Information processing apparatus, information processing method, and program

• US 9,690,475 B2
• Filed: 03/30/2010
• Issued: 06/27/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/26/2009
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Sony Corporation (Sony Group Corp.)
• Inventors: Miyazaki, Reiko
• Primary Examiner(s): KHAN, IBRAHIM A
• Application Number:
  US13/320,992
• Publication Number:
  US 20120092283A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,646 Days
• Field of Search: 345173, 345156, 345174, 345175, 178 1806- 18093
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2200/1614 Image rotation following screen orientation, e.g. switching from landscape to portrait mode
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04108 Touchless 2D- digitiser, i.e. digitiser detecting the X/Y position of the input means, finger or stylus, also when it does not touch, but is proximate to the digitiser's interaction surface without distance measurement in the Z direction
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/042 by opto-electronic means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

Provided is an information processing apparatus including a an operating tool detection unit that detects an indication direction of an operation tool in contact with a display panel and an operation identification unit that identifies a direction of an operation input by the operating tool, based on the detected indication direction of the operating tool. Thereby, the direction of the operation is detected based on the indication direction of the operating tool, so that an operation independent of an orientation of the display panel with respect to an operator becomes possible.

Claims

1. An information processing apparatus comprising:

an operating tool detection unit that detects an indication direction and a moving direction of an operation tool moving while in contact with a display;

an operation identification unit that identifies a direction of an operation input by the operating tool, based on the detected indication direction and the detected moving direction of the operating tool, and based on an angle defined by a difference between the detected indication direction and the detected moving direction of the operating tool; and

a control unit that controls, according to an orientation of the display and also based on whether the display is in a static state or in a moving state, a mode in which an operation of the operating tool is detected,

wherein the display is determined to be in the moving state when the display is detected to be vibrating, and the display is determined to be in the static state when the display is not detected to be vibrating,

wherein the indication direction is detected as an orientation of the operation tool after the operation tool has been made to be in contact with the display, and

wherein the operating tool detection unit, the operation identification unit, and the control unit are each implemented via at least one processor.

2. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising

a display control unit that controls display of the display,

wherein the operation identification unit identifies a direction of an operation of rotating display of the display, based on the detected indication direction of the operating tool, and

wherein the display control unit rotates the display of the display according to the identified direction of the operation.

3. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the operation identification unit identifies a direction of an operation input by the operating tool, independently of an orientation of the display with respect to an operator.

4. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the operating tool detection unit determines an indication direction of the operating tool based on an orientation of a tip portion of the operating tool.

5. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1,

wherein the operating tool detection unit continuously detects an indication direction of the operating tool and determines, when the continuously detected indication direction of the operating tool is within a predetermined threshold value, an indication direction of the operating tool based on the continuously detected indication direction of the operating tool.

6. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the detected indication direction is not a preregistered or a predetermined direction of orientation.

7. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the mode in which the operation of the operating tool is detected is selected from a first mode and a second mode, the first mode and the second mode characterized by having different sensors being activated for detecting the contact made upon the display by the operation tool.

8. The information processing apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the control unit controls the mode in which the operation of the operating tool is detected to be a proximity detection mode when the display is determined to be in the static state for a predetermined period of time.

9. An information processing method, performed via at least one processor, the method comprising:

detecting an indication direction and a moving direction of an operation tool moving while in contact with a display;

identifying a direction of an operation input by the operating tool, based on the detected indication direction and the detected moving direction of the operating tool, and based on an angle defined by a difference between the detected indication direction and the detected moving direction of the operating tool; and

controlling, according to an orientation of the display and also based on whether the display is in a static state or in a moving state, a mode in which an operation of the operating tool is detected,

wherein the display is determined to be in the moving state when the display is detected to be vibrating, and the display is determined to be in the static state when the display is not detected to be vibrating, and

wherein the indication direction is detected as an orientation of the operation tool after the operation tool has been made to be in contact with the display.

10. The information processing method according to claim 9, wherein the detected indication direction is not a preregistered or a predetermined direction of orientation.

11. The information processing method according to claim 9, wherein the mode in which the operation of the operating tool is detected is controlled to be a proximity detection mode when the display is determined to be in the static state for a predetermined period of time.

12. A non-transitory computer-readable medium having embodied thereon a program, which when executed by a computer causes the computer to carry out an information processing method, the method comprising:

detecting an indication direction and a moving direction of an operation tool moving while in contact with a display;

identifying a direction of an operation input by the operating tool, based on the detected indication direction and the detected moving direction of the operating tool, and based on an angle defined by a difference between the detected indication direction and the detected moving direction of the operating tool; and

controlling, according to an orientation of the display and also based on whether the display is in a static state or in a moving state, a mode in which an operation of the operating tool is detected,

wherein the display is determined to be in the moving state when the display is detected to be vibrating, and the display is determined to be in the static state when the display is not detected to be vibrating, and

wherein the indication direction is detected as an orientation of the operation tool after the operation tool has been made to be in contact with the display.

13. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 12, wherein the detected indication direction is not a preregistered or a predetermined direction of orientation.

14. The non-transitory computer-readable medium according to claim 12, wherein the method further comprises controlling the mode in which the operation of the operating tool is detected to be a proximity detection mode when the display is determined to be in the static state for a predetermined period of time.