Interface orientation using shadows
First Claim
1. A method of orienting a user interface element on a computer display, comprising the steps of:
- detecting a point of physical contact on said computer display by a first portion of an object to cause a request for an interface element;
detecting a shadow cast by a second portion of said object on said computer display;
determining a representative point of said shadow cast by said second portion of said object;
determining a shadow axis formed by said representative point of said shadow cast by said second portion of said object and said point of physical contact;
determining an angular orientation of said shadow axis formed by said representative point of said shadow cast by said second portion of said object and said point of physical contact, wherein said angular orientation is based on a reference angle; and
displaying said interface element on said display, wherein said interface element is displayed in accordance with said determined angular orientation of said shadow axis formed by said representative point of said shadow cast by said second portion of said object and said point of physical contact.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A graphical user interface system may position and orient a user interface element to be displayed on an optically-sensitive display surface. The position of the object may be based on the position of a point of contact that an object (e.g., a person'"'"'s finger, a block of wood, etc.) makes against the display surface. The orientation of the object may be determined using the shadow cast by the object on the surface. An axis may be determined between the shadow and the point of contact, and the axis may be used as a frame of reference (e.g., a vertical axis) for the orientation of the interface element. Further movement of the object and/or shadow can either result in further movement/reorientation of the interface, or as an actual input to the interface. If used for an actual input, the interface may be fixed at its initial position and orientation to allow the additional movement to be interpreted.
141 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of orienting a user interface element on a computer display, comprising the steps of:
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detecting a point of physical contact on said computer display by a first portion of an object to cause a request for an interface element; detecting a shadow cast by a second portion of said object on said computer display; determining a representative point of said shadow cast by said second portion of said object; determining a shadow axis formed by said representative point of said shadow cast by said second portion of said object and said point of physical contact; determining an angular orientation of said shadow axis formed by said representative point of said shadow cast by said second portion of said object and said point of physical contact, wherein said angular orientation is based on a reference angle; and displaying said interface element on said display, wherein said interface element is displayed in accordance with said determined angular orientation of said shadow axis formed by said representative point of said shadow cast by said second portion of said object and said point of physical contact. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. One or more computer-readable media storing computer executable instructions for performing the following steps:
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detecting a point of physical contact on a user interface by a first portion of an object to cause a request for an interface element; detecting a shadow cast by a second portion of said object on said user interface; determining a representative point of said shadow cast by said second portion of said object; determining a shadow axis formed by said representative point of said shadow cast by said second portion of said object and said point of physical contact; determining an angular orientation of said shadow axis formed by said representative point of said shadow cast by said second portion of said object and said point of physical contact; displaying said interface element on said user interface, wherein said interface element is displayed in accordance with said determined angular orientation of said shadow axis formed by said representative point of said shadow cast by said second portion of said object and said point of physical contact. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method of orienting a user interface element on a computer display, comprising the steps of:
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detecting a point of physical contact on said computer display by a first portion of an object to cause a request for an interface element; detecting a shadow cast by a second portion of said object on said computer display; determining a representative point of said shadow cast by said second portion of said object; determining a shadow axis formed by said representative point of said shadow cast by said second portion of said object and said point of physical contact; determining an angular orientation of said shadow axis formed by said representative point of said shadow cast by said second portion of said object and said point of physical contact, wherein said angular orientation is based on a reference angle; displaying said interface element on said display, wherein said interface element is aligned with said shadow axis by rotating a frame of reference of said interface element based on said reference angle, and wherein said interface element is offset from said point of contact in accordance with a predefined offset parameter; and maintaining said interface element at an initial position while detecting further movement of said object with respect to said element. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification