Coordinate input apparatus

• US 5,195,179 A
• Filed: 05/21/1990
• Issued: 03/16/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/1986
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hitachi Keiyo Engineering Company Limited, Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi Keiyo Engineering Company Limited, Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Tokunaga, Hiroshi
• Primary Examiner(s): Harkcom, Gary V.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, Phu K.
• Application Number:
  US07/526,533
• Time in Patent Office: 1,030 Days
• Field of Search: 364/518, 364/521, 340/706, 340/709, 340/710, 395/155, 395/161
• US Class Current: 345/159
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04892 Arrangements for controlling cursor position based on codes indicative of cursor displacements from one discrete location to another, e.g. using cursor control keys associated to different directions or using the tab key arrangements for controlling cursor position based on coordinate signals G06F3/038

Abstract

A coordinate input apparatus responsive to physical movement of an operation section for moving and displaying a cursor displayed on a display screen at a corresponding coordinate position on the display screen has a unit for deciding a ratio of cursor movement which detects the operation speed of the operation section and decides the ratio of cursor movement on the display screen for a predetermined amount of the movement of the operation section based on the operation speed. A display unit moves and displays the cursor on the display screen corresponding to the amount of movement of the operation section based on the ratio of cursor movement thus decided. As a result, even if the amount of movement of the operation section is constant, when the operation section is moved at a high speed, the cursor moves a long distance; whereas, when the operation section is moved at a low speed, the cursor moves a short distance.

Claims

1. A method of moving and displaying a cursor on a display screen in response to physical movement of an operation section comprising the steps of:

detecting an amount of physical movement of the operation section during a predetermined period of time;

calculating an amount of physical movement per unit time of the operation section from the detected amount of physical movement of the operation section and said predetermined period of time;

deciding a ratio of an amount of movement of the cursor on the screen to a predetermined amount of physical movement of the operation section according to the calculated amount of physical movement of the operation section per unit time; and

moving and displaying the cursor on the display screen corresponding to the amount of physical movement of the operation section on the basis of the decided ratio of the movement of the cursor.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein said amount of physical movement of the operation section per predetermined period of time is calculated on the basis of an amount of physical movement of the operation section sequentially detected at a predetermined interval of time.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein said ratio is decided to be zero when the calculated amount of physical movement of the operation section per predetermined period of time is equal to or less than a predetermined value.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

an amount of physical movement of the operation section in each of an X-axis and Y-axis directions is detected;

the amount of physical movement of the operation section per predetermined period of time is calculated from the detected amount of physical movement of the operation section in one of said directions; and

the cursor is moved and displayed on the display screen corresponding to the amount of physical movement of the operation section in each of said directions on the basis of the decided ratio of the movement of the cursor.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein:

an amount of physical movement of the operation section in each of an X-axis and Y-axis directions is detected;

the amount of physical movement of the operation section per predetermined period of time in said each of directions is calculated from the detected amount of physical movement of the operation section in said each of directions;

the ratio of the amount of movement of the cursor on the screen along each of axes corresponding to said directions to the predetermined amount of physical movement of the operation section in said each of directions is decided according to the calculated amount of movement of the operation section per predetermined period of time in said each of directions; and

the cursor is moved and displayed on the display screen corresponding to the amount of physical movement of the operation section in said each of directions on the basis of the decided ratio of the movement of the cursor along said each of axes corresponding to said directions.

6. A method of moving and displaying a cursor on a display screen in response to physical movement of an operation section comprising the steps of:

detecting an amount of physical movement of the operation section during a predetermined period of time;

calculating a moving speed of the operation section from the detected amount of physical movement of the operation section and said predetermined period of time;

deciding a ratio of an amount of movement of the cursor on the screen to a predetermined amount of physical movement of the operation section according to the calculated moving speed of the operation section; and

moving and displaying the cursor on the display screen corresponding to the amount of physical movement of the operation section on the basis of the decided ratio of the movement of the cursor.

7. A method according to claim 6, wherein said moving speed of the operation section is calculated on the basis of an amount of physical movement of the operation section sequentially detected at a predetermined interval of time.

8. A method according to claim 6, wherein said ratio is decided to be zero when the calculated moving speed of the operation section is equal to or less than a predetermined value.

9. A method according to claim 6, wherein:

an amount of physical movement of the operation section in each of an X-axis and Y-axis directions is detected;

the moving speed of the operation section is calculated from the detected amount of physical movement of the operation section in one of said directions; and

the cursor is moved and displayed on the display screen corresponding to the amount of physical movement of the operation section in each of said directions on the basis of the decided ratio of the movement of the cursor.

10. A method according to claim 6, wherein:

an amount of physical movement of the operation section in each of an X-axis and Y-axis directions is detected;

the moving speed of the operation section in said each of directions is calculated form the detected amount of physical movement of the operation section in said each of directions;

the ratio of the amount of movement of the cursor on the screen along each of axes corresponding to said directions to the predetermined amount of physical movement of the operation section in said each of directions is decided according to the calculated moving speed of the operation section in said each of directions; and

the cursor is moved and displayed on the display screen corresponding to the amount of physical movement of the operation section in said each of directions on the basis of the decided ratio of the movement of the cursor along said each of axes corresponding to said directions.

