WO2013103968A2

WO2013103968A2 - Touchscreen controller

Info

Publication number: WO2013103968A2
Application number: PCT/US2013/020544
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jack Atzmon
Original assignee: Ergowerx International, Llc
Priority date: 2012-01-06
Filing date: 2013-01-07
Publication date: 2013-07-11
Also published as: WO2013103968A3

Abstract

A device and application for the device causing the device to act like a mouse, act like a minitablet, provide a section of a primary screen on its own display, provide touch control for the primary display, change its display without changing the primary display, provide unique images including a list of the fields you need to enter with the ability to enter them, lock onto any field or page, preview television channels and select the channel for the primary television or display, display picture-in-picture, and run applications so that the primary display is not affected.

Description

Touchscreen Controller

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

This invention is related to an input device for a computer and more particularly to touchscreen input device for a computer.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Input devices for computers are well known in the art. The movement of the mouse in an X-Y plane typically actuates a mechanical, optical, or electrical device within the mouse that produces X and Y position signals that are conveyed to the computer. The computer typically uses the mouse X and Y position signals to manipulate the display of the computer screen, allowing a user to control a program. A computer mouse also typically has one or more buttons which allow the user to further control a computer program. The mouse and mouse button allow the user to move a cursor or other pointing device to a specific area of the computer screen and depress the one or more buttons to activate specific computer program functions. Pressing the button downward actuates the mouse buttons.

A computer mouse is one of the indispensable peripherals for controlling a computer. Computer mice include the conventional roller-type mouse, track-ball type mouse, touch pad sensitive type mouse, and the optical mouse.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Disclosed is an input device having a touch sensitive surface. The mouse is typically one of a laser mouse, an optical mouse, a mechanical ball mouse, and the like. In a preferred embodiment, the top surface of the mouse comprises a display.

In a preferred embodiment, the touchscreen mouse/controller is a smartphone, tablet computer, or special purpose controller having a screen and other necessary components to achieve the disclosed features, generally referred to as the Device.

In a first embodiment, the Device would act like a mouse when dragged along a surface. The Device would use one or more of standard mouse technology, GPS, motion sensors, or a camera in the device to determine motion. Additionally, other well-known mouse technology can be used for motion detection.

In one embodiment, the Device can control a television, tablet computer, computer or the like. The Device would act like a minitablet allowing a user to utilize fingers to drag a piece of the primary screen around the Device display. In a preferred embodiment, a specific multifinger swipe is used to replace or supplement the primary display with content from the secondary display.

In a preferred embodiment, the Device provides a section of the primary screen on its own display. This display of the Device is referred to as a second display. The second display provides full touch control of the primary display even if the primary display is an ordinary monitor.

Preferably, the second display could change without changing the primary display.

In one embodiment, the second display could be used as a magnifier for a specific portion of the primary display without changing the primary display.

The second display provides a user with unique images such as a list of the fields you need to enter with the ability to enter them. For example, if a fillable form is displayed on the primary display, preferably only the fillable portion is presented on the second display.

In one embodiment, data can be input via one or more of the primary display and the secondary screen. A keyboard display can be generated on one of the primary display or the second display. A cursor or the like can be moved using the touchscreen function of the Device and alphanumeric characters, radio buttons, or the like can be selected. In one embodiment, the alphanumeric characters, radio buttons, or the like are only displayed on one of the Device and the primary display.

The second display could lock onto any field from the primary display or page that the user wishes to allow the user the ability to watch a stock ticker all day, monitor an online auction, or the like.

The second display could be used with a television allowing you to preview channels on the second display and pick the channel for the primary television. In this manner, the channels can be scrolled through on the second display and ultimately selected for display on the primary television. In one embodiment, picture-in-picture TV options can be dragged onto the second display so two shows can be viewed at once, one on the primary one on the secondary. Alternatively, a third show can be watched on the secondary screen with the picture-in- picture TV options on the primary screen.

