Patent Publication Number: US-2005138568-A1

Title: System integrated window sizing device

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Technical Field  
      The present invention relates in general to the field of input devices for communicating with portable computer devices and in particular to an integrated input device which can be utilized to both relocate a cursor pointer in an X and Y axis and efficiently resize a selected window display.  
      2. Description of the Related Art  
      Human users communicate with computers using various types of input devices, and computer systems typically include a means to communicate back to the user. The communication from a computer to the user is most commonly provided using a display screen on a device such as a cathode ray tube monitor in a full size computer system. More typically, in a portable computing device, a small liquid display or plasma display may be utilized to provide feedback to a user.  
      The types of input devices available to a user typically include keyboards, speech recognizers and various pointing devices such as styli, trackballs, light pens, mouse pointers or the like.  
      When a graphical user interface (GUI) is provided on a display screen of a computing device, these input techniques may be utilized to enable a user to interact with the graphical objects displayed therein. For example, such interaction may include selecting options, highlighting objects, moving objects and performing a variety of tasks within the computer system, with visual feedback provided by the images on the computer screen, as is well known in the art. In portable computer devices manipulation of objects within a display screen is increasingly difficult to accomplish in view of the small nature of the display provided and the fact that many input devices, such as mouse devices, trackballs or the like, are not suitable for utilization with such devices.  
      One device which has found great acceptance in small portable computing devices is the “TrackPoint” device which may be utilized to relocate a movable cursor within a computer display system. “TrackPoint” is a registered trademark of International Business Machines Corporation of Armonk, N.Y. A “TrackPoint”, often referred to as a pointer stick, typically resembles a small pencil eraser-like object which is integrated into a keyboard or portable computing device and, when subjected to force in an X axis or Y axis direction, translates that force into movement of a moveable cursor within the computer display system. As noted, such graphical pointing devices have found great acceptance; however, it would be advantageous to provide additional modes of operation for such devices to enhance the ability of a user to interact with graphical objects within a small display screen.  
      Recently, U.S. Pat. No. 6,198,472 disclosed a technique whereby an additional mode of operation may be associated with a “TrackPoint” device to provide scrolling in a three-dimensional mode. That is, scrolling in a Z axis direction in addition to the traditional X axis and Y axis direction. This technique represents a useful advance in the art of input devices within portable computing devices; however, multiple additional manipulation techniques for utilization with portable computing devices would clearly be advantageous.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      It therefore an object of the present invention to provide an improved input device for communicating with a portable computing device.  
      It is another object of the present invention to provide an improved input device which can be utilized to relocate a cursor pointer in an X and Y axis and efficiently resize a selected window display within a portable computer device.  
      The foregoing objects are achieved as is now described. A system integrated window sizing device for varying the display size of displayed windows in a portable computing device is disclosed. A pointer stick device is integrated into the portable computing device and supports movement of a cursor pointer in both an X axis and Y axis direction in a first mode of operation and, in a second mode of operation, can be utilized to increase or decrease a selected window size by rotation thereof. Transfer between the first mode of operation and the second mode of operation, can be accomplished by axial movement of the pointer stick.  
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      The novel features believed to be characteristic of the invention are set forth in the appended claims. The present invention itself, however, as well as a preferred mode of use, further objectives, and advantages thereof, will best be understood by reference to the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, wherein:  
       FIG. 1  is a pictorial representation of a portable computing device employing the window sizing device of the present invention;  
       FIG. 2  is a pictorial representation of a portable computing device of  FIG. 1  after resizing a window utilizing the window resizing device of the present invention;  
       FIG. 3  is a graphic illustration of the control functions of the window sizing device of the present invention;  
       FIGS. 4A-4C  depict electrical and mechanical aspects of an embodiment of the window sizing device of the present invention whereby rotation of the window sizing device controls sizing of a selected display window; and  
       FIG. 5  is a high level logic flow chart illustrating a process for controlling window sizing utilizing the window sizing device of the present invention.  
