Roller mouse for implementing scrolling in windows applications
DCFirst Claim
1. A computer input system for windows based application programs of the type using a bitmapped memory with a shiftable video capability for viewing a portion of the bitmapped memory at one time comprising,a multidimensional mouse controlling x,y cursor positioning on a video monitor associated with a computer of the type having a memory means for storing a bitmap of information to be displayed, the mouse having a body with a finger operated turnable member mounted for unbounded rotation thereon, generating electrical output signals having an extent proportional to the angular velocity of the turnable member,means for scrolling a portion of the bitmapped memory on the video monitor about a predetermined first axis, the bitmapped memory being associated with an application program running on the computer having the video monitor with any portion of the bitmapped memory not appearing on the video monitor being in the memory of the computer, said means for scrolling controllable via conventional input devices and the finger operated turnable member wherein the speed, amount, and direction of scrolling is proportional to the speed, amount, and direction of rotation of the turnable member as determined by said electrical output signals, whereby non-displayed portions of the bitmapped memory may be displayed,program means responsive to the electrical output signals from said turnable member for generating messages through the computer to the application program for scrolling the bitmapped memory on the video monitor.
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Abstract
A computer mouse having a roller which implements a scrolling function for computer programs, particularly those running a windows format. In one embodiment, scrolling is implemented by sending messages to a queue associated with a windows kernel. The kernel interprets scrolling messages from the roller in the same manner as messages generated in the usual way from a graphical user interface. Rapid turning of the roller generates pulses which are stored in a buffer and interpreted as energy which is drawn from the buffer even after the roller stops turning so that scrolling continues until stopped or until the buffer is depleted.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A computer input system for windows based application programs of the type using a bitmapped memory with a shiftable video capability for viewing a portion of the bitmapped memory at one time comprising,
a multidimensional mouse controlling x,y cursor positioning on a video monitor associated with a computer of the type having a memory means for storing a bitmap of information to be displayed, the mouse having a body with a finger operated turnable member mounted for unbounded rotation thereon, generating electrical output signals having an extent proportional to the angular velocity of the turnable member, means for scrolling a portion of the bitmapped memory on the video monitor about a predetermined first axis, the bitmapped memory being associated with an application program running on the computer having the video monitor with any portion of the bitmapped memory not appearing on the video monitor being in the memory of the computer, said means for scrolling controllable via conventional input devices and the finger operated turnable member wherein the speed, amount, and direction of scrolling is proportional to the speed, amount, and direction of rotation of the turnable member as determined by said electrical output signals, whereby non-displayed portions of the bitmapped memory may be displayed, program means responsive to the electrical output signals from said turnable member for generating messages through the computer to the application program for scrolling the bitmapped memory on the video monitor.
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4. A computer input device for windows based application programs of the type using a memory with a shiftable video capability for viewing a portion of the memory at one time and other portions by scrolling comprising,
a multidimensional mouse controlling x,y cursor positioning on a video monitor associated with a computer of the type having a memory means for storing information to be displayed, the mouse having a body with a finger operated turnable member mounted for unbounded rotation thereon and for generating rotational output signals having an extent proportional to an angular velocity of the turnable member, an event decoder connected to receive said rotational output signals of the mouse and producing corresponding scroll signals and a timer means connected to the event decoder for timing the arrival of the rotational output signals, the event decoder having a buffer for indicating rotational momentum of the turnable member when the rotational output signals indicate a rotation rate above a threshold higher than zero, the presence of rotational momentum generating continuous scroll signals in the absence of continued generation of rotational signals by the turnable member, and means responsive to the scroll signals for viewing selected portions of the memory.
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9. A computer input device for windows based application programs running in a windows environment,
a multidimensional mouse controlling x,y cursor positioning on a video monitor associated with a computer of the type having a memory means for storing information to be displayed, the mouse having a body with a finger operated turnable member mounted for unbounded rotation thereon and for generating electrical output signals having an extent proportional to the angular velocity of the turnable member, an event decoder connected to receive said electrical output signals of the mouse and producing corresponding rotation signals, means for serially selecting opened application programs, one after another in a cyclic manner, in response to said rotation signals, means for serially displaying separate images of icons in response to said rotation signals, and means for serially selecting opened application programs, each of said separate images corresponding to an opened application program wherein a displayed image is indicative of a currently selected opened application program.
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11. A computer input system for windows based application programs using a bitmapped memory with a shiftable video capability for viewing a portion of the bitmapped memory at one time comprising,
a multidimensional mouse controlling by electrical translational signals x,y cursor positioning on a video monitor associated with a computer of the type having a memory means for storing a bitmap of information to be displayed on a video display with at least one window having a scroll bar, the mouse having a body with a finger turnable member mounted for unbounded rotation thereon, generating electrical rotational signals having an extent proportional to the angular velocity of the turnable member, means for scrolling an application program having a portion of the bitmapped memory displayed, said means for scrolling being controlled via positioning the cursor in the scroll bar and turning the turnable member whereby non-displayed portions of the bitmapped memory may be displayed at a scrolling rate proportional to the angular velocity of the turnable member, program means responsive to the electrical rotational signals for generating messages through the computer to the applications program for scrolling the bitmapped memory on the video display.
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16. An input control system for use in windows based applications supporting scrolling of an image within a window comprising,
a multidimensional mouse controlling x,y cursor positioning on a video display by means of electrical translational signals generated by translational movement of the mouse, said mouse further comprising an unbounded rotatable roller for use in controlling window scrolling by means of electrical rotational signals, the amount and speed of window scrolling being proportional to the amount and speed of rotation of the roller, wherein the roller is also a hidden mouse control button, means for determining a rotational rate of said roller wherein a rotational rate below a first predetermined threshold higher than zero will induce line scrolling of the window and a rotational rate higher than said first predetermined threshold will induce page scrolling of the window, and axis defining scroll bars on said window wherein a scrolling axis may be dynamically selected by moving the mouse to make contact with a scroll bar associated with a desired axis, wherein the roller and hidden mouse control button have default scrolling functions which may be changed by a user to define an alternate desired function other than scrolling and wherein moving the mouse to any scroll bar overrides the user defined alternate desired function and restores the roller'"'"'s and control button'"'"'s scrolling functions.
Specification