Patent Publication Number: US-2006007176-A1

Title: Input method and control module defined with an initial position and moving directions and electronic product thereof

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      The present invention is related to an input method, a control module and an electronic product thereof and particularly to an input method, a control module and an electronic product thereof defined with an initial position and moving directions to generate different control signals corresponding to different gestures for being used by a main unit in subsequent control function.  
      2. Brief Description of Related Art  
      Currently known touch control device can be roughly classified into capacitance type, resistance type, electromagnet type, pressure type, inductance type, surface sound wave type, supersonic type, photo type and etc. according to principle of physics in detecting touch control point. Actually, frequently used touch control device is belonged to capacitance type or resistance type and the touch control device is applied in a consumption electronic product such as notebook and personal digital assistant. While in use, a stylus or a finger is used to move on the touch control panel to process hand writing words or to perform touch selection function as the mouse does.  
      Referring to  FIG. 1 , U.S. Pat. No. 6,414,671 discloses a touch control device  9 , which can detect capacitance change at a position on the touch control panel  90  being contacted by the finger  8  or the stylus. That is, at the moment of the finger  8  contacting the touch control panel, the touch control panel  90  generates a contact capacitance. The touch control panel  90  has an induced matrix at the surface thereof to electrically connect with an X-direction processing unit  91 , a Y-direction processing unit  92  and an operation unit  93  in the touch control device  9 . The X direction processing unit  91  and the Y-direction processing unit  92  can keep tracking the path of contact capacitance done by the finger  8  and the operation unit  93  can figure out location of the finger  8  with a (X,Y) coordinate parameter and can figure out Z coordinate parameter via measuring different distance changes of the finger  8  on the touch control panel  90 . The operation unit  93  further sends the X, Y, Z coordinate parameters to a displacement unit  94 , a gesture  95  and a transmission interface  96 . The displacement unit  94  calculates the displacement increments ΔX, ΔY and sends the displacement increments ΔX, ΔY to a main unit  97  via the transmission interface  96  so as to offer relative displacements needed by the cursor of the main unit  97 . The gesture unit  95  is to distinguish what gesture such as single tap, double taps, drag the finger  8  touching the touch control panel  90  is. As for the main unit  97 , it can be a personal computer, a notebook computer or a portable electronic product.  
      Although it is convenient to perform calculation of the displacement increments ΔX, ΔY and determination of gesture input type, the preceding method is only suitable for providing relative displacements needed by the cursor of the conventional window software and U.S. Pat. No. 6,414,671 has very limited application.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The crux of the present invention is to allow the touch control device being capable of providing versatile control functions with more extensive use.  
      Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide an input method defined by an initial position and moving directions to generate different control signals corresponding to different gestures for a main unit being capable of using subsequent control functions.  
      Another object of the present invention is to provide a control module, which can convert gestures defined by an initial position and moving directions into different control signals for a main unit being capable of using subsequent control functions.  
      A further object of the present invention is to provide an electronic product defined by an initial position and moving directions and performing multiple control functions according to different gestures.  
      The input method of the present invention defined with an initial position and moving directions has a control module identifying different gestures on a touch control device and generating different control signals corresponding to the gestures for a main unit using subsequent control functions. A position of first contacting the touch control device is assigned as the initial position and parameter data collection is defined in the control module by the initial position and the gestures in different moving directions for being compared. Gestures generated are detected if the definition of the initial position in company with moving directions is coincided. The gestures in accordance with the definition are compared with the parameter data collection and result of comparison is output to the main unit.  
      The control module of the present invention, which is electrically connected to a touch control device and a main unit for identifying gestures of an initial position in company with different moving directions on the touch control device and supplying different control signals for being used by the main unit. The control module includes a coordinate processing unit electrically connected to the touch control device, a parameter memory unit with a parameter data collection therein for being compared with, an operation unit electrically connected to the coordinate processing unit and the parameter memory unit and a transmission interface electrically connected to the main unit.  
