Recorders – Printing – dotting – or punching marker – Ink transfer support or moving means
Reexamination Certificate
1999-01-12
2001-03-13
Chow, Dennis-Doon (Department: 2775)
Recorders
Printing, dotting, or punching marker
Ink transfer support or moving means
C345S156000, C345S173000, C345S901000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06201554
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is directed toward hand-held data processing devices, and more particularly, toward conveniently controllable hand-held data processing devices.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Small hand-held data processing devices with display screens are becoming increasingly more common in a wide variety of uses. For example, small hand-held computers commonly called “personal assistants” or “palm held computers” are currently available. Typically, the small hand-held computers have associated with them small display screens. Similarly, communicators having both cellular communication and computer capabilities are available, typically having small display screens. These small, portable devices do not, and cannot, conveniently have conventional input devices, such as a computer mouse and other control buttons/knobs. Therefore, conventional personal computer interfaces, which also have their own problems, are not suited for these small portable devices.
As a result, there are significant limitations on using such small portable devices in both obtaining output, e.g., viewing data on the display screen, and in inputting commands, e.g., changing the area viewed on the display screen or controlling the performance of a particular parameter associated with the device. Further, given the limited area available, not only on the display screen but also on the entire device, adding additional control buttons/knobs, etc., is both difficult and burdensome to a user requiring two hand operation of the device.
The present invention is directed toward overcoming one or more of the above-identified problems.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
A portable display device is provided having a size suitable for hand-held use and including a display screen for displaying video images and audio circuitry for providing audio signals to a user thereof. A manual input device is mounted on the portable display device and is activatable by a user for placing the portable display device in any one of a plurality of modes of operation selected from the group consisting of paging, volume control, brightness control and zoom. A sensor, also mounted on the portable display device, is configured to sense changes in tilt of the portable display device relative to a reference tilt established upon placing the portable display device in one of the plurality of modes of operation. A control is connected to the sensor and is adapted to modify parameters associated with a mode of operation selected from the plurality of modes of operation in response to the sensor sensing tilt changes when the portable display device is in the selected mode of operation.
The manual input device generally includes pushbutton switches depressible a first time to activate a particular mode of operation, and depressible a second time to deactivate the particular mode of operation. Preferably, the pushbutton switches are mounted at locations on the portable display device engageable by a finger of a user with the portable display device held in the hand of the user.
The sensor is also configured to sense changes in tilt direction of the portable display device relative to the reference tilt, and to develop a signal indicative of the sensed change in tilt direction. The control is adapted to further modify parameters associated with the selected mode of operation in response to the signal from the sensor indicative of tilt direction changes.
In one form, the portable display device displays windows of video data on the display screen. With the portable display device in the paging mode, the control circuit pages through the windows on the display screen, one at a time, in response to the signal from the sensor indicative of changes in tilt and tilt direction. The paging is performed at a rate proportional to the change in tilt of the portable display device from the reference tilt. The control is configured to page forward through the windows on the display screen, one at a time, with the portable display device tilted in a first direction, and to page backward through the windows on the display screen, one at a time, with the portable display device tilted in a second direction different from the first direction. The window appearing on the display screen upon deactivation of the portable display device from the paging mode remains on the display screen.
In another form, with the portable display device in the volume control mode, the control is configured to control a level of volume of the audio signals developed by the audio circuitry in response to the signal from the sensor indicative of changes in tilt and tilt direction. The volume level of the audio signals is changed by an amount proportional to the change in tilt of the portable display device from the reference tilt. The control is configured to increase the volume level of the audio signals with the portable display device tilted in a first direction, and to decrease the volume level of the audio signals with the portable display device tilted in a second direction different from the first direction. The volume level of the audio signals upon deactivation of the portable display device from the volume control mode defines a new volume level of the audio signals.
In yet another form, with the portable display device in the brightness control mode, the control is configured to control a level of brightness of the display screen in response to the signal from the sensor indicative of changes in tilt and tilt direction. The brightness level of the display screen is changed by an amount proportional to the change in tilt of the portable display device from the reference tilt. The control is configured to increase the brightness level of the display screen with the portable display device tilted in a first direction, and to decrease the brightness level of the display screen with the portable display device tilted in a second direction different from the first direction. The brightness level of the display screen upon deactivation of the portable display device from the brightness control mode defines a new brightness level of the display screen.
In still another form, with the portable display device in the zoom mode, the control is configured to control zooming on content displayed on the display screen in response to the signal from the sensor indicative of changes in tilt and tilt direction. The zooming on content displayed on the display screen is changed by an amount proportional to the change in tilt of the portable display device from the reference tilt. The control is configured to zoom in on content displayed on the display screen with the portable display device tilted in a first direction, and to zoom out on content displayed on the display screen with the portable display device tilted in a second direction different from the first direction. The zoomed content displayed on the display screen upon deactivation of the portable display device from the zoom mode remains displayed on the display screen.
It is an object of the present invention to provide a data processing device capable of convenient use and control.
It is a further object of the present invention to provide a data processing device capable of one hand use and control.
Other aspects, objects and advantages of the present invention can be obtained from a study of the application, the drawings, and the appended claims.
REFERENCES:
patent: 4839838 (1989-06-01), LeBiche et al.
patent: 5059958 (1991-10-01), Jacobs et al.
patent: 5602566 (1997-02-01), Motosyuku et al.
Abstract of “Hand-held Image Display for e.g. Hand-held Computer or Electronic Diary in Which Sensor Responds to Angle of Tilt of Display, Such That Display Portion to be Displayed is Controlled by Varying Angle of Inclination of Device” Stove AG.
“Control System for Computer Using Attitude Sensing Uses Variable Attitude Data, Pret. Obtained From Array of Mercury Switches to Control Image on Screen” Abstract, Walker PJM.
Chow Dennis-Doon
Ericsson Inc.
Wood Phillips VanSanten Clark & Mortimer
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