PRECISE SELECTION TECHNIQUES FOR MULTI-TOUCH SCREENS

• US 20180074678A1
• Filed: 11/20/2017
• Published: 03/15/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Benko, Hrvoje, Wilson, Andrew D., Baudisch, Patrick M.
• Granted Patent: US 10,203,836 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04808 Several contacts: gestures triggering a specific function, e.g. scrolling, zooming, right-click, when the user establishes several contacts with the surface simultaneously; e.g. using several fingers or a combination of fingers and pen
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04812 Interaction techniques based on cursor appearance or behaviour, e.g. being affected by the presence of displayed objects
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

A unique system and method is provided that facilitates pixel-accurate targeting with respect to multi-touch sensitive displays when selecting or viewing content with a cursor. In particular, the system and method can track dual inputs from a primary finger and a secondary finger, for example. The primary finger can control movement of the cursor while the secondary finger can adjust a control-display ratio of the screen. As a result, cursor steering and selection of an assistance mode can be performed at about the same time or concurrently. In addition, the system and method can stabilize a cursor position at a top middle point of a user'"'"'s finger in order to mitigate clicking errors when making a selection.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

processing circuitry; and

memory storing instructions which, when executed by the processing circuitry, cause the processing circuitry to perform operations comprising;

detecting a primary member location on a surface;

visualizing a cursor on the surface based on the primary member location on the surface;

detecting a secondary member location on the surface; and

moving the cursor by adjusting a speed of the cursor based on a detected movement of the secondary member relative to the primary member.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein adjusting the speed of the cursor based on the detected movement of the secondary member relative to the primary member comprises:

reducing the speed of the cursor in response to the detected movement of the secondary member closer to the primary member.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein an amount the speed of the cursor is reduced is based on a distance moved of the secondary member.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein adjusting the speed of the cursor based on the detected movement of the secondary member relative to the primary member comprises:

increasing the speed of the cursor in response to the detected movement of the secondary member away from the primary member.

5. The system of claim 4, wherein an amount the speed of the cursor is increased is based on a distance moved of the secondary member.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising the surface.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the surface comprises a multi-touch screen.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the primary member comprises a primary finger, and wherein the secondary member comprises a secondary finger.

9. A method implemented at processing circuitry of at least one machine coupled with a surface, the method comprising:

detecting, using the processing circuitry, a primary member location on a surface;

visualizing a cursor on the surface at an initial cursor location corresponding to the primary member location on the surface;

detecting, using the processing circuitry, a secondary member location on the surface; and

moving the cursor from the initial cursor location by reducing the speed of the cursor in response to the detected movement of the secondary member closer to the primary member or increasing the speed of the cursor in response to the detected movement of the secondary member away from the primary member.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein an amount the speed of the cursor is reduced or increased is based on a distance moved of the secondary member.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein the surface comprises a multi-touch screen.

12. The method of claim 9, wherein the primary member comprises a primary finger, and wherein the secondary member comprises a secondary finger.

13. A method implemented at processing circuitry of a computing device having multi-touch screen, the method comprising:

detecting, using the processing circuitry, a primary finger location on the multi-touch screen;

visualizing a cursor on the multi-touch screen based on the primary finger location on the multi-touch screen;

detecting, using the processing circuitry, a secondary finger location on the multi-touch screen; and

moving the cursor by adjusting a speed of the cursor based on a detected movement of the secondary finger relative to the primary finger.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein adjusting the speed of the cursor based on the detected movement of the secondary finger relative to the primary finger comprises:

reducing the speed of the cursor in response to the detected movement of the secondary finger closer to the primary finger.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein an amount the speed of the cursor is reduced is based on a distance moved of the secondary finger.

16. The method of claim 13, wherein adjusting the speed of the cursor based on the detected movement of the secondary finger relative to the primary finger comprises:

increasing the speed of the cursor in response to the detected movement of the secondary finger away from the primary finger.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein an amount the speed of the cursor is increased is based on a distance moved of the secondary finger.