CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION(S)

This application is based on and claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 of a Korean patent application number 10-2018-0087963, filed on Jul. 27, 2018, in the Korean Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated by reference herein in its entirety.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

The disclosure relates to an apparatus and a method for controlling an operation mode of an electronic device using an electronic pen of the electronic device.

2. Description of Related Art

With the development of information communication technologies and semiconductor technologies, electronic devices capable of processing information have been supplied. Electronic devices may provide various functions such as voice calls, messages, cameras, electronic payment, and broadcasting.

The electronic device may detect an input corresponding to contact, proximity, or pressure of a user's body (e.g., a finger) through a touch screen. The electronic device may also detect an input corresponding to contact or proximity of an electronic pen capable of performing more precise input than the input using the user's body.

The above information is presented as background information only to assist with an understanding of the disclosure. No determination has been made, and no assertion is made, as to whether any of the above might be applicable as prior art with regard to the disclosure.

SUMMARY

A user of an electronic device may write in content (for example, an image) displayed on the electronic device on the basis of input using an electronic pen or replace a key input with a gesture input of the electronic pen.

However, the electronic device requires complex manipulation on the part of the user in order to execute a function corresponding to the electronic pen, thereby deteriorating ease of use of the electronic pen by the user. For example, when the user of the electronic device adds a memo to a photographed image, the user may capture an image by executing a camera application. The user of the electronic device may select a captured image by executing an image management application and may select a menu for pen input to add the memo to the captured image through the electronic pen.

Aspects of the disclosure are to address at least the above-mentioned problems and/or disadvantages and to provide at least the advantages described below. Accordingly, an aspect of the disclosure is to provide an apparatus and a method for increasing the usability of the electronic pen in the electronic device.

Additional aspects will be set forth in part in the description which follows and, in part, will be apparent from the description, or may be learned by practice of the presented embodiments.

In accordance with an aspect of the disclosure, an electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a housing, a display device exposed through a portion of the housing, a recess disposed inside the housing and extending along a length of the housing, an electronic pen insertable into the recess and removable therefrom, at least one processor located inside the housing and operatively connected to the display device, and a memory operatively connected to the at least one processor. The memory stores instructions that, when executed, configure the at least one processor to identify whether the electronic pen is removed from the recess in a low-power mode, receive information related to the electronic pen when the electronic pen is removed from the recess, and execute an application, based on at least a portion of the information related to the electronic pen.

In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, a method of operating an electronic device is provided. The method includes identifying whether an electronic pen, insertable into a recess disposed inside a housing and extending along a length of the housing and removable therefrom, is removed from the recess in a low-power mode, receiving information related to the electronic pen when the electronic pen is removed from the recess, and executing an application, based on at least a portion of the information related to the electronic pen.

In accordance with another aspect of the disclosure, an electronic device is provided. The electronic device includes a housing, a display device exposed through a portion of the housing, a recess disposed inside the housing and extending along a length of the housing, an electronic pen insertable into the recess and removable therefrom, at least one processor located inside the housing and operatively connected to the display device, and a memory operatively connected to the at least one processor. The memory stores instructions that, when executed, configure the at least one processor to generate content when input through the electronic pen is detected, and execute an operation mode of the electronic device related to the content, based on the orientation of the electronic pen.

Other aspects, advantages, and salient features of the disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description, which, taken in conjunction with the annexed drawings, discloses various embodiments of the disclosure.