      The coordinate processing unit receives and converts the gestures on the touch control device into corresponding coordinate parameters. The operation unit assigns an initial position, which is the first position being touched on the touch control device, with moving directions of the gesture being looked up as a criterion of determination and the coordinate parameter received by the coordinate processing unit being compared with parameter saved in the parameter data collection so as to output the control signal corresponding to the gesture. The transmission interface sends the control signal generated by the operation unit to the main unit.  
      The electronic product of the present invention includes a main unit, a touch control device electrically connected to the main unit; and a control module electrically connected to the main unit and the touch control device for identifying gestures of an initial position in company with different moving directions on the touch control device and offering different control signals for being used by the main unit.  
      The control module includes a coordinate processing unit electrically connected to the touch control device, a parameter memory unit with a parameter data collection therein for being compared with, an operation unit electrically connected to the coordinate processing unit and the parameter memory unit and a transmission interface electrically connected to the main unit.  
      The coordinate processing unit receives and converts the gestures on the touch control device into corresponding coordinate parameters. The operation unit assigns an initial position, which is the first position being touched on the touch control device, with moving directions of the gesture being looked up as a criterion of determination and the coordinate parameter received by the coordinate processing unit being compared with parameter saved in the parameter data collection so as to output the control signal corresponding to the gesture. The transmission interface sends the control signal generated by the operation unit to the main unit. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      The detail structure, the applied principle, the function and the effectiveness of the present invention can be more fully understood with reference to the following description and accompanying drawings, in which:  
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram illustrating components of currently used touch control device and function thereof;  
       FIG. 2  is a plan view illustrating a method of input according to the present invention in a first embodiment thereof which is based on the position of first touch P 1  with a first moving direction and a second moving direction;  
       FIG. 3  is a plan view illustrating a method of input according to the present invention in a second embodiment thereof which is based on the position of first touch P 2  with a third moving direction and a fourth moving direction in addition to the first and the second moving directions shown in  FIG. 2 ;  
       FIG. 4  is a plan view illustrating a method of input according to the present invention in a third embodiment thereof which is based on the position of first touch P 3  with a fifth moving direction, a sixth moving direction and an eighth moving direction in addition to the first, second, third and fourth moving directions shown in  FIG. 3 ;  
       FIG. 5  is a plan view illustrating a method of input according to the present invention in a fourth embodiment thereof which is based on the position of first touch P 4  with a ninth moving direction and a tenth moving direction and the ninth moving direction turns clockwise and the tenth moving direction turns counterclockwise;  
       FIG. 6  is a plan view illustrating the method of input associated with the first, second and third embodiments being used in an electronic product;  
       FIG. 7  is a block diagram illustrating the electronic product shown in  FIG. 6  being composed of a touch control device, a control module and a main unit and the touch control device being provided with a first zone, a second zone and a third zone;  
       FIG. 8  is a plan view illustrating the method of input associated with the second and the fourth embodiments being used in another electronic product; and  
       FIG. 9  is a block diagram illustrating the electronic product shown in  FIG. 8  being provided with a touch control device, a control module and a main unit and the touch control device is arranged a fourth zone and a fifth zone. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
      Referring to  FIG. 2 , the first embodiment of a method of input according to the present invention provides an initial position P 1 , which is the first touched position of the touch control device, in company with a first moving direction  11  and a second moving direction  12 . The first and second moving directions  11 ,  12  extend along an axis, which is originated from the initial position P 1 , in a way of being opposite to each other.  
      It is noted that the first touch position of a finger or an object on the touch control device  1  is identified as the initial position in the present preferred embodiment and the subsequent preferred embodiments of the present invention. That is, any spot of the touch control device  1  can be identified as the initial position P 1 . Hence, once the preceding definition of the initial position P 1  is satisfied, movements along with the first moving direction  11  and the second moving direction  12  are looked up as effective control movements.  
