System and method for fine cursor positioning using a low resolution imaging touch screen

• US 7,605,804 B2
• Filed: 04/29/2005
• Issued: 10/20/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/29/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Wilson, Andrew D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Mengistu; Amare
• Assistant Examiner(s): Rainey; Robert R
• Application Number:
  US11/119,504
• Publication Number:
  US 20060244735A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,635 Days
• Field of Search: 345/173, 345/178, 345/174, 345/175, 345/177, 715856-864
• 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 system to position an element on a visual display is provided. The disclosed system comprises a touch detection module that detects a touch upon a touch-sensitive surface of a visual display. Also included is a position module that receives input from the touch detection module to derive a position of a touch. Further, an offset module derives an offset for an element of a user interface. Methods of using this system are also provided.

Claims

1. A system for positioning an element on a visual display, comprising:

a memory communicatively coupled to a processor, wherein the memory comprises computer-executable instructions for positioning the element on the visual display, wherein execution of the instructions by the processor results in operation of modules comprising;

a touch detection module that detects a touch upon a touch-sensitive surface of a visual display;

a position module that derives a position of the touch;

an orientation module that derives an angular orientation of the touch; and

an offset module that uses the position of the touch and the angular orientation of the touch to derive an offset for an element of a user interface, wherein the element is a pointer, wherein the offset positions the pointer in a location separated by both x-axis and y-axis values from the position of the detected touch sufficient to make the pointer fully visible a spaced distance from the finger; and

an anchor detection module that detects anchoring a hand of a user, wherein detecting of anchoring of the hand of the user comprises detecting contact with the touch-sensitive visual display by a heel portion of the hand of the user, and wherein the anchoring is recognized as an indicator to switch between two modes, including;

a relative cursor positioning mode, wherein the offset positions the pointer in the location separated by both x-axis and y-axis values from the position of the detected touch sufficient to make the pointer fully visible a spaced distance from the finger; and

an absolute positioning mode, wherein a central location within the position of the detected touch is used as a pointer location.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the anchor detection module derives a no-render zone within an area approximating a total screen area covered by the hand of the user to prevent elements of a GUI, including menus, from being obscured by the hand of the user.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the anchor detection module detects an anchoring event based at least in part upon an approach selected from the group consisting of:

a determination that two or more touched areas are discontinuous;

a determination that a first touched area has changed its position relative to a second touched area; and

a determination that a change in position of a first touched area relative to a second touched area is consistent with movement of a portion of a human hand upon a planar surface.

4. The system of claim 2, wherein the anchor detection module detects an anchoring event based at least in part upon at least one approach selected from the group consisting of:

a reference to a coordinate map;

a reference to information relating to human anatomical structures; and

a reference to information relating to anatomical structures of a human hand.

5. The system of claim 2, wherein the anchor detection module detects an anchoring event based at least in part upon at least one approach selected from the group consisting of:

a reference to a continuous function that represents a degree to which anchoring has occurred;

a reference to a substantially continuous function that represents a degree to which anchoring has occurred;

a reference to a discontinuous function that represents a degree to which anchoring has occurred; and

a reference to a discrete function that represents a degree to which anchoring has occurred.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the orientation module calculates an orientation based at least in part upon an approach selected from the group consisting of:

a shape of a touched area;

a reference to information relating to human anatomical structures; and

a reference to information relating to anatomical structures of a human hand.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a module that designates to the offset module at least one area of the user interface where no new information is rendered, the offset module is additionally configured to consider the at least one area to derive the offset for the element of the user interface.

8. A method for positioning an element of a graphical user interface on a visual display, comprising:

storing, in a memory communicatively coupled to a processor, computer-executable instructions for performing the method of positioning the element of the graphical user interface on the visual display;

executing the instructions on the processor;

according to the instructions being executed;

detecting a touch of a finger of a user on at least a portion of a touch-sensitive visual display;

calculating a position of the detected touch;

deriving an angular orientation of the detected touch;

calculating an offset for an element to be positioned on a visual display from the calculated position and the angular orientation, wherein the element is a pointer, wherein the offset positions the pointer in a location separated by both x-axis and y-axis values from the position of the detected touch sufficient to make the pointer fully visible a spaced distance from the finger;

determining a degree to which the user has anchored a hand by using a reference function, wherein anchoring the hand comprises contacting the touch-sensitive visual display with a heel portion of the hand of the user, and wherein the anchoring is recognized as an indicator to switch between two modes, including;

a relative cursor positioning mode, wherein the offset positions the pointer in the location separated by both x-axis and v-axis values from the position of the detected touch sufficient to make the pointer fully visible a spaced distance from the finger; and

an absolute positioning mode, wherein a central location within the position of the detected touch is used;

determining a correlation between a shape of an area affected by the detected touch and a shape of a structure of a human hand; and

calculating whether an amount of time elapsed between detection of the detected touch and detection of anchoring the hand of the user is within a predetermined range.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the reference function comprises:

detecting a second touch on at least a portion of a touch-sensitive visual display;

calculating a first area affected by the detected touch;

calculating a second area affected by the second touch; and

determining that the first and second areas are substantially separate.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein deriving the angular orientation of the detected touch comprises at least one of:

calculating an axis through the shape of the area affected by the touch; and

comparing a map of the area of the detected touch with properties of anatomical structures of a human hand.

11. A system to position an element on a visual display, comprising:

storing means, for storing in a memory communicatively coupled to a processor, computer-executable instructions for positioning the element on the visual display;

executing means for executing the instructions on the processor;

means for detecting a primary touch from a user on at least a portion of a touch-sensitive visual display;

means for calculating a position of the primary touch;

means for detecting a supplemental touch by the user on at least a portion of the touch-sensitive visual display, calculating a primary area affected by the primary touch, calculating a supplemental area affected by a supplemental touch, and determining that the primary area and the supplemental area are substantially separate;

means for creating a coordinate map representing a touched region, the touched region includes an area impacted by the primary touch, an area impacted by at least one supplemental touch, or an area impacted by at least two touches;

means for deriving an angular orientation of the primary touch based upon the created coordinate map; and

means for calculating an offset for an element to be positioned on a visual display based upon the calculated position and derived angular orientation; and

means for determining the user has anchored a hand that made at least the primary touch or the supplemental touch by using a reference function, wherein anchoring the hand comprises contacting the touch-sensitive visual display with a heel portion of the hand of the user, and wherein the anchoring is recognized as an indicator to switch between two modes, including;

a relative cursor positioning mode, wherein the offset positions the pointer in the location separated by both x-axis and y-axis values from the position of the detected touch sufficient to make the pointer fully visible a spaced distance from the finger; and

an absolute positioning mode, wherein a central location within the position of the detected touch is used.

12. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

means for determining a degree to which the user has anchored a hand that made at least the primary touch or the supplemental touch by using reference function;

means for determining a correlation between a shape of the touched region and a shape of a structure of a human hand; and

means for inferring if an anchoring event is intended based upon if the correlation is within a specified amount.

13. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

means for determining an identity of the user that makes the primary touch or supplemental touch; and

means for applying at least one user preference based upon the determined identity.

14. The system of claim 11, further comprising:

means for calculating whether an amount of time elapsed between the detection of the primary touch and a detection of the supplemental touch is within a predetermined range; and

means for inferring if an anchoring event is intended based upon if the elapsed time is within the predetermined range.