Mobile terminal and control method thereof

A method of controlling a mobile terminal, the method comprising:

• switching, via a touch screen, between an inactivated state in which illumination is not applied to the touch screen and an activated state in which illumination is applied to the touch screen;
• and
• releasing, via the controller, a locked state of the mobile terminal and switching the touch screen to the activated state, when a plurality of touch inputs is input in the inactivated state and the plurality of touch inputs matches a predefined pattern,
• wherein the predetermined pattern is initially set using a quadrant image displayed on the touch screen in the activated state,
• wherein touch inputs for setting the predetermined pattern are applied to at least one of quadrant I, II, III and IV included in the quadrant image displayed on the touch screen in the activated state of the touch screen,
• wherein a first touch input included in the plurality of touch inputs in the inactivated state is applied to on the touch screen, and
• wherein quadrant areas on the touch screen for receiving the plurality of touch inputs in the inactivated state change based on a first touch position of the first touch input and a second touch position of a second touch input of the plurality of touch inputs in the inactivated state.

A mobile terminal, comprising:

• a wireless communication unit configured to perform wireless communication;
• a touch screen configured to switch between an inactivated state in which illumination is not applied to the touch screen and an activated state in which illumination is applied to the touch screen;
• and
• a controller configured to:
• drive the touch screen with a lower rate sensing signal for sensing a first touch input than in the activated state such that the first touch input on the touch screen is detectable in the locked state of the mobile terminal and the inactivated state of the touch screen;
• drive the touch screen with a higher rate sensing signal for sensing a second touch input than for sensing the first touch input in the locked state of the mobile terminal and the inactivated state of the touch screen;
• and
• perform a first operation or a second operation based on whether the plurality of touch inputs including the first touch input and the second touch input on the touch screen match a predetermined pattern,
• wherein according to the first operation, the controller is configured to:
• release a locked state of the mobile terminal and switch the touch screen to the activated state, when the plurality of touch inputs on the touch screen in the inactivated state match the predetermined pattern for releasing the locked state of the mobile terminal,
• wherein according to the second operation, the controller is configured to:
• maintain the locked state of the mobile terminal and the inactivated state of the touch screen such that illumination is not applied to the touch screen yet, when the plurality of touch inputs does not match the predetermined pattern;
• and
• output notification information indicating that the plurality of touch inputs does not match the predetermined pattern, while illumination is not applied to the touch screen.