Apparatus, method, and medium for controlling image orientation

An apparatus, method, and medium for controlling image orientation are disclosed. An orientation mode detector measures multi-directional rotational angles of a display panel and determines an orientation mode for original image data based on the measured rotational angles. A system memory stores orientation parameters corresponding to a plurality of image orientation modes. A system controller initially acquires information indicating the orientation mode from the orientation mode detector, and it extracts orientation parameters corresponding to the acquired information from the system memory. Finally, a driver changes an orientation of the original image data according to the extracted orientation parameters.

This application claims the benefit of Korean Patent Application No. 10-2004-0064155, filed on Aug. 16, 2004, which is hereby incorporated by reference as if fully set forth herein.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a display system, and more particularly, to an apparatus, a method, and medium for controlling image orientation. Although the present invention is suitable for a wide scope of applications, it is particularly suitable for providing a display system having a display panel rotatable in multiple directions.

2. Discussion of the Related Art

Generally, a display system carries out many roles for easily providing users with all types of images including graphic images, character images, and so on. Also, the display system displays the images in a landscape format. More specifically, the landscape format displays the image so that the longitudinal length is larger than the vertical length. However, despite the convenience provided to the users, depending upon the computer applications such display formats (i.e., landscape format) may be inconvenient and disadvantageous. For example, the landscape format may cause inconvenience to users to wish to view documented images having a larger vertical length and a smaller longitudinal length, which may also result in a waste of empty space on each side of the image being displayed. In this case, the user would rather prefer to view the image in a portrait format, wherein the vertical length of the image is larger than the longitudinal length.

Therefore, in order to meet with the demands of the user to view an image in both the landscape format and the portrait format, a display system rotating the image to a direction desired by the user has been developed. The display system for rotating images should include a display panel that can be horizontally or vertically rotated, and a software and a hardware that can adequately modify the display direction of the displayed image, depending upon the rotation of the display panel.

In a conventional display system for rotating images, when the user desires to rotate the display panel to 90 degrees (90°) to view the image in a portrait format, the user uses a remote controller or a function key on the display panel in order to set up the image display direction to a 90° rotation mode. Accordingly, the image is rotated to 90 degrees (90°) through the software and hardware related to image rotation, thereby being displayed in the portrait format. Conversely, when the user desires to rotate the image rotated to 90 degrees (90°) once again, so as to view the image in the landscape format, then the user uses the remote controller or the function key on the display panel in order to set up the image display direction to a 0° rotation mode. Accordingly, the image is rotated back to its initial state through the software and hardware related to image rotation, thereby being displayed in the landscape format.

However, the conventional display system is disadvantageous in that the user is required to set up the display direction of the image each time the display panel is rotated. Also, if the user is unable to capture the correct rotational angle, then the user has to activate repeat image rotation mode several times before being able to view the image as desired. Furthermore, the display panel of the related art display system can rotate in only one direction, and accordingly, the image is rotated in only one direction. Therefore, the development of a display device and method enabling the image to be rotated in many directions is required.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention is directed to an apparatus, a method, and medium for controlling image orientation that substantially obviate one or more problems due to limitations and disadvantages of the related art.

An object of the present invention is to provide an apparatus, a method, and medium for controlling image orientation that can provide an optimum automatic orientation of an image depending upon a multi-directional rotation of a display panel.

To achieve these objects and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the invention, as embodied and broadly described herein, a method of controlling an orientation of image data in a display system having a display panel includes the steps of determining an orientation mode for original image data based on rotational angles of the display panel in multi-directions, and extracting orientation parameters corresponding to the determined orientation mode. The method further includes the steps of changing an orientation of the original image data according to the extracted orientation parameters, storing the orientation-changed image data in a memory, and displaying the stored image data on a display screen.

In another aspect of the present invention, an apparatus of controlling an orientation of image data includes a display panel rotatable in multi-directions, and an orientation mode detector configured to measure multi-directional rotational angles of the display panel, and to determine an orientation mode for original image data based on the measured rotational angles. The apparatus further includes a system memory configured to store orientation parameters corresponding to a plurality of image orientation modes, and a system controller configured to acquire information indicating the determined image orientation mode from the orientation mode detector, and to extract orientation parameters corresponding to the acquired information. The apparatus further includes a driver configured to change an orientation of the original image data according to the extracted orientation parameters, wherein the orientation-changed image data is stored in the system memory and is displayed on a display screen.

The orientation mode detector includes at least one sensor configured to measure the multi-directional rotational angles of the display panel, a display controller configured to determine the orientation mode for the original image data based on the measured rotational angles, and a display memory configured to store the information indicating the determined orientation mode, wherein the display controller sends an acknowledgement to the system controller when a request for access to the display memory is received.

In another aspect of the present invention, a computer-readable medium stores program code for determining an orientation mode for original image data in a display system. The program code, when executed by a processor, causing the processor to perform the steps of (a) rotating, by a user, the display panel in at least one of a first direction and a second direction; (b) determining whether the display panel is rotated in the first direction; and (c) when the determination in step (b) is true, determining whether a first rotational angle of the display panel in the first direction is 90 degrees. The program code further causes the processor to perform the steps of (d) when the determination in step (c) is true, determining whether the display panel is rotated in the second direction; (e) when the determination in step (d) is true, determining whether a second rotational angle of the display panel in the second direction is 180 degrees; (f) when the determination in step (e) is true, storing an orientation mode of 270 degrees in a memory; (g) determining whether a request for access to the memory has been received from an image orientation controller; and (h) when the request is made, transmitting an acknowledgement to the image orientation controller for authorizing access to the memory.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The purpose of the present invention is to automatically detect rotational angles of a display panel, which is rotatable in multiple directions, such as a first rotational direction and a second rotational direction, and to optimally display an image by automatically controlling the image orientation depending upon the detected rotational angles.FIG. 1illustrates a block diagram of an apparatus for controlling image orientation according to the present invention. And,FIGS. 2 and 3illustrate a flow chart showing process steps of a method for controlling image orientation according to the present invention. Referring toFIG. 1, the apparatus for controlling image orientation according to the present invention includes a display panel1, an orientation mode detector2, and an image orientation controller3. Herein, the display panel is rotatable in multiple directions.

FIGS. 4A to 4Cillustrate various views the display panel1which is rotatable in multi-directions. More specifically,FIG. 4Ais a rear side view of the display panel1,FIG. 4Bis a left-side view of the display panel1, andFIG. 4Cis a front side view of the display panel1. Referring toFIGS. 4A to 4C, the display panel1is rotatable in a first rotational direction and a second rotational direction. More specifically, the display panel is rotatable about an axis perpendicular to the display panel1(first rotational direction), as shown inFIGS. 4A and 4C. On the other hand, the display panel is also rotatable about a horizontal axis (second rotational direction), as shown inFIGS. 4A and 4B.

FIGS. 5A to 5Cillustrate various orientations of the display panel1according to the present invention.FIG. 5Aillustrates an orientation of the display panel1, which is rotated 180 degrees in the second rotational direction. Also,FIG. 5Billustrates orientations of the display panel1, which is initially rotated 90 degrees in the first direction and is further rotated 180 degrees in the second direction. And,FIG. 5Cillustrates an orientation of the display panel1, which is rotated 180 degrees in the first direction.

Referring back toFIG. 1, the orientation mode detector2includes a sensor11, a displayer controller12, and a display memory13. The sensor11of the orientation mode detector2measures the multi-directional rotational angles of the display panel1, and it could use any one of a wide range of sensors, such as a gyroscope sensor, a metal shell sensor, an electrical conduction detection switch, a mechanical conversion switch, and so on. The sensor using the conduction detection switch is used in the present invention.

FIGS. 6A and 6Billustrate an electrical conduction detecting switch. More specifically,FIG. 6Aillustrates a condition whereby an electric current is flowing, andFIG. 6Billustrates a condition whereby the electric current is cut-off. Referring toFIG. 6A, the electric current is flown through as a conductive ball20comes into contact with a contact point22of a terminal21. Conversely, the electric current cut-off as the conductive ball20is out of contact with the contact point22of the terminal21, as shown inFIG. 6B.

FIG. 7illustrates an example of a sensor used in the apparatus for controlling image orientation according to the present invention. Referring toFIG. 7, a contact point22is located at each side portion of the sensor, and the conductive ball20moves along the inclination of the sensor. As the conductive ball20moves along the inclined surface of the sensor, the contact point22coming into contact with the conductive ball20is changed. Moreover, the flow of electric current in each contact point22can either be opened or cut-off due to the conductive ball20, thereby changing the flow of the electric current. Therefore, since the current flow is changed in accordance with the inclination of the sensor, the user can sense the current flow at the sensor so as to detect the inclination.

More specifically, when the sensor, shown inFIG. 7, is attached to the display panel, the user can detect the rotational angle of the display panel. In some cases, the user may place a light emitting diode23near each contact point22of the sensor, in order to verify whether an electric current is flowing through each contact point22. The user may also increase the number of contact points22so that the rotational angle can be detected more accurately.

Alternatively, the present invention may also include a first sensor sensing only the rotational angle of the first direction mode, and a second senor sensing only the rotational angle of the second direction mode. In this case, each sensor may sense a more accurate rotational angle, so as to detect only the rotational angle of a corresponding mode.

Also, the display memory13shown inFIG. 1stores the measured rotational angles of the display panel1. Moreover, the display controller12determines an orientation mode for original image data based on the measured rotational angles, and stores the determined orientation mode in the display memory13. Then, when the image orientation controller3sends a request to the display controller12for accessing to the display memory13to acquire the orientation mode information, the display controller12sends an acknowledgement to the image orientation controller3to authorize the access. The orientation mode determined by the display controller12is any one of 0, 90, 180, and 270 degrees, and information indicating the orientation mode is stored in the display memory13.

Furthermore, the image orientation controller3includes a system memory14, a system controller15, and a driver16. Herein the system memory14stores orientation parameters corresponding to a plurality of orientation modes. Also, the system controller15acquires the orientation mode information for the original image data determined by the orientation mode detector2by accessing to the display memory13. Then, it extracts orientation parameters corresponding to the acquired orientation mode information. And, the extracted orientation parameters are supplied to the driver16. Herein, the orientation parameters supplied to the driver16may consist of information on an image starting position, an image ending position, and a scan direction, which correspond to the orientation mode information. The image orientation parameters may vary depending upon the image orientation mode information stored in the system memory14. In the present invention, the image orientation mode includes first to eighth orientation modes. And so, each image orientation mode has different image orientation parameters.

FIG. 8illustrates examples of various image orientation modes according to the present invention. Referring toFIG. 8, the present invention largely includes a normal mode and a mirror mode, wherein the normal includes first to fourth orientation modes and the mirror mode includes fifth to eighth orientation modes. More specifically, the first orientation mode is the original image, the second orientation mode is the image of the first orientation mode being rotated to 90° clockwise, the third orientation mode is the image of the first orientation mode being rotated to 180° clockwise, and the fourth orientation mode is the image of the first orientation mode being rotated to 270° clockwise. On the other hand, the fifth orientation mode is a mirror of the original image, the sixth orientation mode is the fifth orientation mode being rotated to 90° clockwise, the seventh orientation mode is the image of the fifth orientation mode being rotated to 180° clockwise, and the eighth orientation mode is the image of the fifth orientation mode being rotated to 270° clockwise. Also, the driver16modifies the orientation of the original image data in accordance with the extracted image orientation data.

A method for controlling the image orientation according to the present invention will now be described in detail. Referring toFIGS. 2 and 3, after the display panel1is rotated in at least one of multi-directions, the display controller12determines whether the display panel1is rotated in the first rotational direction based on rotational angles measured by the sensor11(S101). If the display panel1is rotated in the first direction, the display controller12determines whether the rotational angle of the display panel in the first direction is 90° (S102).

Subsequently, if the rotational angle in the first direction is 90°, the display controller12then determines whether the display panel1is rotated in the second rotational direction (S103). If the display panel1is rotated in the second direction, the display controller12determines whether the rotational angle of the display panel1in the second direction is 180° (S104). Thereafter, if the rotational angle in the second direction is 180°, the display controller12stores an image orientation mode of 270° in the display memory13(S105).

