Device, method, and computer readable medium for mapping a graphics tablet to an associated display

Abstract

A digitizer system for controlling movement of a pointer on a display unit is provided. The system includes a digitizer tablet for detecting an input position and generating tablet coordinate data according to the detected input position. A mapping unit maps the tablet coordinate data to display coordinate data based on a plurality of different predetermined scaling relationships and provides the display coordinate data to the display unit. An input device controls the mapping unit to switch between the predetermined scaling relationships.

1 - 25 . (canceled) 
     
     
         26 . A mapping device suitable for use in combination with a pointing device, a display unit having a display screen, and a digitizer tablet including sensing elements arranged below a detection surface and being operatively associated with the pointing device for generating tablet positional data representing tablet input coordinates of the pointing device relative to the sensing elements as the pointing device is moved on or near the detection surface, the mapping device comprising:
 a unit operable in first and second modes for respectively applying first and second scaling relationships to the tablet positional data to generate display positional data for the display screen of the display unit, the display positional data representing screen coordinates corresponding to the tablet input coordinates of the pointing device on or near the detection surface, the first and second scaling relationships being different from one another such that for a given amount of movement by the pointing device on or near the detection surface, the screen coordinates generated by the first scaling relationship of the first mode represent a different distance on the display screen than the screen coordinates generated by the second scaling relationship of the second mode; and   a user-activated mode switching device for permitting the user to selectively switch the unit between the first and second modes without changing the screen coordinates so that upon switching between modes the screen coordinates remain unchanged and continue to correspond to the tablet input coordinates of the pointing device on or near the detection surface, the user-activated mode switching device permitting switching between the first and second modes irrespective of the location of the screen coordinates relative to the display screen.   
     
     
         27 . A combination with a display unit having a display screen, and a tablet including sensing elements arranged below a detection surface and being operatively associated with a pointer for generating tablet positional data representing tablet input coordinates of the pointer relative to the sensing elements as the pointer is moved on or near the detection surface, the combination comprising:
 a unit operable in first and second modes for respectively applying first and second scaling relationships to the tablet positional data to generate display positional data for the display screen of the display unit, the display positional data representing screen coordinates corresponding to the tablet input coordinates of the pointer on or near the detection surface, the first and second scaling relationships being different from one another such that for a given amount of movement by the pointer on or near the detection surface, the screen coordinates generated by the first scaling relationship of the first mode represent a different distance on the display screen than the screen coordinates generated by the second scaling relationship of the second mode, wherein the unit is switchable between the first and second modes irrespective of the location of the screen coordinates relative to the display screen and wherein the unit permits switching between the first and second modes without changing the screen coordinates.   
     
     
         28 . The combination of  claim 27 , wherein the unit is activated by a user operation for switching between the first and second modes without changing the screen coordinates. 
     
     
         29 . The combination of  claim 28 , wherein the unit is activated by a pointing device operated by the user. 
     
     
         30 . The combination of  claim 27 , wherein in the first mode the tablet input coordinates are mapped to screen coordinates lying in a first region of a first size, wherein in the second mode the tablet input coordinates are mapped to screen coordinates lying in a second region of a second size, and wherein the first size is different than the second size. 
     
     
         31 . The combination of  claim 27 , wherein the first scaling relationship is 1:1. 
     
     
         32 . The combination of  claim 27 , wherein the second scaling relationship is 2:1 or greater. 
     
     
         33 . The combination of  claim 27 , wherein at least one of the scaling relationships is preset by the user. 
     
     
         34 . The combination of  claim 27 , wherein the unit constitutes part of the tablet, part of the display unit, or part of a personal computer that interfaces the tablet with the display unit. 
     
     
         35 . A system comprising:
 a tablet comprising sensing elements arranged below a detection surface, the tablet being operatively associated with a pointer for generating tablet positional data representing tablet input coordinates of the pointer relative to the sensing elements as the pointer is moved on or near the detection surface;   a unit operable in first and second modes for respectively applying first and second scaling relationships to the tablet positional data to generate display positional data for a display screen of a display unit, the display positional data representing screen coordinates corresponding to the tablet input coordinates of the pointer on or near the detection surface, the first and second scaling relationships being different from one another such that for a given amount of movement by the pointer on or near the detection surface, the screen coordinates generated by the first scaling relationship of the first mode represent a different distance on the display screen than the screen coordinates generated by the second scaling relationship of the second mode, wherein the unit is selectively switched between the first and second modes irrespective of the location of the screen coordinates relative to the display screen by user operation and for permitting switching between the first and second modes without changing the screen coordinates.   
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein the pointer is a pen shaped device. 
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein in the first mode the tablet input coordinates are mapped to screen coordinates lying in a first region of a first size, wherein in the second mode the tablet input coordinates are mapped to screen coordinates lying in a second region of a second size, and wherein the first size is different than the second size. 
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein the sensing elements are arranged in an X-Y coordinate grid. 
     
     
         39 . The system of  claim 38 , wherein the display screen comprises pixels arranged in an X-Y coordinate grid. 
     
     
         40 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein the unit is selectively switched by the user operation of a button, a key, a wheel, or a switch, associated with the tablet. 
     
     
         41 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein the first scaling relationship is 1:1. 
     
     
         42 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein the second scaling relationship is 2:1 or greater. 
     
     
         43 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein at least one of the scaling relationships is preset by the user. 
     
     
         44 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein the unit constitutes part of the tablet, part of the display unit, or part of a personal computer that interfaces the tablet with the display unit. 
     
     
         45 . The system of  claim 35 , wherein the system comprises the display unit. 
     
     
         46 . A computer readable medium containing executable code for performing a method of mapping positional data on a tablet to positional data on a display screen, the computer readable medium comprising:
 executable code for generating tablet positional data representing tablet input coordinates of a pointer relative to sensing elements of a tablet as the pointer is moved on or near a detection surface of the tablet;   executed code for applying first and second scaling relationships to the tablet positional data to generate display positional data for a display screen of a display unit, the display positional data representing screen coordinates corresponding to the tablet input coordinates of the pointer on or near the detection surface, the first and second scaling relationships being different from one another such that for a given amount of movement by the pointer on or near the detection surface, the screen coordinates generated by the first scaling relationship of the first mode represent a different distance on the display screen than the screen coordinates generated by the second scaling relationship of the second mode; and   executable code for permitting the user to selectively switch between the first and second modes irrespective of the location of the screen coordinates relative to the display screen and for permitting switching between the first and second modes without changing the screen coordinates.