Method for scrolling and edge motion on a touchpad

Abstract

A method of using capacitance-sensitive touchpad, wherein the touchpad includes a plurality of zones on a surface thereof, wherein detection of a finger within one of the plurality of zones determines a direction and a speed of scrolling within a window in a graphical user interface, and wherein detection of a finger within one of the plurality of zones determines a direction and a speed of movement of a cursor performing edge motion in the graphical user interface, thus making edge motion and scrolling dependent only upon a detected location of a finger within the plurality of zones, and not dependent upon detecting movement of the finger.

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       9 . A method for controlling movement of a cursor graphical display using a touchpad, said method comprising the steps of:
 providing a touchpad which includes an edge motion zone having a plurality of zones, wherein the touchpad transmits data packets representing a position of a pointing object on the touchpad;   making contact in the edge motion zone with the pointing object at an initial point of contact, and wherein an edge motion mode is active;   moving the pointing object from zone to zone in the edge motion zone in an initial direction to thereby cause movement of the cursor in a graphical display, wherein a direction of movement of the cursor is determined by how far the pointing object is moved from the initial point of contact;   establishing a floating center point that moves from zone to zone, wherein the floating center point trails behind the pointing object as it moves in the initial direction, and wherein the floating center point is always a predetermined number of zones behind the pointing object when moving in the initial direction;   leaving the floating center point in a current zone if the pointing object stops moving in the initial direction or begins moving in an alternate direction that is opposite the initial direction; and   stopping the change in direction of the cursor when the pointing object stops or moves in the alternate direction until making contact with the current zone that is defined as a current location of the floating center point.   
   
   
       10 . The method as defined in  claim 9  wherein the method comprises the step of always keeping the floating center point near the current position of the pointing object so that changing direction of the cursor can be rapidly stopped by reversing direction of the pointing object and moving the predetermined number of zones to the current position of the floating center point. 
   
   
       11 . The method as defined in  claim 9  wherein the method further comprises the step of activating the edge motion mode, wherein the edge motion mode is activated by sliding the pointing object into the edge motion zone. 
   
   
       12 . The method as defined in  claim 9  wherein the method further comprises the step of activating the edge motion mode, wherein the edge motion mode is activated by the pointing object making touchdown within the edge motion zone. 
   
   
       13 . The method as defined in  claim 9  wherein the method further comprises the step of sliding the pointing object from zone to zone to thereby cause the edge motion action. 
   
   
       14 . The method as defined in  claim 9  wherein the method further comprises the step of lifting the pointing object off the touchpad and then placing the pointing object back down on the touchpad in a different zone in order to move the pointing object in the edge motion zone. 
   
   
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