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US 6,888,532 B2Granted
Automatic orientation-based user interface for an ambiguous handheld device
AssigneepalmOne, Inc.
InventorsYoon Kean Wong, William Robert Hanson, Shawn R. Gettemy
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An electronic device is provided that includes a user-interface feature, a detection mechanism and one or more internal components. The user-interface feature is configurable to have a selected orientation about one or more axes. The detection mechanism can detect orientation information about the electronic device. The one or more components may select the orientation of the user-interface feature based on the detected orientation information.
Claims26
An electronic device comprising:
- a processor;
- a user-interface coupled to the processor and configurable to have a selected orientation about at least a first axis, wherein the user-interface includes a display assembly and a plurality of input features, wherein each of the display assembly and the plurality of input features are formed using a layer of contact-sensitive material, and wherein the processor combines with the user-interface to detect a contact initiated by the user to either of the display assembly and any of plurality of input features;
- a detection mechanism to detect orientation information about the electronic device;
- wherein the processor is configured to identify the orientation of the user-interface based on the detected orientation information, and to configure the user-interface according to the selected orientation;
- and
- wherein the contact to any of the plurality of input features and display assembly is interpreted based at least in part on the identified orientation.
3 more elements
A method for configuring an electronic device, the method comprising:
- identifying an orientation for a user-interface based on an orientation of how the electronic device is held, wherein the user-interface includes a plurality of input features and a display assembly, and wherein the plurality of input features and the display assembly are formed from a layer of contact-sensitive material;
- configuring at least a portion of the user-interface according to the identified orientation;
- and
- wherein the step of configuring at least the portion of the user-interface includes interpreting contact made to any of the plurality of input features and the display assembly based at least in part on the identified orientation.
1 more element
An electronic device comprising:
- a processor;
- a contact-sensitive display assembly disposed symmetrically about one or more axes, the display assembly being configurable to have any one of a plurality of orientations in how a content is displayed and an input is received through contact with a surface of the display assembly;
- a handwriting input area provided by the display assembly, wherein the processor is configured to interpret a contact with the handwriting input area as an input;
- a detection mechanism that is configured to detect orientation information corresponding to an orientation of the electronic device when used by a user, and to provide the orientation information to the processor;
- and
- wherein the processor is configured to automatically select an orientation for the display assembly from the plurality of orientations.
3 more elements
An electronic device comprising:
- a set of contact-sensitive regions disposed symmetrically about one or more axes, the set of contact-sensitive regions being configurable to have a selected orientation based on a reference indication on the one or more axes;
- a detection mechanism to detect orientation information of the electronic device in use;
- and
- one or more components configured to automatically determine the reference indication and to select the orientation of the set of contact-sensitive regions based on the determined reference indication.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.