11. A method of moving and displaying a cursor on a display screen in response to physical movement of an operation section comprising the steps of:

detection an amount of physical movement of the operation section during a predetermined period of time;

calculating an amount of physical movement per unit time of the operation section from the detected amount of physical movement of the operation section and said predetermined period of time;

deciding a ratio of an amount of movement of the cursor on the screen to a predetermined amount of physical movement of the operation section according to the calculated amount of physical movement of the operation section per unit time;

storing the decided ratio of the movement of the cursor in storage means; and

moving and displaying the cursor on the display screen corresponding to the amount of physical movement of the operation section on the basis of the ratio of the movement of the cursor stored in the storage means.

12. A method according to claim 11, wherein said amount of physical movement of the operation section per predetermined period of time is calculated on the basis of an amount of physical movement of the operation section sequentially detected at a predetermined interval of time.

13. A method according to claim 11, wherein said ratio is decided to be zero when the calculated amount of physical movement of the operation section per predetermined period of time is equal to or less than a predetermined value.

14. A method of moving and displaying a cursor on a display screen in response to physical movement of an operation section comprising the steps of:

detecting an amount of physical movement of the operation section comprising the steps of;

detecting an amount of physical movement of the operation section during a predetermined period of time;

calculating an amount of physical movement per unit time of the operation section from the detected amount of physical movement of the operation section and said predetermined period of time;

selecting one of a plurality of predetermined ratios of an amount of movement of the cursor on the display screen to a predetermined amount of physical movement of the operation section according to the calculated amount of physical movement of the operation section per unit time, said ratios being different from each other; and

moving and displaying the cursor on the display screen corresponding to the amount of physical movement of the operation section per unit time, said ratios being different from each other; and

moving and displaying the cursor on the display screen corresponding to the amount of physical movement of the operation section on the basis of the selected ratios o the movement of the cursor.

15. A method according to claim 14, wherein said amount of physical movement of the operation section per predetermined period of time is calculated on the basis of an amount of physical movement of the operation section sequentially detected at a predetermined interval of time.

16. A method according to claim 14, wherein said plurality ratios include zero, and the ratio of zero is selected when the calculated amount of physical movement of the operation section per predetermined period of time is equal to or less than a predetermined value.

17. A method of moving and displaying a cursor on a display screen in response to physical movement of an operation section comprising the steps of:

detecting an amount of physical movement of the operation section during a predetermined period of time;

calculating a moving speed of the operation section from the detected amount of physical movement of the operation section and said predetermined period of time;

deciding a ratio of an amount of movement of the cursor on the screen to a predetermined amount of physical movement of the operation section according to the calculated moving speed of the operation section;

storing the decided ratio of the movement of the cursor in storage means; and

moving and displaying the cursor on the display screen corresponding to the amount of physical movement of the operation section on the basis of the ratio of the movement of the cursor stored in the storage means.

18. A method according to claim 17, wherein said moving speed of the operation section is calculated on the basis of an amount of physical movement of the operation section sequentially detected at a predetermined interval of time.

19. A method according to claim 17, wherein said ratio is decided to be zero when the calculated moving speed of the operation section is equal to or less than a predetermined value.

20. A method of moving and displaying a cursor on a display screen in response to physical movement of an operation section comprising the steps of:

detecting an amount of physical movement of the operation section during a predetermined period of time;

calculating a moving speed of the operation section from the detected amount of physical movement of the operation section and said predetermined period of time;

selecting one of a predetermined ratios of an amount of movement of the cursor on the display screen to a predetermined amount of physical movement of the operation section according to the calculated moving speed of the operation section, said ratios being different from each other; and

moving and displaying the cursor on the display screen corresponding to the amount of physical movement of the operation section on the basis of the selected ratio of the movement of the cursor.

21. A method according to claim 20, wherein said moving speed of the operation section is calculated on the basis of an amount of physical movement of the operation section sequentially detected at a predetermined interval of time.

22. A method according to claim 20, wherein said plurality ratios include zero, and the ratio of zero is selected when the calculated moving speed of the operation section is equal to or less than a predetermined value.

23. A coordinate input apparatus responsive to physical movement of an operation section for moving and displaying a cursor displayed on a display screen comprising:

movement amount detecting means for detecting an amount of physical movement of the operation section during a predetermined period of time;

calculating means for calculating an amount of physical movement per time of the operation section from the amount of physical movement detected by said movement amount detecting means and said predetermined period of time;

cursor movement ratio deciding means for deciding a ratio of an amount of movement of the cursor on the screen to a predetermined amount of physical movement of the operation section according to the amount of physical movement of the operation section per unit time calculated by said calculating means; and

display means for moving and displaying the cursor on the display screen corresponding to the amount of physical movement of the operation section on the basis of the ratio decided by said cursor movement ratio deciding means.

24. A coordinate input apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said calculating means calculates the amount of physical movement of the operation section per predetermined period of time on the basis of the movement of physical movement of the operation section sequentially detected at a predetermined interval of time.

