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Patent EP0766168A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
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EP0766168A2 Expired / Lapsed EP ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Icons for dual orientation display devices

Assignee: HP Inc
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Filing: 1996-09-03
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2016-09-03
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Abstract

Abstract A computer device, for instance a palmtop personal organizer (20), has a dual-orientation display device (40) with both portrait (FIG. 2) and landscape (FIG. 1) modes of viewing the display (40). The display (40) has two digitized regions (42, 44) separated by a workspace (45), which is preferably also digitized to provide input commands to a processor unit (32) when touched. The display (40) further includes indicia (50-68), such as icons or symbols shown on the display (40), which may be selected to activate a computer program, function or command. These icons (50-68) are slanted and permanently fixed to the display (40), so they may be readily understood when viewed from either the portrait (FIG. 2) or landscape (FIG. 1) modes. A method is also provided of displaying indicia (58-60) for viewing from two orthogonal directions (46, 48).

Inventors

  • 👤 Beng Hong Kang

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction EP
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-09 14:26
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/048; G06F3/0481; G06F3/04817; G06F1/00; G06F1/16; G06F1/1613; G06F1/1615; G06F1/1616; G06F1/1618; G06F1/1633; G06F1/1675; G06F1/1677; G09; G09G; G09G3/00; G09G3/20; G09G3/34; G09G3/36; G09G3/3611; G06F2200/00; G06F2200/16; G06F2200/161; G06F2200/1614; G09G2340/00; G09G2340/04; G09G2340/0492; G09G3/3674; G09G3/3685; G09G3/3696; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S345/00; Y10S345/905

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim 143 words
A display apparatus (40) for displaying an image generated by a computer device (20), comprising: a display (40) having a work area (45) to display the image from the computer device (20), ad a digitized region (42; 44) to receive a input command from a operator for the computer device (20), with the work area (45) selectively displaying the image from one of two orthogonal directions (46, 48); and indicia (50-58; 60-68) displayed on the digitized region (42; 44) of the display (40) to communicate to the operator an input command that upon selection by the operator generates an input signal for the computer device (20), with the indicia (50-58; 60-68) comprising a design with an upper portion that defines an upright viewing position, with the indicia being oriented for upright viewing at an angle (θ) between the two orthogonal directions (46, 48).
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 125 words
A display apparatus (40) for displaying an electronically generated image having an upright orientation, comprising: a display (40) having a work area (45) to display the image, and a digitized region (42; 44) to receive an input command from an operator, with the work area (45) having a axis (46; 48) to selectively display the electronically generated image with the upright orientation either parallel to the axis or normal to the axis; and indicia (50-58; 60-68) displayed on the digitized region (42; 44) of the display (40) to communicate to the operator the input command for selection by the operator, with the indicia (50-58; 60-68) comprising a design having an upright orientation located at an acute angle (θ) with respect to the axis (46; 48).
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 73 words
A display apparatus according to claims 1 or 2, further comprising plural indicia (50-58; 60-68), each comprising a design with an upper portion that defines an upright viewing position, with the plural indicia each being displayed on the digitized region (42; 44) to communicate to the operator plural input commands for selection by the operator, wherein each of the plural indicia (50-58; 60-68) are each oriented for upright viewing at said angle (θ).
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 90 words
A display apparatus according to claim 4 wherein: the work area (45) has first and second opposing edges each parallel to the axis (48); and the plural indicia (50-58; 60-68) are divided into first (50-58) and second (60-68) groups of indicia, with the first group of indicia (50-58) arranged in a row parallel to the axis (48) adjacent the first edge of the work area, ad the second group of indicia (60-68) arranged in a row parallel to the axis (48) adjacent the second edge of the work area (45).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 20 words
A display apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said indicia (50-58; 60-68) comprises a non-radially symmetrical design.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 138 words
A computer device (20), comprising: a processor unit (32) that, in response to an input signal, generates an image having a upright orientation; a display (40) having a digitized region (42; 44) and a work area (45) having a axis (46; 48), wherein the work area (45) selectively displays the image generated by the processor unit (32) with the upright orientation either parallel to the axis (46; 48) or normal to the axis (46; 48); and an operator input interface comprising indicia (50-58; 60-68) displayed on the digitized region (42; 44) of the display (40) to communicate to the operator a input command that upon activation by the operator generates the input signal, with the indicia (50-58; 60-68) comprising a design having an upright orientation located at a acute angle (θ) with respect to the axis (46; 48).
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 44 words
A computer device according to claim 6 wherein: the operator input interface further includes a keyboard (30) that upon activation by the operator generates a keyboard input signal; and the processor unit (32) also generates the image in response to the keyboard input signal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 140 words
A computer device according to claim 7, further including: a display support (22) having opposing interior and exterior surfaces, wherein the interior surface supports the display (40); a keyboard support (24) having opposing interior and exterior surfaces, wherein the interior surface supports the keyboard (30); and a hinge mechanism (25) that pivotally couples the display support (22) to the keyboard support (44) for: closure when the interior surfaces of the display support (22) ad the keyboard support (24) are pushed together; use as a typing device (FIG. 1) when opened with a angle up to 180° between the interior surfaces of the display support (22) and the keyboard support (24); and use as a notepad device (FIG. 2) when opened with the exterior surface of the display support (22) in contact with the exterior surface of the keyboard support (24).
Claim 9
Independent Claim 82 words
A method of displaying indicia (50-58; 60-68) for viewing from two orthogonal directions (46, 48), comprising the steps of: determining two upright orthogonal directions (46, 48) from which a selected display (40) may be viewed; selecting plural indicia (50-58; 60-68) having a upright orientation; and orienting the plural indicia (50-58; 60-68) on the display (40) with the upright orientation being slanted with respect to each of the two determined upright orthogonal directions (46, 48) from which the display (40) may be viewed.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 59 words
A method according to claim 9, wherein: the display has a work surface (45) bordered along two opposing edges by two digitized regions (42, 44); and the method further includes the step of arranging the plural indicia (50-58; 60-68) in a line substantially parallel to said edges of the work surface (45) in the two digitized regions (42, 44).

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