Information processing apparatus and display screen operating method for scrolling

• US 9,141,133 B2
• Filed: 04/13/2011
• Issued: 09/22/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Murayama, Hiroki
• Primary Examiner(s): Liu, Zhengxi
• Application Number:
  US13/066,363
• Publication Number:
  US 20110267753A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,623 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1614 Image rotation following screen orientation, e.g. switching from landscape to portrait mode
• 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 computer device is provided that may comprise a display portion, a reference position input for enabling setting of a reference tilt position which is representative of an initial tilt position of the computer device. The computer device may also comprise a processor configured to perform a predetermined operation in accordance with a change in a tilt position of the computer device from the reference tilt position to a current tilt position.

Claims

1. A computer device comprising:

a main unit having a main unit input device to enable a user to provide inputs regarding a scrolling operation, wherein the main unit input device includes a physical keyboard;

a display unit rotatably coupled to the main unit so as to be rotatable about an axis near an end of the main unit, said display unit having a housing, a display screen disposed on a surface of the housing, and a display unit input device to enable the user to provide inputs regarding the scrolling operation, wherein the display unit input device includes a button type mechanism and a touch pad which are disposed on the surface of the housing having the display screen at respective opposite lower corners thereof such that one of the button type mechanism or the touch pad is located at a lower-right corner of the housing and the other of the button type mechanism or the touch pad is located at a lower-left corner of the housing, wherein the button type mechanism and the touch pad are physical mechanisms placed beside the display screen; and

a processor configured to perform processing for the scrolling operation,

wherein the scrolling operation is performed by the processor by allowing the user a first choice to use the main unit input device or the display unit input device, and when performed by the display unit input device the scrolling operation is initiated by pressing the button type mechanism and thereafter is controllable by allowing the user a second choice to use the touch pad or to change a tilt position of the computer device from a reference tilt position, such that when desired to perform the scrolling operation the user presses the button type mechanism to initiate the scrolling operation and while depressing the button type mechanism either (i) provides an input movement to the touch pad to cause a desired amount or direction of scrolling or (ii) tilts the computer device from the reference position to cause the desired amount or the direction of scrolling without use of the touch pad.

2. The computer device of claim 1, in which the button type mechanism includes a first button and a second button, and in which when performed by the display unit input device the scrolling operation is initiated by pressing both the first button and the second button.

3. The computer device of claim 1, in which the display unit input device enables the user to set the reference tilt position.

4. The computer device of claim 1, in which the reference tilt position is automatically set without additional input by the user.

5. The computer device of claim 1, in which during the second available technique the scrolling operation is continuously executed while the tilt position of the computer device changes from the reference tilt position to a current tilt position.

6. The computer device of claim 5, in which the scrolling operation changes an image displayed in the display screen in a first direction by a first amount related to a first change in tilt position about a first axis of the computer device.

7. The computer device of claim 6, in which the scrolling operation further changes the image in a second direction by a second amount related to a second change in tilt position about a second axis of the computer device, the second axis being perpendicular to the first axis.

8. The computer device of claim 1, further comprising a sensor for producing information indicative of the change in tilt position.

9. The computer device of claim 8, in which the information indicative of the change in tilt position is representative of a rotation about one or more axes of the computer device and direction thereof.

10. The computer device of claim 9, in which the sensor is an accelerator type sensor for detecting acceleration about one or more axes.

11. The computer device of claim 1, in which the computer device is a portable computer device intended to be carried by a user.