Apple Inc.

Daniel S Venolia

Michael Lane Gough

Thomas S Gilley

Daniel J Hansen, Jr

Abhay Oswal

Greg M Robbins

Yin Yin Wong

S Joy Mountford

Gitta B Salomon

Laurie June Vertelney

Joseph J MacDougald

Eric A Hulteen

Thomas D Erickson

Kathleen M Gomoll

John J Thompson-Rohrlich

Tommy H Tam

Shinpei Ishikawa

Michael B Clark

John A Thompson-Rohrlich

A method and device for accessing a broad data field having a fine resolution. The user selects a scale which can be varied. The scale controls a range within the data field. By moving the range to encompass different portions of the data field, the user can scan that portion of the data field. The present invention allows the user to simultaneously select the scale while moving the range over different portions of the data field. Thus, the user can 'zoom in' and 'zoom out' of different portions of the data field.

Zooming controller

A method and device for accessing a broad data field having a fine resolution. The user selects a scale which can be varied. The scale controls a range within the data field. By moving the range to encompass different portions of the data field, the user can scan that portion of the data field. The present invention allows the user to simultaneously select the scale while moving the range over different portions of the data field. Thus, the user can 'zoom in' and 'zoom out' of different portions of the data field. In one embodiment of the present invention, a particular piece of data within the broad data field can be accessed. First, the scale is selectively varied, thereby controlling a range within the data field. Then, the range is moved to encompass portions of the data field in which the piece of data resides. Next, the scale is successively decreased while, simultaneously, points successively closer to the location are kept with the range. The scale is decreased (i.e., increasing the range's resolution) and the range is moved in this manner until the piece of data is actually accessed.

A method and apparatus is described for producing a translucent image over a base image created on the display screen of a computer system by a selected first application program, and conducting image operations either on the base image created by the selected application program with reference to the translucent image produced, or conducting image operations on the translucent image with reference to the base image of the first application program. The first application program runs on a central processing unit (CPU) of a computer system to produce a base image, and another application program referred to as the overlay program is run to produce the translucent image such that portions of the base image which are overlapped by the overlay image are at least partially visible through the translucent image. There is also a mechanism for blending the first video data and the second video data to produce a blended image on the screen assembly.

Method and apparatus for providing translucent images on a computer

A method and apparatus for producing a translucent image over a base image created on the display screen of a computer system by a selected first application program, and conducting image operations either on said base image created by the selected application program with reference to the translucent image produced, or conducting image operations on said translucent image with reference to said base image of the first application program. The first application program runs on a central processing unit (CPU) of a computer system to produce a base image, and another application program referred to as the overlay program is run to produce the translucent image such that portions of the base image which are overlapped by the overlay image are at least partially visible through the translucent image. There is also a mechanism for blending the first video data and the second video data to produce a blended image on the screen assembly.

A method and apparatus for providing a translucent overlay image over a base image on the screen of a computer system. The method includes the steps of running an application program on a central processing unit (CPU) of a pen computer system to produce a base image in a screen coupled to the CPU; and running an overlay program on the CPU to produce an overlay image on the screen such that portions of the base image which are overlapped by the overlay image are at least partially visible through the overlay image. The overlay program is a computer implemented process comprising the steps of displaying an overlay image on the screen, intercepting screen inputs which contact the overlay image, processing the intercepted screen inputs in the CPU, and updating the application program based on the processed screen inputs. In addition a pen computer system includes a central processing unit (CPU), a screen assembly coupled to the CPU, a mechanism coupled to the screen assembly for displaying a base image on the screen assembly, and a mechanism coupled to the screen assembly for displaying an overlay image on the screen assembly such that portions of the base image which are overlapped by the overlay image are at least partially visible through the overlay image. The screen assembly includes a tablet mechanism coupled to the CPU which can receive input from a pen or stylus. The mechanism for displaying a base image includes a first computer implemented process running on the CPU which produces first video data and a video driver circuit coupled between the CPU and the screen assembly. The mechanism for displaying the overlay image includes a second computer implemented process running on the CPU to produce second video data, and a video driver circuit coupled between the CPU and the screen assembly. There is also a mechanism for blending the first video data and the second video data to produce a blended image on the screen assembly. This blending mechanism can include the second computer implemented process, or can comprise the video driver circuitry.

Method and apparatus for displaying an overlay image

In a computer system having an input device for controlling a position of a cursor on a display screen, a method of compensating for a physical orientation of the input device relative to the display screen. Initially, the physical orientation of the input device in relation to the display screen is determined. If the input device has been rotated, a first set of values corresponding to movement in the X axis is swapped with a second set of values corresponding to movement in the Y axis. Next, the sign of the first set of values corresponding to the Y axis is changed. Thereby, a horizontal movement indicated by the rotated input device produces a horizontal movement of the cursor. Likewise, a vertical movement indicated by the rotated input device corresponds to a vertical movement of the cursor.

Apparatus and method for providing different input device orientations

A method and apparatus for automatic alignment of manipulated objects in two-dimensional and three-dimensional graphic space. The present invention provides an alignment field gradient which emanates from objects surrounding the manipulated object(s). As a user manipulates an object, the present invention attracts the manipulated object into an aligned position and orientation with another object(s) in the displayed three-dimensional display space. The present invention provides alignment of all combinations of vertices, edges and planar faces for three-dimensional polyhedral objects and for all combinations of vertices and edges for two-dimensional polygonal objects.

Automatic alignment of objects in two-dimensional and three-dimensional

A user interface element having a plurality of user interface elements for marking, finding, organizing, and processing data within documents stored in an associated computer system are described. Each element typically has an appearance which is uniquely related to the data or the function the element is designed to represent or perform, respectively. In their simplest form, these elements are only used to mark data within a document. Each element, however, can also be programmed to cause the computer to perform some function in association with the marked data, such as printing the data or mailing the data to someone. A user can select particular data within a document using an element and have that data associated with the element in memory. Data marked with common elements can be found by searching for a particular representative element in memory. Users can create their own elements, program elements with their own desired functionality, and modify existing elements. Elements can also be compounded together so as to cause a combination of tasks to be performed by simply activating one element.

User interface system having programmable user interface elements

A three degrees of freedom interactive display controller device is disclosed, comprising a hand manipulable housing unit having an opening for the passage of a mouse ball, two motion detectors for detecting the movement of the mouse ball and converting that motion to output signals controlling the translational movement of an object on the display of a computer and at least one finger operated wheel or roller for controlling the translational motion of the object with respect to a third translational axis. All translation controls are operable to be physically moved in a direction which corresponds to the desired simulated direction of movement of the object on the display. The physical motion of each control is unbounded and the actual physical position of the housing unit is independent of the simulated position of the object on the display.

Three degree of freedom graphic object controller

A method for changing the orientation of a graphic object in response to changes in the variable position of that object on the display of a computer is disclosed. The position of the graphic object on the display is determined by the position of a control point having a fixed position in relation to the object and a variable position in relation to the display. The control point is operative to change its position in response to translational signals received by an interactive control device, and the computer is operative to display the object at each position of the control point. A change in the orientation of the object to be displayed at the new position of the control point is determined by establishing a following point having a fixed position with respect to the object and a variable position with respect to the display, and tracking the variable position of the following point behind the path of the motion of the control point. The path of the control point is tracked by the following point by determining the direction and magnitude of change in a vector extending between the control point and the following point and then changing the variable position of the following point to normalize the magnitude of the vector in that direction of change.

Growing community of inventors

Foster City, CA, United States of America

Daniel S Venolia