Method and apparatus for software control of viewing parameters

• US 6,982,695 B1
• Filed: 04/22/1999
• Issued: 01/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Access Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Palmsource Incorporated (Access Company Limited)
• Inventors: Twiss, Robert Gregory, Canova, Francis James Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Lefkowitz, Sumati
• Assistant Examiner(s): ENGLISH, ALECIA DIANE
• Application Number:
  US09/298,538
• Time in Patent Office: 2,448 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/169, 345/973, 345/974, 345/11, 345/10, 345/147, 345/164, 345/184, 345/173, 348/686
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/974 Slider control as on-screen object in operator interface

Abstract

The invention provides a method for software contrast control and a portable computer implementing software contrast control. The contrast control is initiated by a single interaction with an input mechanism, for example a pressing of a dedicated contrast control button. The method can be applied more generally to viewing parameters other than contrast such as brightness, color bit depth, color versus monochrome, and screen resolution. The method includes a processor disposed in the portable computer receiving an activation signal from a button or other input mechanism, and displaying viewing parameter adjustment graphics on the image screen. The method continues with the processor receiving a viewing parameter adjustment signal and responding to the adjustment signal by adjusting the viewing parameter levels for the image screen to levels based on the adjustment graphics. The method can include activating the input mechanism by applying a single interaction to thereto prior to the receiving of the activation signal for viewing parameter control. The portable computer can include a display, a contrast control hardware button, a processor, and a memory. The viewing parameter levels vary in response to image screen drive voltages. The processor responds to input applied to the viewing parameter control graphical user interface elements by adjusting the viewing parameters. The applying of the input includes one or more of selecting and adjusting one or more of the viewing parameter control graphical user interface elements.

Claims

1. A method executed on a personal digital assistant for adjusting levels of a viewing parameter for an image screen disposed on the personal digital assistant, wherein the image screen includes pixels having output levels, the method comprising:

detecting an activation signal for viewing a parameter control in response to user operation of a mechanical button disposed on the personal digital assistant;

in response to receiving the activation signal, displaying one or more graphical user-interface elements, the one or more graphical user-interface elements forming at least a portion of the parameter control on the image screen, the one or more graphical user-interface elements including a bar and a slider;

detecting an interaction between a user and the one or more graphical user-interface elements, the interaction corresponding to an adjustment of the viewing parameter from a prior value to a new value;

in response to detecting the interaction, adjusting the value of the viewing parameter for the image screen to the new value, wherein adjusting includes adjusting image screen drive voltages to adjusted voltages based on the new value, the pixels being receptive to the image screen drive voltages so that the pixel output levels respond to the adjusted voltages by providing an adjusted image having an adjusted contrast or brightness;

wherein detecting an interaction between a user and the one or more graphical user-interface elements includes detecting continuous contact on the image screen of a user-controlled object over the slider along the bar displayed on the image screen, from a first location corresponding to the prior value to a second location corresponding to the new value;

wherein said personal digital assistant executes an operating system; and

wherein a process, running on said personal digital assistant and executing under control of said operating system, causes the displaying of said graphical user-interface elements.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the image screen includes portions adapted for illumination by groups of pixels including a first portion configured for illumination by a first group of pixels, and wherein the adjusting includes:

maintaining the image screen drive voltages at low levels for one or more of the groups of pixels, and

adjusting the image screen drive voltages to adjusted voltages corresponding to the new value for the first group of pixels, the first portion covering less than approximately twenty-percent of the image screen, and wherein the method includes the personal digital assistant displaying selected information only on the first portion.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein

in response to receiving the activation signal, displaying one or more graphical user-interface elements includes displaying an icon, and

detecting an interaction between a user and the one or more graphical user-interface elements includes detecting the user contacting the icon after moving the slider to the second position;

and

wherein the method further comprises accepting the new value of the viewing parameter for adjusting image screen drive voltages only if the user contacts the icon.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein

detecting an interaction between a user and the one or more graphical user-interface elements includes detecting the user contacting the bar either to a left side or right side of the slider, wherein contact to one of the left side or right side corresponds to the new value being less than the prior value, and contact to the other of the left side or right side corresponds to the new value being greater than the prior value.

5. A personal digital assistant comprising:

an image screen comprising pixels, wherein the image screen is adapted to display items of information at levels corresponding to values of a viewing parameter, the values of the viewing parameter vary in response to image screen drive voltages, and different groups of the pixels have different image screen drive voltages;

a mechanical button that is disposed on the personal digital assistant and that is actuatable to initiate adjustment of viewing parameter values;

a processor;

a memory coupled with the processor;

the processor being configured to;

execute an operating system;

run a process under control of said operating system;

respond to user operation of the mechanical button by displaying graphical user-interface elements adapted for adjusting the viewing parameter values, the graphical user-interface elements including a slider that can move along a bar;

wherein said process causes the display of the graphical user-interface elements;

detect a continuous physical contact applied to the image screen starting at a first location where the slider is approximately displayed, and ending at a second location that indicates a change in the values of the viewing parameter;

graphically move the slider along the bar from the first location to approximately the second location in response to detecting the continuous physical contact;

respond to the continuous contact by adjusting the values of the viewing parameter based on the change.

6. The personal digital assistant of claim 5, wherein the more than approximately eighty percent of the pixels have a value of the viewing parameter corresponding to a first image screen drive voltage.

7. A method executed on a personal digital assistant for adjusting levels of a viewing parameter for an image screen disposed on the personal digital assistant, wherein the image screen includes pixels having output levels, the method comprising:

maintaining the personal digital assistant in a low power state until any one of a plurality of mechanical input mechanisms is actuated by user operation of said any one of the plurality of mechanical input mechanisms;

detecting a first input mechanism in the plurality of mechanical input mechanisms being actuated, the first input mechanism being previously associated with displaying one or more graphical user-interface elements;

in response to detecting the first input mechanism being actuated, then automatically performing steps (a)–

(c);

(a) switching the personal digital assistant to an higher power state,

(b) displaying on at least a portion of the image screen a content from a previous use of an application on the personal digital assistant, and

(c) displaying one or more graphical user-interface elements for adjusting a value of a viewing parameter, the one or more graphical user-interface elements including a slider and a bar;

detecting continuous contact on the image screen corresponding to where the slider is being displayed, the continuous contact extending between a first location of the slider on the bar and a second location of the slider on the bar, the second location of the contact determining a new value for the viewing parameter;

adjusting the value of the viewing parameter for the image screen to the new value by adjusting drive voltages of the image screen to correspond to the new value for the viewing parameter, the pixels being receptive to the image screen drive voltages so that the pixel output levels respond to the adjusted voltages by providing an adjusted image;

wherein said personal digital assistant executes an operating system; and

wherein a process, running on said personal digital assistant and executing under control of said operating system, causes the displaying of said graphical user-interface elements.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein displaying one or more graphical user-interface elements for adjusting a value of a viewing parameter includes enabling the slider to be moved to a plurality of positions, including the first location and the second location.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein displaying on at least a portion of the image screen a content from a previous use of an application on the personal digital assistant includes displaying a most recently displayed content of the application prior to the personal digital assistant being maintained in the low power state.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein displaying a most recently displayed content of the application prior to the personal digital assistant being in the low power state includes displaying a most recently displayed content prior to the personal digital assistant being maintained in the low power state.

11. A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions for adjusting levels of a viewing parameter for an image screen disposed on a personal digital assistant, wherein the image screen includes pixels having output levels, wherein execution of the one or more sequences of instructions by one or more processors of the personal digital assistant causes the one or more processors to perform the steps of:

detecting an activation signal for viewing a parameter control in response to user operation of a mechanical button disposed on the personal digital assistant;

in response to receiving the activation signal, displaying one or more graphical user-interface elements, the one or more graphical user-interface elements forming at least a portion of the parameter control on the image screen, the one or more graphical user-interface elements including a bar and a slider;

detecting an interaction between a user and the one or more graphical user-interface elements, the interaction corresponding to an adjustment of the viewing parameter from a prior value to a new value;

in response to detecting the interaction, adjusting the value of the viewing parameter for the image screen to the new value, wherein adjusting includes adjusting image screen drive voltages to adjusted voltages based on the new value, the pixels being receptive to the image screen drive voltages so that the pixel output levels respond to the adjusted voltages by providing an adjusted image having an adjusted contrast or brightness;

wherein detecting an interaction between a user and the one or more graphical user-interface elements includes detecting continuous contact on the image screen of a user-controlled object over the slider along the bar displayed on the image screen, from a first location corresponding to the prior value to a second location corresponding to the new value;

wherein said personal digital assistant executes an operating system; and

wherein a process, running on said personal digital assistant and executing under control of said operating system, causes the displaying of said graphical user-interface elements.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 11,

wherein the image screen includes portions adapted for illumination by groups of pixels including a first portion configured for illumination by a first group of pixels;

wherein the adjusting includes;

maintaining the image screen drive voltages at low levels for one or more of the groups of pixels, and

adjusting the image screen drive voltages to adjusted voltages corresponding to the new value for the first group of pixels, the first portion covering less than approximately twenty-percent of the image screen; and

wherein the one or more sequences of instructions include further one or more instructions for the personal digital assistant displaying selected information only on the first portion.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein

in response to receiving the activation signal, displaying one or more graphical user-interface elements includes displaying an icon, and

detecting an interaction between a user and the one or more graphical user-interface elements includes detecting the user contacting the icon after moving the slider to the second position;

and

wherein the one or more sequences of instructions includes one or more sequences of instructions for accepting the new value of the viewing parameter for adjusting image screen drive voltages only if the user contacts the icon.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 11, wherein detecting an interaction between a user and the one or more graphical user-interface elements includes detecting the user contacting the bar either to a left side or right side of the slider, wherein contact to one of the left side or right side corresponds to the new value being less than the prior value, and contact to the other of the left side or right side corresponds to the new value being greater than the prior value.

15. A computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions for adjusting levels of a viewing parameter for an image screen disposed on a personal digital assistant, wherein the image screen includes pixels having output levels, wherein execution of the one or more sequences of instructions by one or more processors of the personal digital assistant causes the one or more processors to perform the steps of:

maintaining the personal digital assistant in a low power state until any one of a plurality of mechanical input mechanisms is actuated by user operation of said any one of the plurality of mechanical input mechanisms;

detecting a first input mechanism in the plurality of mechanical input mechanisms being actuated, the first input mechanism being previously associated with displaying one or more graphical user-interface elements;

in response to detecting the first input mechanism being actuated, then automatically performing steps (a)–

(c);

(a) switching the personal digital assistant to an higher power state,

(b) displaying on at least a portion of the image screen a content from a previous use of an application on the personal digital assistant, and

(c) displaying one or more graphical user-interface elements for adjusting a value of a viewing parameter, the one or more graphical user-interface elements including a slider and a bar;

detecting continuous contact on the image screen corresponding to where the slider is being displayed, the continuous contact extending between a first location of the slider on the bar and a second location of the slider on the bar, the second location of the contact determining a new value for the viewing parameter;

adjusting the value of the viewing parameter for the image screen to the new value by adjusting drive voltages of the image screen to correspond to the new value for the viewing parameter, the pixels being receptive to the image screen drive voltages so that the pixel output levels respond to the adjusted voltages by providing an adjusted image;

wherein said personal digital assistant executes an operating system; and

wherein a process, running on said personal digital assistant and executing under control of said operating system, causes the displaying of said graphical user-interface elements.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein displaying one or more graphical user-interface elements for adjusting a value of a viewing parameter includes enabling the slider to be moved to a plurality of positions, including the first location and the second location.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein displaying on at least a portion of the image screen a content from a previous use of an application on the personal digital assistant includes displaying a most recently displayed content of the application prior to the personal digital assistant being maintained in the low power state.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 15, wherein displaying a most recently displayed content of the application prior to the personal digital assistant being in the low power state includes displaying a most recently displayed content prior to the personal digital assistant being maintained in the low power state.