiments illustrated. 
         [0022]      FIG. 1  is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of a mobile input device  100  according to a first exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 2  is a perspective view illustrating operation of the mobile input device. 
         [0023]    The mobile input device  100  has a basic structure of a conventional pen form and includes a pen body  10  and a pen cap  20 . The pen body  10  and the pen cap  20  perform a function of a selection unit of the mobile input device  100 . The mobile input device  100  of the pen form includes a wireless communication unit  18  such as Bluetooth, Ultra Wide Band (UWB), Zigbee, and WiFi at the inside thereof that performs local area wireless communication with a mobile terminal  500  through a local area network such as Bluetooth, Ultra Wide Band (UWB), Zigbee, and WiFi. 
         [0024]    The pen cap  20  has a structure that is rotatably and detachably fastened to the pen body  10 , similar to a cap of a conventional ballpoint pen. At a part of an outer surface of the pen cap  20 , an indicator  21  is marked by printing. Pen cap  20  also includes a magnet  22  which can be provided in an inner area of the pen cap  20  at a position corresponding to that of the outer surface of the pen cap  20  at which the indicator  21  is marked. 
         [0025]    A plurality of icons  11 ,  12 , and  13  representing application programs of the mobile terminal  500  are marked on an outer surface of the pen body  10  in an area in proximity to the pen cap  20 . Hall sensors  14 ,  15  and  16  are provided in an inner area of the pen body  10  at positions corresponding to those of the outer surface of the pen body  10  at which the icons  11 ,  12 , and  13 , respectively, are marked. 
         [0026]    A user can select one of the icons  11 ,  12 , and  13  marked on the pen body  10  by rotating the pen body  10  so that the indicator  21  corresponds to the selected one of the icons  11 ,  12 , and  13 . By way of example, if the user selects the intermediate icon  12  using the indicator  21 , as shown in  FIG. 2 , the hall sensor  15  disposed to correspond to the intermediate icon  12  senses a magnetic field of the magnet  22  disposed in an area of the indicator  21 . Thereby, the hall sensor  15  determines selection of the intermediate icon  12 . 
         [0027]    When a user selects an application program of the mobile terminal  500  corresponding to the intermediate icon  12  using the above-described method, if the pen cap  20  is then separated from the pen body  10 , as shown in  FIG. 2 , a contact point switch  25  attached to the pen body  10  releases from the depressed position and protrudes from the pen body  10 . An inner surface of pen cap  20  depresses the contact point switch  25  when pen body  10  is inserted. This holds the contact point switch  25  in an off state. When the contact point switch  25  is turned on, and as the pen cap  20  containing the sensed magnet  22  is removed, the hall sensor  15  no longer senses a magnetic field and is turned off. A controller  17  provided in the pen body  10  recognizes the turning off of the in hall sensor  15  as an execution instruction of an application program corresponding to the selected intermediate icon  12 . That is, an operation of separating the pen cap  20  from the pen body  10  performs a function of an execution instruction unit of the mobile input device  100 . 
         [0028]    Such an instruction is wirelessly transmitted to the mobile terminal  500  through the wireless communication unit  18 , and the mobile terminal  500 , having received the instruction, executes the selected application program. That is, when a user selects the intermediate icon  12  by rotating the pen body  10 , only a selection state of the application program corresponding to the intermediate icon  12  is input to the controller  17  of the mobile input device  100 , and no operation for executing the application program is performed. When a user separates the pen cap  20  from the pen body  10 , the controller  17  transmits an execution instruction of the application program to the mobile terminal  500  through the wireless communication unit  18 , and the mobile terminal  500  executes the corresponding application program. 
         [0029]    Such a series of operations are performed by the controller  17  provided in the pen body  10  and a controller of the mobile terminal  500 . 
         [0030]    In the present exemplary embodiment, the contact point switch  25  receives an elastic force which enables the protrusion of the contact point switch  25  from the pen body  10 , and is turned off when pressed down by the pen cap  20 . When a pressing force is removed, the contact point switch  25  is turned on as it protrudes, however such a switch configuration can be embodied with various methods commonly known in the art. 
         [0031]    When an application program is executed in the mobile terminal  500 , information is input to the executed application program with various touch methods through a touch screen  110  of the mobile terminal  500  using a pen tip  19  of the mobile input device  100 . For example, the mobile input device  100  can input information to an application program executed in the mobile terminal  500  using a cursive script recognition method. 
         [0032]      FIG. 3  is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of a mobile input device  200  according to a second exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 4  is a cross-sectional view illustrating a detailed structure of the mobile input device of  FIG. 3 . 
         [0033]    The mobile input device  200  includes a pen body  30 , a ring-shaped switch  31 , and a pen cap  40 . The pen body  30  and the ring-shaped switch  31  act as a selection unit of the mobile input device  200 . A basic operation principle of the second exemplary embodiment is similar to that of the first exemplary embodiment, however the second exemplary embodiment includes a structure in which a user selects an application program of the mobile terminal using the ring-shaped switch  31 . 
         [0034]    The second exemplary embodiment, and third and fourth exemplary embodiments described later and illustrated in  FIGS. 5 and 7 , respectively, are similar to the first exemplary embodiment in a basic operation principle, however the exemplary embodiments have differences in a structure of a selection unit for selecting an application program and an execution instruction unit for executing the selected application program. The controller  17 , the wireless communication unit  18 , and the mobile terminal  500  may be equally applied to all of the described exemplary embodiments. 
         [0035]    In the mobile input device  200  of the second exemplary embodiment, icons  41 ,  42 , and  43  representing application programs of the mobile terminal  500  are marked on an outer surface of the ring-shaped switch  31 . Hall sensors  36 ,  37 , and  38  are provided in an inner area of the ring-shaped switch  31  at positions corresponding to those of the outer surface of the ring-shaped switch  31  at which the icons  41 ,  42 , and  43 , respectively, are marked. 
         [0036]    An indicator  32  is marked on the outer surface of the pen body  30 , and a magnet  35  is provided in the pen body  30  at a position corresponding to that of the outer surface of the pen body  30  at which the indicator  32  is marked, as shown in  FIG. 4 . Application programs corresponding to the icons  41 ,  42 , and  43  can be selected by rotating the ring-shaped switch  31 . An operation of executing the application program can be executed by an operation of separating the pen cap  40  from the pen body  30  with the same principle as that of the first exemplary embodiment. That is, an operation of separating the pen cap  40  from the pen body  30  performs a function of instructing an execution of the selected application program to the controller  17  of the mobile input device  200 . 
         [0037]      FIG. 5  is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of a mobile input device  300  according to a third exemplary embodiment of the present invention.  FIGS. 6A and 6B  are plan views illustrating a detailed structure of the mobile input device of  FIG. 5   
         [0038]    The mobile input device  300  includes a pen body  50  and a button  60  that can be rotated and pushed. Icons  66 ,  67 , and  68  representing application programs are marked on an outer surface of the pen body  50  adjacent to the button  60 , and an indicator  62  is marked on a surface of the button  60 . Further, as shown in  FIG. 6B , a magnet  63  is provided in the button  60  at a position corresponding to that of the surface of the button  60  at which the indicator  62  is marked, and a first contact point  65  is provided in the button  60  adjacent to the magnet  63 . A portion of the pen body  50  adjacent to the button  60  includes hall sensors  54 ,  55 , and  56  to correspond to the icons  66 ,  67 , and  68 , respectively, and a second contact point  57  is provided. 
         [0039]    By rotating the button  60 , a user selects one of the icons  66 ,  67 , and  68  using the indicator  62 . When the user selects one of the icons  66 ,  67 , and  68 , if the button  60  is pressed down, controller  17  transmits an instruction for executing an application program corresponding to the selected one of the icons  66 ,  67 , and  68  to the mobile terminal  500  through the wireless communication unit  18 . Thereby, the mobile terminal  500  executes the corresponding application program. That is, an operation of pressing the button  60  performs a function of instructing an execution of the selected application program to the controller  17  of the mobile input device  300 . 
         [0040]      FIGS. 6A and 6B  illustrate a part of the pen body  50 , the button  60 , the hall sensors  54 ,  55 , and  56 , the magnet  63 , and the first and second contact points  65  and  57 . 
         [0041]    A process of pressing the button  60  is described with reference to  FIGS. 6A and 6B . 
         [0042]      FIG. 6A  illustrates a state of selecting one of the icons  66 ,  67 , and  68  by rotating the button  60  when the button  60  is not pressed down.  FIG. 6B  illustrates a state of executing the selected application program when the first contact point  65  and the second contact point  57  are electrically connected by pressing the button  60 . The first and second contact points  65  and  57  can be replaced with a switch of various forms known in the art. 
         [0043]      FIG. 7  is a perspective view illustrating a configuration of a mobile input device  400  according to a fourth exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0044]    A button  72  according to the present exemplary embodiment has a structure that can perform only a pressing operation, not a rotation operation. 
         [0045]    As in the second exemplary embodiment, the mobile input device  400  according to the fourth exemplary embodiment has a ring-shaped switch  71 , and the ring-shaped switch  71  operates as a selection unit for selecting an application program of the mobile terminal  500  by rotating. 
         [0046]    Icons  76 ,  77 , and  78  representing application programs of the mobile terminal  500  are marked on an outer surface of the ring-shaped switch  71 . The ring-shaped switch  71  includes hall sensors (not shown) at positions corresponding to those of the outer surface of the ring-shaped switch  71  at which the icons  76 ,  77 , and  78 , respectively, are marked. 
         [0047]    An indicator  75  is marked on an outer surface of the button  72 , and a button  72  includes a magnet (not shown) at a position corresponding to that of the outer surface at which the indicator  75  is marked, and thus application programs of the mobile terminal  500  corresponding to the icons  76 ,  77 , and  78  can be selected by rotating the ring-shaped switch  71 . 
         [0048]    In a state where a user selects the application program, wireless communication unit  18  transmits an application program execution instruction to the mobile terminal  500  when the user presses the button  72 . The mobile terminal  500 , having received the application program execution instruction, executes the selected application program. That is, an operation of pressing the button  72  performs a function of instructing execution of the selected application program to the controller  17  of the mobile input device  400 . Thereafter, the user inputs information to the executed application program with a touch method using a pen tip  79  of the mobile input device  400 , or inputs information with a cursive script recognition method by directly writing a character using the pen tip  79 . 
         [0049]    In the first to fourth exemplary embodiments, icons for representing application programs can be provided in the mobile input device  400  with various methods known in the art. 
         [0050]    When the number of application programs in which information input of a user is necessary is relatively few, as in the above-described exemplary embodiment, icons for representing approximately three frequently used application programs may be marked with a method such as printing, however due to a trend of an increasing variety of functions, icons may require to be changed and marked, identified, or manipulated by user selection. 
         [0051]      FIG. 8  is a diagram illustrating a display unit of an icon display device according to another exemplary embodiment of the present invention. 
         [0052]    Referring to  FIG. 8 , icons  81 ,  82 , and  83  can be displayed in a display unit  80  that can be formed with a liquid crystal display (LCD). A pen body contains the display unit  80  at a position where icons of a pen body, a ring-shaped switch, etc. described in the exemplary embodiments, would otherwise be located. A user can selectively display icons  81 ,  82 , and  83 . The user can change an icon of the mobile input device  400  using wireless communication of the mobile terminal  500 , as needed. The display unit  80  can use various display devices such as an LCD, a flexible LCD, or an organic light-emitting diode (OLED). Due to a flexible property, the flexible LCD can be easily installed on a round surface of the pen body. Any display unit commonly known to one of ordinary skill in the art can be used. Therefore, the user can register an icon for representing a frequently used application program to the mobile input device  400  and conveniently use the icon. 
         [0053]    Although exemplary embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail hereinabove, it should be clearly understood that many variations and modifications of the basic inventive concepts herein taught which may appear to those skilled in the present art will still fall within the spirit and scope of the present invention, as defined in the appended claims.