Patent · US Expired

Virtual pointing device for touchscreens

US5748184A · kind A · utility

120Cited by
11References
11Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateMay 28, 1996
Grant dateMay 5, 1998
Priority date
Expiry dateMay 28, 2016

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG06F3/0488
  • WIPO fieldComputer technology
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture direct a computer system, having at least a processor, memory, and touchscreen, to create a virtual pointing device on the touchscreen. The method includes the steps of detecting a handprint of a hand placed on the touchscreen, determining if pre-defined characteristics exist for the handprint based on the shape and size of the handprint, if pre-defined characteristics exist for the handprint, creating a virtual pointing device under at least a portion of the hand in accordance with the pre-defined characteristics, and if pre-defined characteristics do not exist, creating a generic virtual pointing device under the at least a portion of the hand.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.