Electronic device and method for controlling screen display using temperature and humidity

Abstract

A background image is displayed on a touch screen of an electronic device. Overlapped with the background image, a semitransparent layer is displayed. When a touch and drag action is detected from the semitransparent layer, the transparency of a touch and drag region is changed. Transparency of the semitransparent layer may be changed according to temperature or humidity.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An electronic device comprising:
 a touch screen configured to display an image and to detect a user input; and   a control unit configured to control the touch screen to display a first layer overlapped with the image,   wherein when the user input is detected in a partial region of the first layer, the control unit is further configured to change transparency of the partial region.   
     
     
         2 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a temperature sensor,   wherein the control unit is further configured to determine temperature based on information received from the temperature sensor, to control the first layer to display a water vapor image when the determined temperature is higher than a predefined temperature, and to control the first layer to display a frost image when the determined temperature is lower than the predefined temperature.   
     
     
         3 . The electronic device of  claim 2 , wherein the control unit is further configured to change transparency of the entire region of the first layer according to variations of the determined temperature. 
     
     
         4 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the control unit is further configured to control the first layer to display a water drop object after an elapse of a given time. 
     
     
         5 . The electronic device of  claim 4 , wherein the control unit is further configured to control the water drop object to be displayed as if it moves in the direction of gravity. 
     
     
         6 . The electronic device of  claim 4 , wherein the control unit is further configured to control the water drop object to be displayed at a removal point of the user input. 
     
     
         7 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the control unit is further configured to change transparency of the user input detected region as time passes. 
     
     
         8 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a humidity sensor,   wherein the control unit is further configured to change transparency of the first layer in response to a signal received from the humidity sensor.   
     
     
         9 . The electronic device of  claim 2 , wherein the control unit is further configured to control the first layer to display an accumulated frost object at a removal point of the user input when the frost image is displayed. 
     
     
         10 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the control unit is further configured to control the touch screen to display a second layer overlapped with the first layer, the second layer having an opaque region for displaying information. 
     
     
         11 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the control unit is further configured to determine temperature based on data received from an external entity, to control the first layer to display a water vapor image when the determined temperature is higher than a predefined temperature, and to control the first layer to display a frost image when the determined temperature is lower than the predefined temperature. 
     
     
         12 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the control unit is further configured to change transparency of the entire region of the first layer according to weather information. 
     
     
         13 . The electronic device of  claim 12 , wherein the weather information includes at least one of temperature and humidity. 
     
     
         14 . The electronic device of  claim 1 , wherein the first layer has at least two attributes which are determined according to temperature. 
     
     
         15 . The electronic device of  claim 14 , wherein the control unit is further configured to assign a first attribute to the first layer when the temperature is higher than a predefined temperature, and to assign a second attribute to the first layer when the temperature is lower than the predefined temperature. 
     
     
         16 . An electronic device comprising:
 a touch screen configured to display an image and to detect a user input; and   a control unit configured to control the touch screen to display a semitransparent layer overlapped with the image,   wherein when the user input is detected in a partial region of the semitransparent layer, the control unit is further configured to change transparency of the partial region.   
     
     
         17 . An electronic device comprising:
 a touch screen configured to display a user interface and to detect a user input; and   a control unit configured to keep a lock state of the user interface by controlling the touch screen to display a semitransparent layer overlapped with the user interface, to change transparency of a partial region of the semitransparent layer when the user input is detected in the partial region, and to release the lock state of the user interface when the partial region occupies a specific percentage or more of the entire region of the touch screen.   
     
     
         18 . An electronic device comprising:
 a touch screen configured to display a plurality of icons for executing applications and to detect a user input; and   a control unit configured to disallow a selection of the icons by controlling the touch screen to display a semitransparent layer overlapped with the icons, and to control at least one of the icons to be in a selectable state by changing transparency of a partial region of the semitransparent layer when the user input is detected in the partial region.   
     
     
         19 . A method for a display control for a screen of an electronic device having a touch screen, the method comprising:
 displaying a first layer overlapped with an image displayed on the touch screen;   detecting a user input on the touch screen; and   changing transparency of a partial region of the first layer in which the user input is detected.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 determining temperature; and   displaying a water vapor image on the first layer when the determined temperature is higher than a predefined temperature, and displaying a frost image on the first layer when the determined temperature is lower than the predefined temperature.   
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising:
 changing transparency of the entire region of the first layer according to variations of the determined temperature.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising:
 displaying a water drop object on the first layer after an elapse of a given time.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 displaying the water drop object as if it moves in the direction of gravity.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising:
 displaying the water drop object at a removal point of the user input.   
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 changing transparency of the user input detected region as time passes.   
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 detecting humidity; and   changing transparency of the first layer according to the detected humidity.   
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 20 , further comprising:
 displaying an accumulated frost object at a removal point of the user input on the first layer when the frost image is displayed.   
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 displaying a second layer overlapped with the first layer on the touch screen, the second layer having an opaque region for displaying information.   
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 receiving temperature; and   displaying a water vapor image on the first layer when the received temperature is higher than a predefined temperature, and displaying a frost image on the first layer when the received temperature is lower than the predefined temperature.   
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 19 , further comprising:
 changing transparency of the entire region of the first layer according to weather information.   
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the weather information includes at least one of temperature and humidity. 
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the first layer has at least two attributes which are determined according to temperature. 
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising:
 assigning a first attribute to the first layer when the temperature is higher than a predefined temperature, and assigning a second attribute to the first layer when the temperature is lower than the predefined temperature.   
     
     
         34 . A method for a display control for a screen of an electronic device having a touch screen, the method comprising:
 displaying an image on the touch screen;   displaying a semitransparent layer overlapped with the image;   detecting a user input in the touch screen; and   changing transparency of a partial region of the semitransparent layer in which the user input is detected.   
     
     
         35 . A method for a display control for a screen of an electronic device having a touch screen, the method comprising:
 displaying a user interface on the touch screen;   keeping a lock state of the user interface by controlling the touch screen to display a semitransparent layer overlapped with the user interface;   changing transparency of a partial region of the semitransparent layer when a user input is detected in the partial region; and   releasing the lock state of the user interface when the partial region occupies a specific percentage or more of the entire region of the touch screen.   
     
     
         36 . A method for a display control for a screen of an electronic device having a touch screen, the method comprising:
 displaying a plurality of icons for executing applications on the touch screen;   disallowing a selection of the icons by controlling the touch screen to display a semitransparent layer overlapped with the icons; and   controlling at least one of the icons to be in a selectable state by changing transparency of a partial region of the semitransparent layer when a user input is detected in the partial region.