In one embodiment, video conferencing applications, Skype, or another application, can be dragged into the second display to allow you to move about your work area freely.

In a preferred embodiment, the device is a smartphone having a display, a microprocessor, and memory. A program is stored on a nonvolatile memory that enables the smartphone to perform one or more of the above functions. In one embodiment, the program is stored remotely. The microprocessor is preferably used to run a program that provides the disclosed capabilities.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

Figure 1 is a top view of a device according to an embodiment of the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

Figure 1 is a top view of a device 10 according to an embodiment of the invention. The device 10 is configured to at least control a device 20. As shown, the device 10 comprises a right mouse button 12, a left mouse button 14, and a scroll element 16. The right mouse button 12 and left mouse button 14 and scroll wheel are implemented as touch sensitive buttons but can also be implemented as mechanical buttons. It should be noted that the mouse controls are provided by an application being run on the touch device 10.

In one embodiment, the mouse further comprises at least one touch sensitive function button or touch sensitive area 22. In a preferred embodiment, the touch sensitive area 22 is user configurable. Cursor control or a position-determining module for the device 10 can be standard mouse technology, GPS, motion sensors, or a camera in the device to determine motion.

Additionally, other well-known mouse technology can be used for motion detection.

In one embodiment, the touch sensitive area is used for overall device functionality such as data input into device 10, placing calls, and viewing data. The device 10 includes a display. The display is one of an LCD display, a plasma display, an LED display, or the like. The display typically comprises an array of pixels arranged in two orthogonal dimensions to form a two go dimensional display, with X and Y coordinates used to indicate the location of each pixel in the array. The display is configured to display a portion of the image presented on device 20 to which the device is coupled. In one embodiment, display 20 is arranged a distance from a surface of the mouse body.

The device 10 is connected to the device 20 via at least one of a wired connection 18, i.e., a PS/2 or USB connection or wireless connection, i.e., a Bluetooth connection. The mouse positioning data as well as the image data and mouse button controls are transferred between the device 10 and the device 20 via this connection. In one embodiment, the device 10 includes a port 34. This external port 34 can be a USB port or memory port used to plug in additional devices.

In one embodiment, the device 10 comprises a memory. The memory is configured to store photos for use as a Screensaver for display. The memory can also store button

configurations for touch sensitive areas 22. The device 10 preferably includes a microprocessor. The microprocessor, in conjunction with the memory, provides functionality for the display and the various touch sensitive surfaces. The user can configure the touch sensitive areas 22 of the device 10. In one embodiment, the touchscreen can be used for fingerprint recognition or other input.

A central processing unit (CPU) or processor performs the functions that will be described below. The CPU/processor can be any of a number of well-known devices. The device 10 includes the memory, which may comprise both random access memory (RAM) and read-only memory (ROM).

The display device 20 is configurable by at least one of the microprocessor and the device 10 to which is connected. The user is able to configure the display to display all or part of the image displayed on the device 20 to which the device 10 is connected.

In one embodiment of the invention, as the device 10 moves the cursor on the display of device 20, a region of the display proximate to the cursor is magnified. In this manner, a zoom function can be easily implemented without varying the main display of the device 20 as the magnified image is displayed on the display of device 10. The display for the device 10 can be configured using the device 20 or, alternatively, the display can be configured using a touch menu generated by the microprocessor. In one embodiment, the touchscreen can be used to enter passwords that are stored in the memory. Alternatively, the passwords are entered using device 20. Passwords can also be stored on a USB fob that is plugged into port 34.

In one embodiment of the invention, the device 10 is a cellular telephone running a mouse application. The display for the telephone functions as the display 20. A user is able to have a selected portion of the device 20 displayed on the cellular telephone's display. In one embodiment, the cellular telephone's camera is used for cursor control of the device 20.

Alternatively, position sensors in the cellular telephone are used for cursor control.

In a preferred embodiment, the Device 10 provides a section of the primary screen of device 20 on its own display. This display of the Device 10 is referred to as a second display. The second display provides full touch control of the primary display even if the primary display is an ordinary monitor. Preferably, the second display could change without changing the primary display.

The second display provides a user with unique images such as a list of the fields you need to enter with the ability to enter them. For example, if a fillable form is displayed on the primary display device 20, preferably only the fillable portion is presented on the device 10.

The second display of device 10 could lock onto any field from the primary display of device 20 or page that the user wishes to allow the user the ability to watch a stock ticker all day, monitor an online auction, or the like.

The second display of device 10 could be used with a television allowing you to preview channels on the second display and pick the channel for the primary television. In this manner, the channels can be scrolled through on the second display and ultimately selected for display on the primary television.

In one embodiment, picture-in-picture TV options can be dragged onto the second display so two shows can be viewed at once, one on the primary one on the secondary. Alternatively, a third show can be watched on the secondary screen with the picture-in- picture TV options on the primary screen.

In one embodiment, Skype, or another application, can be dragged into the second display to allow you to move about your work area freely.

In a preferred embodiment, device 10 is a smartphone capable of one or more of: acting like a mouse when dragged along a surface;

acting like a minitablet having touch control to drag a piece of the primary screen around the mouse;

provide a section of a primary screen on its own display;

provide full touch control of the primary display even if the primary display is an ordinary monitor;

change its display without changing the primary display;

magnify a portion of an image without changing the primary display;

provide unique images including a list of the fields you need to enter with the ability to enter them; lock onto any field or page;

provide the capability to preview television channels and select the channel for the primary television or display;

display picture-in-picture so two shows can be viewed at simultaneously , one on the primary one on the secondary;

display and run applications so that the primary display is not affected.

A program stored on a nontransitory computer readable medium capable of controlling a device for one or more of:

acting like a mouse when dragged along a surface;

acting like a minitablet having touch control to drag a portion of a primary screen around the mouse;

providing a section of the primary screen on its own display; providing full touch control of the primary display even if the primary display is an ordinary monitor;

changing its display without changing the primary display;

magnifying a portion of an image without changing the primary display; providing unique images including a list of the fields you need to enter with the ability to enter them;

locking onto any field or page;

providing the capability to preview television channels and select the channel for the primary television or display;

displaying picture-in-picture so two shows can be viewed at simultaneously , one on the primary one on the secondary;

displaying and running applications so that the primary display is not affected.

A computer storage media having embodied thereon computer-useable instructions that, when executed, perform a method, the method comprising one or more of:

acting like a mouse when dragged along a surface;

providing a section of a primary screen on its own display; providing full touch control of the primary display even if the primary display is an ordinary monitor;

changing its display without changing the primary display;

locking onto any field or page;

The present invention may be described herein in terms of functional block components, code listings, optional selections and various processing steps. It should be appreciated that such functional blocks may be realized by any number of hardware and/or software components configured to perform the specified functions. For example, the present invention may employ various integrated circuit components, e.g., memory elements, processing elements, logic elements, look-up tables, and the like, which may carry out a variety of functions under the control of one or more microprocessors or other control devices.

Similarly, the software elements of the present invention may be implemented with any programming or scripting language such as C, C++, C#, Java, COBOL, assembler, PERL, or the like, with the various algorithms being implemented with any combination of data structures, objects, processes, routines or other programming elements.

Further, it should be noted that the present invention may employ any number of conventional techniques for data transmission, signaling, data processing, network control, and the like.

It should be appreciated that the particular implementations shown and described herein are illustrative of the invention and its best mode and are not intended to otherwise limit the scope of the present invention in any way. Indeed, for the sake of brevity, conventional data networking, application development and other functional aspects of the systems (and components of the individual operating components of the systems) may not be described in detail herein. Furthermore, the connecting lines shown in the various figures contained herein are intended to represent exemplary functional relationships and/or physical or virtual couplings between the various elements. It should be noted that many alternative or additional functional relationships or physical or virtual connections may be present in a practical electronic data communications system.

As will be appreciated by one of ordinary skill in the art, the present invention may be embodied as a method, a data processing system, a device for data processing, and/or a computer program product. Accordingly, the present invention may take the form of an entirely software embodiment, an entirely hardware embodiment, or an embodiment combining aspects of both software and hardware. Furthermore, the present invention may take the form of a computer program product on a computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code means embodied in the storage medium. Any suitable computer-readable storage medium may be utilized, including hard disks, CD-ROM, optical storage devices, magnetic storage devices, and/or the like.

The present invention is described with reference to block diagrams, apparatus (e.g., systems), and computer program products according to various aspects of the invention. It will be understood that each functional block of the block diagrams and the flowchart illustrations, and combinations of functional blocks in the block diagrams and flowchart illustrations, respectively, can be implemented by computer program instructions. These computer program instructions may be loaded onto a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions that execute on the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus create means for implementing the functions specified in the flowchart block or blocks.

These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer-readable memory that can direct a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to function in a particular manner, such that the instructions stored in the computer-readable memory produce an article of manufacture including instruction means that implement the function specified in the flowchart block or blocks. The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer or other programmable apparatus to produce a computer- implemented process such that the instructions that execute on the computer or other programmable apparatus provide steps for implementing the functions specified in the flowchart block or blocks.

Accordingly, functional blocks of the block diagrams support combinations of means for performing the specified functions, combinations of steps for performing the specified functions, and program instruction means for performing the specified functions. It will also be understood that each functional block of the block diagrams and flowchart illustrations, and combinations of functional blocks in the block diagrams and flowchart illustrations, can be implemented by either special purpose hardware -based computer systems that perform the specified functions or steps, or suitable combinations of special purpose hardware and computer instructions.

One skilled in the art will also appreciate that, for security reasons, any databases, systems, or components of the present invention may consist of any combination of databases or components at a single location or at multiple locations, wherein each database or system includes any of various suitable security features, such as firewalls, access codes, encryption, de- encryption, compression, decompression, and/or the like.

The scope of the invention should be determined by the appended claims and their legal equivalents, rather than by the examples given herein. For example, the steps recited in any method claims may be executed in any order and are not limited to the order presented in the claims. Moreover, no element is essential to the practice of the invention unless specifically described herein as "critical" or "essential."

While this invention has been described by reference to a preferred embodiment, it should be understood that numerous changes could be made within the spirit and scope of the inventive concepts described. Accordingly, it is intended that the invention not be limited to the disclosed embodiment, but that it have the full scope permitted by the language of the following claims.

Claims

I Claim:

1. A smartphone configured to:

act like a mouse when dragged along a surface;

act like a minitablet having touch control to drag a piece of the primary screen around the mouse;

provide a section of a primary screen on its own display;

change its display without changing the primary display;

magnify a portion of an image without changing the primary display;

provide unique images including a list of the fields you need to enter with the ability to enter them;

lock onto any field or page;

display and run applications so that the primary display is not affected.

2. A program stored on a nontransitory computer readable medium capable of controlling a device to one or more of:

act like a mouse when dragged along a surface;

act like a minitablet having touch control to drag a piece of a primary screen around the device;

providing a section of a primary screen on its own display;

providing full touch control of the primary screen;

changing its display without changing the primary display;

locking onto any field or page; providing the capability to preview television channels and select the channel for the primary television or display;

3. A computer storage media having embodied thereon computer-useable instructions that, when executed, perform a method, the method comprising one or more of:

acting like a mouse when dragged along a surface;

providing a section of a primary screen on its own display;

providing full touch control of the primary display even if the primary display is an ordinary monitor;

changing its display without changing the primary display;

locking onto any field or page;