Patent ID: 6034672
Filing Date: 2000-03-07
Classification: G06F

Abstract:
Method for positioning without discontinuity a cursor on a desired location of a screen of a display device, using a control source consisting in a touch-sensitive work board comprising a touch-sensitive surface producing electrical signals indicating X-Y position coordinates of an operator's finger in contact therewith and a force exerted by said finger thereon, said signals being transmitted to a processor comprising means for positioning the cursor on the display screen according to an absolute pointing mode wherein each point of the touch-sensitive surface corresponds isomorphically to a point of the display screen, and to a relative pointing mode wherein a displacement of the cursor on the display screen is controlled by a homothetic movement of the finger close to said surface, and switching means for selecting said absolute pointing mode if said force rises above a predetermined threshold, and said relative mode if said force remains below said threshold, said method comprising successively:a first step during which the finger is applied with a force exceeding said threshold on a first location of the touch-sensitive surface so as to coarsely position the cursor on a first location on the display screen near said desired location,a second step during which the force exerted by said finger on said touch-sensitive surface is reduced to a value below said threshold so as to select the relative pointing mode, said finger staying on said first location of the touch-sensitive surface while the cursor stays on said first location on the display screen, anda third step during which said finger exerts on said surface a force which remains below said threshold and is moved so as to accurately move the cursor from said first location on the display screen to said desired location.