KR20060080060A - Wireless communication terminal having key button lock / release function and its method - Google Patents

Abstract

1. TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a wireless communication terminal having a key button lock / release function and a method thereof.

2. The technical problem to be solved by the invention

According to the present invention, a touch sensing unit (eg, a capacitive touch sensor) is provided in a wireless communication terminal to operate a key button of the terminal in a lock mode or an unlock mode according to whether a human body is touched, thereby irrelevant to a user's intention. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a wireless communication terminal having a key button lock / release function and a method thereof, which can prevent malfunction and power consumption due to a button press operation.

3. Summary of Solution to Invention

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a wireless communication terminal, comprising: touch sensing means for outputting a sensing signal as a human body contacts; Input means for receiving a signal required for the wireless communication terminal; And arithmetic / control means for operating the input means in a locked mode or an unlocked mode, depending on whether the sensing signal is transmitted from the touch sensing means.

4. Important uses of the invention

The present invention is used in a wireless communication terminal.

Lock mode, unlock mode, touch sensor, capacitive type, touch sensor, wireless communication terminal

Description

Wireless communication terminal having a key button lock / release function and its method {Wireless communication terminal having locking / release function of key-button and method             

1A and 1B are views for explaining a wireless communication terminal including side buttons and key buttons;

2A and 2B are flowcharts illustrating a key button unlocking method in a conventional wireless communication terminal;

3 is a configuration diagram of an embodiment of a wireless communication terminal having a key button lock / release function according to the present invention;

4A and 4B are exemplary views illustrating a touch sensing unit in a wireless communication terminal according to the present invention;

5 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a method for locking / releasing a key button using a touch sensor in a wireless communication terminal according to the present invention.

* Explanation of symbols for the main parts of the drawings

31: wireless transmitter and receiver 32: codec

33: voice input unit (microphone) 34: voice output unit (speaker)

35: operation / control unit 36: storage unit

37: touch detection unit 38: input unit (key pad)

39: display unit (LCD)

The present invention relates to a wireless communication terminal having a key button lock / release function and a method thereof, and more particularly, to a touch communication unit (for example, a capacitive touch sensor) provided in a wireless communication terminal according to whether a human body is in contact with the human body. By operating the key button of the terminal in the lock mode or the unlock mode, a wireless communication terminal having a key button lock / release function, which can prevent malfunction and power consumption due to the key button press operation irrespective of the user's intention, and its It is about a method.

In the present invention, a wireless communication terminal is a mobile communication terminal, a personal portable terminal (PCS), a personal digital terminal (PDA), a smart phone, a next generation mobile communication terminal (IMT-2000), wireless communication such as a wireless terminal while carrying the individual Say possible terminal.

In addition, in the present invention, the touch sensing unit refers to a sensor that is provided in place of the wireless communication terminal and detects the capacitance of the human body when the human body of the terminal user contacts, and outputs a detection signal accordingly.

In the present invention, the key button means all buttons provided in the wireless communication terminal and capable of receiving a signal from the outside, and include both the numeric key buttons on the keypad and the side buttons located on the side of the terminal.

In general, as shown in FIG. 1A, a folder-type wireless communication terminal is provided with side buttons on the side of the terminal so that the user can easily use various functions even when the folder is closed. Even if the user does not use the terminal, the side button is likely to be wrongly pressed regardless of the user's intention. For example, when the user keeps the wireless communication terminal in his or her pocket, side buttons are pressed by other objects or external pressure (pressing) without the user's knowledge, and unnecessary operations are performed.

Recently, a single bar type terminal as shown in FIG. 1B has been released. In particular, in the case of such a single bar type terminal, all key buttons are provided outside the terminal. Regardless of whether it is a folder type or a slide type terminal, the terminal may be malfunctioned by pressing a key button.

In the related art, in order to prevent malfunction or power consumption caused by pressing a key button irrespective of the user's will, a method as illustrated in FIGS. 2A and 2B is used.

First, FIG. 2A is a flowchart illustrating a method of releasing a locked state of a key button by pressing a lock button for a predetermined time using a separate lock button.

2B, when a predetermined sequence of key buttons is input (for example, 1-> 2-> 3 buttons are input in order), it is determined whether the input key buttons correspond to the set values, and the lock state is determined according to the result. A flow chart of how to maintain or release.

However, these methods have a problem that it takes a certain time to enter the button, even if the user does not press directly by hand, the terminal is in a unlocked state when the button is pressed for a predetermined time, causing the terminal to malfunction.

Accordingly, in order to solve the problems of the above methods, a key locking and unlocking device and a key locking and unlocking method using the same of a mobile communication terminal using the heat of a human body may be proposed in Korean Patent Registration No. 10-0341385. It was.

This is a patent for a device and a method including a heat sensing means in a wireless communication terminal, and when a heat of a human body is detected by the heat sensing means, comparing the heat with a preset heat quantity and performing a key button unlocking function according to the value. .

However, since the patent also requires a time to reach the set calories, it takes a certain time until the key button unlocking function is performed, the malfunction (seasonal (summer / winter) and place (furnace / sauna / refrigerator) according to the external conditions) Accordingly, heat may be generated irrespective of human contact, or may be difficult to receive heat as necessary), and a heat sensing unit may operate by a heat source other than the human body.

 The present invention has been proposed to solve the above problems, and includes a touch sensing unit (for example, a capacitive touch sensor) in a wireless communication terminal to lock or unlock a key button of the terminal depending on whether or not the body is touched. It is an object of the present invention to provide a wireless communication terminal having a key button lock / release function and a method thereof, which can prevent malfunction and power consumption due to a key button pressing operation irrespective of a user's intention.

Other objects and advantages of the present invention can be understood by the following description, and will be more clearly understood by the embodiments of the present invention. Also, it will be readily appreciated that the objects and advantages of the present invention may be realized by the means and combinations thereof indicated in the claims.

An apparatus of the present invention for achieving the above object, the wireless communication terminal, the touch sensing means for outputting a detection signal as the human body contacts; Input means for receiving a signal required for the wireless communication terminal; And arithmetic / control means for operating the input means in a locked mode or an unlocked mode, depending on whether the sensing signal is transmitted from the touch sensing means.

The apparatus of the present invention further includes display means for displaying the state (locked mode or unlocked mode state) of the wireless communication terminal under the control of the computing / control means.

On the other hand, the method of the present invention, in the method of locking / unlocking a key button in a wireless communication terminal, checking whether a human body detection signal is transmitted from the touch sensing means; And a mode setting step of releasing the lock mode with respect to the key button when the human body detection signal is received, and maintaining the lock mode with respect to the key button when the human body detection signal is not transmitted.

The method may further include determining whether an ear jack is connected to the wireless communication terminal; And releasing the lock mode with respect to the key button as the ear jack is connected as a result of the determination.

The above objects, features and advantages will become more apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, whereby those skilled in the art may easily implement the technical idea of the present invention. There will be. In addition, in describing the present invention, when it is determined that the detailed description of the known technology related to the present invention may unnecessarily obscure the gist of the present invention, the detailed description thereof will be omitted. Hereinafter, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

3 is a diagram illustrating an embodiment of a wireless communication terminal having a key button lock / release function according to the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 3, the wireless communication terminal having a key button lock / release function according to the present invention includes a wireless transmitter / receiver 31, a codec 32, a voice input unit 33, a voice output unit 34, and an operation. / Control unit 35, storage unit 36, touch sensing unit 37, input unit 38, and display unit 39.

The wireless transmission and reception unit 31 plays a role of wirelessly transmitting and receiving a signal with an external device through a wireless communication network.

The codec 32 converts the signal received from the wireless transmitter / receiver 31 into a voice and outputs the signal to the voice output unit 34 under the control of the operation / control unit 35, and from the voice input unit 33. It converts the received voice into a signal and transfers it to the operation / control unit 35 so as to be transmitted through the wireless transmitter / receiver 31.

In addition, the voice output unit 34 serves to output the voice received from the codec 32, and the voice input unit 33 receives a voice and delivers it to the codec 32.

On the other hand, the operation / control unit 35 serves to control the overall operation of the wireless communication terminal. In addition, the input unit 38 operates in a locked mode or a unlocked mode depending on whether the sensing signal is transmitted from the touch sensor 37.

At this time, the operation / control unit 35 controls the input unit 38 to be in a locked state until any input signal is received until the detection signal of contact with the human body is received from the touch sensing unit 37. For example, when the key button of the terminal input unit 38 is pressed in the pocket or when the terminal on the desk is pressed by a book or other object, there is no contact of the human body, so the operation is irrelevant to the user's will. By judging as follows, the input unit 38 is kept in a locked state.

That is, if the detection signal is not transmitted from the touch detector 37, the operation / control unit 35 determines that the user is not in contact with the wireless communication terminal, and operates the input unit 38 in the lock mode. When the sensing signal is transmitted from the sensing unit 37, it is determined that the user makes a contact in order to use the terminal, thereby releasing the lock mode of the input unit 38.

The operation / control unit 35 always unlocks the input unit 38 in the unlock mode when the ear jack is connected to the wireless communication terminal regardless of whether the touch detection unit 37 detects human contact. Operate.

The storage unit 36 stores a program and a file system (image, character, icon) for driving the wireless communication terminal.

In addition, the touch detector 37 transmits a detection signal to the operation / control unit 35 as the human body contacts the wireless communication terminal.

In this case, the touch sensing unit 37 may be a capacitive touch sensor as a representative example, but the present invention is not limited thereto. Any component or element that can be delivered to the control unit 35 may be used. In addition, one or more capacitive touch sensors included in the touch sensing unit 37 may be provided in the wireless communication terminal. This is also not limited, and can be changed as many as the terminal's structure or design specifications.

As shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B, the touch sensing unit 37 is provided on the side of the terminal (FIG. 4A) that is naturally in contact with the human body when the user uses the wireless communication terminal, or is provided at the rear of the terminal (FIG. 4B). It is preferable. However, this is also not limited and may be provided in different positions according to the structure or shape of the terminal.

On the other hand, the input unit 38 is provided with a variety of function keys and numeric keys serves to receive a signal required for the wireless communication terminal.

In addition, the display unit 39 serves to display a screen that can be recognized by the user of the wireless communication terminal under the control of the operation / control unit 35. Also, the display unit 39 determines whether the wireless communication terminal is in the lock mode or the unlock mode. It serves to display.

FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an embodiment of a method for locking / releasing a key button using a touch sensing unit in a wireless communication terminal according to the present invention. The process begins with the assumption.

First, it is determined whether the ear jack is connected to the wireless communication terminal (510).

As a result of the determination 510, if the ear jack is connected, the lock mode of the wireless communication terminal is released (530).

Therefore, when the ear jack is connected to the wireless communication terminal, the input unit 38 of the terminal operates in an unlocked state whether or not the user's human body is in contact with the terminal.

However, the determination result 510, if the ear jack is not connected to determine whether the human body is in contact with the wireless communication terminal (520).

In this case, the method of checking whether the human body is in contact with the user is to check whether the detection signal is transmitted from the touch sensor 37. When the detection signal is transmitted from the touch detection unit 37, the human body is in contact. If the detection signal is not transmitted, the human body is not in contact.

As a result of the check 520, if the human body does not contact the wireless communication terminal (if the detection signal is not transmitted), the wireless communication terminal maintains the lock mode as it is (540), if the human body is in contact (if the detection signal is transmitted) The lock mode is released (530).

The present invention described above is capable of various substitutions, modifications, and changes without departing from the technical spirit of the present invention for those skilled in the art to which the present invention pertains. It is not limited by the drawings.

As described above, the present invention includes a touch sensing unit (for example, a capacitive touch sensor) in the wireless communication terminal, and operates a key button of the terminal in a lock mode or a unlock mode according to whether a human body is touched. There is an effect that can prevent malfunction and power consumption due to key button press operation irrelevant to the.

Claims (11)

In a wireless communication terminal, Touch sensing means for outputting a sensing signal as the human body contacts; Input means for receiving a signal required for the wireless communication terminal; And Arithmetic / control means for operating the input means in a locked mode or an unlocked mode according to whether the sensing signal is transmitted from the touch sensing means; Wireless communication terminal having a key button lock / release function comprising a. The method of claim 1, Display means for displaying a state (locked mode or unlocked mode state) of the wireless communication terminal according to the control of the calculation / control means; Wireless communication terminal having a key button lock / release function further comprising. The method according to claim 1 or 2, The calculation / control means, And a key button lock / unlock function for operating the input means in a lock mode when the sensing signal is not received from the touch sensing means, and operating the input means in the unlock mode when receiving the sensing signal. The method of claim 3, wherein The calculation / control means, And a key button lock / release function for operating the input means in an unlock mode when an ear jack is connected to the wireless communication terminal. The method of claim 3, wherein The touch sensing means, A wireless communication terminal having a key button lock / release function, which is a capacitive touch sensor. The method of claim 3, wherein The touch sensing means, Wireless communication terminal having a key button lock / release function provided on the side of the wireless communication terminal. The method of claim 3, wherein The touch sensing means, Wireless communication terminal having a key button lock / release function provided on the rear of the wireless communication terminal. The method of claim 3, wherein The touch sensing means, Wireless communication terminal having a key button lock / release function provided on the side and the rear of the wireless communication terminal. In the method of locking / unlocking a key button in a wireless communication terminal, Confirming whether a human body sensing signal is transmitted from the touch sensing means; And A mode setting step of releasing the lock mode with respect to the key button when the human body detection signal is received and maintaining the lock mode with respect to the key button when the human body detection signal is not transmitted. Key button lock / release method in a wireless communication terminal comprising a. The method of claim 9, Determining whether an ear jack is connected to the wireless communication terminal; And And determining to release the lock mode with respect to the key button when the ear jack is connected. The method of claim 9, The touch sensing means, Key button lock / release method in a wireless communication terminal that is a capacitive touch sensor.

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