# US 9,519,350 B2 · Interface controlling apparatus and method using force > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,519,350 B2 - Document ID: US9519350B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/017,694 - Filed: 2013-09-04 - Published: 2014-01-02 - Granted: 2016-12-13 - Earliest claimed: 2011-09-19 - Assignees: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. - Applicants: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. - Inventors: Bho Ram Lee; Joon Ah Park; Hyun Jeong Lee; Soo Chul Lim; Hyung Kew Lee; Seung Ju Han - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9519350B2 ## CPC - G06F 3/0414: {using force sensing means to determine a position} - G06F 1/1626: {with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]} - G06F 1/1694: {the I/O peripheral being a single or a set of motion sensors for pointer control or gesture input obtained by sensing movements of the portable computer} - G06F 3/017: {Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures (interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883)} - G06F 3/03548: {Sliders, in which the moving part moves in a plane} - G06F 3/0482: Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus - G06F 3/0483: Interaction with page-structured environments, e.g. book metaphor - G06F 3/04847: Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials - G06F 2203/04105: Pressure sensors for measuring the pressure or force exerted on the touch surface without providing the touch position - G06F 2203/04806: Zoom, i.e. interaction techniques or interactors for controlling the zooming operation - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) ## Abstract An interface controlling apparatus and method may generate content control information by analyzing force input information received from at least one force sensor, and may control content based on the content control information. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An interface controlling system, the system comprising: a contact unit configured to receive a lateral force input information relative to a contact surface of the contact unit; a base disposed on one surface of the contact unit; a sensing unit including a force sensor configured to measure the lateral force input information received from the contact unit, wherein the force sensor is laterally disposed between the contact unit and the base; and a content controller configured to generate content control information by analyzing the measured lateral force input information, and to control content, for provision to a user, based on the generated content control information, wherein an elastic substance is laterally disposed between the force sensor and at least one of the contact unit or the base. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the analyzing of the measured lateral force input information includes analyzing a direction of the lateral force input information. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein a first side of the force sensor faces a lateral side of the contact unit. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The system of claim 3, wherein a second side of force sensor faces the base. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the elastic substance is disposed between the contact unit and the force sensor to transfer, to the force sensor, the lateral force input information received from the contact unit. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a feedback layer disposed between the support layer and the sensor layer, the feedback layer comprising a feedback provider configured to generate feedback based on the lateral force input information. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, wherein the feedback provider generates the feedback based upon a determined relationship between the lateral force input information and the controlling of the content by the content controller. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the force sensor is disposed in an opening that is formed between the base and the contact unit, so as to be formed along the circumference of the contact unit. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein the contact unit or the base are formed to have one of an oval shape, an elliptical shape, and a polygonal shape. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein the force sensor is arranged based on one of a continuous arrangement pattern and a discontinuous arrangement pattern. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the contact unit and the force sensor are combined into an integrated mixed layer. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the base has a surface having an uneven portion; and the integrated mixed layer comprises the force sensor disposed sequentially with the contact unit on the uneven portion of the base. ### Claim 13 An interface controlling system, the system comprising: a contact unit; an information receiver configured to receive, from a force sensor, a lateral force input information relative to a contact surface of the system and associated with an input force, wherein the force sensor is laterally disposed between the contact surface and a base, and wherein the base is disposed on one surface of the contact unit; an information analyzer configured to generate content control information by analyzing the lateral force input information; and a content controller configured to control content based on the content control information, wherein an elastic substance is laterally disposed between the force sensor and at least one of the contact unit or the base. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, further comprising plural force sensors to generate the lateral force input information, wherein the information analyzer generates the content control information by analyzing a direction of the lateral force input information. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the information analyzer determines whether the lateral force input information is greater than a reference value set to control the content, and generates the content control information when the lateral force input information is greater than the reference value. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the information analyzer generates the content control information used to determine a scroll direction of a visible area of the content based on the lateral force input information, and the content controller scrolls the visible area of the content based on the content control information. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the information analyzer generates the content control information used to control a visible area of the content to be enlarged or reduced based on a combination of the lateral force input information, and the content controller enlarges or reduces the visible area of the content based on the content control information. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, wherein the information analyzer determines an enlargement rate or a reduction rate of the visible area based on a magnitude of force of the lateral force input information, and generates the content control information to control the visible area of the content to be enlarged or reduced based on the determined rate. ### Claim 19 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the information analyzer generates the content control information used to determine a selection area with respect to a menu, a folder, or a file of the content based on the lateral force input information, and the content controller determines the selection area with respect to the menu, the folder, or the file of the content based on the content control information. ### Claim 20 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the information analyzer generates the content control information used to determine an upper area or a lower area with respect to a menu, a folder, or a file of the content based on a combination of the lateral force input information, and the content controller determines the upper area or the lower area with respect to the menu, the folder, or the file of the content based on the content control information. ### Claim 21 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the information analyzer generates the content control information used to determine a search direction or a search section with respect to multimedia of the content based on the lateral force input information, and the content controller determines the search direction or the search section with respect to the multimedia of the content based on the content control information. ### Claim 22 