Virtual magnifying glass with on-the fly control functionalities

• US 20070033544A1
• Filed: 08/04/2005
• Published: 02/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/04/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Fleisher, Jacob, Winser, Michael, Smith, Kevin, Esposito, David, Ngari, Joseph, Mail, Scott, Mann, Samuel
• Granted Patent: US 7,694,234 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/800
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04805 Virtual magnifying lens, i.e. window or frame movable on top of displayed information to enlarge it for better reading or selection
• 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

Abstract

A display screen magnifier is controllable by a user to magnify selected portions of a desktop including windows open on the screen. A moveable magnifier frame is provided, within which a magnified image is presented. The magnified image corresponds to screen content located within a magnification region underlying the magnifier frame, magnified to a set level of magnification. The magnifier is controllable through use of a user input device. At least one operational parameter of the magnifier can be adjusted, without interaction with on-screen objects and without taking focus away from the desktop or any windows open on the screen. In a particular embodiment of the invention, on-the-fly controllability of the magnifier includes its activation and deactivation, adjustment of the magnification level, and adjustment of the size of the magnifier frame.

Claims

1. A machine readable storage medium containing thereon instructions which, when executed by a data processing device having a display screen and user input device, serve to configure the device to provide a display screen magnifier which is controllable by a user to magnify selected portions of a desktop including windows open on said screen, said magnifier providing a moveable magnifier frame within which a magnified image is presented, said image corresponding to screen content located within a magnification region underlying said magnifier frame, magnified to a set level of magnification, said magnifier being controllable by a user through use of said input device to adjust at least one operational parameter of the magnifier, without interaction with on-screen objects and without taking focus away from said desktop or any windows open on said screen.

2. A machine readable storage medium according to claim 1, wherein the magnifier is capable of activation and deactivation through use of said input device, without interaction with on screen objects and without taking focus away from said desktop or any windows open on said screen.

3. A machine readable storage medium according to claim 1, wherein said at least one operational parameter of the magnifier comprises a size dimension of said magnifier frame.

4. A machine readable storage medium according to claim 1, wherein said at least one operational parameter comprises a magnification level of said magnifier.

5. A machine readable storage medium according to claim 1, wherein an adjustment mode of said magnifier may be activated using said input device, and when said adjustment mode is activated a hook is caused to be set which temporarily directs input of said input device to said magnifier for altering said at least one operational parameter.

6. A machine readable storage medium according to claim 5, wherein said input device is a computer pointing device, and said hook is a hook of said computer pointing device.

7. A machine readable storage medium according to claim 6, wherein the hook directs to said magnifier at least one of pointer movement data and scroll wheel rotation data of said computer pointing device, for altering said at least one operational parameter of said magnifier.

8. A machine readable storage medium according to claim 7, wherein the hook directs to said magnifier said pointer movement data, which is used to adjust a size dimension of the magnifier frame.

9. A machine readable storage medium according to claim 7, wherein the hook directs to said magnifier said scroll wheel rotation data, which is used to adjust a magnification level of the magnifier frame.

10. A machine readable storage medium according to claim 1, wherein said input device comprises a pointing device, and the position and movement of said magnifier frame correspond to the position and movement of an on-screen cursor of said pointing device.

11. A machine readable storage medium according to claim 1, wherein said magnified image is dynamically updated to reflect changes in underlying screen content occurring while the magnifier is activated.

12. A machine readable storage medium according to claim 2, wherein said magnifier is activated upon actuation of a switch on said user input device, and enters an adjustment mode upon said switch being continuously actuated for a predetermined time period.

13. A machine readable storage medium according to claim 12, wherein when the magnifier is in said adjustment mode the magnifier presents an on-screen visual indicator that the adjustment mode is active.

14. A machine readable storage medium according to claim 13, wherein said visual indicator provides an indication of appropriate user inputs for effecting adjustment of said at least one operational parameter of the magnifier.

15. A machine readable storage medium according to claim 14, wherein said visual indicator provides an indication of appropriate user inputs for effecting an adjustment of at least one size dimension of said magnifier frame.

16. A machine readable storage medium according to claim 13, wherein said visual indicator provides an indication of appropriate user inputs for effecting an adjustment of a magnification ratio of said magnifier.

17. A machine readable storage medium according to claim 1, wherein, said display screen magnifier is configured by a windows style of an application programming interface of an operating system, and a second stage screen content compositing engine associated with said windows style.

18. A data processing device having a display screen and user input device, said device being configured to provide a display screen magnifier which is controllable by a user to magnify selected portions of a desktop including windows open on said screen, said magnifier providing a moveable magnifier frame within which a magnified image is presented, said image corresponding to screen content located within a magnification region underlying said magnifier frame, magnified to a set level of magnification, said magnifier being controllable by a user through use of said input device to adjust at least one operational parameter of the magnifier, without interaction with on-screen objects and without taking focus away from said desktop or any windows open on said screen.

19. A data processing device according to claim 18, wherein the magnifier is capable of activation and deactivation through use of said input device, without interaction with on screen objects and without taking focus away from said desktop or any windows open on said screen.

20. A data processing device according to claim 18, wherein, said display screen magnifier is configured by a windows style of an application programming interface of an operating system, and a second stage screen content compositing engine associated with said windows style.