Self-orienting display

• US 7,626,598 B2
• Filed: 11/12/2004
• Issued: 12/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Manchester, Scott
• Primary Examiner(s): Yang; Ryan R
• Application Number:
  US10/987,859
• Publication Number:
  US 20050156882A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,845 Days
• Field of Search: 345/619, 345629-640, 345/649, 345/659
• US Class Current: 345/659
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1684 Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1614 Image rotation following screen orientation, e.g. switching from landscape to portrait mode
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2320/0606 Manual adjustment
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/0492 Change of orientation of the displayed image, e.g. upside-down, mirrored
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/14 Solving problems related to the presentation of information to be displayed
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2354/00 Aspects of interface with display user
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/32 with means for controlling the display position see provisionally G09G5/42
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/37 Details of the operation on graphic patterns G09G5/38 takes precedence

Abstract

A self-orienting display senses the characteristics of an object and automatically rotates and reformats a display image in accordance with those characteristics. In one embodiment, the object is the display device, such as a hand held device, that provides the display image. And as the display device is rotated, the display image is continuously rotated until the device is positioned back to its previous orientation. Characteristics may be sensed by mechanical sensors, electrical sensors, optical sensors, acoustic sensors, gyroscopic sensors, or a combination thereof. Sensors may be positioned on the display device, a person, or a combination thereof. The display images may include graphic display images, textual display images, videos display images, and functional control buttons (e.g., functional displayed representations of control buttons such as play, rewind, stop, scroll). The self-orienting display may also include an authenticator that authenticates a user.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for orienting a display image for providing a viewing perspective to a viewer, said method comprising:

determining a first orientation of an object, wherein said object comprises a display device for rendering said display image;

determining a second orientation of said object; and

continuously rotating said display image if said first orientation of said object differs from said second orientation of said object and the object is not in motion, wherein;

the display image is continuously rotated about an axis while maintaining a constant angle between the axis and a viewing perspective of the viewer; and

the display image continues to rotate until the first orientation and the second orientation do not differ.

2. A computer-implemented method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

maintaining an orientation of said display image if said first orientation of said object is the same as said second orientation of said object.

3. A computer-implemented method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

re-determining an orientation of said object;

continuously orienting said display image if said re-determined orientation of said object differs from a preceding determined orientation of said object; and

maintaining an orientation of said display image if said re-determined orientation of said object is the same as said preceding determined orientation of said object, wherein said maintained orientation is indicative of an orientation of said display image when said orientation of said object is re-determined.

4. A computer-implemented method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

orienting said display image to a predetermined orientation if said first orientation of said object is the same as said second orientation of said object.

5. A computer-implemented method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said object comprises said viewer.

6. A computer-implemented method in accordance with claim 5, wherein said first and second orientations of said viewer are indicative of first and second respective positions of a body part of said viewer.

7. A computer-implemented method in accordance with claim 6, wherein said body part comprises a head of said viewer.

8. A computer-implemented method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

orienting said display image in approximately a same direction as a direction of motion of said object when moving from said first orientation to said second orientation.

9. A computer-implemented method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

orienting said display image in approximately an opposite direction as a direction of motion of said object when moving from said first orientation to said second orientation.

10. A computer-implemented method in accordance with claim 1, wherein said display image is capable of being oriented in less than 90 degree increments.

11. A computer-implemented method in accordance with claim 1, wherein orientation of said object is determined via at least one of a magnetic sensor, a gyroscopic sensor, an acoustic sensor, a mechanical sensor, a mercury switch, an optical sensor, and an image sensor.

12. A system for orienting a display image for providing a viewing perspective to a viewer, said method comprising:

a display processor for;

determining a first orientation of an object;

determining a second orientation of said object; and

continuously rotating said display image if said first orientation of said object differs from said second orientation of said object and the object is not in motion, wherein;

the display image is continuously rotated about an axis while maintaining a constant angle between the axis and a viewing perspective of the viewer; and

the display image continues to rotate until the first orientation and the second orientation do not differ.

13. A system in accordance with claim 12, said display processor further:

maintaining an orientation of said display image if said first orientation of said object is the same as said second orientation of said object.

14. A system in accordance with claim 12, said display processor further:

re-determining an orientation of said object;

continuously orienting said display image if said re-determined orientation of said object differs from a preceding determined orientation of said object; and

maintaining an orientation of said display image if said re-determined orientation of said object is the same as said preceding determined orientation of said object, wherein said maintained orientation is indicative of an orientation of said display image when said orientation of said object is re-determined.

15. A system in accordance with claim 12, said display processor further:

orienting said display image to a predetermined orientation if said first orientation of said object is the same as said second orientation of said object.

16. A system in accordance with claim 12, wherein said object comprises said viewer.

17. A system in accordance with claim 16, wherein said first and second orientations of said viewer are indicative of first and second respective positions of a body part of said viewer.

18. A system in accordance with claim 17, wherein said body part comprises a head of said viewer.

19. A system in accordance with claim 12, wherein said object comprises a display device for rendering said display image.

20. A system in accordance with claim 12, said display processor further:

orienting said display image in approximately a same direction as a direction of motion of said object when moving from said first orientation to said second orientation.

21. A system in accordance with claim 12, said display processor further:

orienting said display image in approximately an opposite direction as a direction of motion of said object when moving from said first orientation to said second orientation.

22. A system in accordance with claim 12, wherein said display processor is capable of orienting said display image in less than 90 degree increments.

23. A system in accordance with claim 12, wherein orientation of said object is determined via at least one of a magnetic sensor, a gyroscopic sensor, an acoustic sensor, a mechanical sensor, a mercury switch, an optical sensor, and an image sensor.

24. A computer readable storage medium encoded with a computer program code for providing a viewing perspective to a viewer, said program code comprising:

a first determination code segment for determining a first orientation of an object;

a second determination code segment for determining a second orientation of said object; and

an orient code segment for continuously rotating said display image if said first orientation of said object differs from said second orientation of said object and the object is not in motion, wherein;

the display image is continuously rotated about an axis while maintaining a constant angle between the axis and a viewing perspective of the viewer; and

the display image continues to rotate until the first orientation and the second orientation do not differ.

25. A computer readable storage medium in accordance with claim 24, said program code further comprising:

a maintain code segment for maintaining an orientation of said display image if said first orientation of said object is the same as said second orientation of said object.

26. A computer readable storage medium in accordance with claim 24, said program code further comprising:

a re-determination code segment for re-determining an orientation of said object;

a re-determine orient code segment for continuously orienting said display image if said re-determined orientation of said object differs from a preceding determined orientation of said object; and

a re-determine maintain code segment for maintaining an orientation of said display image if said re-determined orientation of said object is the same as said preceding determined orientation of said object, wherein said maintained orientation is indicative of an orientation of said display image when said orientation of said object is re-determined.

27. A computer readable storage medium in accordance with claim 24, said program code further comprising:

a predetermine orientation code segment for orienting said display image to a predetermined orientation if said first orientation of said object is the same as said second orientation of said object.

28. A computer readable storage medium in accordance with claim 24, wherein said object comprises said viewer.

29. A computer readable medium in accordance with claim 28, wherein said first and second orientations of said viewer are indicative of first and second respective positions of a body part of said viewer.

30. A computer readable storage medium in accordance with claim 29, wherein said body part comprises a head of said viewer.

31. A computer readable storage medium in accordance with claim 24, wherein said object comprises a display device for rendering said display image.

32. A computer readable storage medium in accordance with claim 24, wherein said display image is oriented in approximately a same direction as a direction of motion of said object when moving from said first orientation to said second orientation.

33. A computer readable storage medium in accordance with claim 24, wherein said display image is oriented in approximately an opposite direction as a direction of motion of said object when moving from said first orientation to said second orientation.

34. A computer readable storage medium in accordance with claim 24, wherein said display image is capable of being oriented in less than 90 degree increments.

35. A computer readable storage medium in accordance with claim 24, wherein orientation of said object is determined via at least one of a magnetic sensor, a gyroscopic sensor, an acoustic sensor, a mechanical sensor, a mercury switch, an optical sensor, and an image sensor.