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the information analyzer generates the content control information used to determine a previous file or a subsequent file with respect to multimedia of the content based on a combination of the lateral force input information, and the content controller determines the previous file or the subsequent file with respect to the multimedia of the content based on the content control information. ### Claim 23 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the information analyzer generates the content control information used to determine a page turning direction with respect to multimedia of the content based on the lateral force input information, and the content controller determines the page turning direction with respect to the multimedia of the content based on the content control information. ### Claim 24 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the information analyzer generates the content control information used to control a front page or a last page of the content to be displayed based on a combination of the lateral force input information, and the content controller controls the front page or the last page of the content to be displayed based on the content control information. ### Claim 25 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the information receiver receives another item of input information, and the information analyzer generates the content control information based on the lateral force input information and the other item of input information. ### Claim 26 (depends on 25) The system of claim 25, wherein the other item of input information comprises at least one of contact input information, acceleration information, angular velocity information, and geomagnetic information. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The system of claim 26, wherein the information analyzer generates the content control information based on the lateral force input information and the contact input information, and the content controller determines a target of the content based on the contact input information and controls the determined target based on the lateral force input information. ### Claim 28 (depends on 26) The system of claim 26, wherein the information analyzer generates the content control information based on the lateral force input information and at least one of the acceleration information, the angular velocity information, and the geomagnetic information, and the content controller moves a target of the content based on at least one of the acceleration information, the angular velocity information, and the geomagnetic information, and changes a size of the target based on the lateral force input information. ### Claim 29 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the lateral force input information comprises at least one of an action point of force that is input to the force sensor, a direction of force, a magnitude of force, and a time duration of force. ### Claim 30 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the information receiver, information analyzer, and content controller are collectively configured in an application processor distinct from one or more integrated circuits that make up a sensing unit that comprises the force sensor. ### Claim 31 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein the force sensor is in a sensor layer formed on a support layer, along with a contact layer and a base layer being formed on the support layer, with the contact unit being configured for receiving the lateral force and a perpendicular force corresponding to the input force. ### Claim 32 (depends on 31) The system of claim 31, wherein the sensor layer and the contact unit are formed in a same layer area above the base layer. ### Claim 33 (depends on 31) The system of claim 31, wherein the sensor layer and the base layer are formed in a same layer area below the contact unit. ### Claim 34 (depends on 33) The system of claim 33, wherein a feedback provision layer is formed between the support layer and the base layer, the feedback provision layer providing haptic feedback based upon the input force. ### Claim 35 (depends on 33) The system of claim 33, wherein a buffer layer is formed between the contact layer and the base layer. ### Claim 36 (depends on 33) The system of claim 33, wherein an unlocking of content, enabling content to be accessed that is not enabled for access when the content is locked, is based upon a sequence of distinctly detected directions of lateral force input information matching an unlocking sequence. ### Claim 37 (depends on 36) The system of claim 36, wherein the force sensor is formed as a home button of a mobile device of the system. ### Claim 38 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein a traversal of a menu, as the content, and selection of a menu item of the menu is performed based upon one or more distinctly detected directions of lateral force input information. ### Claim 39 (depends on 38) The system of claim 38, wherein the force sensor is formed as a home button of a mobile device of the system. ### Claim 40 (depends on 38) The system of claim 38, where the force sensor is included in a remote controller device distinct from a device, of the system, that comprises the content controller. ### Claim 41 (depends on 40) The system of claim 40, wherein the device of the system that includes the content controller is a display unit. ### Claim 42 (depends on 38) The system of claim 38, wherein a movement of the menu or menu item on a display is elastic, such that after a movement of the menu or menu item, based on the one or more distinctly detected directions, the menu or menu item elastically returns to an original position where the menu or menu item was before the movement of the menu or menu item. ### Claim 43 An interface controlling system, comprising: a contact unit configured to receive lateral force input information relative to a contact surface of the contact unit; a base disposed on one surface of the contact unit; a sensing unit disposed along one lateral surface of the contact unit, and provided with a force sensor configured to measure the lateral force input information received from the contact unit, wherein the force sensor extends along an entire length of the lateral surface of the contact unit and is laterally disposed between the contact unit and the base; and a content controller configured to generate content control information by analyzing a direction of the measured lateral force input information, and to control content based on the content control information, wherein an elastic substance is laterally disposed between the force sensor and at least one of the contact unit or the base. ### Claim 44 (depends on 43) The system of claim 43, wherein the force sensor is disposed on the base, which is disposed below the contact unit. ### Claim 45 (depends on 43) The system of claim 43, wherein the elastic substance is disposed between the force sensor and the contact unit to transfer, to the force sensor, the lateral force input information received from the contact unit. ### Claim 46 An interface controlling method, the method comprising: receiving, from a force sensor, a force input information associated with input force that is applied to a contact surface of a contact unit, the force input information being a lateral force input information relative to the contact surface, wherein the force sensor is laterally disposed between the contact unit and a base, wherein the base is disposed on one surface of the contact unit, and wherein an elastic substance is laterally disposed between the force sensor and at least one of the contact unit or the base; generating content control information by analyzing the lateral force input information; and controlling content based on the content control information. ### Claim 47 (depends on 46) The method of claim 46, wherein the analyzing of the lateral force input information comprises analyzing a direction of the lateral force input information. ### Claim 48 (depends on 46) The method of claim 46, wherein the generating comprises: determining whether the lateral force input information has a magnitude that is greater than a reference value set, the reference value being input force value that represents an intended force input has been made to control the content; and generating the content control information when the lateral force input information is greater than the reference value. ### Claim 49 (depends on 46) A non-transitory computer-readable recording medium comprising computer readable code to control a processing device configured to implement the method of claim 46.