Multi-modal navigation in a graphical user interface computing system

• US 20050190144A1
• Filed: 02/26/2004
• Published: 09/01/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 02/26/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Kong, Yuan
• Granted Patent: US 7,545,362 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0338 with detection of limited linear or angular displacement of an operating part of the device from a neutral position, e.g. isotonic or isometric joysticks
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03545 Pens or stylus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry

Abstract

A pointing device, and the use thereof, is described that allows a displayed cursor or other navigation control to be controlled in different modes, such as at different resolutions. The pointing device may include a first pointing element and a second pointing element. The first and second pointing elements may independently control the same navigation control using their own respective navigation modes. The pointing device may additionally or alternatively have switching capability to switch between navigation modes. In this way, a single pointing element may be used to control the navigation control in accordance with various navigation modes.

Claims

1. A pointing device configured to communicate with navigation software running on a computer having a display, the pointing device comprising:

a sensor configured to sense a physical input, the pointing device configured to request the navigation software to move a navigation control on the display in accordance with the physical input; and

a selector having a first state and a second state, the pointing device configured to request the navigation software to move the navigation control in accordance with a first navigation mode or a second navigation mode depending upon the state of the selector.

2. A kit, comprising:

the pointing device of claim 1;

and

a computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions representing the navigation software.

3. The kit of claim 2, wherein the navigation software includes a first navigation engine and a second navigation engine, the first navigation mode utilizing the first navigation engine and the second navigation mode utilizing the second navigation engine.

4. The pointing device of claim 1, further including a Left click button and a Right click button in addition to the selector.

5. The pointing device of claim 1, wherein the selector has different physical positions each representing a different one of the first and second states.

6. The pointing device of claim 1, wherein the selector is an angular sensor configured to sense an angle of the pointing device.

7. The pointing device of claim 1, wherein in the first navigation mode the navigation control moves at a first sensitivity in accordance with the physical input, and in the second navigation mode the navigation control moves at a second different sensitivity in accordance with the same physical input.

8. The pointing device of claim 1, wherein the physical input is movement of the pointing device, and wherein in the first navigation mode the navigation control moves by an amount that has a first relationship with the movement of the pointing device, and in the second navigation mode the navigation control moves by an amount that has a second different relationship with the movement of the pointing device.

9. The pointing device of claim 8, wherein the navigation control moves linearly in accordance with the movement of the pointing device in both the first and second navigation modes.

10. The pointing device of claim 1, wherein the pointing device is configured to move upon a surface, the selector being responsive to an amount of pressure applied to the pointing device against the surface.

11. The pointing device of claim 1, wherein the selector is a scroll wheel rotatable around a first axis and tilt-able around a second axis, the first and second states being selected by a tilt of the scroll wheel.

12. The pointing device of claim 1, wherein the pointing device is not integrated with a keyboard having an alphanumeric section.

13. The pointing device of claim 1, wherein the navigation control is a cursor.

14. A pointing device configured to communicate with navigation software running on a computer having a display, the pointing device comprising:

a first sensor configured to sense movement of the pointing device with at least two degrees of freedom, the pointing device configured to request the navigation software to move a navigation control on the display in accordance with the movement of the pointing device; and

a second sensor configured to sense a physical input with at least two degrees of freedom, the pointing device configured to request the navigation software to move the navigation control on the display in accordance with the physical input.

15. A kit, comprising:

the pointing device of claim 14;

and

a computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions representing the navigation software.

16. The pointing device of claim 14, wherein the first sensor is an optical sensor.

17. The pointing device of claim 14, wherein the first sensor is a trackball sensor.

18. The pointing device of claim 14, wherein the second sensor is a touch-sensitive surface, the physical input including movement across the surface.

19. The pointing device of claim 18, wherein the first sensor is either an optical sensor or a trackball sensor.

20. The pointing device of claim 14, wherein the second sensor is a joystick.

21. The pointing device of claim 20, wherein the first sensor is either an optical sensor or a trackball sensor.

22. The pointing device of claim 14, wherein the navigation control is a cursor.

23. A method in a computer, comprising steps of:

controlling movement of a displayed navigation control at a first scale in response to user small-muscle-group movements; and

controlling movement of the displayed navigation control at a second different scale in response to user large-muscle-group movements.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein the small-muscle-group movements include movements of the user'"'"'s arm and the large-muscle-group movements include movements of the user'"'"'s finger.

25. The method of claim 23 wherein the large-muscle-group movements cause a pointing device to translate, but the large-muscle-group movements do not.

26. The method of claim 23, wherein the navigation control is a cursor.

27. An apparatus, comprising:

a body;

a first pointing device configured to control two-dimensional movement of a displayed navigation control in response to movements of the body; and

a second pointing device physically coupled to the body and configured to control two-dimensional movement of the displayed navigation control in response to user input other than movements of the body.

28. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the first pointing device is a mouse and the second pointing device is one of a touchpad, joystick, or trackball.

29. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the first pointing device controls the displayed navigation control at a first scale and the second pointing device controls the displayed navigation control at a second different scale.

30. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the apparatus is not integrated with a keyboard having an alphanumeric section.

31. The apparatus of claim 27, wherein the navigation control is a cursor.

32. A kit, comprising:

the apparatus of claim 27;

and

a computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions for performing steps comprising;

receiving commands from the apparatus in accordance with the first and second pointing devices and;

moving the displayed navigation control in accordance with the commands.

33. A pointing device configured to communicate with navigation software running on a computer having a display, the pointing device comprising:

a first pointing element configured to control a navigation control on the display using absolute tracking; and

a second pointing element configured to control the navigation control using relative tracking.

34. The pointing device of claim 33, wherein the first pointing element includes a light gun, and the display is configured to sense a position of light emitted from the light gun incident on the display.

35. A kit, comprising:

the pointing device of claim 33;

and

a computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions for performing steps comprising;

receiving first data related to user input upon the first pointing element, and controlling the navigation control using absolute tracking in accordance with the first data; and

receiving second data related to user input upon the second pointing element, and controlling the navigation control using relative tracking in accordance with the second data.

36. The pointing device of claim 33, wherein the navigation control is a cursor.