Method and device for preventing staining of a display device
First Claim
1. A method for preventing staining of a display screen by a user'"'"'s finger, said method comprising the steps of:
- determining a first threshold distance from a surface of the display screen within which a user'"'"'s finger may be detected;
determining a second threshold distance from the surface of the display screen within which a user'"'"'s finger may be detected, said second threshold distance being shorter than said first threshold distance;
first detecting when a user'"'"'s finger is within said first threshold distance;
first indicating to said user, upon a detection in said first detecting step, that said user'"'"'s finger has entered a zone (A) proximate to the surface of the display 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;
second detecting when a user'"'"'s finger is within said second threshold distance; and
second indicating to said user, upon a detection in said second detecting step, that said user'"'"'s finger has entered a forbidden zone (F) proximate to the surface of the display screen where interaction with the graphical user interface is disabled to encourage the user not to touch the surface of the display screen.
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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.
65 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method for preventing staining of a display screen by a user'"'"'s finger, said method comprising the steps of:
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determining a first threshold distance from a surface of the display screen within which a user'"'"'s finger may be detected; determining a second threshold distance from the surface of the display screen within which a user'"'"'s finger may be detected, said second threshold distance being shorter than said first threshold distance; first detecting when a user'"'"'s finger is within said first threshold distance; first indicating to said user, upon a detection in said first detecting step, that said user'"'"'s finger has entered a zone (A) proximate to the surface of the display 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; second detecting when a user'"'"'s finger is within said second threshold distance; and second indicating to said user, upon a detection in said second detecting step, that said user'"'"'s finger has entered a forbidden zone (F) proximate to the surface of the display screen where interaction with the graphical user interface is disabled to encourage the user not to touch the surface of the display screen. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. An apparatus for preventing staining of a display screen by a user'"'"'s finger, said apparatus comprising:
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a 3-D sensor array for detecting horizontal and vertical coordinates of a user'"'"'s finger relative to said display screen, and a distance said user'"'"'s finger is removed from a surface of said display screen; means for determining a first threshold distance from the surface of the display screen within which a user'"'"'s finger may be detected; means for determining a second threshold distance from the surface of the display screen within which a user'"'"'s finger may be detected, said second threshold distance being shorter than said first threshold distance; first detecting means coupled to said 3-D sensor array for detecting when a user'"'"'s finger is within said first threshold distance and within an enabling zone (A); means for activating a graphic user interface (GUI) of said display screen upon a detection by said first detecting means, said GUI enabling manipulating various display functions by movements of the user'"'"'s finger; second detecting means also coupled to said 3-D sensor array for detecting when a user'"'"'s finger is within said second threshold distance; and means for indicating to said user, upon a detection by said second detecting means, that said user'"'"'s finger has entered a forbidden zone (F) proximate to the surface of the display screen, wherein responsive to the detection by said second detecting means, said GUI activating means further for deactivating the GUI to encourage the user not to touch the surface of the display screen. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification