Patent Description:
This application relates to the communications field, and in particular, to a touch control apparatus and method.

With rapid development of the internet and communications technologies, office informatization has become an important part of an entire IT service system. An interactive touch-control display device (for example, an interactive electronic whiteboard) that is closest to a user is prevalent, and has become a standard accessory for a digital conference. To achieve better writing experience, an interactive touch control display device is usually equipped with a stylus, helping the user write on a screen, as shown in <FIG>.

However, when implementing a touch-control and writing function, an existing interactive touch-control display device can only start a dedicated writing program and write in the writing program, and cannot implement the touch-control and writing function in an interface other than the writing program. For example, when a PPT slide is displayed, the user further wants to perform touch-control and writing operations such as writing comments or circling and modifying in a playing interface of the slide, but this cannot be implemented in a prior art. As an example, Korean patent application <CIT> discloses an electronic device including a display unit, an electronic pen, a pen sensing module, a pen input module, and a processor. The processor can activate the pen input module while maintaining the off state of the display unit if the detachment of the electronic pen is sensed in the off state of the display unit. As another example, United States patent application <CIT> discloses a method and an apparatus for controlling an electronic device having a removable stylus for operating a touch screen of an electronic device. As yet another example, United States patent application <CIT> discloses a method for providing a collaboration session using a designated control pen. As yet another example, Korean patent application <CIT> discloses a terminal device with an input device, a sensor unit for sensing whether the input device is mounted or not, and a control unit for controlling an input unit and an output unit to be activated when it is sensed that the input device is separated from the mounting unit. As yet another example, Chinese patent application <CIT> discloses a writing superposition method for a touch screen, including setting an interface background of a writing program to be fully transparent.

Embodiments of this application provide a touch control apparatus that can eliminate a prior-art limitation that a touch-control and writing operation can be performed only when a button is first tapped to activate a dedicated writing program. The invention is as set out in the independent claims <NUM> and <NUM>, preferred forms being set out in the dependent claims <NUM>, <NUM>, <NUM> and <NUM>.

According to a first aspect, a touch control apparatus is provided, including a touchscreen, a processor, and a pen slot configured to place a stylus, where a sensing component is disposed in the pen slot, and the sensing component is configured to: detect that the stylus placed in the pen slot is picked up, and generate a signal; the processor is configured to control, based on the signal generated by the sensing component, the touchscreen to superimpose and display a writing interface on a current interface; and the touchscreen is configured to display the writing interface on the current interface, and is further configured to: receive touch control of the stylus, and display, on the writing interface, a path generated by the touch control of the stylus.

That the stylus is picked up usually means that a user is about to write. The touch control apparatus in the embodiments of this application can identify a user's intention, and display the writing interface on the current interface when the stylus is picked up, to implement an objective that the user can write when picking up the stylus.

According to the first aspect, the writing interface has a background color or a transparent color.

According to the first aspect, the writing interface has the background color when the touch control apparatus is in a standby state.

According to the first aspect, the writing interface has the transparent color when the touchscreen displays at least one of an interface corresponding to presentation data, an operation interface of an application program, and a system desktop.

When the writing interface has the background color, an interface before the writing interface is displayed may be blocked, to avoid an impact of previous interface content on handwriting. When the writing interface has the transparent color, an interface before the writing interface is displayed may be seen during writing, to facilitate presentation of the previous interface. For example, the interface before the writing interface is displayed is an office software interface.

With reference to the first aspect, in a first possible implementation, the touchscreen is further configured to display a control button, and the processor is further configured to detect a position at which the stylus starts to touch the writing interface; and when the position is in a sensing area of the control button, the touchscreen is further configured to display an interface for performing an operation corresponding to the control button, or when the position is in an area other than the sensing area of the control button, the touchscreen is further configured to display a writing path generated by the touch control.

With reference to any one of the first aspect, or the first possible implementation of the first aspect, in a second possible implementation, a magnet or a fastener is disposed in the pen slot, and the stylus is fastened to the pen slot by using the magnet or the fastener.

According to a second aspect, a touch control method is provided, including: detecting, by a touch control apparatus by using a sensing component disposed in a pen slot of the touch control apparatus, that a stylus placed in the pen slot is picked up, where the stylus is picked up to trigger the touch control apparatus to superimpose and display a writing interface on a current interface; superimposing and displaying, by the touch control apparatus by using a touchscreen of the touch control apparatus, the writing interface on the current interface; receiving, by the touch control apparatus by using the touchscreen, touch control of the stylus; and displaying, by the touch control apparatus on the writing interface, a path generated by the touch control. According to the second aspect, the writing interface has a background color or a transparent color.

According to the second aspect, the writing interface has the background color when the touch control apparatus is in a standby state.

According to the second aspect, the writing interface has the transparent color when the touchscreen displays at least one of an interface corresponding to presentation data, an operation interface of an application program, and a system desktop.

With reference to the second aspect, in a first possible implementation, the touch control apparatus further displays a control button on the touchscreen. The touch control apparatus also detects a position at which the stylus starts to touch the writing interface. When the position is in a sensing area of the control button, the touch control apparatus displays, on the touchscreen, an interface for performing an operation corresponding to the control button, or when the position is in an area other than the sensing area of the control button, the touch control apparatus displays, on the touchscreen, a writing path generated by the touch control.

With reference to any one of: the second aspect or the first possible implementation of the second aspect, in a second possible implementation, the touch control apparatus fastens the stylus to the pen slot by using a magnet or a fastener disposed in the pen slot.

According to the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of this application, the sensing component disposed in the pen slot of the touch control apparatus detects that the stylus is picked up, so that the processor is triggered to control the touchscreen to superimpose and display the writing interface on the current interface. Therefore, the stylus can perform the touch-control and writing operation on the writing interface, and this resolves a problem that the touch-control and writing operation can be performed only when a button is first tapped to activate the dedicated writing program.

To describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of this application or in a prior art more clearly, the following briefly describes the accompanying drawings required for describing the embodiments or the prior art.

In the embodiments of this application, a touchscreen is also referred to as a touch panel, and is an induction liquid crystal display apparatus or a tablet display apparatus that can receive an input signal such as a contact (for example, a stylus or a finger). The stylus is a pen-shaped tool, and is configured to input an instruction to a device having a touchscreen, such as a computer screen, a mobile device, or a drawingboard. A user may select a file or perform drawing by tapping the touchscreen by using the stylus. Presentation data includes a to-be-displayed or to-be-operated file that is obtained by a conference terminal from an external device.

The following describes the embodiments of this application with reference to the accompanying drawings.

<FIG> is a schematic structural diagram of a touch control apparatus according to an embodiment of this application. In <FIG>, the touch control apparatus <NUM> includes a touchscreen <NUM> and a pen slot <NUM>. The pen slot <NUM> is configured to place a stylus. The pen slot <NUM> is a position for placing the stylus, for example, a dent, or the like, adapted to the stylus. A sensing component <NUM> is disposed in the pen slot <NUM>. The sensing component <NUM> may be a sensor, such as a photoelectric sensor, and may be specifically an infrared light reflective sensor. The sensing component <NUM> may alternatively be an electromagnetic sensor or a touch switch. The touch control apparatus <NUM> further includes a processor <NUM>. Because a processor is usually encapsulated inside a product and is invisible from outside, the processor <NUM> in the figure is represented by a dashed line. Although only one processor is shown in the figure, a person skilled in the art may understand that the touch control apparatus <NUM> may include a plurality of processors.

When the stylus is not used, the stylus is usually placed in the pen slot <NUM>. A magnet or a fastener may be disposed in the pen slot <NUM>, so that the stylus is fastened to the pen slot <NUM>, as shown in <FIG> is a schematic structural diagram of a pen slot according to an embodiment of this application. In <FIG>, a magnet and an infrared light reflective sensor are disposed in the pen slot, and a stylus is attached to the pen slot by using the magnet.

The sensing component <NUM> is configured to detect whether the stylus in the pen slot <NUM> is picked up, namely, whether the stylus leaves the pen slot <NUM>. The sensing component <NUM> is further configured to generate a signal to trigger the processor <NUM> to control the touchscreen <NUM> to superimpose and display a writing interface on a current interface. For the photoelectric sensor, when the stylus is picked up from the pen slot or placed into the pen slot, light intensity received by the photoelectric sensor changes, so that whether the stylus is placed in the pen slot can be detected. The change in the light intensity causes a voltage change. The voltage change is parsed into a level signal of "<NUM>" or "<NUM>" (generally "<NUM>" is a low level, and "<NUM>" is a high level), and the signal triggers the processor <NUM> to control background software to start or not to start the writing interface. For the electromagnetic sensor, when the stylus with a built-in magnet is picked up from the pen slot or placed into the pen slot, magnetic field strength changes, so that whether the stylus is placed in the pen slot can be detected. The change in the magnetic field strength causes a voltage change. Similar to the photoelectric sensor, the voltage change triggers the processor <NUM> to control the background software to start or not to start the writing interface. For the touch switch, when the stylus is picked up from the pen slot or placed into the pen slot, the touch switch pops up or is pressed down, to detect whether the stylus is placed in the pen slot. The touch switch pops up or is pressed down to cause a voltage change. Similarly, the voltage change triggers the processor <NUM> to control the background software to start or not to start the writing interface. That the processor <NUM> controls the touchscreen <NUM> to superimpose and display a writing interface on a current interface includes superimposing a touch feature on the current interface. After the writing interface is superimposed and displayed, writing operations may be performed on the current interface by using the stylus. The writing operations include operations such as writing and drawing.

The processor <NUM> may control the touchscreen <NUM> to display a system interface such as a system desktop, an operation interface of an application program, and an interface (for example, a PPT slide) corresponding to presentation data in a conference. The processor <NUM> may further control the touchscreen to superimpose and display the writing interface on the currently displayed interface, and display, on the writing interface, a path generated by touch control of the stylus. The writing interface may have a background color or a transparent color. When the writing interface has the background color, a system interface before the writing interface is displayed is blocked by the writing interface, as shown in <FIG>. When the writing interface has the transparent color, a system interface before the writing interface is displayed may be seen through the writing interface, as shown in <FIG>.

In an embodiment, when the touch control apparatus <NUM> is in a standby state, the writing interface has the background color; and when the touchscreen <NUM> displays at least one of the interface corresponding to the presentation data, the operation interface of the application program, or the system desktop, the writing interface has the transparent color.

The touchscreen <NUM> is further configured to display a control button. An operation interface of an application program and a system desktop usually have a plurality of control buttons, for example, a "start" button and an "insert" button on a toolbar in office software Word, and an application icon on a desktop. Therefore, the processor <NUM> is further configured to detect a position at which the stylus starts to touch the writing interface. When the position is in a sensing area of the control button, the processor <NUM> controls the touchscreen <NUM> to display an interface for performing an operation corresponding to the control button. Because in this case, a user using the stylus is more likely to want to tap the control button instead of writing. As shown in <FIG>, an interface currently displayed on a touchscreen is an office software interface, and buttons such as "File" and "Edit" are displayed on the interface. A position at which a stylus starts to touch the touchscreen is the "edit" button, and a user's intention is usually to tap the "edit" button. In this case, a processor controls the touchscreen to display an interface of a menu corresponding to the "edit" button. When the position is in an area other than the sensing area of the control button, the processor <NUM> controls the touchscreen <NUM> to display the path generated by the touch control of the stylus. Because in this case, a user using the stylus is more likely to want to write. As shown in <FIG>, a position at which a stylus starts to touch a touchscreen is document content, and a user's intention is usually to write. In this case, a processor controls the touchscreen to display a path generated by touch control of the stylus. The path generated by the touch control of the stylus may also be referred to as handwriting.

According to the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of this application, the sensing component disposed in the pen slot of the touch control apparatus detects that the stylus is picked up, so that the processor is triggered to control the touchscreen to superimpose and display the writing interface on the current interface. Therefore, the stylus can perform a touch-control and writing operation on the writing interface, and this resolves a problem that the touch-control and writing operation can be performed only when a button is first tapped to activate a dedicated writing program.

<FIG> is a schematic structural diagram of a touch control apparatus <NUM> according to an embodiment of this application. As shown in <FIG>, the touch control apparatus <NUM> includes a processor <NUM>, a memory <NUM>, a touchscreen <NUM>, a sensing component <NUM>, and a bus <NUM>. Mutual communicative connections between the processor <NUM>, the memory <NUM>, the touchscreen <NUM>, and the sensing component <NUM> are implemented by using the bus <NUM>.

The processor <NUM> may be a general-purpose central processing unit (CPU), a microprocessor, an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), or one or more integrated circuits, and is configured to execute a related program, to implement the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of this application.

The memory <NUM> may be a read-only memory (ROM), a static storage device, a dynamic storage device, or a random access memory (Random Access Memory, RAM). The memory <NUM> may store an operating system and another application program. When the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of this application are implemented by using software or firmware, program code used for implementing the technical solutions provided in the embodiments of this application is stored in the memory <NUM>, and is executed by the processor <NUM>.

