Patent EP0805389A2 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
EP0805389A2
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EP
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Tilt-scrolling on the sunpad
Assignee: Sun Microsystems Inc
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Filing: 1997-04-28
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2017-04-28
Abstract
Abstract Scrolling techniques for computing devices are disclosed which respond to the amount of tilt, measured against a reference, experienced by a control unit. The user set the reference by activating a switch while the control unit is in an orientation selected by the user. Once the reference is set, the direction and rate of scrolling is determined by the direction and amount of tilt. The control unit may be built into a hand held computing device such as the Sun Pad. <IMAGE>
Inventors
- 👤 Bruce Tognazzini
- 👤 Jakob Neilsen
- 👤 Bob Glass
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-08 08:09
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/048; G06F3/0484; G06F3/0485; G06F1/00; G06F1/16; G06F1/1613; G06F1/1626; G06F1/1633; G06F1/1684; G06F1/1694; G06F2200/00; G06F2200/16; G06F2200/161; G06F2200/1614; G06F2200/163; G06F2200/1637
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 25
Claim 1
Independent Claim
42 words
A method for displaying information on a display of a computing device, comprising the step of: a. providing an element for performing the step of scrolling said information as a function of tilt of a control element with respect to a reference.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 in which the control element is part of the computing device.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 1 in which the control element is separate from the computing device.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 3 in which the control element is connected to the computing device.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The method of claim 3 in which the control element is linked to the computing device by electromagnetic radiation.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
13 words
The method of claim 1 in which the computing device is hand held.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 in which the step of scrolling includes scrolling at a rate which is a function of the amount of tilt.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 7 in which said rate is in points per second.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 7 in which said rate is a function of an angle squared, said angle being the angle between said reference and a current value of tilt.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 in which the direction of scrolling is specified by the direction of tilt with respect to the reference.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 1 in which the reference is set by user action.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
14 words
The method of claim 11 in which the user action is pressing a button.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 11 in which the user action is squeezing a hand held element.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 in which tilt in one direction controls a first action and tilt in an orthogonal direction controls a different action.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 14 in which tilt in one direction controls scrolling of text and tilt in an orthogonal direction control a page change.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
43 words
A method for displaying information on a display of a computing device, comprising the step of: a. providing an element for performing the step of scrolling said information at a rate defined in points per second so that scrolling rate is resolution independent.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
90 words
Apparatus for displaying information on a display, comprising: a. a tilt detector; b. a scroll mode selector; c. a reference store configured to save a value of tilt detected by said tilt detector when the scroll mode selector is activated; and d. a control device connected to said tilt detector and said reference store and configured to scroll said information on said display at a rate which is a function of the difference between the output of the tilt detector and the value of tilt stored in said reference store.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
31 words
Apparatus of claim 17 in which said information is stored on a memory medium and said control device includes a controller for retrieving at least portions of said information for display.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
39 words
Apparatus of claim 17 in which said information is stored on a server connected to a network and said control device is a computer which includes a communications controller for retrieving at least portions of said information for display.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
25 words
Apparatus of claim 17 in which said control device is a timepiece controller and said information is menu information for selecting and activating timepiece functions.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
34 words
Apparatus of claim 17 in which at least said tilt detector and scroll mode selector are mounted on an item of user wearable apparel and linked to said display over an electromagnetic communications link.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
44 words
A computer system comprising: a. a network, b. one or more computers connected to said network, at least one of which is configured to scroll information at a rate which is a function of tilt of a control element with respect to a reference.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
93 words
A computer program product for displaying information on a display of a computing device having a tilt sensor, comprising: a computer readable memory medium; and a computer program, stored on said medium, including program steps for storing at least one initial output of said tilt sensor when a scroll function is activated; program steps for calculating a difference between at least one output of said tilt sensor and a corresponding initial output, and program steps for controlling scrolling of information on said display at a rate which is a function of said difference.
Claim 24
Independent Claim
21 words
A method of scrolling displayed information characterised by controlling the scrolling in accordance with an inclination determined by a tilt detector.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
28 words
Apparatus for controlling scrolling displayed information characterised by a tilt detector and means operative to control the scrolling as a function of the tilt detected by the detector.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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