APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR USER INPUT FOR CONTROLLING DISPLAYED INFORMATION

• US 20120102436A1
• Filed: 10/21/2010
• Published: 04/26/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Nurmi, Mikko
• Granted Patent: US 9,043,732 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/863
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1613 for portable computers cooling arrangements therefor G06F1/203; constructional details or arrangements for pocket calculators, electronic agendas or books G06F15/0216; constructional details of portable telephone sets: with several bodies H04M1/0202
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04101 2.5D-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 and also measures the distance of the input means within a short range in the Z direction, possibly with a separate measurement setup
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04808 Several contacts: gestures triggering a specific function, e.g. scrolling, zooming, right-click, when the user establishes several contacts with the surface simultaneously; e.g. using several fingers or a combination of fingers and pen
• 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

Abstract

In accordance with an example embodiment of the present invention, a method for proximity based input is provided, comprising: detecting presence of an object in close proximity to an input surface, detecting a displayed virtual layer currently associated with the object on the basis of distance of the object to the input surface, detecting a hovering input by the object, and causing a display operation to move at least a portion of the associated virtual layer in accordance with the detected hovering input.

Claims

1. An apparatus, comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code,

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus at least to;

detect presence of an object in close proximity to an input surface,

detect a displayed virtual layer currently associated with the object on the basis of distance of the object to the input surface,

detect a hovering input by the object, and

cause a display operation to move at least a portion of the associated virtual layer in accordance with the detected hovering input.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured to adapt the distance of the at least a portion of the layer to the input surface in accordance with the hovering input.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured to detect a change of display mode between two-dimensional and three-dimensional modes on the basis of the detected hovering input, and

the apparatus is configured to control display of two-dimensional or three-dimensional view in accordance with the detected change of display mode.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein the apparatus is configured to detect a change of display mode from the three-dimensional mode to the two-dimensional mode on the basis of detecting the hovering object to select the entire virtual layer and detecting the object to touch the input surface after the selection of the virtual layer.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured to detect the lateral position of the object in x, y directions parallel to the input surface, and

the apparatus is configured to control the movement of the at least a portion of the virtual layer in accordance with the detected lateral position.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the apparatus is configured to cause a tilt operation for the virtual layer on the basis of the detected lateral position of the object.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured to detect speed of movement of the object, and select the display operation for the virtual layer in accordance with the detected speed.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured to detect the associated virtual layer and/or the hovering input in response to detecting two or more fingers hovering above the input surface.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured to detect the object to virtually touch a portion of the virtual layer, and

in response to detecting the object to further approach the input surface after detecting the virtual touch, the apparatus is configured to adapt the form of a portion of the virtual layer to mimic a reaction to a pushing object.

12. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is configured to control the movement and/or appearance of the at least a portion of the virtual layer in accordance with one or more physical properties associated with the virtual layer or one or more graphical user interface items of the virtual layer.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the input surface and a display displaying the virtual layers are arranged at opposite sides of a handheld electronic device.

14. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is a mobile communications device comprising a touch screen.

2-3. -3. (canceled)

15. A method, comprising:

detecting presence of an object in close proximity to an input surface,

detecting a displayed virtual layer currently associated with the object on the basis of distance of the object to the input surface,

detecting a hovering input by the object, and

causing a display operation to move at least a portion of the associated virtual layer in accordance with the detected hovering input.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the distance of the at least a portion of the layer to the input surface is adapted in accordance with the hovering input.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein a change of display mode between two-dimensional and three-dimensional modes is detected on the basis of the detected hovering input, and

display of two-dimensional or three-dimensional view is controlled in accordance with the detected change of display mode.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein a change of display mode from the three-dimensional mode to the two-dimensional mode is detected on the basis of detecting the hovering object to select the entire virtual layer and detecting the object to touch the input surface after the selection of the virtual layer.

19. The method of claim 15, wherein the lateral position of the object in x, y directions parallel to the input surface is detected, and

the movement of the at least a portion of the virtual layer is controlled in accordance with the detected lateral position.

20. The method of claim 15, wherein a tilt operation for the virtual layer is caused on the basis of the detected lateral position of the object.

21. The method of claim 15, wherein the speed of movement of the object is detected, and

the display operation for the virtual layer is selected in accordance with the detected speed.

22. The method of claim 15, wherein the associated virtual layer and/or the hovering input is detected in response to detecting two or more fingers hovering above the input surface.

23. The method of claim 15, wherein the object is detected to virtually touch a portion of the virtual layer, and

in response to detecting the object to further approach the input surface after detecting the virtual touch, the form of a portion of the virtual layer is adapted to mimic a reaction to a pushing object.

24. The method of claim 15, wherein the movement and/or appearance of the at least a portion of the virtual layer is controlled in accordance with one or more physical properties associated with the virtual layer or one or more graphical user interface items of the virtual layer.

25. A user interface for an electronic device comprising a proximity detection system for detecting presence of an input object in close proximity to an input surface, wherein the user interface is configured to:

detect a displayed virtual layer currently associated with the object on the basis of distance of the object to the input surface,

detect a hovering input by the object, and

cause a display operation to move at least a portion of the associated virtual layer in accordance with the detected hovering input.

26. A computer program product comprising a computer-readable medium bearing computer program code embodied therein for use with a computer, the computer program code comprising code for causing the computer to perform:

detect presence of an object in close proximity to an input surface,

detect a displayed virtual layer currently associated with the object on the basis of distance of the object to the input surface,

detect a hovering input by the object, and

cause a display operation to move at least a portion of the associated virtual layer in accordance with the detected hovering input.