      Referring to  FIG. 3 , the second embodiment of a method of input according to the present invention is illustrated. An initial position P 2 , which is figured out at the first touch, is defined as a basis in company with a third moving direction  13  and a fourth moving direction  14  in addition to the first moving direction  11  and the second moving direction  12 . The first and second moving directions  11 ,  12  are based on the initial position P 2  to extend along an axis in a way of the first and second moving directions  11 ,  12  being opposite to each other. The third and fourth moving directions  13 ,  14  are based on the initial position P 2  to extend oppositely in way of being perpendicular to the axis.  
      The first touch of either a finger or an object on the touch control device  2  is identified as the initial position P 2 . Once the definition of the initial position P 2  is satisfied, movements from the initial position P 2  in the first moving direction  11 , second moving direction  12 , third moving direction  13  and fourth moving direction are looked up as effective control movements.  
      Referring to  FIG. 4 , the third preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. An initial position P 3 , which is measured at the first touch, is defined as a basis in company with a fifth moving direction  15 , a sixth moving direction  16 , a seventh moving direction  17  and an eighth moving direction in addition to the first moving direction  11 , the second moving direction  12 , the third moving direction  13  and the fourth moving direction  14 .  
      Wherein, the fifth moving direction  15  is disposed between the first moving direction  11  and the third moving direction  13 , the sixth moving direction  16  is disposed between the first moving direction  11  and the fourth moving direction  14 , the seventh moving direction is disposed between the second moving direction  12  and the fourth moving direction  14  and the eight moving direction is disposed between the second moving direction  12  and the third moving direction. After an actual test, a great control effect can be obtained in case of an angle between two adjacent moving directions being in a range of 30° and 45°.  
      The first touch of either a finger or an object on the touch control device  3  is identified as the initial position P 3 . Once the definition of the initial position P 3  is fulfilled, movements from the initial position P 3  in the first moving direction  11 , second moving direction  12 , third moving direction  13 , fourth moving direction  14 , fifth moving direction  15 , fifth moving direction  16 , seventh moving direction  17  and eighth moving direction are looked up as effective control movements.  
      Referring to  FIG. 5 , the third preferred embodiment of the present invention is illustrated. An initial position P 4 , which is measured at the first touch, is defined as a basis in company with a ninth moving direction  19  and a tenth moving direction  20  and the ninth moving direction  19  is a clockwise direction and the tenth moving direction is a counterclockwise direction. The first touch of either a finger or an object on the touch control device  2  is identified as the initial position P 4 . Once the definition of the initial position P 4  is fulfilled, movements from the initial position P 4  in the ninth moving direction  11  and the tenth moving direction are looked up as effective control movements.  
      Referring to  FIGS. 6 and 7 , an example of an electronic product  5  associated with a method of input in the first, the second the third and the fourth preferred embodiments is illustrated. The electronic product  5  can be divided into a plurality of zones on the touch control device  51  thereof and the zones are a first zone  511 , a second zone  512 , a third zone  513 . Besides, the electronic product  5  provides a control module  52  therein to electrically connect with the touch control device  51  and a main unit  53 . The control module  52  is used for identifying the initial positions P 1 , P 2  and P 3  produced at the first, second and third zones respectively joining with gestures of different moving directions and to generate different control signals  502  for control of the main unit  53 . As for the initial positions P 1 , P 2  and P 3  joining with gestures of different moving directions, which have been illustrated in  FIGS. 2, 3  and  4 , no detail will be explained further.  
      The electronic product  5  in the example can be a touch type remote controller and can identify different initial positions with gestures in different moving directions. Further, the control signal  520  generated by the remote controller can allow the main unit  53  to provide remote control function for item selections of the main menu and multiple media control items such as channel adjustment and volume adjustment. As for the arranged first zone  511 , second zone  512  and third zone  513 , the generated control item with the output control signal  502  thereof corresponding to the initial positions P 1 ′, P 2 ′ and P 3 ′ with gestures of different moving directions are listed in table 1.  
                       TABLE 1                       Position + Gesture   Control Item Instruction   Control Signal                  P1′ + double taps   Return to main menu   00000001       P1′ + single tap   selected   00000010                                     Move to right   00000011                                     Move to left   00000100                                     Move up   00000101                                     Move down   00000110                                     Contrast increase   00000111                                     Contrast decrease   00001000                                     Channel increase successively   00001001                                     Channel decrease successively   00001010                                     Volume increase   00001011                                     Volume decrease   00001100                                     Power source   00001101                                     silence   00001110                                     Brightness increase   00001111                                     Brightness decrease   00010000               P3′ + single tap   If located at the button, button   00010001           signal is output       P3′ + single tap   If not located at the button, it is           ineffective.       P3′ + single tap   Enter   00010010                  
 
      The control module  52  in the electronic product  5  has a coordinate processing unit  521 , a parameter memory unit  522  with preset parameter data collection for comparison, an operation unit  523  electrically connected to the coordinate processing unit  521  and the parameter memory unit  522  and a transmission interface  524  electrically connected to the main unit  53 . The coordinate processing unit  521  receives gestures on the touch control device  51  and converts the gestures into a coordinate parameter  501 . The operation unit  523  assigns an initial position, which is the first position being touched on the touch control device  51 , and the initial position paring with moving direction of the gesture is made as a criterion of determination. The coordinate parameter received by the coordinate processing unit  521  is compared with parameter saved in the parameter data collection so that the control signal  502  corresponding to the gesture can be output. Further, the transmission interface  524  sends the control signal  502  generated by the operation unit  523  to the main unit  53 .  
      Referring to  FIGS. 8 and 9 , an example of an electronic product  6  associated with a method of input in the second and the fourth preferred embodiments is illustrated. The electronic product  6 , which is a touch control remote controller too, includes a touch control device  61  and a control module  62 . The connecting way of the control module  62  to the main unit  63  and related functions of the control module  62  are similar to the preceding electronic product  5  and the touch control device  61  of the electronic product  6  is divided into a plurality of zones too. The difference of the touch control device  61  from the touch control device  51  is in that the zones are a fourth zone  611  and a fifth zone  612  and the control module  62  generates different control signals  602  corresponding to initial positions P 2 ″ and P 4 ″ with gestures in different moving directions for successive control of the main unit  63 . As for the initial positions P 2 ″ and P 4 ″ with gestures of different moving directions, which have been illustrated in  FIGS. 3 and 5 , no detail will be explained further.  
      The arranged fourth zone  611  and the fifth zone  612 , the generated control item with the output control signal  502  thereof corresponding to the initial positions P 2 ″ and P 4 ″ with gestures of different moving directions are listed in table 2.  
                       TABLE 2                       Position + Gesture   Control item instruction   Control signal                  P2″ + single tap   selected   00000001       P2″ + double taps   Return to main menu   00000010       P2″ + →   Move to right   00000011       P2″ + ←   Move to left   00000100       P2″ + ↑   Move up   00000101       P2″ + ↓   Move down   00000110       P4″ + turning clockwise   Channel increase   00000111       P4″ + turning   Channel decrease   00001000       counterclockwise       P4″ + single tap   Enter   00001001       P4″ + single tap   If located at the button,   00001010           button signal is output                  
 
      It is noted that the electronic products  5 ,  6  can be any electronic devices, which provides control function by way of a method of touch control type input. It can be done with the control module  52 ,  62  being connected to the touch control device to output actually applicable control signals for being joined to different main units so that multiple control functions can be implemented.  
      It is appreciated that comparing to the conventional input way, which offers relative displacement needed by the cursor of the ordinary window software, being very limited in application, the present invention provides a method of input, a control module and an electronic product with which the touch control device can be divided into a plurality of zones and each zone is suitable for operating the method of input of the present invention in addition to providing initial position of gesture, defining moving direction and outputting different control signals. Hence, the present invention allows the touch control device to offer more versatile control functions so as to expand the applicable field thereof.  
      While the invention has been described with referencing to the preferred embodiments thereof, it is to be understood that modifications or variations may be easily made without departing from the spirit of this invention, which is defined by the appended claims.