INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS, INFORMATION PROCESSING METHOD, AND PROGRAM

• US 20120092283A1
• Filed: 03/30/2010
• Published: 04/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Miyazaki, Reiko
• Granted Patent: US 9,690,475 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1614 Image rotation following screen orientation, e.g. switching from landscape to portrait mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04108 Touchless 2D- digitiser, i.e. digitiser detecting the X/Y position of the input means, finger or stylus, also when it does not touch, but is proximate to the digitiser's interaction surface without distance measurement in the Z direction
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/042 by opto-electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

Provided is an information processing apparatus including a an operating tool detection unit that detects an indication direction of an operation tool in contact with a display panel and an operation identification unit that identifies a direction of an operation input by the operating tool, based on the detected indication direction of the operating tool. Thereby, the direction of the operation is detected based on the indication direction of the operating tool, so that an operation independent of an orientation of the display panel with respect to an operator becomes possible.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus comprising:

an operating tool detection unit that detects an indication direction of an operation tool in contact with a display panel; and

an operation identification unit that identifies a direction of an operation input by the operating tool, based on the detected indication direction of the operating tool.

2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the operating tool detection unit detects an indication direction and a moving direction of the operating tool moving while touching the display panel, and

wherein the operation identification unit identifies a direction of an operation input by the operating tool, based on the detected identification direction and moving direction of the operating tool.

3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 2,

wherein the operation identification unit identifies a direction of an operation input by the operating tool, based on an angle defined by the detected indication direction and moving direction of the operating tool.

4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising

a display control unit that controls display of the display panel,

wherein the operation identification unit identifies a direction of an operation of rotating display of the display panel, based on the detected indication direction of the operating tool, and

wherein the display control unit rotates the display of the display panel according to the identified direction of the operation.

5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the operation identification unit identifies a direction of an operation input by the operating tool, independently of an orientation of the display panel with respect to an operator.

6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the operating tool detection unit determines an indication direction of the operating tool based on an orientation of a tip portion of the operating tool.

7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the operating tool detection unit continuously detects an indication direction of the operating tool and determines, when the continuously detected indication direction of the operating tool is within a predetermined threshold value, an indication direction of the operating tool based on the continuously detected indication direction of the operating tool.

8. An information processing method comprising the steps of:

detecting an indication direction of an operation tool in contact with a display panel; and

identifying a direction of an operation input by the operating tool, based on the detected indication direction of the operating tool.

9. A program for causing a computer to carry out an information processing method comprising the steps of

detecting an indication direction of an operation tool in contact with a display panel, and

identifying a direction of an operation input by the operating tool, based on the detected indication direction of the operating tool.