Method and device for managing the relative displacement of a cursor in relation to the image displayed on a viewing device

• US 6,057,826 A
• Filed: 04/18/1996
• Issued: 05/02/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 09/02/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Sextant Avionique
• Original Assignee: Sextant Avionique
• Inventors: Vouillon, Patrick, Debrus, Marie-Helene, Gaultier, Philippe
• Primary Examiner(s): Lao, Lun-Yi
• Application Number:
  US08/781,176
• Time in Patent Office: 1,475 Days
• Field of Search: 345/145, 345/156, 345/157, 345/158-159, 345/161, 345/163, 345/164-169, 340/983, 340/945, 341/20, 341/34, 341/35, 348/734, 463/37, 463/38
• US Class Current: 345/157
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/033 Pointing devices displaced or positioned by the user , e.g. mice, trackballs, pens or joysticks; Accessories therefor digitisers characterised by the transducing means G06F3/041
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0338 with detection of limited linear or angular displacement of an operating part of the device from a neutral position, e.g. isotonic or isometric joysticks
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04812 Interaction techniques based on cursor appearance or behaviour, e.g. being affected by the presence of displayed objects

Abstract

With a view to bringing the cursor into a zone of the image displayed on a screen, the method embodying the invention uses a displacement mode comprising determination and indication on the screen of the orientation and relative direction of displacement one wishes to obtain, this stage being performed by varying the orientation of the index (C) by a first manual command until the required direction is obtained; relative displacement of the cursor (C) in relation to the image, in accordance with the orientation and direction thus determined until it reaches said zone, this displacement being performed by a second command distinct from the first; and validation of the position occupied by the cursor in relation to the image by a third command distinct from the first two. The invention relates equally to conventional management of a cursor, the plotting of the route of an aircraft or even to multidirectional scrolling of an image on a screen.

Claims

1. A method for managing the relative displacement of a cursor on a viewing screen, in relation to an image of which at least one part is displayed on said screen in order to bring the cursor into a predetermined area of said image, said cursor having a constant size, a current position and a current angular orientation, said method comprising the steps of:

determining on said screen and introducing a relative rotation angle required to bring the cursor from its current angular orientation to a relative angular orientation of said predetermined area with respect to the current cursor position, said introduction being performed by a first manual command by rotating a control member at said rotation angle,

rotating said cursor at said rotation angle about a pivot point thereof from said current angular orientation to said relative angular orientation of said predetermined area, said rotation being performed progressively during rotation of said control member,

translating the cursor and the pivot point thereof in relation to said image, in said relative angular orientation until it reaches said predetermined area, this translation being performed by a second manual command distinct and independent from the first one, and

validating the position occupied by said cursor in relation to said image, by means of a third command distinct from said first one.

2. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said cursor is in the form of an arrow indicating an angular orientation of translation, and wherein said arrow pivots about one of its points under the effect of said first command.

3. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said image displayed on said screen is fixed, said cursor being rotatably and translatably mobile on the surface of said screen.

4. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein the position of said pivot point is fixed, said image being mobile in relation to said screen, said screen then acting as a window where the image can be translated according to the angular orientation of translation indicated by said cursor.

5. The method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second and third commands consist of pressures exerted on a control device so as to translate it, said pressure having values respectively below and above a predetermined pressure threshold.

6. The method as claimed in claim 1, applying to the controlling of multidirectional scrolling of an image partially represented on said screen, and comprising selecting the angular orientation of translation by means of the first command, and translating said image according to the angular orientation of translation by means of said second command until the required position of said image displayed on said screen is obtained.

7. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of displaying an axis passing through said pivot point and indicating the orientation of said cursor, said first command causing pivoting of said axis with said cursor in a same manner about said pivot point.

8. The method as claimed in claim 7, further comprising detecting a presence of a finger or hand on or in the vicinity of a control device, this detection causing said axis and said cursor to be displayed.

9. The method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the step of:

plotting of a route passing through a plurality of predefined way points displayed on said screen,

said plotting including plotting steps of;

positioning of said cursor associated with a sweeping axis on a starting point,

rotation of the cursor/sweeping axis assembly by means of said first command until said sweeping axis intercepts the first way point required,

plotting of a first route section included between said starting point and a first point, with positioning of said cursor/sweeping axis assembly on said first point by a combination of said second command and the validation stage,

rotation of said cursor/sweeping axis assembly about said first way point, by means of said first command, until said sweeping axis intercepts the second way point required,

plotting of second route section included between said first way point and the second way point, and positioning of said cursor/sweeping axis assembly on said second way point,

repeating of the plotting steps until the last way point is reached and until the last route section has been plotted,

validation of the route thus determined.

10. A device for managing the relative displacement of a cursor on a viewing screen, in relation to an image of which at least one part is displayed on said screen in order to bring the cursor having a fixed length into a predetermined area of said image, said device comprising:

a control element mounted rotatably on a fixed structure,

a means for detecting an angular position of said control element and a means for transmitting said angular position in the form of a digital signal to a processor,

a means for displaying, on said screen, a cursor pivoting about one of its points and indicating an angular orientation,

a means for progressively rotating the cursor during rotation of said control element so that the angular orientation of the cursor always corresponds to said angular position of said control element,

a means for detecting pressure exerted on said control element, and a means for transmitting to said processor a control signal when the pressure exerted exceeds a predetermined threshold,

a means for performing a relative cursor/image translation in said angular orientation in response to said control signal,

a means for transmitting to said processor, a validation signal in response to an action of the operator on a validation device, said validation signal triggering taking into account of the position of said cursor by said processor.

11. The device as claimed in claim 10, further comprising a means for displaying on said screen an axis extending in the direction indicated by said cursor, and which pivots in the same manner about said point, and a means for erasing said axis subsequent to the transmission of said validation signal.

12. The device as claimed in claim 11, comprising a plurality of keys arranged around said control element.

13. The device as claimed in claim 11, wherein said control element is borne by a shaft having a lower part mounted rotatably in a bearing, and a flexible upper part equipped with a strain gauge which at the same time:

detects an order of displacement of said cursor,

determines a speed of displacement of said cursor along the axis to which it is linked.

14. The device as claimed in claim 11, wherein said control element is borne by a shaft articulated on a fixed structure by means of a pivoting pin link, and wherein said shaft is coupled to a strain gauge for detecting at the same time an order of translation of said cursor, the angular orientation of the cursor and the axis linked to said cursor and the speed of translation of said cursor along said axis.

15. The device as claimed in claim 14, wherein said shaft is further equipped with a code wheel associated with a detector.

16. The device as claimed in claim 11, wherein said control element consists of a disk borne by a coaxial shaft which is axially mobile against the action of an elastic means and mounted pivotably on a fixed structure, said means for detecting the pressure exerted on said control element consisting of a switch or strain gauge sensitive to the axial displacements of said shaft.

17. The device as claimed in claim 16, wherein said means for detecting the angular position of said disk consists of a code wheel borne by said shaft and associated with a detector.

18. The device as claimed in claim 16, wherein said shaft is tubular, and wherein said means for transmitting a validation signal to said processor consists of a thrustor mounted slidably with return action by means of a spring in a central cavity coaxial with said disk and which is integral with a rod sliding axially in said shaft, said rod having an end protruding from said shaft, which cooperates with a switch.

19. A device for managing the relative displacement of a cursor on a viewing screen, in relation to an image of which at least one part is displayed on said screen in order to bring the cursor into a predetermined area of said image, said device comprising:

a control element mounted rotatably on a fixed structure,

a means for detecting an angular position of said control element and a means for transmitting said angular position in the form of a digital signal to a processor,

a means for displaying, on said screen, a cursor pivoting about one of its points and indicating an angular orientation corresponding to said angular position of said control element,

a touch-sensitive layer covering said control element for detecting presence and/or contact of an operator'"'"'s finger, and for causing displaying of an axis linked to said cursor subsequent to a detection, and pivoting in the same manner about said point, and a means for erasing said axis subsequent to the transmission of a validation signal,

a means for detecting pressure exerted on said control element, and a means for transmitting to said processor a control signal when the pressure exerted exceeds a predetermined threshold,

a means for performing a relative cursor/image translation in said angular orientation in response to said control signal,

a means for transmitting, to said processor, said validation signal in response to an action of the operator on a validation device, said validation signal triggering taking into account of the position of said cursor by said processor.

20. A device for managing the relative displacement of a cursor on a viewing screen, in relation to an image of which at least one part is displayed on said screen in order to bring the cursor into a predetermined area of said image, said device comprising:

a control element mounted rotatably about a rotation point on a fixed structure,

a means for detecting a rotation angle of said control element and a means for transmitting said rotation angle in the form of a digital signal to a processor,

means for detecting pressure exerted on said control element and for detecting an angular orientation, with respect to said rotation point, of an orientated point on which said pressure is exerted, and a means for transmitting said angular orientation and pressure in the form of a digital signal to a processor,

a means for displaying, on said screen, a cursor pivoting about one of its points and indicating an angular orientation corresponding to said detected angular orientation, in order to obtain a rough angular orientation of the cursor,

a means for rotating said cursor from its current angular orientation at an angle corresponding to said detected rotation angle, in order to obtain a fine angular orientation of the cursor,

a means for detecting pressure exerted on said control element, and a means for transmitting to said processor a control signal when the pressure exerted exceeds a predetermined threshold,

a means for performing a relative cursor/image translation in said angular orientation in response to said control signal, and

a means for transmitting, to said processor, a validation signal in response to an action of the operator on a validation device, said validation signal triggering taking into account of the position of said cursor by said processor.

21. A method for managing the relative displacement of a cursor on a viewing screen, in relation to an image of which at least one part is displayed on said screen in order to bring the cursor into a predetermined area of said image, said cursor having a constant size, a current position and a current angular orientation, said method comprising the steps of:

determining on said screen and introducing a relative angular orientation of said predetermined area with respect to the current cursor position, said introduction being performed by a first manual command by exerting a pressure on a control device so as to cause it to tilt in an angular orientation corresponding to said relative angular orientation of said predetermined area,

rotating said cursor at said rotation angle about a pivot point thereof from said current angular orientation to said relative angular orientation of said predetermined area,

translating the cursor and the pivot point thereof in relation to said image, in said relative angular orientation until it reaches said predetermined area, this translation being performed when said pressure exceeds a predetermined threshold, and

validating the position occupied by said cursor in relation to said image, by means of a second command distinct from said first one.

22. A method for displacing a cursor on a viewing screen along a curved cursor path, said method comprising the steps of:

displaying on said viewing screen a cursor having a constant size, a current position and a current angular orientation, and being rotatable about its current position,

providing a rotation speed signal corresponding to a rotation speed applied to a rotatable control member by an operator,

providing a translation speed signal corresponding to a pressure exerted on said control member by said operator,

displacing continuously said cursor on said screen by rotating its current angular orientation about its current position at a speed indicated by said rotation speed signal, and by translating its current position in its current angular orientation at a speed indicated by said translation speed signal.