Digitizer system with cursor shape changing as a function of pointer location on menu strip and/or physical structure on tablet surface indicating menu strip location

• US 6,689,965 B1
• Filed: 06/26/1998
• Issued: 02/10/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Wacom Co Limited (Wacom)
• Original Assignee: Wacom Co Limited (Wacom)
• Inventors: Fleck, David C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shankar, Vijay
• Application Number:
  US09/105,217
• Time in Patent Office: 2,055 Days
• Field of Search: 345/352, 345/179, 345/180, 345/348, 345/856, 345/858, 345/859, 345/860, 345/862, 345/156, 345/157, 345/173, 178/18.01, 178/18.05, 178/18.06, 178/18.09, 178/18.03, 178/19.01, 178/18.1
• US Class Current: 178/18.01
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04812 Interaction techniques based on cursor appearance or behaviour, e.g. being affected by the presence of displayed objects
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

A digitizer system includes a pointer (e.g. stylus or puck) for manipulation by a user over a work surface of a tablet. The tablet includes a menu strip area thereon. According to certain embodiments of this invention, the cursor shape shown on the display is changed as a function of the pointer'"'"'s position within the menu strip area of the tablet. In certain embodiments, phsyical structure (e.g. bumps, dimples, ridges, or the like) is provided in or on the surface of the tablet proximate the menu area so that the user can tell that the pointer is located in the menu area without having to look down at the tablet.

Claims

1. A digitizer system comprising:

a digitizer tablet for writing and drawing, said tablet including a generally flat surface and a plurality of conductive loop coils therein, the generally flat surface including a menu area and a work area, the menu area including a plurality of different menu item sub-areas therein capable of being selected by the user;

a pointer for movement by a user over the generally flat surface of said tablet, so that a cursor shape to be shown on a corresponding display in a location on the display that corresponds to a position of the pointer on the digitizer tablet, such that when the pointer travels from the work area to the menu area, the cursor also travels from a position on the display corresponding to the work area to a position on the display corresponding to the menu area;

a memory for storing a plurality of different cursor shapes which are for indicating the presence of the cursor over different menu item sub-areas; and

wherein said cursor shape to be shown on the display is retrieved from the memory and varies as a function of which menu item sub-area the pointer is positioned over the tablet.

2. The digitizer system of claim 1, wherein said pointer is a puck which includes a tuning circuit.

3. The digitizer system of claim 1, wherein said menu item sub-areas are boxes identified by number, and the cursor shape displayed on the display conveys information which indicates to the user the menu item sub-area which the pointer is over.

4. A method of changing a shape of a cursor being portrayed on a display as a function of a position of a pointer within a menu area of a digitizer tablet, the method comprising the steps of:

providing a digitizer tablet having a menu area with a plurality of menu items therein for selection, and also a non-menu area;

providing the pointer for use in selecting individual menu items;

providing a display, wherein a cursor shape is portrayed at a location on the display that corresponds to a position of the pointer on the digitizer tablet, such that when the pointer travels from the menu area to the non-menu area, the cursor also travels from a position on the display corresponding to the menu area to a position on the display corresponding to the non-menu area;

adjusting the cursor shape being portrayed on the display when the pointer is moved in the menu area from one menu item to another menu item so that the user can determine which menu item the pointer is over without having to look at the tablet surface.

5. A digitizer tablet system comprising:

a digitizer tablet including a housing, a surface on or over which a pointer is to be manipulated to indicate position, and a plurality of conductive members within said housing;

a menu area on said surface of said tablet, the menu area including a plurality of menu items therein; and

physical structure defined in the surface of said tablet proximate said menu area for enabling a user manipulating the pointer to feel when the pointer is proximate the menu area without having to look at the tablet, said physical structure includes at least one aperture or cavity defined in the surface of the tablet, and wherein the pointer includes a projection extending therefrom for extending into the aperture or cavity so that the user can feel that the pointer is positioned proximate the menu area without having to look at the tablet.

6. The digitizer tablet system of claim 5, wherein said physical structure includes one of:

at least one step, at least one aperture, at least one cavity, at least one plateau, a plurality of bumps, a single bump, a series of dimples, a single dimple, and at least one upwardly protruding ridge.

7. The digitizer tablet system of claim 6, wherein said physical structure is located at least partially within the menu area.

8. The digitizer tablet system of claim 5, wherein the physical structure includes a step portion including at least one wall, and wherein said pointer may run into the wall so that easy movement of the pointer is prevented thereby indicating to the user that the pointer is proximate the menu area.

9. The digitizer tablet system of claim 5, wherein the physical structure is located entirely within the menu area.

10. The digitizer tablet system of claim 5, wherein different physical structures are provided adjacent different menu item areas in the menu area.

11. A digitizer tablet comprising:

a digitizer tablet including a housing, a surface on or over which a pointer may be manipulated to indicate position, and a plurality of conductive members within said housing;

a menu area on said surface of said tablet, the menu area including a plurality of menu items therein; and

physical structure on the surface of said tablet proximate said menu area for enabling a user manipulating the pointer to feel when the pointer is proximate the menu area without having to look at the tablet.