Information processing apparatus and information processing method

• US 10,152,953 B2
• Filed: 05/09/2012
• Issued: 12/11/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Nakao, Isamu
• Primary Examiner(s): Amini, Javid A
• Application Number:
  US13/467,379
• Publication Number:
  US 20120306932A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,407 Days
• Field of Search: 345620
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0304 Detection arrangements using opto-electronic means constructional details of pointing devices not related to the detection arrangement using opto-electronic means G06F3/033; optical digitisers G06F3/042
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/0464 Positioning
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/14 Solving problems related to the presentation of information to be displayed
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2354/00 Aspects of interface with display user
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/003 to produce spatial visual effects
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/36 using liquid crystals
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/38 with means for controlling the display position

Abstract

According to an illustrative embodiment, an image display method is provided. The method includes detecting a position of a user, detecting a position of a physical object, and defining a non-display area of a display based on the position of the user and the position of the physical object.

Claims

1. An image display control method, comprising:

displaying a display object on a display screen;

detecting a first position of a first physical object on the display screen;

detecting a second position of a second physical object,

wherein the second physical object is different from the first physical object, and

wherein the second physical object is a part of a human body;

setting a first non-display area on the display screen based on the first position of the first physical object and the second position of the second physical object,

wherein the first non-display area is defined based on two lines that are tangents to the first physical object, and

wherein each line of the two lines divides a surface of the display screen; and

moving the display object outside the first non-display area.

2. The image display control method according to claim 1, further comprising moving the display object into a display area on the display screen,

wherein the display area is different from the first non-display area.

3. The image display control method according to claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a closed curve that represents the first physical object.

4. The image display control method according to claim 1, further comprising:

setting the first non-display area is based on a closed curve that represents the first physical object.

5. The image display control method according to claim 1, further comprising:

detecting a third physical object at a third position on the display screen,

wherein the second physical object is different from the third physical object;

setting a second non-display area based on the third position of the third physical object and the second position of the second physical object; and

setting a third non-display area based on a logical sum of the first non-display area and the second non-display area.

6. The image display control method according to claim 1, wherein detecting the first physical object by an imaging unit.

7. The image display control method according to claim 6, wherein the imaging unit is a near-infrared imaging unit.

8. The image display control method according to claim 1, further comprising:

detecting the second position of the second physical object by at least one of an infrared sensor, an ultrasonic sensor, or a human heat radiation sensor,

wherein the second physical object is a profile of a palm of a user.

19. The image display control method according to claim 1, further comprising:

displaying a trace of the movement of the display object, wherein the trace is outside the first position of the first physical object.

9. An image display control apparatus, comprising:

a display screen; and

a processing circuitry configured to;

control display of a display object on a display screen;

detect a first position of a first physical object on the display screen;

detect a second position of a second physical object,

wherein the second physical object is different from the first physical object, and

wherein the second physical object is a part of a human body;

set a non-display area on the display screen based on the first position of the first physical object and the second position of the second physical object,

wherein the non-display area is defined based on two lines that are tangents to the first physical object, and

wherein each line of the two lines divides a surface of the display screen; and

move the display object outside the non-display area.

10. The image display control apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising an imaging unit configured to capture an image of the first physical object that is on the display screen.

11. The image display control apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the imaging unit is a near-infrared imaging unit.

12. The image display control apparatus according to claim 10,

wherein the display screen comprises a backlight and a liquid crystal, and

wherein the imaging unit is between the backlight and the liquid crystal.

13. The image display control apparatus according to claim 9, further comprising:

displaying, a trace of the movement of the display object, on the display screen,

wherein the trace of the movement of the display object makes a detour of the first physical object.

14. The image display control apparatus according to claim 9,

wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to move the display object into a display area on the display screen, and

wherein the display area is different from the non-display area.

17. The image display control apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the second physical object is at a distance from the display screen.

18. The image display control apparatus according to claim 9, wherein the first physical object is different from the part of the human body.

15. An image display control apparatus, comprising:

a central processing unit (CPU) configured to;

control display of a display object on a display screen;

detect a first position of a first physical object on the display screen;

detect a second position of a second physical object,

wherein the second physical object is different from the first physical object, and

wherein the second physical object is a part of a human body;

set a non-display area on the display screen based on the first position of the first physical object and the second position of the second physical object,

wherein the non-display area is defined based on two lines that are tangents to the first physical object, and

wherein each line of the two lines divides a surface of the display screen; and

move the display object outside the non-display area,

display, a trace of the movement of the display object, on the display screen, and

wherein the displayed trace of the movement of the display object makes a detour of the first physical object.

16. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer-readable instructions, which when executed by an image display control apparatus, cause the image display control apparatus to execute operations, the operations comprising:

displaying a display object on a display screen;

detecting a first position of a first physical object on the display screen;

detecting a second position of a second physical object,

wherein the second physical object is different from the first physical object, and

wherein the second physical object is a part of a human body;

setting a non-display area on the display screen based on the first position of the first physical object and the second position of the second physical object,

wherein the non-display area is defined based on two lines that are tangents to the first physical object, and

wherein each line of the two lines divides a surface of the display screen; and

moving the display object outside the non-display area.