Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system – Display driving control circuitry – Controlling the condition of display elements
Reexamination Certificate
2002-02-22
2003-08-05
Nguyen, Thu (Department: 3661)
Computer graphics processing and selective visual display system
Display driving control circuitry
Controlling the condition of display elements
Reexamination Certificate
active
06603491
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a computer interface system and methods and their method of use, and, more particularly, to a computer interface system and methods for controlling automatic scrolling of information on a display or screen.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Prior Conventional Computer Mouse Devices
Computer interfaces such as mouses, track balls, light pens, etc. are devices that provide users with a way of controlling and manipulating the display of information, data, text, and images on a computer screen or monitor. Computer mouses have become a common and widely used device of present computer systems. It is well known that a mouse typically has a roller ball placed inside a hand-held housing wherein the ball rolls along a surface and the ball also rolls against directional control contacts to allow a user to move a cursor within a screen or monitor. The housing also usually has buttons on the top side for the user to activate user selection or to manipulate the display of information, data, text, images, etc. However, mouses require the use of hand or manual manipulation by the user and have the disadvantages in that they require the use of a hand in order to be controlled. The disadvantages become evident when the user is in an environment which requires the simultaneous use of hands for other purposes (i.e typing on a keyboard) or requires a hands-free environment or the user is physically challenged or handicapped as to the use of his or her hands.
Prior Eye Mouse Devices With Eye Cursor Control and Manual or Foot Activation or Selection
Eye controlled devices have been developed to control the movement of a cursor on a computer screen or display. These devices allow the user to move the cursor by moving his or her eyes, and these devices accomplish the movement of the cursor by tracking the movement of the eyes of the user. However, some of these devices still require manual or foot activation or selection to control the display of information, text, images, data, etc. An example of an eye controlled device with manual or foot activation or selection is seen in U.S. Pat. No. 5,367,315. These type of devices still have the main disadvantage in that they require the use of a user's hand in order to be controlled. Therefore, these devices are still not well suited for users that require a hands-free environment nor are they well suited to those users who are physically challenged.
Prior Eye Mouse Devices With Eye Cursor Control and Dwell or Gaze Time Activation or Selection
Eye mouse devices have been further developed so that the movement of a cursor on a computer screen or display is controlled by the movement of the user's eyes and, furthermore, activation or selection is accomplished by the user dwelling, gazing, or staring at a desired activation region for a pre-determined amount of time. For example, this type of device is controlled by the user moving his or her eyes to a desired area on the computer screen or display and the user stares, dwells, or gazes at an activation region for a pre-determined amount of time to activate menus or make selections or open windows, etc. Examples of eye mouse devices that have the features of an eye cursor control and dwell or gaze time activation or selection are seen in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,836,670; 4,950,069; 4,973,149 and 5,345,281. This type of device allows a user to control both the movement of the cursor and the activation or selection of menus, windows, text, data, information, or images. However, in order to control the scrolling of information, data, text, or images on the display or screen with this type of device, the user will need to dwell, stare, or gaze at a scroll bar, page up or page down activation region, etc. The problem with this type of control of scrolling is that it is slow and requires the user to wait at least the pre-determined amount of time before scrolling is activated and implemented. Therefore, there is a need for and it is an object of the present invention to provide a device for controlling via the user's eye(s) the automatic scrolling of information, data, images, text, etc. on a computer screen or display.
Prior Eye Tracking Devices (Video or Image Processing)
It is well known that video or image processing has been used to track the movement of the user's eye(s) for the purposes of controlling the cursor on a computer display or screen. Examples of this type of video or image processing for eye tracking purposes are demonstrated in U.S. Pat. Nos. 4,648,052; 5,331,149; 5,471,542; 4,513,317 and 5,481,622. One of the problems with the eye tracking devices for eye controlled computer devices is that normally a mechanism is required to be attached to the user in order to track the movement of the user's eye(s). Users, however, typically prefer not to have attachments on them in order to operate a computer peripheral since these attachments are usually uncomfortable to wear or they are not aesthetically pleasing, fashionable or ergonomic.
Non-attached eye tracking devices for controlling a cursor on a display or screen have been developed. An example of such a non-attached device is seen in the prior art systems developed by LC Technologies at the World Wide Web site including the identification “lctinc” and “dot com” followed by “dash doc” and “dash ecs.htm”. However, a problem with these non-attached eye tracking devices is that they only allow or restrict the movement of the user's head within a limited range since the hardware has to be directed or aimed within the range or vicinity of the user's eye.
Therefore, there is a need for a device that tracks the eye of the user for allowing the control of a cursor on a display or screen and that does not restrict or limit the movement of the user's head, when the device is not in anyway attached to the user.
Manipulation of Three Dimensional Images on a Screen or Display
It is also known that devices which track the position of the eye of a user and that use the corresponding positional signals to control three dimensional images on a computer, video game, or other apparatus exist in the prior art. These devices use eye tracking to control the three dimensional imagery and allows the user via eye movement and/or dwell time to jump levels, move to another display via selection menus and/or buttons on a display screen, move virtual objects forwards and backwards, etc. Examples of these types of devices are seen in U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,293,187; 5,422,689 and 5,491,492. However, these devices also do not in any way teach or suggest the control of automatic scrolling of a computer display or screen.
The Need for Automatic Scrolling Devices
Many applications and uses exist that require a user to be in a hands-free environment or in which the user does not have the benefit of the use of his or her hands (i.e. physically challenged, handicapped, etc.). Furthermore, scrolling of text, data, images, information, etc. on a display or screen is inherently needed for word processing, reading information (i.e. CD-ROM books), performing textual searches, viewing images, observing real time data (i.e. air traffic control, satellite weather pictures, etc.), etc. For example, users of word processing software for a computer system need to scroll the text line by line or page by page in order to read, scan, manipulate, or edit the text, data, information, etc. on the display or screen. Another example is a medical doctor who is performing medical procedure(s) or surgery and who would benefit from having a device that allows him or her to continue the medical or surgical procedure (i.e. keep his or her hands on the procedure) and can manipulate and scroll images or text (i.e. view CAT Scan, X-Ray Images, Patient Charts or Files; reference Medical Text Books; etc.) or control the field of view and magnification of an imaging device on a heads-up display or screen with the use of the doctor's eyes. (See Lemelson and Hiett application entitled “A SELECTIVELY CONTROLLABLE HEADS-UP DISPLAY SYSTEM AND METHOD FO
Hiett John H.
Lemelson Jerome H.
Lisa Steven G.
Nguyen Thu
Rudy Douglas W.
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