Method and Device for Preventing Staining of a Display Device

• US 20080278450A1
• Filed: 06/24/2005
• Published: 11/13/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Inventors: Lashina, Tatiana
• Granted Patent: US 7,786,980 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04101 2.5D-digitiser, i.e. digitiser detecting the X/Y position of the input means, finger or stylus, also when it does not touch, but is proximate to the digitiser's interaction surface and also measures the distance of the input means within a short range in the Z direction, possibly with a separate measurement setup
• 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 method and apparatus for preventing staining of a display screen by a user'"'"'s fingers, by encouraging a user not to touch the surface of a display screen while using a graphic user interface associated with the display screen includes determining a first threshold distance from the display screen within which a user'"'"'s finger may be detected, determining a second threshold distance from the display screen within which a user'"'"'s fingers may be detected, the second threshold distance being shorter than the first threshold distance, first detecting when a user'"'"'s finger is within the first threshold distance, indicating to the user, upon a detection in the first detecting step, that the user'"'"'s finger has entered a zone proximate to the screen where interaction with a graphical user interface (GUI) is enabled, the GUI enabling manipulating various display functions by movements of the user'"'"'s finger, second detecting when a user'"'"'s finger is within the second threshold distance, and indicating to the user, upon a detection in the second detecting step, that the user'"'"'s finger has entered a forbidden zone.

Claims

1. A method for preventing staining of a display screen (10) by a user'"'"'s finger (34), said method comprising the steps of:

determining (28) a first threshold distance (36) from the display screen (10) within which a user'"'"'s finger (34) may be detected;

determining (28) a second threshold distance (38) from the display screen within which a user'"'"'s finger (34) may be detected, said second threshold distance (38) being shorter than said first threshold distance (36);

first detecting (26, 28) when a user'"'"'s finger (34) is within said first threshold distance (36);

first indicating (28, 30) to said user, upon a detection in said first detecting step, that said user'"'"'s finger (34) has entered a zone (A) proximate to the screen where interaction with a graphical user interface (GUI) is enabled, said GUI enabling manipulating various display functions by movements of the user'"'"'s finger (34);

second detecting (26, 28) when a user'"'"'s finger (34) is within said second threshold distance (38); and

second indicating (28, 30) to said user, upon a detection in said second detecting step, that said user'"'"'s finger (34) has entered a forbidden zone (F).

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said method further comprises the steps:

third detecting (26, 28) when a user'"'"'s finger (34) exceeds said second threshold distance (38), whereby said user'"'"'s finger (34) is no longer within the forbidden zone (F), after a detection in said second detecting step; and

third indicating (26, 28) to said user, upon a detection in said third detecting step, that said user'"'"'s finger (34) has exited the forbidden zone (F).

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said indicating steps comprise inactivating or activating the GUI.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said indicating steps comprise generating an audible sound (44).

5. The method as claimed in claim 4, wherein said audible sound has a fixed predetermined duration.

6. The method as claimed in claim 2, wherein said second indicating step comprises inactivating the GUI and generating (28, 44) a continuous audible sound, and wherein said third indicating step comprises reactivating the GUI and terminating (28, 44) said continuous audible sound.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first indicating step further comprises generating (28, 30) a cursor (46) tracking the coordinates of the user'"'"'s finger, and said second indicating step comprises ceasing to generate said cursor (46).

8. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first indicating step further comprises generating (28, 30) a cursor (46) tracking the coordinates of the user'"'"'s finger, and generating a virtual shadow (48) of said cursor (46), said virtual shadow (48) tracking movements of said cursor (46) and being shifted a predetermined amount from the coordinates of the cursor when said user'"'"'s finger enters the zone (A) proximate to the screen, the amount of said shift decreasing as said user'"'"'s finger approaches said second threshold distance (28).

9. The method as claimed in claim 8, wherein said second indicating step comprises modifying an appearance of said cursor (46).

10. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said GUI includes at least one icon (40, 42) representing an executable function for selective activation by the user, and said method further comprises the steps of:

detecting (26, 28) when said user'"'"'s finger (34) overlies said at least one icon (40, 42); and

activating said icon (40, 42) when said user'"'"'s finger (34) has been detected overlying said at least one icon (40, 42) for longer than a predetermined amount of time.

11. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said GUI includes at least one icon (40, 42) representing an executable function for selective activation by the user, and said method further comprises the steps of:

detecting (26, 28) when said user'"'"'s finger (34) overlies said at least one icon (40, 42); and

activating said icon (40, 42) when said user'"'"'s finger (34) is moved perpendicularly away from the display screen.

12. An apparatus for preventing staining of a display screen (10) by a user'"'"'s finger (34), said apparatus comprising:

a 3-D sensor array (12, 14, 16, 18.1, 18.2, 22, 24, 26) for detecting horizontal and vertical coordinates of a user'"'"'s finger (34) relative to said display screen (10), and a distance said user'"'"'s finger (34) is removed from said display screen (10);

means for determining (28) a first threshold distance (36) from the display screen (10) within which a user'"'"'s finger (34) may be detected;

means for determining (28) a second threshold distance (38) from the display screen (10) within which a user'"'"'s finger (34) may be detected, said second threshold distance (38) being shorter than said first threshold distance (36);

first detecting means (28) coupled to said 3-D sensor array (12, 14, 16, 18.1, 18.2, 22, 24, 26) for detecting when a user'"'"'s finger (34) is within said first threshold distance (36);

means for activating (28, 30) a graphic user interface (GUI) of said display screen (10) upon a detection by said first detecting means (28), said GUI enabling manipulating various display functions by movements of the user'"'"'s finger (34);

second detecting means (28) also coupled to said 3-D sensor array (12, 14, 16, 18.1, 18.2, 22, 24, 26) for detecting when a user'"'"'s finger (34) is within said second threshold distance (38); and

means for indicating (28, 30) to said user, upon a detection by said second detecting means, that said user'"'"'s finger (34) has entered a forbidden zone (F).

13. The apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein said 3-D sensor array (12, 14, 16, 18.1, 18.2, 22, 24, 26) is a capacitance sensing array.

14. The apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein said activating means (28, 30) causes said GUI to generate a visual cursor (46) tracking the position of the user'"'"'s finger (34) relative to the display screen (10).

15. The apparatus as claimed in claim 14, wherein said indicating means (28, 30) to causes said GUI to cease generating said visual cursor (46).

16. The apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein said 3-D sensor array comprises:

a first plurality of optical emitters and detectors arranged around the periphery of the display screen for forming a plurality of intersecting light paths thereby establishing a is first virtual touch screen; and

a second plurality of optical emitters and detectors also arranged around the periphery of the display screen for forming a plurality of intersection light paths thereby establishing a second virtual touch screen,

wherein said means for determining said first threshold distance comprises positioning said first plurality of emitters and detectors such that said first virtual touch screen is at said first threshold distance,

and wherein said means for determining said second threshold distance comprises positioning said second plurality of emitters and detectors such that said second virtual touch screen is at said second threshold distance.

17. The apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein said activating means causes said GUI to generate a cursor (46) tracking the coordinates of the user'"'"'s finger (48), and to generate a virtual shadow (48) of said cursor (46), said virtual shadow (48) tracking movements of said cursor (46) and being shifted a predetermined amount from the coordinates of the cursor (46) when said user'"'"'s finger (34) enters the zone (A) proximate to the screen, the amount of said shift decreasing as said user'"'"'s finger (34) approaches said second threshold distance (38).

18. The apparatus as claimed in claim 17, wherein said indicating means causes said GUI to change an appearance of said cursor (46).

19. The apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein said GUI includes at least one icon (40, 42) representing an executable function for selective activation by the user, and said apparatus further comprises:

means for detecting (28) when said user'"'"'s finger (34) overlies said at least one icon (40, 42); and

means for activating (28, 30) said icon (40, 42) when said user'"'"'s finger (34) has been detected overlying said at least one icon (40, 42) for longer than a predetermined amount of time.

20. The apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein said GUI includes at least one icon (40, 42) representing an executable function for selective activation by the user, and said apparatus further comprises:

means for detecting (28) when said user'"'"'s finger (34) overlies said at least one icon (40, 42); and

means for activating (28, 30) said icon (40, 42) when said user'"'"'s finger (34) is moved perpendicularly away from the display screen (10) at the moment of crossing the first threshold distance (36) while the user'"'"'s finger X and Y coordinates are still within the activation region (in the XY plane) defined for said icon (40, 42).