Display device and method for navigating between display layers thereof

A method for navigating between display layers is applied in a display device. The display device includes a touch screen and a display panel. The method includes following steps of determining a target display layer according to whether a pinching gesture or an expanding gesture is performed. When the expanding gesture is performed, expanding a distance between relevant columns or rows of icons currently displayed to reveal icons on the target display layer, and visually compressing formerly-displayed icons to two opposite edges of the display panel during the expanding gesture. When the pinching gesture is performed, narrowing a distance between columns or rows of icons on the target display layer which are introduced respectively from the two opposite edges to cover columns and rows of old icons, and visually expanding the newly-introduced icons during the pinching gesture.

FIELD

The present disclosure relates to display devices, and particularly to a display device capable of navigating between display layers and a method for navigating between display layers.

BACKGROUND

Many electronic devices provide a graphical user interface (GUI) that allows users to interact with the various functionalities provided by the electronic device. The GUI employs a number of icons displayed on a number of screens. The icons may be program icons that allow a user to select and execute an application or functionality in the electronic device, such as opening a web browser, starting an email application, playing a game or other types of functionality. A user will navigate between different screens using a touch gesture such as a swipe so as to view and select an icon displayed on a different screen.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Several definitions that apply throughout this disclosure follow.

The term “comprising,” means “including, but not necessarily limited to” and specifically indicates open-ended inclusion or membership in a combination, group, series, or the like.

FIG. 1is a block diagram of an embodiment of a display device1. The display device1, such as a mobile phone, a digital photo frame, or a tablet computer, includes a touch screen10, a display panel20, a storage unit30, and a processor40. The display panel20can display a plurality of display layers, each including icons200arranged in columns and rows. The storage unit30can store a system100for navigating between different display layers. The system100can include a variety of modules as a collection of software instructions executable by the processor40to navigate between display layers, thus icons200displayed on different display layers are available for selection by a user.

The system100can include a detecting module101, an analyzing module102, and a control module103.

The detecting module101detects touches on the touch screen10, and detects positional information of each detected touch.

The analyzing module102identifies whether a pinching gesture or an expanding gesture is performed on the touch screen10according to the detected positional information, and determines a target display layer accordingly. The pinching gesture or the expanding gesture is detected when two fingertips of the user are placed on the touch screen10and the distance between the fingertips is decreased or increased. In at least one embodiment, the analyzing module102further identifies whether the fingertips are placed on either side of an imagined vertical line between two columns of icons or an imagined horizontal line between two rows of icons200currently being displayed, before determining the target display layer.

When the expanding gesture is performed, the control module103expands the distance between relevant columns or rows of icons200currently displayed to reveal columns and rows of other icons200displayed on the target display layer, and visually compresses the old (the formerly-displayed) icons200to two opposites edges (the two sides or to the top and bottom) of the display panel20as the icons200displayed on the target display layer are revealed during the expanding gesture. For example, as illustrated inFIG. 2, the user moves two fingertips apart to reveal display layer “3” instead of display layer “2,” to view icons200displayed on display layer “3.” When the pinching gesture is performed, the control module103narrows the distance between columns or rows of different icons200displayed on the target display layer which are introduced respectively from two opposite edges of the display panel20to cover columns and rows of the icons200currently displayed, and visually expands the newly-introduced icons200during the pinching gesture. For example, as illustrated inFIG. 3, the user can bring the two fingertips together to cover display layer “3” with revealed display layer “2,” to view the icons200of display layer “2.”

In at least one embodiment, when the expanding gesture is performed, the control module103visually compresses the formerly-displayed icons200until the formerly-displayed icons200disappear through two opposite edges of the display panel20. When the pinching gesture is performed, the control module103visually expands the newly-introduced icons200until the icons200currently displayed are covered over.

In at least one embodiment, when the expanding gesture is performed, the control module103visually compresses the formerly-displayed icons200until the expanding gesture reaches a first preset location on the touch screen10, and then snaps to a display of the entire target display layer on the display panel20. When the pinching gesture is performed, the control module103visually expands the newly-introduced icons200until the pinching gesture reaches a second preset location on the touch screen10, and then snaps to a display of the entire target display layer on the display panel20. The first and the second preset locations can be a same location or different locations. In this illustrated embodiment, each of the first and the second preset locations is defined by two parallel vertical lines or two parallel horizontal lines on the touch screen10.

In at least one embodiment, the expanding gesture is used to navigate to a next display layer, the target display layer being the next display layer. The pinching gesture is used to navigate in reverse to a previous display layer, the target display layer being the previous display layer. More specifically, when the expanding gesture or the pinching gesture is performed on the touch screen10, the analyzing module102further determines whether the current display layer is the last available display layer or the starting display layer. In either case, the control module103performs no action.

In at least one embodiment, the storage unit30can store a number of first blank pages.FIG. 4illustrates each first blank page including two first areas301and a second area302located between the two first areas301. The two first areas301are located at sides of each first blank page. Each of the first areas301and the second area302of successive first blank pages are gradually decreased or increased in size.FIG. 5illustrates a number of second blank pages similar to the first blank pages, but showing the two first areas301located at top and bottom of each second blank page. Each blank page is combined with a current display layer and a target display layer to form a combined layer which is described below. Different combined layers can show different steps for navigating from a current display layer to a target display layer.

Referring toFIG. 1, in this illustrated embodiment, the control module103can further include an obtaining sub-module1031, a combining sub-module1032, and a display control sub-module1033.

The obtaining sub-module1031obtains successive blank pages according to the determined target display layer, and covers each obtained blank page over the current display layer. In at least one embodiment, when the determined target display layer is the next display layer, the first area301of the successive blank pages is gradually decreased in size, and the second area302of the successive blank pages is gradually increased in size. When the determined target display layer is the previous display layer, the successive blank pages are obtained in an opposite order (namely, in reverse). That is, the first area301of the successive blank pages is gradually increased in size, and the second area302of the successive blank pages is gradually decreased in size.

The combining sub-module1032adds contents (including the icons displayed) of the current display layer to the two first areas301of each obtained blank page, determines a portion of the target display layer to match the second area302of each obtained blank page, and adds contents of the determined portion to the second area302of each obtained blank page, thereby forming a number of combined layers as shown inFIG. 2. The contents of the current display layer or the target display layer can further include a wallpaper. Specifically, the combining sub-module1032first adjusts the overall size and shape of contents of the target display layer to match the overall sizes and shapes of the two first areas301of each blank page, and then adds the contents after the adjustment.

The combining sub-module1032further adds contents of the target display layer to the two first areas301of each blank page, determines a portion of the current display layer to match the second area302of each blank page, and adds contents of the determined portion to the second area302of each blank page, thereby forming a number of combined layers as shown inFIG. 3. Specifically, the combining sub-module1032first adjusts the overall size and shape of the contents of the current display layer to match the sizes and shapes of the two first areas301of each blank page, and then adds the contents after the adjustment.

The display control sub-module1033controls the display panel20to successively display the combined layers.

FIG. 6is a flowchart of an embodiment of a method for navigating between display layers of a display device. The display device includes a touch screen, a display, and a storage unit.

In block61, a detecting module detects touches on the touch screen, and detects positional information of each detected touch.

In block62, an analyzing module identifies whether a pinching gesture or an expanding gesture is performed on the touch screen according to the detected positional information, if yes, the procedure goes to block63; otherwise, block62is repeated.

In block63, the analyzing module determines a target display layer accordingly.

In block64, a control module expands the distance between relevant columns or rows of icons currently displayed to reveal columns and rows of other icons displayed on the target display layer when the expanding gesture is performed, and visually compresses the formerly-displayed icons to two opposite edges of the display panel20as the icons displayed on the target display layer are revealed during the expanding gesture; the control module further narrows the distance between columns or rows of different icons displayed on the target display layer which are introduced respectively from two opposite edges of the display panel20to cover columns and rows of the icons currently displayed when the pinching gesture is performed, and visually expands the newly-introduced icons during the pinching gesture.

FIG. 7is a sub-flowchart of the block64of the method ofFIG. 6.

In block71, an obtaining sub-module obtains successive blank pages according to the target display layer, and covers each obtained blank page over the current display layer. The blank pages are stored in the storage unit. Each first blank page can include two first areas and a second area located between the two first areas. Each of the first areas301and the second area302of successive first blank pages are gradually decreased or increased in size.

In block72, a combining sub-module adds contents of the current display layer to the two first areas of each obtained blank page, determines a portion of the target display layer to match the second area of each obtained blank page, and adds contents of the determined portion to the second area of each obtained blank page, thereby forming a number of combined layers; the combining sub-module further adds contents of the target display layer to the two first areas of each blank page, determines a portion of the current display layer to match the second area of each blank page, and adds contents of the determined portion to the second area of each blank page, thereby forming a number of combined layers.

In block73, a display control sub-module controls the display panel to successively display the combined layers.

The described embodiments and their advantages will be understood from the foregoing description. It will be apparent that various changes may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the disclosure or sacrificing all of its material advantages, the examples described merely being exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure. The described embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the following claims.