Apparatus and method for achieving absolute and relative positioning of a graphics cursor
First Claim
Patent Images
1. In an electronic device, a method of positioning a graphics cursor based on movements of a user'"'"'s finger, comprising the steps of:
- detecting a first touching of a touchpad;
determining whether said first touching occurred in a first region of said touchpad that invokes an absolute positioning mode of operation or in a second location of said touchpad that invokes a relative positioning mode of operation, said second region being restricted to an area between said first region and a keyboard of said electronic device;
generating, in said absolute positioning mode of operation, a signal that facilitates positioning of a graphics cursor on a display at a location that corresponds to the location of said first touching; and
generating, in said relative position mode of operation, a signal that facilitates a relative positioning of a graphics cursor on a display.
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Abstract
A touchpad and supporting logic that provides absolute or relative positioning of a graphics cursor on a display. Absolute positioning is preferably invoked by touching the touchpad in a designated region. Relative positioning is preferably implemented by continual movement across a touchpad relative to a reference location. A method of achieving absolute and relative positioning is also disclosed.
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Citations
14 Claims
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1. In an electronic device, a method of positioning a graphics cursor based on movements of a user'"'"'s finger, comprising the steps of:
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detecting a first touching of a touchpad;
determining whether said first touching occurred in a first region of said touchpad that invokes an absolute positioning mode of operation or in a second location of said touchpad that invokes a relative positioning mode of operation, said second region being restricted to an area between said first region and a keyboard of said electronic device;
generating, in said absolute positioning mode of operation, a signal that facilitates positioning of a graphics cursor on a display at a location that corresponds to the location of said first touching; and
generating, in said relative position mode of operation, a signal that facilitates a relative positioning of a graphics cursor on a display. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
detecting continually touching movement from said first touching; and
invoking said relative positioning mode of operation upon detection of said continually touching movement relative to a reference location.
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3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of:
generating a cursor movement signal that facilitates movement of a graphics cursor relative to a previous position in a manner analogous to movement of the detected continually touching movement relative to said reference location.
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4. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of:
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detecting when said continually touching movement is within a predefined distance of said reference location; and
generating a modified cursor movement signal that modifies the rate by which a graphics cursor is moved relative to a continually touching movement when said continually touching movement is within the predefined distance.
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5. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:
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detecting a second distinct and simultaneous touching of said touchpad; and
generating a control signal in response to detection of said second distinct and simultaneous touching.
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6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:
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detecting a second distinct touching of said touchpad within a predefined time period of an end of said first touching or an end of said continually touching movement; and
generating a control signal in response to detection of said second distinct touching.
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7. An electronic apparatus, comprising:
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a touchpad, that is manipulated by a user'"'"'s finger;
a display; and
processing logic coupled between said touchpad and said display that processes touched location signals from said touchpad and determines whether a touched location is in a first region that invokes an absolute positioning mode of operation or in a second region that invokes a relative positioning mode of operation, said second region being restricted to an area between said first region and a keyboard of said electronic apparatus. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. In an electronic apparatus, a method of positioning a graphics cursor in response to the movement of a user'"'"'s finger, comprising the steps of:
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receiving a touched location indicating signal from a touchpad;
determining from said touched location indicating signal whether to invoke an absolute positioning mode of operation or a relative positioning mode of operation, said absolute positioning mode being invoked when said touched location lies within a first region, said relative positioning mode being invoked when said touched location lies within a second region, said second region being restricted to an area between said first region and a keyboard of said electronic apparatus;
generating, in said absolute positioning mode of operation, a signal that facilitates positioning of a graphics cursor on a display at a location that corresponds to an indicated touched location; and
moving said graphics cursor when said user'"'"'s finger moves in a direction away from the center of said touch pad.
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Specification