Abstract:
A computer input device includes a control unit, a coordinate detecting module for detecting movement of the input device on a working surface, a roller on the body of the input device for generating a first scrolling signal, and a function key. When a user activates the function key and moves the input device, then the control unit will generate a second scrolling signal to cause both horizontal and vertical scrolling in response to detection of movement by the coordinate detecting device.

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0001]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0002]     The present invention relates to a computer input device, and in particular, to an input device for scrolling a windows application. The input device provides a scrolling mode, in which, when a button or function key is pressed, movement of the input device over a working surface causes scrolling of the display in vertical and horizontal directions.  
         [0003]     2. Description of the Prior Art  
         [0004]     A well-known device for scrolling windows applications is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,530,455. The device is in the form of a roller on the top of a mouse for vertically scrolling the displayed content of a Windows™ application. If a user wishes to scroll the content differently, the user has to additionally press a Shift key on a keyboard and then rotate the roller to scroll the content horizontally, as described in col. 8, lines 60˜65 of U.S. Pat. No. 5,530,455. Alternatively, if the user is willing to spend more energy, the user can move the cursor to the horizontal scrolling bar and rotate the roller to scroll the horizontal scrolling bar.  
         [0005]     In order to overcome the defect mentioned above, an input device with a twin roller structure is disclosed in China publication CN4308914. However, the twin roller structure is costly, and in addition is inconvenient since it is difficult for a user to move his finger between rollers in order to select a correct roller to rotate.  
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
       [0006]     It is an object of the present invention to provide a computer input device for scrolling displayed content of a Windows™ application alternatively in a vertical and horizontal direction.  
         [0007]     It is another object of the present invention to provide a computer input device in which a vertical and horizontal scrolling function is activated by pressing a button rather than by rotating a scroll wheel.  
         [0008]     To accomplish the virtues described above, the input device according to present invention comprises a control unit, a coordinate detecting module for detecting a movement of the input device on a working surface and moving a cursor on a display, a roller on the body of the input device for generating a first scrolling signal, and a function key. If a user actives the function key, the control unit will generate a second signal to cause vertical and horizontal scrolling of the content of a Windows™ application in response to movement of the input device on the working surface, as detected by the coordinate detecting module, rather than in response to first signal based on movement of the roller. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0009]      FIG. 1  is a block diagram according to the present invention.  
         [0010]      FIG. 2  is a flow chart diagram according to the present invention.  
         [0011]      FIG. 3A  is a diagram showing a connection with a computer system.  
         [0012]      FIG. 3B  is a diagram showing activation of a function key.  
         [0013]      FIG. 3C  is a diagram showing activation of the function key and the movement of the input device. 
     
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS  
       [0014]     The following detailed description is of the best presently contemplated modes of carrying out the invention. This description is not to be taken in a limiting sense, but is made merely for the purpose of illustrating general principles of embodiments of the invention. The scope of the invention is best defined by the appended claims.  
         [0015]     Referring to  FIG. 1 , the input device  4  has a control unit  12  and coordinate detecting module  45 . Input device  4  may take the form of a computer mouse, a trackball, a keyboard, a touch pad, or the like, and may be a wired or wireless device. The control unit  12  receives signals from function key  44 , roller  41  and coordinate detecting module  45 , processes the signals by means of firmware, and sends appropriate scrolling and cursor control signals to the computer. The coordinate detecting module generates coordinate signals that are normally used to control the position of a cursor on a display, while the roller generates scrolling signals used to scroll the display in a vertical direction. When horizontal and vertical scrolling is desired, the user presses the function key, as will be described in more detail below, the output of the coordinate detecting module is used to control scrolling of the display, rather than movement of the cursor, in response to movement of the input device.  
         [0016]     As shown in  FIGS. 3A-3C , the input device  4  is a computer mouse and the function key  44  is an extra button apart from the known button  42  for clicking (left button) and the other known button  43  for opening a function block (right button). Returning to  FIG. 1 , the input device  4  communicates with the an input/output program  22  included in the operating system of a computer  5  via an interface  18  so as to control a movement of a cursor on a display screen  6 . The operating system is preferably a version of Microsoft Windows™. The display screen  3  displays the application being executed, which in the illustrated example is a Windows™ application  32 .  
         [0017]     Referring to  FIG. 3A , the control unit receives signals from function key  44 , roller  41  and coordinate detecting module  45 . The input device  4  communicates with computer  5  via interface  18  so as to control a movement of a cursor  62  on the display screen  6 . The display screen  6  connects to the computer  5  via an interface  24  that permits display of a Windows™ application  61  being executed. The Windows™ application display has a vertical scrolling bar  611  and a horizontal scrolling bar  612 . In addition, the computer  5  of this specific example has a program  22 , which is typically part of the Windows™ operating system, for detecting the signals coming from the function key  44 , roller  41  and coordinate detecting module  45 .  
         [0018]     Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 B, a user moves the input device or mouse  4  on a working surface as to control the cursor  62  moving on the display  6 . When the user rotates the roller  41 , the control unit  12  generates a first signal to scroll the vertical scrolling bar  611 .  
         [0019]     If the user presses and releases the function key  44  (steps  83  to  84 ), the control unit  12  will generate a third signal to the program  22  in order to execute a predetermined command or function (step  841 ), such as page up, page down, windows application switching, multimedia device control . . . etc.  
         [0020]     Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 C. If the user presses the function key  44  and moves the mouse  4  to the left or right direction (step  85 ), then the control unit  12  will send a second signal to the program  22 . The program  22  will determine a position of the cursor on a present windows application (step  86 ), and whether the present Windows™ application has a horizontal scrolling bar  612  (step  87 ). If the Windows™ application has a horizontal scrolling bar  612 , the program  22  will read the direction and the displacement thereof (step  88 ) so as to move the horizontal scrolling bar  612  to the direction (left or right) following a corresponding speed based on the displacement (step  89 ). If the present windows application does not have a horizontal scrolling bar  612  (step  87 ), the control unit  12  will determine if the function key  44  has been released (step  84 ). If yes, the program  22  will generate a third signal for executing a predetermined command or function (step  841 ). If not, the program  22  will determine if the mouse  4  has been moved to left or right direction (step  85 ).  
         [0021]     Please notice that the further the displacement is, the faster the scrolling bar will move. When the displacement is horizontal, the horizontal scrolling bar  612  will scroll the content on the present windows application correspondingly. On the other hand, when the displacement is vertical, the vertical scrolling bar  611  will scroll the content on the present windows application correspondingly.  
         [0022]     By the way, the function key  44  can be located at any desired position on the mouse  4 , for example, at a higher or lower position than that of roller  41 , or at a lateral side of the roller  41 .  
         [0023]     While the description above refers to particular embodiments of the present invention, it will be understood that many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit thereof. The accompanying claims are intended to cover such modifications as would fall within the true scope and spirit of the present invention.