Touchpad diagonal scrolling

• US 20060164399A1
• Filed: 01/21/2005
• Published: 07/27/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lenovo (United States), Inc. (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Original Assignee: Lenovo Singapore Pte Limited (Lenovo Group Ltd.)
• Inventors: Locker, Howard J., Cheston, Richard W., Cromer, Daryl C., Patzer, Caroline Arrowood
• Granted Patent: US 7,760,189 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04808 Several contacts: gestures triggering a specific function, e.g. scrolling, zooming, right-click, when the user establishes several contacts with the surface simultaneously; e.g. using several fingers or a combination of fingers and pen
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04883 for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text

Abstract

A method and system for providing diagonal scrolling on a touchpad of a device is disclosed. The method and system comprises determining if at least one finger is in contact with the touchpad, and entering a diagonal scroll mode if more than one finger is in contact with the touchpad. A system and method in accordance with the present invention allows the user to initiate a diagonal scroll at any location on a touchpad by using two fingers, thereby greatly enhancing the functions of the touchpad and allowing the user to manipulate computer programs from the touchpad much more efficiently and easily. The present invention supports diagonal scrolling on a touchpad and does not require a precise location for vertical or horizontal scrolling, since the entire touchpad area/surface can be used. The system and method in accordance with the present invention will also operate correctly on existing touchpads when a change in software drivers has been carried out.

Claims

1. A method for providing diagonal scrolling on a touchpad of a device, the method comprising:

determining if at least one finger is in contact with the touchpad; and

entering a diagonal scroll mode if more than one finger is in contact with the touchpad.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the determining step comprises:

entering a scroll mode on the device;

determining if there is at least one finger on the touchpad surface; and

entering a conventional scroll mode if one finger is on the touchpad surface.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the device comprises a computer.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the device comprises a personal digital assistant.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the touch pad is integrated with the device.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the touchpad is external to the device.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the determining step includes recognizing how many fingers are placed on the touchpad surface.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the recognizing step includes:

a first querying of a user as to whether one finger is placed on the touchpad surface;

recording one finger placement if the user responds affirmatively to the first querying;

a second querying of the user as to whether more than one finger is on the touchpad surface if the user responds negatively to the first querying;

recording a multiple finger placement if the user responds affirmatively to the second querying; and

repeating the above steps until finger placement is recognized.

9. A computer readable medium containing program instructions for providing diagonal scrolling on a touchpad of a device, the program instructions for:

determining if at least one finger is in contact with the touchpad; and

entering a diagonal scroll mode if more than one finger is in contact with the touchpad.

10. The computer readable medium of claim 9 wherein the determining step comprises:

entering a scroll mode on the device;

determining if there is at least one finger on the touchpad surface; and

entering a conventional scroll mode if one finger is on the touchpad surface.

11. The computer readable medium of claim 9 wherein the device comprises a computer.

12. The computer readable medium of claim 9 wherein the device comprises a personal digital assistant.

13. The computer readable medium of claim 9 wherein the touch pad is integrated with the device.

14. The computer readable medium of claim 9 wherein the touchpad is external to the device.

15. The computer readable medium of claim 9 wherein the determining step includes recognizing how many fingers are placed on the touchpad surface.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 15 wherein the recognizing step includes:

a first querying of a user as to whether one finger is placed on the touchpad surface;

recording one finger placement if the user responds affirmatively to the first querying;

a second querying of the user as to whether more than one finger is on the touchpad surface if the user responds negatively to the first querying;

recording a multiple finger placement if the user responds affirmatively to the second querying; and

repeating the above steps until finger placement is recognized.