Abstract: A pointing device includes a displaceable member, a sense system, and a processing system. The displaceable member is movable in an operational zone. The sense system is operable to generate sense signals in response to a touching of the displaceable member by a user's finger and in response to different positions of the displaceable member in the operational zone. The processing system is operable to determine from the sense signals in-contact periods during which the displaceable member is in contact with the user's finger. Each of the in-contact periods has an initialization phase followed by a motion tracking phase. For each of the in-contact periods the processing system is operable to: (i) during the initialization phase, determine from the sense signals a respective current origin position in the operational zone; and (ii) during the motion tracking phase, determine from the sense signals positions of the displaceable member in relation to the current origin position.

Abstract: An image device, such as a digital camera, detects specific repeating patterns of signal variations by processing columnar information from the device's two-dimensional sensor array used to generate images. In one embodiment, the columnar information is derived from calculating row averages for two image frames, with each row average being a computed average of the multiple signal intensities generated from some or all of the sensors within a particular row. After the columnar information is determined for each of the two frames, a difference signal is generated as a sequence of the differences between the row averages for the first frame and the row averages for the second frame. This row averaging and frame differencing removes a large percentage of the signal energy that is not a result of the artifact of interest, such as the flicker generated by illumination having intensity fluctuations at 100 Hz or at 120 Hz.

Abstract: An input device having a movable puck and display screen is disclosed. The puck is confined to move on a puck surface having a puck field of motion defined thereon. The puck field of motion is divided into a pointing region and a function region. A controller determines a position for the puck within the field of motion. The display screen displays a two-dimensional scene and a cursor that moves within the scene in a manner controlled by the position of the puck when the puck is in the pointing region. The controller causes the scene to change when the puck is in the function region. A deformable barrier that inhibits the movement of the puck into the function region can be used to prevent inadvertent changing of the display scene. The inhibition is overcome by a user applying additional force to the puck in a direction parallel to the surface.

Abstract: In one embodiment of the invention, a method for providing three-dimensional motion inputs to a device includes measuring characteristics (e.g., capacitances) between sense electrodes and a reference electrode on a movable pad, determining three-dimensional displacements of the movable pad from the capacitances, determining the three-dimensional motion inputs from the three-dimensional displacements of the movable pad, and providing the three-dimensional motion inputs to the device. In another embodiment of the invention, a pointing device mounted on a surface of a host device includes sense electrodes, a frame, a movable pad flexibly mounted in an opening of the frame. The movable pad includes a reference electrode opposite the sense electrodes. The opening limits the motion of the movable pad to a single axis on the surface and to an axis into the surface.

Abstract: After image capture, scene parameters are analyzed, e.g. lux, flicker, or world estimation. A best guess illuminant for the scene parameters is determined. At this point, the white balancing coefficients corresponding to that illuminant may be applied.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for detecting a location of an eye of a user using an automated detection process, and automatically determining a position of a head of the user with respect to an object based on the detected location of the eye. A location of an eye of a user inside a vehicle is detected using the automated detection process, at least one of height and orientation information of the user is automatically determined based on the detected location of the eye, and a mechanical device inside the vehicle is controlled in accordance with the determined information. Moreover, an eye blinking pattern of a user is detected using an infrared reflectivity of an eye of the user, and messages are transmitted from the user in accordance with the detected eye blinking pattern of the user.

Abstract: A method performed by a slide pad system is provided. The method comprises generating a first direction measurement using a first capacitance measurement and computing a first position using the first direction measurement.

Abstract: A pointing device has a pointing device surface and a sliding structure that moves with respect to the pointing device surface. A detector outputs a value that varies as the sliding structure moves with respect to the pointing device surface. A controller estimates the sliding structure location on the pointing device surface by calculating an approximate distance. The approximate distance is calculated by multiplying a measured differential of the value times a conversion constant. The controller adjusts the approximate distance to take into account non-linearity of the measured differential.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling the position of a screen pointer includes a light source for illuminating an imaging surface, thereby generating reflected images. The apparatus includes an optical motion sensor for generating one-dimensional projection data based on the reflected images, filtering the projection data, and generating movement data based on the filtered projection data, the movement data indicative of relative motion between the imaging surface and the apparatus.

Abstract: An identification card includes a bio-sensor, a memory, and a microprocessor. The bio-sensor is configured to collect a signature biometric characteristic from a verified user. The memory is configured to store the signature biometric characteristic. The microprocessor is coupled to the bio-sensor and the memory. The microprocessor is configured to retrieve the signature biometric characteristic from the memory and to perform a comparison between the signature biometric characteristic and a sample biometric characteristic.

Abstract: Eye detection is used as the basis for providing power management or other variations of operational parameters of a controlled device. The system includes an imager and eye detection processing which cooperate to detect light received from a person's eye. The eye detection processing generates an output that can be used for determinations regarding presence of one or more persons or presence of a specific person. This output is used as the basis for switching the controlled device between at least two power consumption states. Eye detection may also be used to allow a person to actively adjust operational conditions of the controlled device, since unnatural eye blinking patterns may be associated with particular commands.