Graphic object translation system

• US 20090040239A1
• Filed: 08/07/2007
• Published: 02/12/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P. (HP Inc.)
• Inventors: Skinner, David N., Chen, Yancy
• Application Number:
  US11/890,820
• Publication Number:
  US 20090040239A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/684
• 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

Abstract

A graphic object translation system is described. The graphic object translation system has an automatically retracting arcuate control component that has a rest position to which it returns after being moved and released. The graphic object translation system also has a graphic control component that is responsive to a movement of the arcuate control component and causes a graphic object to be graphically translated from its existing position.

Claims

1. A graphic object translation system on a computer mouse, comprising:

an automatically retracting arcuate control component that has a rest position to which said arcuate control component returns after being moved and released; and

a graphic control component responsive to a movement of said arcuate control component that causes a graphic object to be graphically translated from its existing position.

2. The graphic object translation system of claim 1, wherein a downward motion of said arcuate control component causes a mouse click.

3. The graphic object translation system of claim 1, wherein said arcuate control component is made at least in part of an elastomeric material.

4. The graphic object translation system of claim 1, wherein a surface of said arcuate control component is patterned to provide a user surface friction.

5. The graphic object translation system of claim 1, wherein said arcuate control component is dome shaped.

6. The graphic object translation system of claim 1, wherein said arcuate control component is half wheel shaped.

7. A method for causing graphic object translation comprising:

receiving an input generated by an arcuate control component that has a rest position to which said arcuate control component returns after being moved and released, wherein said arcuate control component is mounted in a housing, and wherein said arcuate control component is defined by an arc that is a portion of a circle that has a diameter greater than the thickness of said housing;

generating a signal based on said input that corresponds to a movement of a graphic object from an initial position of said graphic object to a second position of said graphic object; and

providing access to said signal for control of said graphic object.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said movement of said graphic object from an initial position to a second position includes scrolling of said graphic object.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein said arcuate control component is made at least in part of an elastomeric material.

10. The method of claim 7, wherein a surface of said arcuate control component is patterned to provide a user surface friction.

11. The method of claim 7, wherein said housing is part of a keyboard.

12. The method of claim 7, wherein said housing is part of a mouse.

13. The method of claim 7, wherein said housing is part of a touchpad.

14. A scrolling device comprising:

a plurality of scroll control components, wherein activation of one or more of said scroll control components causes scrolling in a particular direction; and

a body coupled with said plurality of scroll control components comprising a first portion that is arcuate on one side of a mounting surface of a housing and a second portion that lies on a second side of said mounting surface of said housing, wherein said scrolling in a particular direction is responsive to a movement and release of said body.

15. The scrolling device of claim 14, wherein a mouse click occurs when downward pressure is applied to more than one of said plurality of scroll control components simultaneously.

16. The scrolling device of claim 14, wherein an increase in pressure applied by a user to said scrolling device causes an increase in speed of said scrolling.

17. The scrolling device of claim 14, wherein a surface of said first portion is patterned to provide a user surface friction.

18. The scrolling device of claim 14, wherein said scrolling device is a part of a keyboard.

19. The scrolling device of claim 14, wherein said scrolling device is a part of a touchpad.

20. The scrolling device of claim 14, wherein said scrolling device is a part of a mouse.