JPS6133531A - Cursor controller - Google Patents

Abstract

(57) [Summary] This bulletin contains application data before electronic filing, so abstract data is not recorded.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to devices for controlling the movement of a cursor on a video display device, and more particularly to cursor control commonly referred to as a digit mouse or finger mouse.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Cursors on video display devices are often controlled by keys on a keyboard. For example, there is a system in which four keys are defined as cursor control keys, and each time each key is pressed, the cursor is moved one step in a predetermined direction. If the key is kept pressed, the movement will occur in succession. Although this cursor control device U is effective in controlling cursor movement, it is relatively cumbersome to use because the user must look at the keyboard to find the appropriate key to move the cursor in a desired direction. Additionally, the repetition rate when a key is held down is relatively slow, and the first repetition after the first key press is delayed to prevent undesirable repetitive movement due to uncertain key activation. As such, the device is not very effective for moving a cursor over a video display screen over large distances.

Computer systems, especially microcomputers
Various mouse-type cursor control units have been developed for systems. One example of such a mouse-type cursor control unit is a hand-held unit with a ball or wheel that rotates on a flat horizontal surface, with a translation device controlling the rotation of the ball or wheel! The signal is converted into a digital signal to control the movement of a cursor on a video display device. According to other mouse-type cursor control units, the mouse is moved on a horizontal plane with grid lines arranged in the X and Y directions, and the grid lines crossed by the mouse are sensed by photoelectric means to control the movement of the cursor. It generates digital signals. This cursor control unit is called an optical mouse.

Although the mouse-type devices described above are effective for controlling large cursor movements overall, they are inferior to key-operated devices for controlling single cursor position movements. This problem is not due to the functionality of the mouse itself, but rather to the functionality of the software that drives the mouse.

Mouse-type devices also have other drawbacks. Both devices require a relatively large flat surface for mouse movement, leaving less space for other materials used with the computer system, such as reference or operating manuals, data lists, and the like. Additionally, any mouse-type device requires a separate housing for the mouse that is separate from the computer console or keyboard, and this housing must be connected to the console or keyboard by a flexible cable. These separate housings and cables clutter the desktop and take up flat space where the user would like to place printed materials or records for reference regarding the program.

Therefore, a mouse-type cursor control unit that does not have the above-mentioned drawbacks has been desired.

OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION It is an object of the invention to provide a mouse-type control unit that does not have the above-mentioned drawbacks.

Another object of the invention is to provide a mouse-type control unit that can be integrated into a computer system console or keyboard and does not require a separate housing or connecting cable.

Still another object of the present invention is to provide a cursor control unit N in which the moving direction and speed of the cursor are controlled by the moving direction and speed of the user's finger.

(Effects of the Invention) The present invention allows the user to easily and effectively control the direction and speed of movement of the cursor on the video display device by moving the finger corresponding to the desired direction and speed. shall be. No key operations are required to move the cursor. The control of cursor movement according to the present invention is extremely effective since the user does not have to look at the cursor control device and can easily move the working finger according to the desired movement by observing the video screen. be. The user does not need to look at the cursor control unit itself.

Single position movements and large distance movements are equally possible with the invention.

According to one embodiment of the present invention, there is provided a cursor movement control device that has one or more recesses in a control panel or keyboard of a computer system into which a user can insert his or her fingers. .

A plurality of light beams are emitted across the recess and one or more of the light beams are interrupted when a user's finger is positioned between the light source and the receiver terminating the light beams. The light beam is adapted to detect movement of the user's finger in the X and Y directions relative to the home or center position, and large amounts of movement from the home position are useful for controlling faster movement of the cursor.

According to another embodiment of the invention, a sensing device is provided for sensing the position of the user relative to the home position without using a light beam. By moving the user's finger from the home position, it is possible to control the movement of the cursor in the same direction as the movement direction at a rate corresponding to the distance the user's finger has moved from the home position.

(Examples) The present invention will be described below with reference to illustrated examples. 1st
The first embodiment of the present invention is not shown in a plan view in the figure. The mouse-type cursor control unit of FIG. 1 does not require a separate housing and is integrated into the operating panel or keyboard of the computer system. As shown, the cursor J control unit is disposed in a housing 10, which is shared with a computer system operating panel or keyboard. The housing 10 is integrally provided with a pair of cross-shaped grooves 12, 14 which are perpendicular to each other and have four equal legs. The eight grooves are wide enough to receive the user's fingers, which can assume various positions along the length of each leg. A small button 16 located at the center of the intersection of the two grooves identifies the center of the home position of the user's finger by the user's touch. The physical arrangement of the grooves described above will hereinafter be referred to as a "digit mouse", "finger mouse", or simply "mouse". There are a plurality of light beams 1B along the length of both grooves 12, 14, parallel to the upper surface of the casing 10, but at intervals of a fraction of the depth of the grooves. separated inwardly or downwardly from Each light beam is generated by a light source 20 and detected by a light receiver 22 or the like. In the device shown in FIG. 1, three light beams are provided in the legs of the eight grooves. Two more light beams intersect the center or "home" position, for a total of 14 light beams.

In the above structure, when the user's finger is at the home position indicated by the button 16, the cursor does not move because only the two central beams are blocked.

After the center beam is blocked, when the user's finger moves to the right X direction to block the first beam, a pulse for cursor movement will be generated, but the cursor will move a unit position during a predetermined time and interval. It is supposed to be done. A rate of 10 units of position movement per second is convenient, but this rate can be arbitrarily fast or slow. Undesirable premature movement of the cursor is prevented since the central beam must be interrupted in order for the cursor to move. If the user's finger moves further in the same direction and interrupts the second beam, a pulse is generated that moves the cursor twice as fast during each time interval. As the user's finger moves further to interrupt the third beam, a pulse is generated to move the cursor by four or more unit positions for each time interval. The direction of movement of the kartal is controlled by the direction of movement of the user's finger from the home position. In this way movement of the cursor can be easily achieved in four directions corresponding to the basic compass points.

As long as the user's finger interrupts one of the beams, the cursor position moves repeatedly by the appropriate number of unit positions at each time interval. The movement speed can be made faster or slower by adjusting the finger position. Cursor movement is stopped by the user removing the finger from the mouse or by moving the finger to a central position where it can be easily found by feel alone.

The user can determine when the finger is at the home position by touching the center button 16, and can easily determine the current position of the finger by observing the cursor movement without looking at the cursor control unit. There is no need to observe the cursor control unit. Therefore, the user can concentrate his/her attention on the video screen, allowing fast and effective movement of the cursor. Single step movement of the cursor can be easily controlled by moving the cursor one unit position per unit time when the first beam is interrupted.

FIG. 2 is a plan view of another embodiment of the invention.

The cursor control unit or mouse is integrally formed with the keyboard or console panel 30 of the computer system. 2 with four legs shown in Figure 1.
Instead of having orthogonal grooves in the book, the grooves are on eight legs 31-38.
has. A center button 41 or other tactile indicator provides tactile guidance to the user about the center position, and each of the eight legs of the groove has a plurality of light beams 40 that are not connected to light beam 18. It is equivalent. In the device of Figure 2, the user moves the cursor simultaneously in the X and Y directions by placing a finger on one of four additional grooves corresponding to the northeast, southeast, southwest, and northwest compass points. I can do it. By using the four additional legs of the groove, movement of the cursor in the diagonal direction is made much easier8 since a movement of a suitable number of unit positions in both the X and Y directions occurs in each time interval.
This can be achieved faster than the device of FIG. In other respects the operation of the apparatus of FIG. 2 is the same as that described with respect to FIG.

FIG. 3 shows yet another embodiment of the invention. The finger mouse is similarly attached to a panel 50 of a keyboard or operation panel of a computer system, but instead of having a plurality of long grooves, the grooves or recesses cut into the panel 50 are square. A button 51 or other tactile indicator indicates the center of the square, which corresponds to the home position of the user's finger.

A plurality of light beams cross each other in the X and Y directions across the square, and the user's finger blocks two orthogonal light beams at any position within the square, and the blocked light beams The beam passes through such a position. The twelve light beams shown correspond to the twelve light beams of FIG. 1, with three beams each provided for movement in two opposing X directions and two opposing Y directions. The beam closest to the center position will move the cursor one unit position per unit time, and the beam closest to the edge of the square will move the cursor the fastest. Using the apparatus of FIG. 3, a user can simultaneously move the cursor in the X and Y directions at different rates. For example, by positioning the finger near the right side of the square and slightly above the center line, the cursor will move faster in the positive X direction and more slowly in the positive Y direction.

It is clear that in any of the embodiments described above, the user does not need to see the cursor control device itself. Different finger positions within the mouse can be easily determined by feel or by observing cursor movement, allowing the user to focus their attention on the video display screen. Because the edges of the groove that define the perimeter of the mouse are easily discernible by touch, the shape of the groove or recess of the present invention makes it easier for the user to initially locate the cursor control device without requiring any visual observation. I don't. In this regard, the present invention does not require any observation from the user during use, but takes advantage of conventional mouse-type cursor control units that rely solely on the user's touch to operate the separate mouse housing on a horizontal surface. Be prepared.

A mouse-type cursor control unit for indicating the computer function to be selected, such as selecting one of a series of options displayed on the screen depending on the cursor position, or selectively clearing the display from the screen. It is conventional practice to use from one to three halves for each. If necessary, such keys may be mounted directly on the panel 10.30 or 50 adjacent to the groove or recess of the mouse so that the user can tactilely identify these keys relative to the position of the mouse during operation of the cursor control unit. It can be found and selected. If these keys are placed at the bottom or side of the mouse, they can be selectively pressed with the user's thumb or little finger, and at the same time can be pressed in the direction of cursor movement using the user's index finger of the same hand. as well as control the speed. Alternatively, keys may be provided at other locations on the panel or keyboard and selected by the user's other hand.

FIG. 4 depicts a functional block diagram of an apparatus embodying the principles of the invention. Counter 60 receives clock pulses from clock pulse generation source 62 .

As each pulse of the clock generator is input, the counter 60
increments and counts continuously through its entire base. The multi-bit output of the counter is provided by the selector circuit 64.
and the output of the selector circuit 64 is connected to drive a light emitting diode 20 or other light source whose endothelium emits a light beam within each cycle defined by the selector circuit 62. Occur. Three lights 120 are selected simultaneously as members of a single group.

The various receivers 22 all have a plurality of gates 6 for each group.
6, and the gate 66 is driven by a selector circuit 68 according to the output of the counter 60. Preferably, the light emitting sources 20 are driven in multiple groups so that multiple lamps are lit at the same time, and the light receivers 22 are also driven in multiple groups, so that only one component of a selected light source group is turned on at any given time. also corresponds to one component of the selected photoreceiver group. This allows testing of individual beams in individual time slots within a scanning cycle, ie, one cycle of counter 60. If the selected group of receivers generates an output pulse, the beam associated with that time slot is determined to be uninterrupted. If no pulses are generated by the selected group of receivers z1, the beam associated with that 1illl slot is determined to be blocked.

The signal from the selected group of receivers is sent to Noah Gate 1.
0 to one input of the AND gate 12. The other input of AND gate 12 contains a synchronization pulse from clock@62, which is delayed to arrive at gate 12 at the appropriate time to sample the selected group of receivers 22. unit 7
4. Gate 72 operates in time slots corresponding to interrupted beams to cause gate circuit 16 to apply the multi-bit output of counter 60 to the input of a read-only memory (ROM>78).
OM 18 decodes the blocked beam identification signal from gate 76 and generates control signals which are applied to the input of register 80 and driven by the STRO-1 signal from AND gate 12 via line 82. The register 82
loaded into. The output from register 82 is applied to the inputs of four switch units 84-87. Switch units 84-87 consist of analog switch units or RS flip-flops.

If the light beam is not interrupted within approximately two cycles of counter 60, register 80 is reset by the timeout of retriggerable one-shot multi 88.

The states of switches 84-87 indicate the desired cursor movement. For example, in one embodiment, switch 84 indicates whether cursor movement is required in either the X direction or the orthogonal Y direction. Switch 85 indicates the sign of the desired movement. The other two switches 86,87 both indicate the desired speed of movement. If no switch is set,
No cursor movement is required. If switch 86 is set and switch 81 is reset, the cursor moves one unit position in each time interval; vice versa, the cursor moves one unit position in each time interval;
The vine moves two units in each time interval. When both switches 86,87 are set, the cursor moves a maximum number of unit positions per time interval.

Switches 84-87 are connected to the computer system by a boat or the like, and their status is checked under software control. For example, a periodic signal from a timer may cause an interrupt at each time period to examine the state of the switch and perform the operations necessary to move the cursor. Alternatively, the state of a switch is read through a port when the state of one or more switches changes.

FIG. 4 is a schematic diagram illustrating the individual functions achieved by the device. It will be obvious to those skilled in the art that conventional logic circuits can be combined in various ways to provide signals to a computer system indicating that a given beam is interrupted and cursor movement is required. Alternatively, a microcomputer may be used.

The device of FIG. 4 is designed for the device of FIG. 1 with 12 beams interrupted only axes at a time, but with additional groups of emitters and receivers or by adding additional groups to existing groups. The apparatus of Figure 3 can also be used by adding components and choosing counters whose cardinality is at least equal to the total number of beams so that there is only one time slot and counter output corresponding to each beam. It can be extended as needed. Furthermore, other beams may be added to the groove legs of FIG. 1 or 2, and the circuit of FIG. 4 may be similarly modified.

In the apparatus of FIG. 3, if two beams are to be interrupted simultaneously, two separate beam identification means are required in the computer system. This uses the two devices shown in Figure 4 for the X and Y beams, and transmits the beam cutoff information to the switch 8.
Both groups can be connected simultaneously via 8 switches such as 4-87.
This can be accomplished by providing information about rape to a computer system. This ensures that two beams are activated in the same time slot, and that the emitters of two individual groups (e.g., X group and Y group) are connected in parallel, thus requiring only a single selector unit 64. do. However, two separate selector units 68
Is required.

When using the apparatus of FIG. 4, each beam is scanned individually and when each cut-off beam time slot is reached,
The identity of all cut-off beams is indicated by register 80. In this case, the switch 8
The software used by the system to input data from the 4-87 must perform input operations during the time slots in which the state of the switch changes.

Such software may be useful when adjacent beams are relatively close together and both are blocked when the user's finger straddles the two beams, or when the user uses multiple fingers when using the mouse. The case where a plurality of beams are interrupted in the apparatus of FIG. 1 or FIG. 2 can also be included. In that case, the software moves the cursor by a number of intermediate unit positions in each time interval when two adjacent beams are interrupted, and the movement speed is slowed down when only the first beam is interrupted and moves the cursor forward when only the first beam is interrupted. Only when it is cut off will it be faster. This allows the speed of the cursor to increase smoothly as the user moves the finger along the groove or recess; for example, three beams are used in each leg of the device of Figures 1 and 2. Sometimes it provides five different movement speeds instead of three. A sixth speed is also possible by blocking all three beams simultaneously, but such beam blocking can be achieved by grooved fingers up to the first or second joint or by using multiple fingers. . The same operation is possible with the device of FIG. 3, but with this device more speed combinations are possible in two orthogonal directions.

