Image-processing apparatus

• US 20050259072A1
• Filed: 05/23/2005
• Published: 11/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ALPS Electric Company Limited (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: ALPS Electric Company Limited (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Sato, Tadamitsu
• Granted Patent: US 7,593,001 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/04 using light waves, e.g. infrared
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/702 with contacts carried by or formed from layers in a multilayer structure, e.g. membrane switches
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2225/002 superimposed
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2225/03 Different type of switches
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2239/006 Containing a capacitive switch or usable as such
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42212 Specific keyboard arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42218 for mapping a matrix of displayed objects on the screen to the numerical key-matrix of the remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42224 Touch pad or touch panel provided on the remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42228 the reprogrammable keys being displayed on a display screen in order to reduce the number of keys on the remote control device itself
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72

Abstract

An image-processing apparatus includes an input unit for inputting operational signals. The input unit includes an operation surface and outputs, as the operational signals, a position detection signal representing a detected operation position of an operation instrument moving on the operation surface and a selection confirmation signal generated when a selection operation is confirmed on the operation position. The image-processing apparatus further includes a display unit and a display-controlling unit for controlling the display state of the display unit based on the operational signals. The display-controlling unit highlights an index corresponding to the operation position when the position detection signal is output in a state in which indices to be selected are displayed on the display unit, and reads and displays main data corresponding to the highlighted index when the selection confirmation signal is output.

Claims

1. An image-processing apparatus comprising:

an input unit for inputting operational signals, the input unit comprising an operation surface, wherein the input unit outputs, as the operational signals, a position detection signal representing a detected operation position of an operation instrument moving on the operation surface and a selection confirmation signal generated when a selection operation is confirmed on the operation position;

a display unit; and

a display-controlling unit for controlling a display state of the display unit based on the operational signals, wherein the display-controlling unit highlights an index corresponding to the operation position on the operation surface when the position detection signal is output from the input unit in a state wherein a plurality of indices to be selected are displayed on the display unit, and reads and displays main data corresponding to the highlighted index when the selection confirmation signal is output from the input unit.

2. The image-processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein an index selected from the plurality of indices is different from other indices displayed on the display unit in the way the indices are displayed.

3. The image-processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a plurality of selection positions for confirming a selection operation are displayed on the operation surface in an array pattern that is the same as an array pattern of the plurality of indices, the plurality of selection positions corresponding to the plurality of indices.

4. The image-processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the input unit further comprises a coordinate detection unit for outputting the position detection signal and a switching unit for outputting the selection confirmation signal, the switching unit being disposed in a detectable area of the coordinate detection unit.

5. The image-processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the input unit further comprises a coordinate detection unit for outputting the position detection signal and the selection confirmation signal.

6. The image-processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the input unit outputs a switching signal for changing a group of indices to be displayed on the display unit, and the display-controlling unit displays another group of indices on the display unit instead of a group of indices that is currently displayed when the switching signal is output.

7. The image-processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the input unit outputs a switching signal for changing an index to be displayed on the display unit, and the display-controlling unit displays another index on the display unit instead of an index that is currently displayed when the switching signal is output.

8. The image-processing apparatus according to claim 6, further comprising a separate switching unit for outputting the switching signal.

9. The image-processing apparatus according to claim 6, the switching signal is generated based on at least one of the position detection signal and the selection confirmation signal.

10. The image-processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the main data is image data having a predetermined running time, and the indices show titles of the image data.

11. The image-processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the main data is image data that is displayed on the display unit by a single operation, and the indices show a reduced display or degraded display of the image data.

12. The image-processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the main data is operational information or configuration information of the image-processing apparatus, and the indices show titles of the operational information or the configuration information.