Digitizer eraser system and method
First Claim
1. A method of erasing text or objects using a digitizer erasing stylus and tablet in conjunction with a display screen, the stylus having an erasing tip for generating an eraser indicating signal and wherein at least one cursor shape acceptable for erasing and at least one cursor shape not acceptable for erasing are generated for indicating pointed-to positions on the screen by the stylus, the method comprising the steps of:
- a) comparing a requested cursor shape to a list of predetermined acceptable erasing cursor shapes, and wherein each of said cursor shapes moves in conjunction with the stylus and indicates on the display screen positions pointed to by the stylus;
b) setting a variable to a valid index if a match is found in step a);
c) setting the variable to an invalid index if no match is found in step a);
d) manipulating the stylus proximate the tablet, with the corresponding cursor shape moving in conjunction with the stylus, in order to select text or objects for erasure; and
e) erasing the selected text or objects from the display screen only when the variable is set to a valid index, so that selected text or objects are erased only when the cursor shape on the display screen is in the form of a predetermined acceptable erasing cursor shape, and not erasing when the variable is set to an invalid index and a cursor shape not acceptable for erasing is being used in conjunction with the stylus and shown on the display screen.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A digitizer eraser system and method are provided so as to include a writing/erasing digitizer pen, a tablet, and a tablet driver for use in conjunction with a computer and corresponding display screen. The user selects and deletes text or cells with one stylus stroke. In one motion, the user presses select, moves the erasing stylus across the material to be selected, then at the end of the selection lifts the stylus off the tablet to delete or erase the selected material. The system permits erasing of text or objects from the display screen via a keystroke function only when predetermined cursor shapes are being used on the screen. The keystroke function is chosen from a group of possible erasing keystrokes, with the selected keystroke being based upon the cursor shape being used so that undesirable erasing keystrokes are not used in certain situations. Additionally, the cursor shapes displayed on the screen are changed in accordance with whether the stylus is in a writing or an erasing mode or position. In certain PC-based embodiments where the operating system is window-based, subclassing is used so that selection and erasure by the stylus is only permitted in subclassed windows, not all windows being subclassed.
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Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method of erasing text or objects using a digitizer erasing stylus and tablet in conjunction with a display screen, the stylus having an erasing tip for generating an eraser indicating signal and wherein at least one cursor shape acceptable for erasing and at least one cursor shape not acceptable for erasing are generated for indicating pointed-to positions on the screen by the stylus, the method comprising the steps of:
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a) comparing a requested cursor shape to a list of predetermined acceptable erasing cursor shapes, and wherein each of said cursor shapes moves in conjunction with the stylus and indicates on the display screen positions pointed to by the stylus; b) setting a variable to a valid index if a match is found in step a); c) setting the variable to an invalid index if no match is found in step a); d) manipulating the stylus proximate the tablet, with the corresponding cursor shape moving in conjunction with the stylus, in order to select text or objects for erasure; and e) erasing the selected text or objects from the display screen only when the variable is set to a valid index, so that selected text or objects are erased only when the cursor shape on the display screen is in the form of a predetermined acceptable erasing cursor shape, and not erasing when the variable is set to an invalid index and a cursor shape not acceptable for erasing is being used in conjunction with the stylus and shown on the display screen. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A digitizer erasing system adapted to be used with a computer having a display screen, the system comprising:
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a stylus having a circuit for generating an eraser indicating signal; a tablet for detecting said eraser indicating signal and location coordinates of the stylus so that a cursor shape on the display screen is continually moved in conjunction with the stylus for indicated positions pointed to by the stylus; means for generating both at least one cursor shape acceptable for erasing and at least one cursor shape non-acceptable for erasing; a tablet driver for receiving stylus data from said tablet, said tablet driver adapted to be in communication with the computer; and wherein said tablet driver permits said stylus to erase text or objects from the display screen only when one of a predetermined number of acceptable erasing cursor shapes is being displayed on the display screen, and not permitting erasing when a non-acceptable cursor shape is being used in conjunction with the stylus on the screen. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of erasing text or objects from a display screen using a digitizer erasing stylus and corresponding tablet wherein one of first and second cursor shapes on the screen moves in conjunction with the stylus for indicating pointed-to positions that are pointed to by the stylus, the method comprising the steps of:
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generating an erasing signal with the erasing stylus; detecting with the tablet said erasing signal and its coordinate data; selecting text or objects for erasure in response to said erasing signal and positioning of one of the cursor shapes; choosing a keystroke function to be used for erasing on the basis of the cursor shape being displayed on the display screen so that a first keystroke erasing function is chosen when the first cursor shape is being used and a second different keystroke erasing function is chosen when the second cursor shape is being used; and erasing in response to the chosen keystroke function the selected text or objects from said display screen in response to said detected erasing signal and corresponding coordinate data. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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19. A method of erasing data on a display screen using an erasing stylus and corresponding digitizer tablet, the method comprising the steps of:
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a) bringing the erasing stylus into sensing proximity of the tablet; b) causing the stylus to generate an eraser indicating signal detected by the tablet; c) receiving tablet data packets with a driver including stylus coordinate data, eraser data, and switch data; d) evaluating the switch data and determining whether an eraser switch or threshold has been actuated; e) when said eraser switch or threshold has been first actuated, a driver simulating a "mouse down" function to at least one of a corresponding application program and operating system so as to begin selection of data for erasure, and simulating a "mouse up" function in response to a second eraser switch or threshold actuation so as to end selection of data for erasure; and f) erasing the data selected for erasure by performing an erasing keystroke function after said "mouse up" simulation. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. In a digitizer eraser system including a stylus, a tablet, a computer, and a display screen, a method of providing user feedback by changing cursor shapes when the stylus enters sensing proximity of the tablet so that the displayed cursor shape is indicative of whether the stylus is a write stylus or an erase stylus, the cursor shapes moving on the display screen in conjunction with the stylus so as to indicate positions pointed to by the stylus, the method comprising the steps of:
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a) determining when the stylus comes into sensing proximity of the tablet; b) determining whether an eraser indicating frequency is being emitted from the stylus; and c) replacing the current cursor shape with a cursor shape indicative of eraser functionality when it is determined that the eraser indicating frequency is being emitted from the stylus and detected by the tablet so that the user is informed that the stylus is an erase stylus. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26)
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Specification