WO2014088158A1

WO2014088158A1 - Touch input device for mobile terminal, and method thereof

Info

Publication number: WO2014088158A1
Application number: PCT/KR2013/002046
Authority: WO
Inventors: 장경식
Original assignee: 한국기술교육대학교 산학협력단
Priority date: 2012-12-06
Filing date: 2013-03-14
Publication date: 2014-06-12
Also published as: KR101424742B1; KR20140073171A

Abstract

The present invention relates to a touch input device for a mobile terminal and to a method thereof, in which touch sensors are arranged in the bezel, side surfaces and edges of the mobile terminal so as to diversify the contact area between a user and the mobile terminal, and the touch sensors arranged in the bezel, side surfaces and edges of the mobile terminal can be utilized as three-dimensional touch input devices for selecting a menu of an application program or for navigation, thus improving user convenience for the application program and developing various application programs utilizing the input method.

Description

Touch input device and method of mobile terminal

The present invention relates to a touch input device and a method of a mobile terminal, and more particularly, to arrange a touch sensor on the bezel and the terminal side of the mobile terminal and their corners to diversify the contact area between the user and the mobile terminal, The present invention relates to a touch input device of a mobile terminal and a method of detecting a touch and using the same as a 3D touch input device for menu selection or navigation of an application program.

Looking at recent development trends of mobile terminals (eg smartphones, tablet PCs, etc.), screens are getting bigger and thinner. This is because users tend to prefer larger screen sizes.

However, since the most important requirement is that the mobile terminal should be portable, there is a limitation that the size of the device cannot be unconditionally increased, and the size of the mobile terminal should be at least large enough to hold and operate the mobile terminal with one hand. That is, in a mobile terminal having a limited device size, the screen size visible to the user should be as large as possible.

The best solution to satisfy the above conditions is to reduce the width of the bezel, which is the space (or area) outside the screen while keeping the size of the device as it is, to increase the actual screen size or to maximize the bezel space. It can be used to achieve the same effect as the screen size is increased. However, because the electrode wiring is located in the bezel area, there is a limit to unconditionally reducing the width of the bezel. Therefore, it is desirable to make the most of the bezel space to obtain the same effect as the screen size is increased.

Accordingly, some techniques for utilizing the bezel space have been disclosed in the related art, but merely providing a method of receiving a touch from the bezel by simply extending the touch area to the bezel space. In addition, recently, the application installed in the terminal has been three-dimensionally three-dimensional situation, but simply detecting the touch in the area extended by the bezel is not enough as a method of controlling the three-dimensional application, and conventionally bezel space or There is no suitable method for receiving a three-dimensional stereoscopic touch using the terminal side.

Meanwhile, an electronic device having a display and a touch sensitive bezel around the user interface and control disclosed in US Pat. No. 7,656,393 B2 (2010.02.02) as a background art of the present invention includes a touch sensor mounted on the bezel. Example: an iPad) is proposed, and the background art describes a method of controlling a touch sensor installed in the bezel instead of the home button of an electronic device. The structure of disposing touch sensors on the terminal side or their edges is not described, and furthermore, there is no description of the method of receiving three-dimensional stereoscopic touch using the bezel, the corners and the touch sensors disposed on the terminal side. Therefore, there exists a difference in the objective, structure, and effect of this invention.

The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, the touch input of the mobile terminal that can diversify the contact area between the user and the mobile terminal by placing a touch sensor on the bezel and the terminal side of the mobile terminal and their corners An object is to provide an apparatus and a method thereof.

In addition, the present invention is a touch input device and method of the mobile terminal that can be utilized as a three-dimensional touch input device for menu selection or navigation of the application by placing a touch sensor disposed on the bezel and the terminal side and their corners of the mobile terminal The purpose is to provide.

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a touch input device of a mobile terminal, the touch input device including at least one touch sensor disposed at a bezel, a terminal side, or an edge thereof between the terminals; A control unit detecting a touch input from the at least one touch sensor and detecting a touch gesture corresponding to a combination of the touch input information; And a storage unit for storing driver software for determining the touch gesture, wherein the controller can determine whether the detected touch gesture is a two-dimensional touch gesture or a three-dimensional touch gesture. And at least one guide information display means for displaying to the user guide information such as activation state of each touch sensor or processing of a touch input, wherein the controller is configured to input a touch gesture only at a corner. Or when the sweep direction is not changed to the z-axis and a touch gesture is input only in a two-dimensional plane such as a bezel or the terminal side, the controller determines that it is a two-dimensional touch input and starts a sweep operation at an arbitrary position on the bezel or the terminal side. 3D if the sweep direction changes to the z axis via this edge The control unit may further include a single tap, a continuous touch, two or more consecutive taps, a two-dimensional touch gesture continuously sweeping while a specific point on the two-dimensional plane is touched, and a sweep on the two-dimensional plane. When the sweep direction is changed to the z-axis after the start, and detects at least one or more touch inputs of the continuously sweeped three-dimensional touch gesture, or a combination thereof, the three-dimensional touch gesture, when the sweep direction is changed to the z-axis direction, Depth information corresponding to the sweep distance continuously moving in the changed sweep direction, and the directions of x, y, and z axes for detecting the 3D touch gesture are changed according to the attitude or rotation of the terminal, and z The touch can be touched at a depth equal to the width or thickness of the bezel or the terminal side corresponding to the axis. The touch sensor is arranged in a continuous line form, one line form or at least two or more lines are arranged in a form overlapping (parallel form) in parallel at a predetermined interval, the touch sensor, The gaps (gaps) according to the arrangement intervals of the touch sensors formed by the lines are arranged to cross each other so as to be filled by the touch sensors of the other lines, and the touch sensors are arranged in a form surrounding the entire outer periphery of the bezel or the terminal side. Or be disposed at at least one specific position on the bezel or at the terminal side, or at at least one corner formed between the terminal side and the bezel or between the terminal side and another terminal side, or at a position combining them. .

According to an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a touch input method of a mobile terminal, comprising: a first step of activating at least one touch sensor continuously disposed on a bezel or a terminal side via a bezel, a terminal side, a corner thereof, or a corner thereof; A second step of detecting a touch gesture by combining a touch input input by the user through the activated touch sensor; And a 3D touch input when the sweep direction of the touch gesture is changed to the z axis, and the 2D touch when the sweep direction is not changed to the z axis or input only in a 2D plane such as a bezel or the terminal side. And a third step of judging as an input, wherein the three-dimensional touch input has a depth corresponding to a sweep distance continuously moving in the changed sweep direction when the sweep direction is changed in the z-axis direction. The x, y, z axis directions for detecting the 3D touch input are changed according to the attitude or rotation of the terminal, and the depth information is equal to the width or thickness of the bezel or the side surface of the terminal corresponding to the z axis. A touch input is possible.

The present invention is to arrange the touch sensor on the bezel and the terminal side and their corners of the mobile terminal to diversify the contact area between the user and the mobile terminal, and also apply the touch sensor disposed on the bezel and the terminal side and their corners By using it as a 3D touch input device for menu selection or navigation, there is an effect of improving the user's convenience according to the application and developing various application programs using the input method.

1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a touch input device of a mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention;

2A to 2C are exemplary views illustrating a mobile terminal for explaining an arrangement structure of a touch sensor according to an embodiment of the present invention.

3 is an exemplary view illustrating an arrangement method of a touch sensor in FIGS. 2A to 2C.

4 is an exemplary view for explaining a method of using a touch sensor disposed on a bezel or a terminal side as a touch key according to an embodiment of the present invention.

5A to 5D are exemplary views for explaining a two-dimensional touch gesture that can be input through a touch sensor disposed on a bezel or a terminal side according to an embodiment of the present invention.

6 is an exemplary view for explaining a three-dimensional touch gesture that can be input through a touch sensor disposed in the corner of the terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

7 is a flowchart illustrating a touch input method of a mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Hereinafter, a touch input device and a method of a mobile terminal according to the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

1 is a block diagram showing the configuration of a touch input device of a mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention, as shown therein and at least one or more touch sensors 110 disposed on a bezel, a terminal side, or a corner thereof. Detecting a touch input from the at least one touch sensor 110 to determine (detect) a touch gesture corresponding to a combination of the touch inputs, and apply the determined touch gesture (touch input information) to the specified application. And a storage unit 320 for storing driver software SW for determining a touch gesture by combining the control unit 310 output to the program 410 and the touch input.

In addition, at least one light emitting device 210 for displaying the activation state of each touch sensor 110 or whether the touch input is processed may be further included.

Herein, the touch sensor 110 may be configured in a resistive film type or a capacitive type. In the case of the capacitive type, when the dielectric constant of the monopolar plate is changed by approaching or contacting a conductor such as a user's finger to the monopolar plate, The change in capacitance is detected and a switching signal is generated according to the result.

The touch sensors 110 may be continuously arranged in a line form, and may be arranged in a line form or in a form in which at least two or more lines overlap each other in parallel at a predetermined interval (fold line form). In order to prevent the sensing failure due to the arrangement interval between the touch sensors, a gap (gap) according to the arrangement interval of the touch sensors may be arranged so as to be intersected by a touch sensor of another line. Detailed description of the arrangement structure of the touch sensor will be described with reference to the other drawings.

The light emitting device 210 may display at least one touch sensor or a touch area (a plurality of touch sensors arranged in a line or a specific form) capable of receiving a touch among the at least one touch sensor 110. Can be. That is, the touch sensor or the touch area in the activated state is displayed, and if the touch is input, the input state (or the input touch sensor) is displayed so that the user can know.

The driver software of the storage unit 320 is a driver software for detecting various touch gestures by combining inputs of the touch sensor 110, and related to control of the light emitting device according to an activation state and an input state of the light emitting device 210. Save the driver software. In particular, in the present invention, the touch gesture can detect a three-dimensional touch gesture. That is, not only the two-dimensional touch gesture in the plane but also the three-dimensional touch gesture including the depth information (z-axis information) in the plane information (x, y-axis information) can be detected. A detailed description of the three-dimensional stereoscopic touch method will be described with reference to other drawings.

The controller 310 controls the touch sensor 110 and the light emitting device 210 by using driver software stored in the storage 320, and detects the detected two-dimensional touch gesture information or three-dimensional touch gesture information. By outputting the (touch input information) to the corresponding application program (or the firmware program of the terminal) to perform the corresponding operation.

2A to 2C are exemplary diagrams of a mobile terminal for explaining an arrangement structure of a touch sensor according to an embodiment of the present invention.

As shown in FIG. 2, when the mobile terminal is divided into a screen display area and a bezel area, a touch sensor is disposed in a bezel area in a dot format, and as shown in FIG. 2A, the entire terminal is continuously surrounded. The touch sensor may be disposed in the form of a shape, and the touch sensor may be disposed in the same shape (continuous line shape to fit the entire length of the side surface) of the terminal side.

Alternatively, as illustrated in FIG. 2B, the touch sensor may be disposed in a predetermined length or in an arbitrary shape at least one or more specific positions (or specific portions) in the bezel area, and may also be disposed in at least one or more specific positions (or specific portions) on the side of the terminal. The touch sensor may be arranged in a predetermined length or in an arbitrary shape. At this time, the specific position where the touch sensor is arranged can specify various desired positions according to the product design and the touch input purpose (2D touch input or 3D touch input), and also by adjusting the number and arrangement interval of the touch sensors. It can be configured in batch length and shape. In addition, the touch sensor may be disposed at an arbitrary position instead of the home button to perform a home button function using the touch sensor.

