Viewpoint Change on a Display Device Based on Movement of the Device

Abstract

Embodiments of the disclosed technology comprise a handheld display device with built-in accelerometer and, in some embodiments, compass. The display of a human figure is changed based on a change in viewpoint/orientation of the device. That is, upon detecting a change in viewpoint (e.g., viewing angle, tilt, roll, or pitch of the device), the image of the person changes. This may be used with a still picture of a person, such as for the sale of clothing, or in conjunction with moving images, such as for a sports or exercise instructional video.

1 - 46 . (canceled) 
     
     
         47 . A method of changing an image of an object displayed on a portable device having a processor, and having a display screen forming a plane, comprising, with the processor of the portable device:
 (a) at a first time, causing the display screen to display a first image depicting an object in an initial orientation; and   (b) at a second time, later than the first time, based on a change between the first time and the second time in a reference angle formed between the plane of the display screen and a select direction, which reference angle is determined from data produced by a sensor of the portable device, causing the display screen to display a second image depicting at least a portion of the object in a modified orientation different from the initial orientation.   
     
     
         48 . The method of  claim 47  wherein the first image and second image comprise views of the object at different moments while said at least a portion of said object is in motion, and wherein part (b) comprises, at the second time, causing the display screen to display said at least a portion of the object in the modified orientation as a result of said motion of said at least a portion of the object. 
     
     
         49 . The method of  claim 47  wherein the second image depicts the entire object displayed in the modified orientation. 
     
     
         50 . The method of  claim 49  wherein the first image and second image comprise views of the object at different moments while said at least a portion of said object is in motion, and wherein part (b) comprises, at the second time, causing the display screen to display said at least a portion of the object in the modified orientation, further as a result of said motion of said at least a portion of the object. 
     
     
         51 . The method of  claim 47  wherein the display screen has edges and further comprising causing the display screen to display the first image and the second image while maintaining an alignment of the object with respect to the edges of the display screen between the first time and the second time. 
     
     
         52 . The method of  claim 47  wherein the display screen has edges and further comprising causing the display screen to display the first image and the second image with an alignment of the object that is rotated with respect to the edges of the display screen between the first time and the second time, based on a rotation of the portable device in the plane of the display screen, which rotation is determined from data produced by a supplemental sensor of the portable device. 
     
     
         53 . The method of  claim 47  wherein the select direction is gravitational down and wherein the sensor is an accelerometer. 
     
     
         54 . The method of  claim 47  wherein the select direction is magnetic north and wherein the sensor is a compass. 
     
     
         55 . The method of  claim 47  wherein part (a) comprises causing the display screen to display a first image of a series of images, which first image depicts the object in the initial orientation, and part (b) comprises causing the display screen to display a second image of the series of images, which second image depicts the object in the modified orientation. 
     
     
         56 . The method of  claim 47  wherein the first image and the second image represent different views of the object from different perspectives aimed at a center of gravity of the object. 
     
     
         57 . The method of  claim 47  wherein the object is a human figure. 
     
     
         58 . The method of  claim 47  wherein the object is a plurality of bodies in a scene. 
     
     
         59 . The method of  claim 47  wherein the modified orientation and the initial orientation differ by a rotation angle and the rotation angle is not linearly proportional to the change in the reference angle. 
     
     
         60 . The method of  claim 47  further comprising, at a third time, later than the second time, based on a change between the second time and the third time in the reference angle, causing the display screen to display a third image depicting said at least a portion of the object in a further modified orientation different from both the initial orientation and the modified orientation. 
     
     
         61 . The method of  claim 60  further comprising, at a fourth time, later than the third time, based on data indicating that a reference angle at the fourth time matches the reference angle at the first time, causing the display screen to display the first image. 
     
     
         62 . A portable display device comprising:
 (a) a display screen forming a plane;   (b) a sensor;   (c) a storage device containing image data of an object;   (d) a computer processor responsive to the sensor, coupled to the storage device, and controlling the display screen, which computer processor:   (i) determines, from data produced by the sensor, a reference angle formed between the plane of the display screen and a select direction;   (ii) at a first time, causes the display screen to display a first image depicting an object in an initial orientation; and   (iii) at a second time, later than the first time, based on a change between the first time and the second time in the reference angle causes the display screen to display a second image depicting at least a portion of the object in a modified orientation different from the initial orientation.   
     
     
         63 . The display device of  claim 62  wherein the sensor is an accelerometer and the select direction is gravitational down. 
     
     
         64 . The display device of  claim 62  wherein the sensor is a compass and the select direction is magnetic north. 
     
     
         65 . The display device of  claim 62  wherein the image data of the object in the storage device comprises a series of images representing different views of the object rotated through different rotation angles. 
     
     
         66 . The display device of  claim 62  wherein the display screen has edges, further comprising a supplemental sensor, and wherein the computer processor (i) is responsive to the supplemental sensor, (ii) determines, from data produced by the supplemental sensor, a rotation of the portable device in the plane of the display screen, and (iii) causes the display screen to display the first image and the second image with the object aligned differently with respect to the edges of the display screen between the first time and the second time, which alignment difference is based on the rotation. 
     
     
         67 . The display device of  claim 66  wherein the sensor is an accelerometer and the supplemental sensor is a compass.