Cursor position controller for a display device

• US 4,369,439 A
• Filed: 01/14/1981
• Issued: 01/18/1983
• Est. Priority Date: 01/14/1981
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Original Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
• Inventors: Broos, Michael S.
• Primary Examiner(s): Curtis, Marshall M.
• Application Number:
  US06/225,123
• Time in Patent Office: 734 Days
• Field of Search: 340/710, 340/706, 340/709, 340/711
• US Class Current: 345/164
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0213 Arrangements providing an integrated pointing device in a keyboard, e.g. trackball, mini-joystick for pointing devices integrated in a laptop computer G06F1/169; joysticks G05G9/047; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence

Abstract

A position indicator or cursor is moved over a visual display in response to signals generated by corresponding movement of a keyboard relative to a fixed point on the surface supporting the keyboard.

Claims

1. A system for controlling the display of data for a visual data display controlled by a computer, wherein said system comprises:

an operator controlled keyboard for selectively generating said display data alteration signals;

a support surface for said keyboard;

means for supporting said keyboard on said support surface whereby said keyboard is movable by said generator;

constraining means for limiting the movement of said keyboard on said support surface whereby each elemental area in the allowed region of movement of said keyboard corresponds to an elemental area of said display,

means for generating said position signals representative of the position of said keyboard relative to a fixed reference point on said support surface, and

means for altering the data displayed at the points in said display defined by said position signals, said position signals being indicative of the positions on said display of portions of said data to be altered, and in accordance with display data alteration signals indicating the nature of the change to be made at the indicated position.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said means for generating said position signals is attached to said keyboard for movement therewith and includes rotatable contact means for frictionally contacting said support surface and transducer means for translating the rotational motion of said contact means into coordinate position signals corresponding to said position signals.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said means for generating said position signals includes rotable contact means mounted in said support surface for frictional contact with said keyboard, and includes transducer means for translating the rotational motion of said contact means into coordinate position signals corresponding to said position signals.

4. An information processing system comprising:

A. display means for displaying a data field representative of stored data,

B. keyboard and associated carriage means adapted for translational movement under control of an operator in a region corresponding to said data field,

C. transducer means for generating a position signal representative of the location of said keyboard with respect to a reference point in said region,

D. means responsive to said position signal for identifying a location in said stored data corresponding to said location of said keyboard in said region,

wherein said display means is responsive to said identifying means to display a cursor at the point in said displayed data field corresponding to the location of said keyboard.

5. A system according to claim 4

wherein said carriage means includes a selectively operable brake system, said carriage means being fixed with respect to said reference point when said brake system is operative in response to a lock signal and being freely movable when said brake system is operative in response to an unlock signal, and

wherein said carriage means further includes at least one palm rest having a force sensor, said force sensor being responsive to a predetermined force selectively applied by an operator'"'"'s palm to generate said unlock signal, and to generate said lock signal otherwise.

6. An information processing system comprising:

A. display means for displaying a data field representative of stored data, and for displaying a cursor,

B. keyboard including a palm rest transducer means for generating a position signal representative of the magnitude and direction of horizontal forces applied to said transducer means by an operator'"'"'s palm,

C. means for controlling the position of said cursor in response to said position signal.