In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 2C, the touch sensor may be disposed on at least one edge formed by the terminal side and the bezel area, or at least one edge formed by the terminal side and the other terminal side.

For reference, the touch sensor may use a resistive method or a capacitive method. The resistive film method has a disadvantage in that multi-touch is difficult and proximity sensing is not possible while the technology barrier is low, and the capacitance barrier is a technology barrier. Instead of this high, it has the advantage of multi-touch and proximity sensing. Therefore, in recent years, capacitive methods have been frequently used in relation to user interface, convenience, and product design, and can receive a touch using a finger or a conductive pen.

FIG. 3 is an exemplary view illustrating a method of arranging touch sensors in FIGS. 2A to 2C, and as shown therein, the touch sensors may be arranged in at least one line shape. The number of lines of the touch sensors arranged may be adjusted according to the thickness of the terminal side or the width of the bezel. Alternatively, the number of lines of the touch sensor may be adjusted according to the position (eg, corner, side) of the touch sensor.

For example, one line form as shown in (a) of FIG. 3, two lines overlapping in parallel at a predetermined interval (double layer form) as shown in (b), or three lines such as (c) It can arrange | position in parallel form (triple fold form) at predetermined intervals. In this case, when the touch sensors are overlapped with each other in the form of overlapping lines as shown in (b) or (c), the touch sensors may be disposed to cross each other in order to prevent sensing failure due to a large space between the touch sensors. That is, it is preferable that the touch sensors of the other lines arranged in the form of a line correspond to the empty spaces (arrangement intervals) of the touch sensors arranged in a line shape so as to cross each other so that the empty spaces can be filled.

However, it is not necessary to arrange the touch sensors of the lines in such a way that they cross. For example, when the arrangement interval is narrow enough so that the sensing does not fail, it is possible to arrange only in the form of overlapping in parallel with each other at a predetermined interval without crossing the touch sensors of each line as shown in (d).

In addition, the touch sensor is not necessarily arranged in succession at a predetermined interval. That is, it is not necessarily arranged in a line form with a constant arrangement interval, depending on the desired touch input method or purpose (two-dimensional touch input or three-dimensional touch input), or in order to increase the accuracy of sensing (eg, circular , Triangles, squares, X-shapes, or any other form).

For example, if you want to use the touch sensor instead of the push button, that is, if you want to use the touch key, as shown in Figure 4, the desired position of the terminal (for example, when the finger is wrapped around the palm of the hand to touch Only a part (or any area) of the touch sensor can be placed in any one specific form (for example, circular, triangular, square, X-shaped or otherwise), and then the touch sensor The number can also be configured differently depending on the location. For example, according to the purpose of the touch input, only one touch sensor is disposed on one side of the terminal (for example, the right bezel of the screen, the terminal side, or a corner thereof), and the other side (for example, the left bezel of the screen, the terminal side, or the corner thereof) of the terminal. At least one touch sensor may be disposed. Of course, the desired number of touch sensors may be arranged on another side (eg, upper / lower bezel or terminal side of the screen or their edges).

The touch sensor arranged as above may detect a single tap, a continuous touch, two or more consecutive taps, or other possible touch gestures. In this case, the touch gesture includes a two-dimensional touch input detected in a plane or a three-dimensional touch input including depth information.

In addition, as described above, the touch sensor disposed in the form of an overlap of bezels or terminal sides or their edges may detect a touch gesture that continuously moves with directionality in a state where a specific point is touched. That is, the touch gesture input by the finger sweep method may be detected.

5A to 5D are exemplary views for explaining a two-dimensional touch gesture that can be input through a touch sensor disposed on a bezel or a terminal side according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, for convenience, the touch sensors arranged in the form of at least one line on the terminal side (for example, the right side) are arranged in a form overlapped in parallel with each other at a predetermined interval (folded form), and the sweep direction (from the touch start point to the touch end point). It is assumed that the direction of continuous movement, the sweep distance (the distance continuously moved from the touch start point to the touch end point), and the sweep speed (the sweep distance divided by the elapsed time) can be detected.