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
      With reference now to the Figures and in particular with reference to  FIG. 1 , there is a pictorial representation of a portable computing device  10  which employs the window sizing device of the present invention. As illustrated, portable computing device  10  preferably includes a display screen  12  which, in the depicted embodiment of the present invention, may comprise a liquid crystal display (LCD), a plasma display or any other suitable display technology.  
      Also depicted within  FIG. 1  are multiple selector buttons  14  which, in a manner well known to those having ordinary skill in the art, may be utilized to select particular functions within portable computing device  10 . Similarly, various function buttons  16  are depicted which may be utilized to select particular functions or modes of operation within portable computing device  10 .  
      Depicted within display  12  are multiple window displays including window display  20  and window display  26 . A moveable cursor pointer  24  is also provided and, as those having ordinary skill in the art will appreciate, moveable cursor pointer  24  may be utilized to select, highlight or relocate various elements displayed within display  12  within portable computing device  10 .  
      As those having ordinary skill in this art will appreciate a particular display window  20  or  26  may be selected and given “focus” as the window into which user inputs will be directed in a standard operating technique. Additionally, moveable cursor pointer  24  may be utilized, in well known operating systems, to resize a particular display window by relocating moveable cursor pointer  24  to one of the corners of a window and thereafter engaging in a so-called “drag” operation until the display of the window has achieved the desired size.  
      This particular operation is difficult to accomplish in a small portable computing device and, as a consequence the Applicants herein have provided an additional input device which may be utilized to relocate moveable cursor pointer  24  in an X axis and Y axis direction and which may be also utilized to efficiently resize a selected window display within display  12 . For this purpose Applicants provide a novel variation of the well known “TrackPoint” device implemented utilizing pointer stick  18 .  
      Referring now to  FIG. 2 , there is depicted a pictorial representation of portable computing device  10  of  FIG. 1 , after resizing window  20  utilizing the window sizing device of the present invention. As illustrated, in this depiction of portable computing device  10 , pointer stick  18 , which is pivotally mounted within portable computing device  10 , has been rotated to an extended position and, as illustrated at reference numeral  18  may be rotated in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction when operated in a second mode of operation, as will be explained in greater detail herein. Utilizing this technique, window display  20  may be selectively increased or decreased in size without requiring intricate manipulation of moveable cursor pointer  24 .  
      With reference now to  FIG. 3 , there is depicted a graphical illustration of the control functions of the window sizing device of the present invention which are available utilizing pointer stick  18 . As depicted, X and Y axes are illustrated and, in response to force applied to pointer stick  18  in a left, right, up or down direction relocation of moveable cursor pointer  24  will occur (see  FIG. 2 ) in the positive X axis direction at reference  30 , the negative X axis direction at reference  32 , the positive Y axis direction at reference  34  or the negative Y axis direction at reference  36 , in a manner well known to those having ordinary skill in this art.  
      Further, when manipulated into a second mode of operation, pointer stick  18  may be utilized to efficiently increase or decrease the size of a selected display window within portable computing device  10  by rotating pointer stick  18  in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction. As illustrated in  FIG. 3 , a rotation in the clockwise direction, indicated at reference  38 , will increase the size of a selected window display while rotation in a counterclockwise direction, indicated at reference  40 , will decrease the size of the window display.  
      Thus, as depicted within  FIG. 3 , pointer stick  18  may be utilized traditionally to relocate moveable cursor pointer  24  in two dimensions or, when employed in a second mode of operation, may be utilized to increase or decrease the display size of a selected window display as will be described in greater detail herein.  
      Referring now to  FIGS. 4A-4C , there are illustrated the mechanical and electrical aspects of one embodiment of the window sizing device of the present invention. In this depicted embodiment of the present invention, pointer stick  18  is placed into a second mode of operation by raising pointer stick  18  into an upper position by telescoping pointer stick  18  outward in an axial direction from portable computing device  10 . After this mode of operation has been made available,  FIG. 4A  illustrates a top view of the window sizing device of the present invention. As illustrated, a base  107  is provided for pointer stick  18  which includes a continuous-turn potentiometer  106 . Use of this potentiometer enables a user to continuously rotate pointer stick  18  in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction. Connected to the top of continuous-turn potentiometer  106  is pointer stick armature  105 . The top of pointer stick armature  105  preferably includes a resilient rubber tip  108 .  
      In the depicted embodiment of the present invention armature  105  is preferably supported by bearings  110 , as illustrated in the side view provided within  FIG. 4B . The material composition of base  107  is preferably a flexible plastic material and, as is well known in the art, when pointer stick  18  is flexed in the X axis direction or Y axis direction, strain gages  101 ,  102 ,  103  and  104  may be utilized to measure the strength of force applied in those directions, utilizing techniques well known in the art.  
      Armature  105  of pointer stick  18  preferably contains a spring push-to-raise, push-to-collapse mechanism, similar to that utilized in standard retractable ballpoint pens. Thus, once the user has “popped-up” pointer stick  18 , it may be rotated.  
      As armature  105  is rotated the resistance of potentiometer  106  is varied. This resistance may be registered utilizing electrical connections  109  and, as depicted within  FIG. 4C , the resistance of potentiometer  106  increases and resets, in a saw-tooth pattern. Thus, at the beginning of a turn (0°), potentiometer  106  is at a minimum resistance  122 . At the end of a turn (359°), potentiometer is at a maximum resistance  121 . Each tooth in the saw-tooth wave depicted within  FIG. 4C  corresponds to a complete revolution of potentiometer  106  and consequently, sensing electronics may be utilized to monitor the resistance of potentiometer  106  to translate resistance increase and decrease into signals which may be utilized to increase or decrease the display size of a window display within display  12 , utilizing techniques which are known to those having skill in this art.  
      Those having ordinary skill in this art will appreciate that pointer stick  18  may thus be utilized to relocate moveable cursor pointer  24  in either the X axis direction or Y axis direction in a manner well known in the art or, in a second mode of operation, to increase or decrease the size of a selected window display within display  12  in a highly efficient manner.  
      Finally, with reference to  FIG. 5 , there is depicted a high level logic flow chart which illustrates a process for controlling window sizing utilizing the window sizing device of the present invention. As illustrated, this process begins at step  120  and thereafter passes to step  122 . Step  122  illustrates a determination of whether or not the user desires X axis movement, as indicated by force applied to pointer stick  18  in the X axis direction. If so, the process passing to block  124  which depicts the movement of the cursor in either the positive or negative X axis direction. Thereafter, the process returns to block  122 , in a iterative fashion, to await further indicated movements for moveable cursor pointer  24  (see,  FIG. 2 ).  
      Still referring to block  122 , in the event no X axis movement is detected, the process passes to block  126  which illustrates a determination of whether or not Y axis movement has been detected. Again, movement in the Y axis is detected as a result of forces applied to pointer stick  18  in the Y axis direction. If Y axis movement is indicated, the process passes from block  126  to block  128 , which illustrates the movement of the cursor in the Y axis. Thereafter, as described above, the process returns to block  122  in an iterative fashion to await further moveable cursor pointer movement indication.  
      Finally, in the event neither X axis movement nor Y axis movement has been detected, the process passes to block  130 . Block  130  illustrates a determination of whether or not rotation of pointer stick  18  has been detected and if so, the process passes to block  132 . Block  132  illustrates an increasing or decreasing of the size of the window having “focus” and, as described above, the user may therefore efficiently vary the size of a window display within a portable computing device utilizing the window sizing device of the present invention.  
      Finally, still referring to block  130 , if no rotation has been detected, or after increasing or decreasing the size of the “focus” window, as depicted within block  132 , the process returns, in an iterative fashion, to block  122  to await further controls implemented utilizing pointer stick  18 .  
      Upon reference of the foregoing, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the Applicants in the present application have created a technique whereby one simple input device may be utilized to control movement of moveable cursor pointer in both an X axis and Y axis direction while operating in a first mode of operation and to efficiently resize a window display when operated in a second mode of operation, greatly enhancing the usability of a portable computing device having limited display capacity.  
      While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to a preferred embodiment, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention.