Portable communication device with three dimensional display
The present invention relates to a portable communication device ( 10 ) comprising: a display unit ( 12 ) for displaying a multi-dimensional image ( 13 ) having at least three dimensions; a multi-dimensional image control unit ( 15 ) controlling and providing said image ( 13 ) to be displayed in more than one plane ( 13 a, b ) depending on a selection of a user; a detector element ( 16 ) for detecting a selection of the user.
1. A portable communication device comprising:
a display unit to display a first image in a first plane and a second image in a second plane, where the first image comprises a number of first user-selectable icons and the second image comprises a number of second user-selectable icons, each user-selectable icon representing a particular functionality to be performed by the portable communication device when selected by a user of the portable communication device, where, when the portable device is substantially not tilted relative to the user, the first user-selectable icons appear in front of the second user-selectable icons, wherein, when the portable communication device is substantially not tilted relative to the user, the second user-selectable icons are completely hidden by the first user-selectable icons;
a control unit to control and provide said first and second images to be displayed in said first plane and said second plane, respectively, such that the second user-selectable icons become at least partially visible out from behind the first user-selectable icons when said portable communication device is tilted relative to the user; and
a detector element to detect the tilting of the portable communication device.
2. The portable communication device according to claim 1 , wherein said detector element is a device sensing movements or its position relative another object.
3. The portable communication device according to claim 2 , wherein said detector element is an accelerometer or a gyro.
4. The portable communication device according to claim 2 , wherein said detector element comprises a camera sensing movements by means of movement within a co-ordination system related thereto.
5. The portable communication device according to claim 1 , wherein said control unit is arranged to be controlled by further enabling elements for avoiding unnecessary activation of the control unit.
6. The portable communication device according to claim 1 , wherein the portable communication device is a mobile phone.
7. The portable communication device according to claim 2 , wherein said control unit is arranged to be controlled by further enabling elements for avoiding unnecessary activation of the control unit.
8. The portable communication device according to claim 3 , wherein said control unit is arranged to be controlled by further enabling elements for avoiding unnecessary activation of the control unit.
9. The portable communication device according to claim 4 , wherein said control unit is arranged to be controlled by further enabling elements for avoiding unnecessary activation of the control unit.
10. The portable communication device according to claim 2 , wherein the portable communication device is a mobile phone.
11. The portable communication device according to claim 3 , wherein the portable communication device is a mobile phone.
12. The portable communication device according to claim 4 , wherein the portable communication device is a mobile phone.
13. The portable communication device according to claim 5 , wherein the portable communication device is a mobile phone.
14. The portable communication device according to claim 1 , where a visible area, of each of the second user-selectable icons, corresponds to an amount of the tilting of the portable communication device.
15. The portable communication device of claim 1 , wherein the second user-selectable icons do not become at least partially visible out from behind the first user-selectable icons until said portable communication device is tilted by a particular amount relative to the user.
16. A method, performed in a portable communication device, comprising:
displaying, by a display unit of the portable communication device, a first image in a first plane and a second image in a second plane, where the first image comprises a number of first user-selectable icons and the second image comprises a number of second user-selectable icons, each user-selectable icon representing a particular functionality to be performed by the portable communication device when selected by a user of the portable communication device, where, when the portable communication device is substantially not tilted relative to the user, the first user-selectable icons are positioned in front of the second user-selectable icons, completely hiding the second user-selectable icons behind the first user-selectable icons when the portable communication device is substantially not tilted relative to the user;
providing, by a control unit of the portable communication device, said first and second images to be displayed in said first plane and said second plane, respectively, such that the second user-selectable icons become at least partially visible out from behind the first user-selectable icons when said portable communication device is tilted relative to the user; and
detecting, by a detector element of the portable communication device, the tilting of the portable communication device.
17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:
controlling a visible area, of each of the second user-selectable icons, based on an amount of the tilting of the portable communication device relative to the user.
18. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:
maintaining the second user-selectable icons completely hidden behind the first user-selectable icons until the portable communication device is tilted by a particular amount relative to the user.