(12) United States Patent ao) Patent No.: Us 7,289,107 Bi
Straayer et al. (45) Date of Patent: Oct. 30,2007
(54) AUTO-CALIBRATION OF POINTING
DEVICES USED IN A COMPUTER USER
INTERFACE
(75) Inventors: David H. Straayer, Citrus Heights, CA (US); Michael Rogers, El Dorado Hills, CA (US)
(73) Assignee: Varatouch Technology, Inc.,
Sacramento, CA (US)
( * ) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this patent is extended or adjusted under 35 U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days.
(21) Appl. No.: 09/523,407
(22) Filed: Mar. 10, 2000
Related U.S. Application Data
(60) Provisional application No. 60/124,137, filed on Mar. 12, 1999.
(51) Int. CI.
G09G 5/08 (2006.01)
(52) U.S. CI 345/161; 345/157; 345/160
(58) Field of Classification Search 345/160,
345/161, 156, 157, 167 See application file for complete search history.
(56) References Cited
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
3,621,439 A 11/1971 Newbery 338/180
A pointing device in a computer system is automatically calibrated by distinguishing between "in presence" and "out of presence" conditions. Calibration correction accommodates differing geometry of users' hands and fingers. Thus, the "natural" "home" position may be different for lefthanders or right-handers, or if the device is operated with a thumb versus a forefinger. A system monitors user activity and from that activity automatically selects X-Y values for auto-calibration. "First touch" and "click" activities are used to select proper X-Y values for auto-calibration. "Click from out of presence" is used to determine user selection events for proper calibration. The invention provides "hardware help" for detecting and calibrating a "first touch."
4 Claims, 6 Drawing Sheets
