Pointing device and method with error prevention features
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A pointing device, comprising:
- a pad occupying a region having a surface;
a raised border at a perimeter of the region; and
an object slidably movable on the pad for contacting the raised border,wherein the raised border includes a detecting device comprising at least one sensor configured to detect a physical contact by the object at any position on the raised border, wherein contact of the object with the raised border generates a signal for moving a generated pointer in a direction indicated by a position of the object on the raised border relative to a reference point.
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Abstract
A pointing device and method include a pad occupying a region, a raised border at a perimeter of the region and an object slidably movable on the pad for contacting the border. A detecting device is configured to detect a physical contact by the object at any position on the border wherein contact with the border generates a signal indicating a contact position on the border.
39 Citations
25 Claims
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1. A pointing device, comprising:
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a pad occupying a region having a surface; a raised border at a perimeter of the region; and an object slidably movable on the pad for contacting the raised border, wherein the raised border includes a detecting device comprising at least one sensor configured to detect a physical contact by the object at any position on the raised border, wherein contact of the object with the raised border generates a signal for moving a generated pointer in a direction indicated by a position of the object on the raised border relative to a reference point. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A pointing device, comprising:
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a pad occupying a region having a surface; a raised physical border at a perimeter of the region, wherein the raised border includes a detecting device including at least one sensor configured to detect a physical contact at any position on the raised physical border; a disk slidably movable on the pad for contacting the border; and a program configured to interpret contact of the disk with the raised physical border to move a generated pointer in a corresponding direction indicated by a contact position of the disk on the raised physical border relative to a center of the surface. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A method for controlling a generated pointer, comprising:
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providing a pad occupying a region having a surface and a raised physical border at a perimeter of the region, wherein the raised border includes a detecting device comprising at least one sensor configured to detect a physical contact at any position on the raised physical border by an object, wherein contact with the raised physical border generates a signal indicating a contact position on the raised physical border; interpreting contact at a location on a raised physical border as a command to move a generated pointer in a respective direction indicated by a position of the object on the raised border relative to a center of the surface; and moving the generated pointer in the respective direction while the contact persists. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24)
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25. A computer readable medium for controlling a generated pointer comprising a computer readable program, wherein the computer readable program when executed on a computer causes the computer to perform the steps of:
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in a pointer device having a pad occupying a region having a surface, providing a raised physical border at a perimeter of the region, wherein the raised border includes a detecting device comprising at least one sensor configured to detect a physical contact at any position on the raised physical border by an object, wherein contact with the raised physical border generates a signal indicating a contact position on the raised physical border, interpreting contact at a location on a raised physical border as a command to move a generated pointer in a respective direction indicated by a position of the object on the raised border relative to a center of the surface; and moving the generated pointer in the respective direction while the contact persists.
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Specification