Self-orienting display

Abstract

A self-orienting display senses the characteristics of an object and automatically rotates and reformats a display image in accordance with those characteristics. In one embodiment, the object is the display device, such as a hand held device, that provides the display image. As the display device is rotated, the display image is automatically oriented to either a landscape orientation or a portrait orientation. Characteristics may be sensed by mechanical sensors, electrical sensors, optical sensors, acoustic sensors, gyroscopic sensors, or a combination thereof. Sensors may be positioned on the display device, a person, or a combination thereof. The display images may include graphic display images, textual display images, videos display images, and functional control buttons (e.g., functional displayed representations of control buttons such as play, rewind, stop, scroll). The self-orienting display may also include an authenticator that authenticates a user.

1 . A method for orienting a display image, said method comprising the steps of: 
 sensing at least one characteristic of an object;    determining an orientation of said object from at least one of said at least one sensed characteristic; and    orienting said display image relative to said determined orientation of said object.    
     
     
         2 . A method in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising the step of: 
 orienting said display image to one of a plurality of predetermined orientations in response to said determined orientation of said object.    
     
     
         3 . A method in accordance with  claim 2 , wherein said predetermined orientations comprise a landscape orientation and a portrait orientation.  
     
     
         4 . A method in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising the step of: 
 generating an initial relative orientation between said display image and said determined orientation of said object, wherein: 
 subsequent display image orientation is with respect to said initial relative orientation.  
   
     
     
         5 . A method in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said object comprises a display device that provides said display image; and said image display is oriented to provide an approximately stable appearance regardless of said determined orientation of said object and said display image.    
     
     
         6 . A method in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said object comprises an object other than a display device that provides said display image; and    said display image is oriented to maintain an approximately constant relative orientation between said determined orientation of said object and said display image.    
     
     
         7 . A method in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said orientation of said object is sensed via at least one of a magnetic sensor, a gyroscopic sensor, an acoustic sensor, and a mechanical sensor.  
     
     
         8 . A method in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said display image is oriented by gravity, such that a predetermined portion of said display image is positioned toward a direction having a strongest gravitational force.    
     
     
         9 . A method in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said orientation of said object is sensed via at least one mercury switch.  
     
     
         10 . A method in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein said orientation of said object is sensed via at least one of an optical sensor and an image sensor.  
     
     
         11 . A method in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising the step of: 
 authenticating said object by analyzing said sensed characteristic.    
     
     
         12 . A method in accordance with  claim 11 , wherein said sensed characteristic comprises at least one of a retina, a fingerprint, and voice.  
     
     
         13 . A method in accordance with  claim 1 , further comprising the steps of: 
 sensing an audio command; and    orienting said display image in response to said audio command.    
     
     
         14 . A method in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein: 
 said display image comprises display image portions; and    each display image portion is oriented in response to said determined orientation of said object.    
     
     
         15 . A method in accordance  claim 14 , wherein: 
 said display image portions comprise at least one of a graphic display portion, a textual display portion, a video display portion, and a control portion comprising display representations of functional control buttons.    
     
     
         16 . A system for orienting a display image, said system comprising: 
 a sensor portion for sensing at least one characteristic of an object and providing a sensor signal indicative of said at least one characteristic; and    a display processor for: 
 receiving said sensor signal;  
 determining an orientation of said object from said sensor signal; and  
 orienting said display image relative to said determined orientation of said object.  
   
     
     
         17 . A system in accordance with  claim 16 , wherein said display processor orients said display image to one of a plurality of predetermined orientations in response to said sensed orientation of said object.  
     
     
         18 . A system in accordance with  claim 17 , wherein said predetermined orientations comprise a landscape orientation and a portrait orientation.  
     
     
         19 . A system in accordance with  claim 16 , wherein: 
 said display processor generates an initial relative orientation between said display image and said sensed orientation of said object, and    subsequent display image orientation is with respect to said initial relative orientation.    
     
     
         20 . A system in accordance with  claim 16 , wherein: 
 said object comprises a display device that provides said display image; and    said display processor orients said image display to provide an approximately stable appearance regardless of said determined orientation of said object and said display image.    
     
     
         21 . A system in accordance with  claim 16 , wherein: 
 said object comprises an object other than a display device that provides said display image; and    said display processor orients said display image to maintain an approximately constant relative orientation between said determined orientation of said object and said display image.    
     
     
         22 . A system in accordance with  claim 16 , wherein said sensor portion comprises at least one of a magnetic sensor, a gyroscopic sensor, an acoustic sensor, and a mechanical sensor.  
     
     
         23 . A system in accordance with  claim 16 , wherein: 
 said display image is oriented by gravity, such that a predetermined portion of said display image is positioned toward a direction having a strongest gravitational force.    
     
     
         24 . A system in accordance with  claim 16 , wherein said sensor portion comprises at least one mercury switch.  
     
     
         25 . A system in accordance with  claim 16 , wherein said sensor portion comprises at least one of an optical sensor and an image sensor.  
     
     
         26 . A system in accordance with  claim 16 , wherein said display processor authenticates said object by analyzing said sensed characteristic.  
     
     
         27 . A system in accordance with  claim 26 , wherein said sensed characteristic comprises at least one of a retina, a fingerprint, and voice.  
     
     
         28 . A system in accordance with  claim 16 , wherein: 
 said sensor portion senses an audio command; and    said display processor orients said display image in response to said audio command.    
     
     
         29 . A system in accordance with  claim 16 , wherein: 
 said display image comprises display image portions; and    said display processor orients each display image portion in response to said determined orientation of said object.    
     
     
         30 . A system in accordance  claim 29 , wherein: 
 said display image portions comprise at least one of a graphic display portion, a textual display portion, a video display portion, and a control portion comprising display representations of functional control buttons.    
     
     
         31 . A computer readable medium encoded with a computer program code for directing a computer processor to orient a display image said program code comprising: 
 a sense object code segment that causes said computer processor to sense at least one characteristic of an object;    a determine orientation code segment that causes said computer processor to determine an orientation of said object from at least one of said at least one sensed characteristic; and    an orient code segment that causes said computer processor to orient said display image relative to said determined orientation of said object.    
     
     
         32 . A computer readable medium in accordance with  claim 31 , said program code further comprising: 
 a predetermined orientation code segment for causing said computer processor to orient said display image to one of a plurality of predetermined orientations in response to said determined orientation of said object.    
     
     
         33 . A computer readable medium in accordance with  claim 32 , wherein said predetermined orientations comprise a landscape orientation and a portrait orientation.  
     
     
         34 . A computer readable medium in accordance with  claim 31 , said program code further comprising: 
 an initialize code segment for causing said computer processor to generate an initial relative orientation between said display image and said determined orientation of said object, wherein: 
 subsequent display image orientation is with respect to said initial relative orientation.  
   
     
     
         35 . A computer readable medium in accordance with  claim 31 , said program code further comprising: 
 a stable orientation code segment for causing said computer processor to orient said display image to provide an approximately stable appearance regardless of said determined orientation of said object and said display image, wherein 
 said object comprises a display device that provides said display image.  
   a constant relative orientation code segment for causing said computer processor to orient said display image to maintain an approximately constant relative orientation between said determined orientation of said object and said display image.    
     
     
         36 . A computer readable medium in accordance with  claim 31 , said program code further comprising: 
 a constant relative orientation code segment for causing said computer processor to orient said display image to maintain an approximately constant relative orientation between said determined orientation of said object and said display image, wherein 
 said object comprises an object other than a display device that provides said display image.  
   
     
     
         37 . A computer readable medium in accordance with  claim 31 , wherein said orientation of said object is sensed via at least one of a magnetic sensor, a gyroscopic sensor, an acoustic sensor, and a mechanical sensor.  
     
     
         38 . A computer readable medium in accordance with  claim 31 , wherein: 
 said display image is oriented by gravity, such that a predetermined portion of said display image is positioned toward a direction having a strongest gravitational force.    
     
     
         39 . A computer readable medium in accordance with  claim 31 , wherein said orientation of said object is sensed via at least one mercury switch.  
     
     
         40 . A computer readable medium in accordance with  claim 31 , wherein said orientation of said object is sensed via at least one of an optical sensor and an image sensor.  
     
     
         41 . A computer readable medium in accordance with  claim 31 , said program code further comprising: 
 an authenticate code segment for causing said computer processor to authenticate said object by analyzing said sensed characteristic.    
     
     
         42 . A computer readable medium in accordance with  claim 41 , wherein said sensed characteristic comprises at least one of a retina, a fingerprint, and voice.  
     
     
         43 . A computer readable medium in accordance with  claim 31 , said program code further comprising: 
 a sense command code segment for causing said computer processor to sense an audio command; and    an audio orient code segment for causing said computer processor to orient said display image in response to said audio command.    
     
     
         44 . A computer readable medium in accordance with  claim 31 , wherein: 
 said display image comprises display image portions; and    each display image portion is oriented in response to said determined orientation of said object.    
     
     
         45 . A computer readable medium in accordance with  claim 44 , wherein: 
 said display image portions comprise at least one of a graphic display portion, a textual display portion, a video display portion, and a control portion comprising display representations of functional control buttons.    
     
     
         46 . A self-orienting display comprising: 
 means for sensing at least one characteristic of an object;    means for determining an orientation of said object from at least one of said at least one sensed characteristic; and    means for orienting a display image relative to said determined orientation of said object.    
     
     
         47 . A self-orienting display in accordance with  claim 46 , further comprising: 
 means for orienting said display image to one of a plurality of predetermined orientations in response to said determined orientation of said object.    
     
     
         48 . A self-orienting display in accordance with  claim 46 , further comprising: 
 means for orienting said display image to provide an approximately stable appearance regardless of said determined orientation of said object and said display image, wherein, 
 said object comprises a display device that provides said display image.  
   
     
     
         49 . A self-orienting display in accordance with  claim 46  filthier comprising: 
 gravitational means for orienting said display image such that a predetermined portion of said display image is positioned toward a direction having a strongest gravitational force.  
 
     
     
         50 . A self-orienting display in accordance with  claim 46 , further comprising: 
 means for generating an initial relative orientation between said display image and said determined orientation of said object, wherein: 
 subsequent display image orientation is with respect to said initial relative orientation.  
   
     
     
         51 . A self-orienting display in accordance with  claim 46 , further comprising: 
 means for authenticating said object by analyzing at least one of said at least one sensed characteristic.