Transitioning between modes of input

• US 10,705,562 B2
• Filed: 07/06/2018
• Issued: 07/07/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 07/10/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Costa, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Ghebretinsae, Temesghen
• Assistant Examiner(s): Abebe, Sosina
• Application Number:
  US16/029,428
• Publication Number:
  US 20180314291A1
• Time in Patent Office: 732 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1601 Constructional details related to the housing of computer displays, e.g. of CRT monitors, of flat displays constructional details related to flat displays integrated in a portable computer, e.g. laptop, handheld computer G06F1/1637; constructional details related to television receivers H04N5/64
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1643 the display being associated to a digitizer, e.g. laptops that can be used as penpads details related to the relative motion of the display enclosure with respect to the body enclosure, e.g. to move between laptop and tablet PC configuration G06F1/1615
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1677 for detecting open or closed state or particular intermediate positions assumed by movable parts of the enclosure, e.g. detection of display lid position with respect to main body in a laptop, detection of opening of the cover of battery compartment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1631 Panel PC, e.g. single housing hosting PC and display panel
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1637 Sensing arrangement for detection of housing movement or orientation, e.g. for controlling scrolling or cursor movement on the display of an handheld computer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/0381 Multimodal input, i.e. interface arrangements enabling the user to issue commands by simultaneous use of input devices of different nature, e.g. voice plus gesture on digitizer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/041 Digitisers, e.g. for touch screens or touch pads, characterised by the transducing means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/0407 Resolution change, inclusive of the use of different resolutions for different screen areas
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 2340/0464 Positioning

Abstract

Transitioning between a high-resolution input mode, such as a mouse-based interface, and a low-resolution input mode, such as a touch-based interface, is described. A change of orientation of a touch screen between a first orientation and a second orientation is detected. Transitioning between the two input modes and corresponding user interfaces (UIs) is based on the detected change of orientation. A change of orientation can be detected with one or more sensors, such as an accelerometer, position sensors, etc. Transitioning from one mode to another can include modifying an item displayed in the UI of the one mode into a corresponding item displayed in the UI of the other mode. The modifying can include enlarging/reducing, obscuring/unobscuring, moving, etc. For example, an item can be obscured by the visual effect of sliding it off of the screen.

Claims

1. A method for operating an electronic device with a display screen, the method comprising:

while an angle of the display screen of the electronic device with respect to a lower base of the electronic device is less than a predetermined threshold, displaying a user interface for editing an object displayed on the display screen, wherein the user interface includes a menu bar having one or more menu bar items selectable to edit the object displayed on the display screen;

while displaying the user interface including the menu bar, determining that the angle of the display screen of the electronic device with respect to the lower base of the electronic device has changed from a first angle that is less than the predetermined threshold to a second angle that is greater than the predetermined threshold; and

in response to determining that the angle of the display screen with respect to the lower base has changed from the first angle that is less than the predetermined threshold to the second angle that is greater than the predetermined threshold, updating the user interface for editing the object displayed on the display screen to not include the menu bar.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

while the angle of the display screen of the electronic device with respect to the lower base of the electronic is less than the predetermined threshold, detecting a change in the angle of the display screen with respect to the lower base to a respective angle; and

in response to detecting the change in the angle of the display screen with respect to the lower base to the respective angle;

in accordance with a determination that the respective angle is less than the predetermined threshold, maintaining the display of the menu bar in the user interface for editing the object displayed on the display screen.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein:

while the angle of the display screen of the electronic device with respect to the lower base of the electronic device is greater than the predetermined threshold, the electronic device is configured to edit the object displayed on the display screen in accordance with one or more detected touch gestures.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein:

while the angle of the display screen of the electronic device with respect to the lower base of the electronic device is less than the predetermined threshold, the electronic device is configured to edit the object displayed on the display screen in accordance with one or more inputs directed to the menu bar, different than the one or more touch gestures.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein:

while the angle of the display screen of the electronic device with respect to the lower base of the electronic device is less than the predetermined threshold, the user interface includes one or more user interface objects for navigating the user interface, and

while the angle of the display screen of the electronic device with respect to the lower base of the electronic device is greater than the predetermined threshold, the user interface does not include the one or more user interface objects for navigating the user interface.

6. The method of claim 1, further:

while the angle of the display screen of the electronic device with respect to the lower base of the electronic device is less than the predetermined threshold, the user interface includes a cursor, and

while the angle of the display screen of the electronic device with respect to the lower base of the electronic device is greater than the predetermined threshold, the user interface does not include the cursor.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein updating the user interface for editing the object displayed on the display screen to not include the menu bar includes displaying an animation of the menu bar being removed from the user interface.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein determining that the angle of the display screen of the electronic device with respect to the lower base of the electronic device has changed from being less than the predetermined threshold to being greater than the predetermined threshold is determined based on measurements from a hinge rotation sensor.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein determining that the angle of the display screen of the electronic device with respect to the lower base of the electronic device has changed from being less than the predetermined threshold to being greater than the predetermined threshold is determined based on measurements from an accelerometer.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the angle of the display screen of the electronic device with respect to the lower base of the electronic device is defined by a hinge between the display screen and the lower base.

11. An electronic device comprising:

one or more processors;

a display screen; and

memory storing instructions, which when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform a method comprising;

while an angle of the display screen of the electronic device with respect to a lower base of the electronic device is less than a predetermined threshold, displaying a user interface for editing an object displayed on the display screen, wherein the user interface includes a menu bar having one or more menu bar items selectable to edit the object displayed on the display screen;

while displaying the user interface including the menu bar, determining that the angle of the display screen of the electronic device with respect to the lower base of the electronic device has changed from being less than the predetermined threshold to being greater than the predetermined threshold; and

in response to determining that the angle of the display screen with respect to the lower base has changed from being less than the predetermined threshold to being greater than the predetermined threshold, updating the user interface for editing the object displayed on the display screen to not include the menu bar.

13. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the method further comprises:

while the angle of the display screen of the electronic device with respect to the lower base of the electronic is less than the predetermined threshold, detecting a change in the angle of the display screen with respect to the lower base to a respective angle; and

in response to detecting the change in the angle of the display screen with respect to the lower base to the respective angle;

in accordance with a determination that the respective angle is less than the predetermined threshold, maintaining the display of the menu bar in the user interface for editing the object displayed on the display screen.

14. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein:

while the angle of the display screen of the electronic device with respect to the lower base of the electronic device is greater than the predetermined threshold, the electronic device is configured to edit the object displayed on the display screen in accordance with one or more detected touch gestures.

15. The electronic device of claim 14, wherein:

while the angle of the display screen of the electronic device with respect to the lower base of the electronic device is less than the predetermined threshold, the electronic device is configured to edit the object displayed on the display screen in accordance with one or more inputs directed to the menu bar, different than the one or more touch gestures.

16. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein:

while the angle of the display screen of the electronic device with respect to the lower base of the electronic device is less than the predetermined threshold, the user interface includes one or

more user interface objects for navigating the user interface, and while the angle of the display screen of the electronic device with respect to the lower base of the electronic device is greater than the predetermined threshold, the user interface does not include the one or more user interface objects for navigating the user interface.

17. The electronic device of claim 11, further:

while the angle of the display screen of the electronic device with respect to the lower base of the electronic device is less than the predetermined threshold, the user interface includes a cursor, and

while the angle of the display screen of the electronic device with respect to the lower base of the electronic device is greater than the predetermined threshold, the user interface does not include the cursor.

18. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein updating the user interface for editing the object displayed on the display screen to not include the menu bar includes displaying an animation of the menu bar being removed from the user interface.

19. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein determining that the angle of the display screen of the electronic device with respect to the lower base of the electronic device has changed from being less than the predetermined threshold to being greater than the predetermined threshold is determined based on measurements from a hinge rotation sensor.

20. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein determining that the angle of the display screen of the electronic device with respect to the lower base of the electronic device has changed from being less than the predetermined threshold to being greater than the predetermined threshold is determined based on measurements from an accelerometer.

21. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein the angle of the display screen of the electronic device with respect to the lower base of the electronic device is defined by a hinge between the display screen and the lower base.

12. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium including instructions, which when executed by one or more processors of an electronic device having a display screen, cause the electronic device to perform a method comprising:

while an angle of the display screen of the electronic device with respect to a lower base of the electronic device is less than a predetermined threshold, displaying a user interface for editing an object displayed on the display screen, wherein the user interface includes a menu bar having one or more menu bar items selectable to edit the object displayed on the display screen;

while displaying the user interface including the menu bar, determining that the angle of the display screen of the electronic device with respect to the lower base of the electronic device has changed from being less than the predetermined threshold to being greater than the predetermined threshold; and

in response to determining that the angle of the display screen with respect to the lower base has changed from being less than the predetermined threshold to being greater than the predetermined threshold, updating the user interface for editing the object displayed on the display screen to not include the menu bar.

22. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 12, wherein the method further comprises:

while the angle of the display screen of the electronic device with respect to the lower base of the electronic is less than the predetermined threshold, detecting a change in the angle of the display screen with respect to the lower base to a respective angle; and

in response to detecting the change in the angle of the display screen with respect to the lower base to the respective angle;

in accordance with a determination that the respective angle is less than the predetermined threshold, maintaining the display of the menu bar in the user interface for editing the object displayed on the display screen.

23. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 12, wherein:

while the angle of the display screen of the electronic device with respect to the lower base of the electronic device is greater than the predetermined threshold, the electronic device is configured to edit the object displayed on the display screen in accordance with one or more detected touch gestures.

24. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 23, wherein:

while the angle of the display screen of the electronic device with respect to the lower base of the electronic device is less than the predetermined threshold, the electronic device is configured to edit the object displayed on the display screen in accordance with one or more inputs directed to the menu bar, different than the one or more touch gestures.

25. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 12, wherein:

while the angle of the display screen of the electronic device with respect to the lower base of the electronic device is less than the predetermined threshold, the user interface includes one or more user interface objects for navigating the user interface, and

while the angle of the display screen of the electronic device with respect to the lower base of the electronic device is greater than the predetermined threshold, the user interface does not include the one or more user interface objects for navigating the user interface.

26. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 12, further:

while the angle of the display screen of the electronic device with respect to the lower base of the electronic device is less than the predetermined threshold, the user interface includes a cursor, and

while the angle of the display screen of the electronic device with respect to the lower base of the electronic device is greater than the predetermined threshold, the user interface does not include the cursor.

27. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 12, wherein updating the user interface for editing the object displayed on the display screen to not include the menu bar includes displaying an animation of the menu bar being removed from the user interface.

28. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 12, wherein determining that the angle of the display screen of the electronic device with respect to the lower base of the electronic device has changed from being less than the predetermined threshold to being greater than the predetermined threshold is determined based on measurements from a hinge rotation sensor.

29. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 12, wherein determining that the angle of the display screen of the electronic device with respect to the lower base of the electronic device has changed from being less than the predetermined threshold to being greater than the predetermined threshold is determined based on measurements from an accelerometer.

30. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 12, wherein the angle of the display screen of the electronic device with respect to the lower base of the electronic device is defined by a hinge between the display screen and the lower base.