For descriptions of the touchscreen <NUM> and the sensing component <NUM>, refer to the embodiments in <FIG>.

The bus <NUM> may include a path for transmitting information between components (for example, the processor <NUM>, the memory <NUM>, the touchscreen <NUM>, and the sensing component <NUM>).

When the sensing component <NUM> detects that a stylus is picked up or placed back in a pen slot, a generated signal is transmitted to the processor <NUM> by using the bus <NUM>. The processor <NUM> executes the program code in the memory <NUM>, to display or not display a writing interface on the touchscreen <NUM>. In this embodiment of this application, the program code in the memory <NUM> may include a determining module and a startup module. The determining module is configured to determine whether the signal generated by the sensing component <NUM> is used to start the writing interface, and the startup module is configured to start or not start to display the writing interface based on a determining result of the determining module.

According to the technical solutions provided in this embodiment of this application, the sensing component disposed in the pen slot of the touch control apparatus detects that the stylus is picked up, so that the touchscreen is triggered superimposing and displaying the writing interface on a current interface. Therefore, the stylus can perform a touch-control and writing operation on the writing interface, and this resolves a problem that the touch-control and writing operation can be performed only when a button is first tapped to activate a dedicated writing program.

<FIG> is an example of a flowchart of a touch control method <NUM> according to an embodiment of this application. The touch control method <NUM> is performed by a touch control apparatus. The touch control apparatus may be the touch control apparatus <NUM> in the embodiment in <FIG>, or may be the touch control apparatus <NUM> in the embodiment in <FIG>. The touch control apparatus may be specifically a device having a touch function, such as a mobile terminal, a tablet computer, or an electronic whiteboard.

S1001: The touch control apparatus detects, by using a sensing component disposed in a pen slot of the touch control apparatus, that a stylus placed in the pen slot is picked up, where the stylus is picked up to trigger the touch control apparatus to superimpose and display a writing interface on a current interface.

S1002: The touch control apparatus superimposes and displays, by using a touchscreen of the touch control apparatus, the writing interface on the current interface.

Before a user picks up the stylus to write, the touchscreen of the touch control apparatus may be displaying a system interface (as described above) such as an operation interface of an application program, for example, an operation interface of office software Word. In this case, if the user wants to use the stylus to write, the user picks up the stylus from the pen slot. When the stylus is picked up, a sensor generates a signal, and the signal triggers background software to start the writing interface, where the writing interface is superimposed on the operation interface of the Word.

For descriptions of the sensing component, refer to the embodiments in <FIG>.

S1003: The touch control apparatus receives, by using the touchscreen, touch control of the stylus.

S1004: The touch control apparatus displays, on the writing interface, a path generated by the touch control.

The user writes on the touchscreen by using the stylus, and the path generated by the touch control of the stylus is displayed on the writing interface.

For descriptions of the writing interface, refer to the embodiments in <FIG>.

According to the technical solutions provided in this embodiment of this application, the sensing component disposed in the pen slot of the touch control apparatus detects that the stylus is picked up, so that the touchscreen is triggered superimposing and displaying the writing interface on the current interface. Therefore, the stylus can perform a touch-control and writing operation on the writing interface, and this resolves a problem that the touch-control and writing operation can be performed only when a button is first tapped to activate a dedicated writing program.

Claim 1:
A touch control apparatus (<NUM>; <NUM>) comprising a touchscreen (<NUM>; <NUM>), a processor (<NUM>; <NUM>), and a pen slot (<NUM>) configured to place a stylus, wherein
a sensing component (<NUM>; <NUM>) is disposed in the pen slot (<NUM>), and the sensing component (<NUM>; <NUM>) is configured to: detect that the stylus placed in the pen slot (<NUM>) is picked up, and generate a signal;
the processor (<NUM>; <NUM>) is configured to control, based on the signal, the touchscreen (<NUM>; <NUM>) to superimpose and display a writing interface on a current interface;
the writing interface has a background color or a transparent color;
the touchscreen (<NUM>; <NUM>) is configured to display the writing interface on the current interface; and
the touchscreen (<NUM>; <NUM>) is further configured to: receive touch control of the stylus, and
display, on the writing interface, a path generated by the touch control,
characterized in that
the writing interface has the background color when the touch control apparatus (<NUM>; <NUM>) is in a standby state;
the writing interface has the transparent color when the touchscreen (<NUM>; <NUM>) displays at least one of an interface corresponding to presentation data, an operation interface of an application program, and a system desktop.