Input apparatus and input method

• US 6,133,905 A
• Filed: 06/25/1998
• Issued: 10/17/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha (Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Kakimoto, Masashi, Yamamoto, Masayasu, Sato, Keiichiro, Edo, Kenji
• Primary Examiner(s): Hjerpe, Richard A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, KIMNHUNG T
• Application Number:
  US09/104,190
• Time in Patent Office: 845 Days
• Field of Search: 345/146, 345/123, 345/124, 345/125, 345/156, 345/352, 345/353, 379/93.3, 379/96, 379/100, 379/102
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04892 Arrangements for controlling cursor position based on codes indicative of cursor displacements from one discrete location to another, e.g. using cursor control keys associated to different directions or using the tab key arrangements for controlling cursor position based on coordinate signals G06F3/038
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72469 for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons

Abstract

An input apparatus is capable of recognizing an order of selection of a plurality of options displayed in a display region. The input apparatus includes a display unit having the display region with a predetermined coordinate system set thereto, an operating unit including a select key assigned to a direction parallel to one reference axis set in the display region, and a display control unit. The display control unit first causes a predetermined number of options to be displayed in the display region in such an arrangement that predetermined reference points within the options do not have overlapping coordinates in the direction parallel to the reference axis, and that the options form a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns. Then, the display control unit selects one of the options. When the select key of the operating unit is operated by a user, the one option is changed according to the order of selection in response to the key operation.

Claims

1. An apparatus having a display including a display region with a preset coordinate system, and a selector, the apparatus comprising:

a display controller for controlling display of a plurality of selectable options including image information, the options being selectable in a predetermined two-dimensional order of selection in the display region of the display arrangement that predetermined reference points within the options have not overlap, and the options being displayed in a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns, wherein options in at least one of the rows and columns are offset from one another; and

a selector controller for controlling selection of one option from among the plurality of options, the options being selectable in a predetermined two-dimensional order of selection in response to an operation of the selector, operable in only one of the two dimensions.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the display controller causes a predetermined number of options, including the one option selected, and other options consecutive in the predetermined two-dimensional order of selection, to be displayed in the display region.

4. The apparatus of claim 2 or 3, wherein the display controller causes, when there is an option outside the display region and consecutive in the predetermined two-dimensional order of selection with one of the options disposed relatively closest to an end of the display region, a predetermined graphic is displayed in the display region to indicate the presence of such an option.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 or 3, wherein the section controller changes the one option selected to a last or first option in the predetermined two-dimensional order of selection, when the one option selected is the first or last option in the predetermined two-dimensional order of selection and the selector is operated.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the display controller increases or decreases coordinates of the options with an increase in number in the order or selection.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of options are linked by a virtual zig-zag line in the predetermined two-dimensional selection order.

3. An apparatus having a display including a display region with a preset coordinate system, and a selector, the apparatus comprising:

display controller for arranging a plurality of selectable options including image information, the options being selectable in a predetermined two-dimensional order of selection in a virtual region, larger that the display region, and the options being displayed in a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns, wherein options in at least one of the rows and columns are offset from one another, the display controller further for controlling display in a portion of the virtual region congruent with the display region in the display region of the display; and

a selector controller for controlling selection of one option from among the plurality of options, the options being selectable in a predetermined two-dimensional order of selection in response to an operation of the selector, operable in only one of the two dimensions.

8. A method, in which a plurality of selectable options including image information and having a predetermined order of selection are displayed in a display region with a preset coordinate system, and in which one option is selected from among the plurality of options, the method comprising:

causing the plurality of option to be displayed in the display region in such an arrangement that the options are displayed in a predetermined two-dimensional order of selection, and causing the options to be displayed in a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns, wherein options in at least one of the rows and columns are offset from one another; and

changing the selectable option in the predetermined two-dimensional order of selection each time a selector is operated wherein the selector is operable in only one of the two dimension.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein a predetermined number of options, including the one option selected and other options consecutive in the predetermined two-dimensional order of selection, are displayed in the display region.

10. A method, in which a plurality of selectable options including image information and having a predetermined order of selection are displayed in a display region with a preset coordinate system, and in which one option is selected from among the plurality of options, the method comprising:

arranging the plurality of options, selectable in a predetermined two-dimensional order of selection, in a virtual region, larger than the display region, in a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns, and displaying a portion of the virtual region congruent with the display region in the display region, the options in at least one of the rows and columns being offset from one another; and

changing the selectable option in the predetermined two-dimensional order selection each time a selector is operated, wherein the selector is operable in only one of the two dimensions.

11. The method of claim 9 or 10, wherein, when there is an option outside the display region and consecutive in the predetermined two-dimensional order of selection with one of the options disposed relatively closest to an end of the display region, a predetermined graphic is additionally displayed in the display region to indicate the presence of such an option.

12. The method of claim 9 or 10, wherein, when the selectable option is the first or last option in the predetermined two-dimensional order of selection, the one option selected is changed to the last or first option in the predetermined two-dimensional order of selection when the selector is operated.