US 5,943,052 A · Method and apparatus for scroll bar control

Abstract

An apparatus for touchpad-based scroll control and method for scroll control comprising a data packet processor working in conjunction with a touchpad. A scroll zone, having a central axis, is defined on the touchpad. After detecting a user running a finger on the touchpad in a direction substantially parallel to an axis running the length of the scroll zone, the processor software sends scrolling messages to the operating system or application that owns an active window. The packet processing software is configured to not scroll on motions that are not substantially parallel to the axis of the scroll zone, thereby avoiding unwanted interference with normal program function, and also stops scrolling when the user lifts the scroll-activating finger or moves it in direction substantially perpendicular to the scroll zone.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A system for converting user-applied object motion on a cursor-control device into graphical user interface window scrolling messages, said system comprising:

a cursor-control input device which includes a touchpad in electrical communication with a computer, said input device forwarded data packets to said computer, said input device including a scrolling zone;
a data packet processor that generates a plurality of messages in response to object motion applied by the user entirely within said scrolling zone on said input device and causes an active window in said graphical user interface to scroll visual display data in response to said messages sent by said packet processor.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and apparatus for scroll bar control

Life of this patent

Method and apparatus for scroll bar control

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims20