Apparatus and method to input a position and scrolling a displayed image relative to the input position

• US 9,047,000 B2
• Filed: 10/19/2011
• Issued: 06/02/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 10/27/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Kondo, Masao, Sawai, Kunihito, Machida, Yuichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Sams, Michelle L
• Application Number:
  US13/276,891
• Publication Number:
  US 20120105488A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,322 Days
• Field of Search: 345/672, 345/684
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 3/20 Linear translation of whole images or parts thereof, e.g. panning

Abstract

An image processing apparatus includes a position movement input unit configured to receive a position movement instruction from a user, a pointer movement unit configured to set a position of a pointer that moves in accordance with the instruction, and a screen movement unit configured to scroll a screen based on a relative position of the pointer with respect to a reference point of a predefined area around the pointer, the screen movement unit configured to move the predefined area to keep the pointer inside the predefined area when the pointer is at a border of the predefined area and moves towards an outside of the predefined area.

Claims

1. An image processing apparatus comprising:

a position movement input device configured to receive a position movement instruction; and

processing circuitry configured to

set a position of a pointer that moves in accordance with the position movement instruction;

scroll a screen based on a relative position of the pointer with respect to a reference point in a predefined area around the pointer; and

move the predefined area and maintain the pointer inside the predefined area to keep the pointer inside the predefined area when the pointer is at a border of the predefined area and moves towards an outside of the predefined area, wherein a shape of the predefined area is maintained.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predefined area has a circular shape.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the reference point is a center point of the predefined area.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to move the reference point with the predefined area.

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to scroll the screen in a horizontal direction when the pointer is moved in a predetermined range centered around the horizontal direction.

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the position movement input device is a touch panel.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to scroll the screen based on the relative position of the pointer with respect to the reference point when a predetermined input is detected.

8. The apparatus according to claim 7, wherein the reference point moves with the pointer according to the position movement instruction when the predetermined input is not detected.

9. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a scroll speed of the screen is determined by the relative position of the pointer with respect to the reference point.

10. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a scroll direction of the screen is determined by the relative position of the pointer with respect to the reference point.

11. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to display an image of the pointer on the screen.

12. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to display an image of the predefined area on the screen.

13. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the position movement input device further comprises:

a sensor configured to sense an amount of pressure exerted by a user on the position movement input device, and

a scroll speed of the screen is determined by the amount of pressure sensed by the sensor.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to scroll the screen faster when the amount of pressure sensed by the sensor increases.

15. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to scroll the screen based on the relative position of the reference point.

16. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the processing circuitry is further configured to

display an image of a second area on the screen, the second area overlapping the predefined area;

and

modify a shape of the second area on the screen when the pointer contacts the border of the predefined area.

17. An image processing method comprising:

receiving a position movement instruction;

setting, by circuitry, a position of a pointer that moves in accordance with the position movement instruction;

scrolling, by the circuitry, a screen based on a relative position of the pointer with respect to a reference point of a predefined area around the pointer; and

moving, by the circuitry, the predefined area and maintaining the pointer inside the predefined area to keep the pointer inside the predefined area when the pointer is at a border of the predefined area and moves towards an outside of the predefined area, wherein a shape of the predefined area is maintained.

18. A non-transitory computer readable medium encoded with computer readable instructions which, when loaded onto a processor, cause the processor to perform a method, the method comprising:

receiving a position movement instruction;

setting a position of a pointer that moves in accordance with the position movement instruction;

scrolling a screen based on a relative position of the pointer with respect to a reference point of a predefined area around the pointer; and

moving the predefined area and maintaining the pointer inside the predefined area to keep the pointer inside the predefined area when the pointer is at a border of the predefined area and moves towards an outside of the predefined area, wherein a shape of the predefined area is maintained.