25. A coordinate input apparatus according to claim 23, wherein said cursor movement ratio deciding means sets the cursor movement ratio to 0 when a rate of movement is equal to or less than a predetermined value.

26. A coordinate input apparatus responsive to physical movement of an operation section for moving and displaying a cursor displayed on a display screen comprising:

movement amount detecting means for detecting an amount of physical movement of the operation section during a predetermined period of time;

calculating means for calculating a moving speed of the operation section from the amount of physical movement detected by said movement amount detecting means and said predetermined period of time;

cursor movement ratio deciding means for deciding a ratio of an amount of movement of the cursor on the screen to a predetermined amount of physical movement of the operation section according to the moving speed of the operation section calculated by said calculating means; and

display means for moving and displaying the cursor on the display screen corresponding to the amount of physical movement of the operation section on the basis of the ratio decided by said cursor movement ratio deciding means.

27. A coordinate input apparatus according to claim 26, wherein said calculating means calculates the moving speed of the operation section on the basis of the amount of physical movement of the operation section sequentially detected at a predetermined interval of time.

28. A coordinate input apparatus according to claim 26, wherein said cursor movement ratio deciding means sets the cursor movement ratio to 0 when a rate of movement is equal to or less than a predetermined value.

29. A coordinate input apparatus comprising:

an operation section for indicating by a move operation during a predetermined period of time an amount of movement of a cursor on a display screen;

movement rate calculating means for calculating a movement rate from an amount of movement of the operation section detected by detecting means and said predetermined period of time;

cursor movement ratio deciding means for receiving as an input said movement rate calculated by said movement rate calculating means and for deciding a movement ratio of the cursor to a predetermined amount of movement of the operation section; and

display means for moving and displaying the cursor corresponding to the amount of movement of the operation section based on the movement ratio of the cursor decided by said cursor movement ratio deciding means.

30. A coordinate input apparatus according to claim 29, wherein said cursor movement ratio deciding means sets the movement ratio of the cursor to 0 when the movement rate is equal to or less than a predetermined value.

31. A coordinate input apparatus according to claim 29, wherein:

said operation section arbitrarily indicates a moving direction of the cursor and an amount of movement thereof on an XY display screen;

said detecting means responsive to said operation section detects and outputs the amount of movement in an X-axis direction and the amount of movement in a Y-axis direction which determines a moving direction of the cursor;

said movement rate calculating means calculates an amount of movement per predetermined period of time with respect to one of the X-axis and Y-axis directions; and

said display means moves and displays the cursor corresponding to the amount of movement of each axis-direction indicated by said operation section based on the ratio of the movement of the cursor decided by said cursor movement ratio deciding means.

32. A coordinate input apparatus according to claim 29, wherein said operation section arbitrarily indicates a moving direction of the cursor and an amount of movement thereof on an XY display screen;

said detecting means responsive to said operation section detects and outputs the amount of movement in an X-axis direction and the amount of movement in a Y-axis direction which determines a moving direction of the cursor;

said movement rate calculating means respectively calculates and outputs an amount of movement per predetermined period of time in each of said directions;

said cursor movement ratio deciding means receives as an input the movement rate for each axis calculated by said movement rate calculating means and decides a ratio of a movement of the cursor to a predetermined amount of movement of said operation section along each axis; and

said display means moves and displays the cursor corresponding to the amount of movement in each axis direction of said operation section based on the ratio of movement of the cursor decided by said cursor movement ratio deciding means.

33. A coordinate input apparatus responsive to physical movement of an operation section for moving and displaying a cursor displayed on a display screen to a corresponding coordinate position on the display screen comprising:

movement amount detecting means for detecting an amount of movement of the operation section during a predetermined period of time;

cursor movement ratio deciding means for deciding a ratio of an amount of movement of the cursor on the display screen to a predetermined amount of physical movement per unit time of the operation of section according to an amount of movement of the operation section detected by said movement amount detecting means and said predetermined period of time;

cursor movement ratio storage means for storing a ratio of the movement of the cursor decided by said ratio deciding means; and

display means for moving and displaying the cursor on the display screen corresponding to the amount of movement of the operation section based on the ratio of the movement of the cursor stored in said cursor movement ratio storage means.

34. A coordinate input apparatus responsive to a physical movement of an operation section for moving and displaying a cursor displayed on a display screen to a corresponding coordinate position on the display screen comprising:

movement amount detecting means for detecting an amount of movement of the operation section during a predetermined period of time;

cursor movement ration storage means for storing a plurality of predetermined ratios of an amount of movement of the cursor on the display screen to a predetermined amount of physical movement per unit time of the operation section, said ratios being different from each other;

cursor movement ratio selecting means for selecting one of said plurality of ratios of the movement of the cursor stored in said cursor movement ratio storage means according to an amount of movement of the operation section detected by said movement amount detecting means and said predetermined period of time; and

display means for moving and displaying the cursor corresponding to the amount of movement of the operation section based on the selected ratio of the movement of the cursor.