Hybrid pointing device
First Claim
1. A pointing device, comprising:
- a first surface having a puck field of motion defined thereon, said puck field of motion being divided into a pointing region and a function region;
a moveable puck that moves on said first surface;
a controller that determines a position of said puck within said field of motion; and
a display screen that displays a two-dimensional scene and a cursor that moves within said scene in a manner controlled by said position of said puck when said puck is in said pointing region, wherein said controller causes said scene to change according to a scrolling function when said puck is in said function region;
a deformable barrier for inhibiting the movement of said puck into said function region, said inhibition being overcome by a user applying a force to said puck in a direction parallel to said first surface.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An input device having a movable puck and display screen is disclosed. The puck is confined to move on a puck surface having a puck field of motion defined thereon. The puck field of motion is divided into a pointing region and a function region. A controller determines a position for the puck within the field of motion. The display screen displays a two-dimensional scene and a cursor that moves within the scene in a manner controlled by the position of the puck when the puck is in the pointing region. The controller causes the scene to change when the puck is in the function region. A deformable barrier that inhibits the movement of the puck into the function region can be used to prevent inadvertent changing of the display scene. The inhibition is overcome by a user applying additional force to the puck in a direction parallel to the surface.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. A pointing device, comprising:
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a first surface having a puck field of motion defined thereon, said puck field of motion being divided into a pointing region and a function region; a moveable puck that moves on said first surface; a controller that determines a position of said puck within said field of motion; and a display screen that displays a two-dimensional scene and a cursor that moves within said scene in a manner controlled by said position of said puck when said puck is in said pointing region, wherein said controller causes said scene to change according to a scrolling function when said puck is in said function region; a deformable barrier for inhibiting the movement of said puck into said function region, said inhibition being overcome by a user applying a force to said puck in a direction parallel to said first surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A method for inputting data to a device having a display screen thereon, said method comprising:
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providing a moveable puck that moves within a field of motion on a surface; dividing said field of motion into a pointing region and a function region; providing a moveable puck confined to move on said first surface; displaying a two-dimensional scene and a cursor that moves within said scene in a manner controlled by said position of said puck when said puck is in said pointing region; and changing said scene according to a scrolling function in response to said puck being moved into said function region; a different magnitude of force to move said puck in said function region than in said pointing region. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification