Patent Publication Number: US-2016239148-A1

Title: Method of controlling activation area of touch screen panel and electronic device using the same

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION AND CLAIM OF PRIORITY 
     The present application is related to and claims benefit under 35 U.S.C. §119(a) to Korean Application Serial No. 10-2015-0024459, which was filed in the Korean Intellectual Property Office on Feb. 17, 2015, the entire content of which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     Various embodiments of the present disclosure relate to a method of controlling an activation area of a touch screen panel and an electronic device using the same. 
     BACKGROUND 
     In general, various types of electronic devices, such as smart phones, tablet PCs, etc., have been widely used. With the wide use of electronic devices, users have been increasingly interested in various forms of external accessories that may be mounted on the electronic devices. 
     External accessories may include cover products for protecting the bodies and Touch Screen Panels (TSPs) of electronic devices. For example, the covers protect the bodies, the touch screen panels, etc. of the electronic devices, and operate in conjunction with the electronic devices through electrical signals such that the electronic devices provide arbitrary assistance functions. 
     SUMMARY 
     To address the above-discussed deficiencies, it is a primary object to provide a method of controlling an activation area of a touch screen panel and an electronic device using the same that can activate a partial area of the touch screen panel, which corresponds to a view window of a cover that is mounted on the electronic device, as an effective touch area when the cover is closed. 
     According to the various embodiments of the present disclosure, a method of operating an electronic device may include: setting a partial area of a touch screen panel, which corresponds to a view window of a cover that is mounted on the electronic device, as an effective touch area when the cover is closed; and when the cover mounted on the electronic device is closed, activating the partial area of the touch screen panel that corresponds to the set effective touch area. 
     According to the various embodiments of the present disclosure, an electronic device may include: a touch screen panel; a controller configures to control the touch screen panel; and a processor coupled to the controller, wherein the processor is configured to set a partial area of the touch screen panel, which corresponds to a view window of a cover that is mounted on the electronic device, as an effective touch area when the cover is closed; and activate the partial area of the touch screen panel, which corresponds to the set effective touch area, in conjunction with the controller when the cover, which is mounted on the electronic device is closed. 
     According to the various embodiments of the present disclosure, a partial area of a touch screen panel that corresponds to a view window of a cover that is mounted on an electronic device can be activated as an effective touch area when the cover is closed, thereby preventing unnecessary power consumption and inefficient signal processing and efficiently corresponding to various types of view windows that have different arbitrary shapes, sizes, and location coordinates. 
     Before undertaking the DETAILED DESCRIPTION below, it may be advantageous to set forth definitions of certain words and phrases used throughout this patent document: the terms “include” and “comprise,” as well as derivatives thereof, mean inclusion without limitation; the term “or,” is inclusive, meaning and/or; the phrases “associated with” and “associated therewith,” as well as derivatives thereof, may mean to include, be included within, interconnect with, contain, be contained within, connect to or with, couple to or with, be communicable with, cooperate with, interleave, juxtapose, be proximate to, be bound to or with, have, have a property of, or the like; and the term “controller” means any device, system or part thereof that controls at least one operation, such a device may be implemented in hardware, firmware or software, or some combination of at least two of the same. It should be noted that the functionality associated with any particular controller may be centralized or distributed, whether locally or remotely. Definitions for certain words and phrases are provided throughout this patent document, those of ordinary skill in the art should understand that in many, if not most instances, such definitions apply to prior, as well as future uses of such defined words and phrases. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       For a more complete understanding of the present disclosure and its advantages, reference is now made to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference numerals represent like parts: 
         FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating an electronic device equipped with a cover; 
         FIG. 2  is a diagram illustrating the first touch processing method for the electronic device equipped with the cover; 
         FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating the second touch processing method for the electronic device equipped with the cover; 
         FIGS. 4A to 4C  are block diagrams of an electronic device, according to various embodiments of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 5  is a flowchart illustrating a method of controlling an activation area of a touch screen panel according to an embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 6  is a block diagram of an electronic device according to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 7  is a flowchart illustrating a method of controlling an activation area of a touch screen panel according to another embodiment of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 8  is a diagram illustrating a method of recognizing a view window of a cover according to various embodiments of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 9  is a diagram illustrating another method of recognizing a view window of a cover according to various embodiments of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 10  is a diagram illustrating a method of processing an input touch according to various embodiments of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 11  is a diagram illustrating a difference in resolution between a view window image and a touch screen panel according to various embodiments of the present disclosure; 
         FIG. 12  is a diagram illustrating a view window image that is converted to have a low resolution and effective touch area information of a touch screen panel according to various embodiments of the present disclosure; and 
         FIG. 13  is a block diagram of the whole configuration of an electronic device according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       FIGS. 1 through 13 , discussed below, and the various embodiments used to describe the principles of the present disclosure in this patent document are by way of illustration only and should not be construed in any way to limit the scope of the disclosure. Those skilled in the art will understand that the principles of the present disclosure may be implemented in any suitably arranged system or device. Hereinafter, the present disclosure is described with reference to the accompanying drawings. The present disclosure may be changed variously and have various embodiments, and specific embodiments are exemplarily described and related detailed descriptions are made in the present specification. However, it should be understood that the various embodiments of the present disclosure are not limited to a specific embodied form and include all modifications and/or equivalents or substitutions that fall within the spirit and technical scope of the present disclosure. In the drawing, like reference numerals are used for like elements. 
       FIG. 1  is a diagram illustrating an electronic device equipped with a cover. Referring to  FIG. 1 , the electronic device  100  may be a portable terminal, such as a smart phone, etc., and the cover  200 , which is one of the various forms of external accessories that may be mounted on the electronic device  100 , may operate in conjunction with the electronic device  100  through an electrical signal. 
