KR101373337B1 - Mobile terminal and control method for the same - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to a mobile terminal having a display unit capable of touch input and a control method thereof. According to an embodiment of the present invention, a mobile terminal may include a display unit, a detection unit detecting a touch input corresponding to an area division command, and the display unit into a plurality of areas in response to the detected touch input, and selecting a plurality of selections. And a control unit which displays a pop-up window including an item and controls the display unit to output an execution screen of an item corresponding to a user's selection among the items to any one of the plurality of areas.

Description

MOBILE TERMINAL AND CONTROL METHOD FOR THE SAME}

The present invention relates to a mobile terminal having a display unit capable of touch input and a control method thereof.

The mobile terminal may be configured to perform various functions. Examples of such various functions include a data and voice communication function, a function of photographing a video or a moving image through a camera, a voice storage function, a music file playback function through a speaker system, and an image or video display function. Some mobile terminals include additional functions to execute games, and some other mobile terminals are also implemented as multimedia devices. Moreover, recent mobile terminals can receive broadcast or multicast signals to watch video or television programs.

Further, efforts for supporting and increasing the functions of the mobile terminal continue. Such efforts include not only changes and improvements in structural components that form the mobile terminal, but also improvements in software or hardware.

In addition, such a mobile terminal is capable of multitasking, thereby splitting one screen into several areas and providing different execution screens on the divided screens so as to provide the user with a screen of an application being executed simultaneously. Displayable functions are required.

An object of the present invention is to provide a mobile terminal capable of dividing the display into a plurality of areas and a control method thereof.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a mobile terminal and a control method thereof capable of intuitively selecting contents to be displayed in a divided region.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a mobile terminal capable of controlling the position and number of areas divided by a simple gesture and a control method thereof.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a mobile terminal may include a display unit, a detection unit detecting a touch input corresponding to an area division command, and the display unit into a plurality of areas in response to the detected touch input, and selecting a plurality of selections. And a control unit which displays a pop-up window including an item and controls the display unit to output an execution screen of an item corresponding to a user's selection among the items to any one of the plurality of areas.

The control unit may set the boundary of the regions to correspond to the touch point applied on the display unit.

The execution screen may be output to any one of the plurality of areas including the touch point.

In another exemplary embodiment, the content output from the display unit is continuously output to the other region before the division is performed.

In an embodiment, a control window including thumbnails corresponding to the plurality of areas is displayed on one area of the display unit, and the controller controls at least one of the plurality of areas based on a touch input detected by the control window. It is characterized by controlling.

According to an embodiment, when at least one of the thumbnails included in the control window is dragged to a place where another thumbnail is included, an area corresponding to the dragged thumbnail of the plurality of areas disappears or an area corresponding to the dragged thumbnail And contents displayed in an area corresponding to the other thumbnails.

The control unit may delete the at least one region based on at least one of a direction, a length, and a speed of a drag input detected in any one of the plurality of regions.

The control unit may further include: when the drag input started in any one of the plurality of regions ends in one region different from the one region,

The method may further include deleting one of the regions and extending the size of the other region corresponding to the size of the deleted region.

The control unit may determine the number of the divided areas from the pattern or the number of touch inputs corresponding to the area division command, and divide the display unit into a plurality of areas so as to correspond to the determined number. It features.

In an embodiment, the execution screen may be output to one of the plurality of areas, and the content displayed in the area before the area is divided is continuously output to another area.

In an embodiment, the size of the content output from the areas may be changed in conjunction with the display unit being divided into a plurality of areas.

According to an embodiment, a touch is detected on each of the first and second areas of the plurality of areas, and a drag input continuous with the touch detected in the first area is terminated in the second area. When the touch detected in the area and the continuous drag input are terminated in the first area, the positions of the first and second areas are switched to each other.

In an embodiment, an item associated with an application corresponding to a preset criterion is displayed on the pop-up window, and when the item is selected, an execution screen of an application associated with the selected item is output to any one of the plurality of areas. do.

The control method of the mobile terminal may include a display unit capable of a touch input according to the present invention. Detecting a touch input corresponding to an area division command. In response to the detected touch input, the display unit may be first and second. Displaying a pop-up window including a plurality of selectable items and a plurality of selectable items, and outputting an execution screen of an item corresponding to a user's selection among the items to one of the first and second areas; It is characterized by.

In an embodiment, a control window including thumbnails corresponding to the first and second areas is displayed on one area of the display unit, and at least one of the first and second areas based on a touch input sensed by the control window. Is controlled.

In an embodiment, an area corresponding to any one of the first and second areas may be deleted based on at least one of a direction, a length, and a speed of the drag input detected in one of the first and second areas.

In an embodiment, the size of the region corresponding to the other region may be extended to correspond to the size of the deleted region.

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a mobile terminal and a control method thereof may display a popup window when an area division command is input, thereby selecting contents displayed in a divided region through a simple operation.

In addition, since the mobile terminal and its control method according to an embodiment of the present invention are controlled by the position, number, generation, deletion or the like of the divided regions based on a simple touch input or gesture, the user intuitively displays the region of the display unit. The division function can be controlled.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention.
2A and 2B are perspective views of a mobile terminal according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention.
3 is a flowchart illustrating a control method of a mobile terminal according to one embodiment disclosed herein.
4 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a control method of a mobile terminal according to one embodiment disclosed herein.
5A and 5B are conceptual views illustrating a method of selecting an area where an execution screen is displayed in a mobile terminal according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.
6A, 6B, and 6C are conceptual views illustrating a method of setting the number of divided regions in a mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.
7, 8A, 8B and 8C are conceptual views illustrating a method of setting the size and deletion of an area in a mobile terminal according to one embodiment disclosed herein.
9 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a method of changing a location of an area in a mobile terminal according to an exemplary embodiment disclosed herein.
10A, 10B, and 10C are conceptual views illustrating a method of controlling a display unit using a virtual window in a mobile terminal according to one embodiment disclosed herein.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein like reference numerals are used to designate identical or similar elements, and redundant description thereof will be omitted. The suffix "module" and " part "for the components used in the following description are given or mixed in consideration of ease of specification, and do not have their own meaning or role. In the following description of the embodiments of the present invention, a detailed description of related arts will be omitted when it is determined that the gist of the embodiments disclosed herein may be blurred. In addition, it should be noted that the attached drawings are only for easy understanding of the embodiments disclosed in the present specification, and should not be construed as limiting the technical idea disclosed in the present specification by the attached drawings.

The mobile terminal described herein may include a mobile phone, a smart phone, a laptop computer, a digital broadcasting terminal, a personal digital assistant, a portable multimedia player (PMP), navigation, and the like. However, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that the configuration according to the embodiments described herein may be applied to a fixed terminal such as a digital TV, a desktop computer, and the like, unless the configuration is applicable only to a mobile terminal.

1 is a block diagram illustrating a mobile terminal according to one embodiment disclosed herein.

The mobile terminal 100 includes a wireless communication unit 110, an audio / video input unit 120, a user input unit 130, a sensing unit 140, an output unit 150, a memory 160, A controller 170, a controller 180, a power supply 190, and the like. The components shown in FIG. 1 are not essential, and a mobile terminal having more or fewer components may be implemented.

Hereinafter, the components will be described in order.

The wireless communication unit 110 may include one or more modules for enabling wireless communication between the mobile terminal 100 and the wireless communication system or between the mobile terminal 100 and the network in which the mobile terminal 100 is located. For example, the wireless communication unit 110 may include a broadcast receiving module 111, a mobile communication module 112, a wireless Internet module 113, a short range communication module 114, and a location information module 115 .

The broadcast receiving module 111 receives a broadcast signal and / or broadcast related information from an external broadcast management server through a broadcast channel.

The broadcast channel may include a satellite channel and a terrestrial channel. The broadcast management server may refer to a server for generating and transmitting broadcast signals and / or broadcast related information, or a server for receiving broadcast signals and / or broadcast related information generated by the broadcast management server and transmitting the generated broadcast signals and / or broadcast related information. The broadcast signal may include a TV broadcast signal, a radio broadcast signal, a data broadcast signal, and a broadcast signal in which a data broadcast signal is combined with a TV broadcast signal or a radio broadcast signal.

The broadcast-related information may refer to a broadcast channel, a broadcast program, or information related to a broadcast service provider. The broadcast-related information may also be provided through a mobile communication network. In this case, it may be received by the mobile communication module 112.

The broadcast-related information may exist in various forms. For example, an EPG (Electronic Program Guide) of DMB (Digital Multimedia Broadcasting) or an ESG (Electronic Service Guide) of Digital Video Broadcast-Handheld (DVB-H).

For example, the broadcast receiving module 111 may be a Digital Multimedia Broadcasting-Terrestrial (DMB-T), a Digital Multimedia Broadcasting-Satellite (DMB-S), a Media Forward Link Only And a Digital Broadcasting System (ISDB-T) (Integrated Services Digital Broadcast-Terrestrial). Of course, the broadcast receiving module 111 may be adapted to other broadcasting systems as well as the digital broadcasting system described above.

The broadcast signal and / or broadcast related information received through the broadcast receiving module 111 may be stored in the memory 160.

The mobile communication module 112 transmits and receives radio signals to at least one of a base station, an external terminal, and a server on a mobile communication network. The wireless signal may include various types of data depending on a voice call signal, a video call signal or a text / multimedia message transmission / reception.

The mobile communication module 112 is configured to implement a video communication mode and a voice communication mode. The video call mode refers to a state of talking while viewing a video of the other party, and the voice call mode refers to a state in which a call is made without viewing the other party's video. In order to implement the video communication mode and the voice communication mode, the mobile communication module 112 is configured to transmit and receive at least one of voice and image.

The wireless Internet module 113 is a module for wireless Internet access, and may be built in or externally attached to the mobile terminal 100. WLAN (Wi-Fi), Wibro (Wireless broadband), Wimax (World Interoperability for Microwave Access), HSDPA (High Speed Downlink Packet Access) and the like can be used as wireless Internet technologies.

The short-range communication module 114 refers to a module for short-range communication. Bluetooth, Radio Frequency Identification (RFID), Infrared Data Association (IrDA), Ultra Wideband (UWB), ZigBee, and the like can be used as a short range communication technology.

The position information module 115 is a module for obtaining the position of the mobile terminal, and a representative example thereof is a Global Position System (GPS) module.

Referring to FIG. 1, an A / V (Audio / Video) input unit 120 is for inputting an audio signal or a video signal, and may include a camera 121 and a microphone 122. The camera 121 processes image frames such as still images or moving images obtained by the image sensor in the video communication mode or the photographing mode. The processed image frame can be displayed on the display unit 151. [

The image frame processed by the camera 121 may be stored in the memory 160 or transmitted to the outside through the wireless communication unit 110. [ Two or more cameras may be provided depending on the usage environment.

The microphone 122 receives an external sound signal through a microphone in a communication mode, a recording mode, a voice recognition mode, or the like, and processes it as electrical voice data. The processed voice data can be converted into a form that can be transmitted to the mobile communication base station through the mobile communication module 112 when the voice data is in the call mode, and output. Various noise reduction algorithms may be implemented in the microphone 122 to remove noise generated in receiving an external sound signal.

The user input unit 130 generates input data for a user to control the operation of the terminal. The user input unit 130 may include a key pad, a dome switch, a touch pad (static / static), a jog wheel, a jog switch, and the like.

The sensing unit 140 senses the current state of the mobile terminal 100 such as the open / close state of the mobile terminal 100, the position of the mobile terminal 100, the presence or absence of user contact, the orientation of the mobile terminal, And generates a sensing signal for controlling the operation of the mobile terminal 100. For example, when the mobile terminal 100 is in the form of a slide phone, it may sense whether the slide phone is opened or closed. In addition, whether the power supply unit 190 is supplied with power, whether the interface unit 170 is coupled to the external device may be sensed.

The output unit 150 may include a display unit 151, an audio output module 152, an alarm unit 153, and a haptic module 154, for example, for generating output related to visual, auditory, have.

The display unit 151 displays (outputs) information processed by the mobile terminal 100. For example, when the mobile terminal is in the call mode, a UI (User Interface) or a GUI (Graphic User Interface) associated with a call is displayed. When the mobile terminal 100 is in the video communication mode or the photographing mode, the photographed and / or received video or UI and GUI are displayed.

The display unit 151 may be a liquid crystal display (LCD), a thin film transistor-liquid crystal display (TFT LCD), an organic light-emitting diode (OLED), a flexible display display, a 3D display, and an e-ink display.

Some of these displays may be transparent or light transmissive so that they can be seen through. This can be referred to as a transparent display, and a typical example of the transparent display is TOLED (Transparent OLED) and the like. The rear structure of the display unit 151 may also be of a light transmission type. With this structure, the user can see the object located behind the terminal body through the area occupied by the display unit 151 of the terminal body.

There may be two or more display units 151 according to the embodiment of the mobile terminal 100. For example, in the mobile terminal 100, a plurality of display portions may be spaced apart from one another, or may be disposed integrally with one another, and may be disposed on different surfaces, respectively.

(Hereinafter, referred to as a 'touch screen') in which a display unit 151 and a sensor for sensing a touch operation (hereinafter, referred to as 'touch sensor') form a mutual layer structure, It can also be used as an input device. The touch sensor may have the form of, for example, a touch film, a touch sheet, a touch pad, or the like.

The touch sensor may be configured to convert a change in a pressure applied to a specific portion of the display unit 151 or a capacitance generated in a specific portion of the display unit 151 into an electrical input signal. The touch sensor can be configured to detect not only the position and area to be touched but also the pressure at the time of touch.

If there is a touch input to the touch sensor, the corresponding signal (s) is sent to the touch controller. The touch controller processes the signal (s) and transmits the corresponding data to the controller 180. As a result, the controller 180 can know which area of the display unit 151 is touched.

Referring to FIG. 1, a proximity sensor may be disposed in an inner region of the mobile terminal or in the vicinity of the touch screen, which is enclosed by the touch screen. The proximity sensor refers to a sensor that detects the presence or absence of an object approaching a predetermined detection surface or a nearby object without mechanical contact using the force of an electromagnetic field or infrared rays. The proximity sensor has a longer life span than the contact sensor and its utilization is also high.

Examples of the proximity sensor include a transmission photoelectric sensor, a direct reflection photoelectric sensor, a mirror reflection photoelectric sensor, a high frequency oscillation proximity sensor, a capacitive proximity sensor, a magnetic proximity sensor, and an infrared proximity sensor. And to detect the proximity of the pointer by the change of the electric field along the proximity of the pointer when the touch screen is electrostatic. In this case, the touch screen (touch sensor) may be classified as a proximity sensor.

Hereinafter, for convenience of explanation, the act of recognizing that the pointer is positioned on the touch screen while the pointer is not in contact with the touch screen is referred to as "proximity touch & The act of actually touching the pointer on the screen is called "contact touch. &Quot; The position where the pointer is proximately touched on the touch screen means a position where the pointer is vertically corresponding to the touch screen when the pointer is touched.

The proximity sensor detects a proximity touch and a proximity touch pattern (e.g., a proximity touch distance, a proximity touch direction, a proximity touch speed, a proximity touch time, a proximity touch position, a proximity touch movement state, and the like). Information corresponding to the detected proximity touch operation and the proximity touch pattern may be output on the touch screen.

The sound output module 152 may output audio data received from the wireless communication unit 110 or stored in the memory 160 in a call signal reception, a call mode or a recording mode, a voice recognition mode, a broadcast reception mode, and the like. The sound output module 152 also outputs sound signals related to functions (e.g., call signal reception sound, message reception sound, etc.) performed in the mobile terminal 100. [ The audio output module 152 may include a receiver, a speaker, a buzzer, and the like.

The alarm unit 153 outputs a signal for notifying the occurrence of an event of the mobile terminal 100. Examples of events that occur in the mobile terminal include call signal reception, message reception, key signal input, touch input, and the like. The alarm unit 153 may output a signal for notifying the occurrence of an event in a form other than the video signal or the audio signal, for example, vibration. The video signal or the audio signal may be output through the display unit 151 or the audio output module 152 so that they may be classified as a part of the alarm unit 153.

The haptic module 154 generates various tactile effects that the user can feel. Vibration is a representative example of the haptic effect generated by the haptic module 154. The intensity and pattern of the vibration generated by the hit module 154 can be controlled. For example, different vibrations may be synthesized and output or sequentially output.

In addition to the vibration, the haptic module 154 may include a pin arrangement vertically moving with respect to the contact skin surface, a spraying force or suction force of the air through the injection port or the suction port, a touch on the skin surface, contact with an electrode, And various tactile effects such as an effect of reproducing a cold sensation using an endothermic or exothermic element can be generated.

The haptic module 154 can be implemented not only to transmit the tactile effect through the direct contact but also to allow the user to feel the tactile effect through the muscular sensation of the finger or arm. At least two haptic modules 154 may be provided according to the configuration of the mobile terminal 100.

The memory 160 may store a program for the operation of the controller 180 and temporarily store input / output data (e.g., a phone book, a message, a still image, a moving picture, etc.). The memory 160 may store data on vibration and sound of various patterns outputted when a touch is input on the touch screen.

The memory 160 may be a flash memory type, a hard disk type, a multimedia card micro type, a card type memory (for example, SD or XD memory), a RAM (Random Access Memory), a static random access memory (SRAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), a programmable read- A disk, and / or an optical disk. The mobile terminal 100 may operate in association with a web storage that performs a storage function of the memory 160 on the Internet.

The interface unit 170 serves as a path for communication with all external devices connected to the mobile terminal 100. The interface unit 170 receives data from an external device, receives power, transfers the power to each component inside the mobile terminal 100, or transmits data inside the mobile terminal 100 to an external device. For example, a wired / wireless headset port, an external charger port, a wired / wireless data port, a memory card port, a port for connecting a device having an identification module, an audio I / O port, A video input / output (I / O) port, an earphone port, and the like may be included in the interface unit 170.

The identification module is a chip for storing various information for authenticating the usage right of the mobile terminal 100 and includes a user identification module (UIM), a subscriber identity module (SIM), a general user authentication module a universal subscriber identity module (USIM), and the like. Devices with identification modules (hereinafter referred to as "identification devices") can be manufactured in a smart card format. Accordingly, the identification device can be connected to the terminal 100 through the port.

When the mobile terminal 100 is connected to an external cradle, the interface unit 170 may be a path through which power from the cradle is supplied to the mobile terminal 100, or various commands A signal may be a path through which the signal is transmitted to the mobile terminal. The various command signals or the power source input from the cradle may be operated as a signal for recognizing that the mobile terminal is correctly mounted on the cradle.

The controller 180 typically controls the overall operation of the mobile terminal. For example, voice communication, data communication, video communication, and the like. The controller 180 may include a multimedia module 182 for playing multimedia. The multimedia module 182 may be implemented in the controller 180 or may be implemented separately from the controller 180.

 In addition, the control unit 180 may perform a pattern recognition process for recognizing handwriting input or drawing input performed on the touch screen as characters and images, respectively.

In addition, when the state of the mobile terminal satisfies a set condition, the controller 180 may execute a lock state for limiting input of a user's control command to applications. Also, the controller 180 can control the lock screen displayed in the locked state based on the touch input sensed through the display unit (hereinafter, referred to as 'touch screen') 151 in the locked state.

The power supply unit 190 receives external power and internal power under the control of the controller 180 and supplies power necessary for operation of the respective components.

The various embodiments described herein may be embodied in a recording medium readable by a computer or similar device using, for example, software, hardware, or a combination thereof.

According to a hardware implementation, the embodiments described herein may be implemented as application specific integrated circuits (ASICs), digital signal processors (DSPs), digital signal processing devices (DSPDs), programmable logic devices (PLDs), field programmable gate arrays , Microprocessors, microprocessors, microprocessors, and other electronic units for carrying out other functions. In some cases, the embodiments described herein may be implemented by the controller 180 itself.

According to a software implementation, embodiments such as the procedures and functions described herein may be implemented with separate software modules. Each of the software modules may perform one or more of the functions and operations described herein.

The software code may be implemented in a software application written in a suitable programming language. The software code is stored in the memory 160 and can be executed by the control unit 180. [

Hereinafter, a structure of a mobile terminal or a mobile terminal in which components of the mobile terminal or the mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention described with reference to FIG. 1 are disposed will be described.

FIG. 2A is a perspective view of a mobile terminal or a mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present invention, and FIG. 2B is a rear perspective view of the mobile terminal shown in FIG. 2A.

FIG. 2A is a perspective view of a mobile terminal or a mobile terminal according to the present invention, and FIG. 2B is a rear perspective view of the mobile terminal shown in FIG. 2A.

The disclosed mobile terminal 100 includes a bar-shaped terminal body. However, the present invention is not limited thereto, and can be applied to various structures such as a slide type, a folder type, a swing type, and a swivel type in which two or more bodies are relatively movably coupled.

In the illustrated embodiment, the terminal body 100 (hereinafter, referred to as 'body') has a front surface, a side surface, and a rear surface. Further, the body has both ends formed along the longitudinal direction.

The body 100 includes a case (a casing, a housing, a cover, and the like) that forms an appearance. In this embodiment, the case may be divided into a front surface (hereinafter referred to as a 'front case') 101 and a rear surface (hereinafter referred to as a 'rear case'). A variety of electronic components are embedded in the space formed between the front case 101 and the rear case 102. At least one intermediate case may be additionally disposed between the front case 101 and the rear case 102. [

The cases may be formed by injection molding a synthetic resin, or may be formed to have a metal material such as stainless steel (STS) or titanium (Ti) or the like.

The terminal body 100 mainly includes a display unit 151, an audio output unit 152, a camera 121, user input units 130/131 and 132, a microphone 122, an interface 170, .

The display unit 151 occupies most of the main surface of the front case 101. A sound output unit 152 and a camera 121 are disposed in an area adjacent to one end of both ends of the display unit 151 and a user input unit 131 and a microphone 122 are disposed in an area adjacent to the other end. The user input unit 131 and the interface 170 may be disposed on the side surfaces of the front case 101 and the rear case 102. On the other hand, the microphone 122 is disposed at the other end of the body 100.

The user input unit 130 is operated to receive a command for controlling the operation of the mobile terminal, and may include a plurality of operation units 131 and 132. The operation units 131 and 132 may be collectively referred to as a manipulating portion and may be employed in any manner as long as the user operates in a tactile manner.

