Method to implement an adaptive-area partial ink layer for a pen-based computing device

• US 7,190,353 B2
• Filed: 04/22/2003
• Issued: 03/13/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/22/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Original Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation (Seiko Group)
• Inventors: Cheng, Brett Anthony
• Primary Examiner(s): Osorio; Ricardo
• Application Number:
  US10/420,084
• Publication Number:
  US 20040212584A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,421 Days
• Field of Search: 345173-179, 345/156, 178 1801- 1901
• 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 of producing an adaptive partial ink layer for a pen based computing device is described. The adaptive partial ink layer is used to form an ink trail, which follows the input pen as it moves in contact with a touch screen. This allows the user to view the input while it is being made, which allows the input to be improved through the visual observation. A three-cell block is formed to permit single character input from the pen and then the block is extended in the direction of a cursive input to accommodate a word or phrase. Whereas, a common direction for the cursive input is from left to right, any direction emanating from the three cell block can be used if the interpreter of the pen passed computing device is set up to allow such an input.

Claims

1. A method of creating an adaptive partial ink layer for a computing device, comprising:

a) contacting a touch screen overlaying a display screen of said computing device with a touching device for character entry into said computing device,

b) forming a first partial ink layer area centered around a point of contact of said touching device,

c) forming a second partial ink layer area adjacent and continuous with said first partial ink layer area when said touching device crosses a first boundary of said first and second partial ink layer areas,

d) forming a third partial ink layer area adjacent and continuous with said first and said second partial ink layer areas when said touching device crosses a second boundary of said first or second partial ink layer area that is orthogonal to said first boundary, thereby combining said first, second and third partial ink layer areas into a partial ink layer block,

e) moving said touching device to create a character as input to said computing device and drawing an ink trail of said character in said block,

f) erasing said ink trail when said touching device is removed for a predetermined time from contact with said touch screen.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said touching device is any device capable of forming one or a plurality of coherent characters when in contact with said touch screen.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said touching device is a stylus, pen or finger.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein moving said touching device in contact with said touch screen is done in a manner that forms said character completely within said first partial ink layer area.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein moving said touching device in contact with said touch screen is done in a manner that forms said character completely within said first and second partial ink layer areas.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein moving said touching device in contact with said touch screen is done in a manner that forms said character completely within said first, second and third partial ink layer areas.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said partial ink layer block is formed by said first partial ink layer area.

8. the method of claim 1, wherein said partial ink layer block is formed by said first partial ink layer area and said second partial ink layer area.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said first and said second partial ink layer areas are each square in shape and having P pixels on a side.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said third partial ink layer area is twice the size of said first partial ink layer area and rectangular in shape with sides that are P by 2P pixels.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said block is square in shape and is 2P pixels by 2P pixels in size.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

a) forming said block to be 2P pixels by 2P pixels,

b) extending said block by an additional partial ink layer area N whereby said extended block is 2P×

(2+N) P pixels,

c) moving said touching device across said additional partial ink layer area N to input additional characters and drawing said ink trail to show where said touching device had been.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein extending said block forms said additional partial ink layer area N adjacent and continuous with an N−

1 partial ink layer area when said touching device crosses a third boundary located on said N−

1 partial ink layer area.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein formation of said additional partial ink layer area N is created when a movement of said touching device is generally in a direction from said N−

1 partial ink layer area to said additional partial ink layer area N and said third boundary of said N−

1 partial ink layer is crossed.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein said N and N−

1 partial ink layer areas have a vertical orientation and said movement of said touching device is from left to right forming an adaptive partial ink layer area that is 2P×

(2+N) P.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein said N−

1 partial ink layer area has a horizontal orientation and said N partial ink layer area has a vertical orientation forming an adaptive partial ink layer that is 2P×

(2+N) P.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

a) forming said second partial ink layer area vertically adjacent and continuous with said first partial ink layer area on said display screen,

b) forming said third partial ink layer area adjacent and continuous with said first and said second partial ink layer areas.

