Pointing device with switch

• US 20060170653A1
• Filed: 02/01/2005
• Published: 08/03/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/01/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Original Assignee: Eastman Kodak Company
• Inventors: Cok, Ronald S.
• Application Number:
  US11/048,094
• Publication Number:
  US 20060170653A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/157
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance

Abstract

A system for controlling location of a pointing icon in a graphic user interface on a display, comprises: a movable element; means to detect the motion of the element; a controller responsive to the motion of the element to change the location of the pointing icon in the graphic user interface; one or more switch(e)s for changing the focus of the graphic user interface; and one or more additional switch(es) for changing location of the pointing icon on the display without changing the focus of the graphic user interface.

Claims

1. A system for controlling location of a pointing icon in a graphic user interface on a display, comprising:

a) a movable element;

b) means to detect the motion of the element;

c) a controller responsive to the motion of the element to change the location of the pointing icon in the graphic user interface;

d) one or more switch(e)s for changing the focus of the graphic user interface; and

e) one or more additional switch(es) for changing location of the pointing icon on the display without changing the focus of the graphic user interface.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a keyboard and wherein the additional switch(es) comprises at least one keyboard key.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the movable element is a component of a computer mouse, joystick, pen and tablet, or trackball device.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein the one or more additional switch(es) comprise depressible button(s) on the computer mouse, joystick, pen and tablet, or trackball device.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein operation of the additional switch moves the pointing icon horizontally.

6. The system of claim 5 wherein first and second additional switches are employed, the first additional switch is located to the left of the second additional switch and moves the pointing icon to the left and the second additional switch is located to the right of the first additional switch and moves the pointing icon to the right.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein operation of the additional switch moves the pointing icon continuously.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein operation of the additional switch moves the pointing icon discontinuously a predetermined distance in the graphic user interface.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the change in location of the pointing icon is in response to both the operation of the additional switch and movement of the movable element.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the change in location of the pointing icon is accelerated in response to the operation of the additional switch and in the direction indicated by the movement of the movable element.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein the change in location of the pointing icon cursor is accelerated in the horizontal direction in response to the operation of the additional switch indicated by the movement of the movable element.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of independent pointing icons, one of which is active at any given moment, and wherein the controller sequentially activates each pointing icon when the additional switch is actuated.

13. The system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of independent pointing icons, each pointing icon is associated with an additional switch, wherein one pointing icon is active at any given moment, and the controller activates each pointing icon when its associated additional switch is actuated.

14. The system of claim 1, wherein the display comprises a widescreen display.

15. A method for controlling location of a pointing icon in a graphic user interface on a display, comprising:

a) providing pointing device having a movable element, means to detect the motion of the element, a controller responsive to the motion of the element to change the location of the pointing icon in the graphic user interface, one or more switch(e)s for changing the focus of the graphic user interface, and one or more additional switch(es) for changing location of the pointing icon on the display without changing the focus of the graphic user interface;

b) positioning the pointing icon in the graphic user interface on the display; and

c) actuating one or more of the additional switch(es) to move the pointing icon in the graphic user interface on the display.