A mouse interface device and method for providing enhanced cursor control and
indexing
cursor control with force feedback. A force feedback interface device includes
a manipulandum, such as a mouse, that is moveable in a local workspace. The device
is coupled to a host computer that displays a cursor in a graphical environment,
such as a GUI, on a display screen. A cursor position in the display frame is reported
to the host computer derived from a reference position of the mouse in the local
frame, and the host displays the cursor; for example, the cursor position may be
scaled by a ballistics algorithm based on mouse velocity to allow fine positioning
or coarse motion of the cursor. A force is output on the mouse based on interactions
in the GUI, the force 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 can alternatively be output to achieve the
enhanced cursor control. Indexing features allow control of the cursor when an
offset between local and display frames exists, allow the user to reduce the offset,
and reduce disconcerting collisions of the mouse with physical workspace limits.
