Patent Publication Number: US-2011050578-A1

Title: Electronic device with switchable input modes and method thereof

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present disclosure relates to electronic devices and, particularly, to an electronic device with selectable input modes and a method thereof. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     Portable electronic devices including a touch screen are very popular. However, users may accidentally press some keys when they are using the touch screen or accidentally touch the touch screen when using the keys of the electronic device. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The components of the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of an electronic device with switchable input modes and a method thereof. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout several views. 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram of an electronic device with switchable input modes in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 2  is a flowchart of a method of switching input modes of an electronic device in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , an embodiment of an electronic device  100  with switchable input modes is illustrated. In the embodiment, the electronic device  100  includes a key input mode and a touch input mode. In the key input mode, users can only input symbols or commands to the electronic device  100  through pressing keys of a keyboard of the electronic device. In the touch input mode, users can only input symbols or commands to the electronic device  100  through touching a touch screen of the electronic device  100 . 
     The electronic device  100  at least includes a keyboard unit  10 , a touch unit  20 , a switch unit  30 , a storage unit  40 , a processing unit  50 , and a display unit  60 . 
     The keyboard unit  10  includes a key input unit  110  and a key input processing unit  130 . The key input unit  110  is configured for generating input signals in response to user input. The key input processing unit  130  is configured for processing the input signals transmitted from the key input unit  110  and transmitting the processed input signals to the processing unit  50 . 
     The touch unit  20  includes a touch input unit  210  and a touch input processing unit  230 . The touch input unit  210  is configured for generating input signals in response to user inputs. The touch input processing unit  230  is configured for processing the input signals transmitted from the touch input unit  210  and transmitting the processed input signals to the processing unit  50 . 
     The switch unit  30  is configured for generating a switch signal in response to user inputs. The switch unit  30  can be a physical key or a soft key expressed by a displayed icon. 
     The storage unit  40  is configured for storing a predetermined time interval T. 
     The processing unit  50  includes a timing module  510 , a comparing module  530 , and a switch controlling module  550 . The timing module  510  is configured for recording a duration T 1  of the switch signal transmitted from the switch unit  30 . The comparing module  530  is configured for comparing T with T 1 . In the embodiment, if T 1  is equal to or greater than T, the comparing module  530  generates a touch input switch signal. If T 1  is less than T, the comparing module  530  generates a key input switch signal. In an alternative embodiment, if T 1  is equal to or greater than T, the comparing module  530  generates the key input switch signal, and if T 1  is less than T, the comparing module  530  generates the touch input switch signal. The switch controlling module  550  is configured for switching the key input mode to the touch input mode according to the touch input switch signal, or switching the touch input mode to the key input mode according to the key input switch signal. 
     The display unit  60  is configured for displaying a graphic user interface. In the embodiment, the display unit  60  is a touch screen. 
       FIG. 2  is a flowchart of a method of switching input modes of the electronic devices  100  in accordance with an exemplary embodiment. 
     In step S 210 , the switch unit  30  generates a switch signal in response to user inputs. 
     In step S 220 , the timing module  510  records T 1  of the switch signal. 
     In step S 230 , the processing unit  50  obtains the T from the storage unit  40 . 
     In step S 240 , the comparing module  530  compares T 1  of the switch signal with T. If T 1  of the switch signal is equal to or greater than T, the comparing module  530  generates the touch input switch signal, and the procedure goes to step S 250 . If T 1  of the switch signal is less than T, the comparing module  530  generates the key input switch signal, and the procedure goes to step S 260 . 
     It should be noted that in an alternative embodiment if T 1  of the switch signal is less than T, the comparing module  530  generates the touch input switch signal. If T 1  of the switch signal is equal to or greater than T, the comparing module  530  generates the key input switch signal. 
     In step S 250 , the switch controlling module  550  switches the key input mode to the touch input mode. 
     In step S 260 , the switch controlling module  260  switches the touch input mode to the key input mode. 
     Although the present disclosure has been specifically described on the basis of the exemplary embodiment thereof, the disclosure is not to be construed as being limited thereto. Various changes or modifications may be made to the embodiment without departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosure.