Image-processing apparatus

• US 7,593,001 B2
• Filed: 05/23/2005
• Issued: 09/22/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/24/2004
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: ALPS Electric Company Limited (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: ALPS Electric Company Limited (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Sato, Tadamitsu
• Primary Examiner(s): Awad; Amr
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sherman; Stephen G
• Application Number:
  US11/136,579
• Publication Number:
  US 20050259072A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,583 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/168, 345/169, 345/173
• US Class Current: 345/168
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 17/02 using a radio link
• CPC Class Codes: G08C 23/04 using light waves, e.g. infrared
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 13/702 with contacts carried by or formed from layers in a multilayer structure, e.g. membrane switches
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2225/002 superimposed
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2225/03 Different type of switches
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2239/006 Containing a capacitive switch or usable as such
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42212 Specific keyboard arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42218 for mapping a matrix of displayed objects on the screen to the numerical key-matrix of the remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42224 Touch pad or touch panel provided on the remote control
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/42228 the reprogrammable keys being displayed on a display screen in order to reduce the number of keys on the remote control device itself
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/482 End-user interface for program selection broadcast systems using EPGs H04H60/72

Abstract

An image-processing apparatus includes an input unit for inputting operational signals. The input unit includes an operation surface and outputs, as the operational signals, a position detection signal representing a detected operation position of an operation instrument moving on the operation surface and a selection confirmation signal generated when a selection operation is confirmed on the operation position. The image-processing apparatus further includes a display unit and a display-controlling unit for controlling the display state of the display unit based on the operational signals. The display-controlling unit highlights an index corresponding to the operation position when the position detection signal is output in a state in which indices to be selected are displayed on the display unit, and reads and displays main data corresponding to the highlighted index when the selection confirmation signal is output.

Claims

1. An image-processing apparatus comprising:

an input unit for inputting operational signals, the input unit comprising an operation surface, wherein the input unit outputs, as the operational signals, a position detection signal representing a detected operation position of an operation instrument moving on the operation surface and a selection confirmation signal generated when a selection operation is confirmed on the operation position;

a display unit; and

a display-controlling unit for controlling a display state of the display unit based on the operational signals, wherein the display-controlling unit highlights an index corresponding to the operation position on the operation surface when the position detection signal is output from the input unit in a state wherein a plurality of indices to be selected are displayed on the display unit, and reads and displays main data corresponding to the highlighted index when the selection confirmation signal is output from the input unit,

wherein the input unit is a wireless controller that outputs wireless signals,

wherein an index selected from the plurality of indices is different from other indices displayed on the display unit in the way the indices are displayed,

wherein the operation surface comprises a position-inputting region having a predetermined area, the position-inputting region comprising a plurality of selection positions for confirming a selection operation, the plurality of selection positions being displayed on the operation surface in an array pattern that is the same as an array pattern of the plurality of indices, the plurality of selection positions corresponding to the plurality of indices, and each index being an element of the array pattern having an array position,

wherein each index is displayed in a state in which one index overlaps another in a direction toward the back of the display when the number of indices is larger than the number of elements in the array pattern, each index overlapping and being overlapped by another index having the same array position,

wherein the input unit further comprises a coordinate detection unit for outputting the position detection signal and a switching unit for outputting the selection confirmation signal, the switching unit being disposed in a detectable area of the coordinate detection unit,

wherein through holes are formed in a coordinate detection unit, and protrusions formed on the back surface of buttons pass through the through holes to extend onto the back surface of the coordinate detection unit,

wherein a wiring board having inverting spring contacts is formed on the back surface of the coordinate detection unit, and each protrusion presses one corresponding inverting spring contact, whereby the inverting spring contact performs an inverting operation,

wherein the input unit outputs a switching signal for changing a group of indices to be displayed on the display unit, and the display-controlling unit displays another group of indices on the display unit instead of a group of indices that is currently displayed when the switching signal is output, each group of indices being positioned relative to the other groups in a fixed order, and the changing of the group of indices to be displayed is performed on a group-by-group basis, and

wherein the operation surface further comprises at least two switching positions for activating the input unit to output the switching signal, each switching operation position being displayed on the operation surface in an area outside of the predetermined area of the position-inputting region.

2. The image-processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the input unit further comprises a coordinate detection unit for outputting the position detection signal and the selection confirmation signal.

3. The image-processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a separate switching unit for outputting the switching signal.

4. The image-processing apparatus according to claim 1, the switching signal is generated based on at least one of the position detection signal and the selection confirmation signal.

5. The image-processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the main data is image data having a predetermined running time, and the indices show titles of the image data.

6. The image-processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the main data is image data that is displayed on the display unit by a single operation, and the indices show a reduced display or degraded display of the image data.

7. The image-processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the main data is operational information or configuration information of the image-processing apparatus, and the indices show titles of the operational information or the configuration information.