Integrated pointing and drawing graphics system for computers

#The present invention relates generally to graphical user interfaces, and more particularly to graphic tablets and touchpads.

#Touchpads and graphic tablets are graphics input devices that cause data to be input to a computer display in response to stimulation of a position sensitive surface. Such stimulation can be tactilely generated, wherein a pressure sensitive surface is physically contacted by a user's finger or stylus. Or, the position sensitive surface might sense the presence of a stylus that is in close proximity to, but that does not physically touch, the surface. Accordingly, for purposes of the present invention "position sensitive surface" means both surfaces that are tactilely stimulated and surfaces that are stimulated by the close proximity of a contact object, such as a stylus.

#In the case of touchpads, a user can control the positioning of a cursor on a display by pressing against the touchpad and moving the user's finger. Typically, the touchpad is part of the same physical assembly as is the display. When a user lifts the finger from the touchpad and then places it back down on the pad, the position of the cursor on the display is not relocated, but remains in its position on the display until the finger moves. In this sense, a touchpad can be thought of as a relative input device, much like a mouse. Indeed, touchpads are used to undertake the functions traditionally undertaken by mice.

#FIG. 1A is a perspective view of the graphics input device of the present invention shown integrated with a laptop computer, in the relative mode with no pressure on the input surface;

#FIG. 1B is a perspective view as shown in FIG. 1A, in the relative mode with pressure being exerted on the input surface;

#FIG. 1C is a perspective view as shown in FIG. 1B, showing the result of finger motion on the input surface;

#Referring initially to FIG. 1A, a graphics data entry system is shown, generally designated 10. In the embodiment shown, the system 10 includes a digital processing apparatus 12 configured as a laptop computer having a flat panel display 14 and a position sensitive input surface 16. The input surface 16 is a pressure-sensitive and/or position sensitive system that can employ, e.g., semiconductive sensing, capacitive sensing, electrostatic sensing, membrane sensing, electromagnetic sensing, and resistive sensing. Also, the system 10 includes a mode select toggle switch 18, a window size increase button 20, and a window size decrease button 22. Moreover, the system 10 includes a software-implemented data input device driver 24, schematically shown in phantom in FIG. 1A.

#As disclosed below, the movement of a cursor 26 is controlled by the device driver 24 in response to data input signals input tactilely by a user by means of the input surface 16. Also, a graphics window 28 (FIG. 1B) can be made to appear on the display 14 by the device driver 24. In accordance with the present invention, the graphics window 28 has the same shape as the input surface 16. Stated differently, the graphics window 28 preferably has the same configuration as the input surface 16 and the graphics window 28 is proportional to the input surface 26, although the size of the graphics window 28 can be the same as or different from the size of the input surface 16. If desired, however, the shape of the window 28 can be changed, along with its size.

#It is to be understood that with the exception of the switch 18, buttons 20, 22, and software-implemented driver 24, the apparatus 12 is in all essential respects a conventional laptop computer having a touchpad data entry surface. It is to be further understood that alternatively, the switch 18 and buttons 20, 22 can be omitted and the functions of the switch 18 and buttons 20, 22 undertaken by three conventional computer keyboard function keys that have been appropriately defined by the device driver 24 as, respectively, a mode select switch and window size increase and decrease buttons. Indeed, the device driver 24 can be incorporated into other digital processing apparatus such as conventional graphic tablets and touchpads to render such digital processing apparatus as the system 10.