Method and apparatus for multi-mode handwritten input and hand directed control of a computing device
First Claim
1. A method, comprising the steps of:
- receiving coordinate information in a cursor input area;
processing pressure sensitive coordinate to create cursor-coordinate information in a non-inking cursor mode for a display area of a graphical interface for a computer program;
receiving coordinate information in an inking input area, wherein the cursor input area and the inking input area are coextensive;
processing coordinate information received in the inking input area, to create ink input information in a inking input mode for an input area of the graphical interface for the computer program; and
switchlessly activating one of the input areas to enable automatic detection of the input mode.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Coordinates from a digitizing tablet are processed in two modes. In a first mode (denoted the Cursor Mode for convenience) the digitizing tablet operates similar to the well know computer "mouse" allowing the user to move the cursor around the display screen to select buttons and controls by mapping the coordinates to the display area of the monitor. In a second mode (denoted as the Input Mode for convenience), the digitizing tablet coordinates (especially generated by the motion of a pen) are mapped to an input area within a graphical interface of a computer program designed to accept handwritten input. Selection between the first mode and the second mode is made manually by switch input or automatically via analysis of the coordinates or by differentiating field sensing digitization from touch sensitive digitization.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1. A method, comprising the steps of:
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receiving coordinate information in a cursor input area; processing pressure sensitive coordinate to create cursor-coordinate information in a non-inking cursor mode for a display area of a graphical interface for a computer program; receiving coordinate information in an inking input area, wherein the cursor input area and the inking input area are coextensive; processing coordinate information received in the inking input area, to create ink input information in a inking input mode for an input area of the graphical interface for the computer program; and switchlessly activating one of the input areas to enable automatic detection of the input mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for controlling data input on a digitizing device using an input device, comprising the steps of:
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receiving coordinate information in a cursor input area and coordinate information in an inking input area, wherein the cursor input area and the inking area are coextensive; processing coordinate information received from the cursor input area to create cursor coordinate information and coordinate information received from the inking input area to create ink input information representing coordinates of a digitizing area of a digitizing device to map the coordinate information from the digitizing area to a display area of a display device for presentation of an image at a corresponding display location in a non-inking cursor mode, and in an inking input mode to map coordinate information from the digitizing area to an input area of a graphical interface for a computer program capable of accepting handwritten or hand-drawn input for presentation of a second image at a corresponding input location to facilitate entry of the handwritten or hand-drawn input within the input area of the graphical interface; and switchlessly activating one of the input areas to enable automatic detection of the input mode in response to the type of input device being used to provide the coordinate information. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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12. A device, comprising:
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a cursor input area for receiving coordinate information; an inking input are for receiving coordinate information, wherein the cursor input area and thinking input area are coextensive; a field sensing and pressure sensing digitizing element having a digitizing area and capable of providing field sensitive and pressure sensitive coordinate information representing locations of activity within the digitizing area; and processing circuitry capable of mapping pressure sensitive coordinate information to a display area of a display device and for mapping field sensitive coordinate information to an input area of a graphical interface for a computer program, the processing circuitry switchlessly enabling activation of one of the input areas. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14)
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15. A device, comprising:
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a digitizing input device, having a cursor input area, a capacitance sensing layer, an input inking area and an electromagnetic sensing layer, wherein the cursor and inking input provide pressure sensitive coordinate information and field sensitive coordinate information representing handwritten or hand directed input; a memory having an operating system and application programs stored therein, and including at least one application program capable of accepting handwritten input; a display device having a display area for presenting icons for command and control functions and icons representing the application programs, for presenting graphical interfaces for one or more running application programs; and digital processing circuitry including a programmable digital processing device capable of processing the pressure sensitive coordinate information to map the pressure sensitive coordinate information to the display area of the display device in a first mode and in a second mode for mapping the field sensitive coordinate information to an input area of a graphical interface for the at least one application program capable of accepting handwritten input, the digital processing circuitry automatically and switchlessly changing from the first mode to the second mode. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. A method of automatically controlling movement between a cursor mode and an input mode on a digitizing tablet using an input device, the method comprising:
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providing a cursor input area and an inking input area on the digitizing tablet, wherein the cursor and inking input areas are coextensive; providing a capacitance sensing layer and an electromagnetic sensing layer on the digitizing tablet; operating in an input mode when field activity is detected prior to tablet activity with the digitizing tablet; operating in a cursor mode when tablet activity with the digitizing tablet is detected without prior field activity; and automatically switching between the input mode and the cursor mode in response to the input device being used. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification