U.S. patent application number 16/561941 was filed with the patent office on 2020-07-30 for terminal device and method of controlling the same.
This patent application is currently assigned to ORDOS YUANSHENG OPTOELECTRONICS CO., LTD.. The applicant listed for this patent is ORDOS YUANSHENG OPTOELECTRONICS CO., LTD. BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD.. Invention is credited to Jigang SUN, Wei SUN, Jieqiong WANG, Shaolei ZONG.
Application Number | 20200245120 16/561941 |
Document ID | 20200245120 / US20200245120 |
Family ID | 1000004334514 |
Filed Date | 2020-07-30 |
Patent Application | download [pdf] |
United States Patent
Application |
20200245120 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
ZONG; Shaolei ; et
al. |
July 30, 2020 |
TERMINAL DEVICE AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE SAME
Abstract
A terminal device and a method of controlling the terminal
device are provided. The terminal device includes: a terminal body;
a pressure sensor arranged at a lateral side of the terminal body;
and an execution circuit connected to an output end of the pressure
sensor and configured to execute a predetermined operation when a
pressure detected by the pressure sensor is not smaller than a
predetermined pressure threshold.
Inventors: |
ZONG; Shaolei; (Beijing,
CN) ; SUN; Wei; (Beijing, CN) ; WANG;
Jieqiong; (Beijing, CN) ; SUN; Jigang;
(Beijing, CN) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
ORDOS YUANSHENG OPTOELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD. |
Ordos
Beijing |
|
CN
CN |
|
|
Assignee: |
ORDOS YUANSHENG OPTOELECTRONICS
CO., LTD.
Ordos
CN
BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD.
Beijing
CN
|
Family ID: |
1000004334514 |
Appl. No.: |
16/561941 |
Filed: |
September 5, 2019 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
1/1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
H04W 4/90 20180201; G08B
6/00 20130101; H04M 1/0202 20130101; H04M 2250/12 20130101 |
International
Class: |
H04W 4/90 20060101
H04W004/90; H04M 1/02 20060101 H04M001/02; G08B 6/00 20060101
G08B006/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 25, 2019 |
CN |
201910073445.5 |
Claims
1. A terminal device, comprising: a terminal body; a pressure
sensor arranged at a lateral side of the terminal body; and an
execution circuit connected to an output end of the pressure sensor
and configured to execute a predetermined operation when a pressure
detected by the pressure sensor is not smaller than a predetermined
pressure threshold.
2. The terminal device according to claim 1, wherein there are at
least two pressure sensors, and at least one pressure sensor is
arranged at each of two opposite lateral sides of the terminal
body.
3. The terminal device according to claim 2, wherein the execution
circuit is further configured to execute the predetermined
operation when the pressure detected by at least one pressure
sensor at each of the two opposite lateral sides of the terminal
body is not smaller than the predetermined pressure threshold.
4. The terminal device according to claim 1, further comprising a
communication circuit connected to the execution circuit, wherein
the execution circuit is further configured to control the
communication circuit to send an alarm signal, and the
communication circuit is configured to make an emergency call
and/or send alarm information.
5. The terminal device according to claim 4, further comprising a
feedback circuit connected to the communication circuit and the
execution circuit, and configured to control the communication
circuit to send the alarm signal continuously when the alarm signal
has been sent but no input for interrupting the alarm signal has
been detected.
6. The terminal device according to claim 4, further comprising a
vibration circuit configured to send a vibration prompt signal
after the communication circuit has sent the alarm signal.
7. The terminal device according to claim 1, wherein the pressure
sensor comprises four strain gauges connected in an end-to-end
manner to form a bridge, a connection end is formed between two
adjacent strain gauges, the bridge comprises four connection ends,
the four connection ends comprise a first connection end, a second
connection end, a third connection end and a fourth connection end,
the first connection end and the third connection end are connected
to two ends of an excitation power source respectively, and the
second connection end and the fourth connection end are connected
to two output ends of the pressure sensor respectively.
8. The terminal device according to claim 1, further comprising a
signal amplification circuit, an input end of which is connected to
the output end of the pressure sensor, and an output end of which
is connected to an input end of the execution circuit.
9. The terminal device according to claim 2, wherein the pressure
sensor comprises four strain gauges connected in an end-to-end
manner to form a bridge, a connection end is formed between two
adjacent strain gauges, the bridge comprises four connection ends,
the four connection ends comprise a first connection end, a second
connection end, a third connection end and a fourth connection end,
the first connection end and the third connection end are connected
to two ends of an excitation power source respectively, and the
second connection end and the fourth connection end are connected
to two output ends of the pressure sensor respectively.
10. The terminal device according to claim 2, further comprising a
signal amplification circuit, an input end of which is connected to
the output end of the pressure sensor, and an output end of which
is connected to an input end of the execution circuit.
11. The terminal device according to claim 8, wherein the signal
amplification circuit comprises a first operational amplifier, a
second operational amplifier, a third operational amplifier, a
first resistor, a second resistor, a third resistor, a fourth
resistor, a fifth resistor, a sixth resistor and a variable
resistor, wherein an input end of the signal amplification circuit
is connected to an in-phase input end of the first operational
amplifier and an in-phase input end of the second operational
amplifier, an output end of the first operational amplifier is
connected to a first end of the first resistor and a first end of
the second resistor, a reversed-phase input end of the first
operational amplifier is connected to a second end of the second
resistor, an output end of the second operational amplifier is
connected to a first end of the third resistor and a first end of
the fourth resistor, a reversed-phase input end of the second
operational amplifier is connected to a second end of the fourth
resistor, a first end of the variable resistor is connected to the
second end of the second resistor, a second end of the variable
resistor is connected to the second end of the fourth resistor, a
second end of the first resistor forms a first output end of the
signal amplification circuit, the second end of the first resistor
is further connected to a first end of the fifth resistor, a second
end of the fifth resistor is connected to a ground line, a second
end of the third resistor forms a second output end of the signal
amplification circuit, the second end of the third resistor is
further connected to a first end of the sixth resistor, an in-phase
input end of the third operational amplifier is connected to the
first output end of the signal amplification circuit, a
reversed-phase input end of the third operational amplifier is
connected to the second output end of the signal amplification
circuit, and an output end of the third operational amplifier is
connected to a third output end of the signal amplification
circuit.
12. A method of controlling the terminal device according to claim
1, comprising executing a predetermined operation when a pressure
detected by the pressure sensor is not smaller than a predetermined
pressure threshold.
13. The method according to claim 12, wherein when there are at
least two pressure sensors and at least one pressure sensor is
arranged at each of two opposite lateral sides of the terminal
body, the performing the predetermined operation when the pressure
detected by the pressure sensor is not smaller than the
predetermined pressure threshold comprises: executing the
predetermined operation when the pressure detected by the at least
one pressure sensor at each of the two opposite lateral sides of
the terminal body is not smaller than the predetermined pressure
threshold.
14. The method according to claim 12, wherein when the terminal
device further comprises a communication circuit connected to the
execution circuit, the executing the predetermined operation
comprises: controlling, by the execution circuit, the communication
circuit to send an alarm signal, and the controlling, by the
execution circuit, the communication circuit to send the alarm
signal comprises controlling, by the execution circuit, the
communication circuit to make an emergency call and/or send alarm
information.
15. The method according to claim 14, wherein subsequent to
controlling, by the execution circuit, the communication circuit to
send the alarm signal, the method further comprises sending a
vibration prompt signal.
16. The method according to claim 14, wherein when the terminal
device further comprises a feedback circuit connected to the
communication circuit and the execution circuit, subsequent to
controlling, by the execution circuit, the communication circuit to
send the alarm signal, the method further comprises: controlling,
by the feedback circuit, the communication circuit to send the
alarm signal continuously when the alarm signal has been sent but
no input for interrupting the alarm signal has been detected.
17. The method according to claim 12, wherein the predetermined
pressure threshold at least comprises a first pressure threshold
and a second pressure threshold greater than the first pressure
threshold, and the predetermined operation at least comprises a
first predetermined operation and a second predetermined operation
different from the first predetermined operation, wherein the
executing the predetermined operation when the pressure detected by
the pressure sensor is not smaller than the predetermined pressure
threshold comprises: when the pressure detected by the pressure
sensor is not smaller than the first pressure threshold and not
greater than the second pressure threshold, executing the first
predetermined operation; and when the pressure detected by the
pressure sensor is not smaller than the second pressure threshold,
executing the second predetermined operation.
18. The method according to claim 13, wherein the predetermined
pressure threshold at least comprises a first pressure threshold
and a second pressure threshold greater than the first pressure
threshold, and the predetermined operation at least comprises a
first predetermined operation and a second predetermined operation
different from the first predetermined operation, wherein the
executing the predetermined operation when the pressure detected by
the pressure sensor is not smaller than the predetermined pressure
threshold comprises: when the pressure detected by the pressure
sensor is not smaller than the first pressure threshold and not
greater than the second pressure threshold, executing the first
predetermined operation; and when the pressure detected by the
pressure sensor is not smaller than the second pressure threshold,
executing the second predetermined operation.
19. A terminal device, comprising a processor, a memory, and a
computer program stored in the memory and executed by the
processor, wherein the processor is configured to execute the
computer program so as to implement the method according to claim
12.
20. A non-transient computer-readable storage medium storing
therein a computer program, wherein the computer program is
executed by a processor so as to implement the method according to
claim 12.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION
[0001] This application claims priority of the Chinese Patent
Application No. 201910073445.5 filed on Jan. 25, 2019, which is
incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
TECHNICAL FIELD
[0002] The present disclosure relates to the field of communication
technology, in particular to a terminal device and a method of
controlling the terminal device.
BACKGROUND
[0003] Along with the popularization of such terminal devices as
mobile phones, the relationship between these terminal devices and
the people's lives has become closer and closer. However, in use,
usually the terminal devices, such as the mobile phones, need to be
unlocked for calling various functions, so as to prevent the
occurrence of accidentally touch. In some cases, e.g., when an
emergency call is to be made, a user needs to perform many
operations, so it is inconvenient for the user.
SUMMARY
[0004] In one aspect, the present disclosure provides in some
embodiments a terminal device, including: a terminal body; a
pressure sensor arranged at a lateral side of the terminal body;
and an execution circuit connected to an output end of the pressure
sensor and configured to execute a predetermined operation when a
pressure detected by the pressure sensor is not smaller than a
predetermined pressure threshold.
[0005] In a possible embodiment of the present disclosure, there
are at least two pressure sensors, and at least one pressure sensor
is arranged at each of two opposite lateral sides of the terminal
body.
[0006] In a possible embodiment of the present disclosure, the
execution circuit is further configured to execute the
predetermined operation when the pressure detected by at least one
pressure sensor at each of the two opposite lateral sides of the
terminal body is not smaller than the predetermined pressure
threshold.
[0007] In a possible embodiment of the present disclosure, the
terminal device further includes a communication circuit connected
to the execution circuit. The execution circuit is further
configured to control the communication circuit to send an alarm
signal. The communication circuit is configured to make an
emergency call and/or send alarm information.
[0008] In a possible embodiment of the present disclosure, the
terminal device further includes a feedback circuit connected to
the communication circuit and the execution circuit, and configured
to control the communication circuit to continue to send the alarm
signal when the alarm signal has been sent but no input for
interrupting the alarm signal has been detected.
[0009] In a possible embodiment of the present disclosure, the
terminal device further includes a vibration circuit configured to
send a vibration prompt signal after the communication circuit has
sent the alarm signal.
