Method for displaying information and information display system

• US 7,489,297 B2
• Filed: 05/05/2005
• Issued: 02/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Sopieva, Natasha, Slocombe, Dave, Ashley, Adrian, Hohmann, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): TRAN, MY CHAU T
• Application Number:
  US11/122,025
• Publication Number:
  US 20050253807A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,377 Days
• Field of Search: 345/1.2, 345/82, 345/87, 345/156, 345/157, 345/158, 345/179, 345/180, 345/181, 356/614, 356/615, 356/616, 356/621, 178/18.01, 178/19.01, 178/19.05, 348/744
• US Class Current: 345/158
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/017 Gesture based interaction, e.g. based on a set of recognized hand gestures interaction based on gestures traced on a digitiser G06F3/04883
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/043 using propagating acoustic waves
• 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 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus

Abstract

An information display system has a display unit having a display screen, a control unit for controlling the displayed information, and an input devices for inputting a user'"'"'s control command. The input devices may be a distance detecting sensor adapted to detect the position of a user controlled object in a sensing field arranged at a given distance in front of the screen. The control unit is adapted to determine a display control command based on the detected object position.

Claims

1. Information display system comprising a display unit having a display screen, a control unit for controlling the displayed information, and input means for inputting a use'"'"'s control command,

wherein the input means comprise a distance detecting sensor and are adapted to detect a position of a user controlled object in a sensing field arranged with a given distance in front of the screen,

wherein the control unit is adapted to determine a display control command based on the detected object position;

and

wherein the control unit is adapted to start a timer for a predetermined time interval when a correspondence between the position of a displayed control command prompt on the screen and the detected object position is determined.

2. Information display system according to claim 1, wherein the control unit is adapted to generate the control command when the correspondence between the prompt position and the object position persists until the timer expires, or when the object is directly removed from the sensing field after the timer has been activated and is not re-inserted before the timer expires.

3. Information display system according to claim 2, wherein the control unit is adapted to determine the control command according to a match of a displayed control command prompt and the detected object position.

4. Information display system according to claim 2, wherein the control unit is adapted to determine the control command according to a detected movement and/ or velocity of the object.

5. Information display system according to claim 2, wherein the control unit is adapted to measure a time that the object is in and/or out of the sensing field.

6. Information display system according to claim 2, comprising feedback means for providing a visual, tactile, and/or acoustic feedback information to the user when the timer is operating.

7. Information display system according to claim 2, wherein the input means comprise a plurality of sensors which are arranged such that their detection beams propagate substantially parallel to the screen, forming a sensing field extending substantially parallel to the screen up to a predetermined distance from the screen.

8. Information display system according to claim 2, wherein the sensing field is divided in a grid of sensing areas, and the control unit assigns the detected position of the object to the corresponding sensing area.

9. Information display system according to claim 8, wherein the dimensions of the sensing areas relate to the size of the object.

10. Information display system according to claim 2, wherein the control unit is adapted to control the type, displayed size, and/or position of displayed information and/or of control command prompts depending on the correct performance of the sensor.

11. Information display system according to claim 2, wherein the input means are adapted to compensate a static object in the sensing field.

12. Information display system according to claim 2, comprising a database unit for storing information to be displayed.

13. Information display system comprising a display unit having a display screen, a control unit for controlling the displayed information, and input means for inputting a user'"'"'s control command,

wherein the input means comprise a distance detecting sensor and are adapted to detect a position of a user controlled object in a sensing field arranged with a given distance in front of the screen,

wherein the control unit is adapted to determine a display control command based on the detected object position

wherein the control unit is adapted ti start a timer for a predetermined time interval whwn a correspondence between the position of a displayed control command prompt on the screen and the detected object position is determined;

and

wherein the input means comprise a distance sensor to detect the distance Z of the object and/or the user from the screen.

14. Information display system according to claim 13, wherein the control unit is adapted to control the size, the type, and/or the position of displayed information and/or of control command prompts depending on the detected object or user distance Z.

15. Information display system comprising a display unit having a display screen, a control unit for controlling the displayed information, input means for inputting a user'"'"'s control command, and wireless communication means for communicating with a wireless mobile device, in particular by using a short-range radio communication or infrared communication technology,

wherein the input means comprise a distance detecting sensor and are adapted to detect a position of a user controlled object in a sensing field arranged with a given distance in front of the screen,

wherein the control unit is adapted to determine a display control command based on the detected object position;

and

wherein the control unit is adapted to start a timer for a predetermined time interval when a correspondence between the position of a displayed control command prompt on the screen and the detected object position is determined.