Visual expander

• US 8,427,445 B2
• Filed: 06/22/2010
• Issued: 04/23/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Kennedy, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Sim, Yong H
• Application Number:
  US12/820,974
• Publication Number:
  US 20100259500A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,036 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173, 345/619, 715/863
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04805 Virtual magnifying lens, i.e. window or frame movable on top of displayed information to enlarge it for better reading or selection
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0414 using force sensing means to determine a position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0416 Control or interface arrangements specially adapted for digitisers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

A computer implemented method for a touchscreen display is disclosed. The method includes presenting graphical information on the touchscreen display. The method further includes detecting a touch over the touchscreen display. The method also includes expanding an area of the touch screen display proximate the location of the touch.

Claims

1. A computing device, comprising:

a touchscreen display;

one or more processors;

memory; and

one or more programs, wherein the one or more programs are stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for;

presenting graphical information on the touchscreen display, wherein the graphical information on the touchscreen display comprises a plurality of regions;

detecting a finger touch at a location on the touchscreen display;

in response to detecting the finger touch, expanding a localized area of the graphical information on the touchscreen display based on region sensitivity, wherein;

the expanded localized area is proximate the location of the finger touch,

the expanded localized area includes a plateau region that displays a magnified portion of the graphical information at a constant magnification level, and

the plateau region with the constant magnification level is expanded to a first fixed size in response to detecting the finger touch when the finger touch is located in a first region in the plurality of regions, and the plateau region with the constant magnification level is expanded to a second fixed size different from the first fixed size in response to detecting the finger touch when the finger touch is located in a second region in the plurality of regions different from the first region; and

,

while continuing to detect the finger touch on the touchscreen display;

detecting a movement of the finger touch over the touchscreen display; and

,

in response to detecting the movement, continuously changing a respective location of the expanded localized area to follow the movement of the finger touch.

2. The computing device as recited in claim 1, wherein the expanded localized area is offset from the respective location of the touch.

3. A method, comprising:

at portable electronic device with a touchscreen display;

presenting graphical information on the touchscreen display, wherein the graphical information on the touchscreen display comprises a plurality of regions;

detecting a finger touch at a location on the touchscreen display;

in response to detecting the finger touch, expanding a localized area of the graphical information on the touchscreen display based on region sensitivity, wherein;

the expanded localized area is proximate the location of the finger touch,

the expanded localized area includes a plateau region that displays a magnified portion of the graphical information at a constant magnification level, and

the plateau region with the constant magnification level is expanded to a first fixed size in response to detecting the finger touch when the finger touch is located in a first region in the plurality of regions, and the plateau region with the constant magnification level is expanded to a second fixed size different from the first fixed size in response to detecting the finger touch when the finger touch is located in a second region in the plurality of regions different from the first region; and

,

while continuing to detect the finger touch on the touchscreen display;

detecting a movement of the finger touch over the touchscreen display; and

,

in response to detecting the movement, continuously changing a respective location of the expanded localized area to follow the movement of the finger touch.

4. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs, including instructions, which when executed by a portable multifunction device with a touchscreen display, cause the device to:

present graphical information on the touchscreen display, wherein the graphical information on the touchscreen display comprises a plurality of regions;

detect a finger touch at a location on the touchscreen display;

in response to detecting the finger touch, expand a localized area of the graphical information on the touchscreen display based on region sensitivity, wherein;

the expanded localized area is proximate the location of the finger touch,

the expanded localized area includes a plateau region that displays a magnified portion of the graphical information at a constant magnification level, and

the plateau region with the constant magnification level is expanded to a first fixed size in response to detecting the finger touch when the finger touch is located in a first region in the plurality of regions, and the plateau region with the constant magnification level is expanded to a second fixed size different from the first fixed size in response to detecting the finger touch when the finger touch is located in a second region in the plurality of regions different from the first region; and

,

while continuing to detect the finger touch on the touchscreen display;

detect a movement of the finger touch over the touchscreen display; and

,

in response to detecting the movement, continuously change a respective location of the expanded localized area to follow the movement of the finger touch.

5. A graphical user interface on a portable electronic device with a touchscreen display, a memory, and one or more processors to execute one or more programs stored in memory, the graphical user interface comprising:

graphical information presented on the touchscreen display, wherein the graphical information on the touchscreen display comprises a plurality of regions;

wherein;

a finger touch is detected at a location on the touchscreen display;

a localized area of the graphical information is expanded on the touchscreen display based on region sensitivity in response detecting the finger touch, wherein;

the expanded localized area is proximate the location of the finger touch,

the expanded localized area includes a plateau region that displays a magnified portion of the graphical information at a constant magnification level, and

the plateau region with the constant magnification level is expanded to a first fixed size in response to detecting the finger touch when the finger touch is located in a first region in the plurality of regions, and the plateau region with the constant magnification level is expanded to a second fixed size different from the first fixed size in response to detecting the finger touch when the finger touch is located in a second region in the plurality of regions different from the first region; and

,

while continuing to detect the finger touch on the touchscreen display;

a movement of the finger touch is detected over the touchscreen display; and

,

a respective location of the expanded localized area is continuously changed to follow the movement of the finger touch in response to detecting the movement of the finger touch.

6. A computing device, comprising:

a touchscreen display;

one or more processors;

memory; and

one or more programs, wherein the one or more programs are stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for;

presenting graphical information on the touchscreen display, wherein the graphical information on the touchscreen display comprises a plurality of regions;

detecting a finger touch at a location on the touchscreen display;

in response to detecting the finger touch, expanding a localized area of the graphical information on the touchscreen display to a first fixed size based on region sensitivity, wherein;

the expanded localized area is proximate the location of the finger touch,

the expanded localized area includes a plateau region with a fixed size that displays a magnified portion of the graphical information at a constant magnification level, and

the constant magnification level of the entire plateau region with the fixed size in the expanded localized area is a first magnification level in response to detecting the finger touch when the finger touch is located in a first region in the plurality of regions, and the constant magnification level of the entire plateau region with the fixed size is a second magnification level different from the first magnification level in response to detecting the finger touch when the finger touch is located in a second region in the plurality of regions different from the first region; and

,

while continuing to detect the finger touch on the touchscreen display;

detecting a movement of the finger touch over the touchscreen display; and

,

in response to detecting the movement, continuously changing a respective location of the expanded localized area to follow the movement of the finger touch.

7. The computing device as recited in claim 6, wherein the expanded localized area is offset from the respective location of the touch.

8. A method, comprising:

at portable electronic device with a touchscreen display;

presenting graphical information on the touchscreen display, wherein the graphical information on the touchscreen display comprises a plurality of regions;

detecting a finger touch at a location on the touchscreen display;

in response to detecting the finger touch, expanding a localized area of the graphical information on the touchscreen display to a first fixed size based on region sensitivity, wherein;

the expanded localized area is proximate the location of the finger touch,

the expanded localized area includes a plateau region with a fixed size that displays a magnified portion of the graphical information at a constant magnification level, and

the constant magnification level of the entire plateau region with the fixed size in the expanded localized area is a first magnification level in response to detecting the finger touch when the finger touch is located in a first region in the plurality of regions, and the constant magnification level of the entire plateau region with the fixed size is a second magnification level different from the first magnification level in response to detecting the finger touch when the finger touch is located in a second region in the plurality of regions different from the first region; and

,

while continuing to detect the finger touch on the touchscreen display;

detecting a movement of the finger touch over the touchscreen display; and

,

in response to detecting the movement, continuously changing a respective location of the expanded localized area to follow the movement of the finger touch.

9. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs, including instructions, which when executed by a portable multifunction device with a touchscreen display, cause the device to:

present graphical information on the touchscreen display, wherein the graphical information on the touchscreen display comprises a plurality of regions;

detect a finger touch at a location on the touchscreen display;

in response to detecting the finger touch, expand a localized area of the graphical information on the touchscreen display to a first fixed size based on region sensitivity, wherein;

the expanded localized area is proximate the location of the finger touch,

the expanded localized area includes a plateau region with a fixed size that displays a magnified portion of the graphical information at a constant magnification level, and

the constant magnification level of the entire plateau region with the fixed size in the expanded localized area is a first magnification level in response to detecting the finger touch when the finger touch is located in a first region in the plurality of regions, and the constant magnification level of the entire plateau region with the fixed size is a second magnification level different from the first magnification level in response to detecting the finger touch when the finger touch is located in a second region in the plurality of regions different from the first region; and

,

while continuing to detect the finger touch on the touchscreen display;

detect a movement of the finger touch over the touchscreen display; and

,

in response to detecting the movement, continuously change a respective location of the expanded localized area to follow the movement of the finger touch.

10. A graphical user interface on a portable electronic device with a touchscreen display, a memory, and one or more processors to execute one or more programs stored in memory, the graphical user interface comprising:

graphical information presented on the touchscreen display, wherein the graphical information on the touchscreen display comprises a plurality of regions;

wherein;

a finger touch is detected at a location on the touchscreen display;

a localized area of the graphical information is expanded on the touchscreen display to a first fixed size based on region sensitivity in response to detecting the finger touch, wherein;

the expanded localized area is proximate the location of the finger touch,

the expanded localized area includes a plateau region with a fixed size that displays a magnified portion of the graphical information at a constant magnification level, and

the constant magnification level of the entire plateau region with the fixed size in the expanded localized area is a first magnification level in response to detecting the finger touch when the finger touch is located in a first region in the plurality of regions, and the constant magnification level of the entire plateau region with the fixed size is a second magnification level different from the first magnification level in response to detecting the finger touch when the finger touch is located in a second region in the plurality of regions different from the first region; and

,

while continuing to detect the finger touch on the touchscreen display;

a movement of the finger touch is detected over the touchscreen display; and

,

a respective location of the expanded localized area is continuously changed to follow the movement of the finger touch in response to detecting the movement of the finger touch.