Transitioning between modes of input

• US 10,031,549 B2
• Filed: 07/10/2008
• Issued: 07/24/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Costa, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Mehmood, Jennifer
• Assistant Examiner(s): Abebe, Sosina
• Application Number:
  US12/171,147
• Publication Number:
  US 20100007613A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,666 Days
• Field of Search: 345158, 345173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1601 Constructional details related to the housing of computer displays, e.g. of CRT monitors, of flat displays constructional details related to flat displays integrated in a portable computer, e.g. laptop, handheld computer G06F1/1637; constructional details related to television receivers H04N5/64
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1643 the display being associated to a digitizer, e.g. laptops that can be used as penpads details related to the relative motion of the display enclosure with respect to the body enclosure, e.g. to move between laptop and tablet PC configuration G06F1/1615
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1677 for detecting open or closed state or particular intermediate positions assumed by movable parts of the enclosure, e.g. detection of display lid position with respect to main body in a laptop, detection of opening of the cover of battery compartment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1631 Panel PC, e.g. single housing hosting PC and display panel
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1637 Sensing arrangement for detection of housing movement or orientation, e.g. for controlling scrolling or cursor movement on the display of an handheld computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0381 Multimodal input, i.e. interface arrangements enabling the user to issue commands by simultaneous use of input devices of different nature, e.g. voice plus gesture on digitizer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/0407 Resolution change, inclusive of the use of different resolutions for different screen areas
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/0464 Positioning

Abstract

Transitioning between a high-resolution input mode, such as a mouse-based interface, and a low-resolution input mode, such as a touch-based interface, is described. A change of orientation of a touch screen between a first orientation and a second orientation is detected. Transitioning between the two input modes and corresponding user interfaces (UIs) is based on the detected change of orientation. A change of orientation can be detected with one or more sensors, such as an accelerometer, position sensors, etc. Transitioning from one mode to another can include modifying an item displayed in the UI of the one mode into a corresponding item displayed in the UI of the other mode. The modifying can include enlarging/reducing, obscuring/unobscuring, moving, etc. For example, an item can be obscured by the visual effect of sliding it off of the screen.

Claims

1. A method for operating an electronic device with a display screen in multiple input modes, the method comprising:

determining an angle of the display screen of the electronic device with respect to a lower base of the electronic device while the display screen is activated;

in accordance with a determination that the angle of the display screen of the electronic device with respect to the lower base is greater than a predetermined threshold, operating the electronic device in a first input mode while maintaining activation of the display screen; and

in accordance with a determination that the angle of the display screen of the electronic device with respect to the lower base is less than the predetermined threshold, operating the electronic device in a second input mode, different from the first input mode, while maintaining activation of the display screen,

wherein;

the first input mode configures the electronic device to accept input from a first input device, and

the second input mode configures the electronic device to accept input from a second input device, different from the first input device.

2. The method of claim 1, further wherein the first input mode configures the electronic device to display a first input mode user interface (UI) on the display screen, and the second input mode configures the electronic device to display a second input mode UI on the display screen, different from the first input mode UI, the method further comprising:

transitioning from the first input mode to the second input mode, the transitioning including modifying a first item of the first input mode UI displayed on the display screen,

wherein the first item is transitioned into a corresponding first item of the second input mode UI displayed on the display screen.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein modifying the first item includes enlarging the first item to obtain the corresponding first item.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the first item is enlarged by a predetermined percentage.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the predetermined percentage is customizable.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the transitioning further comprises removing a second item, different from the first item, of the first input mode UI from being displayed on the display screen.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

zooming-in on the display of items of the first input mode UI on the display screen by a predetermined percentage, wherein the zooming-in enlarges the first item and removes the second item from being displayed.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

returning the second item to being displayed on the display screen while remaining in the second input mode based on a touch input on the display screen.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

returning to the first input mode including;

modifying the corresponding first item of the second input mode UI, wherein the corresponding first item is transitioned back into the first item of the first input mode UI,

and

returning the second item to being displayed on the display screen.

10. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

wherein the transitioning includes adding a second item, different from the first item, of the second input mode UI to being displayed on the display screen.

11. The method of claim 1, further wherein the first input mode configures the electronic device to display a first input mode user interface (UI) on the display screen, and the second input mode configures the electronic device to display a second input mode UI on the display screen, different from the first input mode UI, and wherein the first input mode UI includes a first control for performing a first functionality on the electronic device, the method further comprising:

transitioning from the first input mode to the second input mode, and after transitioning to the second input mode;

in accordance with a determination that the first functionality is accessible with a gesture detected on the display screen, the second input mode UI does not include the first control, and

in accordance with a determination that the first functionality is not accessible with a gesture detected on the display screen, the second input mode UI includes the first control.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the first input device is a high-resolution input device, and the second input device is a low-resolution input device.

13. The method of claim 12, further wherein the display screen comprises a touch screen, wherein the high-resolution input device is at least one of a mouse and a keyboard, and the low-resolution input device is the touch screen.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the angle being less than the predetermined threshold corresponds to a flat orientation of the display screen of the electronic device, and the angle being greater than the predetermined threshold corresponds to an upright orientation of the display screen of the electronic device.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the upright orientation corresponds to the display screen oriented parallel to a direction of gravity, and the flat orientation corresponds to the display screen oriented perpendicular to the direction of gravity.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the first input mode is a high-resolution input mode, and the second input mode is a low-resolution input mode.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein the first input mode UI includes a first region and a second region, different from the first region, further wherein the first input mode configures the electronic device to display a first input mode user interface (UI) on the display screen, and the second input mode configures the electronic device to display a second input mode UI on the display screen, different from the first input mode UI, the method further comprising:

transitioning from the first input mode to the second input mode,

changing the first region of the first input mode UI in a first manner, and

changing the second region of the first input mode UI in a second manner, different from the first manner.

18. The method of claim 1, further wherein the first input mode configures the electronic device to display a first input mode user interface (UI) on the display screen, and the second input mode configures the electronic device to display a second input mode UI on the display screen, different from the first input mode UI.

19. The method of claim 1, further wherein

determining the angle of the display screen of the electronic device with respect to the lower base of the electronic device comprises detecting the angle between a plane of the display screen with respect to a plane of the lower base.

20. An electronic device configured to operate in multiple input modes, the electronic device comprising:

a display screen;

one or more sensors that configured to measure an one or more angles associated with the display screen and a lower base of the electronic device while the display screen is activated; and

a processor configured to;

determine, using the one or more sensors, an angle of the display screen of the electronic device with respect to the lower base of the electronic device while the display screen is activated;

in accordance with a determination that the angle of the display screen of the electronic device with respect to the lower base is greater than a predetermined threshold, operate the electronic device in a first input mode while maintaining activation of the display screen, and

in accordance with a determination that the angle of the display screen of the electronic device with respect to the lower base is less than the predetermined threshold, operate the electronic device in a second input mode, different from the first input mode, while maintaining activation of the display screen,

wherein;

the first input mode configures the electronic device to accept input from a first input device, and

the second input mode configures the electronic device to accept input from a second input device, different from the first input device.

21. The electronic device of claim 20, further wherein the first input mode configures the electronic device to display a first input mode user interface (UI) on the display screen, and the second input mode configures the electronic device to display a second input mode UI on the display screen, different from the first input mode UI, wherein the processor is configured to transition from the first input mode to the second input mode, and the transition includes enlarging a first item of the first input mode UI, such that the first item is transitioned into a corresponding first item of the second input mode UI.

22. The electronic device of claim 21, wherein the transition from the first input mode to the second input mode further includes removing a second item of the first input mode UI from display on the display screen.

23. The electronic device of claim 20, wherein the one or more sensors include an accelerometer or a position sensor.

24. The electronic device of claim 23, further comprising:

an adjustable stand that is coupled to the display screen, the adjustable stand including an adjustable portion, wherein the position sensor measures a position of the adjustable portion.

25. The electronic device of claim 24, wherein the position sensor is a rotation sensor, the adjustable portion is a hinge between two rigid portions, and the rotation sensor measures a rotation angle between the two rigid portions.

26. The electronic device of claim 20, wherein:

the first input mode configures the electronic device to display a first input mode user interface (UI) on the display screen, and the second input mode configures the electronic device to display a second input mode UI on the display screen, different from the first input mode UI,

the processor is configured to transition from the first input mode to the second input mode,

the first input mode UI includes a first control for performing a first functionality on the electronic device, and

after transitioning to the second input mode;

in accordance with a determination that the first functionality is accessible with a gesture detected on the display screen, the second input mode UI does not include the first control, and

in accordance with a determination that the first functionality is not accessible with a gesture detected on the display screen, the second input mode UI includes the first control.

27. The electronic device of claim 20, wherein first input device is a high-resolution input device, and the second input device is a low-resolution input device.

28. The electronic device of claim 27, further wherein the display screen comprises a touch screen, wherein the high-resolution input device is at least one of a mouse and a keyboard, and the low-resolution input device is the touch screen.

29. The electronic device of claim 20, further comprising:

an additional sensor that measures touch information, wherein operating the electronic device in the first input mode or the second input mode is further based on the touch information.

30. The electronic device of claim 20, further wherein the first input mode configures the electronic device to display a first input mode user interface (UI) on the display screen, and the second input mode configures the electronic device to display a second input mode UI on the display screen, different from the first input mode UI, wherein the first input mode UI includes a first region and a second region, different from the first region, and the processor is configured to:

transition from the first input mode to the second input mode;

change the first region of the first input mode UI in a first manner, and

change the second region of the first input mode UI in a second manner, different from the first manner.

31. The electronic device of claim 20, wherein the angle of the display screen of the electronic device with respect to the lower base of the electronic device is 0°

when the display screen is oriented perpendicular to a direction of gravity.

32. The electronic device of claim 20, further wherein the first input mode configures the electronic device to display a first input mode user interface (UI) on the display screen, and the second input mode configures the electronic device to display a second input mode UI on the display screen, different from the first input mode UI, wherein the processor is configured to transition from the first input mode to the second input mode, the transitioning includes modifying a first item of the first input mode UI displayed on the display screen, wherein the first item is transitioned into a corresponding first item of the second input mode UI displayed on the display screen.

33. The electronic device of claim 32, wherein modifying the first item includes enlarging the first item to obtain the corresponding first item.

34. The electronic device of claim 32, wherein the transitioning further comprises removing a second item, different from the first item, of the first input mode UI from being displayed on the display screen.

35. The electronic device of claim 20, wherein the angle being less than the predetermined threshold corresponds to a flat orientation of the display screen of the electronic device, and the angle being greater than the predetermined threshold corresponds to an upright orientation of the display screen of the electronic device.

36. The electronic device of claim 20, wherein the first input mode is a high resolution input mode, and the second input mode is a low-resolution input mode.

37. The electronic device of claim 20, further wherein the first input mode configures the electronic device to display a first input mode user interface (UI) on the display screen, and the second input mode configures the electronic device to display a second input mode UI on the display screen, different from the first input mode UI.

38. The electronic device of claim 20, wherein determining the angle of the display screen of the electronic device with respect to the lower base of the electronic device comprises detecting the angle between a plane of the display screen with respect to a plane of the lower base.

39. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising instructions, which when executed by one or more processors of an electronic device with a display screen, cause the one or more processors to perform a method comprising:

determining an angle of the display screen of the electronic device with respect to a lower base of the electronic device while the display screen is activated;

in accordance with a determination that the angle of the display screen of the electronic device with respect to the lower base is greater than a predetermined threshold, operating the electronic device in a first input mode while maintaining activation of the display screen; and

in accordance with a determination that the angle of the display screen of the electronic device with respect to the lower base is less than the predetermined threshold, operating the electronic device in a second input mode, different from the first input mode, while maintaining activation of the display screen,

wherein;

the first input mode configures the electronic device to accept input from a first input device, and

the second input mode configures the electronic device to accept input from a second input device, different from the first input device.

40. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 39, wherein the angle of the display screen of the electronic device with respect to the lower base of the electronic device is 0°

when the display screen is oriented perpendicular to a direction of gravity.

41. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 39, further wherein the first input mode configures the electronic device to display a first input mode user interface (UI) on the display screen, and the second input mode configures the electronic device to display a second input mode UI on the display screen, different from the first input mode UI, the method further comprising:

transitioning from the first input mode to the second input mode, the transitioning including modifying a first item of the first input mode UI displayed on the display screen,

wherein the first item is transitioned into a corresponding first item of the second input mode UI displayed on the display screen.

42. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 41,

wherein modifying the first item includes enlarging the first item to obtain the corresponding first item.

43. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 41,

wherein the transitioning further comprises removing a second item, different from the first item, of the first input mode UI from being displayed on the display screen.

44. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 39, further wherein the first input mode configures the electronic device to display a first input mode user interface (UI) on the display screen, and the second input mode configures the electronic device to display a second input mode UI on the display screen, different from the first input mode UI, and wherein the first input mode UI includes a first control for performing a first functionality on the electronic device, the method further comprising:

transitioning from the first input mode to the second input mode, and after transitioning to the second input mode;

in accordance with a determination that the first functionality is accessible with a gesture detected on the display screen, the second input mode UI does not include the first control, and

in accordance with a determination that the first functionality is not accessible with a gesture detected on the display screen, the second input mode UI includes the first control.

45. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 39,

wherein the first input device is a high-resolution input device, and the second input device is a low-resolution input device.

46. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 45, further wherein the display screen comprises a touch screen, wherein the high-resolution input device is at least one of a mouse and a keyboard, and the low-resolution input device is the touch screen.

47. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 39,

wherein the angle being less than the predetermined threshold corresponds to a flat orientation of the display screen of the electronic device, and the angle being greater than the predetermined threshold corresponds to an upright orientation of the display screen of the electronic device.

48. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 39,

wherein the first input mode is a high-resolution input mode, and the second input mode is a low resolution input mode.

49. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 39,

wherein the first input mode UI includes a first region and a second region, different from the first region, further wherein the first input mode configures the electronic device to display a first input mode user interface (UI) on the display screen, and the second input mode configures the electronic device to display a second input mode UI on the display screen, different from the first input mode UI, the method further comprising:

transitioning from the first input mode to the second input mode,

changing the first region of the first input mode UI in a first manner, and

changing the second region of the first input mode UI in a second manner, different from the first manner.

50. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 39, further wherein the first input mode configures the electronic device to display a first input mode user interface (UI) on the display screen, and the second input mode configures the electronic device to display a second input mode UI on the display screen, different from the first input mode UI.

51. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 39,

wherein determining the angle of the display screen of the electronic device with respect to the lower base of the electronic device comprises detecting the angle between a plane of the display screen with respect to a plane of the lower base.