Transitioning Between Modes of Input

• US 20100007613A1
• Filed: 07/10/2008
• Published: 01/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Costa, Paul
• Granted Patent: US 10,031,549 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• 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 transitioning between input modes, the method comprising:

detecting a change of orientation of a touch screen between a first orientation and a second orientation; and

transitioning between a high-resolution input mode, which displays a high-resolution input mode user interface (UI) on the touch screen, and a low-resolution input mode, which displays a low-resolution input mode UI on the touch screen, based on the detected change of orientation.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the transitioning comprises transitioning from the high-resolution input mode to the low-resolution input mode by modifying a first item of the high-resolution input mode UI displayed on the touch screen, wherein the first item is transitioned into a corresponding first item of the low-resolution input mode UI displayed on the touch 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 of the high-resolution input mode UI from being displayed on the touch screen.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

zooming-in on the display of items of the high-resolution input mode UI on the touch 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 touch screen during the low-resolution input mode based on a touch input on the touch screen.

9. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

returning to the high-resolution input mode by modifying the corresponding first item of the low-resolution input mode UI, wherein the corresponding first item is transitioned back into the first item of the high-resolution input mode UI, and returning the second item to being displayed on the touch screen.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the transitioning comprises transitioning from the low-resolution input mode to the high-resolution input mode by modifying a first item of the low-resolution input mode UI currently displayed on the touch screen, wherein the first item is transitioned into a corresponding first item of the high-resolution input mode UI.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the transitioning further comprises adding a second item of the high-resolution input mode UI to being displayed on the touch screen.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the high-resolution input mode is a mouse-based input mode.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the low-resolution input mode is a touch-based input mode.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the first orientation corresponds to an upright orientation of the touch screen, and the second orientation corresponds to a flat orientation of the touch screen.

15. The method of claim 1 for transitioning between a high-resolution input mode and a low-resolution input mode, the method executed in a personal computer having a touch screen.

16. An apparatus for transitioning between two input modes, the apparatus comprising:

a touch screen;

a sensor that measures orientation information of the touch screen; and

a processor that transitions between a high-resolution input mode, which displays a high-resolution input mode user interface (UI) on the touch screen, and a low-resolution input mode, which displays a low-resolution input mode UI on the touch screen, based on the measured orientation information, by changing the size of a first item displayed on the touch screen.

17. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the transition is from the high-resolution input mode to the low-resolution input mode, and changing the size of an item includes enlarging a first item of the high-resolution input mode UI, such that the first item is transitioned into a corresponding first item of the low-resolution input mode UI.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the transition from the high-resolution input mode to the low-resolution input mode further includes removing a second item of the high-resolution input mode UI from display on the touch screen.

19. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the sensor is an accelerometer.

20. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the sensor is a position sensor.

21. The apparatus of claim 20, further comprising:

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

22. The apparatus of claim 21, 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.

23. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the transition between the high-resolution input mode and the low-resolution input mode is further based on a predetermined threshold value.

24. The apparatus of claim 23, wherein the predetermined threshold value is an orientation angle of the touch screen.

25. The apparatus of claim 16, wherein the transition is from the low-resolution input mode to the high-resolution input mode, and changing the size of an item includes enlarging a first item of the low-resolution input mode UI, such that the first item is transitioned into a corresponding first item of the high-resolution input mode UI.

26. The apparatus of claim 16, further comprising:

an additional sensor that measures touch information, wherein a transition between the high-resolution input mode UI and the low-resolution input mode is further based on the touch information.

27. The apparatus of claim 16 for transitioning between a high-resolution input mode and a low-resolution input mode, the apparatus incorporated within a computing system.

28. A personal computer including an apparatus for transitioning between two input modes comprising:

a touch screen;

a sensor that measures orientation information of the touch screen; and

a processor that transitions between a high-resolution input mode, which displays a high-resolution input mode user interface (UI) on the touch screen, and a low-resolution input mode, which displays a low-resolution input mode UI on the touch screen, based on the measured orientation information, by changing the size of an item displayed on the touch screen.