[54] TOUCH PANEL "DOUBLE-TOUCH" INPUT METHOD AND DETECTION APPARATUS
[75] Inventors: Tomotake Furuhata, Yokohama;
Toshiki Hirano; Chihiro Sawada, both of Tokyo, all of Japan
[73] Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation, Armonk, N.Y.
[21] Appl. No.: 08/761,101
[22] Filed: Dec. 5, 1996
[30] Foreign Application Priority Data
Nov. 9, 1995 [JP] Japan 7-290801
[51] Int. CI. G09G 5/00
[52] U.S. CI 345/173
[58] Field of Search 345/173, 174;
178/18
[56] References Cited
U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
4,914,624 4/1990 Dunthom 345/173
5,402,151 3/1995 Duwaer 345/173
5,570,113 10/1996 Zetts 345/173
5,579,036 11/1996 Yates, IV 345/173
5,691,748 11/1997 Fukuzaki 345/173
A "double-touch" input method is described that is particularly suitable for use as a substitute for a "double-click" input from a mouse or trackball, and that is particularly suitable for use with a touch panel. Briefly, the input method involves contacting a touch panel at a first location (for example, over an area where an icon is displayed) with a first finger. Before a predetermined period of time Twait elapses, a second finger "taps" the panel at a second location. The location tapped by the second finger is greater than a predetermined distance from the first location tapped by the first finger. In addition, the tap by the second finger is shorter than a second predetermined period of time Tt . After the tap by the second finger, the first finger is still in contact with the touch panel. The position of the first finger after the tap should be within a predetermined range of its position just prior to the tap. Apparatus in the form of a device driver is described for detecting a double touch input.
4 Claims, 4 Drawing Sheets