However, if the display controller12determines in step S101that the display panel1is not rotated in the first direction, the display controller12determines whether the display panel1is rotated in the second direction (S106). Then, if the display panel1is rotated in the second direction, the display controller12determines whether the rotational angle of the display panel1in the second direction is 180° (S107). Subsequently, if the rotational angle in the second direction is 180°, the display controller12stores an image orientation mode of 180° in the display memory13(S108). On the other hand, in S106, if the display panel1is not rotated in the second direction, then the display controller12stores an image orientation mode of 0° in the display memory13(S109).

Additionally, in S102, if the rotational angle in the first direction is not 90°, then the display controller12determines whether the rotational angle of the display panel1in the first direction is 180° (S107). If the rotational angle in the first direction is 180°, then the display controller12stores an image orientation mode of 180° in the display memory (S108). However, if the rotational angle in the first direction is not 180°, then the display controller12stores an image orientation mode of 0° in the display memory13(S109).

After an image orientation is stored in the display memory13in step S110, S105, S108, or S109, the display controller12determines whether a request for accessing to the display memory13has been received from the system controller15(S111). If such request is made, then the display controller12authorizes the access to the display memory13by transmitting an acknowledgement to the system controller15(S112). However, if there is no request made, then the display controller12repeats the steps starting from S101.

The system controller15of the image orientation controller3periodically sends a request to the display controller12for acquiring image orientation mode information stored in the display memory13. Then it reads the information from the display memory13when authorized by the display controller12(S113). Thereafter, the system controller15determines whether the acquired information is a mirror mode (S114). If the information is not a mirror mode, the system controller determines whether the acquired information is any one of the first to fourth orientation modes (S115to S118). Then, if the acquired information is determined to be any one of the first to fourth orientation modes, the system controller15extracts from the system memory14the image orientation data corresponding to the orientation mode of the acquired information (S123). However, if the acquired information is determined to correspond to none of the first to fourth orientation modes, then the image orientation controlling process is terminated.

Alternatively, if the information is a mirror mode, the system controller determines whether the acquired information is any one of the fifth to eighth orientation modes (S119to S122). Then, if the acquired information is determined to be any one of the fifth to eighth orientation modes, the system controller15extracts from the system memory14the image orientation data corresponding to the orientation mode of the acquired information (S123). However, if the acquired information is determined to correspond to none of the fifth to eighth orientation modes, then the image orientation controlling process is terminated. Furthermore, the driver16modifies the orientation of the original image data in accordance with the extracted image orientation data and stores the modified image orientation to the system memory (S124). Finally, the system controller15displays the stored image data on the display panel1(S125).

As described above, the present invention enables the rotational angle of a display panel, which is rotatable in multiple directions, to be automatically detected and can allow an optimum orientation of the image depending upon the detected rotational angle. Although the present invention is suitable for a wide scope of applications, it is also intended that the present invention covers the modifications and variations of this invention provided they come within the scope of the appended claims and their equivalents. For example, the present invention can be applied in combination with any one of a computer programming software, a firmware, and a hardware. As a preparatory step for fabricating the apparatus according to the present invention or performing the method according to the present invention, a computer programming code (or a software or firmware) according to the present invention, is typically stored in at least one machine-readable memory medium, such as a semiconductor memory including a fixed (or hard) drive, a diskette, an optical disc, a magnetic tape, a read only memory (ROM), a programmable read only memory (PROM), and so on, and products are fabricated by using the same medium.

A fabricated product including a computer programming code are used by directly processing the code from a memory device, by copying the code from the memory device to another memory device, such as a hard disc, a random-access memory (RAM), and so on, or by transmitting the code through a network so as to be processed at remote distances. The method according to the present invention is performed by processing a code included in an adequate standard computer hardware, thereby combining at least one machine-readable memory device including the code according to the present invention. The apparatus performing the aspects of the present invention may be at least one computer and memory system including or having network access to a computer program encoded according to the present invention.

The apparatus, method, and medium for controlling image orientation according to the present invention automatically detects a rotational angle of a display panel, thereby allowing the user to avoid the inconvenience of resetting the image orientation each time an image is viewed. Also, since the image orientation is optimally set in accordance with the detected rotational angle, the user is provided with a more image. Finally, since the image orientation is controlled in accordance with a first mode rotating the display panel either clockwise or counterclockwise along the central axis of the display panel and, also, a second mode rotating the display panel counterclockwise along one of a horizontal axis and a vertical axis of the display panel, the user can view a desired image more conveniently.