Image display apparatus and method for operating the same

• US 9,152,244 B2
• Filed: 01/13/2012
• Issued: 10/06/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Original Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc. (LG Corporation)
• Inventors: Lee, Minsup, Woo, Sangrea
• Primary Examiner(s): Yodichkas, Aneeta
• Application Number:
  US13/350,664
• Publication Number:
  US 20120194427A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,362 Days
• Field of Search: 345/157, 345/158, 345/169
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/033 Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user , e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor digitisers characterised by the transducing means G06F3/041
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0346 with detection of the device orientation or free movement in a 3D space, e.g. 3D mice, 6-DOF [six degrees of freedom] pointers using gyroscopes, accelerometers or tilt-sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0383 Signal control means within the pointing device

Abstract

According to an embodiment of the present invention, a method for operating an image display device using a pointing device includes receiving, from the pointing device, a first signal and a second signal to display a pointer at a particular location on a screen of the image display device, wherein the first signal initiates displaying of the pointer in accordance with a first input selection of the pointing device, determining whether coordinates corresponding to the second signal to display the pointer are outside an active area, wherein the active area is greater than an actual size of the screen, and resetting the coordinates to new coordinates corresponding to a pre-designated area of the screen and displaying the pointer at the pre-designated area of the screen when the coordinates are determined to be outside the active area.

Claims

1. A method for operating an image display device using a pointing device, the method comprising:

receiving, from the pointing device, a signal to display a pointer on a display;

outputting, on the display, an image;

outputting, together with the displayed image, the pointer in a particular area of the display in response to the signal to display the pointer based on at least one of a particular input selection or a particular movement of the pointing device;

moving the pointer to a pre-designated area of the display to display the pointer at the pre-designated area corresponding to a repetitive movement of the pointing device in a predetermined pattern;

keeping the pointer in an inactive state once the pointer is displayed at the pre-designated area of the display; and

switching a state of the pointer from the inactive state to the active state when a predetermined time has elapsed or when an active command is received after the pointing device is moved to the pre-designated area of the display.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the pre-designated area is a central area of the display or a previous display area of the pointer.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

moving the pointer to a first side of the display in correspondence with a movement of the pointing device in a particular direction;

outputting the pointer at the first side of the display in correspondence with the movement of the pointing device in the particular direction; and

moving and outputting the pointer to and at a second side of the display when the movement of the pointing device in the particular direction is continued.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the first side and the second side of the display are symmetrical with respect to a center of the display.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the repetitive movement includes an operation of shaking of the pointing device in a horizontal or vertical direction or an operation of rotating the pointing device in a circular shape.

6. An image display device using a pointing device, comprising:

a display configured to display an image and a pointer;

an interface configured to receive a signal from the pointing device to display and move the pointer; and

a controller configured to control the pointer to be displayed in a particular area of the display based on at least one of a particular input selection or a particular movement of the pointing device, and to move the pointer to a pre-designated area of the display to display the pointer at the pre-designated area corresponding to a repetitive movement of the pointing device in a predetermined pattern,

wherein the controller keeps the pointer in an inactive state once the pointer is displayed at the pre-designated area of the display, and switches a state of the pointer from the inactive state to the active state.

7. The image display device according to claim 6, wherein the pre-designated area is a central area of the display or a previous display area of the pointer.

8. The image display device according to claim 6, wherein the controller moves the pointer to a first side of the display in correspondence with the movement of the pointing device in a particular direction, displays the pointer at the first side of the display in correspondence with the movement of the pointing device in the particular direction, and moves the pointer to and displays the pointer at a second side of the display in when the movement of the pointing device in the particular direction is continued.

9. The image display device according to claim 8, wherein the first side and the second side of the display are symmetrical with respect to the center of the display.

10. The image display device according to claim 6, wherein the repetitive movement includes an operation of shaking of the pointing device in a horizontal or vertical direction or an operation of rotating the pointing device in a circular shape.