1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to an electronic reader and a page flipping method thereof.
2. Description of Related Art
In an electronic reader equipped with an electronic paper display (EPD) for reading, the EPD is a high resolution, low frequency (HRLF) display, and provides a stable reflective display technology that uses ultra-low power but is easily read under any lighting condition including direct sunlight. However, the EPD typically has a low frame rate, and when a page flipping command is acted upon, the whole screen displaying the current page is refreshed at one time. That is, the content updating on the whole screen is carried out in one operation. Thus, image artifacts, generally caused by image ghosting or image lag, may exist when the EPD is refreshed, which affects users' viewing on the EPD.
Therefore, what is needed is an electronic reader and a page flipping method thereof alleviating the limitations described above.
The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of an electronic reader and a page flipping method thereof. Moreover, in the drawings, like reference numerals designate corresponding sections throughout the several views.
Referring to
The input unit 10 is configured to generate a content updating signal in response to a user input, to update the content of the display unit 20, and to transmit signals accordingly to the processing unit 40. The input unit 201 can be a keypad or a touch pad which includes operable function keys such as page up, page down, play, pause, stop, skip, speed, record etc. The function keys of the input unit 201 can be mapped according to actual need.
The display unit 20 is an EPD including an electronic paper display screen 21 (See
The file retrieving module 401 retrieves the content of a target page for displaying on the display screen 21, from the storage unit 30, in response to a content updating signal from the input unit 10.
The mode control module 402 is configured to control the electronic reader 100 to operate in a refreshing mode, when a content updating signal for updating the content of the display unit 20 is received. In the embodiment, each refreshing mode defines a particular procedure for the refreshing, and a total number of blocks successively set to be refreshed according to the refreshing mode. The refreshing as viewed by the user includes refreshing the display screen 21 from the top to the bottom or the reverse, and from the left to the right or the reverse, and in a clockwise or in a counter-clockwise direction. The refreshable blocks may be rectangular or another predetermined shape. In the embodiment, when the electronic reader 100 is in the refreshing mode, the refreshable blocks will be refreshed one after another according to the procedure for the refreshing mode. The default refreshing mode is predetermined by the system, and can also be preset by the user.
The block setting module 403 determines the number of refreshable blocks in which new, that is to say retrieved content, is to be displayed. In the embodiment, the block setting module 403 divides the display unit 20 into a number of refreshable blocks as defined in the refreshing mode activated by the mode control module 402. The block setting module 403 also splits the content of the target page into a number of target portions, each target portion being mapped and corresponding to a particular refreshable block. In the embodiment, the refreshable blocks have a uniform size and shape, that is, the display unit 20 is divided into a number of equal parts. Accordingly, the target page as mapped to the display unit 20 is also split into the same divisions.
The display control module 404 updates the blocks one after another with the target portions of the target page appropriately placed in accordance with the refreshing procedure defined by the refreshing mode.
In a second embodiment, the storage unit 30 further stores at least one visually indicative effect
During the content updating process, the file retrieving module 401 invokes one or more effect figures 300 from the storage unit 30 for covering or infilling the block to be refreshed. The display control module 404 maintains the effect figures 300 in the block to be refreshed for a predetermined period of time and then replaces the effect figures 300 with the target portion allocated to that block. Then the content updating process moves on to the next block to be refreshed according to the refreshing procedure. In an alternative embodiment, the content updating process pauses for a short period of time before applying itself to the next block to be refreshed. As the refreshable blocks are refreshed one after another, the old content on the screen of the display unit 20 is reduced portion by portion, the effect figures 300 is/are moved from one refreshable block to another in accordance with the refreshing procedure, and the new content appears portion by portion on the screen until the new screen content has entirely replaced the old.
Referring to
In step S201, the input unit 10 generates a content updating signal for updating displayed content of the display unit in response to a user's operation.
In step S202, the file retrieving module 401 retrieves the content of the target page of an electronic file and one or more effect figures 300 for displaying on the display screen 21, and the mode control module 402 controls the electronic reader 100 to operate in a particular refreshing mode. In the embodiment, each refreshing mode defines a particular order and procedure for refreshing, and a total number of blocks is set successively for refreshing in accordance with the particular refreshing mode. A procedure for each refreshing mode may include refreshing from the top to the bottom of the display screen 21, or the reverse, from the left to the right, or the reverse, and in a clockwise or a counter-clockwise direction. The shape of the refreshable blocks may be rectangular or some other predetermined shape.
In step S203, the block setting module 403 determines the number of blocks where retrieved content, that is to say new content, is to be displayed. In the embodiment, the block setting module 403 divides the display unit 20 into a number of blocks to be refreshed as defined by the activated refreshing mode, and splits the content of the target page into a number of target portions, each target portion corresponding to the size and shape of the blocks to be refreshed, and the target portion is mapped to the refreshable block.
In step 204, the display control module 404 controls the display unit 20 to update the content of the blocks to be refreshed, using one or more effect figures 300 for a predetermined period of time, and then to update and replace the one or more effect figures 300 displayed with retrieved and new content, one after another as required by the procedure of the refreshing mode.
Referring to
Referring to
The display control module 404 updates the refreshable blocks one after another, from the top to the bottom, by replacing the current content with the target page. In detail, referring to
Referring to
Referring to
The display control module 404 invokes the effect
With such a configuration, a vivid page flipping effect is presented to the user of the electronic reader 100, and the appearance of screen artifacts is avoided, which gives more attractive and comfortable viewing to the user.
Although the present disclosure has been specifically described on the basis of the embodiments thereof, the disclosure is not to be construed as being limited thereto. Various changes or modifications may be made to the embodiments without departing from the scope and spirit of the disclosure.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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201110176675.8 | Jun 2011 | CN | national |
The present application is related to a copending application Ser. No. ______ (Attorney Docket No. US39877), entitled “ELECTRONIC READER AND PAGE FLIPPING METHOD THEREOF” and filed on ______, which is incorporated herein by reference.