Cursor positions in the X and Y directions are typically maintained in dedicated registers used by the computer system. As an example, a video output display device is controlled by an integrated circuit known as a CRT controller, which accesses random access memory (RAM) that includes registers that store the current cursor position. The manner in which registers are accessed and incremented or decremented depends on the particular CRT controller being used. In all cases, C
The RT controller manufacturer's specifications provide the information necessary to access and modify the cursor position register.

Switches 84-87 are set by the desired cursor movement, and the states of these switches are read through conventional input ports of the computer system. For example, when the present invention is used with an IBM PC, the various states of the four switches may be controlled by a blocking beam. Switch 85 is set or reset depending on whether the direction of cursor movement is positive or negative with respect to the selected axis. The remaining two switches 86,87 are set by the desired speed of cursor movement. No switch is set when no movement of the cursor is desired, ie, when the user's finger is in the central position. When a rate of movement of one unit position per time interval is desired, switch 86 is set;
Switch 87 is set when the intermediate speed beam is interrupted. Both switches 86,87 are set only when the last beam requiring maximum cursor movement speed is interrupted.

The state of the four switches can be changed using the IBM PC via the game controller point.
It may be loaded by using the 5TRIG functions or statements built into advanced basic statements that can be executed by a PC. The above statements are written in a program in a basic language, and cursor movement is controlled by periodic execution of the program. If the user's finger is in the center position of the cursor control, no cursor movement occurs and the computer system returns to its background routine.

FIG. 5 shows a flow chart of a usable program. This program is started by one of two interrupts. The first interrupt is triggered by the four switches 84- shown in Figure 4.
Occurs when any of 87 takes a new position and indicates new data. When this interrupt occurs, the program of FIG. 5 is started by the controlled unit 200. The program then controls decision unit 201 to examine the state of switch 84 to determine whether the identified beam corresponds to an X beam or a Y beam, depending on the current state of the switch. If the beam is Y, it goes to unit 202, or if the blocked beam is an X beam, it goes to unit 2.
Go to 03.

Unit 202 checks the state of a software flag provided for the purpose of selecting a storage location, and if the flag is not set, unit 204 is controlled to store beam identification data in storage location Y1 and set the flag. do. If the flag is not set, unit 201
is controlled, the beam identification data is stored in storage location Y2, and the flag is reset. Therefore unit 204. 2
07 is controlled for successive Y beams and stores the identification data of the two latest interrupted Y beams in two memory locations @Y1 and Y2. Unit 205 is unit 204
Next, the code of the beam identification data stored in Y2 is checked. If the signs are the same, unit 210 returns to the main program. If the codes are different, the unit is controlled and the contents of storage location Y2 are old and are deleted. After unit 207, go to unit 208,
The signs of the data stored in Yl and Y2 are checked, and if the signs are different, the data in Yl is erased. This causes the most recently interrupted Y beam to be stored, and also the previously interrupted Y beam to be stored, unless the sign of the movement direction is different, indicating that the information is old.

When the unit 201 determines that the data regarding the switches 84-87 corresponds to the X beam, the unit 203 is controlled to determine whether the X beam storage flag is set. If not set, unit 204 stores the beam identification data in memory location x1 and sets a flag, then unit 205 checks the sign of the data stored in x1 and x2, and if the signs are different, the unit 206 erases the data of X'2. X
If the flag is set, unit 207 stores the input data in memory location x2 and resets the flag, then unit 208 checks the sign, and if the signs are different, unit 209 stores the data at x1. to erase.

In either case, in unit 210, unit 20
0 returns to the main program where the interrupt occurred.

Interrupts can occur consecutively within a predetermined time.

