Information display apparatus, image taking apparatus, and method and computer program for controlling displaying information

• US 8,848,087 B2
• Filed: 07/16/2012
• Issued: 09/30/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Hiratsuka, Yosuke
• Primary Examiner(s): VU, NGOC YEN T
• Application Number:
  US13/550,028
• Publication Number:
  US 20120281117A1
• Time in Patent Office: 806 Days
• Field of Search: 348/333.02, 345/173, 396/374
• US Class Current: 348/333.02
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0227 Cooperation and interconnection of the input arrangement with other functional units of a computer G06F3/023 - G06F3/037 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00411 the display also being used for user input, e.g. touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00413 using menus, i.e. presenting the user with a plurality of selectable options H04N1/00464 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/631 Graphical user interfaces [GUI] specially adapted for controlling image capture or setting capture parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/633 for displaying additional information relating to control or operation of the camera

Abstract

An information display apparatus includes an input device adapted to input user operation information, a touch sensor adapted to detect the state of the input device in terms of whether the input device is touched by a user, a display adapted to display information, and a control unit adapted to receive user operation information from the input device and sensor detection information from the touch sensor, and control displaying of the information on the display in accordance with the received user operation information and the sensor detection information. If the touch information indicating that the input device is touched by the user is received from the touch sensor, the control unit displays first information associated with the input device on the display. If the input device is maintained in the touched state longer than a predetermined period, the control unit switches the displayed information into second information.

Claims

1. An information display apparatus comprising:

a user interface including a display configured to display a plurality of objects;

a touch sensor configured to detect a state of an input to the user interface; and

circuitry configured to

receive sensor detection information from the touch sensor;

control the display to apply a first visual effect to at least one of the plurality of objects without changing a layout or orientation of the plurality of objects on the display when the sensor detection information indicates that a touch input received corresponding to the at least one of the plurality of objects is maintained over a time period less than a predetermined threshold;

control the display to apply a second visual effect to the at least one of the plurality of objects without changing the layout or the orientation of the plurality of objects on the display when the sensor detection information indicates that the touch input received corresponding to the at least one of the plurality of objects is maintained over a time period equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold; and

control the display to apply a third visual effect to the at least one of the plurality of objects when the sensor detection information indicates that the touch input received corresponding to the at least one of the plurality of objects is maintained over a time period equal to or greater than a second predetermined threshold, which is greater than the predetermined threshold.

2. The information display apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first visual effect corresponds to brief explanatory information, the second visual effect corresponds to first-level detailed explanatory information, and the third visual effect corresponds to second-level detailed explanatory information.

3. A method of controlling displaying information, executed by an information display apparatus, the method comprising:

producing an image of a subject by an imaging unit including a lens unit of the information display apparatus;

storing the image produced by the imaging unit in a memory of the information display apparatus;

controlling a display of a user interface of the information display apparatus to display a plurality of objects;

receiving sensor detection information from a touch sensor associated with the user interface including the display configured to display the plurality of objects;

controlling, by circuitry of the information display apparatus, the display to apply a first visual effect to at least one of the plurality of objects without changing a layout or orientation of the plurality of objects on the display when the sensor detection information indicates that a touch input received corresponding to the least one of the plurality of objects is maintained over a time period less than a predetermined threshold;

controlling, by the circuitry, the display to apply a second visual effect to the at least one of the plurality of objects without changing the layout or the orientation of the plurality of objects on the display when the sensor detection information indicates that the touch input received corresponding to the at least one of the plurality of objects is maintained over a time period equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold; and

providing power to the circuitry by a power supply of the information display apparatus.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the first visual effect corresponds to brief explanatory information, and the second visual effect corresponds to detailed explanatory information.

5. The method according to claim 3, wherein the first visual effect includes a name, and the second visual effect includes at least one of operation information, function information and setting information.

6. The method according to claim 3, further comprising:

controlling the display to change display information when the sensor detection information indicates that a touch input is no longer received corresponding to the at least one of the plurality of objects.

7. The method according to claim 3, wherein the user interface further includes at least one of a shutter button, a mode selection dial, a zoom button, an operation button, and a multi-function operation button.

8. The method according to claim 3, further comprising:

controlling the display to stop applying the first or second visual effect when the sensor detection information indicates that a touch input is no longer received corresponding to the at least one of the plurality of objects.

9. The method according to claim 3, wherein the user interface includes a button having an input function that changes depending on a mode in which an operation mode is currently set.

10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising:

controlling the display to apply the first or second visual effect based on the current operation mode.

11. The method according to claim 3, wherein the user interface includes a button having an input function configured to be set so as to have a function selected by a user.

12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising:

controlling the display to apply the first or second visual effect based on the function currently set.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable medium including computer-program instructions, which when executed by an information processing apparatus, cause the information processing apparatus to perform a method comprising:

producing an image of a subject by an imaging unit including a lens unit of the information display apparatus;

storing the image produced by the imaging unit in a memory of the information display apparatus;

controlling a display of a user interface of the information display apparatus to display a plurality of objects;

receiving sensor detection information from a touch sensor associated with the user interface including the display configured to display the plurality of objects;

controlling, by circuitry of the information display apparatus, the display to apply a first visual effect to at least one of the plurality of objects without changing a layout or orientation of the plurality of objects on the display when the sensor detection information indicates that a touch input received corresponding to the least one of the plurality of objects is maintained over a time period less than a predetermined threshold;

controlling, by the circuitry, the display to apply a second visual effect to the at least one of the plurality of objects without changing the layout or the orientation of the plurality of objects on the display when the sensor detection information indicates that the touch input received corresponding to the at least one of the plurality of objects is maintained over a time period equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold; and

providing power to the circuitry by a power supply of the information display apparatus.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 13, wherein the first visual effect corresponds to brief explanatory information, and the second visual effect corresponds to detailed explanatory information.

15. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 13, wherein the first visual effect includes a name, and the second visual effect includes at least one of operation information, function information and setting information.

16. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 13, the method further comprising:

controlling the display to change display information when the sensor detection information indicates that a touch input is no longer received corresponding to the at least one of the plurality of objects.

17. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 13, wherein the user interface further includes at least one of a shutter button, a mode selection dial, a zoom button, an operation button, and a multi-function operation button.

18. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 13, the method further comprising:

controlling the display to stop applying the first or second visual effect when the sensor detection information indicates that a touch input is no longer received corresponding to the at least one of the plurality of objects.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 13, wherein the user interface includes a button having an input function that changes depending on a mode in which an operation mode is currently set.

20. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 19, the method further comprising:

controlling the display to apply the first or second visual effect based on the current operation mode.

21. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 13, wherein the user interface includes a button having an input function configured to be set so as to have a function selected by a user.

22. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 21, the method further comprising:

controlling the display to apply the first or second visual effect based on the function currently set.

23. An image capturing apparatus comprising:

an imaging unit including lens unit configured to produce an image of a subject;

a memory configured to store the image produced by the imaging unit;

a user interface including a display configured to display a plurality of objects;

a touch sensor configured to detect a state of an input to the user interface;

circuitry configured to

receive sensor detection information from the touch sensor;

control the display to apply a first visual effect to at least one of the plurality of objects without changing a layout or orientation of the plurality of objects on the display when the sensor detection information indicates that a touch input received corresponding to the at least one of the plurality of objects is maintained over a time period less than a predetermined threshold; and

control the display to apply a second visual effect to the at least one of the plurality of objects without changing the layout or the orientation of the plurality of objects on the display when the sensor detection information indicates that the touch input received corresponding to the at least one of the plurality of objects is maintained over a time period equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold; and

a power supply configured to supply power to the circuitry.

24. The information display apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the first visual effect corresponds to brief explanatory information, and the second visual effect corresponds to detailed explanatory information.

25. The information display apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the first visual effect includes a name, and the second visual effect includes at least one of operation information, function information and setting information.

26. The information display apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the circuitry is configured to control the display to change display information when the sensor detection information indicates that a touch input is no longer received corresponding to the at least one of the plurality of objects.

27. The information display apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the user interface further includes at least one of a shutter button, a mode selection dial, a zoom button, an operation button, and a multi-function operation button.

28. The information display apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the circuitry is configured to control the display to stop applying the first or second visual effect when the sensor detection information indicates that a touch input is no longer received corresponding to the at least one of the plurality of objects.

29. The information display apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the user interface includes a button having an input function that changes depending on a mode in which an operation mode is currently set.

30. The information display apparatus according to claim 29, wherein the circuitry is configured to control the display to apply the first or second visual effect based on the current operation mode.

31. The information display apparatus according to claim 23, wherein the user interface includes a button having an input function configured to be set so as to have a function selected by a user.

32. The information display apparatus according to claim 31, wherein the circuitry is configured to control the display to apply the first or second visual effect based on the function currently set.

33. A method of controlling displaying information, executed by an information display apparatus, the method comprising:

receiving sensor detection information from a touch sensor associated with a user interface including a display configured to display a plurality of objects;

controlling the display to apply a first visual effect to at least one of the plurality of objects without changing a layout or orientation of the plurality of objects on the display when the sensor detection information indicates that a touch input received corresponding to the least one of the plurality of objects is maintained over a time period less than a predetermined threshold; and

controlling the display to apply a second visual effect to the at least one of the plurality of objects without changing the layout or the orientation of the plurality of objects on the display when the sensor detection information indicates that the touch input received corresponding to the at least one of the plurality of objects is maintained over a time period equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold; and

controlling the display to apply a third visual effect to the at least one of the plurality of objects when the sensor detection information indicates that the touch input received corresponding to the at least one of the plurality of objects is maintained over a time period equal to or greater than a second predetermined threshold, which is greater than the predetermined threshold.

34. The method according to claim 33, wherein the first visual effect corresponds to brief explanatory information, the second visual effect corresponds to first-level detailed explanatory information, and the third visual effect corresponds to second-level detailed explanatory information.

35. A non-transitory computer-readable medium including computer-program instructions, which when executed by an information processing apparatus, cause the information processing apparatus to perform a method comprising:

receiving sensor detection information from a touch sensor associated with a user interface including a display configured to display a plurality of objects;

controlling the display to apply a first visual effect to at least one of the plurality of objects without changing a layout or orientation of the plurality of objects on the display when the sensor detection information indicates that a touch input received corresponding to the least one of the plurality of objects is maintained over a time period less than a predetermined threshold;

controlling the display to apply a second visual effect to the at least one of the plurality of objects without changing the layout or the orientation of the plurality of objects on the display when the sensor detection information indicates that the touch input received corresponding to the at least one of the plurality of objects is maintained over a time period equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold; and

controlling the display to apply a third visual effect to the at least one of the plurality of objects when the sensor detection information indicates that the touch input received corresponding to the at least one of the plurality of objects is maintained over a time period equal to or greater than a second predetermined threshold, which is greater than the predetermined threshold.

36. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 35, wherein the first visual effect corresponds to brief explanatory information, the second visual effect corresponds to first-level detailed explanatory information, and the third visual effect corresponds to second-level detailed explanatory information.