INFORMATION PROCESSING DEVICE, INFORMATION PROCESSING METHOD, AND PROGRAM

• US 20140225853A1
• Filed: 10/25/2012
• Published: 08/14/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Yamamoto, Daisuke
• Application Number:
  US14/346,146
• Publication Number:
  US 20140225853A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

An apparatus (10) includes a proximity detection information receiving unit (11) and a controller (14). The proximity detection information receiving unit (11) is configured to receive an indication that an object (U1) is in proximity with or touching a surface. The controller (14) is configured to perform a proximity process when the object is in proximity with the surface, end the proximity process when the object is no longer in proximity with the surface, and perform a touch process different than the proximity process when the object is touching the surface.

Claims

1. An apparatus comprising:

a proximity detection information receiving unit configured to receive an indication that an object is in proximity with or touching a surface; and

a controller configured to

perform a proximity process when the object is in proximity with the surface,

end the proximity process when the object is no longer in proximity with the surface, and

perform a touch process different than the proximity process when the object is touching the surface.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controller ends the proximity process when the object touches the surface.

3. The apparatus according to claim 2, wherein the controller cancels the proximity process when the controller ends the proximity process.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, wherein the controller returns the apparatus to an initial state when the controller cancels the proximity process.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controller controls a display to display a plurality of pictures in an initial state.

6. The apparatus according to claim 5, wherein the controller controls the display to focus in on one of the plurality of pictures as the proximity process.

7. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the controller controls the display to gradually focus in on the one of the plurality of pictures as the proximity process.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the controller scrolls through the plurality of images one image at a time based on a rotational movement of the object during the proximity process.

9. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the controller scrolls through the plurality of images one image at a time based on a translational movement of the object during the proximity process.

10. The apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the controller controls the display to display a plurality of menu items as the touch process.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the controller controls the display to display the plurality of menu items superimposed over display of the one of the plurality of pictures.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controller controls a characteristic of an image as the proximity process.

13. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the controller controls a brightness of an image as the proximity process based on a rotational movement of the object.

14. The apparatus according to claim 12, wherein the controller fixes a current value of the characteristic of the image as the touch process.

15. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controller controls a characteristic of a sound output as the proximity process.

16. The apparatus according to claim 15, wherein the controller controls a volume of the sound output as the proximity process based on a rotational movement of the object.

17. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controller performs the proximity process when the object is within a predetermined distance of the surface.

18. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the controller performs the proximity process when the proximity detection information receiving unit receives the indication that the object is in proximity with the surface for a predetermined period of time.

19. A method comprising:

receiving an indication that an object is in proximity with or touching a surface;

performing a proximity process when the object is in proximity with the surface;

ending the proximity process when the object is no longer in proximity with the surface; and

performing a touch process different than the proximity process when the object is touching the surface.

20. A non-transitory computer readable medium encoded with a program that, when loaded on a processor, causes the processor to perform a method comprising:

receiving an indication that an object is in proximity with or touching a surface;

performing a proximity process when the object is in proximity with the surface;

ending the proximity process when the object is no longer in proximity with the surface; and

performing a touch process different than the proximity process when the object is touching the surface.