Abstract: A mobile apparatus for providing a user interface and method and medium for executing functions using the user interface are provided. The mobile apparatus includes a user interface module sensing a user's touch and providing information regarding the user's touch, and a control module determining a type of mode and function selected by a user based on the provided information regarding the user's touch, wherein the user interface module provides a user interface pad by which mode items and function items corresponding to the mode items are simultaneously formed, and the user interface module includes a first area for selecting mode items corresponding to the type of mode and function determined by the control module, a second area for selecting the function items, and a common area of the first and second areas, and the control module executes a function positioned at the common area.

Abstract: Disclosed are a droplet ejection device and method using an electrostatic field. The droplet ejection method includes: setting a separate electric field direction in each of a plurality of nozzles; supplying one of ink and ink containing particles to each nozzle; and forming and ejecting a plurality of separate ink droplets. The droplet ejection device includes a deposition part having electrode layers and insulating layers deposited toward a nozzle. Therefore, it is possible to readily perform droplet ejection without a heater or diaphragm vibration device. In addition, it is possible to reduce impact applied to the ink and obtain good print quality, since the ink is ejected using the electrostatic field.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing multimedia data using an event index are provided. The method includes; to detect a biometric signal of a user when the user captures a multimedia data, digitize the detected biometric signal and indexing the multimedia data using the result of the digitization, and selectively edit the indexed multimedia data and playing back the result of the selectively editing. Accordingly, it is possible to facilitate the management of moving data files by indexing part of a moving data corresponding to an emotional event of a user who has captured the moving data, editing the moving data according to the results of the indexing, and playing back the edited moving data to provide a preview of the moving data.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for providing information during a call by delivering the current state and changes of state of a mobile device by tactile information, and which does not interfere with the phone conversation. The apparatus for providing information during a call comprises an information-sensing unit sensing at least one among information about the state of a mobile device and the state of a phone conversation, an information-analysis unit analyzing the sensed state information, a tactile information-generating unit generating tactile information corresponding to the sensed information, which was analyzed by the information-analysis unit, a tactile information-outputting unit delivering the tactile information to a user, and a driving unit generating a driving signal which drives the tactile information-outputting unit by converting the tactile information.

Abstract: An input device and method for protecting input information from exposure, in which the time of input of information is determined using a tactile output to protect the input information from being exposed. The input device for protecting input information from exposure includes a user-input module for receiving predetermined input information from a user, a control module for setting the information inputted in association with a tactile signal among the input information as user-input information, and a tactile-output-generation module for generating and providing the tactile signal to the user-input module under the control of the control module.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus for providing a touch-screen user interface, and an electronic device using the method. The method includes receiving a touch-screen position of a hotkey for executing a specific function, which is input via a user's touch, and creating the hotkey at the specified position.

Abstract: A method and medium for variably arranging a content menu and a display device using the same are disclosed. The method for variably arranging a content menu includes a) detecting position information of a user's finger touched with a touch screen, b) setting an attention area in accordance with the detected position information, and c) arranging menu icons in accordance with the set attention area. The display device includes a position information detection unit for detecting position information of a user's finger touched with a touch screen, an area setting unit for setting an attention area in accordance with the position information detected by the position information detection unit, and a menu control unit for arranging menu icons in the attention area set by the area setting unit. Since the menu icons are arranged in the area near the user's finger by sensing the position of the user's finger touched with the touch screen, the menus can be manipulated efficiently and variably.

Abstract: A system and method for identifying objects existing in a space. The system includes a mobile robot obtaining object identification information of each object in the space and transmitting the object identification information, and a remote control unit receiving the object identification information, identifying each object based on the object identification information, and allocating an identifier to each identified object.

Abstract: A washing machine in which the poor heat-resistant laundry is sufficiently wet so that a plurality of water curtain layers are formed at the laundry, thereby preventing the laundry from being stained and damaged when the laundry contacts the steam. According to the present invention, cold water is supplied simultaneously with injection of the steam so that the real temperature of the steam contacting the surfaces of the laundry is lowered, thereby preventing the laundry from being stained and damaged when the laundry contacts the steam.

Abstract: A washing machine, which removes offensive odor from laundry without operating wash, rinse and/or dehydration modes, and a deodorizing method thereof. The washing machine includes a deodorizing tub, into which objects to be deodorized are put, a duct communicating with the deodorizing tub and serving as a passage for air containing odor particles separated from the objects in the deodorizing tub, and a deodorizing unit for removing the odor particles from the air passing through the duct. The deodorizing method includes separating odor particles from objects to be deodorized, and removing the separated odor particles by filtering out the separated odor particles with a deodorizing filter.

Abstract: A washing machine which deodorizes an object placed in the washing machine using functional water independently of a washing process, and a control method thereof. The washing machine includes a tub to contain wash water therein, a drum rotatably installed in the tub, and deodorizing means which includes a functional water producing unit to produce functional water having a deodorizing effect, a heating tank to receive and to heat the functional water, and a steam supply pipe to supplying steam obtained from the functional water heated by the heating tank, to an object placed in the drum to be deodorized.

Abstract: A washing machine, which removes offensive odor from laundry without a need to operate wash, rinse and/or dehydration modes, and a method of deodorizing laundry. The washing machine includes a deodorizing tub, into which objects to be deodorized are placed, a duct to communicate with the deodorizing tub and to serve as a passage through which air containing odor particles, which are separated from the objects in the deodorizing tub, passes, and a deodorizing agent spray device to spray a deodorizing agent to separate the odor particles from the air passing through the duct. The method of deodorizing includes the separating odor particles from objects to be deodorized, and removing the separated odor particles by dissolving the separated odor particles in water and then discharging the particles.

Abstract: A washing machine having a deodorizing unit that performs a deodorizing operation independently of a washing process, to remove odor from an object to be deodorized, and a control method thereof. The control method has operation of determining whether a deodorizing signal is inputted by a user, and performing a deodorizing mode using the deodorizing unit independently of a washing process, if it is determined that the deodorizing signal is inputted.

Abstract: A washing machine and a control method thereof in which laundry is washed in a state of being directly heated by steam. The washing machine includes a microcomputer for controlling the overall operation of the washing machine to wash laundry by using steam. The microcomputer controls operations of wetting laundry with a small amount of water prior to generation of steam, uniformly spraying detergent over the wet laundry, and injecting steam onto the laundry. Accordingly, it is possible to achieve a reduction in the amount of water to be used and a reduction in wash time while preventing the laundry from being stained or damaged during the wash operation using steam.

Abstract: A washing machine in which the laundry of poor heat-resistance is sufficiently wet so that a water curtain layers are formed at the laundry, thereby preventing the laundry from being stained and damaged when the laundry contacts the steam. According to the present invention, cold water is supplied simultaneously with injection of the steam so that the real temperature of the steam contacting the surfaces of the laundry is lowered, thereby preventing the laundry from being stained and damaged when the laundry contacts the steam.

Abstract: A washing machine in which steam and hot water are supplied to heat wash water. The washing machine includes a water tub for containing wash water, a steam generating unit for heating water supplied thereto, thereby generating steam, a water supply unit for supplying water into the water tub and the steam generating unit, a steam supply unit for supplying the steam generated from the steam generating unit into the water tub, and a hot water supply unit for supplying hot water from the steam generating unit into the water tub. In the washing machine, the temperature of wash water can be rapidly increased in accordance with steam and hot water supplied into the water tub. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the overall wash time while reducing the amount of wash water to be used. The energy consumed to heat the wash water can also be reduced.

Abstract: A drum type washing machine in which wash water and laundry contained in a rotating tub are heated by steam supplied into the rotating tub, so as to rapidly increase the temperature of the wash water and laundry, thereby being capable of reducing the total wash time while reducing the amount of wash water to be used, and reducing the consumption of energy caused by heating of the wash water.

Abstract: A drum type washing machine, where steam and hot water are supplied to heat wash water, including: a water tub for containing wash water; a rotating drum rotatably mounted in the water tub and having, at a peripheral wall thereof, a plurality of through holes; a heating tank for heating water and generating steam; a water supply unit for supplying water into the water tub and the heating tank; and a steam supply pipe, adapted to guide the steam from the heating tank to the water tub, connected to the water tub In this drum type washing machine, the temperature of wash water can be rapidly increased in accordance with steam and hot water supplied into the water tub. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the overall wash time while reducing the amount of wash water to be used.

Abstract: A drum washing machine that uses less wash water, reduces an amount of electricity required to heat the wash water, and reduces washing time. The drum washing machine includes a water tub to contain water therein; a rotary drum provided in the water tub so that a rotating axis of the rotary drum is inclined relative to a horizontal axis at a predetermined first angle of inclination to allow an inlet opening of the rotary drum to be directed upward and forward, with a drain hole provided on the rotary drum at a position adjacent to the inlet opening, and an internal surface of the rotary drum being inclined relative to the rotating axis of the rotary drum at a predetermined second angle of inclination so as to guide the water to the drain hole, prior to discharging the water from the rotary drum to an outside of the rotary drum through the drain hole; a drive unit to drive the rotary drum; and a water circulation unit to feed the water from the water tub into the rotary drum.

Abstract: A clothes dryer and a method of controlling the clothes dryer. The method detects conditions of clothes using a sensor, and performs at least one of: a complex drying function to perform a drying operation, a deodorizing operation, and a wrinkle removing operation; a wrinkle removing function to perform the wrinkle removing operation and the drying operation; and a drying function to perform the drying operation, according to the detected conditions of the clothes. Accordingly, the clothes dryer is capable of not only drying the clothes, but also deodorizing the clothes and removing wrinkles. Additionally, the clothes dryer is capable of detecting conditions of clothes accommodated in a chamber, and drying and deodorizing the clothes as occasion demands, thus maintaining the clothes for a long period.