Digitizer system with on-screen cue indicative of stylus position
AssigneeWacom Co., Ltd.
InventorDavid C. Fleck
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A digitizer system includes a pointer (e.g. stylus or puck) for manipulation by a user over a work surface of a tablet. The tablet includes a menu strip area thereon. The location of the pointer on the tablet is shown by way of a cursor shape on a corresponding monitor or display which is in communication with the tablet. According to certain embodiments of this invention, the cursor shape shown on the display is changed as a function of the pointer's position within the menu strip area of the tablet. Thus, for example, a first cursor shape may be shown on the display when the pointer is over a first area of the menu strip, while a different second cursor shape may be shown on the display when the pointer is over a second area of the menu strip.
Claims16
A digitizer system comprising:
- a digitizer tablet having a menu area and a plurality of different menu items therein;
- a pointer for movement over the tablet and over the menu area;
- and
- a controller for providing an on-screen cue on a corresponding display screen which indicates to which menu item in the menu area the pointer is proximate without requiring a user to look at the tablet to determine which menu item the pointer is proximate.
A method of providing an on-screen cue on a display screen that indicates proximity of a digitizer pointer to a menu item on a digitizing tablet, the method comprising the steps of:
- providing a digitizer tablet having a menu area with at least first and second menu items therein for selection;
- providing a digitizer pointer for movement over the tablet and for selection of the menu items;
- providing a display screen in communication with the tablet for displaying a cursor in a location on the display screen corresponding to a position of the pointer on the tablet;
- and
- displaying an on-screen cue on the display screen when the pointer is proximate a menu item, the on-screen cue indicating to which menu item in the menu area the pointer is proximate without requiring a user to look at the tablet to determine which menu item the pointer is proximate.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.