Dual mode input device
First Claim
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1. An apparatus comprising:
- a pointing device configured;
to control a pointer on a user interface linearly in accordance with an amount of movement of the pointing device when said pointing device is in a first position, andwhen said pointing device is in a second position, to control the pointer so that the pointer is configured to move with a speed, which speed is relative to a movement, which movement the pointing device is deflected from a central position of the pointing device wherein a pair of centering springs are configured to create, in said second position, an opposing force to the movement the pointing device is deflected and tending to bring the pointing device back to the central position in order to provide tactile feedback to aid in user control of the speed of the pointer,wherein whether the pointing device is in the first or second position is determined by whether the pointing device is in either a depressed position or a stand-by position.
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Abstract
When the user depresses a freely rotating input device, it engages a spring-cantering mechanism and enables the user to move the pointer quickly with a velocity control pointing method. The spring-centering provides the user haptic feedback of the pointer speed. When the pointer is near the target, the user can switch rapidly to the more accurate position control pointing method of the freely rotating mode by letting the input device back to the up-position.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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a pointing device configured;
to control a pointer on a user interface linearly in accordance with an amount of movement of the pointing device when said pointing device is in a first position, andwhen said pointing device is in a second position, to control the pointer so that the pointer is configured to move with a speed, which speed is relative to a movement, which movement the pointing device is deflected from a central position of the pointing device wherein a pair of centering springs are configured to create, in said second position, an opposing force to the movement the pointing device is deflected and tending to bring the pointing device back to the central position in order to provide tactile feedback to aid in user control of the speed of the pointer, wherein whether the pointing device is in the first or second position is determined by whether the pointing device is in either a depressed position or a stand-by position. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A method comprising:
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controlling a pointer on a user interface linearly in accordance with an amount of movement of a pointing device in a first position, switching the pointer device to a second position, and controlling the pointer so that the pointer is configured to move with a speed, which speed is relative to a movement, which movement the pointing device is deflected from a central position of the pointing device wherein a pair of centering springs are configured to create, in said second position, an opposing force to the movement the pointing device is deflected and tending to bring the pointing device back to the central position in order to provide tactile feedback to aid in user control of the speed of the pointer, wherein whether the pointing device is in the first or second position is determined by whether the pointing device is in either a depressed position or a stand-by position.
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Specification