Controller for improved computer pointing devices
First Claim
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1. A method of controlling the velocity of a cursor on a video screen based on the force applied on a user-controlled pointing device, said method comprising the following steps:
- (a) maintaining the velocity of said cursor at zero when a first predetermined range of forces is applied to said pointing device;
(b) maintaining the velocity of said cursor at a first constant value when a second predetermined range of forces is applied to said pointing device, said second predetermined range of forces being greater in magnitude than said first predetermined range of forces;
(c) allowing the velocity of said cursor to vary with the applied input force according to a parabolic-sigmoid transfer function when a third predetermined range of forces is applied to said pointing device, said third predetermined range of forces being greater in magnitude than said second predetermined range of forces;
(d) maintaining the velocity of said cursor at a second constant value, said second constant value being greater than said first constant value, when a fourth predetermined range of forces is applied to said pointing device, said fourth predetermined range of forces being greater in magnitude than said third predetermined range of forces; and
(e) allowing the velocity of said cursor to vary with the applied input force according to a substantially linear transfer function with a slope greater than unity when a fifth range of input forces is applied to said pointing device, said fifth range of input forces being greater is magnitude than said fourth predetermined range of forces.
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Abstract
Input force applied on a pointing device (51) having outputs (x,y) is related to the velocity of a cursor on a video screen according to a transfer function (FIG. 2) substantially described by a parabolic sigmoid function, thus resulting in adapting the force/velocity relationship to accommodate human perception and motor control limitations and task specific coordination problems.
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Citations
29 Claims
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1. A method of controlling the velocity of a cursor on a video screen based on the force applied on a user-controlled pointing device, said method comprising the following steps:
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(a) maintaining the velocity of said cursor at zero when a first predetermined range of forces is applied to said pointing device; (b) maintaining the velocity of said cursor at a first constant value when a second predetermined range of forces is applied to said pointing device, said second predetermined range of forces being greater in magnitude than said first predetermined range of forces; (c) allowing the velocity of said cursor to vary with the applied input force according to a parabolic-sigmoid transfer function when a third predetermined range of forces is applied to said pointing device, said third predetermined range of forces being greater in magnitude than said second predetermined range of forces; (d) maintaining the velocity of said cursor at a second constant value, said second constant value being greater than said first constant value, when a fourth predetermined range of forces is applied to said pointing device, said fourth predetermined range of forces being greater in magnitude than said third predetermined range of forces; and (e) allowing the velocity of said cursor to vary with the applied input force according to a substantially linear transfer function with a slope greater than unity when a fifth range of input forces is applied to said pointing device, said fifth range of input forces being greater is magnitude than said fourth predetermined range of forces. - View Dependent Claims (4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 23)
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- 2. A method of controlling the velocity of a cursor on a video screen based on the force applied on a user-controller pointing device, in which the velocity of said cursor is related to the force applied on said pointing device according to a parabolic-sigmoid function.
- 3. A method of controlling the velocity of a cursor on a video screen based on the force applied on a user-controlled pointing device, said pointing device responsive to various ranges of forces including a predetermined upper range of forces, in which the velocity of said cursor is related to the force applied on said pointing device according to a parabolic-sigmoid function, and in which the velocity of said cursor is governed to remain at a constant value when a force in said upper range of forces is applied to said pointing device.
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9. A method of controlling the velocity of a cursor on a video screen based on forces applied on a user-controlled pointing device, in which the velocity of said cursor is related to forces applied to said pointing device, comprising the first step of:
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maintaining the velocity of the cursor within a first relatively small range of velocities when forces within a first predetermined range of forces are applied to the pointing device; increasing the velocity of the cursor within a second range of velocities when forces within a second predetermined range of forces, which is higher than the first range of forces, are applied to the pointing device; and limiting the velocity of the cursor to within a third relatively small range of velocities when forces within a third predetermined range of forces, which is higher than the second range of forces, are applied to the pointing device, said third range of velocities being higher than said first range of velocities, but low enough such that the cursor moving at a speed within said third range of velocities is trackable by the human eye, and wherein the rate of change in velocity within the third range of velocities is substantially smaller than the rate of change in velocity within the second range of velocities. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 24, 25)
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13. A method of controlling the velocity of a cursor on a video screen based on the force applied on a user-controlled pointing device, in which the velocity of said cursor is related to the force applied to said pointing device, comprising the step of:
controlling the velocity of said cursor according to a substantially S-shaped function, wherein within a short range at a bottom portion of said S-shaped function the velocity of the cursor is maintained at a first substantially constant speed, and within a short range at a top portion of the S-shaped function the velocity of said cursor is maintained at a second substantially constant speed which is higher than the first substantially constant speed. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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15. A computer system comprising:
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a pointing device; a cursor displayed on a video screen; a controlling means for controlling velocity of said cursor depending on a force applied to the pointing device, said controlling means controls the velocity of said cursor according to a substantially S-shaped function, wherein within a short range at a bottom portion of said S-shaped function said controlling means maintains the velocity of the cursor at a first low speed, and within a short range at a top portion of the S-shaped function the controlling means maintains the velocity of said cursor at a second speed higher than the first low speed. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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17. A method of controlling the velocity of a cursor on a video screen based on the force applied on a user-controlled pointing device, in which the velocity of said cursor is related to the force applied on said pointing device, comprising the steps of:
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increasing the velocity of the cursor when a force falling in a predetermined first range of forces is applied to the pointing device; and reducing the rate of change of the velocity when a force falling in a predetermined second range of forces, which is higher than the said first range of forces, is applied to the pointing device, to thereby maintain the cursor moving at a speed trackable by the human eye. - View Dependent Claims (18, 26, 27)
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19. A computer system comprising:
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a pointing device; a cursor displayed on a video screen; a controlling means for controlling velocity of said cursor depending on a force applied to the pointing device, said controlling means increasing the speed of said cursor when a force falling in a first range of forces is applied to the pointing device, and said controlling device reducing the rate of increase in speed of said cursor when a force falling in a second range of forces, which is higher than said first range of forces, is applied to said pointing device. - View Dependent Claims (20, 28, 29)
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Specification