Devices, systems and methods for position-locking cursor on display device

• US 6,788,284 B1
• Filed: 05/30/2000
• Issued: 09/07/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/30/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: PixArt Imaging Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Agilent Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Culler, Jason H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran, Henry N.
• Application Number:
  US09/580,702
• Time in Patent Office: 1,561 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156-163, 345/168, 345/172, 345/173, 345/179, 345/184, 345/856-866, 200/5.R, 200/5.C, 200/5.D, 200/5.E, 361/680, 361/681, 361/683, 361/686
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0238 Programmable keyboards key guide holders G06F3/0224
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/038 Control and interface arrangements therefor, e.g. drivers or device-embedded control circuitry
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0383 Signal control means within the pointing device

Abstract

Devices, systems and methods for position-locking a cursor on a display device are provided. A preferred input device includes a position-locking device configured to electrically communicate with a computer. The position-locking device incorporates a lock-enable switch which, when activated, locks a position of the cursor on the display device of the computer while enabling functional information, provided by the mouse-type input device of the computer, to provide selected functionality of the cursor. Additionally, when disabled, the position-locking device unlocks the position of the cursor so that the cursor is movable about the display area in response to the movement information provided by the mouse-type device.

Claims

1. A method for interfacing with a computer application, the computer application being adapted to display a cursor within a display area of a display device of a computer, the computer having a mouse-type input device associated therewith for providing movement information and functional information corresponding to the cursor such that the cursor is movable about the display area in response to the movement information and is adapted to provide selected functionality in response to the functional information, said method comprising:

locking a position of the cursor on the display device such that the cursor cannot be moved;

enabling functional information, provided by the mouse-type input device, to provide selected functionality of the cursor while the position of the cursor is locked; and

unlocking the position of the cursor such that the cursor is movable about the display area in response to the movement information.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of locking a position of the cursor comprises the steps of:

determining whether a position lock function of the computer is enabled; and

if the position lock function is enabled, locking a position of the cursor on the display screen.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the computer has a keyboard input device, and wherein the step of locking a position of the cursor comprises the steps of:

re-mapping a key of the keyboard such that actuation of the key enables the position lock function.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of locking a position of the cursor comprises the steps of:

intercepting movement information provided by the mouse-type input device; and

preventing the movement information from influencing a repositioning of the cursor.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the step of unlocking the position of the cursor comprises the step of:

allowing the movement information to influence a repositioning of the cursor.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of unlocking the position of the cursor comprises the steps of:

determining whether a position lock function of the computer is disabled; and

if the position lock function is disabled, unlocking a position of the cursor.

7. A computer readable medium having a computer program for interfacing with a computer application, the computer application being adapted to display a cursor within a display area of a display device of a computer, the computer having a mouse-type input device associated therewith for providing movement information and functional information corresponding to the cursor such that the cursor is movable about the display area in response to the movement information and is adapted to provide selected functionality in response to the functional information, said computer readable medium comprising:

logic configured to lock a position of the cursor on the display device such that the cursor cannot be moved;

logic configured to enable functional information, provided by the mouse-type input device, to provide selected functionality of the cursor while the position of the cursor is locked; and

logic configured to unlock the position of the cursor such that the cursor is movable about the display area in response to the movement information.

8. An input device for interfacing with a computer application, the computer application being adapted to display a cursor within a display area of a display device of a computer, the computer having a mouse-type input device associated therewith for providing movement information and functional information corresponding to the cursor such that the cursor is movable about the display area in response to the movement information and is adapted to provide selected functionality in response to the functional information, said input device comprising:

means for locking a position of the cursor on the display device, said means having a lock-enable mode for locking a position of the cursor on the display device such that the cursor cannot be moved, and enabling functional information, provided by the mouse-type input device, to provide selected functionality of the cursor while the position of the cursor is locked, and a lock-disable mode for unlocking the position of the cursor such that the cursor is movable about the display area in response to the movement information.

9. An input device for interfacing with a computer application, the computer application being adapted to display a cursor within a display area of a display device of a computer, the computer having a mouse-type input device associated therewith for providing movement information and functional information corresponding to the cursor such that the cursor is movable about the display area in response to the movement information and is adapted to provide selected functionality in response to the functional information, said input device comprising:

a position-locking device configured to electrically communicate with the computer, said position-locking device having a lock-enable switch, said lock-enable switch configured to be alternately activated and disabled such that, when actuated said position-locking device locking a position of the cursor on the display device such that the cursor cannot be moved while enabling functional information, provided by the mouse-type input device, to provide selected functionality of the cursor, and when disabled said position-locking device unlocking the position of the cursor such that the cursor is movable about the display area in response to the movement information provided by the mouse-type device.

10. A computer system for operating a computer application, said computer system comprising:

a display device having a display area configured to display graphical information thereon;

a mouse-type input device configured to provide a user-interface with the computer application, the computer application being adapted to display a cursor within said display area of said display device, said mouse-type input device being configured to provide movement information and functional information corresponding to the cursor such that the cursor is movable about said display area in response to said movement information and being configured to provide selected functionality to the cursor in response to said functional information,

a position-locking input device configured to provide a user-interface with the computer application, said position-locking input device having a lock-enable switch, said lock-enable switch configured to be alternately activated and disabled such that, when activated said position-locking device locking a position of the cursor on said display device such that the cursor cannot be moved while enabling functional information, provided by said mouse-type input device, to provide selected functionality of the cursor, and when disabled said position-locking device unlocking the position of the cursor such that the cursor is movable about said display area in response to said movement information provided by said mouse-type device.