Cursor for lcd displays

Claim 3

A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the step of displaying the image object at the second location and the step of displaying the representation of the image object at one or more intermediate locations each include a step of energizing a plurality of display device pixels, and wherein the predetermined maximum period of time has a value that is a function of an amount of time required for the display device pixels to become visually apparent after being energized.

Claim 4

A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the step of displaying the image object at the second location includes a step of energizing a plurality of display device pixels, and wherein the predetermined maximum rate of movement has a value that is a function of an amount of time required for the display device pixels to become visually apparent after being energized.

Claim 5

A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein the step of displaying a representation of the image object includes a step of displaying a simplified image object.

Claim 8

A method as set forth in claim 5 wherein the step of initiating the display of the image object includes a step of energizing a plurality of display device pixels, and wherein the at lest one probable future location is selected also as a function of an amount of time required for the display device pixels to become visually apparent after being energized.

Claim 9

A method as set forth in claim 5 wherein the step of displaying the image object at the second location includes a step of energizing a plurality of display device pixels, and wherein the predetermined maximum rate of movement has a value that is a function of an amount of time required for the display device pixels to become visually apparent after being energized.

Claim 10

A method as set forth in claim 5 wherein the step of initiating the display of the image object includes the further step of: initiating the display of a representation of the image object at one or more intermediate locations between the second location and the at least one selected probable future location of the image object.

Claim 11

A method as set forth in claim 5 wherein the step of initiating the display of the image object includes the further step of: displaying a representation of the image object at one or more intermediate locations between the first location and the second location for visually indicating a direction of movement of the image object between the first location and the second location.

Claim 12

Apparatus for controlling the operation of a liquid crystal display device, comprising: a liquid crystal display device having a plurality of pixels; control means coupled to the liquid crystal display device for controlling the energizing and de-energizing of said plurality of pixels so as to display an image object; and pointing means having an output coupled to said control means for providing a signal to said control means for specifying a direction of movement and a rate of movement of the displayed image object from a first location to a second location; wherein said control means is responsive to the signal for, displaying the image object at the second location; for determining if a specified rate of movement of the image object between the first location and the second location is less than a predetermined maximum rate of movement; and in response to a determination by said control means that the specified rate of movement of the image object between the first location and the second location is not less than the predetermined maximum rate of movement, for displaying a representation of the image object at one or more intermediate locations between the first location and the second location for visually indicating a direction of movement of the image object between the first location and the second location; for determining if one or more of the representations of the displayed image object, and also the image object that is displayed at the first location, have been displayed for a period of time that is equal to or greater than a predetermined maximum period of time; and if so, for terminating the display of th image object that is displayed at the first location, and any representations thereof, that are determined to have been displayed for a period of time equal to or greater than the predetermined maximum period of time.

Claim 13

Apparatus for controlling the operation of a liquid crystal display device, comprising: a liquid crystal display device having a plurality of pixels; control means coupled to the liquid crystal display device for controlling the energizing and de-energizing of said plurality of pixels so as to display an image object; and pointing means having an output coupled to said control means for providing a signal to said control means for specifying a direction of movement and a rate of movement of the displayed image object from a first location to a second location; wherein said control means is responsive to the signal for, displaying the image object at the second location; for determining if a specified rate of movement of the image object between the first location and the second location is less than a predetermined maximum rate of movement; and in response to a determination by said control means that the specified rate of movement of the image object between the first location and the second location is not less than the predetermined maximum rate of movement, for displaying a representation of the image object at one or more intermediate locations between the first location and the second location for visually indicating a direction of movement of the image object between the first location and the second location; for determining if one or more of the representations of the displayed image object, and also the image object that is displayed at the first location, have been displayed for a period of time that is equal to or greater than a predetermined maximum period of time; and if so, for terminating the display of th image object that is displayed at the first location, and any representations thereof, that are determined to have been displayed for a period of time equal to or greater than the predetermined maximum period of time.

Claim 14

Apparatus as set forth in claim 10 wherein the predetermined maximum period of time and also the predetermined maximum rate of movement each have a value that is a function of an amount of time required for the pixels to become visually apparent after being energized.

Claim 15

Apparatus for controlling the operation of a liquid crystal display device, comprising: a liquid crystal display device having a plurality of pixels; control mean coupled to the liquid crystal display device for controlling the energizing and de-energizing of said plurality of pixels so as to display an image object; and pointing means having an output coupled to said control means for providing a signal to said control means for specifying a direction of movement and a rate of movement of the displayed image object from a first location to a second location; wherein said control means is responsive to the signal for, displaying the image object at the second location; for determining if a specified rate of movement of the image object between the first location and the second location is less than a predetermined maximum rate of movement; and in response to a determination by said control means that the specified rate of movement of the image object between the first location and the second location is not less than the predetermined maximum rate of movement, for initiating a display of the image object at least one probable future location of the image object, the at least one probable future location being selected as a function of a previous location of the image object and as a function of a previous specified rate of motion of the image object; and in response to a subsequent determination by said control means that a probable future location where the display of the image object has been initiated is not a correct location, for terminating the display of the image object at the incorrect location before the image object becomes visually apparent.

Claim 16

Apparatus for controlling the operation of a liquid crystal display device, comprising: a liquid crystal display device having a plurality of pixels; control mean coupled to the liquid crystal display device for controlling the energizing and de-energizing of said plurality of pixels so as to display an image object; and pointing means having an output coupled to said control means for providing a signal to said control means for specifying a direction of movement and a rate of movement of the displayed image object from a first location to a second location; wherein said control means is responsive to the signal for, displaying the image object at the second location; for determining if a specified rate of movement of the image object between the first location and the second location is less than a predetermined maximum rate of movement; and in response to a determination by said control means that the specified rate of movement of the image object between the first location and the second location is not less than the predetermined maximum rate of movement, for initiating a display of the image object at least one probable future location of the image object, the at least one probable future location being selected as a function of a previous location of the image object and as a function of a previous specified rate of motion of the image object; and in response to a subsequent determination by said control means that a probable future location where the display of the image object has been initiated is not a correct location, for terminating the display of the image object at the incorrect location before the image object becomes visually apparent.

Claim 17

Apparatus as set forth in claim 12 wherein the at least one probable future location is selected also as a function of an amount of time required for the pixels to become visually apparent after being energized.