Patent Publication Number: US-10331337-B2

Title: Feedback method according to touch level and touch input device performing the same

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 14/555,751, filed Nov. 28, 2014, which claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to Korean Patent Application No. 10-2013-0147582, filed Nov. 29, 2013, Korean Patent Application No. 10-2013-0147583, filed Nov. 29, 2013, Korean Patent Application No. 10-2013-0152493, filed Dec. 9, 2013, Korean Patent Application No. 10-2014-0017255, filed Feb. 14, 2014, Korean Patent Application No. 10-2014-0034169, filed Mar. 24, 2014, Korean Patent Application No. 10-2014-0043284, filed Apr. 11, 2014, Korean Patent Application No. 10-2014-0055732 filed May 9, 2014, Korean Patent Application No. 10-2014-0098917, filed Aug. 1, 2014, Korean Patent Application No. 10-2014-0124920, filed Sep. 19, 2014, and Korean Patent Application No. 10-2014-0145022, filed Oct. 24, 2014. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND 
     Field 
     The present invention relates to a feedback method according to a touch level and a touch input device performing the same, and more particularly to a technology of supplying feedback to allow a user to cheek a touch pressure, a touch area and/or a touch time period on a touch screen, thereby making it possible to unlock the touch screen by using the feedback. 
     Description of Related Art 
     A variety of input devices are being used to operate a computing system. For example, input devices like a button, a key, a joystick and a touch screen are being used. Since the touch screen is easy and simple to operate, the touch screen is increasingly being used in operation of the computing system. 
     The touch screen may include a touch sensor panel which may be a transparent panel including a touch-sensitive surface. Such a touch sensor panel is attached to the front side of a display panel, and then the touch-sensitive surface may cover the visible side of the display panel. The touch screen allows a user to operate the computing system by simply touching the screen by a finger, etc. In general, the touch screen recognizes the touch on the panel and touch position, and then the computing system analyzes the touch and performs operations in accordance with the analysis. 
     A variety of tasks can be done by the interaction between the user and the device through the touch screen in a touch input device including the touch screen. To accomplish various tasks, there are requirements for not only whether a touch occurs or not on the touch screen but also classifying a touch level. Also, as the touch input device, especially, a computing device including the touch screen gradually has a higher performance, the user is allowed to perform financial tasks as well as private tasks by using the corresponding devices and the range of the task is now gradually expanding. Accordingly, security for the touch input device is also required to be heightened. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY 
     In one embodiment, a touch input device capable of unlocking passcode in accordance with a touch pressure is disclosed, the touch input device comprising a touch screen which displays a passcode input window; a controller which generates a first control signal as to whether or not a touch on the passcode input window matches a predetermined passcode; and a memory which stores the predetermined passcode; wherein the passcode input window comprises a plurality of nodes which are disposed in different positions; wherein the number of touched nodes among the plurality of nodes, the order of the touched nodes among the plurality of nodes, and a pressure level of the touch on each of the touched nodes among the plurality of nodes are set as the predetermined passcode; and wherein the pressure level of the touch is classified into at least two levels. 
     In another embodiment, a method for unlocking a passcode in a touch input device in accordance with a touch pressure is disclosed, the method comprising displaying a passcode input window on a touch screen; determining a pressure level of a touch on the passcode input window; and generating a first control signal as to whether or not the touch on the passcode input window matches a predetermined passcode; wherein the passcode input window comprises a plurality of nodes which are disposed in different positions; wherein the number of touched nodes among the plurality of nodes, the order of the touched nodes among the plurality of nodes, and the pressure level of the touch on each of the touched nodes among the plurality of nodes are set as the predetermined passcode; and wherein the pressure level of the touch is classified into at least two levels. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         FIG. 1  is a structure view of a touch input device according to an embodiment of present invention; 
         FIGS. 2 a  and 2 b    are views for describing the capacitance change amount due to pressure; 
         FIGS. 3 a  and 3 b    are views for describing the capacitance change amount due to the area; 
         FIGS. 4 a  and 4 b    are views for describing the touch time period; 
         FIG. 5  shows feedback performing steps based on a touch level on the touch screen of the touch input device according to the embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 6 a  to 6 e    show a feedback means and feedback method according to the touch level in accordance with a first embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 7 a  and 7 b    show a feedback means and feedback method according to the touch level in accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 8  shows a feedback means and feedback method according to the touch level accordance with a third embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIGS. 9 a  to 9 d    show a process of unlocking a passcode input window in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention; 
         FIG. 10  shows a structure of the touch screen according to the first embodiment; 
         FIGS. 11 a  to 11 d    show a structure of a touch position sensing module of the touch screen according to the first embodiment; 
         FIGS. 12 a  to 12 f    show a structure of a touch pressure sensing module of the touch screen according to the first embodiment; 
         FIG. 13  shows a structure of the touch screen according to the second embodiment; 
         FIGS. 14 a  to 14 k    show a structure of a touch position-pressure sensing module of the touch screen according to the second embodiment; 
         FIG. 15  shows a structure of the touch screen according to the third embodiment; 
         FIGS. 16 a  to 16 b    show a structure of a touch pressure sensing module of the touch screen according to the embodiment; 
         FIG. 17 a    shows a structure of the touch screen according to a fourth embodiment; 
         FIGS. 17 b  and 17 c    are structure views of touch pressure sensing and touch position sensing of the touch screen according to the fourth embodiment; and 
         FIGS. 18 a  to 18 d    are structure views showing the shape of an electrode formed in the touch sensing module according to the embodiment. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     The following detailed description of the present invention shows a specified embodiment of the present invention and will be provided with reference to the accompanying drawings. The embodiment will be described in enough detail that those skilled in the art are able to embody the present invention. It should be understood that various embodiments of the present invention are different from each other and need not be mutually exclusive. The following detailed description is not intended to be limited. If adequately described, the scope of the present invention is limited only by the appended claims of the present invention as well as all equivalents thereto. Similar reference numerals in the drawings designate the same or similar functions in many aspects. 
     Hereafter, as touch device  100  including a touch screen  130  according to the embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. Prior to the description of the functions and features of the touch input device  100  according to the embodiment of the present invention, the touch screen  130  included in the touch input device  100  will be described in detail with reference to  FIGS. 10 to 18 . 
       FIG. 10  shows a structure of the touch screen according to a first embodiment. 
     As shown in  FIG. 10 , the touch screen  130  may include a touch position sensing module  1000 , a touch pressure sensing module  2000  disposed under the touch position sensing module  1000 , a display module  3000  disposed under the touch pressure sensing module  2000 , and a substrate  4000  disposed under the display module  3000 . For example, the touch position sensing module  1000  and the touch pressure sensing module  2000  may be a transparent panel including a touch-sensitive surface. Hereafter, the modules  1000 ,  2000 ,  3000  and  5000  for sensing the touch position and/or touch pressure may be collectively designated as a touch sensing module. 
     The display module  3000  is able to display the screen to allow a user to visually check contents. Here, the display module  3000  may display by means of a display driver. The display driver (not shown) is a software allowing an operating system to manage or control a display adaptor and is a kind of a device driver. 
       FIGS. 11 a  to 11 d    show a structure of the touch position sensing module according to the first embodiment.  FIGS. 18 a  to 18 c    are structure views showing the shape of an electrode formed in the touch position sensing module according to the embodiment. 
     As show in  FIG. 11 a   , the touch position sensing module  1000  according to the embodiment may include a first electrode  1000  formed in one layer. Here, the first electrode  1100  may be, as shown in  FIG. 18 a   , comprised of a plurality of electrodes  6100 , and then a driving signal may be input to each electrode  6100  and a sensing signal including information on self-capacitance may be output from each electrode. When an object like a user&#39;s finger approaches the first electrode  1100 , the finger functions as a ground and the self-capacitance of first electrode  1100  is changed. Therefore, the touch input device  100  is able to detect the touch position by measuring the self capacitance of the first electrode  1100 , which is changed as the object like the user&#39;s finger approaches the touch screen  130 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 b   , the touch position sensing module  1000  according to the embodiment may include the first electrode  1100  and a second electrode  1200 , which are formed on different layers. 
     Here, the first and the second electrodes  1100  and  1200  are, as shown in  FIG. 18 b   , comprised of a plurality of first electrodes  6200  and a plurality of second electrodes  6300  respectively. The plurality of first electrodes  6200  and the plurality of second electrodes  6300  may be arranged to cross each other. A driving signal may be input to any one of the first electrode  6200  and the second electrode  6300 , and a sensing signal including information on mutual capacitance may be output from the other. As shown in  FIG. 11 b   , when the object like the user&#39;s finger approaches the first electrode  1100  and the second electrode  1200 , the finger functions as a ground, so that the mutual capacitance between the first electrode  1100  and the second electrode  1200  is changed. In this case, the touch input device  100  measures the mutual capacitance between the first electrode  1100  and the second electrode  1200 , which is changed with the approach of the object like the user&#39;s finger to the touch screen  130 , and then detects the touch position. Also, the driving signal may be input to the first electrode  6200  and the second electrode  6300 , and a sensing signal including information on the self-capacitance may be output from the first and second electrodes  6200  and  6300  respectively. As shown in  FIG. 11 c   , when the object like the user&#39;s finger approaches the first electrode  1100  and the second electrode  1200 , the finger functions as a ground, so that the self-capacitance of each of the first and second electrodes  1100  and  1200  is changed. In this case, the touch input device  100  measures the self-capacitances of the first electrode  1100  and the second electrode  1200 , which is changed with the approach of the object like the user&#39;s finger to the touch screen  130 , and then detects the touch position. 
     As shown in  FIG. 11 d   , the touch position sensing module  1000  according to the embodiment may include the first electrode  1100  formed in one layer and the second electrode  1200  formed in the same layer as the layer in which the first electrode  1100  has been formed. 
     Here, the first and the second electrodes  1100  and  1200  are, as shown in  FIG. 18 c   , comprised of a plurality of first electrodes  6400  and a plurality of second electrodes  6500  respectively. The plurality of first electrodes  6400  and the plurality of second electrodes  6500  may be arranged without crossing each other and may be arranged such that the plurality of second electrodes  6500  are connected to each other in a direction crossing the extension direction of the first electrodes  6400 . A principle of detecting the touch position by using the first electrode  6400  or the second electrode  6500  shown in  FIG. 11 d    is the same as that of the foregoing referring to  FIG. 11 c   , and thus a description of the principle will be omitted. 
       FIGS. 12 a  to 12 f    show a structure of the touch pressure sensing module according to the first embodiment.  FIGS. 18 a  to 18 d    are structure views showing the shape of the electrode formed in the touch pressure sensing module  2000  according to the embodiment. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 12 a  to 12 f   , the touch pressure sensing module  2000  according to the first embodiment may include a spacer layer  2400 . The spacer layer  2400  may be implemented by an air gap. The spacer may be comprised of an impact absorbing material according to the embodiment and may be also filled with a dielectric material according to the embodiment. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 12 a  to 12 d   , the touch pressure sensing module  2000  according to the first embodiment may include a reference potential layer  2500 . The reference potential layer  2500  may have any potential. For example, the reference potential layer may be a ground layer having a ground potential. Here, the reference potential layer may include a layer which is parallel with a two-dimensional plane in which a below-described first electrode  2100  for sensing the touch pressure has been formed or a two-dimensional plane in which a below-described second electrode  2200  for sensing the touch pressure has been formed. Although it has been described in  FIGS. 12 a  to 12 d    that the touch pressure sensing module  2000  includes the reference potential layer  2500 , there is no limit to this. The touch pressure sensing module  2000  does not include the reference potential layer  2500 , and the display module  3000  or the substrate  4000  which is disposed wider the touch pressure sensing module  2000  may function as the reference potential layer. 
     As shown in  FIG. 12 a   , the touch pressure sensing module  2000  according to the embodiment may include the first electrode  2100  formed in one layer, the spacer layer  2400  formed under the layer in which the first electrode  2100  has been formed, and the reference potential layer  2500  formed under the spacer layer  2400 . 
     Here, the first electrode  2100  is, as shown in  FIG. 18 a   , comprised of the plurality of electrodes  6100 . Then, the driving signal may be input to each of the electrodes  6100  and the sensing signal including information on the self-capacitance may be output from each electrode. When a pressure is applied to the touch screen  130  by the object like the user&#39;s finger or stylus, the first electrode  2100  is, as shown in  FIG. 12 b   , curved at least at the touch position, so that a distance “d” between the first electrode  2100  and the reference potential layer  2500  is changed, and thus, the self-capacitance of the first electrode  2100  is changed. Accordingly, the touch input device  100  is able to detect the touch pressure by measuring the self-capacitance of the first electrode  2100 , which is changed by the pressure that the object like the user&#39;s finger or stylus applies to the touch screen  130 . As such, since the first electrode  2100  is comprised of the plurality of electrodes  6100 , the touch input device  100  is able to detect the pressure of each of multiple touches which have been simultaneously input to the touch screen  130 . Also, when there is no requirement for detecting the pressure of each of multiple touches, it is only required to detect overall pressure applied to the touch screen  130  irrespective of the touch position. Therefore, the first electrode  2100  of the touch pressure sensing module  2000  may be, as shown in  FIG. 18 d   , comprised of one electrode  6600 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 12 c   , the touch pressure sensing module  2000  according to the embodiment may include the first electrode  2100 , the second electrode  2200  formed under the layer in which the first electrode  2100  has been formed, the spacer layer  2400  formed under the layer in which the second electrode  2200  has been formed, and the reference potential layer  2500  formed under the spacer layer  2400 . 
     Here, the first electrode  2100  and the second electrode  2200  may be configured and arranged as shown in  FIG. 18 b   . A driving signal is input to any one of the first electrode  6200  and the second electrode  6300 , and a sensing signal including information on the mutual capacitance may be output from the other. When a pressure is applied to the touch screen  130 , the first electrode  2100  and the second electrode  2200  are, as shown in  FIG. 12 d   , curved at least at the touch position, so that a distance “d” between the reference potential layer  2500  and both the first electrode  2100  and the second electrode  2200  is changed, and thus, the mutual capacitance between the first electrode  2100  and the second electrode  2200  is changed. Accordingly, the touch input device  100  is able to detect the touch pressure by measuring the mutual capacitance between the first electrode  2100  and the second electrode  2200 , which is changed by the pressure that is applied to the touch screen  130 . As such, first electrode  2100  and the second electrode  2200  are comprised of the plurality of first electrodes  6200  and the plurality of second electrodes  6300  respectively, the touch input device  100  is able to detect the pressure of each of multiple touches which have been simultaneously input to the touch screen  130 . Also, when there is no requirement for detecting the pressure of each of multiple touches, at least one of the first electrode  2100  and the second electrode  2200  of the touch pressure sensing module  2000  may be, as shown in  FIG. 18 d   , comprised of the one electrode  6600 . 
     Here, even when the first electrode  2100  and the second electrode  2200  are formed in the same layer, the touch pressure can be also detected as described in  FIG. 12 c   . The first electrode  2100  and the second electrode  2200  may be configured and arranged as shown in  FIG. 18 c   , or may be comprised of the one electrode  6600  as shown in  FIG. 18   d.    
     As shown in  FIG. 12 e   , the touch pressure sensing module  2000  according to the embodiment may include the first electrode  2100  formed in one layer, the spacer layer  2400  formed under the layer in which the first electrode  2100  has been formed, and the second electrode  2200  formed under the spacer layer  2400 . 
     In  FIG. 12 e   , the configuration and operation of the first electrode and the second electrode  2200  are the same as those of the foregoing referring to  FIG. 12 c   , and thus, a description of the configuration and operation will be omitted. When a pressure is applied to the touch screen  130 , the first electrode  2100  is, as shown in  FIG. 12 f   , curved at least at the touch position, so that a distance “d” between the first electrode  2100  and the second electrode  2200  is changed, and thus, the mutual capacitance between the first electrode  2100  and the second electrode  2200  is changed. Accordingly, the touch input device  100  is able to detect the touch pressure by measuring the mutual capacitance between the first electrode  2100  and the second electrode  2200 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 13 , a touch screen  130  according to a second embodiment may include a touch position-pressure sensing module  5000 , a display module  3000  disposed under the touch position-pressure sensing module  5000 , and a substrate  4000  disposed under the display module  3000 . 
     Unlike the embodiment shown in  FIG. 10 , the touch position-pressure sensing module  5000  according to the embodiment shown in  FIG. 13  includes at least one electrode for sensing the touch position, and at least one electrode for sensing the touch pressure. At least one of the electrodes is used to sense both the touch position and the touch pressure. As such, the electrode for sensing the touch position and the electrode for sensing the touch pressure are shared, so that it is possible to reduce the manufacturing cost of the touch position-pressure sensing module, to reduce the overall thickness of the touch screen  130  and to simplify the manufacturing process. In the sharing of the electrode for sensing the touch position and the electrode for sensing the touch pressure, when it is necessary to distinguish between the sensing signal including information on the touch position and the sensing signal including information on the touch pressure, it is possible to distinguish and sense the touch position and the touch pressure by differentiating a frequency of the driving signal for sensing the touch position from a frequency of the driving signal for sensing the touch pressure, or by differentiating a time interval for sensing the touch position from a time interval fox sensing the touch pressure. 
       FIGS. 14 a  to 14 k    show a structure of the touch position-pressure sensing module according to the second embodiment. As shown in  FIGS. 14 a  to 14 k   , the touch position-pressure sensing module  5000  according to the second embodiment may include a spacer layer  5400 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 14 a  to 14 i   , the touch position pressure sensing module  5000  according to the embodiment may include a reference potential layer  5500 . The reference potential layer  5500  is the same as that of the foregoing referring to  FIGS. 12 a  to 12 d   , and thus, a description of the reference potential layer  5500  will be omitted. The reference potential layer may include a layer which is parallel with a two-dimensional plane in which a below-described first electrode  5100  for sensing the touch pressure has been formed, a two-dimensional plane in which a below-described second electrode  5200  for sensing the touch pressure has been formed, or a two-dimensional plane in which a below-described third electrode  5300  for sensing the touch pressure has been formed. 
     As shown in  FIG. 14 a   , the touch position-pressure sensing module  5000  according to the embodiment may include the first electrode  5100  formed in one layer, the spacer layer  5400  formed under the layer in which the first electrode  5100  has been thrilled, and the reference potential layer  5500  formed under the spacer layer  5400 . 
     A description of the configuration of  FIGS. 14 a  and 14 b    is similar to the description referring to  FIGS. 12 a  and 12 b   . Hereafter, only the difference between them will be described. As shown in  FIG. 14 b   , when the object like the user&#39;s finger approaches the first electrode  5100  the finger functions as a ground and the touch position can be detected by the change of the self-capacitance of the first electrode  5100 . Also, when a pressure is applied to the touch screen  130  by the object, a distance “d” between the first electrode  5100  and the reference potential layer  5500  is changed, and thus, the touch pressure can be detected by the change of the self-capacitance of the first electrode  5100 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 14 c   , the touch position-pressure sensing module  5000  according to the embodiment may include the first electrode  5100  formed in one layer, the second electrode  5200  formed in a layer under the layer in which the first electrode  5100  has been formed, the spacer layer  5400  formed under the layer in which the second electrode  5200  has been formed, and the reference potential layer  5500  formed under the spacer layer  5400 . 
     A description of the configuration of  FIGS. 14 c  to 14 f    is similar to the description referring to  FIGS. 12 c  and 12 d   . Hereafter, only the difference between them will be described. Here, the first electrode  5100  and the second electrode  5200  may be, as shown in  FIG. 18 a   , comprised of the plurality of electrodes  6100  respectively. As shown in  FIG. 14 d   , when the object like the user&#39;s finger approaches the first electrode  5100 , the finger functions as a ground and the touch position can be detected by the change of the self-capacitance of the first electrode  5100 . Also, when a pressure is applied to the touch screen  130  by the object, a distance “d” between the reference potential layer  5500  and both the first electrode  5100  and the second electrode  5200  is changed, and thus, the touch pressure can be detected by the change of the mutual capacitance between the first electrode  5100  and the second electrode  5200 . 
     Also, according to the embodiment, each of the first and second electrodes  5100  and  5200  may be, as shown in  FIG. 18 b   , comprised of the plurality of first electrodes  6200  and the plurality of second electrodes  6300 . The plurality of first electrodes  6200  and the plurality of second electrodes  6300  may be arranged to cross each other. Here, the touch position can be detected by the change of the mutual capacitance between the first electrode  5100  and the second electrode  5200 , and the touch pressure can be detected by the change of the self-capacitance of the second electrode  5200  according to the change of a distance “d” between the second electrode  5200  and the reference potential layer  5500 . Also, according to the embodiment, the touch position can be detected by the change of the mutual capacitance between the first electrode  5100  and the second electrode  5200 , and also, the touch pressure can be detected by the change of the mutual capacitance between the first electrode  5100  and the second electrode  5200  according to the change of the distance “d” between the reference potential layer  5500  and both the first electrode  5100  and the second electrode  5200 . 
     Here, even when the first electrode  5100  and the second electrode  5200  are formed in the same layer, the touch position and touch pressure can be also detected as described with reference to  FIGS. 14 c  and 14 d   . However, in  FIGS. 14 c  and 14 d   , regarding the embodiment where the electrode should be configured as shown in  FIG. 18 b   , when the first electrode  5100  and the second electrode  5200  are formed in the same layer, the first electrode  5100  and the second electrode  5200  may be configured as shown in  FIG. 18   c.    
     As shown in  FIG. 14 e   , the touch position-pressure sensing module  5000  according to the embodiment may include the first electrode  5100  and the second electrode  5200  which have been in the same layer, the third electrode  5300  which has been formed in a layer under the layer in which the first electrode  5100  and the second electrode  5200  have been formed, the spacer layer  5400  formed under the layer in which the third electrode  5300  has been formed, and the reference potential layer  5500  formed under the spacer layer  5400 . 
     Here, the first electrode  5100  and the second electrode  5200  may be configured and arranged as shown in  FIG. 18 c   , and the first electrode  5100  and the third electrode  5300  may be configured and arranged as shown in  FIG. 18 b   . As shown in  FIG. 14 f   , when the object like the user&#39;s finger approaches the first electrode  5100  and the second electrode  5200 , the mutual capacitance between the first electrode  5100  and the second electrode  5200  is changed, so that the touch position can be detected. When a pressure is applied to the touch screen  130  by the object, a distance “d” between the reference potential layer  5500  and both the first electrode  5100  and the third electrode  5300  is changed, and then the mutual capacitance between the first electrode  5100  and the third electrode  5300  is hereby changed, so that the touch pressure can be detected. Also, according to the embodiment, the touch position can be detected by the change of the mutual capacitance between the first electrode  5100  and the third electrode  5300 , and the touch pressure can be detected by the change of the mutual capacitance between the first electrode  5100  and the second electrode  5200 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 14 g   , the touch position-pressure sensing module  5000  according to the embodiment may include the first electrode  5100  formed in one layer, the second electrode  5200  formed in a layer under the layer in which the first electrode  5100  has been formed, the third electrode  5300  formed in the same layer as the layer in which the second electrode  5200  has been formed, the spacer layer  5400  formed under the layer in which the second electrode  5200  and the third electrode  5300  have been formed, and the reference potential layer  5500  formed under the spacer layer  5400 . 
     Here, the first electrode  5100  and the second electrode  5200  may be configured and arranged as shown in  FIG. 18 b   , and the second electrode  5200  and the third electrode  5300  may be configured and arranged as shown in  FIG. 18 c   . In  FIG. 14 h   , the touch position can be detected by the change of the mutual capacitance between the first electrode  5100  and the second electrode  5200 , and the touch pressure can be detected by the change of the mutual capacitance between the second electrode  5200  and the third electrode  5300 . Also, according to the embodiment, the touch position can be detected by the change of the mutual capacitance between the first electrode  5100  and the third electrode  5300 , and the touch pressure can be detected by the change of the mutual capacitance between the first electrode  5100  and the second electrode  5200 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 14 i   , the touch position-pressure sensing module  5000  according to the embodiment may include the first electrode  5100  formed in one layer, the second electrode  5200  formed in a layer under the layer in which the first electrode  5100  has been formed, the third electrode  5300  formed under the layer in which the second electrode  5200  has been formed, the spacer layer  5400  formed under the layer in which the third electrode  5300  has been formed, and the reference potential layer  5500  formed under the spacer layer  5400 . 
     Here, the first electrode  5100  and the second electrode  5200  may be configured and arranged as shown in  FIG. 18 b   , and the second electrode  5200  and the third electrode  5300  may be also configured and arranged as shown in  FIG. 18 b   . Here, when the object like the user&#39;s finger approaches the first electrode  5100  and the second electrode  5200 , the finger functions as a ground and the touch position can be detected by the change of the mutual capacitance between the first electrode  5100  and the second electrode  5200 . Also, when a pressure is applied to the touch screen  130  by the object, a distance “d” between the reference potential layer  5500  and both the second electrode  5200  and the third electrode  5300  is changed, so that the touch pressure can be detected by the change of the mutual capacitance between the second electrode  5200  and the third electrode  5300 . Also, according to the embodiment, when the object like the user&#39;s finger approaches the first electrode  5100  and the second electrode  5200 , the finger functions as a ground, so that the touch position can be detected by the change of the self-capacitance of each of the first and second electrodes  5100  and  5200 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 14 j   , the touch position-pressure sensing module  5000  according to the embodiment may include the first electrode  5100  formed in one layer, the second electrode  5200  formed in a layer under the layer in which the first electrode  5100  has been formed, the spacer layer  5400  formed under the layer in which the second electrode  5200  has been formed, and the third electrode  5300  formed under the spacer layer  5400 . 
     Here, the first electrode  5100  and the second electrode  5200  may be configured and arranged as shown in  FIG. 18 b   , and the third electrode  5300  may be configured as shown in  FIG. 18 a    or the second electrode  5200  and the third electrode  5300  may be also configured and arranged as shown in  FIG. 18 b   . Here, when the object like the user&#39;s finger approaches the first electrode  5100  and the second electrode  5200 , the finger functions as a ground and the touch position can be detected by the change of the mutual capacitance between the first electrode  5100  and the second electrode  5200 . Also, when a pressure is applied to the touch screen  130  by the object, a distance “d” between the second electrode  5200  and the third electrode  5300  is changed, so that the touch pressure can be detected by the change of the mutual capacitance between the second electrode  5200  and the third electrode  5300 . Also, according to the embodiment, when the object like the user&#39;s finger approaches the first electrode  5100  and the second electrode  5200 , the finger functions as a ground, so that the touch position can be detected by the change of the self-capacitance of each of the first and second electrodes  5100  and  5200 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 14 k   , the touch position-pressure sensing module  5000  according to the embodiment may include the first electrode  5100  formed in one layer, the spacer layer  5400  formed under the layer in which the first electrode  5100  has been formed, and the second electrode  5200  formed under the spacer layer  5400 . 
     Here, the first electrode  5100  and the second electrode  5200  may be configured and arranged as shown in  FIG. 18 b   . Here, the touch position can be detected by the change of the mutual capacitance between the first electrode  5100  and the second electrode  5200 . Also, when a pressure is applied to the touch screen  130  by the object, a distance “d” between the first electrode  5100  and the second electrode  5200  is changed, so that the touch pressure can be detected by the change of the mutual capacitance between the first electrode  5100  and the second electrode  5200 . The first electrode  5100  and the second electrode  5200  may be configured and arranged as shown in  FIG. 18 a   . Here, when the object like the user&#39;s finger approaches the first electrode  5100 , the finger functions as a ground and the self-capacitance of the first electrode  5100  is changed, so that the touch position can be detected. Also, the touch pressure can be detected by the change of the mutual capacitance between the first electrode  5100  and the second electrode  5200 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 15 , a touch screen  130  according to a third embodiment may include the touch position sensing module  1000 , the display module  3000  disposed under the touch position sensing module  1000 , the touch pressure sensing module  2000  disposed under the display module  3000 , and the substrate  4000  disposed under the touch pressure sensing module  2000 . 
     In the touch screens  130  according to the embodiment shown in  FIGS. 10 and 13 , since the touch pressure sensing module  2000  which includes the spacer layer  2400  or the touch position-pressure sensing module  5000  which includes the spacer layer  5400  is disposed on the display module  3000 , the color clarity, visibility, optical transmittance of the display module  3000  may be reduced. Therefore, in order to prevent such problems, the touch position sensing module  1000  and the display module  3000  are fully laminated by using an adhesive like an optically clear adhesive (OCA), and the touch pressure sensing module  2000  is disposed under the display module  3000 . As a result, the aforementioned problem can be alleviated and solved. Also, an existing gap formed between the display module  3000  and the substrate  4000  is used as the spacer layer for detecting the touch pressure, so that the overall thickness of the touch screen  130  can be reduced. 
     The touch position sensing module  1000  according to the embodiment shown in  FIG. 15  is the same as the touch position sensing module shown in  FIGS. 11 a    to  11   d.    
     The touch pressure sensing module  2000  according to the embodiment shown in  FIG. 15  may be the touch pressure sensing module shown in  FIGS. 12 a  to 12 f    and the touch pressure sensing module shown in  FIGS. 16 a    to  16   b.    
     As shown in  FIG. 16 a   , the touch pressure sensing module  2000  according to the embodiment may include the reference potential layer  2500 , the spacer layer  2400  formed under the reference potential layer  2500 , and the first electrode  2100  formed under the spacer layer  2400 . Since the configuration and operation of  FIG. 16 a    are the same as those of  FIGS. 12 a  and 12 b    with the exception of the fact that the position of the reference potential layer  2500  and the position of the first electrode  2100  are replaced with each other, repetitive descriptions thereof will be omitted hereafter. 
     As shown in  FIG. 16 b   , the touch pressure sensing module  2000  according to the embodiment may include the reference potential layer  2500 , the spacer layer  2400  formed under the ground, the first electrode  2100  formed in a layer under the spacer layer  2400 , and the second electrode  2200  formed in a layer under, the layer in which the first electrode  2100  has been formed. Since the configuration and operation of  FIG. 16 b    are the same as those of  FIGS. 12 c    and  12   d  with the exception of the fact that the position of the reference potential layer  2500 , the position of the first electrode  2100  and the position of the second electrode  2200  are replaced with each other, repetitive descriptions thereof will be omitted hereafter. Here, even when the first electrode  2100  and the second electrode  2200  are formed in the same layer, the touch pressure can be detected as described in  FIGS. 12 c    and  12   d.    
     Although it has been described in  FIG. 15  that the display module  3000  is disposed under the touch position sensing module  1000 , the touch position sensing module  1000  can be included within the display module  3000 . Also, although it has been described in  FIG. 15  that the touch pressure sensing module  2000  is disposed under the display module  3000 , a portion of the touch pressure sensing module  2000  can be included within the display module  3000 . Specifically, the reference potential layer  2500  of the touch pressure sensing nodule  2000  may be disposed within the display module  3000 , and the electrodes  2100  and  2200  may be formed under the display module  3000 . As such, when the reference potential layer  2500  is disposed within the display module  3000 , a gap formed within the display module  3000  is used as the spacer layer for detecting the touch pressure, so that the overall thickness of the touch screen  130  can be reduced. Here, the electrodes  2100  and  2200  may be formed on the substrate  4000 . As such, when the electrodes  2100  and  2200  are formed on the substrate  4000 , not only the gap formed within the display module  3000  but also the gap formed between the display module  3000  and the substrate  4000  is used as the spacer layer for detecting the touch pressure, so that the sensitivity for detecting the touch pressure can be more improved. 
       FIG. 17 a    shows a structure of the touch screen according to a fourth embodiment. As shown in  FIG. 17 a   , the touch screen  130  according to the fourth embodiment may include at least one of the touch position sensing module and the touch pressure sensing module within the display module  3000 . 
       FIGS. 17 b  and 17 c    are structure views of touch pressure sensing and touch position sensing of the touch screen according; to the fourth embodiment.  FIGS. 17 b  and 17 c    take an LCD panel as an example of the display module  3000 . 
     In case of the LCD panel, the display module  3000  may include a TFT layer  3100  and a color filter layer  3300 . The TFT layer  3100  includes a TFT substrate layer  3110  disposed directly thereon. The color filter layer  3300  includes a color filter substrate layer  3200  disposed directly thereunder. The display module  3000  includes a liquid crystal layer  3600  between the TFT layer  3100  and the color filter layer  3300 . Here, the TFT substrate layer  3110  includes electrical components necessary to generate an electric field driving the liquid crystal layer  3600 . Particularly, the TFT substrate layer  3110  may be comprised of various layers including a data line, a gate line, TFT, a common electrode, a pixel electrode and the like. These electrical components generate a controlled electric field and orient the liquid crystals in the liquid crystal layer  3600 . More specifically, The TFT substrate layer include a column common electrode (column Vcom)  3430 , a low common electrode (low Vcom)  3410  and a guard shield electrode  3420 . The guard shield electrode  3420  is located between the column common electrode  3430  and the low common electrode  3410  and is able to minimize the interference caused by a fringe field which may be generated between the column electrode  3430  and the low comma electrode  3410 . The foregoing description of the LCD panel is apparent to those skilled in the art. 
     As shown  FIG. 17 b   , the display module  3000  according to the embodiment of the present invention may include sub-photo spacers  3500  disposed on the color filter substrate layer  3200 . These sub-photo spacers  3500  may be disposed on the interface between the low common electrode  3410  and the adjacent guard shield electrode  3420 . Here, a conductive material layer  3510  like ITO may be patterned on the sub-photo spacer  3500 . Here, a fringing capacitance C 1  is formed between the low common electrode  3410  and the conductive material layer  3510 , and a fringing capacitance C 2  is formed between the guard electrode  3420  and the conductive material layer  3510 . 
     When the display module  3000  shown in  FIG. 17 b    functions as the touch pressure sensing module, a distance between the sub-photo spacers  3500  and the TFT substrate layer  3110  may be reduced by an external pressure, and thus, a capacitance between the low common electrode  3410  and the guard shield electrode  3420  may be reduced. Accordingly,  17   b , the conductive material layer  3510  functions as the reference potential layer and detects the change of the capacitance between the lows common electrode  3410  and the guard shield electrode  3420 , so that the touch pressure can be detected. 
       FIG. 17 c    shows a structure in which the LCD panel as the display module  3000  is used as the touch position sensing module. The arrangement of the common electrodes  3730  is shown in  FIG. 17 c   . Here, for the purpose of detecting the touch position, these common electrodes  3730  may be divided into a first area  3710  and a second area  3720 . Accordingly, for example, the common electrodes  3730  included in dune first area  3710  may be operated in such a manner as to function in response to the first electrode  6400  of  FIG. 18 c   , and the common electrodes  3730  included in one second area  3720  may be operated in such a manner as to function in response to the second electrode  6500  of  FIG. 18 c   . That is, in order that the common electrodes  3730 , i.e., electrical components for driving the LCD panel are used to detect the touch position, the common electrodes  3730  may be grouped. Such a grouping can be accomplished by a structural configuration and manipulation of operation. 
     As described above, in  FIG. 17 , the electrical components of the display module  3000  are caused to operate in conformity with their original purpose, so that the display module  3000  performs its own function. Also, at least some of the electrical components of the display module  3000  are caused to operate for detecting the touch pressure, so that the display module  3000  functions as the touch pressure sensing module. Also, at least some of the electrical components of the display module  3000  are caused to operate for detecting the touch position, so that the display module  3000  functions as the touch position sensing module. Here, each operation mode may be performed in a time-division manner. In other words, the display module  3000  may function as the display module in a first time interval, as the pressure sensing module in a second time interval, and/or as the position sensing module in a third time interval. 
       FIGS. 17 b  and 17 c    only show the structures for the detection of the touch pressure and the touch position respectively for convenience of description. So long as the display module  3000  can be used to detect the touch pressure and/or the touch position by operating the electrical components for the display operation of the display module  3000 , the display module  3000  can be included in the fourth embodiment. 
       FIG. 1  is a structure view of the touch input device  100  according to an embodiment of the present invention. The device  100  according to the embodiment of the present invention may include a controller  110 , the touch screen  130 , and a processor  140 . 
     Input to the touch input device  100  may be performed by touching the touch screen  130 . The touch input device  100  according to the embodiment of the present invention may be a portable electronic device like a laptop computer, a personal digital assistant (PDA) and a smartphone. Also, the touch input device  100  according to the embodiment of the present invention may be a non-portable electronic device like a desktop computer, a smart television. 
     The touch screen  130  according to the embodiment of the present invention allows a user to operate a computing system by touching the screen with an object like a finger. In general, the touch screen  130  recognizes the touch on the panel and the computing system analyzes the touch and performs operations in accordance with the analysis. 
     The processor  140  according to the embodiment of the present invention can detect whether a touch occurs or not on the touch screen and the touch position when the touch occurs on the touch screen  130 . Also, the processor  140  can measure the amount of the capacitance change occurring according to the touch when the touch occurs on the touch screen  130 . 
     Specifically, through the touch position sensing module  1000  or the touch position-pressure sensing module  5000  of the touch screen  130 , the processor  140  can measure capacitance change amount according to the approach of an object  10  to the touch screen  130  and can calculate the touch position from the measured capacitance change amount. Also, the processor  140  according to the embodiment can calculate the aforementioned touch position through the display module  3000  capable of detecting the touch position/touch pressure of the touch screen  130 . 
     Also, the capacitance change amount may be changed according to the touch pressure and or touch area when the touch occurs. Therefore, when the touch occurs on the touch screen  130 , the processor  140  can measure the capacitance change amount according to the touch pressure and/or the touch area. Here, the less the touch pressure and/or the touch area becomes, the less the capacitance change amount becomes, and the greater the touch pressure and/or the touch area becomes, the greater the capacitance change amount becomes. 
     Specifically, the processor  140  may measure the capacitance change amount caused by the pressure which is applied from the object  10  to the touch screen  130  through the touch pressure sensing module  2000 , the touch position-pressure sensing module  5000  or the display module  3000  of the touch screen  130 , which is capable of detecting the touch pressure, and may calculate the magnitude of the touch pressure from the measured capacitance change amount. 
     The capacitance change amount which is generated by the object  10  touching the touch screen  130  can be measured by summing the capacitance change amounts of each of a plurality of sensing cells. For example, as shown in  FIG. 2 a   , when a common touch is input to the touch screen  130  by the object  10 , the sum of the capacitance change amounts is 90. Also, as shown in  FIG. 2 b   , when the touch with pressure is input to the touch screen  130  by the object  10 , the sum of the capacitance change amounts is 570 (=90+70+70+70+70+50+50+50+50). 
     Also, the processor  140  may measure the capacitance change amount caused by the approach of the object  10  to the touch screen  130  through the touch position sensing module  1000 , the touch position-pressure sensing module  5000  or the display module  3000  of the touch screen  130 , which is capable of detecting the touch position/pressure, and may calculate the touch area from the measured capacitance change amount. For example, as shown in  FIG. 3 a   , when the area of the object  10  touching the touch screen  130  is “a”, the capacitance change amount is 90 (=50+10+10+10+10). As shown in  FIG. 3 b   . When the area of the object  10  touching the touch input device  100  is “b” larger than “a”, the capacitance change amount is  310  (=50+45+45+45+45+20+20+20+20). Here, the magnitude of the pressure which is applied when the object  10  touches the touch input device  100  in both  FIGS. 3 a  and 3 b    may be 0 or the same. 
     In particular, although the processor  140  according to the embodiment of the present invention does not touch directly the touch screen  130 , the processor  140  is able to recognize a hovering state in which the object like the finger is close enough to the touch screen  130  to cause the change of the capacitance in the touch screen  130 . 
     For example, when the object is located within about 2 cm from the surface of the touch screen  130 , the processor  140  measures the capacitance change amount according to the approach of the object  10  to the touch screen  130  through the touch position sensing module  1000  or the touch position-pressure sensing module  5000  of the touch screen  130 , and then is able to calculate, from the measured capacitance change amount, whether or not the object exists and the where the object is located. 
     In order that the movement of the object is recognized as hovering over the touch screen  130 , it is desirable that the error of the capacitance change amount which is generated at the touch screen  130  by the hovering is larger than that of the capacitance change amount which is generated at the common touch screen  130 . 
     The mutual capacitance change amount in the touch screen  130 , which is generated during the hovering of the object, may be smaller than that of the capacitance change amount of the direct touch on the touch screen  130 . Hereafter, the touch on the touch screen  130  may include the hovering. For example, the hovering may be classified as having the smallest touch pressure and/or the smallest touch area. 
     Therefore, the processor  140  may detect the capacitance change amount generated at the touch screen  130 , may calculate whether the touch occurs or not, the touch position, the touch pressure magnitude and the touch area, and/or may measure the capacitance change amount caused by the touch. 
     The measured capacitance change amount and/or at least any one of the touch position, touch pressure magnitude and touch area calculated from the measured capacitance change amount is transmitted to the controller  110  by the processor  140 . Here, the controller  110  may calculate a touch time period by using the capacitance change amount transmitted from the processor  140 . According to the embodiment, the controller  110  may be an application processor. The application processor is able to perform the command interpretation, operation, and control, etc., in the portable electronic device. 
     Specifically, when the touch on the touch input device  100  corresponds to the hovering, the controller  110  measures a time period during which the capacitance change amount is maintained from a first predetermined value to a second predetermined value, and thus, calculates a time period during which the object touches the touch screen  130 . Here, the first predetermined value may be the minimum value of the capacitance change amount which causes the touch to be recognized as the hovering, and the second predetermined value may be the maximum value of the capacitance change amount which causes the touch to be recognized as the hovering. For example, when the first predetermined value is 20 and the second predetermined value is 50, a time period during which the capacitance change amount is maintained from 20 to 50 is, as shown in  FIG. 4   a,  8t, so that the touch time period of the hovering is 8t. 
     Also, when the touch occurs directly on the touch screen  130 , the controller  110  measures a time period during which the capacitance change amount is maintained greater than the second predetermined value, and thus, calculates a time period during which the object touches the touch screen  130 . For example, when the second predetermined value is 50, a time period during which the capacitance change amount is maintained greater than 50 is, as shown in  FIG. 4   b,  2t, so that the touch time period of the direct touch is 2t. 
     The touch input device  100  including the touch screen  130  according to the embodiment of the present invention may further include a memory  120 . 
     The controller  110  determines a touch level on the touch on the touch screen  130  with reference to the memory  120  according to the capacitance change amount transmitted from the processor  140  or the touch time period calculated based on the capacitance change amount, and thus, generates a control signal for feedback according to the touch level. 
     The memory  120  according to the embodiment of the present invention may include a level table (not shown) and a feedback table (not shown). The level table may store the capacitance change amount and or the touch level on the touch time period. The feedback table may store a feedback means and/or a feedback on the touch level. This will be described in detail with reference to  FIGS. 6 a    to  8 . 
     There is a necessity to classify the touch level on the touch screen  130  in accordance with the use of the touch input device  100 . That is, when the touches on the touch screen  130  have different touch levels, they may be mutually different input to the touch input device  100 . However when the user touches the touch screen  130 , he/she has a difficulty in being himself/herself aware of which touch level he/she touches the touch screen  130  at. Therefore, the touch input device  100  according to the embodiment of the present invention is able to provide feedback on the touch level when the user touches the touch screen  130 . 
     In a level determining unit of the controller  110 , at least one of the touch pressure magnitude and the touch area may be classified into a stepwise touch level according to the sections of the capacitance change amount. For example, when it is assumed that the capacitance change amount a value from 0 to 600, at least one of the touch pressure magnitude and the touch area may be calculated as a first level for the capacitance change amount in a range with the smallest value from greater 0 to 150, at least one of the touch pressure magnitude and the touch area may be calculated as a second level for the capacitance change amount in a range with next largest value from greater 150 to 300, at least one of the touch pressure magnitude and the touch area may be calculated as a third level for the capacitance change amount in a range with the next largest value from greater 300 to 450, and at least one of the touch pressure magnitude and the touch area may be calculated as a tour level for the capacitance change amount in a range with the largest value from greater 450 to 600. According to the embodiment, the first level may represent the touch pressure magnitude or the touch area according to the hovering. Here, the stepwise classification of the touch pressure magnitude or the touch area may be changed according to the embodiment. For example, the touch pressure magnitude or the touch area may be classified into only the hovering and the direct touch, or may be classified into various levels including the hovering. Such a correlation between the capacitance change amount and the touch level may be stored in the level table. 
     This is just an example. The touch pressure magnitude and/or the touch area may be set to have a continuous value in such a manner proportional to the capacitance change amount. 
     Therefore, since the capacitance change amount is 90 when the touch occurs as shown in  FIGS. 2 a  and 3 a   , the touch pressure magnitude and/or the touch area may be calculated as the first level. Since the capacitance change amount is 570 when the touch occurs as shown in  FIG. 2 b   , the touch pressure magnitude and/or the touch area may be calculated as the fourth level. Since the capacitance change amount is 310 when the touch occurs as shown in  FIG. 3 b   , the touch pressure magnitude and/or the touch area may be calculated as the third level. 
     However, this is just an example. The feedback can be determined from the capacitance change amount without calculating the touch level. In this case, when the capacitance change amount is assumed to have a value from 0 to 600, the feedback table of the memory  120  may be created such that the feedback in the range from greater 0 to 150, the feedback in the range from greater 150 to 300, the feedback in the range from greater 300 to 450, and the feedback in the range from greater 450 to 600 are distinguished from each other. 
     Also, in the level determining unit, the touch time period may be classified into a stepwise touch level. Specifically, when it is assumed that the touch time period has a value from 0t to 12t, the touch time period in a range with a value from greater 0t to 3t may be calculated as a first level, the touch time period in a range with the next largest value from greater 3t to 6t may be calculated a second level, the touch time period in a range with the next largest value from greater 6t to 9t may be calculated as a third level, and the touch time period in a range with the largest value from greater 9t to 12t may be calculated as a fourth level. Therefore, the touch time period (8t) shown in  FIG. 4 a    may be calculated as the third level, and the touch time period (4t) shown in  FIG. 4 b    may be calculated as the second level. Such a correlation between the touch time period and the touch level may be stored in the level table of the memory  120 . 
     However, this is just an example. The feedback can be determined from the touch time period without calculating the touch level. In this case, when the touch time period is assumed to have a value from 0 t to 3t, the feedback table of the memory  120  may be created such that the feedback in the range from greater 0t to 3t, the feedback in the range from greater 3t to 6t, the feedback in the range from greater 6t to 9t, and the feedback in the range from greater 9t to 12t are distinguished from each other. 
     The foregoing process of determining the touch level may be performed by a pressure magnitude determining unit of the controller  110  or by the processor  140 . 
       FIG. 5  shows feedback performing steps based on the touch level on the screen  130  of touch input device  100  according to the embodiment of the present invention. As shown in  FIG. 5 , the feedback performing method based on the touch level on the touch screen  130  of the touch input device  100  according to the embodiment of the present invention may include a step S 210  of performing the touch on a touch input window  200  displayed on the touch screen  130 . 
     The touch input window  200  is displayed on the touch screen  130  of the touch input device  100  and may be generally a screen displaying a region which is touched by the user and is indicated by reference numeral  400  in  FIG. 6 . Hereafter, a case where the touch region is clearly displayed will be described. However, this is just an example and the touch position is not necessarily clearly displayed. For example, any position of the touch input window  200  displayed on the touch screen  130  may be touched, or a predetermined position of the touch input window  200  may be touched.  FIG. 6  and the following description show that the touch input window  200  is displayed on the entire touch screen  130 . However, the touch input window  200  may represent a portion of the touch screen  130 , for example, only the touch region indicated by reference numeral  400 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the feedback performing, method based on the touch level according to the embodiment of the present invention may include a step S 220  of determining the touch level on the touch input window  200  displayed on the touch screen  130 . The step S 220  of determining the touch level may be performed by the controller  110 . For example, the controller  110  may include the level determining unit which determines a level corresponding to the capacitance change amount according to the touch processed by the processor  140 . Here, the controller  110  may make reference to a table, i.e., the level table, for a correlation between the level and the touch pressure magnitude, touch area and/or touch time period. 
     When the touch occurs on the touch screen  130 , the level table may store the correlation between the touch level and the capacitance change amount which is generated at the touch screen  130  in accordance with the touch pressure magnitude and/or the touch area, or the correlation between the touch level and the touch time period calculated by the capacitance change amount. According to the touch pressure magnitude, touch area and/or touch time period, the touch level may be classified into a plurality of levels. For example, the touch level may have at least two levels. 
     Also, the controller  110  may directly determine the plurality of touch levels simply from the data for the capacitance change amount, which has been received from the processor  140 , without reference to the memory  120 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the feedback performing method based on the touch level according to the embodiment of the present invention may include a step S 230  of generating the control signal for the feedback according to the touch level. 
     The step S 230  of generating the control signal may be, performed by making reference to the memory  120  which stores a unique feedback method for each of the plurality of touch levels. A feedback means according to the touch level may be also stored together in the feedback table of the memory  120 . For example, information on which feedback means among vibration, sound and screen display the feedback according to the touch level is performed may be stored in a feedback table. For instance, the memory  120  may include the feedback table storing the feedback means and/or feedback method which corresponds to each of the plurality of touch levels. 
     For example, the control signal generated by a control signal generator of the controller  110  may be transmitted to at least one of a display drive unit (not shown), a speaker drive unit (not shown), a vibration device drive unit (not Shown) of the means performing the corresponding feedback. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the feedback performing method based on the touch level according to the embodiment of the present invention may include a step S 240  of performing the feedback in accordance with the control signal generated in step S 230 . The feedback may be performed by the feedback method on the corresponding touch level in the feedback means determined according to the touch level on the touch screen  130 . 
     The step S 240  of performing the feedback by the feedback method according to the embodiment of the present invention may be carried out during the touch of the object on the touch screen. For example, the user checks the corresponding touch level through the feedback while touching the touch screen  130  by using the object. 
       FIGS. 6 a    to  8  show the feedback means and feedback method according to the touch level in accordance with the embodiment of the present invention.  FIGS. 6 a  to 6 e    show a feedback means and feedback method according to the touch level in accordance with the first embodiment of the present invention. 
       FIG. 6 a    shows that the feedback on the touch level is displayed on the touch screen  130  when a finger  500  touches a touch region  400 . The feedback may be displayed on the touch screen  130  in the form of any shape or by any method such that the plurality of touch levels are distinguished from each other. 
       FIG. 6 a    shows that the touch level on the touch region  400  is displayed on the touch screen  130  in the form of a digital bar  600 . For example, when the user touches the touch region  400 , the user is able to be aware of the touch level by checking the digital bar  600  displayed on the touch screen  130 . 
       FIG. 6 a    shows that the finger  500  presses the touch region  400  at the third level. As shown, in  FIG. 6 a   , the digital bar  600  is able to display four different states from the first level to the fourth level. For example, the digital bar  600  may display a first bar  601  with shading when the touch region  400  is touched at the first level, may display the first bar  601  and a second bar  602  with shading when the touch region  400  is touched at the second level, may display the first bar  601  to a third bar  603  with shading when the touch region  400  is touched at the third level, and may display the first bar  601  to a fourth bar  604  with shading when the touch region  400  is touched at the fourth level. In the digital bar  600  in  FIG. 6 a   , the first bar  601  to the third bar  603  are displayed with shading and the fourth bar  604  is not displayed with shading, it can be seen that the finger  500  touches the touch region  400  at the third level. 
     The digital bar  600  may be displayed on the screen, for example, when the touch occurs on the touch region  400 . Through the digital bar  600 , the user is allowed to check visually the change of the level of the touch on the touch region  400 . The user is allowed to change the touch level until he/she finally selects the touch level that he/she wants. 
     When the touch level according to the touch pressure magnitude or the touch area is intended to be changed, the touch level that the user wants can be selected by controlling the touch pressure magnitude or the area of the finger  500  touching the touch region  400 . 
     In the change of the touch level according to the touch time period, when the touch level does not reach the desired touch level, the desired touch level can be selected by maintaining the touch until the touch time period reaches the touch time period that the user wants. However, when the touch level exceeds the desired touch level, the desired touch level cannot be selected by decreasing the touch level. In this case, by maintaining the touch during a time period longer than a predetermined maximum touch time period, the touch level is reset and the low touch level is selected. As a result, the desired touch level can be selected. 
     Specifically, in the digital bar  600 , when the touch time period of the touch region  400  exceeds the fourth level, the touch level starts again from the first level. Here, the first bar  601  indicating the first level may be displayed with shading. Then, as the touch time period is increased, the touch level may be displayed in the order of the second level, the third level and the fourth level. 
     Also, unlike the foregoing, in the digital bar  600 , when the touch time period of the touch region  400  exceeds the fourth level, the touch level is decreased to the third level. Here, the first to the third bars  601 ,  602  and  603  indicating the third level may be displayed with shading. Then, as the touch time period is increased, the level may be displayed such that the level is decreased to the second level and the first level in reverse order and then is increased in the order of the second level and the third level when the level reaches the first level. 
     After that, the user checks the touch level through the digital bar  600 , and then selects the desired touch level. For example, after the user touches the touch region  400  at desired touch level, the user may release the finger  500  from the touch input window  200 . Here, in the case where the touch is selected according to the touch pressure magnitude and/or the touch area, when the finger  500  of the user stays at a position for the finger  500  to be recognized as the hovering over the touch screen  130 , the controller  110  may recognize that the touch level is still being checked. Therefore, the user presses the touch region  400  of the touch screen  130  at the desired touch level, and then moves the finger  500  out of the position for the finger  500  to be recognized as the hovering over the touch screen  130 . 
     For example, when the desired touch level is the third level, through the digital bar  600  shown  FIG. 6 a   , the user checks that the touch level at which the touch region  400  is pressed is the third level. Then, the third level can be selected by releasing the finger  500  from the touch put window  200 . 
     Here, when the touch level is selected according to the touch pressure magnitude and/or the touch area, during the release of the finger  500 , the touch pressure magnitude or the touch area on the touch region  400  passes through from the third level to the second level and the first level, and then reaches a state where there is no touch pressure magnitude or touch area. Here, when the staying time period at each touch level is less than a predetermined time period, the controller  110  is set such that the corresponding touch level is not selected, so that it is possible to prevent an error of selecting an incorrect touch level at the time of releasing the finger. As a result, it is possible that the incorrect selection is made due to the rapid change of the touch pressure magnitude or the touch area, for example, the release of the finger. For example, when the third level is selected and the finger  500  is released, the selection of the first level can be prevented. 
     The feedback table included in the memory  120  may store the feedback means and/or the feedback method based on the touch level, on the touch region  400  respectively. The controller  110  may make reference to the level table in accordance with the level of the touch on the touch region  400 , and thus, may generate the control signal such that an output indicating the corresponding touch level is accomplished. 
     In  FIG. 6 a   , the digital bar  600  which is displayed as the feedback means on the touch screen  130  may be set in advance in the feedback table. The first bar  601  to the third bar  603  of the digital bar  600  may be stored as the feedback method such that the first bar  601  to the third bar  603  are displayed with shading to indicate the third level. In  FIG. 6 a   , the control signal generated from the control signal generator of the controller  110  may be indirectly or indirectly transmitted to the display drive unit (not shown) capable of driving the display panel, i.e., the corresponding feedback means, of the touch screen  130 . 
     The control signal indicating the feedback means and the feedback method may display the digital bar  600  on the display panel through the display drive unit (not shown) in accordance with the control signal, and may display the first to the fourth hats  601  to  604  with shading. 
     The method of checking the touch level en the touch screen  130  through the display panel of the touch screen  130  is not limited to the aforementioned digital bar  600 . Any various methods may be used as the method of checking the touch level. After a unified means like the digital bar  600  shown in  FIG. 6 a    is displayed, the shading, etc., are differentially applied according to the touch level, so that the touch levels are can be distinguished. Furthermore, mutually different shapes, icons, etc., having no correlation at all with the touch level may be displayed on the touch screen  130 . 
     More specifically, it can be understood that the feedback according to the touch level is correlated with the touch level in the feedback method shown in  FIG. 6 a   . That is, the feedback method shown in  FIG. 6 a    has a positive correlation in which the more the touch level rises, the larger the number and/or order of the bars of the digital bar  600  which are displayed with shading is. It is possible to configure that the feedback and the touch level have a negative correlation in which the more the touch level rises, the less the number and/or order of the bars of the digital bar  600  which are displayed with shading is. 
     As such, when the feedback on each of the plurality of touch levels is performed to have the correlation with the touch level, at the moment when the user recognizes the feedback, the user is able to be intuitively aware of which touch level the touch screen  130  is touched at. However, in the trend of considering privacy including personal information as important, when there is necessity of protecting information according to the input of the user, problems may be caused. 
     Therefore, the present invention is able to provide the feedback according to the touch level when the user touches the touch screen  130  and to provide a feedback technology of causing a third party not to easily recognize the feedback. In other words, the present invention is able to provide the feedback such that the feedback on each of the plurality of touch levels is uncorrelated with the touch level. That is, the feedback on the touch level may be selected and performed in such a manner that the corresponding touch level cannot be intuitively recognized. 
       FIGS. 6 b  to 6 e    show that the feedback on each of the plurality of touch levels has the uncorrelation with the touch level. 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 b   , when the user touches the touch region  400  at the first level, the feedback may be provided such that a circle  601  is displayed. The user is able to recognize in advance that the circle  601  is a feedback indicating the first level or to set the feedback indicating the first level as the circle. 
     As shown in  FIG. 6 c   , when the user touches the touch region  400  at the second level, the feedback may be provided such that a triangle  602  is displayed. Likewise, as shown in  FIGS. 6 d  and 6 e   , when the user touches the touch region  400  at the third level and the fourth level, the feedback may be provided such that a quadrangle  603  and a lozenge  604  are displayed. 
     Here, even though a third party sees that the circle  601 , the triangle  602 , the quadrangle  603  and the lozenge  604  are displayed on the touch screen  130 , the third party is not able to recognize which touch level the corresponding shape has. Therefore, the touch information of the user according to the touch level is protected from the third party, so that security can be improved. Here, the user may be fully aware in advance of the touch levels that the shapes, icon, etc., indicate. The user is able to check his own touch level in accordance with the change of the shape. 
     The foregoing has described the case where the feedback has the uncorrelation with the touch level without changing the feedback means. However, this is just an example. The feedback including the change of the feedback means may be uncorrelated with the touch level. For example, a first shape may be displayed on the touch screen for the first level, and vibration having a first rhythm may be generated for the second level. 
     The feedback method which is described with reference to  FIGS. 7 and 8  is similar to the feedback method which is described with reference to  FIG. 6 . Therefore, the following description will be focused on the difference between them. 
     In  FIG. 7 a   , when the finger  500  touches the touch region  400 , the touch level may be output in the form of sound  310  through a speaker  300 . Here, the output through the speaker may be set in advance as the feedback means of the feedback table. Also, the sound which is distinguished and output according to the touch level may be stored as the feedback method of the feedback table. 
     Here, the control signal which is output from the control signal generator of the controller  110  is transmitted to a speaker drive unit (not shown) and may allow the speaker  300  to be driven according to the corresponding feedback method. At least one of the frequency, amplitude, length, kind, melody and the number of the sound  310  which is output through the speaker  300  may be changed so as to distinguish each of the plurality of touch levels. 
     Here, the feedback may be performed such that the feedback on each of the plurality of touch levels has the correlation with the touch level. However, according to the embodiment of the present invention, the feedback may be performed such that the feedback on each of the plurality of touch levels is uncorrelated with the touch level. For example, the case where the feedback on each of the plurality of touch levels has the correlation with the touch level means that the feedback may be performed such that the sound is generated one time for the first level, the sound is generated twice for the second level, the sound is generated three times for the third level, and the sound is generated four times for the fourth level. 
       FIG. 7 b    shows that the feedback on each of the plurality of touch levels has the uncorrelation with the touch level.  FIG. 7 b    shows that different rhythms have been assigned to the first to the fourth levels. The sound with a rhythm of long-long-long-short-short for the first level, the sound with a rhythm of long-short-long-short-long for the second level, the sound with a rhythm of short-long-short-long-short for the third level, and the sound with a rhythm of short-short-short-long-long for the fourth level may be output as the feedback. Here, the “long” may represent a sound output time period relatively longer than that of “short”. In the specification of the present invention, the rhythm of the sound may have a concept included in the melody. 
     Also, in the case where the feedback is led such that the feedback on each of the plurality of touch levels has the correlation with the touch level, sounds made by a cat for the first level, sounds made by a goat for the second level, sounds made by a puppy for the third level, sounds made by a calf for the fourth level may be also separately output. Furthermore, the sound may be variously set such that the feedback on each of the plurality of touch levels is uncorrelated with the touch level. The feedback method according to the touch level may be stored in the feedback table. 
     In  FIG. 8 , when the finger  500  touches the touch region  400 , the touch level may be output in the form of vibration  710  through a vibration device (not shown). The output through the vibration device (not shown) may be set in advance as the feedback means of the feedback table. Also, the vibration  710  which is distinguished and output according to the touch level may be stored as the feedback method of the feedback table. 
     Here, the control signal which is output from the control signal generator of the controller  110  is transmitted to the vibration device drive unit (not shown) and may allow the vibration device (not shown) to be driven according to the corresponding feedback method. At least one of the frequency, intensity, length, melody and the number of the vibration  710  which is output through the vibration device (not shown) may be changed so as to distinguish each of the plurality of touch levels. 
     Here, the feedback may be performed such that the feedback on each of the plurality of touch levels has the correlation with the touch level. However, according to the embodiment of the present invention, the feedback may be performed such that the feedback on each of the plurality of touch levels has the uncorrelation with the touch level. 
     For example, in the case where the feedback on each of the plurality of touch levels has the correlation with the touch level, the feedback may be performed such that the vibration is generated one time for the first level, the vibration is generated twice for the second level, the vibration is generated three times for the third level, and the vibration is generated four times for the fourth level. Also, in the feedback on each of the plurality of touch levels has the uncorrelation with the touch level, for example, the feedback may be set such that the vibration is generated according to the rhythms shown in  FIG. 7   b.    
     The feedback method according to the touch level may be stored in the feedback table. Here, the intensity of the vibration  710  may represent power which drives the vibration device. 
     Hereafter, a passcode and an unlocking function which are capable of improving the security of the touch input device  100  and of protecting the user&#39;s privacy by using the aforementioned feedback method and feedback means according to the touch level will be described with reference to  FIGS. 9 a    to  9   d.    
     With reference to the memory  120  in accordance with the processing result from the processor  140 , the controller may signal as to whether the pressure magnitude, area, the number, rhythm and/or position of the touch on the touch screen  130  match a predetermined passcode or not. 
     The memory  120  according to the embodiment of the present invention may store, for example, a predetermined passcode. The predetermined passcode may be set advance by the user or may be set by default for the touch input device  100 . There may be a requirement or process of unlocking for the purpose of using the touch input device  100  according to the embodiment of the present invention or for the purpose of performing a specific application or function. Here, it is necessary to input a specific passcode so as to unlock. Such a passcode may be stored as the predetermined passcode in the memory  120 . 
     The controller  110  according to the embodiment of the present invention may further include a comparator (not shown). The comparator compares a passcode which is input through the touch screen  130  with the predetermined passcode of the memory  120 , thereby determining whether the two passcodes match each other or not. The controller  110  is hereby able to generate the first control signal. Although it is described that comparator is included controller  110 , this is an example. The comparator may be located in any place and be included in the processor  140  in accordance with the embodiment. 
     The passcode input window  200  according to the embodiment of the present invention allows the user to input the passcode for unlocking the screen in order to use the touch input device  100  or in order to perform a specific application of function. In the past, in general, the screen is unlocked by inputting a passcode consisting of a predetermined combination of letters and/or numbers to the passcode input window  200 . The present invention is able to provide a passcode and an unlocking function which are capable of maintaining high security and are easy to operate. 
       FIG. 9 a    shows an example of a process of unlocking the passcode input window  200  according to the first embodiment of the present invention. In  FIG. 9 a   , the passcode input window  200  according to the first embodiment is displayed on the touch screen  130  of the touch input device  100 . As shown in  FIG. 9 a   , the passcode input window  200  according, to the first embodiment may include a plurality of passcode input region  400 . For the purpose of unlocking the touch input device  100 , the user is able to perform the touch with the same touch pressure magnitude and/or touch area as the touch pressure magnitude and/or touch area which is stored as the predetermined passcode for each of the passcode input regions  401 ,  402 ,  403  and  404 . 
     The comparator included in the controller  110  is able to determine whether or not all the touch levels on the passcode input regions  401 ,  402 ,  403  and  404  match, respectively, the touch levels of the corresponding regions, which have been stored as the predetermined passcode. When the comparator determines that all the touch levels on the passcode input regions  401 ,  402 ,  403  and  404  match, respectively, the touch levels of the corresponding regions, the controller  110  may generate the first control signal for unlocking the touch input device  100 . When even at least one of the touch levels on the passcode input regions  401 ,  402 ,  403  and  404  is different from the touch level of the corresponding region, which has been stored as the predetermined passcode, the controller  110  may notify that the input passcode is wrong, may provide a chance to input a passcode again and/or may generate the first control signal causing the touch input device  100  not to be unlocked. 
     For example, as the predetermined passcode, the third level may be set in the first region  401 , the fourth level may be set in the second region  402 , the first level may be set in the third region  403 , and the second level may be set in the fourth region  404 . That is, according to the embodiment of the present invention, the touch level as well as the position of the passcode input region may be used as the passcode. Here, the touch level may be on at least one of the touch pressure magnitude, touch area and touch time period. 
     In order to unlock the touch input device  100 , the user may touch the first region  401  with a predetermined position at the third level, may touch the second region  402  at the fourth level, may touch the third region  403  at the first level, and may touch the fourth region  404  at the second level. 
     Here, according to the embodiment, it is not necessary to sequentially perform the touch from the first region  401  to the fourth region  404 . Here, the passcode for unlocking may be set through a combination of the touch position and the touch level. In this case, when the combination of the touch position and the touch level matches that of the passcode regardless of the touch order, the touch input device  100  can be unlocked. When the passcode for unlocking may be set through a combination of the touch order as well as the touch position and touch level, the touch input device  100  can be unlocked by touching the first to the fourth regions  401 ,  402 ,  403  and  404  in accordance with the touch order determined as the predetermined passcode. 
     The memory  120  of the touch input device  100  stores the position of each of the passcode input regions  400 . Therefore, the touch occurs on any region  401  among the passcode input regions  400 , the comparator of the controller compares the position information stored in the memory  120  with the information on the touch position as the processing result of the processor  140  thereby recognizing which region the touch has occurred on. 
     Here, when the user touches the touch screen  130  of the touch input device  100 , he/she has a difficulty, in being himself/herself aware of which touch level he/she touches the touch screen  130  at. Therefore, in the input of the passcode for unlocking, an error inevitably occurs. Thus, the touch input device  100  according to the embodiment of the present invention is able to provide feedback on the touch level when the user touches the touch screen  130 . The feedback method and means described with reference to  FIGS. 6 a    to  8  can be used. For example, when the user touches each of the passcode input regions  401 ,  402 ,  403  and  404 , the user checks the touch level and finally selects a touch level that the user wants. Accordingly, the touch on each region  401 ,  402 ,  403  and  404  can be completed. 
     Also, the passcode input window  200  according to the embodiment of the present invention may include a text input window (not shown). For example, the text input window may disposed between the first to the fourth regions  401   402 ,  403  and  404  or at any position. Also, the shape of the text input window may be the same as or different from those of the first to the fourth regions  401 ,  402 ,  403  and  404 . Also, the text input window may include a space in which a text including at least one letter, number, symbol, etc., can be input. In order to input the text to the text input window, the user is allowed to use a key pad (not shown) which can be displayed on the touch screen. 
     In this case, when all the touch levels on the plurality if passcode input regions  401 ,  402 ,  403  and  404  match, respectively, the touch levels of the corresponding regions, which have been stored as the predetermined passcode and when the text input to the text input window matches a text stored as the predetermined passcode, the controller  110  generates the first control signal and unlocks the touch input device  100 . 
     The passcode input window  200  according to the embodiment of the present invention may include one passcode input region  401 . The passcode input region  401  invention not necessarily explicitly displayed, and the passcode input window  200  itself may be recognized as the passcode input region. 
     For the purpose of unlocking touch input device  100 , the user may touch the passcode input region  401  by means of the number, rhythm and/or level of the touch, which have been stored as the predetermined passcode. 
     According to the embodiment, the number of the touches and the rhythm of the touch on the passcode input region  401  nay be set as the predetermined passcode. For instance the touch occurs distinctively five times on the passcode input region  401  during a predetermined time period, and the five touches may consist of “long-short-long-long-short”. Here, a time interval the object to be separated from the touch screen  130  may be required between the touches. The actual touch period may be stored together as the predetermined passcode, for example, “long” means a touch for 2 seconds, and “short” means touch for 1 second. However, an additional checking process may be required for the user to clearly distinguish the touch time period. Therefore, the passcode may be generated such that “long” and “short” are distinguished by comparing relative time periods of continuous touches according to the embodiment. For example, on the basis of the touch duration time of the first touch in the five continuous touches, the touches with touch duration times within a predetermined error range of the touch duration time of the first touch are distinguished from touch duration times of the rest of the touches, and then it is determined whether the touch duration times of the rest of the touches are greater or less than that of the first touch. Accordingly, when the touch duration times of the rest of the touches are greater than that of the first touch, the rest of the touches are recognized as “long” and the first touch and the touches with touch duration times within the predetermined error range are recognized as “short”. Likewise, when the touch duration times of the rest of the touches are less than that of the first touch, the rest of the touches are recognized as “short” and the first touch and the touches with touch duration times within the predetermined error range are recognized as “long”. The distinction between “long” and “short” is just an example. The relative length of time can be compared in various ways. 
     Also, the rhythm of “long-short-long-long-short” may be a relative length between time intervals having no touch between the touches. For example, the rhythm may be set such that the touch occurs actually six times and the relative length of five time intervals where the finger has not touched the touch screen between the six touches has a rhythm of “long-short-long-long-short”. A rhythm on the relative length between the touch time interval on the touch screen and the time interval between the touches may be set as a passcode. 
     The comparator included in the controller  110  is able to determine whether or not the number and rhythm of the touch on the passcode input region  401  match the number and rhythm of the touch, which have been stored as the predetermined passcode. When the comparator determines that the number and rhythm of the touch on the passcode input region  401  match the number and rhythm of the touch, the controller  110  may generate the first control signal for unlocking the touch input device  100 . The touch rhythm can be sequentially applied to the plurality of passcode input regions  401 ,  402 ,  403  and  404  shown in  FIG. 9   a.    
     Also, according to the embodiment, the number of the touches and the level of the touch on the passcode input region  401  may be set as the predetermined passcode. For instance, the touch occurs distinctively five times on the passcode input region  401  during a predetermined time period, and the five touches may consist of “great-small-great-great-small”. Here, “great” may represent that the touch occurs at a level which is relatively greater than “small”. The actual touch level may be stored together as the predetermined passcode, for example, the first level is assigned to “great” and the second level is assigned to “small”. However, an additional checking process may be required for the user to clearly distinguish the touch level. Therefore, the passcode may be generated such that “great” and “small” are distinguished by comparing relative levels of continuous touches according to the embodiment. For example, on the basis of the touch level of the first touch in the five continuous touches, the touches with touch levels within a predetermined error range of the touch level of the first touch are distinguished from touch levels of the rest of the touches, and then it is determined whether the touch levels of the rest of the touches are greater or smaller than that of the first touch. Accordingly, when the touch levels of the rest of the touches are greater than that of the first touch, the rest of the touches are recognized as “great” and the first touch and the touches with touch levels within the predetermined error range are recognized as “small”. Likewise, when the touch levels of the rest of the touches are smaller than that of the first touch, the rest of the touches are recognized as “small” and the first touch and the touches with touch levels within the predetermined error range are recognized as “great”. The distinction between “great” and “small” is just an example. The relative touch level can be compared in various ways. 
     Furthermore, the foregoing combination of the rhythm according to the touch time period and/or the rhythm according to the touch level may be used to unlock. 
     The comparator included in the controller  110  is able to determine whether or not the number and level of the touch on the passcode input region  401  match the number and level of the touch, which have been stored as the predetermined passcode. When the comparator determines that the number and level of the touch on the passcode input region  401  match the number and level of the touch, the controller  110  may generate the first control signal for unlocking the touch input device  100 . 
     The foregoing combination of the number of the touches, touch level and touch rhythm can be used to unlock the touch input device  100  and can be also applied to the following embodiments. 
       FIG. 9 b    shows an example of a process of unlocking the passcode input window  200  according to the second embodiment of the present invention. In  FIG. 9 b   , the passcode input window  200  according to the second embodiment is displayed on the touch screen  130  of the touch input device  100 . As shown in  FIG. 9 b   , the plurality of touches may be simultaneously input to the passcode input window  200 . 
     In the second embodiment, the comparator included in the controller  110  is able to determine whether or not the combination of the levels and the number of the touches occurring simultaneously on the passcode input window  200  matches the combination of the levels and the number of the touches which have been stored as the predetermined passcode. When the comparator determines that the combination of the levels and the number of the touches occurring simultaneously on the passcode input window  200  matches the combination of the levels and the number of the touches which have been stored as the predetermined passcode, the controller  110  may generate the first control signal for unlocking the touch input device  100 . When even at least one of the combinations of the levels and the number of the touches occurring simultaneously on the passcode input window  200  is different from the combination of the levels and the number of the touches, which has been stored as the predetermined passcode, the controller  110  may notify that the input passcode is wrong, may provide a chance to input a passcode again and/or may generate the first control signal causing the touch input device  100  not to be unlocked. 
     In the second embodiment, since the plurality of touches occur simultaneously on the passcode input window  200 , it may be difficult to check the touch level according to the feedback. Therefore, in the second embodiment, only the direct touch and hovering on the touch screen  130  can be simply distinguished. In this case, only the first level and the second level may be distinguished. Otherwise, only the touch level of “great” and the touch level of “small” may be relatively distinguished. 
     For example, it may be set that, as the predetermined passcode, four touches should simultaneously occur on the passcode input window  200  and two out of the four touches should be direct touches and the rest of the two should be hovering, otherwise, two out of the four touches should be relatively the touch levels of “great” and the rest of the two should be the touch levels of “small”. In other words, in the second embodiment, the number and the level of the simultaneously occurring touches can be used as the passcode. 
     So as to unlock the touch input device  100 , the user touches simultaneously the passcode input window  200  with a first finger  510  to a fourth finger  540 . Here, the user touches directly with the first finger  510  and the second finger  520  (e.g., the second level) and may perform the hovering with the third finger  530  and the fourth finger  540  the first level). Here, a fifth finger  550  does not touch the passcode input window  200 . 
     As shown in  FIG. 9 b   , according to the embodiment, the passcode input window  200  may include a plurality of divided regions. For example, each divided region is displayed with a grid cell (displayed with 1×1 to N×M) consisting of N columns and M rows. Here, the number and the level of the simultaneously occurring touches may be used as the passcode. 
     According to the embodiment, the predetermined passcode may be set through a combination including not only the foregoing number and the level of the simultaneously occurring touches but also the touch position. For example, a condition that two touches should occur in the 3×1 and 4×1 grid cell positions at the second level and two touches should occur in the 2×2 and 3×3 grid cell positions at the first level may be further stored as the predetermined passcode. In this case, in order to unlock the touch input device  100 , the user may perform the touch on the passcode input window  200  by means of the same touch position as well as the same number and same level of the simultaneously occurring touches as the touch position, number and level of the predetermined passcode. 
       FIG. 9 c    shows an example of a process of unlocking the passcode input window  200  according to the third embodiment of the present invention. In  FIG. 9 c   , the passcode input window  200  according to the third embodiment is displayed on the touch screen  130  of the touch input device  100 . As shown in  FIG. 9 c   , the passcode input window  200  according to the third embodiment may include a plurality of nodes  401  to  415 . 
     In the third embodiment, the comparator included in the controller  110  is able to determine whether or not a combination of the touch level and the nodes that are touched among the plurality of nodes  401  to  415  displayed on the passcode input window  200  matches a combination of the touch level and the nodes that are touched, which has been stored as the predetermined passcode. When the comparator determines that the combinations match each other, the controller  110  may generate the first control signal for unlocking the touch input device  100 . 
     For example, it may be set that, as the predetermined passcode, the touch should occur the nodes  401 ,  404 ,  405 ,  406 ,  408 ,  411 , and  415  and the touch should occur the nodes  405  and  411  at the first level, the touch should occur the nodes  406  and  415  at the second level, the touch should occur the node  404  at the third level, and the touch should occur the nodes  401  and  408  at the fourth level. In other words, in the third embodiment, the node that is touched and the touch level can be used as the passcode. 
     Here, according, to the embodiment, it is not necessary to sequentially perform the touch on the nodes  401  to  415  according to the reference numeral of the node. Here, the passcode for unlocking may be set through a combination of the touch level and the node that is touched. In this case, when the combination of the touch level and the node that is touched matches that of the passcode regardless of the touch order, the touch input device  100  can be unlocked. 
     When the passcode for unlocking may be set through a combination of the touch order as well as the touch level and the node that is touched, the touch input device  100  can be unlocked by touching the nodes  401 ,  404 ,  405 ,  406 ,  408 ,  411 , and  415  in accordance with the touch order determined as the predetermined passcode. For example, it is shown in  FIG. 9 c   , that the order of the touch on the node is the node  401 , node  408 , node  406 , node  405 , node  404 , node  411 , and node  415 . However, this is just an example. The order of the touch node may be randomly determined. 
     Also, a line connecting the nodes that are touched according to the embodiment may or may not be touched by the finger, etc. For example, in  FIG. 9 c   , when the finger touches the node  401  with a predetermined area and moves to the node  408 , it may be, as indicated by line  1 , set such that the finger moves touching the passcode input window  200  or moves without touching. When the finger moves touching between the nodes, the touch area is not distinguished and only the direct touch may be recognized. According to the embodiment, only the direct touch and hovering may be distinguished. 
       FIG. 9 d    shows an example of a process of unlocking the passcode input window according to the fourth embodiment of the present invention. In  FIG. 9 d   , the passcode input window  200  according to the fourth embodiment is displayed on the touch screen  130  of the touch input device  100 . Similar to the third embodiment shown in  FIG. 9 c   , in the embodiment shown in  FIG. 9 d   , the passcode input window  200  may include a plurality of nodes  401  to  405 . The fourth embodiment is similar to the aforementioned third embodiment. However, unlike the third embodiment, the positions and shapes of the nodes  401  to  405  are not clearly displayed on the passcode input window  200 . In the fourth embodiment, the plurality nodes  401  to  405  are concealed in the passcode input window  200 . For example, as shown in  FIG. 9 d   , the plurality of nodes  401  to  405  are hidden behind a specific shape (rabbit shape), so that each node can be created unnoticeably. 
     According to the embodiment, the user may set in advance the plurality of nodes  401  to  405  in the shape displayed on the passcode input window  200 . Otherwise, according to the embodiment, a shape in which the plurality of nodes  401  to  405  have been defined in advance may be displayed on the passcode input window  200 . Here, the method of unlocking is the same as the method described relative to the third embodiment. That is, the combination of node that is touched among the plurality of nodes  401  to  405 , the touch level and/or the touch order may be used as the passcode. Here, also, in the third and fourth embodiments, the combination of the number, rhythm and/or level of the touch on each node  401  may be also set as the passcode. Also, between the touches on the plurality of nodes, the rhythm of the touch may be set as the passcode. 
     A process of unlocking the passcode input window according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention may be performed by performing according to a specific pattern the touch on the passcode input window  200  displayed on the touch screen  130  (not shown). According to the embodiment, the user may set a passcode in advance by drawing a pattern to be used as a passcode on the touch screen  130 . For example, a heart-shaped pattern may be set as a passcode, and then the user may touch on the touch screen  130  in accordance with the preset heart-shaped pattern so as to unlock. Here, a start point in the drawing of the passcode pattern and/or the order of the drawing may be also set as a passcode. 
     Here, the specific pattern to be stored as the passcode may be any shape or picture. Also, the specific pattern to be stored as the passcode may be a text including letters, numbers and any symbols. Here, the text may be recognized as a text or shape. 
     The comparator compares the input pattern with the specific pattern stored as the predetermined passcode. Here, when similarity between the patterns is greater than a predetermined value, the touch input device  100  may be unlocked. Here, a position where the specific pattern is drawn may be set as a passcode. Even when a touch according to the corresponding pattern occurs on any position of the passcode input window  200  in accordance with the embodiment, the touch may be recognized as the same pattern. According to the embodiment, the passcode pattern which is input according to the touch on the passcode input window  200  may or may not be displayed on the touch screen  130 . 
     Also, according to the embodiment, a touch for drawing the specific pattern on the touch screen  130  may include the hovering as well as the direct touch. Also, the touch for drawing the specific pattern may be performed by a combination of the direct touch and the hovering. For example, the direct touch may be performed in a predetermined interval of the specific pattern and the hovering may be performed in the other interval of the specific pattern. Here, the touch level may be also combined as the passcode. 
     Although preferred embodiments of the present invention were described above, these are just examples and do not limit the present invention. Further, the present invention may be changed and modified in various ways, without departing from the essential features of the present invention, by those skilled in the art. For example, the components described in detail in the embodiments of the present invention may be modified. Further, differences due to the modification and application should be construed as being included in the scope and spirit of the present invention, which is described in the accompanying claims.