Coordinates input apparatus having divided coordinates input surface

• US 7,348,965 B2
• Filed: 09/03/2002
• Issued: 03/25/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 09/04/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.
• Original Assignee: ALPS Electric Company Limited (Alps Alpine Co., Ltd.)
• Inventors: Itoh, Akihisa
• Primary Examiner(s): LEWIS, DAVID LEE
• Application Number:
  US10/233,927
• Publication Number:
  US 20030043113A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,030 Days
• Field of Search: 345156-179
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04886 by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus

Abstract

In a coordinates input apparatus having a coordinates input surface that is operated by a coordinates pointer, a pointing mark on a screen being moved in accordance with the operation of the coordinates pointer, the coordinates input surface is divided by boundaries into at least nine divided regions, a function switch is allocated to each of the divided regions, and a predetermined function is associated with the function switch, the predetermined function being executed when the coordinates pointer is moved from a first divided region to a second divided region across one of the boundaries.

Claims

1. A coordinates input apparatus having a coordinates input surface that is operated by a coordinates pointer, a pointing mark on a screen being moved in accordance with operation of the coordinates pointer,

wherein the coordinates input surface is divided by boundaries into at least nine divided regions, and a function switch is allocated to a respective region;

and

a predetermined function is associated with the function switch, the predetermined function is a function of moving the pointing mark in a predetermined direction and is executed when the coordinates pointer is moved from a first divided region to a second divided region across a boundary, wherein when the coordinates pointer is moved in a direction that is different from the predetermined direction in the second divided region, the pointing mark is moved in a direction that is a combination of the predetermined direction and the direction of movement of the coordinates pointer.

2. A coordinates input apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the predetermined function is deactivated when the coordinates pointer is detached from the second divided region.

3. A coordinates input apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the divided regions include a plurality of peripheral regions adjacent to a periphery of the coordinates input surface, and at least one central regions surrounded by the peripheral regions;

and

the function associated with the function switch of at least one of the peripheral regions is a function of moving the pointing mark in a predetermined direction.

4. A coordinates input apparatus according to claim 3, wherein when the coordinates pointer is moved in a direction that is different from the predetermined direction in the at least one of the peripheral regions, direction of movement of the pointing mark is set to a combined direction of the predetermined direction and the direction of movement of the coordinates pointer.

5. A coordinates input apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the function associated with the function switch of the second divided region is a function of coordinates output device.

6. A coordinates input apparatus having a coordinates input surface that is operated by a coordinates pointer, a pointing mark on a screen being moved in accordance with contacting movement of the coordinates pointer across the coordinates input surface;

the coordinates input surface being divided by boundaries into at least nine divided regions, a function switch being associated with at least one of the divided regions;

a first divided region having a function switch adapted to allow an operator to control movement of the pointing mark on a screen, wherein contacting movement of the coordinates pointer across the coordinates input surface results in corresponding movement of the pointing mark on the screen;

a second divided region having a function switch adapted to maintain movement of the pointing mark in a predetermined direction once the coordinates pointer moves onto the coordinates input surface within that particular divided region, wherein movement of the pointing mark is maintained in the predetermined direction until the coordinates pointer is removed from the coordinates input surface within that particular divided region, and wherein

when the coordinates pointer is moved in a direction that is different from the predetermined direction in the second divided region, the pointing mark is moved in a direction that is a combination of the predetermined direction and the direction of movement of the coordinates pointer.

7. A coordinates input apparatus according to claim 6, at least one central region positioned centrally within the coordinates input surface and having a function switch adapted allow an operator to control movement of the pointing mark on a screen, wherein contacting movement of the coordinates pointer across the coordinates input surface results in corresponding movement of the pointing mark on the screen;

a plurality of peripheral regions positioned adjacent to and extending around the central region, the peripheral regions having a function switch adapted to maintain movement of the pointing mark in a predetermined direction once the coordinates pointer moves onto the coordinates input surface within that particular region, wherein movement of the pointing mark is maintained in the predetermined direction until the coordinates pointer is removed from the coordinates input surface within that particular peripheral region.

8. A coordinates input apparatus according to claim 7, wherein when the coordinates pointer is moved in a direction that is different from the predetermined direction in a particular peripheral region, the pointing mark is moved in a direction that is a combination of the predetermined direction and the direction of movement of the coordinates pointer.

9. A coordinates input apparatus according to claim 6, wherein at least one divided region has a function switch that is a coordinates output device.

10. A coordinates input apparatus having a coordinates input surface that is operated by a coordinates pointer, a pointing mark on a screen being moved in accordance with contacting movement of the coordinates pointer across the coordinates input surface;

the coordinates input surface being divided by boundaries into at least nine divided regions, a function switch being associated with at least one of the divided regions;

at least one divided region having a function switch adapted to allow an operator to control movement of the pointing mark on a screen, wherein contacting movement of the coordinates pointer across the coordinates input surface results in corresponding movement of the pointing mark on the screen;

at least one divided region having a function switch adapted to maintain movement of the pointing mark in a predetermined direction once the coordinates pointer moves onto the coordinates input surface within that particular divided region, wherein movement of the pointing mark is maintained in the predetermined direction until the coordinates pointer is removed from the coordinates input surface within that particular divided region, and wherein the predetermined direction is a function of a location of the particular divided region relative to another divided region;

at least one central region positioned centrally within the coordinates input surface and having a function switch adapted allow an operator to control movement of the pointing mark on a screen, wherein contacting movement of the coordinates pointer across the coordinates input surface results in corresponding movement of the pointing mark on the screen;

a plurality of peripheral regions positioned adjacent to and extending around the central region, the peripheral regions having a function switch adapted to maintain movement of the pointing mark in a predetermined direction once the coordinates pointer moves onto the coordinates input surface within that particular region, wherein movement of the pointing mark is maintained in the predetermined direction until the coordinates pointer is removed from the coordinates input surface within that particular peripheral region; and

,

wherein when the coordinates pointer is moved in a direction that is different from the predetermined direction in a particular peripheral region, the pointing mark is moved in a direction that is a combination of the predetermined direction and the direction of movement of the coordinates pointer.