Methods of interfacing with multi-point input devices and multi-point input systems employing interfacing techniques
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A method of interfacing with a multi-point input device, comprising steps of:
- displaying a three-dimensional (3D) graphical representation of an object on a display surface of a display device, wherein the displayed 3D graphical representation is divided into first and second halves;
detecting positions of a plurality of elements that are simultaneously in contact with the display surface of the display device on which the 3D graphical representation of an object is displayed;
ascertaining amounts of pressure exerted by the elements on the display surface; and
controlling a change in the 3D graphical representation of an object displayed on the display device in accordance with the ascertained amounts of pressure exerted by the elements on the display surface by effecting a rotation of the displayed 3D graphical representation of an object about an axis parallel to a display plane substantially corresponding to the display surface on which the 3D graphical representation of an object is displayed, wherein controlling the change in the displayed 3D graphical representation comprises;
identifying a first subset of the elements as being disposed on the first half of the displayed 3D graphical representation;
identifying a second subset of the elements as being disposed on the second half of the displayed 3D graphical representation; and
comparing amounts of pressure exerted by the elements in the first subset with amounts of pressure exerted by the elements in the second subset, and effecting a rotation of the displayed 3D graphical representation about the axis as a function of a difference between the amounts of pressure exerted by the elements in the first subset and the amounts of pressure exerted by the elements in the second subset.
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Abstract
Methods and systems for interfacing with multi-point input devices employ various techniques for controlling displayed images, including 2D and 3D image translation, scale/zoom, rotation control and globe axis tilt control. Various techniques employ three or more simultaneous inputs, changes in characteristics of those inputs, and pressure sensing, among other things.
42 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A method of interfacing with a multi-point input device, comprising steps of:
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displaying a three-dimensional (3D) graphical representation of an object on a display surface of a display device, wherein the displayed 3D graphical representation is divided into first and second halves; detecting positions of a plurality of elements that are simultaneously in contact with the display surface of the display device on which the 3D graphical representation of an object is displayed; ascertaining amounts of pressure exerted by the elements on the display surface; and controlling a change in the 3D graphical representation of an object displayed on the display device in accordance with the ascertained amounts of pressure exerted by the elements on the display surface by effecting a rotation of the displayed 3D graphical representation of an object about an axis parallel to a display plane substantially corresponding to the display surface on which the 3D graphical representation of an object is displayed, wherein controlling the change in the displayed 3D graphical representation comprises; identifying a first subset of the elements as being disposed on the first half of the displayed 3D graphical representation; identifying a second subset of the elements as being disposed on the second half of the displayed 3D graphical representation; and comparing amounts of pressure exerted by the elements in the first subset with amounts of pressure exerted by the elements in the second subset, and effecting a rotation of the displayed 3D graphical representation about the axis as a function of a difference between the amounts of pressure exerted by the elements in the first subset and the amounts of pressure exerted by the elements in the second subset. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 19, 20, 22)
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10. A multi-point input system, comprising:
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a display device configured to display a three-dimensional (3D) graphical representation of an object on a display surface and detect positions of a plurality of elements that are simultaneously in contact with the display surface on which the 3D graphical representation of an object is displayed, wherein the displayed 3D graphical representation is divided into first and second halves; and a controller configured to ascertain amounts of pressure exerted by the elements on the display surface and control a change in the 3D graphical representation of an object displayed by the display device in accordance with the ascertained amounts of pressure exerted by the elements on the display surface by effecting a rotation of the displayed 3D graphical representation of an object about an axis parallel to a display plane substantially corresponding to the display surface on which the 3D graphical representation of an object is displayed, the controller being further configured to; identify a first subset of the elements as being disposed on the first half of the displayed 3D graphical representation; identify a second subset of the elements as being disposed on the second half of the displayed 3D graphical representation; and compare amounts of pressure exerted by the elements in the first subset with amounts of pressure exerted by the elements in the second subset, and effect a rotation of the 3D graphical representation displayed by the display device about the rotation axis as a function of a difference between the amounts of pressure exerted by the elements in the first subset and the amounts of pressure exerted by the elements in the second subset. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 23)
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21. A method of interfacing with a multi-point input device, comprising steps of:
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detecting positions of a plurality of elements that are simultaneously in contact with a display surface of a display device; ascertaining amounts of pressure exerted by the plurality of elements on the display surface at a first time; generating first display data corresponding to a first three-dimensional 3D graphical representation of an object at a first orientation, the first display data being determined as a function of the ascertained amounts of pressure exerted by the plurality of elements at the first time on the display surface; using the first display data to display the first 3D graphical representation of the object on the display surface of the display device; ascertaining amounts of pressure exerted by the plurality of elements on the display surface at a second time subsequent to the first time, the ascertained amounts of pressure exerted at the second time being different from the ascertained amounts of pressure exerted at the first time; generating second display data corresponding to a second 3D graphical representation of the object at a second orientation, the second orientation corresponding to an orientation of the object resulting from the object at the first orientation being rotated an amount that is a function of a difference between the ascertained amounts of pressure exerted at the first time on the display surface and the ascertained amounts of pressure exerted at the second time on the display surface, the rotation being about an axis parallel to a display plane substantially corresponding to the display surface; and using the second display data to display, on the display surface of the display device, the second 3D graphical representation of the object in place of the first 3D graphical representation of the object. - View Dependent Claims (24)
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25. A method of interfacing with a multi-point input device, comprising steps of:
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displaying a three-dimensional (3D) graphical representation of an object on a display device; detecting positions of a plurality of elements that are simultaneously in contact with the display device; ascertaining amounts of pressure exerted by the elements on the display device; controlling a change in the 3D graphical representation of an object displayed on the display device in accordance with the ascertained amounts of pressure exerted by the elements on the display device; and identifying a circle in which positions of all of the plurality of the elements that are simultaneously in contact with the display device are disposed, wherein controlling a change in the 3D graphical representation of an object displayed on the display device comprises effecting a rotation of the displayed 3D graphical representation of an object about a rotation axis that extends through a centerpoint of the circle, the rotation axis being parallel to an axis extending through positions of at least two of the elements and the rotation axis being disposed substantially within a display plane substantially corresponding to a surface of the display device on which the 3D graphical representation of an object is displayed.
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26. A method of interfacing with a multi-point input device, comprising steps of:
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displaying a three-dimensional (3D) graphical representation of an object on a display device; detecting positions of a plurality of elements that are simultaneously in contact with the display device; ascertaining amounts of pressure exerted by the elements on the display device; and controlling a change in the 3D graphical representation of an object displayed on the display device in accordance with the ascertained amounts of pressure exerted by the elements on the display device, wherein the displayed 3D graphical representation of an object is divided into first and second halves, and wherein controlling a change in the 3D graphical representation of an object displayed on the display device comprises; identifying a first subset of the elements as being disposed on the first half of the displayed 3D graphical representation of an object; identifying a second subset of the elements as being disposed on the second half of the displayed 3D graphical representation of an object; and comparing amounts of pressure exerted by the elements in the first subset with amounts of pressure exerted by the elements in the second subset, and effecting a rotation of the displayed 3D graphical representation of an object as a function of a difference between the amounts of pressure exerted by the elements in the first subset and the amounts of pressure exerted by the elements in the second subset.
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Specification