US5347295A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Control of a computer through a position-sensed stylus
Assignee: GO Corp A CORP OF CALIFORNIA
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Filing: 1990-10-31
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Granted: 1994-09-13
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Expires: 2010-10-31
Abstract
Abstract A notebook computer which is controlled by a stylus executing gestures on the computer screen. The stylus and the computer include complementary electronic circuitry by which the proximity of the stylus tip to the computer is sensed. The proximity sensing is used to detect to approach of the stylus tip to the computer screen, and gestural commands are then entered on the screen by moving the stylus. The entry of a command is terminated by removing the stylus tip from proximity with the screen, which is detected by the computer, which then implements the command. Alternative methods of implementing the commands include time-outs and command termination buttons.
Inventors
- 👤 Todd Agulnick
- 👤 Robert Carr
- 👤 Tony Hoeber
- 👤 S. Jerrold Kaplan
- 👤 David R. Low
- 👤 Michael Ouye
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 10:20
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F1/00; G06F1/16; G06F1/1613; G06F1/1626; G06F40/00; G06F40/10; G06F40/166; G06F1/1633; G06F1/1637; G06F1/1643; G06F15/00; G06F15/02; G06F15/0225; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/048; G06F3/0487; G06F3/0488; G06F3/04883
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 49
Claim 1
Independent Claim
192 words
An apparatus for controlling a computer system, the computer system comprising a screen for displaying information and a stylus having a tip for inputting information into the computer, including: first detecting means coupled to said computer for detecting a stroke of the stylus tip in contact with the screen; second detecting means coupled to said computer for detecting a departure of the stylus tip from the screen; means coupled to said computer for defining termination of a gesture comprising at least one stroke in response to said departure of the stylus tip; means coupled to said computer for recognizing a plurality of said gestures, said recognizing means including means for comparing each said gesture to at least one predefined shape; means coupled to said computer for implementing each said recognized gesture, said implementing means including means for performing a predetermined action associated with each said predefined shape, said predetermined action being determined by the context in which said gesture was used, including a first context in which said action is executed upon an operating system level object and a second context in which said action is executed upon an application level object.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
192 words
An apparatus for controlling a computer system, the computer system comprising a screen for displaying information and a stylus having a tip for inputting information into the computer, including: first detecting means coupled to said computer for detecting a stroke of the stylus tip in contact with the screen; second detecting means coupled to said computer for detecting a departure of the stylus tip from the screen; means coupled to said computer for defining termination of a gesture comprising at least one stroke in response to said departure of the stylus tip; means coupled to said computer for recognizing a plurality of said gestures, said recognizing means including means for comparing each said gesture to at least one predefined shape; means coupled to said computer for implementing each said recognized gesture, said implementing means including means for performing a predetermined action associated with each said predefined shape, said predetermined action being determined by the context in which said gesture was used, including a first context in which said action is executed upon an operating system level object and a second context in which said action is executed upon an application level object.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said gesture comprises a plurality of strokes.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
46 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein: said second detecting means includes means for detecting proximity of the stylus tip to the screen; and said apparatus further includes means coupled to said computer for displaying an indicator of the proximity of the stylus tip to the screen.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further including third detecting means for detecting a direction of motion of said gesture.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further including means coupled to said computer for displaying on said screen a predefined shape representing the recognized gesture.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further including means coupled to said computer for displaying on said screen a shape representing the actual gesture made by a user of the computer.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said gesture implementation includes input of said recognized gesture as data to be processed by said computer system.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said recognized gesture comprises a character.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 7, wherein said recognized gesture comprises a graphics object.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said implementing means includes means for implementing said second command for performing an operation which is common across a plurality of applications.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
33 words
The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the plurality of strokes are separated by departure of the stylus tip from contact with the screen while the stylus tip is still proximate to the screen.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 3, further including means for terminating display of said indicator when the stylus tip departs from proximity to the screen.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
20 words
The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said indicator comprises a virtual handle for manipulating an object displayed on the screen.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said indicator comprises highlighting of information displayed on the screen in proximity to said stylus tip.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said indicator indicates proximity of said stylus tip to an object displayed on the screen.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said object comprises at least one character.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
14 words
The apparatus of claim 15, wherein said object comprises at least one graphics object.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
28 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said predetermined action is performed on a target object, said target object being determined by at least one attribute of said gestu.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said attribute comprises the location of the gesture on the screen.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
22 words
The apparatus of claim 19, wherein said location comprises the location on the screen of the hot point portion of said gesture.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 18, wherein said attribute comprises the size of the gesture on the screen.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
29 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said predetermined action is performed on a target object, said target object being determined by the context in which said gesture was used.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 22, wherein said context comprises the application in which said gesture was used.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 18, further including means coupled to said computer for displaying on said screen a predefined shape representing the recognized gesture.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 18, further including means coupled to said computer for displaying on said screen a shape representing the actual gesture made by a user of the computer.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 18, further including means coupled to said computer for displaying on said screen a symbol indicating that the gesture has not been recognized.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 18, further including means coupled to said computer for displaying on said screen a symbol indicating that the input gesture is not appropriate to the context in which it was used.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further including means coupled to said computer for displaying on said screen a predefined shape representing the recognized gesture.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 1, further including means coupled to said computer for displaying on said screen a symbol indicating that the gesture has not been recognized.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
86 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said recognizing means is also for comparing each said gesture to at least one predefined shape, for recognizing a first gesture corresponding to a first said predefined shape and a second gesture corresponding to a second said predefined shape, the apparatus further including: means coupled to said computer for displaying on said screen said predefined shapes; wherein said first and second predefined shapes are substantially identical but differ in their orientation on the screen when displayed by said displaying means.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 30, wherein said differences in orientation comprise a rotation on the screen of said substantially identical shapes.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
21 words
The apparatus of claim 30, wherein said differences in orientation comprise an inversion on the screen of said substantially identical shapes.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
37 words
The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said predetermined action is performed on a target substantially enclosed by its associated said gesture, and wherein said target is selected as a result of the performance of said predetermined action.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
12 words
The apparatus of claim 33, wherein said target comprises a graphics object.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
13 words
The apparatus of claim 33, wherein said target comprises at least one character.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
23 words
The apparatus of claim 35, wherein said character is selected to be edited as a result of the performance of said predetermined action.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
38 words
The apparatus of claim 35, wherein said at least one character is selected to be replaced by at least one other character to be inputted into said computer as a result of the performance of said predetermined action.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
16 words
The apparatus of claim 33, wherein the predetermined shape of said recognized gesture comprises a circle.
Claim 40
Independent Claim
154 words
An apparatus for controlling a computer system, the computer system comprising a screen for displaying information and a stylus having a tip for inputting information into the computer, including: detecting means coupled to said computer for detecting a stroke of the stylus tip in contact with the screen; means coupled to said computer for recognizing a gesture comprising at least one stroke and an event indicating termination of the gesture, said recognizing means including means for comparing said gesture to at least one predefined shape and being for recognizing at least a first gesture, a second gesture, and a third gesture comprising said first and second gestures; and implementing means coupled to said computer for implementing each recognized gesture, said implementing means including means for performing a first predetermined action associated with said first gesture, a second predetermined action associated with said second gesture, and a third predetermined action associated with said third gesture.
Claim 41
Independent Claim
154 words
An apparatus for controlling a computer system, the computer system comprising a screen for displaying information and a stylus having a tip for inputting information into the computer, including: detecting means coupled to said computer for detecting a stroke of the stylus tip in contact with the screen; means coupled to said computer for recognizing a gesture comprising at least one stroke and an event indicating termination of the gesture, said recognizing means including means for comparing said gesture to at least one predefined shape and being for recognizing at least a first gesture, a second gesture, and a third gesture comprising said first and second gestures; and implementing means coupled to said computer for implementing each recognized gesture, said implementing means including means for performing a first predetermined action associated with said first gesture, a second predetermined action associated with said second gesture, and a third predetermined action associated with said third gesture.
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
17 words
The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the shapes of said first and second gestures are substantially identical.
Claim 43
Independent Claim
157 words
An apparatus for controlling a computer system, the computer system comprising a screen for displaying information and a stylus having a tip for inputting information into the computer, including: first detecting means coupled to said computer for detecting a stroke of the stylus tip in contact with the screen; means coupled to said computer for recognizing a gesture comprising at least one stroke and an event indicating termination of the gesture, said recognizing means including means for comparing said gesture to at least one predefined shape, each stroke of said gesture being located in substantially the same area of the screen: second detecting means for detecting a direction of motion of the creation of said gesture, wherein the predefined shape of said recognized gesture also represents said direction of motion; and implementing means coupled to said computer for implementing said recognized gesture, said implementing means including means for performing a predetermined action associated with said predefined shape.
Claim 44
Independent Claim
157 words
An apparatus for controlling a computer system, the computer system comprising a screen for displaying information and a stylus having a tip for inputting information into the computer, including: first detecting means coupled to said computer for detecting a stroke of the stylus tip in contact with the screen; means coupled to said computer for recognizing a gesture comprising at least one stroke and an event indicating termination of the gesture, said recognizing means including means for comparing said gesture to at least one predefined shape, each stroke of said gesture being located in substantially the same area of the screen: second detecting means for detecting a direction of motion of the creation of said gesture, wherein the predefined shape of said recognized gesture also represents said direction of motion; and implementing means coupled to said computer for implementing said recognized gesture, said implementing means including means for performing a predetermined action associated with said predefined shape.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
24 words
The apparatus of claim 41, further including means coupled to said computer for displaying on said screen a predefined shape representing the recognized gesture.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
30 words
The apparatus of claim 41, further including means coupled to said computer for displaying on said screen a shape representing the actual gesture made by a user of the computer.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
27 words
The apparatus of claim 41, further including means coupled to said computer for displaying on said screen a symbol indicating that the gesture has not been recognized.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
35 words
The apparatus of claim 41, further including means coupled to said computer for displaying on said screen a symbol indicating that the input gesture is not appropriate to the context in which it was used.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
19 words
The apparatus of claim 41, wherein said direction of motion of said gesture is associated with said predetermined action.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-09-12 | 1998-03-14 | 1998-09-13 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-09-12 | 2002-03-14 | 2002-09-13 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-09-12 | 2006-03-14 | 2006-09-13 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |