Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC

James H Cauthorn

Hugh E McLoone

Steven Nabil Bathiche

William Hong Vong

Kenneth V Fry

Jonathan A Hayes

Kenneth Paul Hinckley

Carl J Ledbetter

Michael Jack Sinclair

Timothy Michael Muss

Stiven Kerestegian

Corey M Ladas

A touch-sensitive device for use as an electronic input device for controlling by scrolling the visible portion of a document or image relative to a display. The device can include various improved configurations such as physically separate opposed input surfaces at opposite longitudinal ends and/or lateral sides. The end regions of a touch sensitive surface may be rounded and/or tapered to provide relative positional feedback to the user. Tactile positional feedback can also include surface texture changes on the scrolling area and/or changes in the surface of the frame in the region immediately adjacent the scrolling area. The touch sensitive areas may be provided within a split alphanumeric section of an ergonomic keyboard to enable scrolling without the user having to remove his or her hands from the alphanumeric section.

Touch-sensitive device for scrolling a document on a display

In a computer system, a touch sensitive input device having touch sensitive auxiliary controls system can be used to anticipate a user's action. When a user's hand approaches a touch sensitive input device, feedback can be displayed on a display screen. A user can receive feedback without activating the input device. The feedback may take the form of status information related to the feature controlled by the input device and can vary depending upon the application open. Likewise, when the hand of a user is moved away from the touch sensitive input device, the feedback brought on by sensing the user's hand may disappear.

Method for displaying information responsive to sensing a physical presence proximate to a computer input device

A scrolling device for a computer may include a touch-sensitive surface, which may be elongated and/or have one or more active regions. Scrolling may be performed in manual as well as automated ways that may result in more accurate and efficient scrolling. Scrolling, as displayed on the screen, may further be rounded to the nearest document text line and/or distance unit, even though a more precise scrolling location value may be stored and/or tracked.

Enhanced scrolling

A keyboard having an improved function key section and an improved editing section. A row of keys is located behind the alphanumeric section. The row of keys includes individual predefined command keys. The groupings of the predefined command keys may be made based on the functionality of the keys, their use on common applications or programs, and/or other by other grouping techniques. Further, the keys within each group may be ordered based on chronological order of use, frequency of use, or by a correlation to a graphical toolbar. Each of at least two adjacent groupings of keys behind the alphanumeric region consists of exactly three keys, and each of at least three adjacent key groupings in the entire row consists of exactly three keys. The keys are each capable of functioning as predetermined command keys in a first mode and standard function keys in a second mode. A Function Lock key may be used to convert these keys from their use in one mode as their predefined command keys to another mode where they become standard function keys. These keys are preferably primarily labeled as their command keys and secondarily labeled as standard function keys. The editing section includes a first key cluster having a plurality of keys forming a two dimensional array of cells. At least one key occupies a single cell and a Delete key occupies at least two cells. A key cluster is located behind and spaced from the editing section, and consists of an Undo key and a Redo key.

Keyboard with improved function and editing sections

A keyboard having an input region that provides a set of input elements designed to complement a separate pointing device such as a computer mouse. These input elements enable both the dominant and non-dominant hand to work easily together to perform various functions, which in turn, makes 'consumption' and 'composition' tasks more efficient. The input region may be spaced laterally from the alphanumeric or &#x201c;QWERTY&#x201d; section of the keyboard. The elements include a scrolling member, first and second groups of keys, and an application switching device. The scrolling member may take the form of a rotatable member. The rotatable member may have an asymmetric outer profile and/or be frustum-shaped. The first group of keys preferably includes a Back key and a Forward key. The first group of keys and the scrolling member make performing &#x201c;consumption&#x201d; tasks more efficient. The second group of keys preferably includes a Cut key, a Copy key, and a Paste key. The application switching device is preferably configured to provide a command, when actuated, to move between open applications. The application switching device may be independently-actuable, and/or dedicated and labeled as an application switching device. Additionally, the application switching device may be movable for actuation in opposing directions. Exemplary embodiments of the application switching device include a toggle switch, a rotatable dial, a laterally slidable member, and one or two keys. The second group of keys, application switching device and the scrolling member make performing &#x201c;composition&#x201d; tasks more efficient.

Keyboard with improved lateral region

Manual controlled scrolling

A keyboard having an improved function key section and an improved editing section. A row of keys is located behind the alphanumeric section. The row of keys includes individual predefined command keys. The groupings of the predefined command keys may be made based on the functionality of the keys, their use on common applications or programs, and/or other by other grouping techniques. Further, the keys within each group may be ordered based on chronological order of use, frequency of use, or by a correlation to a graphical toolbar. Each of at least two adjacent groupings of keys in behind the alphanumeric region consists of exactly three keys, and each of at least three adjacent key groupings in the entire row consists of exactly three keys. The keys are each capable of functioning as predetermined command keys in a first mode and standard function keys in a second mode. A Function Lock key may be used to convert these keys from their use in one mode as their predefined command keys to another mode where they become standard function keys. These keys are preferably primarily labeled as their command keys and secondarily labeled as standard function keys. The editing section includes a first key cluster having a plurality of keys forming a two dimensional array of cells. At least one key occupies a single cell and a Delete key occupies at least two cells. A key cluster is located behind and spaced from the editing section, and consists of an Undo key and a Redo key.

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Seattle, WA, United States of America

James H Cauthorn