Visual Expander

• US 20100259500A1
• Filed: 06/22/2010
• Published: 10/14/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Peter Kennedy
• Original Assignee: Peter Kennedy
• Inventors: Kennedy, Peter
• Granted Patent: US 8,427,445 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• 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 3/0414 using force sensing means to determine a position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0416 Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

A computer implemented method for a touchscreen display is disclosed. The method includes presenting graphical information on the touchscreen display. The method further includes detecting a touch over the touchscreen display. The method also includes expanding an area of the touch screen display proximate the location of the touch.

Claims

1. A computing device, comprising:

a touchscreen display;

one or more processors;

memory; and

one or more programs, wherein the one or more programs are stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for;

presenting graphical information on the touchscreen display;

detecting a finger touch at a location on the touchscreen display;

in response to detecting the finger touch, expanding a localized area of the graphical information on the touchscreen display to a first fixed size, wherein;

the expanded localized area is proximate the location of the finger touch,

the expanded localized area includes a plateau region that displays a magnified portion of the graphical information at a constant magnification level, and

while expanding the localized area of the graphical information on the touchscreen display to the first fixed size;

increasing in size and magnification a target area within the plateau region over a predetermined amount of time, and

concurrently compressing graphical information between the target area and remaining unexpanded portions of the graphical information; and

,

while continuing to detect the finger touch on the touchscreen display;

detecting a movement of the finger touch over the touchscreen display; and

,

in response to detecting the movement, continuously changing a respective location of the expanded localized area to follow the movement of the finger touch.

2. The computing device as recited in claim 1, wherein the expanded localized area is offset from the respective location of the touch.

3. A computing device, comprising:

a touchscreen display;

one or more processors;

memory; and

one or more programs, wherein the one or more programs are stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for;

presenting graphical information on the touchscreen display;

detecting a finger touch at a location on the touchscreen display;

in response to detecting the finger touch, expanding a localized area of the graphical information on the touchscreen display to a first fixed size, wherein;

the expanded localized area is proximate the location of the finger touch, and

the expanded localized area includes a plateau region that displays a magnified portion of the graphical information at a constant magnification level;

while continuing to detect the finger touch on the touchscreen display;

detecting a movement of the finger touch over the touchscreen display; and

,

in response to detecting the movement, continuously changing a respective location of the expanded localized area to follow the movement of the finger touch;

ceasing to detect the finger touch on the touchscreen display; and

,

in response to ceasing to detect the finger touch on the touchscreen display, decreasing in size and magnification the target area within the plateau region over a predetermined amount of time and concurrently decompressing graphical information between the target area and remaining unexpanded portions of the graphical information until the expanded localized area is eliminated.

4. The computing device as recited in claim 3, wherein the expanded localized area is offset from the respective location of the touch.

5. A computing device, comprising:

a touchscreen display;

one or more processors;

memory; and

one or more programs, wherein the one or more programs are stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for;

presenting graphical information on the touchscreen display, wherein the graphical information on the touchscreen display comprises a plurality of regions;

detecting a finger touch at a location on the touchscreen display;

in response to detecting the finger touch, expanding a localized area of the graphical information on the touchscreen display, wherein;

the expanded localized area is proximate the location of the finger touch,

the expanded localized area includes a plateau region that displays a magnified portion of the graphical information at a constant magnification level, and

the expanded localized area is expanded to a first fixed size when the finger touch is located in a first region in the plurality of regions, and the expanded localized area is expanded to a second fixed size different from the first fixed size when the finger touch is located in a second region in the plurality of regions different from the first region; and

,

while continuing to detect the finger touch on the touchscreen display;

detecting a movement of the finger touch over the touchscreen display; and

,

in response to detecting the movement, continuously changing a respective location of the expanded localized area to follow the movement of the finger touch.

6. The computing device as recited in claim 5, wherein the expanded localized area is offset from the respective location of the touch.

7. A computing device, comprising:

a touchscreen display;

one or more processors;

memory; and

one or more programs, wherein the one or more programs are stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for;

presenting graphical information on the touchscreen display, wherein the graphical information on the touchscreen display comprises a plurality of regions;

detecting a finger touch at a location on the touchscreen display;

in response to detecting the finger touch, expanding a localized area of the graphical information on the touchscreen display to a first fixed size, wherein;

the expanded localized area is proximate the location of the finger touch,

the expanded localized area includes a plateau region that displays a magnified portion of the graphical information at a constant magnification level, and

the constant magnification level of the plateau region in the expanded localized area is a first magnification level when the finger touch is located in a first region in the plurality of regions, and the constant magnification level is a second magnification level different from the first magnification level when the finger touch is located in a second region in the plurality of regions different from the first region; and

,

while continuing to detect the finger touch on the touchscreen display;

detecting a movement of the finger touch over the touchscreen display; and

,

in response to detecting the movement, continuously changing a respective location of the expanded localized area to follow the movement of the finger touch.

8. The computing device as recited in claim 7, wherein the expanded localized area is offset from the respective location of the touch.