As for mobile device, its screen size tends to be increased and frameless with the display technology development. When users use a large screen or a frameless screen, some display areas of the screen might be blocked by some body parts (such as a hand) or other objects. The users have to move their hands or other blocking objects away to see the contents blocked by the hand or the other blocking objects when the users operating the conventional mobile devices.
According to a first aspect of the present invention, an exemplary displaying method for an electronic apparatus is disclosed. The exemplary displaying method comprises: determining whether an object on a screen of the electronic apparatus is a blocking object and generating a determining result; identifying a blocked area of the screen when the determining result shows that the object is the blocking object; identifying screen contents of the blocked area; analyzing a type of the screen contents; adjusting a display mode of the screen contents according to the type of the screen contents to bypass the blocked area; and displaying contents according to the adjusted display mode. In particular, the step of analyzing the type of the screen contents further comprises: determining whether an arrangement of the screen contents in the blocked area is changeable, or determining whether a zooming of the screen contents in the blocked area is changeable, or determining whether a shape change of the screen contents in the blocked area is changeable. In some embodiments, the method further comprises: detecting whether the contents are changed and generating a variation detecting result, wherein if the variation detecting result shows that the contents are changed, performing the identifying step to identify the screen contents of the blocked area.
According to a second aspect of the present invention, an exemplary electronic apparatus is disclosed. The exemplary electronic apparatus comprises: a blocking object determining circuit, for determining whether an object on a screen of the electronic apparatus is a blocking object and generating a determining result; a blocked area identifying circuit, coupled to the blocking object determining circuit, for identifying a blocked area of the screen when the determining result shows that the object is the blocking object; a blocked contents identifying circuit, coupled to the blocking area identifying circuit, for identifying screen contents of the blocked area; a blocked contents analyzing circuit, coupled to the blocking contents identifying circuit, for analyzing a type of the screen contents; a screen contents display processor, coupled to the blocked contents analyzing circuit, for adjusting a display mode of the screen contents according to the type of the screen contents to bypass the blocked area; and the screen, coupled to the screen contents display processor, for displaying contents according to the adjusted display mode. In particular, the blocked contents analyzing circuit determines whether an arrangement of the screen contents in the blocked area is changeable, or the blocked contents analyzing circuit determines whether a zooming of the screen contents in the blocked area is allowable, or the blocked contents analyzing circuit determines whether a shape change of the screen contents in the blocked area is allowable. In some embodiments, the electronic apparatus further comprises: a screen contents variation detecting circuit, coupled to the blocking contents identifying circuit and the screen, for detecting whether the contents are changed and generating a variation detecting result, wherein if the variation detecting result shows that the contents are changed, the screen contents variation detecting circuit transmits the contents to the blocking contents identifying circuit to perform the identifying process.
These and other objectives of the present invention will no doubt become obvious to those of ordinary skill in the art after reading the following detailed description of the preferred embodiment that is illustrated in the various figures and drawings.
Certain terms are used throughout the description and following claims to refer to particular components. As one skilled in the art will appreciate, manufacturers may refer to a component by different names. This document does not intend to distinguish between components that differ in name but not function. In the following description and in the claims, the terms “include” and “comprise” are used in an open-ended fashion, and thus should be interpreted to mean “include, but not limited to . . . ”. Also, the term “couple” is intended to mean either an indirect or direct electrical connection. Accordingly, if one device is coupled to another device, that connection may be through a direct electrical connection, or through an indirect electrical connection via other devices and connections.
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The blocking object determining circuit 110 may determine whether an object on the screen 160 is a touching object (such as a user's finger for operating the electronic apparatus 100) or a blocking object (such as the user's palm or a part of the palm) and generate a determining result. Specifically, according to an embodiment, the blocking object determining circuit 110 may detect that whether a status of the screen 160 is a flatwise-laying status or a handheld status and generate a detecting result. When the detecting result shows that the status of the screen 160 is the flatwise-laying status, the blocking object determining circuit 110 further identifies an area of the object and determines whether the area is larger than an area threshold. If the area of the object is larger than the area threshold, the blocking object determining circuit 110 determines that the object is the blocking object. If the area of the object is not larger than the area threshold, the blocking object determining circuit 110 determines that the object is the touching object.
When the detecting result shows that the status of the screen 160 is the handheld status, the blocking object determining circuit 110 identifies at least an edge of the screen 160 and determines whether the object is near the at least an edge of the screen 160. If the object is near the edge of the screen 160, the blocking object determining circuit 110 determines whether duration of contacting time between the object and the screen 160 is greater than a time threshold. If the duration is greater than the time threshold, the blocking object determining circuit 110 determines the object is the blocking object. If the duration is not greater than the time threshold, the blocking object determining circuit 110 determines the object is the touching object. In addition, if the object is not near the edge of the screen, the blocking object determining circuit 110 further determines whether the area of the object is larger than an area threshold. If, the blocking object determining circuit 110 determines that the object is the blocking object if the area of the object is larger than the area threshold. Also, the blocking object determining circuit 110 determines that the object is the touching object if the area of the object is not larger than the area threshold.
In some embodiments, the area threshold may be a finger touching area, such as a half of a thumb area or a thumb area. The time threshold may be a long pressing time, such as 5 seconds, 8 seconds, or 10 seconds. This is only for an illustrative purpose and is not meant to be a limitation of the present invention. The above thresholds may be changed according to different designs, and may be predetermined by the system of the electronic apparatus 100 or set by the user. In addition, according to an embodiment, the blocking object determining circuit 110 may comprise an inertial sensor for detecting the status of the screen 160. This is only for an illustrative purpose and is not meant to be a limitation of the present invention. The blocking object determining circuit 110 may comprise other units to perform the detection.
The blocked area identifying circuit 120 is coupled to the blocking object determining circuit 110, and utilized for identifying a blocked area of the screen 160 when the determining result shows that the object is the blocking object. Please refer to
Please note that this is only for an illustrative purpose and is not meant to be a limitation of the present invention. The various detecting elements in the blocked area identifying circuit 120 may be changed according to different design requirements. According to an embodiment, the blocked area identifying circuit 120 may only comprise a first pressure detecting unit 121 and the blocked area processor 125. According to another embodiment, the first pressure detecting unit 121 and the second pressure detecting unit may be integrated in the same detecting unit.
The blocked contents identifying circuit 130 is coupled to the blocking area identifying circuit 120, and may perform an identifying process to identify screen contents of the blocked area. After the identification, the blocked contents identifying circuit 130 may inform the blocked contents analyzing circuit 140 of the screen contents of the blocked area. The blocked contents analyzing circuit 140 may analyze a type of the screen contents. Specifically, according to an embodiment, the blocked contents analyzing circuit 140 may determine whether an arrangement of the screen contents in the blocked area is changeable. In another embodiment, the blocked contents analyzing circuit 140 may determine whether a zooming of the screen contents in the blocked area is allowable. In yet another embodiment, the blocked contents analyzing circuit 140 may determine whether a shape change of the screen contents in the blocked area is allowable.
The screen contents display processor 150 is informed of the type of the screen contents by the blocked contents analyzing circuit 140. The screen contents display processor 150 may adjust a display mode of the screen contents according to the type of the screen contents to bypass the blocked area. The screen 160 is coupled to the screen contents display processor 150, and utilized for displaying contents according to the adjusted display mode. The screen contents variation detecting circuit 170 is coupled to the blocking contents identifying circuit 130 and the screen 160. It may detect whether the contents are changed and generate a variation detecting result. If the variation detecting result shows that the contents are changed, the screen contents variation detecting circuit 170 may transmit the contents to the blocking contents identifying circuit 130 for the identifying process. This is only for an illustrative purpose and is not meant to be a limitation of the present invention. The circuits/units in the electronic apparatus 100 may be altered according to different design requirements. For example, the screen contents variation detecting circuit 170 can be omitted in the electronic apparatus 100.
The blocked contents identifying circuit 130, the blocked contents analyzing circuit 140 and/or the screen contents display processor 150 may comprise at least one processor (e.g. one or more processors) arranged for running at least one program module (e.g. one or more program modules), and the program module(s) running on the aforementioned at least one processor may control operations of the electronic apparatus 100. According to some embodiments, at least one portion (e.g. a portion or all) of the blocked contents identifying circuit 130, the blocked contents analyzing circuit 140 and/or the screen contents display processor 150 may be implemented with a customized semiconductor chip such as an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC).
According to different embodiments, when the blocked contents analyzing circuit 140 determines that the arrangement of the screen contents in the blocked area is changeable, the screen contents display processor 150 may change the arrangement of the screen contents to bypass the blocked area. When the blocked contents analyzing circuit 140 determines that the zooming of the screen contents in the blocked area is allowable, the screen contents display processor 150 may zoom the screen contents to bypass the blocked area. Alternatively, the screen contents display processor 150 may change shape of the screen contents to bypass the blocked area when the blocked contents analyzing circuit 140 determines that the shape change of the screen contents in the blocked area is allowable.
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In addition, please note that although the contents are characters in the above embodiments, this is only for an illustrative purpose and is not meant to be a limitation of the present invention. For example, the present invention also works when the contents are block.
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Step 300: Start.
Step 302: Determine whether an object on a screen of the electronic apparatus is a blocking object and generate a determining result. If the determining result shows that the object is the blocking object, then go to Step 304. Otherwise, go to Step 316.
Step 304: Identify a blocked area of the screen when the determining result shows that the object is the blocking object.
Step 306: Identify screen contents of the blocked area.
Step 308: Analyze a type of the screen contents.
Step 310: Adjust a display mode of the screen contents according to the type of the screen contents to bypass the blocked area.
Step 312: Display contents according to the adjusted display mode.
Step 314: Detect whether the contents are changed and generate a variation detecting result. If the variation detecting result shows that the contents are changed, then go back to Step 306 again. Otherwise, go to Step 316.
Step 316: End.
Please note that the Step 314 can be omitted. In addition, the Step 302 may further comprise: detect whether a status of the screen is a flatwise-laying status or a handheld status and generate a detecting result. When the detecting result shows that the status of the screen is the flatwise-laying status, identify an area of the object and determine whether the area of the object is larger than an area threshold. The Step 314 may comprise determine the object is the blocking object if the area of the object is larger than the area threshold. When the detecting result shows that the status of the screen is the handheld status, identify at least an edge of the screen and determining whether the object is near the at least an edge of the screen. The Step 314 may comprise determine whether duration of contacting time between the object and the screen is greater than a time threshold if the object is near the edge of the screen. If the duration is greater than the time threshold, then determine the object is the blocking object. The Step 314 may comprise determine whether the area of the object is larger than the area threshold if the object is not near the edge of the screen. If the area of the object is larger than the area threshold, then determine the object is the blocking object.
In an embodiment of the present invention, the Step 308 may further comprise: determine whether an arrangement of the screen contents in the blocked area is changeable. When the arrangement of the screen contents in the blocked area is changeable, the step 310 may further comprise: change the arrangement of the screen contents to bypass the blocked area.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the Step 308 may further comprise: determine whether a zooming of the screen contents in the blocked area is allowable. When the zooming of the screen contents in the blocked area is allowable, the step 310 may further comprise: zoom the screen contents to bypass the blocked area.
In another embodiment of the present invention, the Step 308 may further comprise: determine whether a shape change of the screen contents in the blocked area is allowable. When the shape change of the screen contents in the blocked area is allowable, the step 310 may further comprise: change shape of the screen contents to bypass the blocked area.
Briefly summarized, the present invention can make the blocked contents in the screen bypass the blocked area to be displayed while the users do not need to move their hands or other blocking objects. The present invention can dynamically adjust the contents arrangement and display mode of the screen, in order to make the blocked contents intelligently bypass the blocked areas in the screen. The blocked contents can be characters, pictures, videos, and/or other kinds of contents. Re-arrangement of the contents can be varied with different kinds of the contents. Apparently, display methods of the invention are more user-friendly.
Those skilled in the art will readily observe that numerous modifications and alterations of the device and method may be made while retaining the teachings of the invention. Accordingly, the above disclosure should be construed as limited only by the metes and bounds of the appended claims.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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201610160627.2 | Mar 2016 | CN | national |