[0010] In a possible embodiment of the present disclosure, the
pressure sensor includes four strain gauges connected in an
end-to-end manner to form a bridge. A connection end is formed
between two adjacent strain gauges, and the bridge includes four
connection ends. The four connection ends include a first
connection end, a second connection end, a third connection end and
a fourth connection end. The first connection end and the third
connection end are connected to two ends of an excitation power
source respectively, and the second connection end and the fourth
connection end are connected to two output ends of the pressure
sensor respectively.
[0011] In a possible embodiment of the present disclosure, the
terminal device further includes a signal amplification circuit, an
input end of which is connected to the output end of the pressure
sensor, and an output end of which is connected to an input end of
the execution circuit.
[0012] In a possible embodiment of the present disclosure, the
signal amplification circuit includes a first operational
amplifier, a second operational amplifier, a third operational
amplifier, a first resistor, a second resistor, a third resistor, a
fourth resistor, a fifth resistor, a sixth resistor and a variable
resistor. An input end of the signal amplification circuit is
connected to an in-phase input end of the first operational
amplifier and an in-phase input end of the second operational
amplifier, an output end of the first operational amplifier is
connected to a first end of the first resistor and a first end of
the second resistor, a reversed-phase input end of the first
operational amplifier is connected to a second end of the second
resistor, an output end of the second operational amplifier is
connected to a first end of the third resistor and a first end of
the fourth resistor, a reversed-phase input end of the second
operational amplifier is connected to a second end of the fourth
resistor, a first end of the variable resistor is connected to the
second end of the second resistor, a second end of the variable
resistor is connected to the second end of the fourth resistor, a
second end of the first resistor forms a first output end of the
signal amplification circuit, the second end of the first resistor
is further connected to a first end of the fifth resistor, a second
end of the fifth resistor is connected to a ground line, a second
end of the third resistor forms a second output end of the signal
amplification circuit, the second end of the third resistor is
further connected to a first end of the sixth resistor, an in-phase
input end of the third operational amplifier is connected to the
first output end of the signal amplification circuit, a
reversed-phase input end of the third operational amplifier is
connected to the second output end of the signal amplification
circuit, and an output end of the third operational amplifier is
connected to a third output end of the signal amplification
circuit.
[0013] In another aspect, the present disclosure provides in some
embodiments a method for controlling the above-mentioned terminal
device, including executing a predetermined operation when a
pressure detected by the pressure sensor is not smaller than a
predetermined pressure threshold.
[0014] In a possible embodiment of the present disclosure, when
there are at least two pressure sensors and at least one pressure
sensor is arranged at each of two opposite lateral sides of the
terminal body, the performing the predetermined operation when the
pressure detected by the pressure sensor is not smaller than the
predetermined pressure threshold includes, when the pressure
detected by the at least one pressure sensor at each of the two
opposite lateral sides of the terminal body is not smaller than the
predetermined pressure threshold, executing the predetermined
operation.
[0015] In a possible embodiment of the present disclosure, when the
terminal device further includes a communication circuit connected
to the execution circuit, the executing the predetermined operation
includes controlling, by the execution circuit, the communication
circuit to send an alarm signal. The controlling, by the execution
circuit, the communication circuit to send the alarm signal
includes controlling, by the execution circuit, the communication
circuit to make an emergency call and/or send alarm
information.
[0016] In a possible embodiment of the present disclosure,
subsequent to controlling, by the execution circuit, the
communication circuit to send the alarm signal, the method further
includes sending a vibration prompt signal.
[0017] In a possible embodiment of the present disclosure, when the
terminal device further includes a feedback circuit connected to
the communication circuit and the execution circuit, subsequent to
controlling, by the execution circuit, the communication circuit to
send the alarm signal, the method further includes controlling, by
the feedback circuit, the communication circuit to continue to send
the alarm signal when the alarm signal has been sent but no input
for interrupting the alarm signal has been detected.
[0018] In a possible embodiment of the present disclosure, the
predetermined pressure threshold at least includes a first pressure
threshold and a second pressure threshold greater than the first
pressure threshold, and the predetermined operation at least
includes a first predetermined operation and a second predetermined
operation different from the first predetermined operation. The
executing the predetermined operation when the pressure detected by
the pressure sensor is not smaller than the predetermined pressure
threshold includes: when the pressure detected by the pressure
sensor is not smaller than the first pressure threshold and not
greater than the second pressure threshold, executing the first
predetermined operation; and when the pressure detected by the
pressure sensor is not smaller than the second pressure threshold,
executing the second predetermined operation.
[0019] In yet another aspect, the present disclosure provides in
some embodiments a terminal device, including a processor, a
memory, and a computer program stored in the memory and executed by
the processor. The processor is configured to execute the computer
program so as to implement the above-mentioned method.
[0020] In still yet another aspect, the present disclosure provides
in some embodiments a computer-readable storage medium storing
therein a computer program. The computer program is executed by a
processor so as to implement the above-mentioned method.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0021] In order to illustrate the technical solutions of the
present disclosure or the related art in a clearer manner, the
drawings desired for the present disclosure or the related art will
be described hereinafter briefly. Obviously, the following drawings
merely relate to some embodiments of the present disclosure, and
based on these drawings, a person skilled in the art may obtain the
other drawings without any creative effort.
[0022] FIG. 1 is a schematic view showing a terminal device
according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0023] FIG. 2 is another schematic view showing the terminal device
according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0024] FIG. 3 is a circuit diagram of a pressure sensor according
to one embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0025] FIG. 4 is a circuit diagram of a signal amplification
circuit according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0026] FIG. 5 is a schematic view showing the pressure sensor
according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0027] FIG. 6 is yet another schematic view showing the terminal
device according to one embodiment of the present disclosure;
[0028] FIG. 7 is a flow chart of a controlling method according to
one embodiment of the present disclosure; and
[0029] FIG. 8 is another flow chart of the controlling method
according to one embodiment of the present disclosure.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0030] In order to make the objects, the technical solutions and
the advantages of the present disclosure more apparent, the present
disclosure will be described hereinafter in a clear and complete
manner in conjunction with the drawings and embodiments. Obviously,
the following embodiments merely relate to a part of, rather than
all of, the embodiments of the present disclosure, and based on
these embodiments, a person skilled in the art may, without any
creative effort, obtain the other embodiments, which also fall
within the scope of the present disclosure.
[0031] The present disclosure provides in some embodiments a
terminal device. As shown in FIG. 1, in a possible embodiment of
the present disclosure, the terminal device may include a terminal
body and a pressure sensor 110 arranged at a lateral side of the
terminal body.
[0032] The terminal device may further include an execution circuit
620 connected to the pressure sensor 110 and configured to execute
a predetermined operation when a pressure detected by the pressure
sensor 110 is not smaller than a predetermined pressure
threshold.
[0033] The terminal device may include, but not limited to, a
mobile phone, a flat-panel computer, an eBook reader, an MP3
player, an MP4 player, a digital camera, a laptop computer, a
wearable device or a remote controller.
[0034] The predetermined operation executed by the execution
circuit 620 may be an operation set by the terminal device itself,
or an operation set in accordance with an input made by a user.
During the implementation, upon the detection of the pressure, the
pressure sensor 110 may generate a corresponding pressure signal
and transmit it to the execution circuit 620. Upon the receipt of
the pressure signal from the pressure sensor 110, the execution
circuit 620 may perform the predetermined operation.
[0035] The execution circuit 620 may include a microprocessor, a
control chip or a control circuit.
[0036] When the execution circuit 620 includes the microprocessor,
an output end of the pressure sensor 110 may be connected to the
microprocessor. Upon the detection of the pressure signal from the
pressure sensor 110, the microprocessor may generate a control
signal corresponding to the predetermined operation, and control
the terminal device to perform a corresponding operation.
[0037] When the execution circuit 620 includes the control chip or
the control circuit, the execution circuit 620 may set a triggering
level for the control chip or the control circuit in accordance
with the predetermined pressure threshold.
[0038] For example, the control chip or the control circuit is
configured to trigger and execute the predetermined operation when
the triggering level is met. In addition, the triggering level may
be a high level, and the control chip or control circuit may not be
triggered at a low level. When the pressure detected by the
pressure sensor 110 is smaller than the predetermined pressure
threshold, a level of the pressure signal may not reach the
triggering level. When the pressure detected by the pressure sensor
110 is not smaller than the predetermined pressure threshold, the
level of the pressure signal may be greater than or equal to the
triggering level, so the control chip or the control circuit may be
triggered so as to execute the predetermined operation when the
pressure detected by the pressure sensor 110 is greater than the
predetermined pressure threshold.
[0039] When the terminal device is a mobile phone, the execution
circuit is configured to perform the predetermined operation which
includes, but not limited to, unlocking a screen of the mobile
phone, activating a certain application, making a phone call, and
sending a short message. Taking a phone call as an example, when
the mobile phone is a screen-off or screen-on state and the
pressure detected by the pressure sensor 110 is greater than the
predetermined pressure threshold, the mobile phone may directly
make a phone call.
[0040] For different terminal devices, corresponding predetermined
operations may be set, and the predetermined operation may be
directly executed through controlling the pressure sensor 110, so
as to simplify a control procedure.
[0041] The predetermined pressure threshold may be set according to
the practical need. Usually, the predetermined pressure threshold
may be set in accordance with a pressure generated by a
conventional operation. For example, for the terminal device such
as the mobile phone or the flat-panel computer, the predetermined
pressure threshold may be set in accordance with a pressure
generated when the terminal device is held by a user's hand.
Obviously, a range of the predetermined pressure threshold may be
adjusted in some special cases.
[0042] According to the terminal device in the embodiments of the
present disclosure, through the pressure sensor 110 and the
execution circuit 620, when the pressure has been detected by the
pressure sensor 110 and the corresponding predetermined operation
has been configured, the execution circuit 620 may execute the
predetermined operation. As a result, it is able to simplify the
control procedure, and facilitate the use thereof.
[0043] In another possible embodiment of the present disclosure, as
shown in FIG. 2, there may exist at least two pressure sensors 110,
and each pressure sensor 110 may consist of one or more pressure
sensing units. For example, each pressure sensing unit may be a
strain gauge, or a piezoelectric ceramic sheet. Each pressure
sensor 110 may merely include one pressure sensing unit. In order
to improve the pressure detection accuracy, a plurality of pressure
sensing units may be integrated into one pressure sensor 110.
[0044] At least one pressure sensor 110 may be arranged at each of
two opposite lateral sides of the terminal body. It should be
appreciated that, the terminal body may have two opposite lateral
sides, e.g., a left lateral signal and a right lateral side. One or
more pressure sensors 110 may be arranged at each of the lateral
sides.
[0045] When the terminal device is the mobile phone, the mobile
phone may include a display panel 121, and some buttons, e.g., a
volume button 123 and an on/off button 124, may be arranged on a
middle frame 122 of the mobile phone.
[0046] The lateral sides of the mobile phone may refer to the
middle frame 122 in FIG. 2, and at least one pressure sensor 110
may be arranged at each of the two opposite lateral sides of the
mobile phone. In this regard, during the implementation, the
pressure signal may be detected through any of the pressure sensors
110, so as to facilitate the operation.
[0047] In a possible embodiment of the present disclosure, when at
least two pressure sensors 110 are arranged on the terminal body of
the terminal device and at least one pressure sensor 110 is
arranged at each of the two opposite lateral sides of the terminal
body, the execution circuit 620 is further configured to execute
the predetermined operation when the pressure detected by at least
one pressure sensor 110 at each of the two opposite lateral sides
of the terminal body is not smaller than the predetermined pressure
threshold.
[0048] It should be appreciated that, at this time, the
predetermined operation may be executed merely when the pressure
has been detected by the pressure sensor 110 at each of the two
opposite lateral sides of the terminal body.
[0049] It should be appreciated that, in use, when the terminal
device, e.g., the mobile phone, is placed into a bag, the pressure
sensor 110 may be touched accidently. However, as compared with a
situation where the pressure sensor 110 at one lateral side is
touched accidently, the probability of touching the pressure
sensors 110 at both the two lateral sides at a pressure greater
than the predetermined pressure threshold is very small. Hence, the
pressure detected by the pressure sensor 110 at a single lateral
side may probably be generated due to the accident touch, but the
pressures detected by the pressure sensors at both of the two
lateral sides may probably be generated due to the user's
operation.
[0050] Through executing the predetermined operation merely when
the pressure detected by at least one pressure sensor 110 at each
of the two opposite lateral sides of terminal body is not smaller
than the predetermined pressure threshold, it is able to prevent
the execution of the predetermined operation due to the accident
touch, thereby to improve the accuracy during the use of the
terminal device.
[0051] In a possible embodiment of the present disclosure, the
terminal device may further include a communication circuit 640
connected to the execution circuit 620. The execution circuit 620
is further configured to control the communication circuit 640 to
send an alarm signal. To be specific, the communication circuit 640
is configured to make an emergency call and/or send alarm
information.
[0052] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the terminal
device is configured to rapidly send the alarm signal in accordance
with the pressure detected by the pressure sensor 110. When the
user needs to make an emergency call rapidly in the case of danger,
it is merely necessary for the user to press the pressure sensor
110. The operation is relatively simple, so it is able to prevent
the user from operating the terminal device not calmly in the case
of a danger due to being nervous, or prevent the user's behavior of
making the emergency call from being exposed.
[0053] To be specific, the user may make a local emergency call
normally and then communicate with a receptionist. Also, the user
may make the emergency call and then play a previously-recorded
audio file including information about the user as well as
information about a current position. The information about the
current position may be acquired through calling positioning
software or a positioning circuit 630, and then sent to the
receptionist through voice. The positioning software may be known
in the art, i.e., map software. The positioning circuit 630 may
include a Beidou positioning system, or a Global Positioning System
(GPS).
[0054] The alarm information may be sent to a warning platform via
short messages or communication software, and the alarm information
may also include the information about the user and the information
about the current position. The information about the current
position may be provided by the positioning software or the
positioning circuit 630. Specifically, the desired information may
be provided in the form of words or pictures.
[0055] During the implementation, the user may merely make the
emergency call, or merely send the alarm information, or make the
emergency call and send the alarm information simultaneously, so as
to send the alarm signal rapidly.
[0056] In a possible embodiment of the present disclosure, the
terminal device may further include a feedback circuit 650
connected to the communication circuit 640 and the execution
circuit 620, and configured to control the communication circuit
640 to send the alarm signal continuously when the alarm signal has
been sent but no input for interrupting the alarm signal has been
detected.
[0057] After the user has sent the alarm signal in the case of
danger, the user's position may change. For example, after the user
has met a criminal and sent the alarm signal through the terminal
device, the user may flee the scene. Hence, the information about
the user's position carried in the alarm signal may not the
information about a current position of the user. Hence, when the
user does not interrupt the alarm signal, the feedback circuit 650
may control the communication circuit 640, directly or via the
execution circuit 620, to send the alarm signal continuously.
[0058] When the alarm signal is sent continuously, the information
about the user's position may be updated, so as to provide
up-to-date information about the user, e.g., up-to-date position
information. The alarm signal may be interrupted after the user has
been out of danger, e.g., after the police has arrived and the
user's safety is ensured.
[0059] Hence, the alarm signal may be sent continuously merely
after the alarm signal has been sent manually for the first time,
so as to continuously update the information about the user without
any additional operation.
[0060] In a possible embodiment of the present disclosure, the
terminal device may further include a vibration circuit configured
to send a vibration prompt signal after the communication circuit
640 has sent the alarm signal, e.g., has made the emergency call
and/or sent the alarm information.
[0061] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the vibration
circuit may be provided so as to prompt the user that the alarm
signal has been sent successfully. After the alarm information has
been sent successfully, the vibration prompt signal may be sent, so
as to prompt the user that the alarm signal has been sent
successfully. The vibration circuit may be provided in the form of
a new vibration motor or a vibration motor existing in the terminal
device. As compared with voice or ringtone, it is able to ensure
the user's security in some emergency cases through the vibration
prompt signal.
[0062] In addition, when the alarm signal has been sent indeed due
to accident touch, the user may also be prompted that the accident
touch occurs through the vibration prompt signal, so the user may
interrupt the alarm signal in time.
[0063] In a possible embodiment of the present disclosure, as shown
in FIG. 3, the pressure sensor 110 may include four strain gauges,
i.e., a first strain gauge 111, a second strain gauge 112, a third
strain gauge 113 and a fourth strain gauge 114, which may be
connected in an end-to-end manner to form a bridge.
[0064] After the formation of the bridge, every two opposite strain
gauges may be parallel to each other, and every two adjacent strain
gauges may be angled relative to each other at an angle greater
than 0.degree. and smaller than 180.degree.. Usually, for ease of
calculation, the two adjacent strain gauges may be perpendicular to
each other.
[0065] A connection end may be formed between every two adjacent
strain gauges, so the bridge may include four connection ends,
i.e., a first connection end 115, a second connection end 116, a
third connection end 117 and a fourth connection end 118. The first
connection end 115 and the third connection end 117 may be
connected to two ends of an excitation power source respectively,
and the excitation power source is configured to provide an
excitation voltage E. The second connection end 116 and the fourth
connection end 118 may be connected to two output ends of the
pressure sensor 110 respectively, and each output end of the
pressure sensor 110 is configured to output a pressure signal U. In
other words, the four strain gauges may form a Wheatstone
bridge.
[0066] The four strain gauges may be different from each other.
However, for ease of calculation, the four strain gauges may be the
same, i.e., they may have a same resistance and same strain
sensitivity when a strain is 0.
[0067] The two opposite strain gauges extend in a same direction,
so same deformation may occur, i.e., they may have a same
resistance variation. When a pressure is applied in a specific
direction, the resistance variations of the two adjacent strain
gauges may have an equal size but may be opposite to each other. To
be specific, when a resistance of each of the first strain gauge
111 and the third strain gauge 113 is incremented by .DELTA.R, a
resistance of each of the second strain gauge 112 and the fourth
strain gauge 114 may be decremented by .DELTA.R.
[0068] Hence, for the pressure sensor 110, U=E*.DELTA.R/R, where U
represents an output voltage (i.e., the pressure signal) from the
pressure sensor 110, E represents the excitation voltage from the
excitation power source and has a constant value, .DELTA.R
represents the resistance variation, and R represents an original
resistance of each strain gauge and has a constant value.
[0069] The larger the pressure applied to the pressure sensor 110
is, the larger the strain detected by each strain gauge is, and the
larger the resistance variation .DELTA.R of each strain gauge is.
Because the excitation voltage E and the original resistance R of
each strain gauge each have a constant value, a larger output
voltage U may be outputted by the pressure sensor 110 when the
resistance variation .DELTA.R is larger.
[0070] Based on the above calculation and analysis, the larger the
pressure is, the larger the output voltage UE is. Hence, whether
the pressure detected by the pressure sensor 110 is greater than
the predetermined pressure threshold may be determined through
determining whether the output voltage U from the pressure sensor
is greater than a predetermined voltage threshold. When the output
voltage U from the pressure sensor is greater than the
predetermined voltage threshold, it means that the pressure
detected by the pressure sensor is greater than the predetermined
pressure threshold, and when U is smaller than the predetermined
voltage threshold, it means that the pressure detected by the
pressure sensor is smaller than the predetermined pressure
threshold.
[0071] In a possible embodiment of the present disclosure, the
pressure sensor 110 may include a substrate and four strain
patterns on the substrate, and each strain pattern may form a
strain gauge.
[0072] During the implementation, an elastic substrate may be
provided at first, and then the strain patterns may be formed on
the elastic substrate through sputtering or evaporation. Each
strain pattern may be made of a semiconductor material or a metal
material. In this regard, each strain pattern may form a strain
gauge. Then, the stain gauges may be connected to each other via a
conductive structure.
[0073] When the substrate is deformed due to a pressure applied
thereto, each strain gauge may be deformed too, and the resistance
of the strain gauge may change too. In this regard, it is able to
detect the pressure applied to the substrate.
[0074] In a possible embodiment of the present disclosure, the
terminal device may further include a signal amplification circuit
610, an input end of which is connected to the output end of the
pressure sensor 110, and an output end of which is connected to an
input end of the execution circuit 620.
[0075] The signal amplification circuit 610 is configured to
amplify the output voltage from the pressure sensor 110. Usually,
the output voltage from the pressure sensor 110 is at a millivolt
(mV) level, so a relatively large measurement error may probably
occur. Hence, the output voltage from the pressure sensor 110 may
be amplified by the signal amplification circuit 610, and then the
amplified output voltage may be compared with the predetermined
voltage threshold, so as to determine whether the pressure detected
by the pressure sensor is greater than the predetermined pressure
threshold, thereby to improve the measurement accuracy.
[0076] In a possible embodiment of the present disclosure, as shown
in FIG. 4, the signal amplification circuit 610 may include a first
operational amplifier 141, a second operational amplifier 142, a
third operational amplifier 143, a first resistor 131, a second
resistor 132, a third resistor 133, a fourth resistor 134, a fifth
resistor 135, a sixth resistor 136 and a variable resistor 137.
[0077] An input end of the signal amplification circuit 610 may be
connected to an in-phase input end of the first operational
amplifier 141 and an in-phase input end of the second operational
amplifier 142.
[0078] An output end of the first operational amplifier 141 may be
connected to a first end of the first resistor 131 and a first end
of the second resistor 132, and a reversed-phase input end of the
first operational amplifier 141 may be connected to a second end of
the second resistor 132.
[0079] An output end of the second operational amplifier 142 may be
connected to a first end of the third resistor 133 and a first end
of the fourth resistor 134, and a reversed-phase input end of the
second operational amplifier 142 may be connected to a second end
of the fourth resistor 134.
[0080] A first end of the variable resistor 137 may be connected to
the second end of the second resistor 132, and a second end of the
variable resistor 137 may be connected to the second end of the
fourth resistor 134.
[0081] A second end of the first resistor 131 may form a first
output end 151 of the signal amplification circuit 610, the second
end of the first resistor 131 may be further connected to a first
end of the fifth resistor 135, and a second end of the fifth
resistor 135 may be connected to a ground line.
[0082] A second end of the third resistor 133 may form a second
output end 152 of the signal amplification circuit 610, and the
second end of the third resistor 133 may be further connected to a
first end of the sixth resistor 136.
[0083] An in-phase input end of the third operational amplifier 143
may be connected to the first output end 151 of the signal
amplification circuit 610, a reversed-phase input end of the third
operational amplifier 143 may be connected to the second output end
152 of the signal amplification circuit 610, and an output end of
the third operational amplifier 143 may be connected to a third
output end 153 of the signal amplification circuit 610.
[0084] For the signal amplification circuit 610,
U1-U2=(R2+R4+Rw)Uin/Rw. When R5=R6=Rx and R1=R3=Ry,
Uo=-(Rx/Ry)*(Uo1-Uo2)=-(Rx/Ry)*(R2+R3+Rw)*Uin/Rw, and when R2=R3=R,
Uo=-Rx/Ry*(1+2R/Rw)*Uin, where U1 and U2 represent the output
voltages from the first output end 151 and the second output end
152 respectively, R1, R2, R3, R4, R5 and R6 represent resistances
of the first resistor 131, the second resistor 132, the third
resistor 133, the fourth resistor 134, the fifth resistor 135 and
the sixth resistor 136 respectively, Rw represents a resistance of
the variable resistor 137, and Uin represents an input voltage
applied to the input end, i.e., the pressure signal applied from
the output end of the pressure sensor 110 to the signal
amplification circuit 610.
[0085] Based on the above equations, when the Rx, Ry and R each
have a constant value and the output voltage Uin from the pressure
sensor 110 has a value based on the pressure, Uo may be a function
related to Rw, so Uo may be adjusted through adjusting the
resistance of Rw. In other words, an amplification factor may be
adjusted through adjusting Rw. When Rw has been adjusted to a
specific value, Uo may have a value merely related to Uin.
[0086] For the signal amplification circuit 610, the first
operational amplifier 141 and the second operational amplifier 142
may form a differential amplifier, so as to acquire a relatively
high input impedance, thereby to suppress common-mode interference.
The output voltage may be further amplified in a reversed-phase
manner through the third operational amplifier 143, so it is able
to amplify the output voltage to be at a volt level.
[0087] Obviously, the structure of the signal amplification circuit
610 will not be particularly defined herein. Also, a known signal
amplification circuit in the art or a signal amplification circuit
that may occur in future may also be adopted to amplify the signal
collected by the pressure sensor 110.
[0088] In a possible embodiment of the present disclosure, the
terminal body may include a housing. As shown in FIG. 5, an opening
160 penetrating through the housing may be provided at a lateral
side of the housing, and the pressure sensor 110 may be received in
the opening 160.
[0089] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, through
receiving the pressure sensor 110 in the opening 160 at the lateral
side of the housing, it is able to conveniently determine the
position of the pressure sensor 110, and facilitate the operation
when the pressure sensor 110 is touched by the user. For example,
it is merely necessary for the user to press the pressure sensor
110 in the case of danger without exposing the mobile phone to a
criminal, thereby to send the alarm signal in a hidden manner.
[0090] As shown in FIG. 6, generally, a working procedure of the
terminal device may include generating, by the pressure sensor 110,
the pressure signal (i.e., an output signal) upon the detection of
the pressure, transmitting, by the pressure sensor 110, the
pressure signal to the signal amplification circuit 610,
amplifying, by the signal amplification circuit 610, the pressure
signal, transmitting, by the signal amplification circuit 610, the
amplified pressure signal to the execution circuit 620, and then
executing, by the execution circuit 620, the predetermined
operation.
[0091] When the predetermined operation includes sending the alarm
information, the execution circuit 620 may control the
communication circuit 640 to send the alarm information.
[0092] When the sending the alarm information includes making the
emergency call and sending an alarm short message, the
communication circuit 640 may include a phone-call alarm
sub-circuit 641 and a short-message alarm sub-circuit 642. The
execution circuit 620 is further configured to control the
phone-call alarm sub-circuit 641 and the short-message alarm
sub-circuit 642 to send the alarm information via a phone call and
a short message respectively.
[0093] The terminal device may further include a positioning
circuit 630. When sending the alarm information, position
information acquired by the positioning circuit 630 may also be
sent, so as to determine a position of the user.
[0094] In addition, the terminal device may further include a
feedback circuit 650 connected to the communication circuit 640.
When the user has not been out of danger and the alarm signal has
not been interrupted, the feedback circuit 650 is configured to
send the alarm signal continuously through the communication
circuit 640. When sending the alarm signal continuously, the
position information about the user may be updated, until the user
has been out of danger and the alarm signal has been
interrupted.
[0095] The present disclosure further provides in some embodiments
a method of controlling the above-mentioned terminal device.
[0096] As shown in FIG. 7, the method may include Step 701 of
executing a predetermined operation when a pressure detected by the
pressure sensor is not smaller than a predetermined pressure
threshold.
[0097] According to the method in the embodiments of the present
disclosure, through the pressure sensor and the execution circuit,
when the pressure has been detected by the pressure sensor and the
corresponding predetermined operation has been configured, the
execution circuit may execute the predetermined operation. As a
result, it is able to simplify the control procedure, and
facilitate the use thereof.
[0098] In a possible embodiment of the present disclosure, when
there are at least two pressure sensors and at least one pressure
sensor is arranged at each of two opposite lateral sides of the
terminal body, Step 701 may include, when the pressure detected by
the at least one pressure sensor at each of the two opposite
lateral sides of the terminal body is not smaller than the
predetermined pressure threshold, executing the predetermined
operation.
[0099] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, through
executing the predetermined operation merely when the pressure
detected by at least one pressure sensor at each of the two
opposite lateral sides of terminal body is not smaller than the
predetermined pressure threshold, it is able to prevent the
execution of the predetermined operation due to the accident touch,
thereby to improve the accuracy during the use of the terminal
device.
[0100] In a possible embodiment of the present disclosure, when the
terminal device further includes a communication circuit connected
to the execution circuit, the executing the predetermined operation
may include controlling, by the execution circuit, the
communication circuit to send an alarm signal. The alarm signal is
making an emergency call and/or sending alarm information.
[0101] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, it is able to
send the alarm signal rapidly and conveniently in a relatively
secrete manner. As a result, it is able to prevent the user from
operating the terminal device not calmly in the case of a danger
due to being nervous, or prevent the user's behavior of making the
emergency call from being exposed.
[0102] To be specific, the user may make a local emergency call
normally and then communicate with a receptionist. Also, the user
may play a previously-recorded audio file including information
about the user as well as information about a current position. The
information about the current position may be acquired through
calling positioning software or a positioning circuit, and then
sent to the receptionist through voice. The positioning software
may be known in the art, i.e., map software. The positioning
circuit may include a Beidou positioning system, or a GPS.
[0103] The alarm information may be sent to a warning platform via
short messages or communication software, and the alarm information
may also include the information about the user and the information
about the current position. The information about the current
position may be provided by the positioning software or the
positioning circuit. Specifically, the desired information may be
provided in the form of words or pictures.
[0104] During the implementation, the user may merely make the
emergency call, or merely send the alarm information, or make the
emergency call and send the alarm information simultaneously, so as
to send the alarm signal rapidly.
[0105] In a possible embodiment of the present disclosure,
subsequent to controlling, by the execution circuit, the
communication circuit to send the alarm signal, the method may
further include sending a vibration prompt signal.
[0106] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, the vibration
circuit may be provided so as to prompt the user that the alarm
signal has been sent successfully. After the alarm information has
been sent successfully, the vibration prompt signal may be sent, so
as to prompt the user that the alarm signal has been sent
successfully. The vibration circuit may be provided in the form of
an additional vibration motor or a vibration motor existing in the
terminal device. As compared with voice or ringtone, it is able to
ensure the user's security in some emergency cases through the
vibration prompt signal.
[0107] In addition, when the alarm signal has been sent indeed due
to accident touch, the user may also be prompted that the accident
touch occurs through the vibration prompt signal, so the user may
interrupt the alarm signal in time.
[0108] In a possible embodiment of the present disclosure, when the
terminal device further includes a feedback circuit connected to
the communication circuit and the execution circuit, subsequent to
the controlling, by the execution circuit, the communication
circuit to send the alarm signal, the method may further include
controlling, by the feedback circuit, the communication circuit to
continue to send the alarm signal when the alarm signal has been
sent but no input for interrupting the alarm signal has been
detected.
[0109] When the input for interrupting the alarm signal has been
detected, e.g., when the user has already been out of danger or the
alarm signal is sent due to the accidental touch, the alarm signal
may be interrupted, so as to prevent the waste of social resources.
When no input for interrupting the alarm signal has been detected,
the alarm signal may be sent continuously, so as to provide
up-to-date state information in the alarm information in time,
e.g., to update the position information about the user, thereby to
ensure the communication connection and facilitate the
understanding of the up-to-date state information about the
user.
[0110] As shown in FIG. 8, when the executing the predetermined
operation includes sending the alarm signal, a procedure of the
method may be generally described as follows. When the user needs
to send the alarm signal in the case of danger, the user may press
the pressure sensor. Upon the detection of the pressure, the
pressure sensor may output the pressure signal to the signal
amplification circuit, and then the pressure signal may be
amplified by the signal amplification circuit.
[0111] After the pressure signal has been amplified, the amplified
pressure signal may be compared with the predetermined voltage
threshold so as to determine whether the pressure detected by the
pressure sensor is greater than the predetermined pressure
threshold. When the pressure is greater than the predetermined
pressure threshold, the position information about the user may be
provided by the positioning circuit, and the alarm signal may be
sent. The sending the alarm signal may include making an emergency
call or sending the alarm information. After the alarm signal has
been sent successfully, the vibration prompt signal may be
outputted so as to prompt the user that the alarm signal has been
sent successfully.
[0112] Before the user is out of danger, the position information
may be updated and the alarm signal may be sent continuously. After
the user is out of danger, the alarm signal may be interrupted.
[0113] In a possible embodiment of the present disclosure, the
predetermined pressure threshold may at least include a first
pressure threshold and a second pressure threshold greater than the
first pressure threshold, and the predetermined operation may at
least include a first predetermined operation and a second
predetermined operation different from the first predetermined
operation.
[0114] Step 701 may include: when the pressure detected by the
pressure sensor is not smaller than the first pressure threshold
and not greater than the second pressure threshold, executing the
first predetermined operation; and when the pressure detected by
the pressure sensor is not smaller than the second pressure
threshold, executing the second predetermined operation.
[0115] In the embodiments of the present disclosure, different
predetermined operations may be triggered through different
pressures. The following description will be given when the first
predetermined operation includes photographing, the second
predetermined operation includes starting the browser, the first
pressure threshold is 200N, and the second pressure threshold is
400N.
[0116] During the implementation, when the pressure detected by the
pressure sensor is not smaller than 200N and not greater than 400N,
a photographing operation may be executed, and when the pressure
detected by the pressure sensor is not smaller than 400N, the
bowser may be started. In this regard, it is able to trigger
different operations through different pressures.
[0117] Obviously, the pressure thresholds will not be particularly
defined herein. During the implementation, different pressures may
be tested in advance, and then the pressure thresholds may be set
correspondingly. The pressure threshold may be preset in accordance
with an input. The first predetermined operation and the second
predetermined operation may also include sending the alarm signal,
photographing, or opening or closing an application.
[0118] In a possible embodiment of the present disclosure, the
number of the pressure thresholds will not be particularly defined
herein. For example, three pressure thresholds may be set, and
different predetermined operations may correspond to different
pressure ranges.
[0119] Through providing a plurality of pressure thresholds and
providing a plurality of predetermined operations, it is able to
call different functions of the terminal device conveniently,
thereby to facilitate the operation.
[0120] The present disclosure provides in some embodiments a
terminal device, including a processor, a memory, and a computer
program stored in the memory and executed by the processor. The
processor is configured to execute the computer program so as to
implement the above-mentioned method.
[0121] The present disclosure further provides in some embodiments
a computer-readable storage medium storing therein a computer
program. The computer program is executed by a processor so as to
implement the above-mentioned method.
[0122] The implementation of the terminal device and the
computer-readable storage medium may refer to that of the method
mentioned hereinabove with a same technical effect, which will not
be particularly defined herein.
[0123] The above embodiments are for illustrative purposes only,
but the present disclosure is not limited thereto. Obviously, a
person skilled in the art may make further modifications and
improvements without departing from the spirit of the present
disclosure, and these modifications and improvements shall also
fall within the scope of the present disclosure.
* * * * *