Movable magnification icons for electronic device display screens

• US 6,359,615 B1
• Filed: 05/11/1999
• Issued: 03/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ericsson, Inc. (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Original Assignee: Ericsson, Inc. (Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson)
• Inventors: Singh, Mona
• Primary Examiner(s): Hjerpe, Richard
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tran, Henry N.
• Application Number:
  US09/309,838
• Time in Patent Office: 1,043 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/173, 345/179, 345/184, 345/775, 345/779, 345/786, 345/798-801, 345/815, 345/821, 345/823, 345/828, 345/829
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0236 using selection techniques to select from displayed items
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04855 Interaction with scrollbars
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2747 Scrolling on a display
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72469 for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/725 Cordless telephones user interfaces specially adapted therefor H04M1/724

Abstract

One or more movable magnification icons are configured to magnify displayed information and to facilitate user interaction with displayed information within touch-sensitive display screens for electronic devices. A magnification icon may incorporate the metaphor of an elongated magnifying bar that extends along a first dimension of a display screen. A control for moving the magnification icon within the display screen in response to user input may be provided as a slider control or other icon displayed within the display screen. Alternatively, a control for moving the magnification icon within the display screen may be provided as a mechanical input device adjacent the display screen.

Claims

1. An electronic device, comprising:

a housing that encloses a processor;

a two-dimensional display screen located on the housing, wherein the display screen is in communication with the processor, and wherein the display screen is configured to display interactive and non-interactive information in a first size;

a first icon displayed within the display screen, wherein the first icon is movable in a first direction within the display screen, and wherein the first icon magnifies only interactive information displayed adjacent the first icon from the first size to a second size larger than the first size; and

a first control for moving the first icon in the first direction within the display screen in response to user input.

2. An electronic device according to claim 1 wherein the first icon comprises a metaphor of an elongated magnifying bar that extends along a first dimension of the display screen transverse to the first direction.

3. An electronic device according to claim 1 wherein the first control is a slider control displayed within the display screen along the first direction.

4. An electronic device according to claim 1 wherein the first control is located on the housing adjacent the display screen.

5. An electronic device according to claim 1 wherein the display screen is a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) screen.

6. An electronic device according to claim 1 wherein the display screen comprises a touch-sensitive panel that is configured to sense the position of an object in contact therewith and to transmit a corresponding signal to the processor.

7. An electronic device according to claim 6 wherein the touch-sensitive panel is configured to sense the position of an object in contact with magnified interactive information displayed adjacent the icon.

8. An electronic device according to claim 1 further comprising:

a second icon displayed within the display screen, wherein the second icon is movable in a second direction within the display screen transverse to the first direction, and wherein the second icon comprises a metaphor of an elongated magnifying bar that extends along a second dimension of the display screen that is transverse to the second direction and magnifies only interactive information displayed adjacent the second icon from the first size to a second size that is larger than the first size; and

a second control for moving the second icon in the second direction within the display screen in response to user input.

9. An electronic device according to claim 8 wherein the second control is a slider control displayed within the display screen along the second direction of the LCD screen.

10. An electronic device according to claim 8 wherein the second control is located on the housing adjacent the display screen.

11. A hand-held communications device, comprising:

a housing configured to enclose a transceiver that transmits and receives wireless communications signals;

a two-dimensional touch-sensitive liquid crystal display (LCD) screen located on the housing, wherein the LCD screen is in communication with the transceiver and displays interactive and non-interactive information therefrom in a first size, wherein the LCD screen is configured to sense the position of an object in contact therewith and to transmit a corresponding signal to the transceiver;

a first icon displayed within the LCD screen, wherein the icon is movable in a first direction within the LCD screen, and wherein the first icon comprises a metaphor of an elongated magnifying bar that extends along a first dimension of the LCD screen and magnifies only interactive information displayed adjacent the icon from the first size to a second size larger than the first size; and

a first control for moving the icon in the first direction within the LCD screen in response to user input.

12. A hand-held communications device according to claim 11 wherein the first control is a slider control displayed within the LCD screen along the first direction.

13. A hand-held communications device according to claim 11 wherein the first control is located on the housing adjacent the LCD screen.

14. A hand-held communications device according to claim 11 further comprising:

a second icon displayed within the LCD screen, wherein the icon is movable in a second direction within the LCD screen transverse to the first direction, and wherein the second icon comprises a metaphor of an elongated magnifying bar that extends along a second dimension of the LCD screen and wherein the second icon magnifies only interactive information displayed adjacent the second icon from the first size to a second size that is larger than the first size; and

a second control for moving the second icon in the second direction within the LCD screen in response to user input.

15. A hand-held communications device according to claim 14 wherein the second control is a slider control displayed within the LCD screen along the second direction.

16. A hand-held communications device according to claim 14 wherein the second control is located on the housing adjacent the LCD screen.

17. A two-dimensional display screen for an electronic device, wherein the display screen displays interactive and non-interactive information in a first size, comprising:

a first icon displayed within the display screen, wherein the first icon is movable in a first direction within the display screen, and wherein the first icon comprises a metaphor of an elongated magnifying bar that extends along a first dimension of the display screen and magnifies only interactive information displayed adjacent the first icon from the first size to a second size larger than the first size;

a first control displayed within the display screen along the first direction, wherein the first control moves the first icon in the first direction within the display screen in response to user input;

a second icon displayed within the display screen, wherein the second icon is movable in a second direction within the display screen transverse to the first direction, and wherein the second icon comprises a metaphor of an elongated magnifying bar that extends along a second dimension of the display screen and magnifies only interactive information displayed adjacent the second icon from the first size to a second size that is larger than the first size; and

a second control displayed within the display screen along the second direction, wherein the second control moves the second icon in the second direction within the display screen in response to user input.

18. A two-dimensional display screen according to claim 17 wherein the first control is a slider control.

19. A two-dimensional display screen according to claim 17 wherein the display screen is a Liquid Crystal Display (LCD) screen.

20. A two-dimensional display screen according to claim 17 wherein the display screen comprises a touch-sensitive panel that is configured to sense the position of an object in contact therewith.

21. A two-dimensional display screen according to claim 20 wherein the touch-sensitive panel is configured to sense the position of an object in contact with magnified information displayed adjacent the first icon.

22. A two-dimensional display screen according to claim 17 wherein the second control is a slider control.