Method for displaying information and information display system

• US 20050253807A1
• Filed: 05/05/2005
• Published: 11/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Hohmann, Peter, Sopieva, Natasha, Slocombe, Dave, Ashley, Adrian
• Granted Patent: US 7,489,297 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/043 using propagating acoustic waves
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus

Abstract

An information display system has display unit having a display screen, a control unit for controlling the displayed information, and an input devices for inputting a user'"'"'s control command. The input devices may be a distance detecting sensor adapted to detect the position of a user controlled object in a sensing field arranged at a given distance in front of the screen. The control unit is adapted to determine a display control command based on the detected object position.

Claims

1. Information display system comprising a display unit having a display screen, a control unit for controlling the displayed information, and input means for inputting a user'"'"'s control command, the information display system comprising:

wherein the input means comprise a distance detecting sensor and are adapted to detect a position of a user controlled object in a sensing field arranged with a given distance in front of the screen, and

wherein the control unit is adapted to determine a display control command based on the detected object position.

2. Information display system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is adapted to determine the control command according to a match of a displayed control command prompt and the detected object position.

3. Information display system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is adapted to determine the control command according to a detected movement and/or velocity of the object.

4. Information display system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is adapted to measure a time that the object is in and/or out of the sensing field.

5. Information display system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is adapted to start a timer for a predetermined time interval when a correspondence between the position of a displayed control command prompt on the screen and the detected object position is determined.

6. Information display system according to claim 5, wherein the control unit is adapted to generate the control command when the correspondence between the prompt position and the object position persists until the timer expires, or when the object is directly removed from the sensing field after the timer has been activated and is not re-inserted before the timer expires.

7. Information display system according to claim 1, comprising feedback means for providing a visual, tactile, and/or acoustic feedback information to the user when the timer is operating.

8. Information display system according to claim 1, wherein the input means comprise a plurality of sensors which are arranged such that their detection beams propagate substantially parallel to the screen, forming a sensing field extending substantially parallel to the screen up to a predetermined distance from the screen.

9. Information display system according to claim 1, wherein the sensing field is divided in a grid of sensing areas, and the control unit assigns the detected position of the object to the corresponding sensing area.

10. Information display system according to claim 9, wherein the dimensions of the sensing areas relate to the size of the object.

11. Information display system according to claim 1, wherein the input means comprise a distance sensor to detect the distance Z of the object and/or the user from the screen.

12. Information display system according to claim 11, wherein the control unit is adapted to control the size, the type, and/or the position of displayed information and/or of control command prompts depending on the detected object or user distance Z.

13. Information display system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is adapted to control the type, displayed size, and/or position of displayed information and/or of control command prompts depending on the correct performance of the sensor.

14. Information display system according to claim 1, wherein the input means are adapted to compensate a static object in the sensing field.

15. Information display system according to claim 1, comprising wireless communication means for communicating with a wireless mobile device, in particular by using a short-range radio communication or infrared communication technology.

16. Information display system according to claim 1, comprising a database unit for storing information to be displayed.

17. Method for displaying information on a display screen, comprising the steps of:

detecting a position of a user controlled object in a sensing field arranged with a given distance in front of the screen using a distance detecting sensor;

determining a display control command based on the detected object position; and

controlling the displayed information based on the display control command.

18. Method according to claim 17, comprising:

displaying at least one control command prompt on the screen;

matching a position of a displayed control command prompt and the detected object position; and

measuring a time that a correspondence between the position of the control command prompt on the screen and the detected object position exists; and

determining the display control command based on the detected correspondence and the measured time.

19. Method according to claim 17, comprising:

detecting a movement and/or velocity of the object in the sensing field; and

determining the display control command based on the detected movement and/or velocity.

20. Method according to any of claims 17, comprising:

dividing the sensing field into a grid of equal sized sensing areas which each take up a certain volume of the sensing field;

assigning the detected position of the object to the respective sensing area that includes the object position; and

determining the display control command based on an identification of the assigned sensing area.

21. Method according to at least one of claims 17, comprising:

detecting the distance Z of the object and/or the user from the screen; and

controlling the type, displayed size, and/or position of displayed information and/or of control command prompts depending on the detected object or user distance.

22. Method according to at least one of claims 17, comprising:

detecting the correct performance and/or failure of the sensor; and

controlling the type, displayed size, and/or position of displayed information and/or control command prompts dependent on the detected performance or failure of the sensor.

23. Method according to at least one of claims 17, comprising:

setting-up a wireless communication link to a wireless mobile device in the proximity of the screen;

selecting information or data based on a generated control command; and

transmitting the selected information or data to the mobile device.

24. Information display system comprising a display unit having a display screen and a control unit for controlling the displayed information in the display screen, the information display system comprising:

a first sensor for emitting an ultrasonic to a first direction on an field facing on the display screen and for detecting reflection of the ultrasonic; and

a second sensor for emitting an ultrasonic to a second direction on an field facing on the display screen and for sensing reflection of the ultrasonic.

wherein the control unit displays some prompt for receiving for a input from user, and

wherein the control unit calculates a first distance between the first sensor and a position of the reflection of the ultrasonic based on a difference between the ultrasonic from the first sensor and the reflection of the ultrasonic, calculates a second distance between the second sensor and a position of the reflection of the ultrasonic based on a difference between the ultrasonic from the second sensor and the reflection of the ultrasonic, calculates a position of the input on an field facing on the display screen based on the first and second distances, determines the prompt on the display screen facing the position of the input based on the position of the prompt on the display screen and the position of the input, and controls the displayed information according to the determined prompt.

25. Information display system according to claim 24,

wherein the field facing on the display screen is divided into a plurality of area,

wherein the control unit arranges the prompt on the display screen corresponding to the area, and wherein the control unit gets the input to the prompt available when time for which the input is in the area is over a predetermined time.

26. Information display system according to claim 25,

wherein the control unit detects an abnormality of the first and second sensors, determines an area impossible a detection of the input due to the abnormality, and arranges the prompt on the display screen corresponding to an area except of the area impossible the detection of the input.