Touch screen accuracy

• US 7,489,306 B2
• Filed: 12/22/2004
• Issued: 02/10/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Jarrett, Robert J., Lerner, Matt, Dodge, Steven P., Kolmykov-Zotov, Alexander J., Townsend, Reed, Rimas-Ribikauskas, Emily K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dharia; Prabodh M
• Application Number:
  US11/018,679
• Publication Number:
  US 20060132460A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,511 Days
• Field of Search: 345/156, 345/157, 345/163, 345/169, 345/173, 345/179, 345/168, 345/418, 345/619, 345/654, 345/763, 345/629, 345/178, 178/18.01, 715/801, 715/863, 715/768, 715/788, 715/781, 382/187, 382/181
• US Class Current: 345/173
• 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 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

A user interface is provided allowing a user to simulate mouse hovering with the user'"'"'s finger on a touch-sensitive display. When a finger or other stylus touches the touch-sensitive display adjacent to a display cursor, a control appears that enables the user to drag the cursor about the display by dragging the control. Manipulation of the control instead of the cursor allows the user to see the cursor while it moves, making it easier to accurately target small objects that were previously difficult to target directly. In addition, a tap or other user touch input is funneled from the control to the location of the cursor itself. For example, if the user taps on the control, the tap causes an event such as a left mouse button down event to be generated at the location of the cursor as opposed to the location of the tap, thereby improving accuracy.

Claims

1. In a computer coupled to a touch-sensitive display, a method for controlling input using a cursor, the method comprising:

displaying the cursor on the touch-sensitive display;

receiving a dragging touch input to the touch-sensitive display beginning at a first location adjacent to the cursor, the first location being within a predetermined radial distance from the cursor, the radial distance defining a roughly circular area;

determining if the dragging touch input starts within a region defined by the predetermined radial distance from the cursor; and

responsive to receiving the dragging touch input, displaying a control boundary adjacent to the cursor and moving the displayed cursor and the displayed control boundary to follow and remain adjacent to the dragging touch input, wherein the moving is responsive to the determination that the first location is within the predetermined radial distance.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first location is at least a quarter inch away from the displayed cursor.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a tap input on the touch-sensitive display at a second location adjacent to the displayed cursor and on or within the control boundary; and

in response to the tap input, sending a mouse button down event to a location of the displayed cursor.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the second location is at least a quarter inch away from the displayed cursor.

5. A computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions for performing the method recited in claim 1.

6. In a computer coupled to a touch-sensitive display, a method for controlling input using a cursor, the method comprising:

displaying the cursor on the touch-sensitive display;

receiving a touch input on the touch-sensitive display adjacent to the cursor;

determining whether the touch input is within a region surrounding the cursor, wherein the region is a circle centered around the displayed cursor; and

responsive to the touch input being within the region, displaying a representation of a control and a control boundary, and sending a mouse button down event to a location near the displayed cursor.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the touch input is a tap input made at a location at least a quarter inch away from the cursor.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the mouse button down event is a left mouse button down event or a right mouse button down event depending upon a location of the touch input.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein the circle has a radius of at least a quarter inch.

10. A computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable instructions for performing the method recited in claim 6.

11. In a computer coupled to a touch-sensitive device, a method for controlling input using a cursor, the method comprising:

displaying the cursor;

receiving a first touch input on the touch-sensitive device;

determining if the first touch is within a predetermined radial distance of the cursor, the radial distance defining a roughly circular area and a cursor handle boundary;

responsive to the first touch input, displaying a cursor handle adjacent to the cursor when the first touch is within the predetermined distance of the cursor;

receiving a second touch input on the touch-sensitive device adjacent to the cursor and on or within the predetermined distance directed to the displayed cursor handle; and

controlling movement of the cursor in accordance with the second touch input, wherein the cursor handle moves with the cursor.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the displayed cursor handle does not touch the cursor.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the cursor handle is displayed so as to surround the cursor.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

receiving a third touch input at the touch-sensitive device adjacent to the cursor;

determining whether the third touch input is directed to the cursor handle, and

responsive to the third touch input, sending a mouse down button down event to a location of the displayed cursor.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the second touch input is received at a location at least a quarter inch away from the displayed cursor.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein the cursor handle includes a magnifying region that magnifies an area of a graphical user interface within the region.

17. A computer-readable medium storing computer-executable instructions for performing the method recited in claim 11.