EP0156593A2
Expired / Lapsed
EP
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for mode changes and/or touch mouse control
Assignee: TE Connectivity Corp
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Filing: 1985-03-14
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Granted: —
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Expires: 2005-03-14
Abstract
Abstract A method and device for instituting mode changes (78) or precise relative cursor (13) positioning is taught. Briefly stated, an operator who is interfacing with a CRT (10) or display area (12) which has a touch input device (51) on it, such as a switch matrix or infrared light beam matrix, may institute a number of changes simply by inserting two or more noncontiguous styli (18,18), such as two fingers, into the touch input area. This would, therefore, change the mode of information which is presented by the display to the operator (16) or the information presented to a computer or interface via the display area by the operator. In the preferred embodiment, the insertion of two noncontiguous fingers would allow the cursor (13) to be moved in a speed and direction which is directly related to the speed and direction of a finger with the result that the cursor need not be disposed directly under the finger which might otherwise block an operator's view and thereby allow more precise positioning of the cursor.
Inventors
- 👤 Arthur B. Carroll
- 👤 John K. Carstedt
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
EP
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 21:20
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/03; G06F3/041; G06F3/048; G06F3/0487; G06F3/0488; G06F3/033
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
99 words
1 . A method for initiating a program and/or mode change in a CPU/controller (44) or the like, comprising the steps of: a. introducing two or more noncontiguous styli (18, 18) to a touch input entry device (51); b. detection of at least two noncontiguous styli by said touch input entry device; and c. changing the program and/or mode of said CPU/controller or the like from the program and/or mode it was in just prior to step (a) above to another program and/or mode, in response to said detection of two or more noncontiguous styli of step (b) above.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
99 words
1 . A method for initiating a program and/or mode change in a CPU/controller (44) or the like, comprising the steps of: a. introducing two or more noncontiguous styli (18, 18) to a touch input entry device (51); b. detection of at least two noncontiguous styli by said touch input entry device; and c. changing the program and/or mode of said CPU/controller or the like from the program and/or mode it was in just prior to step (a) above to another program and/or mode, in response to said detection of two or more noncontiguous styli of step (b) above.
Claim 3
Independent Claim
80 words
A method for controlling a cursor (13) or the like on a video display (12), comprising the steps of: a. introduction of a stylus (18) to a touch input entry device (51) at any point on said touch input entry device, wherein said point need not be adjacent said cursor or the like; and b. moving said cursor or the like at a speed and/or direction and/or distance which is relative to any movement of said stylus of step (a).
Claim 4
Independent Claim
80 words
A method for controlling a cursor (13) or the like on a video display (12), comprising the steps of: a. introduction of a stylus (18) to a touch input entry device (51) at any point on said touch input entry device, wherein said point need not be adjacent said cursor or the like; and b. moving said cursor or the like at a speed and/or direction and/or distance which is relative to any movement of said stylus of step (a).
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
166 words
A method according to claim 2 which includes the following steps which are performed prior to step (a) above, comprising the steps of: a. introducing at least two noncontiguous styli (18, 18) to a touch input entry device; b. detection of at least two noncontiguous styli by said touch input entry device; and c. changing the mode of cursor movement on said video display to a mouse mode (53) in response to the detection of said styli in step (b). 4. Apparatus for instituting a program and/or mode change in conjunction with a touch input entry device (51), characterized by: a touch Input entry device for producing an output signal (49) in response to one or more styli (18) being introduced thereto; and a mode change device (78) adapted to interact with said touch input entry device for changing the program and/or mode of a computerlcontroller or the like in response to the introduction of a predetermined number of styli to said touch input entry device.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
119 words
Apparatus for controlling movement of a cursor (13) or the like on a video display (12), characterized by: a touch input entry device (51) for determining the presence and/or position of one or more styli (18) which are introduced to said touch input entry device; and a cursor controller device (10) connected to said video display and said touch input entry device and being adapted such that upon the introduction of one or more styli at any point on said touch input entry device, wherein said point need not be adjacent said cursor or the like, said cursor or the like is moved at a speed and/or direction and/or distance which is relative to any movement of said styli.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
119 words
Apparatus for controlling movement of a cursor (13) or the like on a video display (12), characterized by: a touch input entry device (51) for determining the presence and/or position of one or more styli (18) which are introduced to said touch input entry device; and a cursor controller device (10) connected to said video display and said touch input entry device and being adapted such that upon the introduction of one or more styli at any point on said touch input entry device, wherein said point need not be adjacent said cursor or the like, said cursor or the like is moved at a speed and/or direction and/or distance which is relative to any movement of said styli.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
169 words
Apparatus for controlling movement of a cursor (13) or the like on a video display (12) in a manner similar to a mouse mode (53), characterized by: a touch input entry device (51) for determining the presence and/or position of one or more styli (18) which are introduced to said touch input entry device; a cursor controller device (10) connected to said video display and to said touch input entry device being adapted for a mouse mode such that upon the introduction of at least one stylus at any point on said touch input entry device, wherein said point need not be adjacent said cursor or the like, said cursor or the like is moved at a speed and/or direction and/or distance which is relative to any movement of said styli; and touch input entry control device interconnected with said a touch input entry device whereby upon the introduction of two or more noncontiguous styli to said touch input entry device said controller is placed into said mouse mode.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
169 words
Apparatus for controlling movement of a cursor (13) or the like on a video display (12) in a manner similar to a mouse mode (53), characterized by: a touch input entry device (51) for determining the presence and/or position of one or more styli (18) which are introduced to said touch input entry device; a cursor controller device (10) connected to said video display and to said touch input entry device being adapted for a mouse mode such that upon the introduction of at least one stylus at any point on said touch input entry device, wherein said point need not be adjacent said cursor or the like, said cursor or the like is moved at a speed and/or direction and/or distance which is relative to any movement of said styli; and touch input entry control device interconnected with said a touch input entry device whereby upon the introduction of two or more noncontiguous styli to said touch input entry device said controller is placed into said mouse mode.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
20 words
A device according to claim 5 or 6, wherein said touch input entry device is disposed adjacent said video display.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
A device according to claim 4, 5 or 6, wherein said touch input entry device is comprised of an infrared opto-matrix frame.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
A device according to claim 4,5 or 6, wherein said touch input entry device is comprised of a membrane switch matrix.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
20 words
A device according to claim 5 or claim 6, wherein said styli are comprised of the fingers of an operator.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
24 words
A device according to claim 4, 5 or claim 6, wherein said touch input entry device utilises acoustic sound waves to detect said styli.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
No citation records indexed.
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