The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 22, 2000
Filed:
Nov. 03, 1995
Jonathan H Dorfman, Berkeley, CA (US);
Mark A Della Bona, Los Altos, CA (US);
Apple Computer, Inc., Cupertino, CA (US);
Abstract
A computer system includes an input pointer, a tablet having a two-dimensional tablet surface, and a data processor coupled to the tablet and operative to receive coordinate data from the tablet. The coordinate data is preferably in absolute-mode, and the data processor processes the coordinate data such that coordinate data influenced by a first segment of the tablet surface is processed in a relative-mode fashion, and coordinate data influenced by a second segment of the tablet surface is processed in an absolute-mode fashion. In consequence, the tablet is segmented for simultaneous relative-mode and absolute-mode operation. The segments can take on a number of configurations depending upon the configuration of the computer screen, the application program running, and user preferences. A method for processing input tablet data of the present invention includes the steps of receiving coordinate data from a tablet having a two-dimensional tablet surface, processing the coordinate data in a relative-mode if the data is influenced by proximal positioning of an input pointer with a first segment of the tablet surface, and processing the coordinate data in an absolute-mode if the data is influenced by a proximal positioning of the input pointer with a second segment of the tablet surface. The method further detects commands to change the logical segmentation of the tablet surface, and changes the logical segmentation in response to the detected commands.