     The cover  200  may have, for example, a rectangular view window  20  formed therein, and the view window  20  may be formed in various forms, such as a circle, a heart, etc., on a portion of the front of the cover  200 . The view window  20  may also be diversely referred to as different arbitrary names, such as, for example, a touch window, etc. 
     The view window  20  may be covered with, for example, a transparent conductive material that is widely used as a protection film of a touch screen panel, or may be a simple hole that is not covered with anything. When the front of the electronic device  100  is overlaid with the cover  200 , a user can view a partial area of the display screen of the electronic device  100  only through the view window  20 . 
     Further, the user may execute a desired operation by touching a partial area of the Touch Screen Panel (TSP) of the electronic device  100  only through the view window  20 . Namely, even though the user unconsciously touches a portion of the cover other than the view window  20 , the electronic device does not detect the touch as a touch input, thereby preventing an unnecessary operation from being executed irrespective of the user&#39;s intention. 
     For example, there may be two touch processing methods in which a user executes a desired operation by touching a partial area of the touch screen panel (TSP) only through the view window  20  as described above. Hereinafter, the two touch processing methods will be described with reference to  FIGS. 2 and 3 . 
       FIG. 2  is a diagram illustrating the first touch processing method for the electronic device that is equipped with the cover. The electronic device  100  may be a smart phone, etc., and the electronic device  100  may include a touch screen panel (TSP), a TSP controller IC that controls the touch screen panel, a processor that operates in conjunction with the TSP controller IC, etc. 
     Referring to  FIG. 2 , the processor may have a stacked structure in which a kernel driver, an input framework, a UI framework, an application, etc. are operated in conjunction with each other with software. The TSP controller IC  10   a , and the kernel driver  10   b  and the input framework  10   c  of the processor continually maintain an effective touch area for the touch screen panel (TSP) as it is even though the cover  200 , which is mounted on the electronic device  100 , is closed. 
     In contrast, the framework  10   d  and the application  10   e  of the processor may restrict the effective touch area for the touch screen panel (TSP) to a smaller area than the original size thereof through filtering. For example, the framework  10   d  and the application  10   e  of the processor may restrict the effective touch area for the touch screen panel (TSP) to 30% thereof through filtering in order to correspond to the shape, size, location coordinates, etc. of the view window  20 , which is forming in the cover  200 . 
     Accordingly, a user may execute a desired operation by touching a partial area (e.g., 30%) of the touch screen panel (TSP) only through the view window  20 . However, in this case, power may be unnecessarily consumed, and signals may be inefficiently processed since the TSP controller IC  10   a , and the kernel driver  10   b  and the input framework  10   c  of the processor continually maintain the effective touch area for the touch screen panel (TSP) as it is while the cover  200 , which is mounted on the electronic device  100 , is closed. 
       FIG. 3  is a diagram illustrating the second touch processing method for the electronic device equipped with the cover. The electronic device  100  may be a smart phone, etc., and the electronic device  100  may include a touch screen panel (TSP), a TSP controller IC that controls the touch screen panel, a processor that operates in conjunction with the TSP controller IC, etc. Referring to  FIG. 3 , the processor may have a stacked structure in which a kernel driver, an input framework, a UI framework, an application, etc. are operated in conjunction with each other in software. 
     When the cover  200  is closed, the TSP controller IC  11   a , the kernel driver  11   b , the input framework  11   c , the UI framework  11   d , and the application  11   e  may all restrict an effective touch area for the touch screen panel (TSP) to a smaller area than the original size thereof. For example, all of them may restrict the effective touch area for the touch screen panel (TSP) to 30% thereof through filtering in order to correspond to the shape, size, location coordinates, etc. of the view window  20 , which is formed in the cover  200 . 
     Accordingly, a user may execute a desired operation by touching a partial area (e.g., 30%) of the touch screen panel (TSP) only through the view window  20 . However, in this case, it is impossible to efficiently correspond to various types of view windows that have different arbitrary shapes, sizes, location coordinates, etc. since the TSP controller IC  11   a  has to be fixed in the firmware in advance in order to restrict only the partial area (e.g., 30%) of the touch screen panel (TSP) to the effective touch area. 
       FIG. 4A  is a block diagram of an example of an electronic device  201 , according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. The electronic device  201  may configure, for example, all or a portion of the electronic device  101  illustrated in  FIG. 1 . Referring to  FIG. 4A , the electronic device  201  may include one or more application processors (AP)  210 , a communication module  220 , a subscriber identification module (SIM) card  224 , a memory  230 , a sensor module  240 , an input unit  250 , a display  260 , an interface  270 , an audio module  280 , a camera module  291 , a power management module  295 , a battery  296 , an indicator  297 , or a motor  298 . 
     The AP  210  may drive an OS or an application to control a plurality of hardware or software elements connected to the AP  210 , and perform various data processes including multimedia data and operations. The AP  210  may be implemented, for example, as a system on chip (SoC). According to an embodiment, the AP  210  may further include a graphic processing unit (GPU) (not shown). 
     The communication module  220  (e.g., the communication interface  170 ) may perform data transmission/reception in communication between the electronic device  201  (e.g., the electronic device  101 ) and other electronic devices (e.g., the electronic device  102 ,  104  or the server  106 ) connected via a network. According to an embodiment, the communication module  220  may include a cellular module  221 , a Wi-Fi module  223 , a BT module  225 , a GPS module  227 , an NFC module  228 , and a Radio Frequency (RF) module  229 . 
