Pen drawing computer input device

• US 6,380,929 B1
• Filed: 09/20/1996
• Issued: 04/30/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 09/20/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
• Inventors: Platt, John C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hjerpe, Richard
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, FRANCIS N
• Application Number:
  US08/717,435
• Time in Patent Office: 2,048 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173-174, 345/178-180, 345/358, 345/18.01, 345/18.02, 345/18.03, 345/145, 345/157, 345/168, 345/179, 345/326, 178/18.01, 178/18.02, 178/18.03, 178/19, 178/20, 708/146, 364/707, 341/34, 713/323
• US Class Current: 345/173
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures

Abstract

A method and system are provided for drawing or writing using an input device in computer systems. The system provides an absolute-coordinate drawing mode, in which the user may draw written strokes to which the computer system display is responsive, and a relative-coordinate repositioning mode, in which the user may figuratively “pick up the pen” and reposition the beginning of a following written stroke. The system enters the drawing mode in response to a user command, and remains in the drawing mode in response to continued written strokes. The system enters the cursor mode after a selected time period occurs with no written strokes, or in response to other user commands. In the drawing mode, a coordinate system for the touchpad is mapped to a coordinate system for a selected window on the display. The mapping is selected so that an initial position of a written stroke in the window corresponds to a final position selected during the cursor mode, so that the user is able to reposition the input device when it has (or is about to) “run off the edge” of an input tablet which is relatively smaller than the display. The system uses either a resistive touchpad input tablet, or a capacitive touchpad input tablet in conjunction with a passive stylus input device having a flexible conductive writing tip. The system alternatively provides a signature mode, in which the user is able to make a simple drawing, such as a handwritten signature.

Claims

1. A method of using a drawing input device comprising:

starting a touchpad driver in a relative mouse mode, wherein mouse packets are on;

detecting a user draw command;

disabling relative mouse mode in response to said user draw command, wherein said mouse packets are off;

providing an offset value for the start of a first drawing stroke equal to the present cursor position;

processing information defining user input drawing strokes; and

enabling relative mouse mode after a fixed time period during which no user input drawing strokes have been made, wherein said mouse packets are on.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

disabling a system cursor and enabling a draw mode cursor in response to said user draw command; and

disabling said draw cursor and enabling said system cursor after said fixed time period.