Information processing apparatus and display screen operating method

• US 20110267753A1
• Filed: 04/13/2011
• Published: 11/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Murayama, Hiroki
• Granted Patent: US 9,141,133 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 361/679.3
• 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 2200/1614 Image rotation following screen orientation, e.g. switching from landscape to portrait mode
• 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

Abstract

A computer device is provided that may comprise a display portion, a reference position input for enabling setting of a reference tilt position which is representative of an initial tilt position of the computer device. The computer device may also comprise a processor configured to perform a predetermined operation in accordance with a change in a tilt position of the computer device from the reference tilt position to a current tilt position.

Claims

1. A computer device comprising:

a display portion;

a reference position input for enabling setting of a reference tilt position which is representative of an initial tilt position of the computer device; and

a processor configured to perform a predetermined operation in accordance with a change in a tilt position of the computer device from the reference tilt position to a current tilt position.

2. The computer device of claim 1, in which the reference position input enables a user to set the reference tilt position.

3. The computer device of claim 1, in which the predetermined operation is continuously executed while the tilt position of the computer device changes from the reference tilt position to the current tilt position.

4. The computer device of claim 3, in which the predetermined operation changes an image displayed in the display portion in a first direction by a first amount related to a first change in tilt position about a first axis of the computer device.

5. The computer device of claim 4, in which the predetermined operation further changes the image in a second direction by a second amount related to a second change in tilt position about a second axis of the computer device, the second axis being perpendicular to the first axis.

6. The computer device of claim 1, further comprising a sensor for producing information indicative of the change in tilt position.

7. The computer device of claim 6, in which the information indicative of the change in tilt position is representative of a rotation about one or more axes of the computer device and direction thereof.

8. The computer device of claim 7, in which the sensor is an accelerator type sensor for detecting acceleration about one or more axes.

9. The computer device of claim 1, in which the predetermined operation is a page turning operation or a scrolling operation.

10. The computer device of claim 9, in which the predetermined operation is the scrolling operation.

11. The computer device of claim 10, in which the computer device is a portable computer device intended to be carried by a user.

12. The computer device of claim 11, in which the scrolling operation is continuously executed while the tilt position of the computer device changes from the reference tilt position to the current tilt position.

13. The computer device of claim 11, in which the scrolling operation scrolls an image displayed on the display portion by a scrolling amount, the scrolling amount being directly related to the change in tilt position of the portable computer device.

14. The computer device of claim 13, in which the scrolling operation scrolls the image displayed in the display portion in at least a first scrolling direction by a first amount related to a first change in tilt position about a first axis of the portable computer device.

15. The computer device of claim 14, in which the scrolling operation further scrolls the image in a second scrolling direction by a second amount related to a second change in tilt position about a second axis of the portable computer device, the second axis being perpendicular to the first axis.

16. The computer device of claim 11, further comprising a sensor for producing information indicative of the change in tilt position.

17. A method for use with a portable computer device, the method comprising:

activating a reference position input that enables setting of a reference tilt position which is representative of an initial tilt position of the portable computer device; and

performing a predetermined operation which is related to a change in a tilt position of the computer device from the reference tilt position to a current tilt position.

18. The method of claim 17, in which the predetermined operation is continuously executed during the change in tilt position.

19. The method of claim 18, in which the predetermined operation changes an image displayed in a display portion in a first direction by a first amount related to a first change in tilt position about a first axis of the portable computer device.

20. The method of claim 19, in which the predetermined operation further changes the image in a second direction by a second amount related to a second change in tilt position about a second axis of the portable computer device, the second axis being perpendicular to the first axis.