First, as illustrated in FIG. 5A, when a plurality of touch sensor lines are arranged in an overlapping form, when a user continuously touches an arbitrary starting point and continuously moves a predetermined distance (sweep distance) in the upward direction thereof. The controller (e.g. touch sensor chip, controller chip) embedded in the terminal detects the touch start point, touch end point, sweep direction, sweep distance and sweep speed, and the touch input information (touch input is upward) detected by a combination thereof. Information transferred to the application) to perform the corresponding operation.

Similarly, as shown in FIG. 5B, when the user continuously moves a predetermined distance (sweep distance) downward while touching a certain starting point, the touch starting point, touch end point, sweep direction, sweep distance, and sweep By detecting the speed and providing the touch input information (information of the touch input moved downward) to the application program, the corresponding operation is performed.

In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 5C, when the user continuously moves a predetermined distance (sweep distance) forward while touching a certain starting point, the touch input information (information where the touch input is moved forward) is displayed. By providing it to the application program, it performs the corresponding operation. At this time, the sweep direction (direction continuously moving from the touch start point to the touch end point) may be a straight line shape as shown in (a), or may be a diagonal line shape as shown in (b). Accordingly, the touch input information provided to the application program may be merely provided with sweep direction information from the rear to the front, and may also be provided with angle information of the touch start point and the touch end point.

Similarly, as shown in FIG. 5D, when the user continuously moves a predetermined distance (sweep distance) to the rear while touching a certain starting point, the touch input information (information of which the touch input is moved backward) is moved. By providing it to the application program, it performs the corresponding operation. At this time, the sweep direction (direction continuously moving from the touch start point to the touch end point) may be a straight line shape as shown in (a), or may be a diagonal line shape as shown in (b). Accordingly, the touch input information provided to the application program may simply be provided with only sweep direction information from the front to the rear, and may also be provided with angle information of the touch start point and the touch end point.

For reference, in the present embodiment, the sweep direction is detected based on the user.

For example, when the user holds the terminal with both hands (or one hand) and faces the display screen of the terminal in front, the side of the terminal corresponding to the user's right hand becomes the right side, and the side of the terminal corresponding to the user's left hand is left. do. If the terminal is rotated in the vertical direction to the horizontal direction, the upper and lower sides in the vertical direction is changed to the left and right sides in the horizontal direction.

The method of detecting a 2D touch gesture that can be input through a touch sensor disposed on a 2D plane such as a bezel or a terminal side has been described above with reference to FIGS. 5A to 5D. Hereinafter, a three-dimensional touch gesture that can be input through a touch sensor disposed at an edge formed by the bezel and the terminal side or an edge formed on the terminal side and another terminal side (or each terminal side) will be described. Here, the 3D touch means to add depth information to the 2D plane information and to touch it.

Assuming that the terminal is configured as a quadrangle as shown, the touch sensor may be disposed on at least one of the four corners (or each terminal side) formed by the terminal side of one side and the terminal side of the other side, As described above, a three-dimensional touch input operation (touch gesture or sweep operation) input at least continuously through a touch sensor disposed at one corner (or each terminal side) can be detected. For example, if it is assumed that the touch input operation is detected through the touch sensor disposed on the right side of the terminal via the edge at the upper end of the terminal, the two-dimensional touch gesture is input while the upper surface is swept from left to right. From the moment when the terminal is swept from the right side of the terminal via (upper to lower), the distance swept to it (upper to lower) becomes a depth and becomes a three-dimensional touch gesture. Even when the touch sensor is disposed at the other corner, the three-dimensional stereoscopic touch operation is performed from the moment when the sweep direction is turned to 90 degrees via the touch sensor disposed at the corner. Alternatively, when the touch is started on the front part of the terminal where the display means is disposed and the sweep is continuously swept to the side part of the terminal, the sweep distance of the side becomes a depth from the moment when the sweep direction is turned to 90 degrees, thereby making the three-dimensional stereoscopic touch operation. will be.

As described above, 1) a mouse wheel is detected by detecting a sweeping direction that is continuously inputted through a touch sensor disposed at an edge (or a touch sensor continuously disposed on a bezel or a terminal side via a corner). Applications such as manipulating the jog wheel or grabbing and rotating a horizontal or vertical row of cubes (toys that match each side of the cube in the same color), such as rotating a wheel or cube. It is also possible to implement a three-dimensional stereoscopic touch function.

In addition, the touch sensor may be disposed on at least one of the corners formed by the bezel and the terminal side, or the touch sensor may be continuously disposed on the edge of the bezel and the terminal side, and the touch sensor disposed at the corner. The touch input operation can be detected in the same manner as a handing over a finger. For example, 2) in an application program (such as an e-book or an e-book), the effect of actually flipping a bookshelf (the individual chapters of a book) with a finger can be produced.

Or 3) assuming that cups, plates, records, or papers are stacked, by holding the sides of the terminal and lifting them, the same effect as picking up and lifting the top item from the stacked materials is produced. Can be. That is, touch the edge of an object (e.g. musical instrument, bowl, electric device, toothpaste, ball, trump card, etc.) displayed in the application, or adjust the depth of the stacked object to pick up only one object stacked on top You can choose only one object, or the one stacked on the top, to press and squeeze or pinch the two sides to produce the effect.

To this end, the touch sensor can detect the touch pressure, and 4) touch the two sides of the corner with a predetermined pressure in a direction facing each other in order to obtain a pressing effect on both sides of the object. At this time, the depth of the touch input continuously or the depth swept continuously (for example, the depth corresponding to the thickness of the terminal side from the edge) is detected and the depth information of the object can be picked up from the object image displayed in the application. The thickness and the number can also be adjusted. 5) After the multi-touch with the thumb and index finger on both sides of the corner, and continuously sweep to any position of the bezel and the terminal side, or conversely multi-touch at any position of the bezel and the terminal side, The touch input operation may be performed by continuously sweeping.

In this case, the touch input operation (or touch gesture) for touching both sides of the edge at a predetermined depth (the depth corresponding to the width of the bezel or the thickness of the terminal side) corresponds to a three-dimensional stereoscopic touch input. Note that the concept is completely different from the two-dimensional touch input operation of multi-touching a flat touch screen or touch pad. Here, the depth information is that when the sweep direction is changed in the z-axis direction via the edge, the sweep distance continuously moving in the changed sweep direction becomes the depth. In this case, the directions of the x, y, and z axes may be changed according to the attitude (vertical direction, horizontal direction or flat direction) or rotation of the terminal. That is, assuming that the horizontal / vertical direction of the two-dimensional plane where the starting point of the first touch starts is the x and y axes, when the touch is bent through the edge and continuously swept to another plane, the other plane is moved to the other plane. The continuous direction is the z axis, and the distance of the z axis at that time becomes the depth information in the 3D touch operation.

Meanwhile, as described above, the touch sensor is disposed on the bezel or the terminal side (up / down / left / right side), or an edge formed between the bezel and the terminal side, or an edge formed between the terminal side and another terminal side, or through the edge thereof. When arranging the touch sensor, guide information may be displayed in order to allow a user to know a location where the touch sensor is disposed.

The guide information may be used to print text or an image indicating the position of the touch sensor at a corresponding position of the terminal body, to process the body of the portion where the touch sensor is disposed in a relatively more convex or more concave shape, or to emit light such as an LED. Is embedded in the body of the position corresponding to the touch sensor and then emits the light emitting element to indicate the position of the touch sensor, or to form a protrusion on the body of the portion where the touch sensor is disposed to touch the user with the texture of the protrusion It can be displayed to know the position of the sensor. In this case, the methods may be configured in combination with each other.

In addition, when the bezel on which the touch sensor is disposed, the side of the terminal, or a corner thereof is touched, a guide information for guiding a position of the touch sensor and an operation corresponding to the touch sensor is displayed on a display screen (or a screen display device) of the terminal. can do. The guide information may be displayed as text or an image, and may be displayed as semi-transparent so as not to obscure previously displayed information. In addition, when the touch is not released, when the touch time is over a predetermined reference time, the display of the guide information may be deleted by determining a meaningless touch input. If the touch is input without the display of the guide information, it is meaningless. The error can be prevented by judging by an input. At this time, the activation start and release of the touch sensor and the display and release of the guide information can be changed as much as the application or the desired operation.

Hereinafter, a method of detecting a three-dimensional touch gesture (touch input information) using the touch input device configured as described above will be described.

7 is a flowchart illustrating a touch input method of a mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention, and as shown in FIG. 7, a bezel or a terminal side of the terminal via a bezel, a terminal side, a corner thereof, or a corner thereof. At least one touch sensor arranged in series is activated (S101).

When the touch sensor is activated as described above, the corresponding guide information display means indicating the activation state may be activated (S102).

In this case, the guide information display means includes a light emitting element embedded in correspondence to the position where the screen display device or touch sensor built in the terminal is disposed. For example, when the guide information display means is a screen display device, the guide information corresponding to the touch sensor is displayed in a designated format in a designated position on the display screen. If the guide information display means is a light emitting device, the light emitting device embedded in the position corresponding to the touch sensor is made to emit light.

When the touch sensor is activated as described above, the user inputs a corresponding touch gesture in order to perform a desired operation in an application program. When the touch gesture is input as described above, the touch input is detected through the touch sensor corresponding to the touch gesture, and the control unit detects the touch gesture input by the user by combining the touch inputs of the touch sensors (S103).

In this case, the touch gesture is a touch input operation that can be input through the bezel, the terminal side, and the edge of the terminal. 1) A sweep operation started at an arbitrary position on the bezel or the terminal side ends at the edge, or 2) is initiated at the edge. Sweep motion ends at any position on the bezel or terminal side, or 3) Sweep motion started at any position on the bezel or terminal side changes the sweep direction to the z axis via the corner and then moves the predetermined sweep distance further. When finished, the three-dimensional stereoscopic touch is possible as much as the width or thickness of the bezel or the terminal side corresponding to the z-axis.

4) After the multi-touch is started at an arbitrary position on the side of the bezel and the terminal, it is swept and the touch ends at the edge, or 5) After the multi-touch is started on both sides of the edge, it is swept and is touched at an arbitrary position on the bezel and the terminal side. Even in the end, the three-dimensional stereoscopic touch is possible as much as the width of the bezel corresponding to the z-axis or the thickness of the terminal side.

That is, when the touch gesture is detected as described above, when the touch direction is changed from the edge to the z-axis, it is determined as a three-dimensional stereoscopic touch in which depth information is additionally input (S104).

However, when the touch gesture is input only at the corners or the touch gesture is input only at the two-dimensional plane such as the bezel or the terminal side, it may be determined as the two-dimensional touch input (S105). That is, the sweep direction is not changed to the z-axis, and only the touch input operation performed in the two-dimensional plane such as the up / down / forward / rear movement is determined as the two-dimensional touch input.

Here, the three-dimensional stereoscopic touch operation may be multi-touch input in at least two places. For example, when sweeping arbitrary edges between the bezel and the side of the terminal with the thumb and forefinger, respectively, and sweeping the bezel and the side of the terminal, three-dimensional multi-touch is input by the sweep depth (the width of the bezel and the thickness of the side of the terminal). It can be judged.

When the touch gesture is detected as described above, the controller outputs three-dimensional stereoscopic touch or two-dimensional touch input information corresponding to the detected touch gesture to the designated application program (S105).

