Information display apparatus, image taking apparatus, and method and computer program for controlling displaying information

• US 9,176,594 B2
• Filed: 09/23/2014
• Issued: 11/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/04/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Hiratsuka, Yosuke
• Primary Examiner(s): VU, NGOC YEN T
• Application Number:
  US14/494,172
• Publication Number:
  US 20150009134A1
• Time in Patent Office: 406 Days
• Field of Search: 348/333.06, 348/333.1
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0227 Cooperation and interconnection of the input arrangement with other functional units of a computer G06F3/023 - G06F3/037 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00411 the display also being used for user input, e.g. touch screen
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/00413 using menus, i.e. presenting the user with a plurality of selectable options H04N1/00464 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/631 Graphical user interfaces [GUI] specially adapted for controlling image capture or setting capture parameters
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 23/633 for displaying additional information relating to control or operation of the camera

Abstract

An information display apparatus includes an input device adapted to input user operation information, a touch sensor adapted to detect the state of the input device in terms of whether the input device is touched by a user, a display adapted to display information, and a control unit adapted to receive user operation information from the input device and sensor detection information from the touch sensor, and control displaying of the information on the display in accordance with the received user operation information and the sensor detection information. If the touch information indicating that the input device is touched by the user is received from the touch sensor, the control unit displays first information associated with the input device on the display. If the input device is maintained in the touched state longer than a predetermined period, the control unit switches the displayed information into second information.

Claims

1. An electronic device comprising:

a user interface including a display; and

circuitry configured to

receive sensor detection information from a touch sensor;

control the display to apply a first visual effect corresponding to at least one of a plurality of objects without changing a layout or orientation of the plurality of objects in response to the sensor detection information indicating that a touch input received corresponding to the at least one of the plurality of objects is maintained over a time period less than a predetermined threshold; and

control the display to switch from applying the first visual effect to applying a second visual effect, which is larger than the first visual effect, corresponding to the at least one of the plurality of objects without changing the layout or the orientation of the plurality of objects in response to the sensor detection information indicating that the touch input received corresponding to the at least one of the plurality of objects is maintained over a time period equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein

the first visual effect corresponds to brief explanatory information, and

the second visual effect corresponds to detailed explanatory information.

3. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein

the first visual effect includes a name, and

the second visual effect includes at least one of operation information, function information and setting information.

4. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein

the circuitry is configured to control the display to change display information in response to the sensor detection information indicating that a touch input is no longer received corresponding to the at least one of the plurality of objects.

5. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein

the user interface further includes at least one of a shutter button, a mode selection dial, a zoom button, an operation button, and a multi-function operation button.

6. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein

the circuitry is configured to control the display to stop applying the first or second visual effect in response to the sensor detection information indicating that a touch input is no longer received corresponding to the at least one of the plurality of objects.

7. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein

the user interface includes a button having an input function that changes based on a currently set operation mode.

8. The electronic device of claim 7, wherein

the circuitry is configured to control the display to apply the first or second visual effect based on the currently set operation mode.

9. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein

the user interface includes a button having an input function configured to be set so as to have a function selected by a user.

10. The electronic device of claim 9, wherein

the circuitry is configured to control the display to apply the first or second visual effect based on the function currently set.

11. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein

the circuitry is configured to control the display to apply a third visual effect corresponding to the at least one of the plurality of objects in response to the sensor detection information indicating that the touch input received corresponding to the at least one of the plurality of objects is maintained over a time period equal to or greater than a second predetermined threshold, which is greater than the predetermined threshold.

12. The electronic device of claim 11, wherein

the first visual effect corresponds to brief explanatory information,

the second visual effect corresponds to first-level detailed explanatory information, and

the third visual effect corresponds to second-level detailed explanatory information.

13. A method performed by an electronic device, the method comprising:

receiving receive sensor detection information from a touch sensor of the electronic device;

controlling a display of the electronic device to apply a first visual effect corresponding to at least one of a plurality of objects without changing a layout or orientation of the plurality of objects in response to the sensor detection information indicating that a touch input received corresponding to the at least one of the plurality of objects is maintained over a time period less than a predetermined threshold; and

controlling the display to switch from applying the first visual effect to applying a second visual effect, which is larger than the first visual effect, corresponding to the at least one of the plurality of objects without changing the layout or the orientation of the plurality of objects in response to the sensor detection information indicating that the touch input received corresponding to the at least one of the plurality of objects is maintained over a time period equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein

the first visual effect corresponds to brief explanatory information, and

the second visual effect corresponds to detailed explanatory information.

15. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

controlling the display to change display information in response to the sensor detection information indicating that a touch input is no longer received corresponding to the at least one of the plurality of objects.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

controlling the display to apply the first or second visual effect based on a currently set operation mode selected from among a plurality of available operation modes.

17. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

controlling the display to apply a third visual effect corresponding to the at least one of the plurality of objects in response to the sensor detection information indicating that the touch input received corresponding to the at least one of the plurality of objects is maintained over a time period equal to or greater than a second predetermined threshold, which is greater than the predetermined threshold.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein

the first visual effect corresponds to brief explanatory information,

the second visual effect corresponds to first-level detailed explanatory information, and

the third visual effect corresponds to second-level detailed explanatory information

19. A non-transitory computer-readable medium including computer-program instructions, which when executed by an electronic device, cause the electronic device to:

receive sensor detection information from a touch sensor;

control a display of the electronic device to apply a first visual effect corresponding to at least one of a plurality of objects without changing a layout or orientation of the plurality of objects in response to the sensor detection information indicating that a touch input received corresponding to the at least one of the plurality of objects is maintained over a time period less than a predetermined threshold; and

control the display to switch from applying the first visual effect to applying a second visual effect, which is larger than the first visual effect, corresponding to the at least one of the plurality of objects without changing the layout or the orientation of the plurality of objects in response to the sensor detection information indicating that the touch input received corresponding to the at least one of the plurality of objects is maintained over a time period equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold.

20. An electronic device comprising:

means for receiving sensor detection information from a touch sensor;

means for controlling a display of the electronic device to apply a first visual effect corresponding to at least one of a plurality of objects without changing a layout or orientation of the plurality of objects in response to the sensor detection information indicating that a touch input received corresponding to the at least one of the plurality of objects is maintained over a time period less than a predetermined threshold; and

means for controlling the display to switch from applying the first visual effect to applying a second visual effect, which is larger than the first visual effect, corresponding to the at least one of the plurality of objects without changing the layout or the orientation of the plurality of objects in response to the sensor detection information indicating that the touch input received corresponding to the at least one of the plurality of objects is maintained over a time period equal to or greater than the predetermined threshold.