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Enhanced program access in a graphical user interface

  • US 5,699,082 A
  • Filed: 06/07/1995
  • Issued: 12/16/1997
  • Est. Priority Date: 12/30/1993
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A pointing system for controlling a graphical user interface displayed on a computer system display device having a keyboard including a plurality of keys, said keys being responsive to force thereon by moving in a first direction, a keyboard control actuator for moving a display cursor of the graphical user interface, and a force transducer that detects forces applied to the control actuator in one of more lateral directions substantially perpendicular to the first direction, the pointing system comprising:

  • a tap signature identifier that detects forces applied to the keyboard control actuator in the lateral directions and determines whether said lateral forces are applied for a first predetermined time interval and then released such that the applied forces correspond to one of multiple predetermined tap signatures each defined by a function of magnitude and direction of applied force occurring over the first predetermined time interval and thereby comprising a display change tap; and

    a display controller that (1) responds to lateral forces applied to the control actuator and indicated by the tap signature identifier as comprising display change taps, by initiating display actions corresponding to said display taps and that (2) otherwise responds to lateral control actuator forces not representing the predetermined display change taps by moving the cursor across the display in accordance with the force applied to the keyboard control actuator.

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