Patents by Inventor Kristofer E. Elbing

Kristofer E. Elbing has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Tactile user interface device
    Patent number: 9152230
    Abstract: A computer system includes a computer processor, an operating system operative in connection with the computer processor, and a display responsive to the operating system. The system also has a pointing device that includes a position sensor and a tactile actuator. A pointing device driver is responsive to the position sensor, and the tactile actuator is responsive to the pointing device driver. A general-purpose application is responsive to the pointing device driver and to the operating system and in communication with the display, and the pointing device driver is also responsive to the general purpose application. The system further includes a profile that maps region changes associated with material displayed on the screen to tactile signals to be sent to the tactile actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2015
    Inventors: Kristofer E. Elbing, Jonathan T. Foote
  • Tactile user interface with application-specific tactile behavior
    Patent number: 7337400
    Abstract: A computer system includes a computer processor, an operating system operative in connection with the computer processor, and a display responsive to the operating system. The system also has a pointing device that includes a position sensor and a tactile actuator. A pointing device driver is responsive to the position sensor, and the tactile actuator is responsive to the pointing device driver. A general-purpose application is responsive to the pointing device driver and to the operating system and in communication with the display, and the pointing device driver is also responsive to the general purpose application. The system further includes a profile that maps region changes associated with material displayed on the screen to tactile signals to be sent to the tactile actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2001
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Inventors: Kristofer E. Elbing, Jonathan T. Foote
  • Tactile computer interface
    Patent number: 6219034
    Abstract: A computer system includes a computer processor, an operating system operative in connection with the computer processor, and a display responsive to the operating system. The system also has a pointing device that includes a position sensor and a tactile actuator. A pointing device driver is responsive to the position sensor, and the tactile actuator is responsive to the pointing device driver. A general-purpose application is responsive to the pointing device driver and to the operating system and in communication with the display, and the pointing device driver is also responsive to the general purpose application. The system further includes a profile that maps region changes associated with material displayed on the screen to tactile signals to be sent to the tactile actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1998
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2001
    Inventors: Kristofer E. Elbing, Jonathan T. Foote