Touch-sensitive device for scrolling a document on a display

Abstract

A touch-sensitive device for use as an electronic input device for controlling by scrolling the visible portion of a document or image relative to a display. The device can include various improved configurations such as physically separate opposed input surfaces at opposite longitudinal ends and/or lateral sides. The end regions of a touch sensitive surface may be rounded and/or tapered to provide relative positional feedback to the user. Tactile positional feedback can also include surface texture changes on the scrolling area and/or changes in the surface of the frame in the region immediately adjacent the scrolling area. The touch sensitive areas may be provided within a split alphanumeric section of an ergonomic keyboard to enable scrolling without the user having to remove his or her hands from the alphanumeric section.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
   
   
       21 . A touch-sensitive device for manipulating a document on a display screen, said device comprising:
 a central area extending along a first axis; and   first and second end areas positioned along the first axis on opposed sides of the central area, said first and second end areas each for performing a respective first and second function for manipulating the document.   
   
   
       22 . The device of  claim 21  wherein the first and second end areas are physically separate and spaced from the central area. 
   
   
       23 . The device of  claim 21  wherein the central area has a width in a direction perpendicular to the first axis and wherein the first and second end areas have a width that differs from the width of the central area. 
   
   
       24 . The device of  claim 21  wherein said device is part of a keyboard including an alphanumeric section, said areas being disposed within the alphanumeric section. 
   
   
       25 . The device of  claim 21  wherein the first and second end areas are rounded. 
   
   
       26 . The device of  claim 21 , further comprising a housing with first, second and third openings that frame the central area, and the first and second end areas respectively. 
   
   
       27 . The device of  claim 26 , wherein the housing is part of a keyboard. 
   
   
       28 . A touch-sensitive device for manipulating a document on a display screen, said device comprising:
 a central area extending along a first axis; and   first and second areas positioned along a second axis perpendicular to the first axis on opposed sides of the central area, said first and second areas each for performing a respective first and second function for manipulating the document.   
   
   
       29 . The device of  claim 28  wherein the first and second areas are physically separate and spaced from the central area. 
   
   
       30 . The device of  claim 28  wherein the central area has a width in a direction perpendicular to the first axis and wherein the first and second areas have a width in a direction perpendicular to the second axis that differs from the width of the central area. 
   
   
       31 . The device of  claim 28  wherein said device is part of a keyboard including an alphanumeric section, said areas being disposed within the alphanumeric section. 
   
   
       32 . The device of  claim 28  wherein the first and second areas are rounded. 
   
   
       33 . The device of  claim 28 , further comprising a housing with first, second and third openings that frame the central area, and the first and second areas respectively. 
   
   
       34 . The device of  claim 33 , wherein the housing is part of a keyboard. 
   
   
       35 . The device of  claim 28 , wherein the first axis is a longitudinal axis. 
   
   
       36 . The device of  claim 28 , wherein the first and second areas each have a distal end, and tactile feedback means located between the distal ends for providing tactile feedback for assisting in the location of the first and second areas. 
   
   
       37 . The device of  claim 28 , wherein the tactile feedback means includes discrete surface texture changes on the scrolling area. 
   
   
       38 . The device of  claim 21 , wherein the first axis is a longitudinal axis. 
   
   
       39 . The device of  claim 21 , wherein the first and second end areas each have a distal end, and tactile feedback means located between the distal ends for providing tactile feedback for assisting in the location of the first and second end areas. 
   
   
       40 . The device of  claim 21 , wherein the tactile feedback means includes discrete surface texture changes.