18. The method of claim 17, wherein forming said third partial ink layer area creates said third partial ink layer area located left of said first and second partial ink layer areas.

19. The method of claim 17, wherein forming said third partial ink layer area creates said third partial ink layer area located right of said first and second partial ink layer areas.

20. The method of claim 17, further comprising forming a fourth partial ink layer area whereby said fourth partial ink layer area is located adjacent to said boundary of said third partial ink layer area which is opposite to said boundary of said third partial ink layer area with said first and second partial ink layer areas.

21. The method of claim 17, wherein said second partial ink layer area is located above or below said first partial ink layer area.

22. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

a) forming said second partial ink layer area horizontally adjacent and continuous with said first partial ink layer area on said display screen,

b) forming said third partial ink layer area adjacent and continuous with said first and said second partial ink layer areas.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein forming said third partial ink layer area creates said third partial ink layer area with a horizontal orientation and located above said first and second partial ink layer areas.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein forming said third partial ink layer area creates said third partial ink layer area with a horizontal orientation and located below said first and second partial ink layer areas.

25. The method of claim 22, further comprising forming a fourth partial ink layer area whereby said fourth partial ink layer area is located adjacent to a vertical edge formed by said first second and third partial ink layer areas.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein said second partial ink layer area is located to the left or to the right of said first partial ink layer area.

27. An adaptive partial ink layer for a computing device, comprising:

a) a first partial ink layer area,

b) a second partial ink layer area,

c) a third partial ink layer area,

d) said first partial ink layer area formed when a touching device contacts a touch screen of a computing device for character entry into said computing device,

e) said second partial ink layer area formed adjacent and continuous with a first boundary of said first partial ink layer area when said first boundary of said first partial ink layer area is crossed by said touching device,

f) said third partial ink layer area formed adjacent and continuous with a second boundary formed by said first and second partial ink layer areas when said second boundary is crossed by said touching device.

28. The adaptive partial ink layer of claim 27, wherein said touching device is any device capable of forming one or a plurality of coherent characters when in contact with said touch screen.

29. The adaptive partial ink layer of claim 28, wherein said touching device is a stylus, pen or finger.

30. The adaptive partial ink layer of claim 27, wherein said touching device is moved in a manner to form said character completely within said first partial ink layer area.

31. The adaptive partial ink layer of claim 27, wherein said touching device is moved in a manner to form said character completely within said first and second partial ink layer areas.

32. The adaptive partial ink layer of claim 27, wherein said touching device is moved in a manner to form said character completely within said first, second and third partial ink layer areas.

33. The adaptive partial ink layer of claim 27, wherein said first partial ink layer area is centered at a point of initial contact of said touching device.

34. The adaptive partial ink layer of claim 33, wherein said first partial ink layer area is square having a dimension of P pixels by P pixels.

35. The adaptive partial ink layer of claim 27, wherein said first and second partial ink layer areas are a same shape and size.

36. The adaptive partial ink layer of claim 27, wherein said third partial ink layer area is rectangular in shape and has an area twice that of said first partial ink layer area.

37. The adaptive partial ink layer of claim 36, wherein said third partial ink layer area is P pixels by 2P pixels.

38. The adaptive partial ink layer of claim 27, wherein said second partial ink layer area is vertically adjacent and continuous with said first partial ink layer area and whereby both said first and second partial ink layer areas are adjacent and continuous with said third partial ink layer area which is oriented vertically and which shares said second boundary with said first and second partial ink layer areas.

39. The adaptive partial ink layer of claim 38, wherein said third partial ink layer area is located left of said first and second ink layer areas.

40. The adaptive partial ink layer of claim 38, wherein said third partial ink layer area is located right of said first and second ink layer areas.

41. The adaptive partial ink layer of claim 38, wherein said second partial ink layer area is located above or below said first ink layer area.