     The cellular module  221  may provide voice communication, image communication, a short message service, or an Internet service, etc. via a communication network (e.g., LTE, LTE-A, CDMA, WCDMA, UMTS, WiBro, or GSM, etc.). Also, the cellular module  221  may perform discrimination and authentication of an electronic device within a communication network using, for example, a subscriber identity module (e.g., a SIM card  224 ). According to an embodiment, the cellular module  221  may perform at least a portion of functions that may be provided by the AP  210 . For example, the cellular module  221  may perform at least a portion of a multimedia control function. 
     According to an embodiment, the cellular module  221  may include a communication processor (CP). Also, the cellular module  221  may be, for example, implemented as a SoC. Though elements such as the cellular module  221  (e.g., a communication processor), the memory  230 , or the power management module  295 , etc. are illustrated as elements separated from the AP  210  in  FIG. 2 , according to an embodiment, the AP  210  may be implemented to include at least a portion (e.g., the cellular module  221 ) of the above-described elements. 
     Each of the Wi-Fi module  223 , the BT module  225 , the GPS module  227 , or the NFC module  228  may include, for example, a processor for processing data transmitted/received via a relevant module. Though the cellular module  221 , the Wi-Fi module  223 , the BT module  225 , the GPS module  227 , or the NFC module  228  are illustrated as separate blocks in  FIG. 2 , according to an embodiment, at least a portion (e.g., two or more elements) of the cellular module  221 , the Wi-Fi module  223 , the BT module  225 , the GPS module  227 , or the NFC module  228  may be included in one Integrated Circuit (IC) or an IC package. For example, at least a portion (e.g., a communication processor corresponding to the cellular module  221  and a Wi-Fi processor corresponding to the Wi-Fi module  223 ) of processors corresponding to each of the cellular module  221 , the Wi-Fi module  223 , the BT module  225 , the GPS module  227 , or the NFC module  228  may be implemented as one SoC. 
     The RF module  229  may perform transmission/reception of data, for example, transmission/reception of an RF signal. The RF module  229  may include, for example, a transceiver, a power amp module (PAM), a frequency filter, or a low noise amplifier (LNA), etc., though not shown. Also, the RF module  229  may further include a part for transmitting/receiving an electromagnetic wave on a free space in wireless communication, for example, a conductor or a conducting line, etc. Though  FIG. 2  illustrates the cellular module  221 , the Wi-Fi module  223 , the BT module  225 , the GPS module  227 , and the NFC module  228  share one RF module  229 , according to an embodiment, at least one of the cellular module  221 , the Wi-Fi module  223 , the BT module  225 , the GPS module  227 , or the NFC module  228  may perform transmission/reception of an RF signal via a separate RF module. 
     The SIM card  224  may be a card including a subscriber identify module, and may be inserted into a slot formed in a specific position of the electronic device. The SIM card  224  may include unique identity information (e.g., integrated circuit card identifier (ICCID)) or subscriber information (e.g., international mobile subscriber identity (IMSI)). 
     The memory  230  (e.g., the memory  130 ) may include a built-in memory  232  or an external memory  234 . The built-in memory  232  may include, for example, at least one of a volatile memory (e.g., dynamic RAM (DRAM), static RAM (SRAM), synchronous dynamic RAM (SDRAM)) and a non-volatile memory (e.g., one-time programmable ROM (OTPROM), programmable ROM (PROM), erasable and programmable ROM (EPROM), electrically erasable and programmable ROM (EEPROM), mask ROM, flash ROM, NAND flash memory, NOR flash memory, etc.). 
     According to an embodiment, the built-in memory  232  may be a Solid State Drive (SSD). The external memory  234  may further include a flash drive, for example, compact flash (CF), secure digital (SD), micro secure digital (Micro-SD), mini secure digital (Mini-SD), extreme digital (xD), or a memory stick. The external memory  234  may be functionally connected to the electronic device  201  via various interfaces. According to an embodiment, the electronic device  201  may further include a storage device (or a storage medium) such as a hard drive. 
     The sensor module  240  may measure a physical quantity or detect an operation state of the electronic device  201 , and convert the measured or detected information to an electric signal. The sensor module  240  may include, for example, at least one of a gesture sensor  240 A, a gyro sensor  240 B, an atmospheric pressure sensor  240 C, a magnetic sensor  240 D, an acceleration sensor  240 E, a grip sensor  240 F, a proximity sensor  240 G, a color sensor  240 H (e.g., RGB (red, green, blue) sensor), a living body sensor  240 I, a temperature/humidity sensor  240 J, an illuminance sensor  240 K, or an ultra violet (UV) sensor  240 M. Additionally or alternatively, the sensor module  240  may include, for example, an E-nose sensor (not shown), an electromyography (EMG) sensor (not shown), an electroencephalogram (EEG) sensor (not shown), an electrocardiogram (ECG) sensor (not shown), an infrared (IR) sensor (not shown), an iris sensor (not shown), or a fingerprint sensor (not shown), etc. The sensor module  240  may further include a control circuit for controlling at least one sensor belonging thereto. 
     The input unit  250  may include a touch panel  252 , a (digital) pen sensor  254 , a key  256 , or an ultrasonic input unit  258 . The touch panel  252  may recognize a touch input using at least one of capacitive, resistive, infrared, or ultrasonic methods. Also, the touch panel  252  may further include a control circuit. A capacitive touch panel may perform detection by a physical contact or proximity recognition. The touch panel  252  may further include a tactile layer. In this case, the touch panel  252  may provide a tactile reaction to a user. 
     The (digital) pen sensor  254  may be implemented using, for example, a method which is the same as or similar to receiving a user&#39;s touch input, or using a separate sheet for detection. The key  256  may include, for example, a physical button, an optical key or keypad. The ultrasonic input unit  258  is a unit for recognizing data by detecting a sound wave using a microphone (e.g., a microphone  288 ) in the electronic device  201  via an input tool generating an ultrasonic signal, and enables wireless recognition. According to an embodiment, the electronic device  201  may receive a user input from an external device (e.g., a computer or a server) connected to the communication module  220  using the communication module  220 . 
     The display  260  (e.g., the display  150 ) may include a panel  262 , a hologram device  264 , or a projector  266 . The panel  262  may be, for example, a liquid crystal display (LCD), or an active-matrix organic light-emitting diode (AM-OLED), etc. The panel  262  may be implemented, for example, such that it is flexible, transparent, or wearable. The panel  262  may be configured as one module together with the touch panel  252 . The hologram device  264  may show a three-dimensional image in the air using interferences of light. The projector  266  may project light onto a screen to display an image. The screen may be positioned, for example, inside or outside the electronic device  201 . According to an embodiment, the display  260  may further include a control circuit for controlling the panel  262 , the hologram device  264 , or the projector  266 . 
     The interface  270  may include, for example, a high-definition multimedia interface (HDMI)  272 , a universal serial bus (USB)  274 , an optical interface  276 , or a D-subminiature (D-sub)  278 . The interface  270  may be included, for example, in the communication interface  170  illustrated in  FIG. 1 . Additionally or alternatively, the interface  270  may include, for example, a mobile high-definition link (MHL) interface, a secure digital (SD) card/multi-media card (MMC) interface, or an infrared data association (IrDA) standard interface. 
     The audio module  280  may convert a sound and an electric signal in dual directions. At least a partial element of the audio module  280  may be included, for example, in the I/O interface  150  illustrated in  FIG. 1 . The audio module  280  may process sound information input or output via, for example, a speaker  282 , a receiver  284 , an earphone  286 , or a microphone  288 , etc. 
     The camera module  291  is a device that may shoot a still image and a moving picture. According to an embodiment, the camera module  291  may include one or more image sensors (e.g., a front sensor or a rear sensor), a lens (not shown), an image signal processor (ISP) (not shown), or a flash (not shown) (e.g., an LED or xenon lamp). 
     The power management module  295  may manage the power supply of the electronic device  201 . Though not shown, the power management module  295  may include, for example, a power management integrated circuit (PMIC), a charger integrated circuit (IC), or a battery or a battery or fuel gauge. 
     The PMIC may be mounted, for example, inside an integrated circuit or a SoC semiconductor. A charging method may be classified into a wired charging method and a wireless charging method. The charging IC may charge a battery and prevent overvoltage or overcurrent from being caused by a charger. According to an embodiment, the charging IC may include a charging IC for at least one of the wired charging method and the wireless charging method. The wireless charging method may be, for example, a magnetic resonance method, a magnetic induction method, or an electromagnetic wave method, etc., and may additionally include an additional circuit for wireless charging, for example, a circuit such as a coil loop, a resonance circuit, or a rectifier, etc. 
     The battery gauge may measure, for example, a remnant of the battery  296 , a voltage, a current, or a temperature while charging. The battery  296  may store or generate electricity, and supply power to the electronic device  201  using the stored or generated electricity. The battery  296  may include, for example, a rechargeable battery or a solar battery. 
     The indicator  297  may display a specific state of the electronic device  201  or a portion thereof (e.g., the AP  210 ), for example, a booting state, a message state, or a charging state, etc. The motor  298  may convert an electric signal to mechanical vibration. Though not shown, the electronic device  201  may include a processor (e.g., a GPU) for supporting a mobile TV. The processor for supporting the mobile TV may process media data corresponding to standards, for example, such as digital multimedia broadcasting (DMB), digital video broadcasting (DVB), or a media flow, etc. 
       FIG. 4B  is a block diagram of an electronic device according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.  FIG. 4C  is another block diagram of the electronic device according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure.  FIG. 5  is a flowchart illustrating a method of controlling an activation area of a touch screen panel according to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     Referring to  FIG. 4B , the electronic device  100  may be, for example, a smart phone, etc. The electronic device  100  may include a processor  110 , a touch screen panel  120 , a TSP controller  130 , etc., and the TSP controller  130  may be manufactured in various forms, such as an IC, a module, etc. that operates in conjunction with the processor  110 . As described above with reference to  FIG. 4A , the electronic device  100  may include various configurations, a pen sensor, an ultrasonic input device, etc. 
     The processor  110  may be operated in conjunction with an external accessory, for example a cover  200 , which is mounted on the electronic device  100 , by an electrical signal wherein the cover  200  has a view window formed therein. In cases where the electronic device  100  is equipped with the cover  200 , the processor  110  may set a partial area of the touch screen panel  120 , which corresponds to the view window of the cover  200 , as an effective touch area when the cover  200  is closed. The processor  110  may operate in conjunction with the TSP controller  130  to activate only the partial area of the touch screen panel  120 , which corresponds to the set effective touch area, when the cover  200  is closed. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 4B , the processor  110  may be functionally divided into a certification module  110   a , a recognition module  110   b , a control module  110   c , etc. For example, the certification module  110   a  may certify whether the cover  200  is a genuine product or not through communication with the cover  200 , and in cases where the cover  200  is a genuine product, the recognition module  110   b  may recognize the shape, size, location coordinates, etc. of the view window that is formed in the cover  200 . 
     The control module  110   c  may set the partial area of the touch screen panel  120 , which corresponds to the recognized view window, as an effective touch area when the cover  200  is closed, and may operate in conjunction with the TSP controller  130  to activate only the partial area of the touch screen panel  120 , which corresponds to the set effective touch area, when the cover  200  is closed. 
     The modules  110   a ,  110   b , and  110   c  may be diversely implemented in software, firmware, etc., and at least one of the modules  110   a ,  110   b , and  110   c  may be installed as a separate element from the processor  110  to operate in conjunction with the processor  110 . The processor  110  may be referred to as, for example, another arbitrary name, such as an application processor, etc. Referring to  FIG. 4C , all or one of the modules  110   a ,  110   b , and  110   c  may also be an external S/W module that is configured separately from the processor  110 . 
     Referring to  FIG. 5 , in operation  500 , the processor  110  may communicate with the cover  200  in cases where the electronic device  100  is equipped with the cover  200 . For example, the processor  110  may acquire unique cover information, which is allocated to the cover  200 , through the communication with the cover  200 . 
     The unique cover information may include certification information required by the processor  110  to determine whether the cover  200  is a normal product that can electrically interwork with the electronic device  100 . For example, the certification information may be a unique code, such as a serial number, etc. that the manufacturer of the cover  200  and the manufacturer of the electronic device  100  has assigned in advance. 
     Further, the unique cover information may include recognition information required by the processor  110  to recognize the shape, size, location coordinates, etc. of the view window formed in the cover  200 . For example, the recognition information may be code values, for example the shape code, the size code, the location coordinate code, etc., which represent the shape, size, location coordinates, etc. of the view window formed in the cover  200 , or may be image information that represents the shape, size, location coordinates, etc. of the view window at one time. 
     In operation  501 , the processor  110  may certify whether the cover  200  is a genuine product or not based on the certification information included in the unique cover information. For example, if the certification information included in the unique cover information differs from the previously assigned unique certification information, the processor  110  may determine that the certification has failed and may allow an error message to be displayed. 
     In operation  502 , if the certification information agrees with the previously assigned unique certification information, the processor  110  may perform a view window recognition operation of recognizing the shape, size, location coordinates, etc. of the view window, which is formed in the cover  200 , based on the certification information included in the unique cover information. 
     For example, the processor  110  may recognize the view window formed in the cover  200  based on the shape code, the size code, the location coordinate code, etc. that are acquired as the certification information for the view window, or may recognize the view window formed in the cover  200  by scanning the image information that is acquired as the certification information for the view window. 
     In operation  503 , the processor  110  may control an activation area for the touch screen panel  120  based on the recognized view window. For example, the processor  110  may set a partial area of the touch screen panel  120 , which corresponds to the shape, size, location coordinates, etc. of the recognized view window, as an effective touch area when the cover  200  is closed, and thereafter, may operate in conjunction with the TSP controller  130  to activate only the partial area of the touch screen panel  120 , which corresponds to the set effective touch area, when the cover  200  is closed. 
     Accordingly, when the cover  200  is closed, the processor  110  may restrict the effective touch area for the touch screen panel  120  to correspond to the view window of the cover  200 , thereby preventing unnecessary power consumption and inefficient signal processing, and efficiently corresponding to various view windows that have different arbitrary shapes, sizes, location coordinates, etc. 
       FIG. 6  is a block diagram of an electronic device according to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, and  FIG. 7  is a flowchart illustrating a method of controlling an activation area of a touch screen panel according to another exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure. 
     Referring to  FIG. 6 , the electronic device  100  may be, for example, a smart phone, etc. The electronic device  100  may include a processor  110 , a touch screen panel  120 , a TSP controller  130 , a communication module  140 , etc., and the TSP controller  130  may be manufactured in various forms, such as an IC, a module, etc. that operates in conjunction with the processor  110 . 
     The processor  110  may be operated in conjunction with external accessories that are mounted on the electronic device  100 , for example, covers  200   a ,  200   b , and  200   c  that have various shapes of view windows formed therein as illustrated in  FIG. 6 , by electrical signals. In cases where the electronic device  100  is equipped with one of the covers, for example, the cover  200   b  that has a heart-shaped view window formed therein, the processor  110  may set a partial area of the touch screen panel  120 , which corresponds to the view window of the cover  200   b , as an effective touch area when the cover  200   b  is closed. 
     The processor  110  may operate in conjunction with the TSP controller  130  to activate only the partial area of the touch screen panel  120 , which corresponds to the set effective touch area, when the cover  200   b  is closed. 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 6 , the processor  110  may be functionally divided into a certification module  110   a , a recognition module  110   b , a control module  110   c , etc. For example, the certification module  110   a  may certify whether the cover  200   b  is a genuine product or not through communication with the cover  200   b , and in cases where the cover  200   b  is a genuine product, the recognition module  110   b  may recognize the shape, size, location coordinates, etc. of the view window that is formed in the cover  200   b.    
     Here, the function of certifying whether the cover is a genuine product or not and the function of recognizing the shape, size, location coordinates, etc. of the view window may be performed by an interface with a server  400 , which is connected through a network  300 , in conjunction with the communication module  140 . 
     Further, as described above with reference to  FIG. 4 a   , the functions may be performed by an interface with another electronic device or server, which is in a short range, through a short-range communication module, such as the Wi-Fi module  223 , the Bluetooth module  225 , etc. 
     The control module  110   c  may set the partial area of the touch screen panel  120 , which corresponds to the recognized view window, as an effective touch area when the cover  200   b  is closed, and may operate in conjunction with the TSP controller  130  to activate only the partial area of the touch screen panel  120 , which corresponds to the set effective touch area, when the cover  200   b  is closed. 
     The modules  110   a ,  110   b , and  110   c  may be diversely implemented in software, firmware, etc., and at least one of the modules  110   a ,  110   b , and  110   c  may be installed as a separate element from the processor  110  to operate in conjunction with the processor  110  as described above with reference to  FIG. 4C . The processor  110  may be referred to as, for example, another arbitrary name, such as an application processor, etc. 
     Referring to  FIG. 7 , in operation  700 , the processor  110  may communicate with the cover  200   b  in cases where the electronic device  100  is equipped with the cover  200   b . For example, the processor  110  may acquire unique cover information, which is allocated to the cover  200   b , through the communication with the cover  200   b . Alternatively, through the communication with the cover  200   b , the processor  110  may acquire URL information, etc. by which access to the cover information can be made. 
     The unique cover information may include certification information required by the processor  110  to determine whether the cover  200   b  is a normal product that can electrically interwork with the electronic device  100 , through the interface with the server  400 . For example, the certification information may be a unique code, such as a serial number, etc. that the manufacturer of the cover  200   b  and the manufacturer of the electronic device  100  has assigned in advance. 
     Further, the unique cover information may include recognition information required by the processor  110  to recognize the shape, size, location coordinates, etc. of the view window, which is formed in the cover  200   b , through the interface with the server  400 . 
     For example, the recognition information may be code values, for example the shape code, the size code, the location coordinate code, etc., which represent the shape, size, location coordinates, etc. of the view window formed in the cover  200   b , or may be image information that represents the shape, size, location coordinates, etc. of the view window at one time. 
     In operation  701 , the processor  110  may certify whether the cover  200   b  is a genuine product or not, through the interface with the server  400  based on the certification information included in the unique cover information. For example, the processor  110  may generate the certification information included in the unique cover information and a certification request message, and may transmit the generated certification information and certification request message to the server  400 . 
     In response to the certification request message, the server  400  may identify whether the certification information of the cover  200   b  has been stored in, for example, a genuine-product certification database and thereafter, may generate a certification response message that corresponds to the identification result and transmit the generated certification response message to the processor  110 . The processor  110  may allow an error message to be displayed when the certification response message shows that the certification has failed. 
     In operation  702 , if the certification response message shows that the certification has succeeded, the processor  110  may perform a view window recognition operation of recognizing the shape, size, location coordinates, etc. of the view window, which is formed in the cover  200   b , through the interface with the server  400  based on the recognition information included in the unique cover information. 
     For example, the processor  110  may transmit, to the server  400 , the shape code, the size code, the location coordinate code, etc. that have been acquired as the recognition information for the view window, or may transmit, to the server  400 , the image information that has been acquired as the recognition information for the view window. Further, the processor  110  may generate a recognition request message, in addition to the recognition information, and may transmit the same to the server  400 . 
     In response to the recognition request message, the server  400  may set a partial area of the touch screen panel, which corresponds to the shape, size, location coordinates, etc. of the view window, as an effective touch area, and thereafter, may generate information on the effective touch area and a recognition response message and transmit the generated information and recognition response message to the processor  110  of the electronic device. 
     Meanwhile, according to the exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the electronic device may perform a procedure of downloading the recognition information for the view window from the server and setting an effective touch area based on the downloaded recognition information. 
     In operation  703 , the processor  110  may control an activation area for the touch screen panel  120  based on the information on the effective touch area that is received together with the recognition response message. For example, when the cover  200   b  is closed, the processor  110  may operate in conjunction with the TSP controller  130  to activate only the partial area of the touch screen panel  120  that corresponds to the effective touch area information. 
     Accordingly, through the interface with the server  400 , the processor  110  may restrict the partial area of the touch screen panel  120 , which corresponds to the view window of the cover  200   b , to the effective touch area when the cover  200   b  is closed. 
     Namely, the electronic device, according to various embodiments of the present disclosure, may perform the certification operation of determining whether the cover is a genuine product or not autonomously or through the interface with the server  400  that is connected thereto through the network. 
     Further, the electronic device may perform the recognition operation of recognizing the shape, size, location coordinates, etc. of the view window of the cover autonomously or through the interface with the server  400  that is connected thereto through the network. Meanwhile, a wider variety of methods for recognizing the view window of the cover may exist, and will be described below in detail. 
       FIG. 8  is a diagram illustrating a method of recognizing a view window of a cover according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. Referring to  FIG. 8 , a cover  200  mounted on an electronic device, such as a smart phone, etc., may have, for example, a heart-shaped view window  20  formed therein. 
     The electronic device equipped with the cover  200  may output a video guidance message or an audio guidance message in order to recognize, for example, the shape, size, location coordinates, etc. of the view window  20  of the cover  200 . 
     The user of the electronic device may close the cover  200 , which is mounted on the electronic device, with reference to the video guidance message, the audio guidance message, etc. and then, as illustrated in  FIG. 8 , the user may seamlessly perform a series of continuous drag operation of starting a drag from one arbitrary point in a partial area of a touch screen panel  120  that is exposed through the view window  20  of the cover  200  and ending the drag at the point. 
     A processor  110  of the electronic device may recognize image information that corresponds to the user&#39;s drag values that are detected along the periphery of the view window  20  of the cover  200 , and may set the partial area of the touch screen panel  120 , which corresponds to the recognized image information, as an effective touch area when the cover  200  is closed. 
     Here, when the drag start point  800  coincides with the drag end point  801 , and the drag  802  is seamlessly performed on the path between the drag start point and the drag end point, the processor  110  may determine the user&#39;s drag values to be effective values for recognizing the view window  20  of the cover  200 . 
     When the shape, size, location coordinates, etc. of the view window  20  of the cover are normally recognized through the above-described process, the processor  110  may allow various forms of messages  803  (e.g., Hello) for informing that the view window has normally been recognized to be displayed in the partial area of the touch screen panel  120 , which corresponds to the view window  20 , as illustrated in  FIG. 8 . 
       FIG. 9  is a diagram illustrating another method of recognizing a view window of a cover  200  according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. Referring to  FIG. 9 , a cover  200  mounted on an electronic device, such as a smart phone, etc., may have, for example, a heart-shaped view window formed therein, and a heart-shaped conductive pattern  910  may be mounted on the inside of the cover along the periphery of the view window. Here, the remaining area of the cover  200  other than the view window may be formed of a non-conductive material (e.g., leather, plastic, etc.) 
     As illustrated in  FIG. 9 , the conductive pattern  910  may be connected to a circuit element  940 , which is mounted on the rear plate of the cover, through a signal line  930  that is connected thereto through a GND  920 . The circuit element  940  may be a Near Field Communication (NFC) IC by which the cover is operated in conjunction with the electronic device by an electrical signal, and unique cover information allocated to the cover may be stored in the circuit element  940 . 
     The electronic device equipped with the cover  200  may output a video guidance message or an audio guidance message in order to recognize, for example, the shape, size, location coordinates, etc. of the view window  20  of the cover  200 . For example, the user of the electronic device may set the operating mode of the electronic device to a view window recognition mode with reference to the video guidance message or the audio guidance message, and may then close the cover  200 , which is mounted on the electronic device. 
     When the cover  200  is closed while the view window recognition mode is set, a processor  110  of the electronic device may recognize, as illustrated in  FIG. 9 , image information  950  that corresponds to the view window  20  based on the sensitivity of a touch screen panel  120  that is detected by the characteristic of the conductive material that is mounted on the inside of the cover along the periphery of the view window of the cover. 
     The processor  110  may set a partial area of the touch screen panel  120 , which corresponds to the recognized image information  950 , as an effective touch area when the cover  200  is closed, and may operate in conjunction with the TSP controller  130  to activate only the partial area of the touch screen panel  120 , which corresponds to the set effective touch area, when the cover  200  is closed. 
     In addition, every time the cover  200  is closed, or when a user makes a request for identification, the processor  110  may recognize image information corresponding to the view window based on the sensitivity of the touch screen panel that is detected by the conductive material that is mounted on the inside of the cover along the periphery of the view window  20 . 
     Further, the processor  110  may determine whether the currently recognized image information of the view window agrees with the previously recognized image information of the view window, and if not, the processor  110  may determine that a new cover having a different view window formed therein has been newly mounted on the electronic device. 
     The processor  110  may perform at least one of outputting a message for informing of the determination result, making the previously set effective touch area invalid, and automatically setting an effective touch area that corresponds to the view window of the new cover. 
       FIG. 10  is a diagram illustrating a method of processing an input touch according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. Referring to  FIG. 10 , an electronic device, such as a smart phone, etc., may be equipped with, for example, a cover  200  that has a heart-shaped view window  20  formed therein. 
     The user of the electronic device may normally touch a partial area of a touch screen panel  120  of the electronic device that is exposed to the outside through the heart-shaped view window  20  while the cover  200  is closed. 
     In this case, a point type of touch may be detected on the touch screen panel  120 , and the point type of touch signal is detected to have a higher level than a preset reference threshold value so that a processor  110  may recognize the touch signal as a normal touch detection signal. 
     In contrast, the user of the electronic device may unconsciously touch another area of the touch screen panel  120  that is not exposed to the outside through the heart-shaped view window  20  while the cover  200  is closed. 
     In this case, a palm type of touch may be detected on the touch screen panel  120 , and since the palm type of touch signal is detected to have a lower level than the preset reference threshold value, the palm type of touch signal cannot be recognized as a normal touch detection signal by the processor  110 , which makes it possible to prevent an unnecessary malfunction from being generated. 
     According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, the view window of the cover may be formed of a different material from the remaining area of the cover other than the view window so that, when a touch is input to the remaining area of the cover other than the view window, the touch input pattern may be diversely processed by using the difference between actual contact surfaces that the touch screen panel recognizes 
       FIG. 11  is a diagram illustrating a difference in resolution between a view window image and a touch screen panel according to various embodiments of the present disclosure, and  FIG. 12  is a diagram illustrating a view window image that is converted to have a low resolution and effective touch area information of a touch screen panel according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. 
     Referring to  FIG. 11 , a cover mounted on an electronic device, such as a smart phone, etc., may have, for example, a heart-shaped view window  20  formed therein, and recognition information that represents the shape, size, location coordinates, etc. of the view window  20  may be a view window image with a high resolution in which the heart shape is included. 
     A processor  110  of the electronic device may recognize the shape, size, location coordinates, etc. of the view window  20  by scanning the high-resolution view window image, and may set a partial area of a touch screen panel, which corresponds to the view window, as an effective touch area when the cover is closed. 
     The touch screen panel  120 , which has a lower resolution than the image of the view window  20 , may have a mesh structure in which a plurality of touch sensors  130   a  to  130   c  are arranged in the horizontal (X-axis) direction and the vertical (Y-axis) direction. The processor  110 , when scanning the high-resolution view window image, may apply a down scanning algorithm such that the low-resolution touch screen panel and the high-resolution view window image match each other. 
     Referring to  FIG. 12 , the image  1200  of the view window that is converted from a high resolution to a low resolution by a down scanning algorithm as described above may match effective touch area information  1300  for selectively activating the plurality of touch sensors that are arranged on the touch screen panel in the horizontal and vertical directions. 
     The processor  110  may transmit the effective touch area information  1300  to a TSP controller  130  after generating the effective touch area information  1300  of the touch screen panel through the matching process. Meanwhile, the processor  110  may transmit image information of the view window to the TSP controller  130 , and the TSP controller  130  may make the low-resolution touch screen panel and the high-resolution view window image match each other. 
     However, considering that data processing capability of the processor  110  is higher than that of the TSP controller  130 , the processor  110  may preferably perform the operation of matching the low-resolution touch screen panel and the high-resolution view window image. 
       FIG. 13  is a block diagram of the whole configuration of an electronic device according to various embodiments of the present disclosure. Referring to  FIG. 13 , the electronic device  100  may be, for example, a smart phone, etc. The electronic device  100  may include a processor  110 , a touch screen panel  120 , a TSP controller  130 , a communication module  140 , etc., and the TSP controller  130  may be manufactured in various forms, such as an IC, a module, etc. that operates in conjunction with the processor  110 . 
     The processor  110  may be operated in conjunction with an external accessory, for example a cover  200 , which is mounted on the electronic device  100 , by an electrical signal wherein the cover  200  has various forms of view windows formed therein. In cases where the electronic device  100  is equipped with the cover  200 , the processor  110  may set a partial area of the touch screen panel  120 , which corresponds to the view window of the cover  200 , as an effective touch area when the cover  200  is closed. 
     The processor  110  may operate in conjunction with the TSP controller  130  to activate only the partial area of the touch screen panel  120 , which corresponds to the set effective touch area, when the cover  200  is closed. As illustrated in  FIG. 13 , the processor  110  may be functionally divided into a certification module  110   a , a recognition module  110   b , a control module  110   c , a kernel driver  110   d , a UX/Framework  110   e , etc. For example, the certification module  110   a  may certify whether the cover  200  is a genuine product or not through communication with the cover  200 , and in cases where the cover  200  is a genuine product, the recognition module  110   b  may recognize the shape, size, location coordinates, etc. of the view window formed in the cover  200 . 
     Here, the function of certifying whether the cover is a genuine product or not and the function of recognizing the shape, size, location coordinates, etc. of the view window may be performed by an interface with a server  400 , which is connected through a network  300 , in conjunction with the communication module  140 . 
     The control module  110   c  may set the partial area of the touch screen panel  120 , which corresponds to the recognized view window, as an effective touch area when the cover  200  is closed, and may operate in conjunction with the TSP controller  130  to activate only the partial area of the touch screen panel  120 , which corresponds to the set effective touch area, when the cover  200  is closed. 
     The kernel driver  110   d  may relay data transmission/reception between the control module  110   c  and the TSP controller  130 , and the UX/Framework  110   e  may provide various functions that a user wants by executing an application that corresponds to a touch input that is entered through the kernel driver  110   d.    
     In cases where the electronic device  100  is equipped with the cover  200 , the processor  110  may communicate with the cover  200  to acquire unique cover information allocated to the cover  200 . Here, the communication with the cover may be performed by using a typical contact scheme or an NFC scheme, and through the communication, the unique cover information may be read from an NFC IC, which is installed on the rear plate of the cover, in a pairing scheme. 
     The unique cover information may include certification information required by the processor  110  to determine, through the interface with the server  400 , whether the cover  200  is a normal product that can electrically interwork with the electronic device  100 . For example, the certification information may be a unique code, such as a serial number, etc. that the manufacturer of the cover  200  and the manufacturer of the electronic device  100  has assigned in advance. 
     Further, the unique cover information may include recognition information required by the processor  110  to recognize the shape, size, location coordinates, etc. of the view window, which is formed in the cover  200 , through the interface with the server  400 . For example, the recognition information may be code values, for example the shape code, the size code, the location coordinate code, etc., which represent the shape, size, location coordinates, etc. of the view window formed in the cover  200 , or may be image information that represents the shape, size, location coordinates, etc. of the view window at one time. 
     The processor  110  may certify whether the cover  200  is a genuine product or not through the interface with the server  400  based on the certification information included in the unique cover information. For example, the processor  110  may generate the certification information included in the unique cover information and a certification request message, and may transmit the generated certification information and certification request message to the server  400 . 
     In response to the certification request message, the server  400  may identify whether the certification information of the cover  200  has been stored in, for example, a genuine-product certification database and thereafter, may generate a certification response message that corresponds to the identification result and transmit the generated certification response message to the processor  110  of the electronic device. The processor  110  may allow an error message to be displayed when the certification response message shows that the certification has failed. 
     If the certification response message shows that the certification has succeeded, the processor  110  may perform a view window recognition operation of recognizing the shape, size, location coordinates, etc. of the view window, which is formed in the cover  200 , through the interface with the server  400  based on the recognition information included in the unique cover information. 
     For example, the processor  110  may transmit, to the server  400 , the shape code, the size code, the location coordinate code, etc. that have been acquired as the recognition information for the view window, or may transmit, to the server  400 , the image information that has been acquired as the recognition information for the view window. Further, the processor  110  may generate a recognition request message, in addition to the recognition information, and may transmit the same to the server  400 . 
     In response to the recognition request message, the server  400  may set a partial area of the touch screen panel, which corresponds to the shape, size, location coordinates, etc. of the view window, as an effective touch area and thereafter, may generate information on the effective touch area and a recognition response message and transmit the generated information and recognition response message to the processor  110  of the electronic device. 
     The processor  110  may control an activation area for the touch screen panel  120  based on the information on the effective touch area, which is received together with the recognition response message. For example, when the cover  200  is closed, the processor  110  may operate in conjunction with the TSP controller  130  to activate only the partial area of the touch screen panel  120  that corresponds to the effective touch area information. 
     In addition, when the cover  200  is closed, the processor  110  may operate in conjunction with the TSP controller  130  to increase the touch sensitivity for the partial area of the touch screen panel, which corresponds to the view window, to be higher than a preset reference sensitivity. In contrast, when the cover  200  is changed from a closed state to an open state, the processor  110  may operate in conjunction with the TSP controller  130  to reset the touch sensitivity for the partial area of the touch screen panel, which corresponds to the view window, to the preset reference sensitivity. 
     Although the present disclosure has been described with an exemplary embodiment, various changes and modifications may be suggested to one skilled in the art. It is intended that the present disclosure encompass such changes and modifications as fall within the scope of the appended claims.