Squeezable control device for computer display system
First Claim
1. Display control apparatus comprising:
- display generation means for generating and displaying a moveable entity and a cursor in a screen view, the display generation means being responsive to a first signal to position the cursor in the screen view and to a second signal together with the first signal to move the moveable entity from one screen position to another in the screen view; and
a squeezable cursor control device having two opposed outward facing portions for receiving a squeezing force exerted by a user, the squeezable cursor control device coupled to the display generation means for generating the first signal under user control and for generating the second signal in response to at least the beginning and end of exertion by the user of a squeezing force of at least a predetermined magnitude, at the two opposed outward facing portions of the cursor control device, the display generation means responding to the first signal, the second signal marking the beginning of exertion of the squeezing force after the cursor is positioned at a predetermined screen position relative to screen position of the moveable entity, and the second signal marking the end of exertion of the squeezing force by causing the moveable entity to move to a screen position corresponding to the screen position of the cursor at a time when the second signal marking the end of exertion of the squeezing force is generated.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A squeezable cursor control device provides movement of moveable entities displayed on a computerized display. In one application the squeezable cursor control device provides scrolling of window contents as a function of cursor position relative to the window. The cursor positioned within the window provides short range scrolling upon squeezing of two opposed portions of the control device. The cursor positioned outside the window provides medium and long range scrolling upon squeezing of the control device. Graphical indicators such as directional indications and elevator bars aid selection and specification of medium and long range scrolling. A graphical indicator of a user generated path provides direction and amount of scrolling in short range scrolling.
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Citations
31 Claims
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1. Display control apparatus comprising:
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display generation means for generating and displaying a moveable entity and a cursor in a screen view, the display generation means being responsive to a first signal to position the cursor in the screen view and to a second signal together with the first signal to move the moveable entity from one screen position to another in the screen view; and a squeezable cursor control device having two opposed outward facing portions for receiving a squeezing force exerted by a user, the squeezable cursor control device coupled to the display generation means for generating the first signal under user control and for generating the second signal in response to at least the beginning and end of exertion by the user of a squeezing force of at least a predetermined magnitude, at the two opposed outward facing portions of the cursor control device, the display generation means responding to the first signal, the second signal marking the beginning of exertion of the squeezing force after the cursor is positioned at a predetermined screen position relative to screen position of the moveable entity, and the second signal marking the end of exertion of the squeezing force by causing the moveable entity to move to a screen position corresponding to the screen position of the cursor at a time when the second signal marking the end of exertion of the squeezing force is generated. - View Dependent Claims (2)
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3. Apparatus for moving entities in a screen view on a display controlled by computer means, comprising:
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display generation means coupled to the computer means for generating and displaying a cursor and moveable entities in a screen view on the display; and a cursor control device coupled to the computer means for generating cursor movement signals to selectively position the cursor in the screen view and for generating a control signal after the cursor is positioned at screen position of a moveable entity to move the moveable entity as a function of subsequent user placement of the cursor, the cursor control device having; two opposed outward facing portions; and a pressure sensitive switch positioned adjacent the two opposed outward facing portions such that squeezing of the two opposed portions operates the switch, the switch generating the control signal in response to a squeezing force applied at the two opposed portions by a user when the cursor is positioned at the screen position of the moveable entity and thereafter maintained by the user, the display generation means responding to the generated control signal by displaying repositioning of the moveable entity as a function of subsequent user placement of the cursor using the cursor control device. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of moving entities on a display controlled by computer means, the steps comprising:
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exhibiting a cursor and at least one moveable entity in a screen view on a display controlled by computer means; in the screen view, positioning the cursor on an initial screen position of a desired moveable entity; while the cursor is positioned on the initial screen position of the desired moveable entity, applying a squeezing force above a predetermined magnitude to two opposed outward facing portions of a cursor control device coupled to the computer means; while maintaining the squeezing force, moving the cursor through a multiplicity of screen positions, in a manner indicative of desired movement of the desired moveable entity; and displaying in the screen view on the display the desired moveable entity being moved from the initial screen position through the multiplicity of screen positions of the moving cursor, such that the moveable entity is displayed moving in the screen view in a manner corresponding to movement of the cursor. - View Dependent Claims (8)
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9. A method of repositioning entities on a display controlled by computer means, the steps comprising:
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exhibiting a screen view having a cursor and at least one moveable entity on a display controlled by computer means; positioning the cursor on screen view position of a desired moveable entity; while the cursor is positioned on the screen view position of the desired moveable entity, applying a squeezing force above a predetermined magnitude to two opposed outward facing portions of a cursor control device coupled to the computer means, and thereafter maintaining the squeezing force; repositioning the cursor to a user selected position in the screen view; and displaying the screen view rearranged with the desired moveable entity positioned at the user selected position in the screen view. - View Dependent Claims (10)
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11. A display system controlled by computer means and displaying a view with various active areas, one active area having scrollable contents, the display system comprising:
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a first display means coupled to the computer means for generating and displaying said active area with scrollable contents in a first position; a cursor control device coupled to the computer means, the cursor control device having movement means for selectively positioning a cursor in the view relative to the active area and having two opposed outward facing portions, a squeezing force applied at said two opposed outward facing portions, with the cursor positioned relative to the active area, initiating scrolling of the scrollable contents from the first position to a second position, said two opposed outward facing portions while having the squeezing force applied thereto enabling the movement means to control position of the cursor to indicate the second position of the scrollable contents; and a second display means coupled to the computer means for generating and displaying said active area with the scrollable contents changing from the first position to the second position, such that the scrollable contents are scrolled as a function of cursor repositioning subsequent to application of the squeezing force at the two opposed outward facing portions that initiated scrolling and while the squeezing force is maintained. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A display system controlled by computer means and displaying a window with scrollable contents in a screen view, the display system comprising:
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a display means coupled to the computer means for generating and displaying the window with scrollable contents in a first position in a screen view; a cursor control device coupled to the computer means, the device having positioning means for selectively positioning a cursor relative to the window in the screen view and (b) two opposed outward facing portions which in response to a squeezing force that moves the two portions toward each other activate scrolling of the scrollable contents as a function of screen position of the cursor at time of application of the squeezing force; and a scrolling means coupled to the computer means, in response to application of the squeezing force at the two portions with the cursor positioned relative to the window at a user desired screen position in the screen view, the scrolling means determining screen position of the cursor and scrolling the scrollable contents as a function of determined cursor position. - View Dependent Claims (23)
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24. In a display system controlled by computer means for displaying a view with various windows including a window with scrollable contents, a method for scrolling contents of a displayed window comprising the steps of:
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generating and displaying said view with a window having scrollable contents in a first position; positioning a cursor in the view relative to the window by movement of a cursor control device, the cursor control device being coupled to the computer means; squeezing two opposed outward facing portions of the cursor control device toward each other to effect scrolling of the scrollable contents as a function of position of the cursor during at least one of time of the squeezing and a time subsequent to the squeezing to effect scrolling; and generating and displaying the view with the scrollable contents being changed from the first position to a second position in accordance with the function of position of the cursor during at least one of the time of squeezing and the time subsequent to the squeezing to effect scrolling. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31)
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Specification