42. The adaptive partial ink layer of claim 27, wherein said second partial ink layer area is horizontally adjacent and continuous with said first partial ink layer area and whereby both said first and second partial ink layer areas are adjacent and continuous with said third partial ink layer area which is oriented horizontally and which shares said second boundary with said first and second partial ink layer areas.

43. The adaptive partial ink layer of claim 42, wherein said third partial ink layer area is located above said first and second ink layer areas.

44. The adaptive partial ink layer of claim 42, wherein said third partial ink layer area is located below said first and second ink layer areas.

45. The adaptive partial ink layer of claim 42, wherein said second partial ink layer area is located left or right of said first ink layer area.

46. The adaptive partial ink layer of claim 27, further comprising an N partial ink layer area adjacent to an N−

1 partial ink layer area whereby said N partial ink layer area is formed when said touching device crosses a third boundary formed by said N−

1 partial inlayer area whereby said third boundary is formed between said N−

1 and N partial ink layer areas.

47. The adaptive partial ink layer of claim 46, wherein said N partial ink layer area is formed as said touching device in contact with said touch screen moves from left to right and crosses said third boundary.

48. An adaptive area for a partial ink layer, comprising:

a) a means for forming a first area of a partial ink layer upon contact of a pen to a touch screen on a pen based computing device,

b) a means for forming a second area adjacent and continuous with said first area as said pen in contact with said touch screen crosses a first boundary formed by said first area,

c) a means for forming a third area adjacent and continuous with both said first and said second areas as said pen in contact with said touch screen crosses a second boundary of said first and second areas,

d) a means for producing an ink trail tracing where said pen had been,

e) a means for erasing said ink trail upon lifting of said pen from contact with said touch screen.

49. The adaptive area of claim 48, wherein said means for forming said second area places said second area above or below said first area depending upon a location of said first boundary crossed by said pen.

50. The adaptive area of claim 49, wherein said means for forming said third area places said third area left or right of said first and second areas depending upon a location of said second boundary crossed by said pen.

51. The adaptive area of claim 48, wherein said means for forming said second area places said second area left or right of said first area depending upon a location of said first boundary crossed by said pen.

52. The adaptive area of claim 51, wherein said means for forming said third area places said third area above or below said first and second areas depending upon a location of said second boundary crossed by said pen.

53. The adaptive area of claim 48, further comprising a means for forming an N area in said partial ink layer adjacent and continuous with an N−

1 area, whereby said N area is formed in such a way as to provide a continuous ink trail of said pen when said pen in contact with said touch screen crosses an N−

1 boundary formed by said N−

1 area.

54. A controller for creating an ink trail on a pen based computing device, comprising:

a) a means for detecting a touching device in contact with a touch screen,

b) a means for interpreting an input from said touch screen being touched by said touching device,

c) a means for forming an adaptive partial ink layer on a display screen,

d) a means for forming an ink trail within said partial ink layer to follow movement of said touching device.

55. The controller of claim 54, wherein said means for detecting said touching device in contact with said touch screen further comprises:

a) a means for detecting the coordinates of said touching device,

b) a means for determining a direction of movement of said touching device,

c) a means for determining the need to expand said adaptive partial ink layer in the direction of movement of said touching device,

d) a means for determining when to erase said ink trail after said touching device is removed from contact with said touch screen after a sufficient delay to allow multi-stroke characters.

56. The controller of claim 54, wherein said means for interpreting said input from said touch screen further comprises a means for determining which character or cursive combination of characters are being written onto said touch screen by said touching device.

57. The controller of claim 54, wherein said means for forming an adaptive partial ink layer creates and controls said partial ink layer within said display screen that adapts to the input from said touch screen resulting from contact with said touching device.

58. The controller of claim 54, wherein said means for forming said ink trail creates an instant replica of a character or cursive combination of characters being written on said touch screen by said touching device.