# US 2014/0157203 A1 · Method and electronic device for displaying a virtual button > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0157203 A1 - Document ID: US20140157203A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/095,044 - Filed: 2013-12-03 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-12-03 - Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Yu-Jeong JEON; Bong-Kyun KIM - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140157203A1 ## CPC - G06F 3/0482: Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus - G06F 3/04883: for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text - G06F 3/04886: by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus - G06F 2203/04101: 2.5D-digitiser, i.e. digitiser detecting the X/Y position of the input means, finger or stylus, also when it does not touch, but is proximate to the digitiser's interaction surface and also measures the distance of the input means within a short range in the Z direction, possibly with a separate measurement setup - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract A method for using a pen in an electronic device is provided, including: detecting a pen use event; and responsive to the pen use event, displaying, on a display of the electronic device, at least one virtual button which performs the same function as a physical button that is part of the electronic device; wherein the physical button of the electronic device comprises at least one of a mechanical switch and an optical switch. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method for using a pen in an electronic device, comprising: detecting a pen use event; and responsive to the pen use event, displaying, on a display of the electronic device, a virtual button which performs substantially the same function as a physical button that is part of the electronic device; wherein the physical button comprises at least one of a mechanical switch and an optical switch. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: determining whether the pen is detached from the electronic device; and when the pen is detached from the electronic device, detecting the pen use event. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: determining whether a pen touch on a display of the electronic device is detected; and when detecting the pen touch on the display of the electronic device, detecting the pen use event. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: determining whether the pen is located within a preset threshold distance from the display of the electronic device; and when the pen is located within the preset threshold distance from the display of the electronic device, detecting the pen use event. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, further comprising: determining whether the pen is used in at least one preset region of the display; wherein the virtual button is displayed when it is determined that the pen is used in the at least one preset region of the display; and wherein the virtual button remains hidden when it is determined that the pen is used outside of the at least one preset region. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, further comprising: detecting a pen touch in the at least one preset region of the display; wherein the pen is determined to be used when detecting the pen touch in the at least one threshold region. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, further comprising: determining whether the pen is located within a preset threshold distance from the display; and detecting the pen use in the at least one threshold region when the pen is located within the preset threshold distance from the display. ### Claim 8 (depends on 5) The method of claim 5, wherein the virtual button is displayed in the at least one preset region of the display. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein a shape and a type of the virtual button comprise a figure, a line, or a combination of the figure and the line. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the virtual button is displayed in a region of the display that is selected based on a location of the physical button on the electronic device. ### Claim 11 An electronic device for receiving input via a pen, comprising: a display; a physical button that comprises at least one of a mechanical switch and an optical switch; and a processor configured to: detect a pen use event; and responsive to the pen use event, display, on the display, at least one virtual button which performs substantially the same function as the physical button. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to: determine whether the pen is detached from the electronic device; wherein the pen use event is detected when the pen is detached from the electronic device. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to: detect a pen touch on the display; wherein the pen use event is detected based on the pen having touched the display. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to: determine whether the pen is located within a preset threshold distance from the display; wherein the pen use event is detected based on the pen is found within the preset threshold distance from the display. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to: determine whether the pen is used in at least one preset region of the display; wherein the virtual button is displayed when it is determined that the pen is used in the at least one preset region of the display; and wherein the virtual button remains hidden when it is determined that the pen is used outside of the at least one preset region. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The electronic device of claim 15, wherein the processor is further configured to: detect a pen touch in the at least one preset region of the display; wherein the pen is determined to be used in the at least one preset region of the display based on the pen having touched the at least one preset region of the display. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The electronic device of claim 15, wherein the processor is further configured to: determine whether the pen is located within a preset threshold distance from the display; and wherein the pen is determined to be used in the at least one preset region of the display based on the pen having been found within the preset threshold distance from the display. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) The electronic device of claim 15, wherein the virtual button is displayed in the at least one preset region of the display. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The electronic device of claim 15, wherein a shape and a type of the virtual button comprise a figure, a line, or a combination of the figure and the line. ### Claim 20 (depends on 11) The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the virtual button is displayed in a region of the display that is selected based on a location of the physical button on the electronic device.