Methods for presenting parameter status information and related portable electronic devices and parameters

• US 7,431,216 B2
• Filed: 11/16/2005
• Issued: 10/07/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/16/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications USA Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Ericsson Mobile Communications USA Incorporated (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Weinans, Erwin Geert Hendrik
• Primary Examiner(s): Labaze; Edwyn
• Application Number:
  US11/280,159
• Publication Number:
  US 20070109258A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,056 Days
• Field of Search: 235/472.01, 235/375, 235/472.02, 345/156, 345/158
• US Class Current: 235/472.01
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/165 the additional display being small, e.g. for presenting status information
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1684 Constructional details or arrangements related to integrated I/O peripherals not covered by groups G06F1/1635 - G06F1/1675
• 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

Abstract

A device for indicating a present status for a certain parameter, such as the charge of a battery. A parameter-sensing unit devised to sense a parameter value is connected to a control unit, devised to present an indicator area on a display. The indicator area is defined within an indicator frame, and an area portion of the indicator area is marked to represent a relative parameter level. A gyro sensor is connected to the control unit, wherein the control unit is devised to present the marked area portion as a bottom portion of the indicator area with a gyro-controlled upper border of the area portion which is maintained substantially horizontal. This way, the marked area portion will be experienced as a fluid, confined within a jar represented by the indicator frame.

Claims

1. A parameter status indicating device, comprising:

a parameter-sensing unit devised to sense a parameter value;

a display;

a control unit devised to present an indicator area, defined within an indicator frame, on the display, wherein an area portion of the indicator area is marked to represent a relative parameter level associated with the parameter value; and

a gyro sensor arranged to sense tilting about an axis perpendicular to a surface of the display, wherein the gyro sensor is communicatively connected to the control unit for providing the control unit with signals representing the rotational position of the gyro sensor and wherein the control unit is devised to present the marked area portion as a bottom portion of the indicator area with a gyro-controlled upper border of the area portion and to indicate the upper border as substantially horizontal when the display is tilted about said axis.

2. The parameter status indicating device of claim 1, wherein the control unit is devised to present the marked area portion in a darker tone than the remaining indicator area inside the frame.

3. The parameter status indicating device of claim 1, wherein the control unit is devised to present a moving waveform in the upper border.

4. The parameter status indicating device of claim 1, wherein the parameter-sensing unit comprises a charge-sensing circuit connectable to a battery, and the parameter value is a battery charge value.

5. The parameter status indicating device of claim 4, forming part of an electronic device carrying said battery, wherein the display is placed on a cover of the electronic device.

6. The parameter status indicating device of claim 1, wherein the parameter-sensing unit comprises a memory occupation sensing circuit connectable to a data memory, and the parameter value is a measure of occupied memory space in the data memory.

7. The parameter status indicating device of claim 1, wherein the parameter-sensing unit comprises a computer program product sensing a computer game parameter, and the parameter value is a measure of a quality for an object forming part of the computer game.

8. The parameter status indicating device of claim 1, wherein the indicator frame is fixed to the display and defines the indicator area as the visible region of the display.

9. The parameter status indicating device of claim 1, wherein the control unit is devised to present the indicator frame as a graphical element on the display.

10. A portable electronic device, comprising:

a parameter-sensing unit devised to sense a parameter value;

a display;

a control unit devised to present an indicator area, defined within an indicator frame, on the display, wherein an area portion of the indicator area is marked to represent a relative parameter level associated with the parameter value; and

a gyro sensor arranged to sense tilting about an axis perpendicular to a surface of the display, wherein the gyro sensor is communicatively connected to the control unit for providing the control unit with signals representing the rotational position of the gyro sensor and wherein the control unit is devised to present the marked area portion as a bottom portion of the indicator area with a gyro-controlled upper border of the area portion and to indicate the upper border as substantially horizontal when the display is tilted about said axis.

11. The portable electronic device of claim 10, comprising a screen for presenting information to a user of the device, wherein the display is separate from the screen and devised solely for presentation of the relative level of said parameter.

12. The portable electronic device of claim 10, wherein the parameter-sensing unit comprises a charge-sensing circuit connectable to a battery, and the parameter value is a battery charge value.

13. The portable electronic device of claim 10, wherein the indicator frame is fixed to the display and defines the indicator area as the visible region of the display.

14. The portable electronic device of claim 10, wherein the control unit is devised to present the indicator frame as a graphical element on the display.

15. A method for presenting parameter status information, comprising:

sensing a parameter value;

presenting an indicator area, within an indicator frame, on a display;

marking an area portion of the indicator area to represent a relative parameter level associated with the parameter value;

sensing tilting about an axis perpendicular to a surface of the display;

presenting the marked area portion as a bottom portion of the indicator area with a gyro-controlled upper border of the area portion; and

indicating the upper border as substantially horizontal when the display is tilted about said axis.

16. The method of claim 15, comprising:

presenting the marked area portion in a darker tone than the remaining indicator area.

17. The method of claim 15, comprising:

presenting a moving waveform in the upper level.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein said parameter is a battery charge.