Systems and methods for user interfaces designed for rotary input devices

• US 7,405,729 B2
• Filed: 07/20/2006
• Issued: 07/29/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Original Assignee: Immersion Corporation
• Inventors: Gregorio, Pedro, Thu Timone, Herve, DaCosta, Henry
• Primary Examiner(s): OSORIO, RICARDO
• Application Number:
  US11/489,771
• Publication Number:
  US 20060256098A1
• Time in Patent Office: 740 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/184, 715/810, 715/829, 715/830, 341/35
• US Class Current: 345/184
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning

Abstract

Systems and methods for providing visual navigation cues in user interfaces for use with rotary input devices are described. One described method comprises causing a plurality of graphical objects to be displayed in an arc. The curvature of the arc is configured to convey the ordinal relationship for navigating between each of the plurality of graphical objects with a rotary input device. The curvature of the arc is independent of the spatial relationship between the rotary input device and a display.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a first signal comprising information describing a plurality of graphical objects to be displayed and an orientation of the plurality of graphical objects;

receiving a second signal comprising a position of a rotary input device;

determining a curvature of an arc based at least in part on the orientation of the plurality of graphical objects and the position of the rotary input device;

transmitting a signal comprising the arc and the information describing the plurality of graphical objects.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the orientation comprises a vertical orientation.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the orientation comprises a horizontal orientation.

4. A computer-readable medium on which is encoded processor-executable program code, comprising:

program code for receiving a first signal comprising information describing a plurality of graphical objects to be displayed and an orientation of the plurality of graphical objects;

program code for receiving a second signal comprising a position of a rotary input device;

program code for determining a curvature of an arc based at least in part on the orientation of the plurality of graphical objects and the position of the rotary input device;

program code for transmitting a signal comprising the arc and the information describing the plurality of graphical objects.

5. The computer-readable medium of claim 4, wherein the orientation comprises a vertical orientation.

6. The computer-readable medium of claim 4, wherein the orientation comprises a horizontal orientation.