Abstract: A solid-state roller on a pointing device with enhanced features. The solid-state design described herein allows the sensor to be placed on any shape of surface, such as one that has curvature in two directions. In one embodiment, a trench or downward curve contains sensors for detecting finger movement. The user's finger can thus bend about a knuckle in a curved motion to activate the sensor, requiring little or no movement of the finger up and down. The solid-state sensors can be of one of a number of designs. In one embodiment, multiple electrodes are contacted by a finger as it moves. Each electrode is coupled to a capacitive detection circuit, for detecting the change in capacitance as the electrode is contacted by the finger.

Abstract: A solid-state roller on a pointing device with enhanced features. The solid-state design described herein allows the sensor to be placed on any shape of surface, such as one that has curvature in two directions. In one embodiment, a trench or downward curve contains sensors for detecting finger movement. The user's finger can thus bend about a knuckle in a curved motion to activate the sensor, requiring little or no movement of the finger up and down. The solid-state sensors can be of one of a number of designs. In one embodiment, multiple electrodes are contacted by a finger as it moves. Each electrode is coupled to a capacitive detection circuit, for detecting the change in capacitance as the electrode is contacted by the finger.

Abstract: The method and system serve to notify the user of an event through a control device. Active notification takes place even when the computer sound and screen are disabled, for example, when in a power saving mode or screen saving mode. Notification may include visual notification, audio notification, vibratory notification, or tactile notification. Tactile notification can also serve to provide a private notification system which will not alert or disturb other people in the vicinity of the user. Such tactile notification can be provided by means of a texture change in the surface of the control device. One way in which this could be done is by raising a plurality of pegs through the surface of a control device to change its texture.

Abstract: An optical detection system and method detects movement of an optical pointing device in a data processing environment. The system works with any surface than can diffusely scatter a collimated beam from a coherent light source. Specifically, the system comprises a coherent light source and an optical sensing assembly. The optical sensing assembly comprises a plurality of photosensor arrays and a plurality of optical elements. Each photosensor array includes pixels of a particular size and shape. Each optical element has an artificially limited aperture and is associated, through optical matching, with a respective photosensor array. The coherent light source generates a collimated beam that is diffusely reflected off of the surface. The optical sensing assembly receives the diffusely reflected, or scattered, collimated beam and passes it through the artificially limited apertures of the optical elements to the associated corresponding photosensor array.

Abstract: An optical detection system and method detects movement of an optical pointing device in a data processing environment. The system works with any surface than can diffusely scatter a collimated beam from a coherent light source. Specifically, the system comprises a coherent light source and an optical sensing assembly. The optical sensing assembly comprises a plurality of photosensor arrays and a plurality of optical elements. Each photosensor array includes pixels of a particular size and shape. Each optical element has an artificially limited aperture and is associated, through optical matching, with a respective photosensor array. The coherent light source generates a collimated beam that is diffusely reflected off of the surface. The optical sensing assembly receives the diffusely reflected, or scattered, collimated beam and passes it through the artificially limited apertures of the optical elements to the associated corresponding photosensor array.

Abstract: A system, method, and method of manufacturing directed to an optical device with increased accuracy in tracking ability. The increased accuracy can be achieved by using a multiple sensor system. A second sensor is added to the optical device. The second sensor increases the probability of obtaining a high quality image. Thus, the tracking ability of the device can be performed with greater accuracy over a single sensor device. The second sensor can also perform additional functions.

Abstract: A roller on a mouse or other input device imparts a resistance effect to a user with low power. The invention uses an autoblocking mechanism, such as a brake, which derives the force from the force of the user's finger pushing against the autoblocking mechanism. In one embodiment, a braking mechanism using two small rollers biased against the bigger roller or wheel is used. As the user applies a turning force to the wheel, it wedges against one of the two small rollers, depending on the direction, providing the feeling of resistance to the user as the wheel is turned. In another embodiment of the invention, local feedback is provided on a ratchet-type effect. In another embodiment of the invention, feedback is provided through the roller even when the cause of the feedback is something other than the roller.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a wireless input device that employs optical sensing to effect the likes of cursor movement and scrolling. Power management techniques can be optionally employed to avoid premature depletion of the wireless input device's power source. Another embodiment of the present invention provides a wireless device having a power management algorithm controlling its power consumption. Another embodiment of the present invention provides a method for managing the power consumption of a wireless device.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention provides a wireless input device that employs optical sensing to effect the likes of cursor movement and scrolling. Power management techniques can be optionally employed to avoid premature depletion of the wireless input device's power source. Another embodiment of the present invention provides a wireless device having a power management algorithm controlling its power consumption. Another embodiment of the present invention provides a method for managing the power consumption of a wireless device.

Abstract: A roller on a mouse or other input device imparts a resistance effect to a user with low power. The invention uses an autoblocking mechanism, such as a brake, which derives the force from the force of the user's finger pushing against the autoblocking mechanism. In one embodiment, a braking mechanism using two small rollers biased against the bigger roller or wheel is used. As the user applies a turning force to the wheel, it wedges against one of the two small rollers, depending on the direction, providing the feeling of resistance to the user as the wheel is turned. In another embodiment of the invention, local feedback is provided on a ratchet-type effect. In another embodiment of the invention, feedback is provided through the roller even when the cause of the feedback is something other than the roller.

Abstract: A solid-state roller on a pointing device with enhanced features. The solid-state design described herein allows the sensor to be placed on any shape of surface, such as one that has curvature in two directions. In one embodiment, a trench or downward curve contains sensors for detecting finger movement. The user's finger can thus bend about a knuckle in a curved motion to activate the sensor, requiring little or no movement of the finger up and down. The solid-state sensors can be of one of a number of designs. In one embodiment, multiple electrodes are contacted by a finger as it moves. Each electrode is coupled to a capacitive detection circuit, for detecting the change in capacitance as the electrode is contacted by the finger.

Abstract: An optical detection system and method detects movement of an optical pointing device in a data processing environment. The system works with any surface than can diffusely scatter a collimated beam from a coherent light source. Specifically, the system comprises a coherent light source and an optical sensing assembly. The optical sensing assembly comprises a plurality of photosensor arrays and a plurality of optical elements. Each photosensor array includes pixels of a particular size and shape. Each optical element has an artificially limited aperture and is associated, through optical matching, with a respective photosensor array. The coherent light source generates a collimated beam that is diffusely reflected off of the surface. The optical sensing assembly receives the diffusely reflected, or scattered, collimated beam and passes it through the artificially limited apertures of the optical elements to the associated corresponding photosensor array.

Abstract: A method for generating quasi-sinusoidal signals includes illuminating an object capable of reflecting light, focusing a portion of the reflected light on a multi-element detector to form an image, and matching the image size to the size of the detector elements. A first weighted sum of signals generated by a first set of elements produces an in-phase signal, and a second weighted sum of signals generated by a second set of elements produces a quadrature signal. Weights are signed quantities selected to exhibit a band-pass behavior in the spatial frequency domain, thereby attenuating noise generated by, for example, non-uniform surface reflectance and non-uniform illumination.

Abstract: A joystick having an electromagnetic element coupled to a movable stick, with at least a pair of orthogonal coils on an underlying substrate. Alternately, the coils and electromagnetic elements can be reversed. The movement of the stick is detected by the amount of overlap of the electromagnetic element and the coils in each direction. The quality factor of the coil changes as more or less of the coil is overlapped, which can be measured by an electric circuit to determine the direction of movement and the amount of movement of the joystick. The electromagnetic element could be, for instance, a conductive steel plate, or a piece of another metal or of another conductive material, or ferrite particles. The coil could be wound (preferably on air only or, if needed to reach a higher value of inductance, on a magnetic core, provided this is small enough to not hide the effect of the mobile electromagnetic element).

Abstract: In order to adaptively determine the original pulse widths of individual pulses of the pulse signal, there are measured the pulse widths of the distorted pulses. A predetermined number of threshold values is preset for such measured pulse widths. The preset threshold values define classes of pulse widths intended to contain pulse widths of pulses which originally had the same pulse widths. The matching between the measured pulse widths and the preset threshold values is improved by means of a statistical evaluation of the measured pulse widths. The apparatus for carrying out the aforementioned method comprises a unit or circuit for measuring the pulse widths of the individual pulses, a unit or circuit for statistically evaluating the measured pulse widths and a unit or circuit for processing the measured pulse widths.

Abstract: In order to reduce the current supply and thus the heating up of relevant components during the processing of binary signals of any desired pulse duration or width, the pulses forming the binary or first signal are converted into a pulsed or second signal which forms a pulse sequence or train consisting of short pulses having different polarities. The individual pulses of the binary signal are converted to short pulses having a first spacing in the pulsed or second signal. The transitions between the pulses of the binary or first signal are converted to pulses having any desired shortened second spacing as compared to the first spacing.

Abstract: To compensate for transmission errors of a non-ideal system for transmitting digital signals, first signal deviations are determined and stored, and then there is a direct processing of the input signals into output signals by combining the input signals with the stored signal deviations. The invention includes both method and apparatus and provides a substantial reduction in equipment costs.