Small-sized information processor capable of scrolling screen in accordance with tilt, and scrolling method therefor

• US 5,602,566 A
• Filed: 08/23/1994
• Issued: 02/11/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hitachi Maxell Limited (Maxell, Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Yokosuka, Hirobumi, Motosyuku, Hiroshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Hjerpe, Richard
• Assistant Examiner(s): WU, XIAO MIN
• Application Number:
  US08/294,503
• Time in Patent Office: 903 Days
• Field of Search: 345/123, 345/124, 345/125, 345/126, 345/104, 345/173, 345/158, 345/168, 345/169, 345/156, 348/39, 382/312, 382/313, 382/293, 382/295, 382/296
• US Class Current: 345/684
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1684 Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/0225 User interface arrangements, e.g. keyboard, display; Interfaces to other computer systems
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0346 with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors

Abstract

A small-sized information processor which is used while being held in one hand, and which can scroll a display screen in accordance with a tilt. When a scroll start switch is depressed, the tilt angle of a display unit at this time is detected as an initial tilt angle by a tilt sensor. When a predetermined time period has lapsed since the depression of the switch, the tilt angle of the display unit is detected as a second tilt angle by the tilt sensor. The initial tilt angle is subtracted from the second tilt angle by a processing unit, thereby calculating the relative tilt angle of the display unit. The processing unit scrolls the display screen of the display unit on the basis of the calculated relative tilt angle. The scrolling speed of the display unit may well be changed in accordance with the width of the relative tilt angle.

Claims

1. A small-sized information processor which has, at least, a display device provided with a display screen, and which is used while being held in one hand, comprising:

command input means for entering a command for scrolling said display screen, in the state in which said small-sized information processor is held in one hand;

tilt detection means for detecting a relative tilt of said small-sized information processor with respect to a reference tilt thereof assumed when the scroll command is entered; and

scroll means for scrolling said display screen on the basis of the relative tilt detected by said tilt detection means.

2. A small-sized information processor according to claim 1, wherein:

said tilt detection means detects a tilt direction and a tilt angle of said small-sized information processor; and

said scroll means determines a scrolling direction of said display screen on the basis of the detected tilt direction, and a scrolling speed thereof on the basis of the detected tilt angle.

3. A small-sized information processor according to claim 1, wherein said command input means includes a switch which, when actuated, initiates said scroll command, and said switch is mounted at a position at which it can be manipulated with a finger of the hand holding said small-sized information processor.

4. A small-sized information processor according to claim 3, wherein said switch is a pushbutton switch which maintains said scroll command valid while being depressed.

5. A small-sized information processor according to claim 1, wherein said tilt detection means detects a tilt direction with respect to said reference tilt, and

said scroll means determines a scrolling direction of said display on the basis of the tilt direction detected by said tilt detection means.

6. A small-sized information processor according to claim 5, wherein said scroll means determines a scrolling speed of said display screen on the basis of said relative tilt.

7. A small-sized information processor according to claim 3, wherein said scroll means scrolls said display screen as long as said switch is depressed.

8. A scrolling method for a small-sized information processor which has, at least, a display device provided with a display screen, and which is used while being held in one hand, said method comprising the steps of:

entering a command for scrolling said display screen, in the state in which said small-sized information processor is held in one hand;

detecting a relative tilt of said small-sized information processor with respect to a reference tilt thereof assumed when the scroll command has been entered; and

scrolling said display screen on the basis of the detected relative tilt.

9. A small-sized information processor which has, at least, a display device provided with a display screen, and which is used while being held in one hand, comprising:

command input means for entering a scrolling command for scrolling said display screen, in the state in which said small-sized information processor is held in one hand;

tilt detection means for detecting an angle of tilt of said small-sized information processor with respect to a reference plane substantially parallel to the display screen when said scrolling command is entered; and

scroll means actuated by said scrolling command for controlling at least one of the speed and direction of scrolling of said display screen on the basis of the angle of tilt detected by said tilt detection means.

10. A small-sized information processor according to claim 9, wherein:

said tilt detection means detects a tilt direction and a tilt angle of said small-sized information processor; and

said scroll means determines a scrolling direction of said display screen on the basis of the detected tilt direction, and a scrolling speed thereof on the basis of the detected tilt angle.

11. A small-sized information processor according to claim 9, wherein said command input means includes a manual switch which, when actuated, initiates said scroll command, said switch being mounted at a position at which it can be manipulated with a finger of the hand holding said small-sized information processor.

12. A small-sized information processor according to claim 9, wherein said switch is a pushbutton switch which maintains said scroll command valid while being continuously depressed.

13. A small-sized information processor according to claim 11, wherein said tilt detection means detects a tilt angle in terms of degrees relative to the direction of the pull of gravity.

14. A scrolling method for a small-sized information processor which has, at least, a display device provided with a display screen, and which is used while being held in one hand, comprising the steps of:

entering a scrolling command for scrolling said display screen, in the state in which said small-sized information processor is held in one hand;

detecting an angle of tilt of said small-sized information processor with respect to a reference plane substantially parallel to said display screen when said scrolling command is input; and

controlling at least one of the speed and direction of scrolling of said display screen on the basis of the detected angle of tilt.