Touch screen device and operating method thereof

Abstract

A touch screen device and an operating method thereof are provided. The touch screen device is operated by touching a touch screen and moving a touch while the touch is maintained on the screen. A detector detects a touch point and a moving trajectory, and a controller selects a user command based on the detected touch point and moving trajectory. Then, when the user releases the touch, the controller executes the user command. User commands are classified and stored in a storage device and then executed by the controller based on operation modes associated with the device. A variety of user commands may be executed even though not all the menus are not displayed on the screen at once. Further, a user may cancel an erroneously entered user command quickly and easily.

1 . A method of operating a touch screen device for a portable terminal, the portable terminal having a screen of a prescribed viewing area in x and y directions, the method comprising:
 determining a first initial touch point within a first prescribed portion of the prescribed viewing area;   determining a first moving touch trajectory in a first direction on the surface of screen, the first moving touch trajectory being determined based on x-and-y-coordinates of the prescribed viewing area;   determining a first predetermined command associated with the first moving touch trajectory;   executing the first predetermined command;   determining a second initial touch point with a second prescribed portion of the prescribed viewing area, the second initial touch point being different from the first initial touch point;   determining a second moving touch trajectory in a second direction, the second direction being a different direction from the first direction;   determining a second predetermined command associated with the second moving touch trajectory; and   executing the second predetermined command, wherein if the first and second moving touch trajectory are in opposite directions, the first and second predetermined commands are opposite commands, and wherein at least one of the first or second commands is executed when the touch is released at an end of at least one of the first or second moving touch trajectory, respectively, or at least one of the first or second commands is executed during the at least one of the first or second moving touch trajectory.   
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising releasing a touch associated with the first initial touch point and the first moving touch trajectory at a first touch release point and thereafter executing the first predetermined command. 
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the first predetermined command is to do nothing if the first moving touch trajectory is a return trajectory in which the first touch release point is substantially the same as the first initial touch point. 
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising, when one or more menus are positioned along a path of the first or second moving touch trajectory, sequentially or simultaneously executing the one or more menus positioned along the path of the first or second moving touch trajectory. 
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second predetermined commands are stored in a storage device and indexed based on a mode of operation of the touch screen device, the first and second initial touch points, and the first and second moving touch trajectory, respectively. 
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising enlarging and displaying an image of a selection menu as a touch associated with the first or second initial touch point and the first or second moving touch trajectory is positioned on the selection menu. 
   
   
       7 . A touch screen for a portable terminal, the portable terminal having a screen of a prescribed viewing area in x and y directions, the device comprising:
 a screen, comprising:
 a display with a prescribed viewing area, wherein the display is configured to display information thereon; and 
 a touch panel coupled to the display, wherein the touch panel is configured to detect an initial touch point within a prescribed portion of the prescribed viewing area, and a moving touch trajectory extending in a direction on a surface of the display, wherein the direction of the first moving touch trajectory is based on x and y coordinates of the prescribed viewing area; 
   a storage device coupled to the screen and configured to store a command corresponding to the initial touch point and the moving touch trajectory and an associated operation mode of the touch screen device; and   a controller coupled to the storage device and the screen, wherein the controller is configured to select a command from the storage device based on the initial touch point and the moving touch trajectory, and to execute the selected command, wherein the controller comprises:
 a touch panel controller coupled to the touch pad, wherein the touch pad controller is configured to detect a touch on the touch panel and convert the touch into a corresponding signal; and 
 a main controller coupled to the touch pad controller, the screen, and the storage device, wherein the main controller is configured to determine a touch type from the signal generated by the touch panel controller, to retrieve a corresponding command stored in the storage device, and to execute the retrieved command. 
   
   
   
       8 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the storage device comprises:
 a data storage device configured to receive and to store a plurality of executable files; and   a command storage device configured to receive and to store a plurality of commands corresponding to a plurality of initial touch points and moving touch trajectories for each operation mode of the touch screen device.   
   
   
       9 . The device of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 a random access memory; and   an interface configured to connect the main controller to an external device.   
   
   
       10 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the touch panel is configured to detect a touch release point associated with the initial touch point and the moving touch trajectory, and wherein the controller is configured to execute the selected command after the touch panel has detected the touch release point. 
   
   
       11 . The device of  claim 10 , wherein the command executed by the controller is to do nothing if the moving touch trajectory is a return trajectory in which the touch release point is substantially the same as the initial touch point. 
   
   
       12 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the controller is configured to enlarge an image of a menu displayed on the screen as a touch associated with the initial touch and the moving touch trajectory is positioned on the menu. 
   
   
       13 . The device of  claim 7 , wherein the controller is configured to simultaneously or sequentially execute a command associated with one or more menus positioned along a path of the moving touch trajectory. 
   
   
       14 . Digital equipment comprising the touch screen device of  claim 7 . 
   
   
       15 . The device of  claim 15 , wherein the digital equipment is an MP3 player, a PMP, a PDA, a mobile communication terminal, notebook computer, or a portable navigation system.