Although the present invention has been described with reference to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings, this is merely exemplary, and various modifications and equivalent other embodiments are possible for those skilled in the art to which the art pertains. I will understand the point. Therefore, the technical protection scope of the present invention will be defined by the claims below.

Claims

At least one touch sensor disposed at a bezel, a side surface, or an edge between the bezel and the side surface of the terminal; And

And a controller for detecting at least one touch input from the at least one touch sensor and detecting a touch gesture corresponding to the combination of the touches.

The control unit may determine whether the detected touch gesture is a two-dimensional touch gesture or a three-dimensional touch gesture.
The method according to claim 1,

And at least one guide information display means for displaying to the user guide information such as activation state of each touch sensor or processing of a touch input.
The method according to claim 1, wherein the control unit,

If the touch gesture is input only at the edge or the sweep direction is not changed to the z-axis, and the touch gesture is input only at the two-dimensional plane such as the bezel or the terminal side, it is determined as the two-dimensional touch input.

The touch input device of a mobile terminal, characterized in that it is determined by the three-dimensional touch input when the sweep direction started from any position on the bezel or the terminal side is changed to the z-axis via the corner.
The method according to claim 1, wherein the control unit,

A single tap, a continuous touch, two or more consecutive taps, a two-dimensional touch gesture that continuously sweeps while a certain point on the two-dimensional plane is touched, and the sweep direction changes to the z-axis after the sweep begins on the two-dimensional plane, Touch input device of a mobile terminal, characterized in that for detecting at least one or more touch input of the three-dimensional touch gesture, or a combination thereof.
The method of claim 4, wherein the three-dimensional touch gesture,

When the sweep direction is changed in the z-axis direction, the touch input device of the mobile terminal, characterized in that the depth information corresponding to the sweep distance continuously moving in the changed sweep direction.
The method according to claim 4,

The directions of the x, y, and z axes for detecting the 3D touch gesture are changed according to the posture or rotation of the terminal, and the touch can be made at a depth equal to the width or thickness of the bezel or the terminal side corresponding to the z axis. Touch input device of the mobile terminal.
The method according to claim 1, wherein the touch sensor,

Arrange them continuously in a line form, and arrange one line or at least two or more lines in parallel to each other at a predetermined interval (folding form), or create a gap (gap) according to an arrangement interval of the touch sensor formed of the lines. Touch input device of a mobile terminal, characterized in that arranged so as to intersect to fill by another touch sensor.
The method according to claim 7, wherein the touch sensor,

It is disposed in a form surrounding the entire outer surface of the bezel or the terminal side, or disposed at least one or more specific positions on the bezel or the terminal side, or disposed on at least one corner between the terminal side and the bezel or between the terminal side and the other terminal side Or a touch input device of a mobile terminal, characterized in that arranged at a position combining them.
A first step of activating at least one touch sensor continuously disposed on the bezel or the side surface of the terminal through a bezel, a side surface, an edge between the bezel and the side surface, or an edge thereof;

A second step of detecting a touch gesture by combining a touch input input by the user through the activated touch sensor; And

When the sweep direction of the touch gesture is changed to the z axis, it is determined as a 3D touch input, and when the sweep direction is not changed to the z axis or is input only in a 2D plane such as a bezel or the terminal side, the 2D touch input is determined. And a third step of determining the touch input method of the mobile terminal.
The method of claim 9, wherein the three-dimensional touch input,

When the sweep direction is changed in the z-axis direction, the touch input method of the mobile terminal, characterized in that it includes depth information corresponding to the sweep distance continuously moving in the changed sweep direction.
The method according to claim 10,

The directions of the x, y, and z axes for detecting the 3D touch input are changed according to the attitude or rotation of the terminal, and the depth information may be touch input by the width or thickness of the bezel or the terminal side corresponding to the z axis. Touch input method of a mobile terminal characterized in that.