Multi-function computer pointing device
First Claim
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1. A method for controlling a plurality of functions of a computer, comprising the steps of:
- (a) providing a predetermined number of user-operable controls that generate control signals reflecting user operations,(b) providing a correspondence with a predetermined number of persistent modes, said correspondence associating each said control to a said function in each said persistent mode,(c) providing a mode-selection means comprising at least one momentary switch that generates a first signal when activated and a second signal when deactivated,(d) providing a mode-selection protocol where a predetermined unique sequence of said first signal and second signal within a predetermined period of time indicates a specific mode-selection request,(e) using said mode-selection means to indicate a selected mode from all said persistent modes according to said mode-selection protocol,(f) using said control signals of each said control to its associated said function in each said persistent mode according to a predetermined mapping,whereby a momentary switch can indicate practically any desired number of said persistent modes, whereby each said control may control multiple said functions, and whereby increasing the number of said functions does not require additional controls, whereby a user only needs to operate said momentary switch when changing said persistent mode.
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Abstract
A first aspect of the present invention includes an N-persistent-mode pointing device and a 2N-mixed-mode pointing device. A second aspect of the present invention is an unconventional method for generating target-motion signals with common motion controls. This method utilizes a qualification-rule-based dynamic mapping of the present invention. A third aspect of the present invention combines the multi-mode designs and the dynamic mapping.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for controlling a plurality of functions of a computer, comprising the steps of:
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(a) providing a predetermined number of user-operable controls that generate control signals reflecting user operations, (b) providing a correspondence with a predetermined number of persistent modes, said correspondence associating each said control to a said function in each said persistent mode, (c) providing a mode-selection means comprising at least one momentary switch that generates a first signal when activated and a second signal when deactivated, (d) providing a mode-selection protocol where a predetermined unique sequence of said first signal and second signal within a predetermined period of time indicates a specific mode-selection request, (e) using said mode-selection means to indicate a selected mode from all said persistent modes according to said mode-selection protocol, (f) using said control signals of each said control to its associated said function in each said persistent mode according to a predetermined mapping, whereby a momentary switch can indicate practically any desired number of said persistent modes, whereby each said control may control multiple said functions, and whereby increasing the number of said functions does not require additional controls, whereby a user only needs to operate said momentary switch when changing said persistent mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3)
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4. A method for generating control signals to control at least one predetermined target motion of a computer, comprising:
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(a) providing a user operable motion control that generates user inputs reflecting user operations; (b) choosing a suitable qualification rule; (c) selecting qualified user inputs from all said user inputs according to said qualification rule; (d) choosing at least one suitable source quantity that is derivable from said qualified user inputs and a time reference; (e) choosing at least one suitable target quantity that is sufficient for updating said target motion; (f) using a suitable transformation function to transform said source quantity to said target quantity, (g) generating motion-control signals for updating said target motion based on said target quantity; whereby said method employs a qualification-rule-based dynamic mapping that maps said target motion to all qualified user inputs, and whereby said target motion can be controlled effectively and efficiently by said user. - View Dependent Claims (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A multi-mode pointing device for controlling a plurality of predetermined functions of a computer, comprising:
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(a) at least one button control that produces a first button-control signal when activated and a second button-control signal when deactivated, (b) at least one motion control that detects certain types of motion caused by a user and generates motion-control signals accordingly, (c) a mode-selection means that allows a user to indicate a selected mode from a predetermined number of modes, (d) for each said mode said motion-control signals are used to control a predetermined said function using a predetermined mapping, (e) at least one of said mappings is a qualification-rule-based dynamic mapping which maps all said motion-control signals that satisfy a predetermined qualification rule to said function, whereby a user can use said motion control to control a plurality of said target motion, whereby said motion control may employ different type of mapping in different mode, and whereby each said target motion is controlled effectively and efficiently by the same motion control. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification