MOUSE INTERFACE DEVICE AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING ENHANCED CURSOR CONTROL

摘要

A force feedback interface device (14), coupled to a host computer (18), includes a manipulandum (12), such as a mouse, that is moveable in a local workspace (24). A cursor position (222) in the display frame (28) is reported to the host computer (18) derived from a reference position (204) of the mouse (12) in the local frame (30), and the host (18) displays the cursor (180); for example, the cursor position (222) may be scaled by a ballistics algorithm (206) based on mouse velocity to allow fine positioning or coarse motion of the cursor (180). A force (216) is output on the mouse (12), the force (216) being determined based on mouse reference data or cursor ballistic data, depending on the type of force, to reduce distortion between visual and force outputs. Assistive forces and indexing features are also provided to achieve the enhanced cursor control.