초록 ▼

A method of controlling a cursor or other visible object on a display screen responsive to manipulation of a mouse or other input device includes defining a continuous-motion zone, and moving the visible object substantially continuously on the display screen while the input device indicates a posit

A method of controlling a cursor or other visible object on a display screen responsive to manipulation of a mouse or other input device includes defining a continuous-motion zone, and moving the visible object substantially continuously on the display screen while the input device indicates a position in the continuous-motion zone. Optionally, the object is held fast on the screen while the input device indicates positions within a predetermined null zone to avoid drift. Intermediate the null zone and the continuous-motion zone, the cursor is repositioned on the screen as in response to a conventional mouse.

대표청구항 ▼

[ I claim:] [1.] In a computer system having a display screen and a mouse, a method of controlling an object visible on the display screen responsive to physical manipulation of the mouse, comprising:initializing a representation in the computer of a current mouse position;receiving displacement sig

[ I claim:] [1.] In a computer system having a display screen and a mouse, a method of controlling an object visible on the display screen responsive to physical manipulation of the mouse, comprising:initializing a representation in the computer of a current mouse position;receiving displacement signals from the mouse in response to physical movement of the mouse;updating the representation of the current mouse position in response to the received displacement signals;repositioning the visible object on the screen display according to the updated mouse position;comparing the updated mouse position to a predetermined Continuous-motion zone threshold value;if the updated current mouse position exceeds the Continuous-motion zone threshold value, further repositioning the visible object on the screen display by a position increment;periodically repeating said receiving, updating, repositioning, comparing and further repositioning steps so as to move the visible object on the display screen both in response to physical movement of the mouse and so as to add substantially continuous additional motion to the visible object as long as the updated mouse position exceeds the Continuous-motion zone threshold, the speed of said added motion being proportional to the position increment;the representation in the computer of the current mouse position including indications of mouse position with respect to two dimensions;said receiving step including receiving a pair of mouse displacement signals, each mouse displacement signal indicative of physical mouse movement in a corresponding one of said two dimensions;said updating step including updating the indications of current mouse position with respect to each of said two dimensions in response to the corresponding received displacement signal;said comparing step including comparing the updated mouse position to a pair of predetermined Continuous-motion zone threshold values, each of the Continuous-motion zone threshold values corresponding to a respective one of said two dimensions;said further repositioning step including further repositioning the visible object on the screen display by a first selected position increment in a first one of said two dimensions if the updated current mouse position exceeds the corresponding Continuous-motion zone threshold value; andfurther repositioning the visible object on the screen display by a second selected position increment in the other one of said two dimensions if the updated current mouse position exceeds the corresponding Continuous-motion zone threshold value, thereby adding substantially continuous additional motion to the visible object in either or both of said two dimensions as long as the updated mouse position exceeds the corresponding Continuous-motion zone threshold value.