US 5,347,295 AGranted

Control of a computer through a position-sensed stylus

AssigneeGo, Inc.

InventorsTodd Agulnick, Robert Carr, Tony Hoeber, S. Jerrold Kaplan, David R. Low, Michael Ouye

Life of this patent

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Abstract

A notebook computer which is controlled by a stylus executing gestures on the computer screen. The stylus and the computer include complementary electronic circuitry by which the proximity of the stylus tip to the computer is sensed. The proximity sensing is used to detect to approach of the stylus tip to the computer screen, and gestural commands are then entered on the screen by moving the stylus. The entry of a command is terminated by removing the stylus tip from proximity with the screen, which is detected by the computer, which then implements the command. Alternative methods of implementing the commands include time-outs and command termination buttons.

Claims46

Dependent claims

An apparatus for controlling a computer system, the computer system comprising a screen for displaying information and a stylus having a tip for inputting information into the computer, including:

first detecting means coupled to said computer for detecting a stroke of the stylus tip in contact with the screen;
second detecting means coupled to said computer for detecting a departure of the stylus tip from the screen;
means coupled to said computer for defining termination of a gesture comprising at least one stroke in response to said departure of the stylus tip;
means coupled to said computer for recognizing a plurality of said gestures, said recognizing means including means for comparing each said gesture to at least one predefined shape;
means coupled to said computer for implementing each said recognized gesture, said implementing means including means for performing a predetermined action associated with each said predefined shape, said predetermined action being determined by the context in which said gesture was used, including a first context in which said action is executed upon an operating system level object and a second context in which said action is executed upon an application level object.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 07/610,231Filed 31 Oct 1990
Granted: 13 Sep 1994
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification6 codes

G06F 40/166
Text processing: editing, e.g. inserting or deleting
G06F 1/1626
For portable computers: with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
G06F 1/1643
Details related to the display arrangement, including those related to the mounting of the display in the housing: the display being associated to…
G06F 3/04883
Using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures: for inputting data by handwriting, e.g. gesture or text