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SonyGranted patentPhones & computersInterest 4/10

Sony patents touch screen that locks parts of the display when touched

Sony describes a display system that detects when a finger touches or hovers near specific parts of an on-screen image. When contact is detected on a designated area, the system disables that part of the interface while keeping other areas active, and may show a visual cue for the active sections.

Why it mattersThis technique could help prevent accidental touches on complex screens by selectively disabling controls based on where the user is interacting.

In the filing’s own words

A display device, method, computer-readable storage medium and user interface, each of which detects contact to or proximity of an object with respect to a generated image, and responsive to detection of contact to or proximity of the object to the generated image, disables any operational functions associated with a first portion of the generated image. Additionally, operation associated with a second portion of the generated image is allowed responsive to the detection of contact to or proximity of the object to the generated image, where the second portion of the generated image is different from the first portion of the generated image. An indication corresponding to the second portion of the generated image for which operation is enabled may be displayed on the generated image.

What exactly they claim (claim 1)

1. A method, comprising: detecting, using circuitry, a first contact on a first operational portion of a first image generated on a touch screen; in response to the first contact being detected on the first operational portion, displaying, using the circuitry, on the touch screen a text and a second image at the first operational portion of the first image; detecting, using the circuitry, a second contact on a second operational portion of the first image generated on the touch screen; in response to the second operation being detected on the second operational portion, setting, using the circuitry, a state of a camera, the state corresponding to a movement amount of the camera; displaying, using the circuitry, a captured image on the touch screen, the captured image being captured by the camera with the state of the camera being set; and deleting, using the circuitry, the text and the second image from the first operational portion of the first image in response to detecting, using the circuitry, the first contact being removed from the touch screen at the first operational portion.

Facts

Company
Sony (Sony Group Corporation)
Official title
Display device, display controlling method, and computer program
Patent number
US12730557B2
Application number
18886026
Filed
Sep 16, 2024
Granted
Sep 8, 2026
Inventors
6
Claims
19

Classified under

G06F 3/04886 Physics & computingG06F 3/041 Physics & computingG06F 3/0412 Physics & computingG06F 3/044 Physics & computingG06F 3/0482 Physics & computingG06F 3/04847 Physics & computing
Read the full filing (official PDF) ↗ Open in the Patent Tracker

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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.