The contents inputted by the first or second operation unit 131 or 132 may be variously set. For example, the first operation unit 131 receives commands such as start, end, scroll, and the like, and the second operation unit 132 controls the size of the sound output from the sound output unit 152 or the size of the sound output from the display unit 151 To the touch recognition mode of the touch screen.

Referring to FIG. 2B, the rear surface of the terminal body, that is, the rear case 102, may further include an acoustic output unit 152 '. The sound output unit 152 'may implement the stereo function together with the sound output unit 152 (see FIG. 2A), and may be used for the implementation of the speakerphone mode during a call.

A power supply unit 190 for supplying power to the mobile terminal 100 is mounted on the terminal body. The power supply unit 190 may be built in the terminal body or may be detachable from the outside of the terminal body.

The rear case 102 may further include a touch pad 135 for sensing a touch. The touch pad 135 may also be of a light transmission type like the display unit 151. [ In this case, if the display unit 151 is configured to output time information on both sides, the time information can be recognized through the touch pad 135 as well. The information output on both sides may be all controlled by the touch pad 135. [ Alternatively, a display may be additionally mounted on the touch pad 135, and a touch screen may be disposed on the rear case 102 as well.

In addition, a camera 121 'may be additionally mounted on the rear case 102 of the terminal body. The camera 121 may be a camera having a different image from the camera 121, having a photographing direction substantially opposite to the camera 121 (see FIG. 2A) mounted on the front case of the camera 121 '.

For example, the camera 121 may have a low pixel so that the face of the user can be photographed and transmitted to the other party in case of a video call or the like, and the camera 121 ' It can be made to have a high number of pixels. The camera 121 'may be installed in the terminal body 100 to be rotatable or pop-upable.

A flash 123 and a mirror 124 are additionally disposed adjacent to the camera 121 '. The flash 123 illuminates the subject when the subject is photographed by the camera 121 '. The mirror allows the user to illuminate the user's own face or the like in the case where the user intends to photograph (self-photograph) himself / herself using the camera 121 '.

An acoustic output unit 252 'may be further disposed on the rear surface of the terminal body. The sound output unit 252 'may implement the stereo function together with the sound output unit 252 (see FIG. 2A), and may be used for the implementation of the speakerphone mode in a call.

A power supply unit 190 for supplying power to the mobile terminal 100 is mounted on the terminal body. The power supply unit 190 may be built in the terminal body or may be detachable from the outside of the terminal body.

The rear case 102 may further include a touch pad 135 for sensing a touch. The touch pad 135 may also be of a light transmission type like the display unit 151. [ In this case, if the display unit 151 is configured to output time information on both sides, the time information can be recognized through the touch pad 135 as well. The information output on both sides may be all controlled by the touch pad 135. [ Alternatively, a display may be additionally mounted on the touch pad 135, and a touch screen may be disposed on the rear case 102 as well.

The touch pad 135 operates in correlation with the display portion 151 of the front case 101. [ The touch pad 135 may be disposed parallel to the rear of the display unit 151. The touch pad 135 may have a size equal to or smaller than that of the display unit 151.

In addition, the controller 180 of the mobile terminal according to the present invention, which may include at least one or more of the above-described elements, may display the plurality of display units 151 in response to a touch input corresponding to an area division command. Can be divided into areas.

That is, since the display unit 151 is divided into a plurality of regions, the display unit 151 may simultaneously output execution screens of at least two or more applications or web pages.

Meanwhile, a touch input corresponding to the area division command is detected by the detector 181, and the detector 181 detects that the touch input detected on the display unit 151 capable of touch input corresponds to the area division command. By notifying the controller 180 of this, the controller 180 can control the display unit 151.

In addition, the controller 180 may display a pop-up window on the display unit 151 in response to the region division command. The pop-up window includes items related to the contents displayed in the divided area, and the controller 180 displays the content corresponding to the item selected through the pop-up window in any one of the plurality of areas included in the display unit 151. Output

As described above, the mobile terminal and its control method according to the present invention divides the display into a plurality of areas based on the user's touch input, and displays different contents in the plurality of areas, thereby allowing the user to display one screen. Allows multiple jobs to be processed simultaneously.

3 and 4, a control method of dividing the display unit into a plurality of areas in the mobile terminal according to the present invention and displaying different contents in the plurality of areas will be described as an example.

3 is a flowchart illustrating a control method in a mobile terminal according to an exemplary embodiment disclosed herein, and FIG. 4 is a conceptual diagram illustrating a control method of a mobile terminal according to an exemplary embodiment disclosed herein.

First, the control method according to the present invention detects a touch input corresponding to an area division command (S100).

Here, the touch input is detected on the display unit 151 (see FIG. 2A), and the detector 181 detects a touch input corresponding to an area division command among the touch inputs detected on the display unit 151.

Here, the 'division division command' divides the display unit 151 into a plurality of regions, and a plurality of display windows may be generated in the display unit 151 by the region division command.

That is, the plurality of regions correspond to the plurality of display windows, and the sizes of the regions correspond to the sizes of the display unit 151, and the plurality of regions do not overlap on one display unit 151, and all of them are to be displayed. Can be.

That is, the display unit 151 displays a plurality of display windows through the region division command, and different contents may be displayed on the plurality of display windows.

The area division command may be input through a touch input sensed by the display unit 151.

Here, the touch input corresponding to the area division command may be a touch input to a predetermined region of the display unit or may be a touch input having a preset pattern.

For example, as illustrated in FIG. 4, when a preset pattern is used, when a touch corresponding to the initial “D” 201 indicating “Division” is input to the display unit 151, the display unit is divided. If set to, the detection unit recognizes a touch corresponding to the “D” as a touch input corresponding to an area division command and detects the touch input.

In addition to the above-described method, the detector 181 may place an icon corresponding to the area division command, and when the icon is selected, detect the icon by a touch input corresponding to the area division command.

In addition, it is also possible to receive an area division command through a hot key (user input unit 130) provided in the terminal.

Next, the controller 180 divides the display unit 151 into a plurality of regions in response to the touch input corresponding to the region division command detected in operation S100 (S200, see FIG. 3).

Here, the number of divided regions may be variously changed by the user or the controller 180, and as a basic setting, may be divided into two for one screen. That is, when only one region is included in the current display unit 151, the first region division command may be divided into two regions. In addition, if an area division command is input here again, it may be divided into a total of three areas.

In addition, the number of areas to be divided may be set together when receiving the area division command. For example, the number of divided regions may be selected through a pop-up window or the like, or the number of regions may be set by detecting a touch corresponding to the number.

As described above, when a plurality of areas are divided, the controller 180 outputs a pop-up window including items corresponding to contents to be displayed in the divided areas (S300). The pop-up window may output various items corresponding to various contents that can be displayed on the display unit 151, such as a list of applications that can be displayed in the divided region and a web page list.

In addition, the pop-up window may include a plurality of category lists, and when each category is selected, corresponding items may be output.

For example, as illustrated in FIG. 4, when the display unit 151 is divided into a plurality of regions 210 and 220 based on a touch input corresponding to an area division command by a user, a plurality of items are included. The pop-up window 300 may be displayed on the display unit 151.

In addition to the pop-up window 300 including a plurality of items, an icon of an application may be displayed. That is, the pop-up window 300 is for receiving selection of contents that can be displayed in the divided region, and may be configured in various formats.

Next, the controller 180 outputs an execution screen corresponding to the item selected by the user among the items included in the popup window to any one of the plurality of areas (S400).

Here, the execution screen means that the content corresponding to the item selected by the user is displayed.

Here, the position of the region where the execution screen corresponding to the selected item is displayed among the plurality of regions may be determined by the user's selection or arbitrarily determined by the controller 180.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 4, for example, when the display unit 151 is divided into two regions 210 and 220 in one screen (or region) 200, one of the two regions 210 and 220 may be used. In any one of the 210, the content being output on the screen 200 before the display unit 151 is divided may be continuously output.

Therefore, in response to the region division command, the controller 180 divides the region of the display unit 151 into two regions (first region, second region, 210, 220) in one region 200, One of the two regions 220 displays an execution screen corresponding to the item selected through the pop-up window 300. In addition, the controller 180 may control to display an execution screen output from the screen 200 before the area is divided in the other 210 of the two areas 210 and 220.

In addition, the controller 180 may set the size of the screen 200 displayed on the display unit 151 to correspond to the size of the divided region 210 before the region is divided. Therefore, the size of the screen before the division may be changed in conjunction with the division of the region.

In addition, the pop-up window 300 may be displayed after the plurality of areas are divided as shown in FIG. 4 and the above, and the pop-up window 300 is displayed first before the area is divided, and the items included in the pop-up window 300. If any one is selected by the user, the display unit 151 may be divided into a plurality of areas. Furthermore, the controller 180 can output the contents included in the selected item in the divided area.

Therefore, the steps included in the flowchart illustrated in FIG. 3 above are not limited to the order and may be freely modified.

As described above, in the mobile terminal and its control method according to the present invention, the user can process a plurality of jobs simultaneously by dividing the display unit into a plurality of areas and simultaneously outputting a plurality of execution screens.

In addition, the mobile terminal and its control method according to the present invention can set the boundaries of the divided areas based on the user's selection. Hereinafter, this will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 5A and 5B.

5A and 5B are conceptual views illustrating a method of selecting an area where an execution screen is displayed in a mobile terminal according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.

According to an embodiment of the present disclosure, when the controller 180 generates a plurality of areas in response to an area division command applied from the user, the controller 180 may receive a boundary of the divided area from the user. For example, after an area division command is input from the user, if another touch input is continuously detected in one area of the display unit, the controller 180 may divide the plurality of areas based on the detected point. Can be.

For example, when the upper portion of the display unit 151 is touched, the display unit 151 may be divided into two regions up and down based on the vertical direction. In addition, when the right portion of the display unit 151 is touched, the display unit 151 may be divided into two regions, left and right.

In addition, the controller 180 may display an execution screen corresponding to an item selected by the user in a region generated in response to the region division command in a region designated by the user.

For example, when the display unit 151 is divided into left and right, when the user wants to display the execution screen corresponding to the item selected through the pop-up window in the left area, the user uses a touch input corresponding to the preset method. This can be set.

For example, as illustrated in FIG. 5A, after a touch 201 corresponding to an area division command is input on the display unit 151, touch a point 202 for displaying an area to display an execution screen. In this case, the controller 180 may display an execution screen on the area 220 including the touch point 202.

Accordingly, as illustrated in FIG. 5A, when one region 202 on the right side of the display unit 151 is touched by the user, the controller 180 may display the screen 200 before the region is divided in the first region 210. Is displayed on the screen, and the execution screen selected by the user is displayed on the second area 220 corresponding to the touch point 202 of the user.

Similarly, as illustrated in FIG. 5B, when one region of the left side of the display unit 151 is touched by the user, the controller 180 outputs the screen 200 before the region is divided into the second region 220. The currently displayed content is displayed, and the execution screen selected by the user is displayed in the first area 210 corresponding to the touch point 202 of the user.

In addition, the size of the divided region may be set according to the position at which the touch 202 is input, and the controller 180 divides the region to the left when the touch 202 is touched close to the display unit. The size of can be set small.

In addition, as described above, when the size of the area divided by the touch point 202 is set, the reference point and the reference size at which the area is divided should be set in advance.

As described above, the mobile terminal and its control method according to the present invention set the boundary of the divided area and the position at which the execution screen is displayed based on the user's selection, so that the user views the screen at a desired position, It is possible to operate.

In addition, in the mobile terminal and its control method according to an embodiment of the present invention, the number of divided regions may be set using a touch input to the display unit.

Hereinafter, a method of setting the number of regions to be divided together with FIGS. 6A, 6B, and 6C will be described.

6A, 6B, and 6C are conceptual views illustrating a method of setting the number of divided regions in a mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present disclosure.

When the detection unit 181 according to the present invention corresponds to a touch of a preset pattern indicating the number of areas in which the user's touch is divided into the display unit 151, the number of areas divided from the touch applied by the user is determined. Detect.

When a touch of a preset pattern is applied to the display unit 151 by the user, the controller 180 may control the detector 181 to recognize this as a touch input for setting the number of divided areas.

Here, the preset pattern may be a touch input corresponding to a 'number' indicating the number of divided areas, or may be a plurality of consecutive touch inputs corresponding to the number of divided areas.

For example, as illustrated in FIG. 6A, when the touch 202 corresponding to the number '2' is input on the display unit 151, the controller 180 may display the display unit 151 in two regions 210. , 220). In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 6B, the controller 180 which receives the touch 202 corresponding to the number '3' on the display unit 151 may display the display unit 151 in three regions 210, 220, 230).

In addition, as illustrated in FIGS. 6A and 6B, in addition to a specific pattern, as illustrated in FIG. 6C, the number of regions may be set through the multi-touch 202, for example, the display unit 151. When three touches are continuously input within a preset time interval, the controller 180 may divide the display unit 151 into three regions 210, 220, and 230.

As described above, the mobile terminal and its control method according to the present invention can set the number of divided areas through a touch input of a pattern that the user can intuitively recognize on the display unit 151. .

In addition, the mobile terminal according to an embodiment of the present disclosure may control the location and size of the divided region or control whether the region is deleted by using a touch input. Hereinafter, this will be described in detail with reference to FIGS. 7, 8A, 8B, 8C, and 9.

7, 8A, 8B, and 8C are conceptual views illustrating a method of setting a size and deletion of an area in a mobile terminal according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, and FIG. 9 is an embodiment of the present disclosure. A conceptual diagram for describing a method of changing a location of an area in a mobile terminal according to an example.

The controller 180 according to the present invention can delete the specific region or change the position or size of the region based on the drag input input on the display unit 151.

For example, as illustrated in FIG. 7A, the display unit 151 is divided into the first, second, and third regions 210, 220, and 230, and includes the second region included in the second region. When the drag input is started at one point 201a and the drag input is terminated at the second point 201b included in the third area 230, the controller 180 deletes the third area 230. In response, the size of the second region 220 may be expanded.

In other words, if the user drags an area to be extended and drags and drops it to the area to be deleted, the size of the area to be expanded is expanded as much as the size of the area to be deleted and the area to be deleted. Is deleted.

In addition, on the contrary, as illustrated in FIG. 7B, the first region 210 to be deleted by the user is dragged at the first point 201a to expand the second region 220. When the dragging input is terminated at the second point 201b (drag and drop), the controller 180 may delete the first area 210 and position the second area 220 in the corresponding area. have.

In addition, the controller 180 may appropriately change the size of the third region 230 based on the deletion of the first region 210.

That is, when the drag input starting from the region to be deleted ends in the region to be extended, the region in which the drag input is started may be deleted, and the region in which the drag input is terminated may be expanded in correspondence with the size of the deleted region.

In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 8A, the controller 180 may include at least one of a drag input having a speed greater than or equal to a preset reference point and a drag input greater than or equal to a predetermined length on a specific area, for example, the second area 220. If input, the second region 220 may be deleted.

That is, the controller 180 may delete any one of the plurality of regions by using the speed and the length of the drag input, and when any one of the plurality of regions is deleted, another region (for example, 230 region) is deleted. Correspondingly, the size can be expanded.

In addition, the controller 180 of the mobile terminal according to the present invention can use a pinch-in or pinch-out touch input to delete or resize an area.

For example, as illustrated in FIG. 8B, when a pinch-in touch input is detected in the second area 220, the size of the second area 220 is reduced correspondingly, and the pinch-in is larger than the set range. If the input continues to be input, the controller 180 may delete the second area 220.

In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 8C, when a pinch-out touch input is detected in the first area 210, the size of the first area 210 expands correspondingly, and the pinch-out input continues over the set range. When inputted, the controller 180 can expand the size of the first region 210 to the maximum. In this case, the sizes of the second and third regions 220 and 230 may be deleted in conjunction with the expansion of the first region 210.

In addition, as illustrated in FIG. 9, the controller 180 may change the position of the region through a gesture of crossing two different regions.

For example, after a touch is applied to one point 201a of the second area 220 and a touch is applied to one point 201b of the third area 230, the touch input is continuously performed. When a drag input is applied toward different areas, the controller 180 may switch the second area 220 and the third area 230 to each other.

That is, when the drag input starting in the second area 220 ends in the third area 230 and the drag input starting in the third area 230 ends in the second area 220, the controller Reference numeral 180 switches the positions of the two regions.

 In this case, the controller 180 may change the positions of the two regions itself or change only the contents displayed in the two regions.

As described above, the mobile terminal and its control method according to the present invention can move or delete regions by simple manipulation using a drag touch input.

In addition, the mobile terminal and a control method thereof according to the present invention can control the areas included in the display unit in a separate area through the virtual window. Hereinafter, a method of controlling regions using a virtual window will be described with reference to FIGS. 10A, 10B, and 10C.

10A, 10B, and 10C are conceptual views illustrating a method of controlling a display unit using a virtual window in a mobile terminal according to one embodiment disclosed herein.

As illustrated in FIG. 10A, the controller 180 according to the present invention may receive an area division command using the virtual window 350.

The virtual window 350 may be generated by selecting a predetermined point of the display unit 151 by the user or by selecting an icon separately designated by the user.

The virtual window 350 includes thumbnails corresponding to the divided regions of the display unit 151, so that the user can check a state in which the display unit 151 is unaffected through the virtual window 350.

In addition, the controller 180 may divide the display unit 151 into a plurality of areas in response to a touch input applied to the virtual window 350.

As described above, the detector 181 detects a touch corresponding to an area division command applied to the virtual window 350. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 10A, when a touch corresponding to a preset pattern is applied to the virtual window 350, the detector 181 detects this. In addition, the controller 180 divides the display unit 151 into at least two or more regions 210 and 220 based on the touch input by the detector 181, and displays an item selected by the user on the divided screen. A corresponding execution screen may be displayed, or contents displayed on the display unit 151 before the area is divided may be displayed.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 10B, the virtual window 350 may also srjt to delete or move an area through a drag input, similarly to the method described above.

For example, when the first thumbnail 351 included in the virtual window 350 is dragged to the third thumbnail 353, the controller 180 opens the first area 210 corresponding to the first thumbnail 351. The third region 230 corresponding to the third thumbnail 353 may be positioned in place of the first region 210.

Also, as another example, when the first thumbnail 351 included in the virtual window 350 is dragged to the third thumbnail 353, the controller 180 may include a first area 210 corresponding to the first thumbnail 351. It is possible to switch between the position of the execution screen of the 3) and the execution surface of the third area 230 corresponding to the third thumbnail 353.

In addition, areas may be controlled through the virtual window 350 through various drag inputs.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 10C, when the edge region of the virtual window 350 is dragged, the virtual window 350 may be moved. In addition, the virtual window 350 may be continuously displayed on the display unit 151, and may be displayed only at a predetermined time interval or only when a touch is detected on the display unit 151, and disappear after a predetermined time. Can be.

As described above, in the mobile terminal and its control method according to the present invention, the areas included in the display unit are controlled based on the touch applied to the virtual window, so that the user controls the areas at a position where the touch input is easily applied. can do.

In addition, the mobile terminal and its control method according to an embodiment of the present invention can display the pop-up window when an area division command is input, thereby selecting contents displayed in the divided region through a simple operation.

In addition, since the mobile terminal and its control method according to an embodiment of the present invention are controlled by the position, number, generation, deletion or the like of the divided regions based on a simple touch input or gesture, the user intuitively displays the region of the display unit. The division function can be controlled.

The mobile terminal described above can be applied to not only the configuration and method of the embodiments described above but also all or some of the embodiments may be selectively combined so that various modifications may be made to the embodiments It is possible.

Claims (15)

A touch screen configured to display information and sense a touch input;
And
In response to receiving a touch input corresponding to an area division command through the touch screen,
A control unit which displays a pop-up window including a plurality of selectable items and divides the touch screen into a plurality of areas;
The control unit
Outputs an execution screen of an item selected by a user among the items to any one of the plurality of areas;
The mobile terminal of claim 1, wherein the touch screen is controlled to continuously output contents displayed on the touch screen before the touch screen is divided into the plurality of areas. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control unit
And a boundary of the areas to correspond to a touch point applied on the touch screen. 3. The method of claim 2,
The execution screen is output to any one of the plurality of areas including the touch point,
The other terminal, the mobile terminal, characterized in that the content that was output on the touch screen before the division is performed continuously. The method of claim 1,
In one region of the touch screen, a control window including thumbnails corresponding to the plurality of regions is displayed.
The controller controls at least one of the plurality of areas based on a touch input detected by the control window. 5. The method of claim 4,
When at least one of the thumbnails included in the control window is dragged to a place where other thumbnails are included, an area corresponding to the dragged thumbnail of the plurality of areas disappears, or an area corresponding to the dragged thumbnail and the other thumbnail And the contents displayed in the corresponding areas are switched with each other. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control unit
A movement of changing the size of any one region based on at least one of a direction, a length, and a speed of a drag input applied to the touch screen while the touch screen is divided into the plurality of regions; terminal. The method of claim 1,
The plurality of selectable items displayed on the pop-up window is an icon of an application (application). The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the control unit
The number of the divided areas is determined based on the pattern or the number of touches of the touch input corresponding to the area division command.
And the touch screen is divided into a plurality of areas so as to correspond to the determined number. delete The method of claim 1,
The size of the content output from the areas is a mobile terminal, characterized in that the change in conjunction with the touch screen is divided into a plurality of areas. The method of claim 1,
The execution screen of the item selected by the user is displayed in any one of the plurality of areas selected by the user. 12. The method of claim 11,
The selection of one of the areas is based on a touch input to the one of the plurality of areas of the mobile terminal. In the control method of a mobile terminal capable of including a touch screen capable of touch input,
Detecting a touch input corresponding to an area division command;
Displaying a pop-up window including a plurality of selectable items in response to the detected touch input; And
The touch screen is divided into first and second areas, and an execution screen of an item corresponding to a user's selection among the items is output to the first area, and the touch screen is divided into the first and second areas. And continuously outputting the contents output from the touch screen to the second area. 14. The method of claim 13,
A control window including thumbnails corresponding to the first and second areas is displayed on one area of the touch screen.
And at least one of the first and second areas is controlled based on a touch input sensed by the control window. 14. The method of claim 13,
The region corresponding to any one of the first and second regions is deleted based on at least one of a direction, a length, and a speed of the drag input detected in one of the first and second regions.
The size of the area corresponding to the other place is expanded in response to the size of the deleted area.

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