Portable computer having touch pad input control function
First Claim
1. An apparatus operating a touch-sensitive touchpad unit coupled to a computer system, the apparatus comprising:
- a touch pad unit being coupled to a computer system, said touchpad unit generating first, second, and third pointer data respectively corresponding to a first, a second, and a third touching of said touch pad unit, each one of said touchings having a beginning and an end;
an interface unit being coupled to said touch pad unit, receiving said first, second, and third pointer data from said touch pad unit, transmitting a first control signal corresponding to said first pointer data from said interface unit, detecting a first quantity of time corresponding to time elapsing after said end of said first touching, not transmitting a second control signal corresponding to said second pointer data from said interface unit when said first quantity of time exceeds a predetermined quantity of time; and
a central processing unit being coupled to said interface unit, receiving said first control signal from said interface unit, and transforming said first control signal to a pointer to be displayed at a first position on a monitor coupled to said computer system, said first position on said monitor corresponding to said first control signal.
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Abstract
A portable computer having a touch pad as the pointing device adopts a touch pad input control function in accordance with the principles of the present invention. The portable computer system is provided with an input device interface for receiving pointing data generated in the touch pad and for detecting a quantity of time elapsing between occurrence of the pointing data. When the quantity of time exceeds a preset value, the input device interface disables input of the pointing data from the touch pad. The input operation of the pointing data is resumed when pointing data corresponding to a predetermined pattern is inputted. Preferably, the predetermined pattern corresponds to a closed curve which disregards the area and curvature of the closed curve. According to the principles of the present invention, unnecessary pointing operations which occur during inadvertent touches of the touch pad can be effectively prevented.
185 Citations
36 Claims
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1. An apparatus operating a touch-sensitive touchpad unit coupled to a computer system, the apparatus comprising:
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a touch pad unit being coupled to a computer system, said touchpad unit generating first, second, and third pointer data respectively corresponding to a first, a second, and a third touching of said touch pad unit, each one of said touchings having a beginning and an end;
an interface unit being coupled to said touch pad unit, receiving said first, second, and third pointer data from said touch pad unit, transmitting a first control signal corresponding to said first pointer data from said interface unit, detecting a first quantity of time corresponding to time elapsing after said end of said first touching, not transmitting a second control signal corresponding to said second pointer data from said interface unit when said first quantity of time exceeds a predetermined quantity of time; and
a central processing unit being coupled to said interface unit, receiving said first control signal from said interface unit, and transforming said first control signal to a pointer to be displayed at a first position on a monitor coupled to said computer system, said first position on said monitor corresponding to said first control signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. An apparatus controlling a touch-sensitive touch pad unit coupled to a computer system, the apparatus comprising:
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a touch pad unit being coupled to a computer system, generating first and second pointer data respectively corresponding to a first and second touching of said touch pad unit, and transmitting said first and second pointer data, said second touching beginning after said first touching ends;
an interface unit being coupled to said touch pad unit, receiving said first pointer data, transmitting a first control signal corresponding to said first pointer data, detecting a first quantity of time elapsing after said first touching ends, transmitting a second control signal corresponding to said second pointer data when said first quantity of time does not exceed a predetermined quantity of time, and not transmitting said second control signal when said first quantity of time does exceed said predetermined quantity of time; and
a central processing unit being coupled to said interface unit and receiving said first control signal from said interface unit and transforming said first control signal to a pointer to be displayed at a first position on a monitor coupled to said computer system, said first position on said monitor corresponding to said first control signal. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. An apparatus operating a touch-sensitive touch pad unit coupled to a computer system, the apparatus comprising:
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a touch pad unit being coupled to a computer system, said touch pad unit generating first, second, and third pointer data respectively corresponding to a first, a second, and a third touching of said touch pad unit, each one of said touchings having a beginning and an end;
a switch being coupled to said touch pad unit and also to a local reference potential, controlling a transmission of said first, second, and third pointer data to said local reference potential, said switch having a first position causing said first, second, and third pointer data to be transmitted to said local reference potential, and said switch having a second position causing said first, second, and third pointer data to not be transmitted to said local reference potential;
an interface unit being coupled to said touch pad unit, receiving said first, second, and third pointer data from said touch pad unit when said switch is in said second position, transmitting a first control signal corresponding to said first pointer data from said interface unit, detecting a first quantity of time corresponding to time elapsing after said end of said first touching, not transmitting a second control signal corresponding to said second pointer data from said interface unit when said first quantity of time exceeds a predetermined quantity of time; and
a central processing unit being coupled to said interface unit, receiving said first control signal from said interface unit, and transforming said first control signal to a pointer to be displayed at a first position on a monitor coupled to said computer system, said first position on said monitor corresponding to said first control signal. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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27. A method of controlling a touch-sensitive touch pad unit coupled to a computer system, comprising the steps of:
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detecting whether pointer data is generated by a touch pad unit after a predetermined quantity of time has elapsed, said pointer data being generated by said touch pad unit when a user performs a second touching of said touch pad unit, said touch pad unit being coupled to a computer system, and said touch pad unit enabling a user to control a pointer displayed on a monitor coupled to said computer system, measurement of said predetermined quantity of time starting when a first touching of said touch pad unit ends;
when said pointer data is generated by said touch pad unit before said predetermined quantity of time has elapsed, transmitting a control signal corresponding to said pointer data;
when said pointer data is generated by said touch pad unit after said predetermined quantity of time has elapsed, not transmitting said control signal corresponding to said pointer data;
detecting when said pointer data corresponds to predetermined pointer data; and
when said pointer data is generated by said touch pad unit after said predetermined quantity of time has elapsed and said pointer data corresponds to said predetermined pointer data, transmitting said control signal corresponding to said pointer data. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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Specification