Image control system

• US 7,091,998 B2
• Filed: 11/02/2001
• Issued: 08/15/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/08/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Miller-Smith, Richard M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shalwala, Bipin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kovalick, Vincent E.
• Application Number:
  US10/003,056
• Publication Number:
  US 20030164818A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,747 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/157, 345/161, 345/173, 345/676, 345/684, 345/700, 345/701, 345/810, 345/819, 345/820, 345/835, 345/836, 345/846, 345/856, 345/857, 348/114, 348/552, 348/563, 348/564, 348/734
• US Class Current: 715/810
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0362 with detection of 1D translations or rotations of an operating part of the device, e.g. scroll wheels, sliders, knobs, rollers or belts
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72469 for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4312 involving specific graphical features, e.g. screen layout, special fonts or colors, blinking icons, highlights or animations
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/47 End-user applications

Abstract

An image control system for controlling a menu on a display, comprises a menu arranged as a plurality of simultaneously displayed menu items in a loop and a selector (12) to select an item from the menu, the loop and the selector being moveable with respect to each other. A user input device (4) comprises a control device (6; 16) to generate a control signal to move the loop and the selector (12) relative to each other. The control device (6; 16) has a loop configuration, with movement around the loop of the control device causing corresponding relative movement between the selector (12) and the loop of the menu. Correlation between the loop configuration of the control device and the loop of menu items enables a user to intuitively navigate around a menu of items and select a desired one.

Claims

1. An image control system for controlling a menu on a display, comprising:

a menu for a display, the menu being arranged as a plurality of simultaneously displayed menu items in a loop;

a selector to select a item from the menu, the loop and the selector being moveable with reaped to each other; and

a user input device for inputting an instruction from a user for selecting said menu items from the menu, wherein the user input device comprises a control device to generate a control signal to move the loop and the selector relative to each other, the control device having a loop configuration, wherein movement around the loop configuration of the control device causes a corresponding relative angular movement that is substantially equal between the selector and the loop of the menu.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the user input device comprises at least one force-sensing resistor to receive a force from a user and generate the control signal in dependence on this.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein the control device is a rotary control, rotatable through 360°

to generate the control signal in dependence on the angular position of the control device about the loop configuration to control the position or the movement of the menu and the selector relative to each other.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein the control device is an annular pressure pad to receive pressure from a user and generate the control signal corresponding to the angular position on the pressure pad at which pressure is applied.

5. A system according to claim 1, wherein the menu is ranged in a substantially circular form and wherein change in the control signal causes rotation of the circle with respect to a predetermined point of rotation.

6. A system according to claim 1, wherein the menu is arranged in a carousel arrangement and is displayed in three dimensions on the display.

7. A system according to claim 1, wherein the user input device is a joystick.

8. A system according to claim 1, wherein die user input device is a joystick and the user input device further comprises at least one force-sensing resistor to receive a force from a user and generate the control signal in dependence on this.

9. A television comprising a control system according to claim 1, in which the display is a television screen and the user input device is a television remote control.

10. A mobile telephone handset having a control system according to claim 1, in which the display is the mobile telephone handset display screen and the input device is a rotary control positioned on the front face of the mobile telephone handset.

11. A mobile telephone handset having a control system according to claim 1, in which the display is the mobile telephone handset display screen and the control device is an annular pressure pad to receive pressure from a user and generate the control signal corresponding to the angular position on the pressure at which pressure is applied.

12. An image control system for controlling a menu on a display, comprising:

a menu for a display, the menu being arranged as a plurality of simultaneously displayed menu items in a loop;

a selector within the display for selecting one of the items from the menu, the loop and the selector being moveable with respect to each other; and

a user input device for providing user input for selecting said menu items from the menu, the user input device having an annular control device that generates a control signal to move the loop and the selector relative to each other, wherein users can execute a continuous circular movement upon the annular control device causing a corresponding relative angular movement that is substantially equal between the selector and the loop of the menu.

13. A system according to claim 12, wherein the annular control device comprises at least one force-sensing resistor to receive a force from a user and generate the control signal in dependence on this.

14. A system according to claim 13, wherein the annular control device is a rotary control, to generate the control signal in dependence on the angular position of the control device about the loop configuration to control the position or the movement of the menu and the selector relative to each other.

15. A system according to claim 12, wherein the annular control device further comprises a pressure pad to generate the control signal in response to an angular position on the pressure at which pressure is applied to create a corresponding movement in the loop and the selector relative to each other.

16. A system according to claim 12, wherein the menu is arranged in a substantially circular form and wherein changes in the control signal cause rotation of the circle with respect to a predetermined point of rotation.

17. A system according to claim 12, wherein the menu is arranged in a carousel arrangement and is displayed in three dimensions on the display.

18. A system according to claim 12, wherein the user input device is a joystick and the user input device further comprises at least one force-sensing resister to receive a force from a user and generate the control signal in dependence on this.

19. A mobile telephone handset having a control system according to claim 12, in which the display is the mobile telephone handset display screen and the control device is an annular pressure pod to receive pressure from a user and generate the control signal corresponding to the angular position on the pressure pad at which pressure is applied.

20. A system according to claim 12, wherein the continuous circular movement upon the annular control device causes the corresponding relative movement between the selector and the loop of the menu in a series of discrete steps.