초록 ▼

A method and apparatus for providing a click surface in a graphical environment, such as a graphical user interface, implemented on a host computer for use with a force feedback interface device. A displayed cursor is controlled by a user-moveable user object, such as a mouse, of the interface devic

A method and apparatus for providing a click surface in a graphical environment, such as a graphical user interface, implemented on a host computer for use with a force feedback interface device. A displayed cursor is controlled by a user-moveable user object, such as a mouse, of the interface device. A click surface is displayed with an associated graphical object, such as a graphical button or an edge of a window, icon, or other object. When the click surface is contacted by the cursor, a force is output opposing movement of the user object in a direction into the click surface and into the graphical object. When the user object has moved to or past a trigger position past the contact with the click surface, a command gesture signal is provided to the host computer indicating that the graphical object has been selected as if a physical input device on the user object, such as a button, has been activated by the user. Preferably, the host computer displays the graphical environment including the click surface and cursor, while a microprocessor local to the interface device controls the force output of the click surface in parallel with the host display.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.]1. A method for providing a force feedback click surface in a graphical environment provided by a host computer, said click surface for selecting a function in a graphical user interface implemented on said host computer, said host computer coupled to a force feedback devi

[ What is claimed is:] [1.]1. A method for providing a force feedback click surface in a graphical environment provided by a host computer, said click surface for selecting a function in a graphical user interface implemented on said host computer, said host computer coupled to a force feedback device, the method comprising:causing the display of said click surface on a display screen in said graphical environment and receiving position data from said force feedback device describing a position of at least a portion of the force feedback device adapted to be contacted and manipulated by a user in at least one degree of freedom, wherein a user-controlled cursor is displayed at a position in said graphical environment based on said position data;providing a force command to said force feedback device causing said force feedback device to output a force to the user when said user-controlled cursor contacts said click surface displayed in said graphical environment;maintaining a display of said click surface at a point where said cursor first engaged said click surface while said at least a portion of the force feedback device is moved to positions into and past said engagement point of said click surface; andselecting said function when a trigger point of said click surface positioned past said engagement point of said click surface has been reached by said at least a portion of the force feedback device.