INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS, INFORMATION PROCESSING METHOD, AND PROGRAM

• US 20120306932A1
• Filed: 05/09/2012
• Published: 12/06/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Nakao, Isamu
• Granted Patent: US 10,152,953 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/672
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0304 Detection arrangements using opto-electronic means constructional details of pointing devices not related to the detection arrangement using opto-electronic means G06F3/033; optical digitisers G06F3/042
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/0464 Positioning
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/14 Solving problems related to the presentation of information to be displayed
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2354/00 Aspects of interface with display user
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/003 to produce spatial visual effects
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 3/36 using liquid crystals
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/38 with means for controlling the display position

Abstract

According to an illustrative embodiment, an image display method is provided. The method includes detecting a position of a user, detecting a position of a physical object, and defining a non-display area of a display based on the position of the user and the position of the physical object.

Claims

1. An image display method comprising:

detecting a position of a user;

detecting a position of a physical object; and

defining a non-display area of a display based on the position of the user and the position of the physical object.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising modifying an image to be displayed on the display to move a display object outside the non-display area.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising modifying an image to be displayed on the display to move a display object into the non-display area.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein detecting the physical object comprises detecting a closed curve representing the physical object.

5. The method as recited in claim 4, wherein the non-display area is defined on the basis of the closed curve.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the non-display area is defined according to two lines which partition a surface of the display.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein defining a non-display area comprises defining a non-display area based on respective positions of two or more physical objects and the position of the user, and wherein the non-display area is determined by determining respective non-display areas for the physical objects and generating a logical sum of the respective non-display areas.

8. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein detecting the physical object comprises using an imaging unit.

9. The method as recited in claim 8, wherein the imaging unit is a near-infrared imaging unit.

10. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein detecting the position of the user comprises at least one of using an infrared sensor, using an ultrasonic sensor, using a human heat radiation sensor, and detecting a profile of the user'"'"'s palm.

11. An image display apparatus comprising a processing circuit for detecting a position of a user, detecting a position of a physical object, and defining a non-display area of a display based on the position of the user and the position of the physical object.

12. The apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein the display is integral to the apparatus.

13. The apparatus as recited in claim 11, further comprising an imaging unit for detecting the physical object.

14. The apparatus as recited in claim 13, wherein the imaging unit is a near-infrared imaging unit.

15. The apparatus as recited in claim 13, wherein the display further comprises a backlight and a liquid crystal, and the imaging unit is positioned between the backlight and the liquid crystal.

16. The apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein an image to be displayed on the display is modified to move a display object outside the non-display area.

17. The apparatus as recited in claim 16, wherein the display object is moved gradually and a trace of the display object'"'"'s movement is displayed.

18. The apparatus as recited in claim 11, wherein an image to be displayed on the display is modified to move a display object into the non-display area.

19. An image display apparatus comprising:

means for detecting a position of a user;

means for detecting a position of a physical object; and

means for defining a non-display area of a display based on the position of the user and the position of the physical object.

20. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon a computer-readable program for implementing an image display method comprising

detecting a position of a user;

detecting a position of a physical object; and

defining a non-display area of a display based on the position of the user and the position of the physical object.