Patent Publication Number: US-2012044210-A1

Title: Electronic device with sliding touch control function and sliding touch control method thereof

Description:
BACKGROUND 
     1. Technical Field 
     The present disclosure relates to electronic devices, and, particularly, to an electronic device with sliding touch control function and a sliding touch control method thereof. 
     2. Description of Related Art 
     A mechanical key is often equipped on the housing of an electronic device for adjusting the volume. Electronic devices, such as mobile phones, electronic readers, and media players, which include one or more keys to allow users to conveniently adjust volume, page up and down, or pan the images, are commonly known. Generally, a key secured on the housing of the electronic device includes a keycap, a bracket supporting the keycap, a pivot rotatably connecting the keycap to the bracket, an elastic element, and a switch. In use, the keycap rotates about the pivot when being depressed. The pressure is transmitted to the switch by the elastic element. The switch is actuated and generates an input signal. The elastic element also pushes the keycap back to its normal position. However, the restoring forces of the elastic element become weak or even lost after repeated use, thus the reliability of the key decreases with use. 
     Therefore, what is needed is an electronic device an a sliding touch control method thereof alleviating the limitations described above. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of an electronic device and a sliding touch control method thereof. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding parts throughout the several views. 
         FIG. 1  is an isometric view of an exemplary embodiment of an electronic device with sliding touch control function. 
         FIG. 2  is schematic diagram illustrating a touch sensing apparatus of the electronic device of  FIG. 1 . 
         FIG. 3  is a block diagram of the electronic device of  FIG. 1 , according to an exemplary embodiment. 
         FIG. 4  is a flowchart of a sliding touch control method for electronic devices, such as the one of  FIG. 1 , in accordance with the exemplary embodiments. 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic diagram illustrating a sliding touch operation of an electronic device, such as the one of  FIG. 1 , in accordance with the exemplary embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to  FIG. 1 , an electronic device  100  with sliding touch function is disclosed as an exemplary embodiment. The electronic device  100  includes a main body  10 , a touch sensing apparatus  20 , a display unit  30 , and an input unit  40 . The touch sensing apparatus  20  is equipped on the right sidewall of the main body  10 . In alternative embodiments, the touch sensing apparatus  20  may be equipped in another suitable place of the main body  10  according to actual need, such as on the left frame, the upper frame, or the lower frame of the main body  10 . 
     The touch sensing apparatus  20  is configured for users to slide a finger thereon to control the electronic device  100 . For example, a user may slide a finger on the touch sensing apparatus  20  to adjust a volume of the electronic device  100 , or page up and down. In the embodiment, the electronic device  100  is an electronic reader. In another embodiment, the electronic device  100  may be such devices as a mobile phone, a media player, or a digital photo frame. 
     Also referring to  FIG. 2 , the touch sensing apparatus  20  is received in the main body  10  of the electronic device  100 , and includes a transparent panel  21 , a circuit board  22 , a plurality of photoelectric sensors  23  and a microprocessor  24  mounted on the circuit board  22 . The transparent panel  21  is aligned with the upper surface of the main body  10 . The circuit board  22  is allocated under the transparent panel  21 . The plurality of photoelectric sensors  23  are electrically connected to the microprocessor  24 . In the embodiment, there are three photoelectric sensors  23  including a first photoelectric sensor  231 , a second photoelectric sensor  232 , and a third photoelectric sensor  231 . The first, second and third photoelectric sensors  231 ,  232  and  233  are mounted on the circuit board  22  and aligned in a line. The photoelectric sensors  23  can be the photosensitive diode sensors or the phototransistor sensors, which can generate a plurality of current signals changing with the light intensities. In other words, the photoelectric sensors  23  generates a current signal corresponding to the light intensity, and the larger the light intensity is, the higher the intensity of the current signal is. Otherwise, the smaller the light intensity is, the lower the intensity of the current signal is. When the user touches the touch sensing apparatus  20 , the finger shields the transparent panel  21 , thus the ambient light beams are mostly blocked by the finger and cannot reach the photoelectric sensors  23 . The light intensity detected by the photoelectric sensors  23  is weakened, and the photoelectric sensors  23  generate a lower intensity current signal accordingly. 
     The microprocessor  24  stores a predetermined threshold value of the intensity of current signals and receives the plurality of current signals generated by the plurality of photoelectric sensors  23 . The microprocessor  24  also determines whether the touch sensing apparatus  20  is touched according to the received current signals. Specifically, the microprocessor  24  detects whether the intensities of the received current signals changes, compares the intensities of the received current signals to the predetermined threshold value when the intensities of the received current signals change. When the intensities of the received current signals are lower than the predetermined threshold value, the microprocessor  24  determines there is a valid touch operation applied on the touch sensing apparatus  20 . When the intensities of the received current signals remain the same or the intensities of the current signals are higher than the predetermined threshold value, the microprocessor  24  determines there is no touch operation or no valid touch operation applied on the touch sensing apparatus  20 . The microprocessor  24  continues to monitor the intensities of the received current signals when the intensities of the received current signals remain the same. 
     Referring to  FIG. 3 , the electronic device  100  further includes a main processing unit  50  equipped in the main body  10 . The main processing unit  50  is electrically connected to the touch sensing apparatus  20 , the display unit  30 , and the input unit  40 . The microprocessor  24  transmits the touch information of the photoelectric sensors  23  to the main processing unit  50  when a valid touch operation exists. 
     The main processing unit  50  determines a touch track according to the touch information transmitted from the microprocessor  24 . In this embodiment, the main processing unit  50  determines the order of the touch operations on the first, second and third photoelectric sensors  231 ,  232  and  233  within a predetermined time interval according to the receiving order of the touch information of the first, second and third photoelectric sensors  231 ,  232  and  233 . The predetermined time interval may be set according to actual needs, such as 0.5 seconds, 0.8 seconds, or one second. The main processing unit  50  stores a control command list including a plurality of control commands corresponding to a plurality of touch tracks, and executes the corresponding control commands according to the determined order of the touch operations. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4 , a flowchart of a sliding touch control method of the electronic device  100  is shown. The method includes the following steps, each of which is tied to a plurality of components contained in the electronic device  100  as shown in  FIG. 3 . 
     In step S 1 , the microprocessor  24  receives a plurality of current signals of the plurality of photoelectric sensors  23 . 
     In step S 2 , the microprocessor  24  determines whether the intensities of the received current signals change. If yes, the process goes to step S 3 , otherwise, the process goes back to step S 1 . 
     In step S 3 , the microprocessor  24  determines whether the touch sensing apparatus  20  is touched according to the received current signals. If yes, the process goes to step S 4 , otherwise the process goes back to step S 1 . In this embodiment, the microprocessor  24  compares the intensities of the received current signals with the predetermined threshold value to determine whether the touch sensing apparatus  20  is touched. When the intensities of the received current signals are lower than the predetermined threshold value, the microprocessor  24  determines there is a valid touch operation. When the intensities of the received current signal are higher than the predetermined threshold value, the microprocessor  24  determines there is no valid touch operation, and continues to monitor the intensities of the received current signals. 
     In step S 4 , the main processing unit  50  determines a touch track according to the touch information. The main processing unit  50  determines the touch track is from the first photoelectric sensor  231  to the third photoelectric sensor  233  according to the touched order on the first, second and third photoelectric sensors  231 ,  232  and  233  within a predetermined time interval according to the receiving order of the touch information. The predetermined time interval may be set according to actual needs, such as 0.5 seconds, 0.8 seconds, or one second. 
     In Step S 5 , the main processing unit  50  determines whether the received touch track transmitted from the microprocessor  24  exists in the stored control command list. If yes, the process goes to Step S 6 , otherwise, the process goes back to step S 1 . In the embodiment, the control command list includes a plurality of control commands corresponding to the plurality of touch tracks. 
     In Step S 6 , the main processing unit  50  obtains the control command and controls the corresponding unit to execute the control command. 
       FIG. 5  is a schematic diagram illustrating a sliding touch operation of an electronic device, such as the one of  FIG. 1 , in accordance with the exemplary embodiment. When a finger slides on the touch sensing apparatus  20 , a finger shields the transparent panel  21 , thus the light cannot reach the photoelectric sensors  23  directly. The microprocessor  23  determines the intensities of the current signals transmitted from the photoelectric sensor  23  change and become lower than the predetermined threshold value. The microprocessor  23  also transmits the touch information on the photoelectric sensors  23  to the main processing unit  50 . 
     The main processing unit  50  determines the photoelectric sensor  23  is touched according to the touch information. The main processing unit  50  also determines the order of the touch operations on the first, second and third photoelectric sensors  231 ,  232  and  233  within a predetermined time interval according to the receiving order of the touch information. Thus, the main processing unit  50  determines a touch track and controls a corresponding unit to execute a control command corresponding to the touch track stored therein. 
     For detail illustration, when a finger slides from the first photoelectric sensor  231  to the third photoelectric sensor  233 , the first, second and third photoelectric sensors  231 ,  232  and  233  are shielded by the finger in sequence. The microprocessor  24  determines the intensities of the current signals generated by the first, second and third photoelectric sensors  231 ,  232  and  233  are lower than the predetermined threshold value, and transmits the touch information on the first, second and third photoelectric sensors  231 ,  232  and  233  to the main processing unit  50  in sequence. The main processing unit  50  determines the touch track is from the first photoelectric sensor  231  to the third photoelectric sensor  233  according to the touched order on the first, second and third photoelectric sensors  231 ,  232  and  233  within the predetermined time period. The main processing unit  50  also controls corresponding unit(s) to execute the control command corresponding to the touch track stored therein. In the embodiment, the control command is to control a display to display a next page. The main processing unit  50  accordingly controls the display unit  30  to display the next page. 
     When a finger slides from the third photoelectric sensor  233  to the first photoelectric sensor  231 , the third, second and first photoelectric sensors  233 ,  232  and  231  are shielded by the finger in sequence. The microprocessor  24  determines the intensities of the current values generated by the first, second and third photoelectric sensors  231 ,  232  and  233  are lower than the predetermined threshold current. The microprocessor  24  transmits the touch information on the third, second and first photoelectric sensors  233 ,  232 , and  231  to the main processing unit  50  in sequence. The main processing unit  50  determines the touch track is from the third photoelectric sensor  233  to the first photoelectric sensor  231  according to the touched order on the third, second and first photoelectric sensors  233 ,  232 , and  231  within the predetermined time period. The main processing unit  50  also controls corresponding unit(s) to execute the control command corresponding to the touch track stored therein. The main processing unit  50  accordingly controls the display unit  30  to display the previous page. 
     A slide on the touch sensing apparatus  20  may page up and down when the electronic device  100  is an electronic reader. A slide on the touch sensing apparatus  20  may switch songs when the electronic device  100  is a media player. A slide on the touch sensing apparatus  20  may flip photos when the electronic device  100  is a digital photo frame. 
     The touch sensing apparatus  20  operates the electronic device  100  by slide touches, compared to the commonly used mechanical keys, the reliability of the electronic device  100  increases. 
     Although the present disclosure has been specifically described on the basis of the embodiments thereof, the disclosure is not to be construed as being limited thereto. Various changes or modifications may be made to the embodiments without departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosure.