Size variant pressure eraser

• US 20070176904A1
• Filed: 01/27/2006
• Published: 08/02/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/27/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Russo, Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 7,486,282 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

A method of adjusting the size of an area to be deleted in a pen-based computing system is provided. An electronic pen may include an eraser end. The eraser end may be used to contact the display surface of a computer system. Application of pressure to the display through the eraser end of the electronic pen may result in the deletion of the text indicated by the position of the electronic pen. As additional pressure is applied, the size of the area to be deleted increases. The invention provided may be used with both pixel type and stroke type erasing systems and provides an efficient and accurate method of deleting electronic ink.

Claims

1. A method of removing electronic ink from a display, comprising:

receiving user input indicating an ink erasure action, wherein the user input includes contacting a stylus with a digitizer;

determining a contact pressure between the stylus and the digitizer; and

setting an eraser width based, at least in part, on the contact pressure.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

changing a pixel color of any pixel at a location corresponding to an eraser path along the digitizer to a background color.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

changing a pixel color of all pixels within a stroke at a location corresponding to an eraser path along the digitizer to a background color.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

changing the eraser width in response to a change in the contact pressure between the stylus and the digitizer.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the change in eraser width due to the change in contact pressure is proportional to the increase in pressure.

6. The method of claim 5, further comprising a maximum pressure at which additional pressure will maintain a maximum eraser width.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the eraser width remains constant at a constant pressure.

8. A method of removing electronic ink from a display, comprising:

receiving a first user input, wherein the first user input comprises first pressure information;

identifying a first removal area, wherein a size of the first removal area is defined by the first pressure information;

receiving a second user input, wherein the second user input comprises a second pressure information; and

modifying the size of the first removal area based on the second pressure information.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the second pressure input is greater than the first pressure input.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising a first eraser position and a second eraser position.

11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:

changing a pixel color of any pixel at a location along an eraser path between the first eraser position and the second eraser position to a background color.

12. The method of claim 10, further comprising changing a pixel color of all pixels within a stroke at a location along an eraser path between the first eraser position and the second eraser position to a background color.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein the size of the first removal area changes proportionally with changing pressure input.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein the user input is received via an electronic pen.

15. The method of claim 8, wherein the electronic pen comprises a pressure sensor.

16. The method of claim 8, wherein the user input is received via a touchpad.

17. The method of claim 8, wherein the second pressure information comprises a maximum force.

18. A system of erasing electronic ink, comprising:

a user interface including a display screen and a digitizer;

an electronic pen including a housing, a writing end and a non-writing end;

a pressure sensing system, configured to determine the amount of pressure applied to the electronic pen; and

a processor for determining a size of an electronic ink removal area based on a first pressure and a second pressure received via the user input device.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the pressure sensing system is configured within the electronic pen.

20. The system of claim 18, further comprising a maximum pressure, wherein any additional pressure applied in excess of the maximum pressure maintains the size of the electronic ink removal area.