Therefore, the identification data of the last one or two interrupted X beams or Y beams is stored and held at a predetermined time determined by the timer interrupt. At the end of a predetermined period of time, a timer interrupt occurs and unit 211 is controlled. Unit 212 is then controlled to determine if any cursor movement is required. This is Xl, X2. Yl
, Y2, and if all the contents are O, no cursor movement is necessary. Accordingly, unit 213 returns to the main program.

If cursor movement is required, unit 214 moves to storage location X1. Examine X2 to determine if X movement is necessary. If necessary, go to unit 215, if not, go to unit 2.
Go to 16. Unit 215 determines whether only a single X-beam is interrupted and if so, unit 2
Switch 8 with 17 stored in memory position x1 or x2
6.87 is examined, and from this a parameter L corresponding to the movement length, that is, the number of unit positions to which the cursor should move in the X direction, is generated. If only switch 86 is set, L is equal to 1 indicating stepped cursor movement. If only switch 87 is set, then is equal to 4, corresponding to 4 cursor position movements. If both switches 86 and 87 are set,
L is equal to 16, which requires movement of the cursor through 16 unit positions. Next, go to unit 218 and "Move X"
A subproducer named Durham (not shown) is called, and the sign of movement (corresponding to the set of switch 85) and L calculated by unit 211 are given as parameters S. When returning from the subprogram, unit 219
clears storage locations x1 and x2 in preparation for a series of new operations at subsequent predetermined time intervals.

If the two X beams were interrupted in the previous time interval, the unit 215 goes to the unit 221 and selects storage location x1 or x2 to store the beam identification data that requires a smaller amount of movement. Next, unit 222
switch 86. is stored in the selected storage location.
The parameter L is decoded from the setting of 87.

If the innermost beam is interrupted, unit 222
Set beam=1, and L is set to 4 if the intermediate beam is interrupted. Unit 223 then examines the settings of switches 86 and 87 stored in the other storage locations (Xl or is increased by 1, and when the second cutoff beam is the third, L
Increase by 4 digits. Next, it goes to unit 218 and calls the "X movement" subprogram as described above. As a result, when the inner and middle beams are interrupted simultaneously, the cursor is moved over 2 unit positions (between 1 and 4 movement positions when the first or second beam is interrupted individually);
When the third and fourth beams are interrupted simultaneously, the cursor is moved 8 units (compared to 4 and 16 movement positions when these beams are interrupted individually).

If movement of the cursor in the X direction is requested, it goes from unit 219 to unit 216, otherwise it goes directly from unit 214 to unit 216. Unit 216 examines the stored data to determine whether a single beam has been interrupted; if the single beam has been interrupted, unit 224 decodes parameter 1; unit 225 decodes the "Y movement" subprogram. call,
Sign (determined from the setting of switch 85)
and parameter L is given. If two Y beams are interrupted, unit 228 selects the lower beam;
Unit 229 decodes L for this beam;
Unit 230 changes L in response to the second interrupted beam. The functions of the above units are units 221 to 223.
The function is the same as that of Next, unit 225 “moves Y”
Call the subprogram.

When the "Y movement" subprogram is completed, the program goes to knee unit 226 to clear the data stored in storage locations Y1 and Y2, and returns to unit 227 to the main program interrupted by unit 211.

Although FIG. 5 has been described using a computer program or software, each illustrated unit may be replaced by a hardware unit that accomplishes the functions described.

The apparatus or program of FIG. 5 identifies the interrupted beam by setting four switches 84-87 according to any of the cursor control units of FIGS. 1 to 3 and beam identification data. Can be used with other devices.

The apparatus or program of FIG. 5 operates sufficiently quickly to ensure that the identification data of all newly interrupted beams is stored and the necessary cursor movement is performed at the end of each predetermined period. The length of such period is controlled by selecting the activation time of timer interrupt 211. The speed of the cursor increases geometrically depending on the position of the user's finger.

For example, the number of unit positions the cursor moves during each time interval is 1°2.4.8 depending on which beam is interrupted.
Or 16. Another example is the subprogram '
× move” and “Y move” cut off the endmost beam (L is 1
6) and moves the cursor directly to the extreme position in the indicated direction. For example, the cursor is moved to the rightmost or leftmost position in a given column, or to the topmost or bottommost position in a given position or row. When the user combines X and Y movement by blocking the X and Y beams simultaneously, the cursor can be moved directly to the four corners of the video screen.

FIG. 5 corresponds to the program list attached to this specification. This list is written in Basic for the IBM PC, with four switches 84-87 connecting to standard game controller ports: Switches AI, 81. They correspond to A2 and B2, respectively.

According to one preferred form of the invention, the mouse recess is about 6 meters or 1/4 inch deep, and the legs of FIGS. 1 and 2 are preferably 12. It has a width of The side walls of the recess have mutually opposing holes with which the emitter 20 and the receiver 22 correspond within the housing. Preferably,
The light emitter is an infrared ray generator, and the light receiver is constructed to mainly sense infrared rays or only infrared rays and not to detect the other part of the light.

Although the mouse housing may be integral with the computer control panel or keyboard, it is within the scope of the invention to provide a separate housing for the mouse if necessary, thereby making it easier to integrate the invention into existing equipment. It can be adapted and retain the advantage of not requiring a large flat surface for mouse operation.

Although the description with respect to FIG. 5 referred to scanning switches 84-87 individually, when the mouse of the present invention is incorporated into a control panel or keyboard, switches 84-87 and the normal keys of the keyboard may be scanned together. is convenient, and the key switch is I! recognizes and responds to its operation.

The usual programs used by computer systems can be used. Alternatively, several receivers may be activated individually during the keyboard scan routine, in which case the receiver selector circuits, ROM, registers, and switches 84-87 are not required.

FIG. 6 shows another program that can be used to control the position of a cursor in response to the rate of movement of a user's finger from its home position. The program is frequently started at 300 to check for an interrupt indicating that one of the finger mouse beams has been interrupted. The first beam is slightly separated from the home position in the a+x direction, the second beam is separated outward from the first beam,
Assuming that the third beam is in the home position, the unit 302 determines whether any beams are interrupted.

Or determine whether the cursor is moving. If the beam is not interrupted, a return is made via line 303 to the main program being executed at the same time. If blocked, unit 304. 306 determines that the first and second beams are blocked. From unit 304 we go to unit 305 to start a timer T from 0 and from unit 306 we go to unit 307 to obtain the current state of timer T which is inversely proportional to the speed of movement of the user's finger between beams 1 and 2. Next, the unit 1-310 sets the cursor movement speed V to a constant value divided by the contents of the timer T.

This is, for example, per second for a moderate speed finger movement.
This is a movement of 100 dot positions, and for slower finger movements, the movement of the drum 1 to position will be smaller.

The exact speed can be adjusted by changing parameter C. Next, the process goes to unit 312 and controls the operation of the device that actually moves the cursor.

If neither beams 1 or 2 are blocked, go to unit 314 to determine if the home beam is blocked. If the home beam is interrupted, unit 316 is controlled to immediately set the speed to O and stop the cursor. In this way, you can end your fast move at any time.

If the Baum beam is also not interrupted, the cursor is moving and unit 318 calculates the new cursor velocity V/D. D is a parameter selected by the user to produce the desired percentage of cursor speed reduction. D=2
, if a clock tick occurs because unit 318 was last IIJIII, the cursor speed is 1/
Reduced to 2. A clock tick is, for example, 1/4 second. Preferably the flag is set by a clock tick and unit 318 checks the flag and if it is set resets the flag after making the speed adjustment. If the flag is not set, go to unit 312 and the speed will not change.

Due to the operation of unit 318, cursor movement automatically slows down and stops after a certain period of time. The slow movement of the cursor allows the user to stop the cursor exactly at the desired position by returning the finger to a position that blocks the home beam.

The above device has been described in the +X direction, but in the -X direction.

Similar devices are provided and provided for the direction and both Y directions.

FIG. 7 shows another embodiment of the invention. This embodiment has a base 400 that is separate from or incorporated into a conventional keyboard.

The base 400 has a predetermined number of conductive buttons 402 on its surface.
These buttons are touched by the user's fingers. The buttons are arranged in four separate directions from the central portion of the base without buttons.

Each button is connected to a circuit (not shown in FIG. 7) that generates a signal indicating which button the user has touched. This signal is used by the device in place of the light beam and light beam detector described above. Devices that generate electrical signals upon human touch are well known and will not be described in detail. Optionally another button 404 in the center position of the base 400
The device may also provide the user with tactile feedback of finger position.

Furthermore, if center button 404 is provided, it may be raised slightly more than the other buttons to provide tactile feedback of the home position.

In another example configuration, the speed of movement of the user's finger in a direction away from the center or home position determines the speed of cursor movement. In such a configuration, the new data interrupt unit 200 has the function of storing the time at which successive new data occur in response to movement of the user's finger away from the home position and toward one or more fingers. Let's do it.

The time interval between leaving the central beam and interrupting the next beam (or the time interval between interrupting two consecutive beams) is computed (by subtraction), and the time interval is the unit of cursor movement in each unit Rm. Used to control the number of positions. This is accomplished by programming a timer that prorates timer interrupts 211 to generate interrupt signals at a rate proportional to the speed of movement of the user's fingers.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a first embodiment of the invention, FIG. 2 is a plan view of another embodiment of the invention, FIG. 3 is a plan view of yet another embodiment of the invention, and FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram of a device that generates digital signals for moving a cursor, FIG. 5 is a functional block diagram of an operating program executed in a device embodying the present invention, and FIG. 6 is a functional block diagram of another program. The block diagram, FIG. 7, is a schematic diagram of another embodiment of the invention. 10...Housing 12.14...Groove 16.
...Small button 18...Light dome 20...
Light source 22...Declaration of the drawing of the light receiver (no change in ``;';'') FIG, 7. Procedural amendment surrounding patent application No. 1983-93 2, name of the invention cursor control device 3, person making the amendment Relationship to the case Patent applicant address 78664, Texas, United States of America
Round Rock Oakmont Center 2,800 people
Name: Carol Touch Technology Incorporated 4, Agent: 7th Floor, Uraiya Building, 5-2-1 Roppongi, Minato-ku, Tokyo (7318) Patent Attorney: Yanagi 1) Seishi (and 1 other person) 5.
Date of amendment order 8, contents of amendment 1) The application will be amended as attached. 2) Supplement the power of attorney. 3) Correct the drawing to an inked drawing. 9. Attached documents

Claims (3)

[Claims] (1) housing means having a recess and means for supporting a plurality of spaced apart light beams within the recess, and generating an electrical signal in response to manual interruption of one or more of the light beams by a user; means for controlling cursor movement of a video display device, the electrical signal being indicative of cursor movement in a predetermined direction and at a predetermined speed in response to an interrupted beam. (2) A housing having an elongated recess on the outer surface, and a plurality of light beams spaced apart along the length of the recess are provided in the recess, and when one or more of the light beams is interrupted, a predetermined direction is provided. and providing means for moving the cursor at one of a plurality of predetermined speeds, the speed of movement increasing as said beam is successively interrupted, the video display device being responsive to manual movement of the user. A device that controls the position of a cursor. (3) A base supporting a plurality of detection means that detect the position of a user's finger and generate a signal according to finger identification; means for sensing movement in a direction, connected to receive the signal from the detection means, and for moving the position of the cursor in a direction corresponding to the direction of movement of the finger from the center position; Apparatus for controlling cursor movement of a video display device, including: