Patent · US Expired

Virtual pointing device for touchscreens

US5835079A · kind A · utility

1,655Cited by
8References
11Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventor

Key dates

Filing dateJun 13, 1996
Grant dateNov 10, 1998
Priority date
Expiry dateJun 13, 2016

Classification

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

Abstract

A computer system, article of manufacture, and method direct a computer system, having at least a processor, memory, and touchscreen, to create a virtual pointing device. The method includes the steps of detecting a hand placed on the touchscreen, designating at least one area of the touchscreen under at least a portion of the hand as the virtual pointing device, in response to movement of the portion of the hand across the touchscreen, moving the activated area in substantial accordance with the movement of the portion of the hand, positioning a pointer on the touchscreen such that movement of the area on the touchscreen in a first direction causes the pointer to move in the first direction, and in response to activating the area by at least a second portion of the hand, executing at least one command on an object or text positioned substantially under the pointer.

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