US5638501A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for displaying an overlay image
Assignee: Apple Inc
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Filing: 1993-05-10
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Granted: 1997-06-10
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Expires: 2013-05-10
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for providing a translucent overlay image over a base image on the screen of a computer system. The method includes the steps of running an application program on a central processing unit (CPU) of a pen computer system to produce a base image in a screen coupled to the CPU; and running an overlay program on the CPU to produce an overlay image on the screen such that portions of the base image which are overlapped by the overlay image are at least partially visible through the overlay image. The overlay program is a computer implemented process comprising the steps of displaying an overlay image on the screen, intercepting screen inputs which contact the overlay image, processing the intercepted screen inputs in the CPU, and updating the application program based on the processed screen inputs. In addition a pen computer system includes a central processing unit (CPU), a screen assembly coupled to the CPU, a mechanism coupled to the screen assembly for displaying a base image on the screen assembly, and a mechanism coupled to the screen assembly for displaying an overlay image on the screen assembly such that portions of the base image which are overlapped by the overlay image are at least partially visible through the overlay image. The screen assembly includes a tablet mechanism coupled to the CPU which can receive input from a pen or stylus. The mechanism for displaying a base image includes a first computer implemented process running on the CPU which produces first video data and a video driver circuit coupled between the CPU and the screen assembly. The mechanism for displaying the overlay image includes a second computer implemented process running on the CPU to produce second video data, and a video driver circuit coupled between the CPU and the screen assembly. There is also a mechanism for blending the first video data and the second video data to produce a blended image on the screen assembly. This blending mechanism can include the second computer implemented process, or can comprise the video driver circuitry.
Inventors
- 👤 Michael L. Gough
- 👤 Daniel S. Venolia
- 👤 Thomas S. Gilley
- 👤 Greg M. Robbins
- 👤 Daniel J. Hansen, Jr.
- 👤 Abhay Oswal
- 👤 Tommy H. Tam
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-26 02:16
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/048; G06F3/0481; G09; G09G; G09G5/00; G09G5/36; G09G5/39; G09G5/395; G06F2203/00; G06F2203/048; G06F2203/04804; G09G2340/00; G09G2340/10; G09G3/00; G09G3/20; G09G3/34; G09G3/36; G09G3/3611; G09G5/14
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 31
Claim 1
Independent Claim
148 words
A method for providing a translucent overlay image on a screen of a computer system comprising: displaying a utility palette including a first utility icon responsive to initiate a utility executable on said computer system; displaying a base image on said screen of said computer system, said base image being produced by a computer implemented process running on said computer system; in response to said utility icon being selected, opaquely displaying an overlay image on said screen, said overlay image corresponding to said utility, said overlay image including a translucency icon, and said overlay image initially being opaque such that overlapped portions of said base image are not visible; and in response to said translucency icon being selected, translucently displaying said overlay image such that overlapped portions of said base image directly beneath said overlay image can be seen through said overlay image simultaneously with said overlay image.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
148 words
A method for providing a translucent overlay image on a screen of a computer system comprising: displaying a utility palette including a first utility icon responsive to initiate a utility executable on said computer system; displaying a base image on said screen of said computer system, said base image being produced by a computer implemented process running on said computer system; in response to said utility icon being selected, opaquely displaying an overlay image on said screen, said overlay image corresponding to said utility, said overlay image including a translucency icon, and said overlay image initially being opaque such that overlapped portions of said base image are not visible; and in response to said translucency icon being selected, translucently displaying said overlay image such that overlapped portions of said base image directly beneath said overlay image can be seen through said overlay image simultaneously with said overlay image.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said base image is produced by a first computer implemented process running on said computer system, and said overlay image is produced by said utility which is a second computer implemented process running on said computer system.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
A method as recited in claim 2 wherein said second computer implemented process intercepts screen inputs which contact said overlay image and processes said screen inputs.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
16 words
A method as recited in claim 3 further comprising creating screen inputs with a pointing device.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
30 words
A method as recited in claim 4 further comprising selecting a stylus as said pointing device, and wherein said screen means comprises an input tablet means responsive to said stylus.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method as recited in claim 3 wherein said second computer implemented process is further operative to update said first computer implemented process according to the step of processing said screen inputs.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as recited in claim 3 wherein said overlay image is a keyboard image comprising icons which represent alphanumeric characters.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
55 words
A method as recited in claim 1 wherein said computer system is a pointer based computer system, said first utility icon is selected by dragging said first utility icon off of said utility palette with said pointer, and said overlay image is displayed in a location correlated to where said first utility icon is dragged.
Claim 10
Independent Claim
132 words
A method for displaying images on a screen of a computer system comprising: displaying a utility palette including a first utility icon responsive to initiate a utility executable on said computer system; displaying a base image on said screen of a computer system; in response to said utility icon being selected, opaquely displaying an overlay image on said screen, said overlay image corresponding to said utility, said overlay image including a translucency icon, and said overlay image initially being opaque such that overlapped portions of said base image are not visible; and in response to said translucency icon being selected, displaying said overlay image such that portions of said base image which are directly beneath said overlay image are at least partially visible through said overlay image simultaneously with said overlay image.
Claim 11
Independent Claim
132 words
A method for displaying images on a screen of a computer system comprising: displaying a utility palette including a first utility icon responsive to initiate a utility executable on said computer system; displaying a base image on said screen of a computer system; in response to said utility icon being selected, opaquely displaying an overlay image on said screen, said overlay image corresponding to said utility, said overlay image including a translucency icon, and said overlay image initially being opaque such that overlapped portions of said base image are not visible; and in response to said translucency icon being selected, displaying said overlay image such that portions of said base image which are directly beneath said overlay image are at least partially visible through said overlay image simultaneously with said overlay image.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
22 words
A method as recited in claim 9 wherein said base image and said overlay image are produced by independent computer implemented processes.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as recited in claim 9 wherein said base image is active to receive user inputs.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as recited in claim 11 wherein said overlay image is active to receive user inputs.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as recited in claim 9 wherein said overlay image is active to receive user inputs.
Claim 16
Independent Claim
145 words
A method for displaying images on a screen of a pen computer system having a central processing unit (CPU), which CPU is coupled to said screen, comprising the steps of: displaying a utility palette including an overlay icon; running an application program on said central processing unit of said pen computer system to produce a base image on said screen; in response to said overlay icon being selected, running an overlay program on said CPU to opaquely display an overlay image on said screen, said overlay image including a translucency icon, said overlay image initially being opaque such that overlapped portions of said base image are not visible; and in response to said overlay icon being selected, translucently displaying said overlay image such that portions of said base image which are directly beneath said overlay image are at least partially visible through said overlay image.
Claim 17
Independent Claim
145 words
A method for displaying images on a screen of a pen computer system having a central processing unit (CPU), which CPU is coupled to said screen, comprising the steps of: displaying a utility palette including an overlay icon; running an application program on said central processing unit of said pen computer system to produce a base image on said screen; in response to said overlay icon being selected, running an overlay program on said CPU to opaquely display an overlay image on said screen, said overlay image including a translucency icon, said overlay image initially being opaque such that overlapped portions of said base image are not visible; and in response to said overlay icon being selected, translucently displaying said overlay image such that portions of said base image which are directly beneath said overlay image are at least partially visible through said overlay image.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method as recited in claim 14 wherein said step of running an overlay program comprises the steps of: intercepting screen inputs which contact said translucent overlay image; processing said intercepted screen inputs in said CPU; and updating said application program based upon said processed screen inputs.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
A method as recited in claim 15 wherein said step of translucently displaying said overlay image comprises the step of blending said overlay image with said base image.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
A method as recited in claim 16 wherein said step of blending is accomplished in said CPU.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as recited in claim 16 wherein said step of blending is accomplished externally to said CPU.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method as recited in claim 15 wherein said step of processing said intercepted screen inputs includes redirecting at least one page of memory within memory management means of said computer system.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
139 words
A pen computer system comprising: a central processing unit (CPU); screen means coupled to said CPU; means coupled to said screen means for displaying a base image on said screen means; and means coupled to said screen means for displaying an overlay image on said screen means, said means operable to opaquely display said overlay image such that portions of said base image which are directly beneath said overlay image are not visible, said means for displaying an overlay image further operable to translucently display said overlay image such that portions of said base image which are directly beneath said overlay image are at least partially visible through said overlay image, said means for displaying said overlay image responsive to a users selection to toggle between (i) opaquely displaying said overlay image and (ii) translucently displaying said overlay image.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
139 words
A pen computer system comprising: a central processing unit (CPU); screen means coupled to said CPU; means coupled to said screen means for displaying a base image on said screen means; and means coupled to said screen means for displaying an overlay image on said screen means, said means operable to opaquely display said overlay image such that portions of said base image which are directly beneath said overlay image are not visible, said means for displaying an overlay image further operable to translucently display said overlay image such that portions of said base image which are directly beneath said overlay image are at least partially visible through said overlay image, said means for displaying said overlay image responsive to a users selection to toggle between (i) opaquely displaying said overlay image and (ii) translucently displaying said overlay image.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
37 words
A pen computer system as recited in claim 20 further comprising: tablet means coupled to said CPU; and stylus means engageable with said tablet means and operative to enter data into said CPU via said tablet means.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
36 words
A pen computer system as recited in claim 21 wherein said tablet means forms a part of said screen means, such that said stylus means can engage said screen means to enter data into said CPU.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
54 words
A pen computer system as recited in claim 22 wherein said means for displaying a base image comprises: a first computer implemented process running on said CPU producing first video data; and video driver means coupled between said CPU and said screen means, said video driver means being receptive to said first video data.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
54 words
A pen computer system as recited in claim 23 wherein said means for displaying an overlay image comprises: a second computer implemented process running on said CPU producing second video data; and video driver means coupled between said CPU and said screen means, said video driver means being receptive to said second video data.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
32 words
A pen computer system as recited in claim 24 further comprising means for blending said first video data and said second video data to produce a blended image on said screen means.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
20 words
A pen computer system as recited in claim 25 wherein said means for blending comprises said second computer implemented process.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
19 words
A pen computer system as recited in claim 25 wherein said means for blending comprises said video driver means.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2000-06-09 | 2000-12-09 | 2001-06-10 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2004-06-09 | 2004-12-09 | 2005-06-10 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2008-06-09 | 2008-12-09 | 2009-06-10 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |