Adaptive cursor control system

• US 5,686,938 A
• Filed: 06/29/1995
• Issued: 11/11/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Leonid Z. Batkhan
• Original Assignee: Leonid Z. Batkhan
• Inventors: Batkhan, Leonid Z.
• Primary Examiner(s): SARAS, STEVEN J
• Application Number:
  US08/496,526
• Time in Patent Office: 866 Days
• Field of Search: 345/145, 345/156, 345/157, 345/158, 345/159, 345/160, 128/630, 128/731, 128/732, 128/687, 128/689, 128/905, 364/413.02, 364/413.03, 348/2, 348/61, 482/89, 482/900, 482/901, 482/902
• US Class Current: 715/861
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/08 Cursor circuits

Abstract

A cursor control system and method of implementing same is provided for adjusting the cursor blinking frequency so that the cursor blinks on the display screen at a frequency which i a function (linear or non-linear) of a measured physical condition (e.g. pulse rate) of the user. For example, the cursor frequency may be adjusted so that the cursor blinks on the display screen at a rate or frequency corresponding to the measured pulse rate of the user.

Claims

1. A method of adjusting the blinking frequency of a cursor on a computer display screen, the method comprising the steps of:

a) providing a computer display screen having a cursor displayed thereon, the cursor blinking at a blinking frequency;

b) measuring the pulse rate of a user of the display screen;

c) forwarding data indicative of the measured pulse rate of the user to the computer; and

d) adjusting the cursor blinking frequency in response to the measured pulse rate.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of adjusting the cursor blinking frequency so that it substantially matches the measured pulse rate of the user.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

defining a lower limit pulse rate and an upper limit pulse rate;

in step d) adjusting the cursor blinking frequency so that it substantially corresponds with the measured pulse rate when the measured pulse rate is between the defined upper and lower pulse rate limits; and

adjusting the cursor blinking frequency so that it does not substantially correspond to the measured pulse rate when the measured pulse rate is not between the defined upper and lower pulse rate limits.

4. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of setting the cursor blinking frequency to a substantially constant value when the measured pulse rate is not between the defined upper and lower pulse rate limits.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of issuing a warning signal to the user when the measured pulse rate is not between the defined upper and lower pulse rate limits.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of in step d) adjusting the cursor blinking frequency so that the cursor always blinks on the display screen at a frequency substantially corresponding to the measured user pulse rate.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of in step c) forwarding the measured pulse rate of the user to the computer in a wireless manner.

8. A cursor control system for controlling the blinking frequency of a cursor on a computer display screen, the system comprising:

a display screen;

a cursor displayed on said display screen and blinking at a cursor blinking frequency;

a pulse measuring device for measuring the pulse rate of a user of said display screen; and

means for adjusting the cursor blinking frequency in accordance with the measured pulse rate of the user so that the frequency at which the cursor blinks on the display screen is a function of the measured pulse rate of the user.

9. The control system of claim 8, further comprising means for setting a minimum pulse rate limit and a maximum pulse rate limit, and wherein said means for adjusting adjusts the cursor blinking frequency in a first manner when the measured pulse rate is between said minimum and maximum pulse rate limits and in a second manner when the measured pulse rate is not between said minimum and maximum pulse rate limits, said first and second manners being different.

10. The control system of claim 9, wherein said first manner is defined as adjusting the blinking frequency so that it substantially corresponds to the measured pulse rate.

11. The control system of claim 9, wherein said second manner is defined as setting the blinking frequency to a substantially constant value as long as the measured pulse rate is not between said minimum and maximum pulse rate limits.

12. The control system of claim 8, wherein said means for adjusting adjusts the blinking frequency so that the cursor on the display screen blinks at a frequency substantially corresponding to the measured pulse rate.

13. The control system of claim 8, wherein said pulse measuring device transmits measured pulse rate data to the computer by way of a wireless transmission.

14. A method of adjusting the blinking frequency of a cursor on a computer display screen so that the displayed cursor blinks at a frequency which is a function of a physical condition of the user, the method comprising the steps of:

a) providing a computer display screen having the cursor displayed thereon, the cursor blinking at a blinking frequency;

b) measuring a physical or mental condition of the user; and

c) adjusting the cursor blinking frequency in response to the measured pulse rate so that the cursor blinks on the screen at a frequency which is a function of the measured physical or mental condition of the user.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the condition of the user is one of:

the pulse rate of the user, the blood pressure of the user, temperature of the user, electrical conductivity or resistance of the user'"'"'s skin, and the breathing frequency of the user.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein in step c) the cursor blinking frequency is adjusted so that the cursor blinks on the screen at a frequency substantially corresponding to the measured user condition.