Input mode switching system

• US 20060261982A1
• Filed: 05/18/2005
• Published: 11/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/18/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Kong, Yuan, Suthapong, Pawin
• Granted Patent: US 7,218,248 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 341/22
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/023 Arrangements for converting discrete items of information into a coded form, e.g. arrangements for interpreting keyboard generated codes as alphanumeric codes, operand codes or instruction codes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry

Abstract

A system and method for switching input modes is disclosed that includes receiving an input signal from an input device and determining whether the input signal is a data signal or a command signal. A present value of a counter is also determined if the input signal is a data signal. If the present value of the counter is not greater than zero, an output signal having a first value type is produced. If the present value of the counter is greater than zero, then the present value of the counter is decremented and an output signal having a second value type is produced. Additional aspects of the present invention relate to input devices utilized in switching between the input modes.

Claims

1. A method of producing an output signal having a first value type or a second value type, comprising:

receiving an input signal from an input device;

storing a numeric value of the input signal if the input signal is a counter signal;

incrementing a counter by the numeric value if the input signal is a command signal; and

if the input signal is a data signal, then producing one of (a) an output signal having the first value type when a value of the counter is not greater than zero and (b) an output signal having the second value type when the value of the counter is greater than zero.

2. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the counter is an integer counter.

3. The method recited in claim 2, further including a step of decrementing the value of the counter following producing the output signal having the second value type.

4. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the counter is a chronographic counter.

5. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the input device is a keyboard and the data signal is a character, the first value type of the output signal being a non-capitalization of the character, and the second value type of the output signal being a capitalization of the character.

6. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the input device is a pointing device that controls a pointer on a display screen, the first value type of the output signal directing movement of the pointer at a first velocity on the display screen, and the second value type of the output signal directing movement of the pointer at a second velocity on the display screen.

7. A computer readable medium having computer-executable instructions for performing the method recited in claim 1.

8. An input device comprising:

a housing that forms at least a portion of an exterior of the input device;

a first actuator accessible from the exterior of the input device, the first actuator producing a first input signal; and

a second actuator accessible from the exterior of the input device, the second actuator including a pressure sensor, and the second actuator producing a second input signal having a value that varies in proportion to a degree of pressure exerted upon the second actuator.

9. The input device recited in claim 8, wherein the input device is a pointing device and the first actuator includes a tracking assembly at least partially located within the housing for detecting movement of the housing relative to a support surface.

10. The input device recited in claim 9, wherein the second actuator is a activatable key on the pointing device.

11. The input device recited in claim 8, wherein the input device is a keyboard.

12. The input device recited in claim 11, wherein at least one of the first actuator and the second actuator are character keys of the keyboard.

13. The input device recited in claim 11, wherein each of the first actuator and the second actuator are character keys of the keyboard.

14. An input device comprising:

a plurality of data keys that are activatable in a first input mode to produce an output signal having a first value type and activatable in a second input mode to produce an output signal having a second value type; and

a command key that is activatable to switch from the first input mode to the second input mode and maintain the second input mode until a predetermined number of output signals having the second value type are produced.

15. The input device recited in claim 14, wherein the predetermined number of output signals is greater than one.

16. The input device recited in claim 14, wherein the input device is a keyboard.

17. The input device recited in claim 16, wherein the input device includes an indicator.

18. The input device recited in claim 17, wherein the indicator illuminates when the input device is in the first input mode.

19. The input device recited in claim 17, wherein the indicator is positioned adjacent the command key.

20. The input device recited in claim 16, wherein the first value type of the output signal is a non-capitalization of a character, and the second value type of the output signal is a capitalization of the character.