Keyboard Pointer Control via Simultaneous Key Vector Calculation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional computer systems with combined keyboard and mouse or touchpad inputs require users to intermittently stop typing to move the pointer, leading to discontinuous operations and discomfort during prolonged typing sessions.
Innovation Solution
A pointer control method and device that calculates coordinates from simultaneously pressed non-control keys on a keyboard matrix, allowing for continuous pointer movement without removing fingers from the keyboard by detecting key events and calculating vectors to control pointer movement.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a keyboard and mouse or touchpad are used for input, then typing and pointer control can be performed, but the operations become discontinuous as the user must remove fingers from the keyboard to move the pointer
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines pointer control functionality with the existing keyboard by detecting simultaneous presses of multiple non-control keys to calculate pointer coordinates. This merging eliminates the need to switch between keyboard and mouse/touchpad, allowing continuous typing and pointer control with one hand on the keyboard, thus resolving the discontinuity issue while avoiding additional input devices
Solution Approach 2:
The keyboard is made multi-functional by enabling it to perform both typing and pointer control operations. Through the detection of specific key press patterns (multiple non-control keys pressed simultaneously), the keyboard can calculate pointer coordinates and control pointer movement, allowing a single device to serve multiple purposes and eliminate the need to switch between devices
2Productivity
If full touch operations are used for input, then continuous typing is possible, but typing speed is limited by software design and hardware processing speed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the advantages of both keyboard and touch operations by using keyboard key press patterns to control pointer movement. This allows users to leverage their existing keyboard typing skills and comfort while achieving pointer control functionality, avoiding the limitations of pure touch operations without sacrificing typing speed
3Ease of operation
If the keyboard is used to control pointer movement through simultaneous key presses, then continuous typing without removing fingers is possible, but the system must detect and process complex key event patterns
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses the existing keyboard hardware and its native key detection capabilities to capture key press patterns. Instead of requiring specialized input devices or complex sensors, it copies the approach used in traditional keyboard input detection, leveraging the keyboard's existing infrastructure to identify simultaneous key presses and calculate pointer coordinates from key positions
Data Source
AI summary
A pointer control method and device applicable to a computer system with a keyboard are provided. The keyboard includes control keys and non-control keys arranged in a matrix and each has an X coordinate and a Y coordinates. In the method, after a first key event that more than two non-control keys are pressed simultaneously is detected, a first coordinate is calculated, in which the first coordinate includes an average value of X coordinates and an average value of Y coordinates. A second key event that one non-control key is pressed is then detected, and a second coordinate is calculated, in which the second coordinate includes an X coordinate and a Y coordinate. Finally, a vector defined by the first and second coordinate is calculated, and a moving direction and a moving speed of the pointer are controlled according to the vector.