Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Image superposition by optical means – Operator body-mounted heads-up display
Reexamination Certificate
1998-02-24
2001-10-16
Hjerpe, Richard (Department: 2674)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Image superposition by optical means
Operator body-mounted heads-up display
C345S001300, C345S007000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06304234
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to an information processing apparatus including a portable terminal device and the like and, more particularly, to an information processing apparatus in which problems associated with screen display functions of a portable terminal device are solved to display more information and to improve usability of the same.
Recently, portable information terminal devices for personal use such as PDAs have begun to widely spread. The portable terminal devices include a display screen which serves as both an input device and a display device, provided in its body substantially in the size of a palm. Such portable terminal devices have a problem in that the area of their display screens is very small because of their portability. For this reason, a configuration is employed which magnifies each piece of information to display it across the entire screen, thereby allowing the user to see it with increased ease.
Specifically, when such a portable information terminal device is activated, the display screen first displays a main menu which allows selection of various functions of the device. When the user selects any function from the main menu, the function is started and the contents thereof are magnified and displayed across the entire display screen.
For example, let us assume that an icon “mail” is selected from the main menu. Then, a list of mail which has been received is displayed across the entire display screen. When the mail to be read is selected from the mail list, the contents of the mail will then be displayed across the entire display screen.
Meanwhile, to select another function from this state, the detailed information currently opened is temporarily closed and the required function is then selected. This results in a magnified display of the detailed information of the function across the entire display screen.
Thus, a conventional portable terminal device must be selected to display either menu of functions or detailed information across the entire screen because the display area of the screen is small. This results in a problem in that the selection of a desire function menu to obtain desired detailed information involves much time and labor, making the operation complicated.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
It is therefore a particular object of the invention to provide an information processing apparatus in which the problem associated with the screen display function of the portable terminal device is solved to allow more information to be displayed and to improve usability.
The present invention has been conceived to solve the above described problem associated with conventional information processing apparatuses and, according to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided an information processing apparatus comprising:
an information/data memory for storing information/data in association with predetermined titles;
an external display for displaying a screen for selecting a title;
an information/data retrieval device for accepting the selection of a title and retrieving information/data associated with the selected title from the information/data memory; and
an information/data display for displaying the information/data on an ocular basis.
The information/data display preferably includes an ocular optical system for guiding the retrieved information/data to the eyeballs of an observer with a substantial magnification from at least the display area of the external display. In this case, the ocular optical system preferably includes an external observation optical system for allowing observation of a screen for title selection displayed on the external display separately from the information/data. Further, the ocular optical system may include an image switching optical system for selectively displaying either or both of the screen for title selection and information/data.
With such a configuration, it is possible to continue displaying the title selection screen even when a detailed screen of the information/data is displayed and to view both of them simultaneously. This allows selection of information/data to be switched to another quickly.
With the distance of distinct vision of the information/data display set in accordance with the distance to the external display, the image for title selection on the external display and information/data on the information/data display can be easily recognized simultaneously.
It is also possible to observe the external near the observer without the intervention of the external observation optical system.
The most preferably mode of this information/data display is a head-mounted information/data display which can be used by mounting on a user's head. Such a configuration facilitates the selection of a title and the like to improve operability because required information/data are always displayed in front and it leaves both hands unoccupied.
According to a second aspect of the invention, the information/data memory, external display and information/data retrieval device according to the first aspect are integrally contained in a case which can be carried by hand.
Such a configuration makes it possible to view a title display screen displayed on the external display along with information/data displayed on the information/data display. It also makes it possible to reduce the weight of the information/data display to eliminate any problem which may otherwise arise when the information/data display is of the head-mounted type.
According to a third aspect of the invention, the external display of the information processing apparatus according to the first aspect displays a title as described above in an appropriate form which allows easy recognition. Specifically, the title may be displayed with an icon which represents the contents of the information/data. Alternatively, there may be provided an image data contraction/display device for providing a contracted display of each piece of information/data associated with a title as described above. Further, there may be provided a title display modification device for displaying a title for information/data displayed on the information/data display such that it can be distinguished from another title on the title selection screen.
Such a configuration facilitates understanding of the contents of a title and hence selection of the same. Further, the distinct display of a currently selected title allows a user to recognize to which title information/data currently viewed corresponds, which is convenient in that it eliminates any error in selecting another title.
According to a fourth aspect of the invention, the information processing apparatus according to the first aspect further comprises:
a handwriting character input device provided in the external display;
a handwritten-character display device for display the handwritten characters input from the handwriting character input device on the external display, after the information/data retrieval device retrieved information/data associated with the selected title from the information/data memory;
a character code conversion device for converting handwritten characters input from the handwriting character input device into character codes; and
a character display device for displaying the character codes as a result of the conversion at the character code conversion device on the information/data display.
Such a configuration makes it possible to use the external display device as a handwriting input device and to display the input characters on the information/data display. As a result, an input sentence can be entirely observed even when the input device is small.
According to a fifth aspect of the invention, the information/data memory of information processing apparatus according to the first aspect is a replaceable memory.
Such a configuration allows the information processing apparatus to be used for various applications such as PDAs and car navigation systems. It also facilitates the exchange of information with other information processing apparatuses.
Accor
Frishauf, Holtz Goodman, Langer & Chick, P.C.
Hjerpe Richard
Nguyen Kimnhung
Olympus Optical Co,. Ltd.
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