Light Pen Patents (Class 178/19.05)
  • Patent number: 11614806
    Abstract: Self-mixing interferometry (SMI) sensors can be used for generation of content using an input device without requiring a touch-sensitive surface. In some examples, the SMI sensors can be used to detect characteristics of the input device including position, orientation, and/or motion of the input device and/or force applied by the input device (e.g., force applied by a stylus tip). In some examples, some or all of the characteristics of the input device can be used in processing to generate content, including textual character input and three-dimensional objects. In some examples, the generation of content can use information from one or more additional sensors for the input device and/or from additional devices in combination with the characteristics of the input device based on the SMI sensors for generation of content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 12, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Ahmet Fatih Cihan, Adrian Z. Harb, Mengshu Huang, Stephen Eric Dey, Yuhao Pan, Mehmet Mutlu, Tong Chen
  • Patent number: 11184577
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method and a device for adjusting a multimedia blackboard, a medium, and an electronic apparatus. In the present disclosure, a three-dimensional model of a target space is established, and a multimedia blackboard is adjusted by using the three-dimensional model and determining distribution positions of students in a classroom to ensure that the students can watch the multimedia blackboard better and reduce the fatigue feeling about the class, which helps in improving an efficiency of having the class.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2021
    Assignee: AMBOW SIHUA INTELLIGENT TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jin Huang, Qiaoling Xu, Gang Huang, Kesheng Wang, Zhengke Hou, Zheyu Wu
  • Patent number: 11132074
    Abstract: An active stylus includes at least one electrode, and an integrated circuit coupled to the at least one electrode. The integrated circuit is configured to: operate in a first mode to unilaterally transmit signals to a sensor controller from one of the at least one electrode; attempt to detect an uplink signal from the sensor controller, using one of the at least one electrode, in a time period T1 during which the unilateral transmission of signals to the sensor controller is suspended; in response to not detecting the uplink signal, repeat operating in the first mode to unilaterally transmit signals to the sensor controller; and in response to detecting the uplink signal, stop operating in the first mode and transition to a second mode in which to transmit a downlink signal to the sensor controller, wherein the downlink signal is responsive to the uplink signal transmitted from the sensor controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2021
    Assignee: Wacom Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideyuki Hara, Nobutaka Ide, Yasuo Oda
  • Patent number: 11042250
    Abstract: A computing device having a touch-sensitive surface and a display, detects a stylus input on the touch-sensitive surface while displaying a user interface. A first operation is performed in the user interface in accordance with a determination that the stylus input includes movement of the stylus across the touch-sensitive surface while the stylus is detected on the touch-sensitive surface. A second operation different from the first operation is performed in the user interface in accordance with a determination that the stylus input includes rotation of the stylus around an axis of the stylus while the stylus is detected on the touch-sensitive surface. A third operation is performed in the user interface in accordance with a determination that the stylus input includes movement of the stylus across the touch-sensitive surface and rotation of the stylus around an axis of the stylus while the stylus is detected on the touch-sensitive surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Julian Missig, May-Li Khoe, Bianca Cheng Costanzo, Jeffrey Traer Bernstein
  • Patent number: 10754442
    Abstract: Various implementations of the invention comprise a surface or film having a plurality of three-dimensional structures embodied on or within the surface or film, each of the three-dimensional structures having a reflecting surface configured to retro-reflect radiation from a radiation source back to a detector located at the radiation source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2020
    Assignee: YewSavin, Inc.
    Inventor: Makarand Prabhakar Gore
  • Patent number: 10649713
    Abstract: In some examples, a stylus determines that an end cap was removed from an end of the stylus and notifies a computing device. In response, the computing device initiates a calibration process that includes displaying a pattern on a first display device of the computing device. The stylus gathers first data when the end of the stylus traces the pattern and sends the first data to the computing device. The computing device stops displaying the pattern on the first display device and begins displaying the pattern on a second display device of the computing device. The stylus gathers second data when the end of the stylus traces the pattern and sends the second data to the computing device. The computing device uses the first data and the second data to calibrate the first display device and the second display device to reduce perceived color and intensity differences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Yung Chun Liu, Jace W. Files, Gerald Rene Pelissier
  • Patent number: 10514780
    Abstract: In some embodiments, an input device includes a housing having a top surface, a touch sensor disposed on the top surface of the housing, and a processor disposed in the housing. The touch sensor can be configured to detect a contact by a hand on the top surface of the housing and generate touch data corresponding to the detected contact by the hand. The processor can be configured to control operation of the touch sensor and receive the touch data, determine an orientation of the hand with respect to the housing based on the touch data, and calibrate a detected movement of the input device based on the determined orientation of the hand with respect to the housing. An image sensor and/or one or more IMUs can be used to detect 2D and/or 3D movement of the input device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2019
    Assignee: Logitech Europe S.A.
    Inventors: Chun-Wei Su, Kuan-Lin Wu, Laurent Mealares, Thibaut Mauron, Chia Feng Lee, Christina Chen, Alice Liu, Chih-Wei Chen, Kuo Hsiang Chen, Joe Chiu, Charles Gigandet
  • Patent number: 10095329
    Abstract: Methods and devices for communicating or interacting by a pen or a stylus with a digitizer are disclosed. An example method describes determining whether the device is to transmit a first information to the digitizer via the electrode or receive a second information from the digitizer via the electrode. An example device for use with the method includes a transmitter circuit, a receiver circuit, and an electrode. The method further includes isolating the electrode from the transmitter circuit in response to determining that the device is to receive the second information from the digitizer via the electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2018
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Ori Laslo, Vadim Mishalov, Ron Kaplan
  • Patent number: 9964439
    Abstract: In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a housing and an image sensor that is coupled to the housing and has a field of view. The apparatus also includes a non-imaging optical system coupled to the housing and disposed outside of the field of view of the image sensor. The non-imaging optical system can output diffuse light in a set of directions to a surface to produce scattered light. The image sensor and the non-imaging optical system are collectively configured such that during operation, the image sensor receives at least a portion of the scattered light.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: FiftyThree, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas C. Arends, Nicholas E. Bratt, John K. Ikeda, Jonathan R. Harris, Georg F. Petschnigg
  • Patent number: 9858804
    Abstract: Disclosed is a handheld device capable of being used as a remote controller, a remote device, a multimedia system and a corresponding controlling method. The handheld device being used as a remote control device for remotely controlling the remote device comprises: a communication unit, for establishing connection with a remote device and performing communication; an operation unit, for operating a specific procedure in the remote device by a user operation; a mode change unit, for switching the operation mode of the handheld device according to feedback information related to the specific procedure which is fed back by the remote device in response to the operation in the operation unit; a sensor data obtaining unit, for obtaining a sensor data, the sensor data being associated with the user hand's action in association with specific coordinate axes; and a sensor data transmission unit, for transmitting the obtained sensor data to the remote device through the communication unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yinghuan Liu, Tao Huang
  • Patent number: 9665206
    Abstract: A computing device can have a touchscreen user interface operable by different input tools, such as a finger or a stylus. The computing device can dynamically and automatically alter elements of a graphical user interface depending on the type of input tool in use. For example, a stylus can have sensors that detect touch and/or motion, and based on the sensor data, the stylus or the computing device can determine whether the stylus is currently being held in a hand. When the stylus is being held, the interface can be rendered with elements adapted for stylus input, and when the stylus is not being held, the interface can be rendered with elements adapted for finger input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2017
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Julian Missig, May-Li Khoe, Bianca Cheng Costanzo, Jeffrey Traer Bernstein
  • Patent number: 9654163
    Abstract: An LED light and communication system includes Visible Light Communication Transceiver Glasses having at least one projector, lense(s), and optical transceiver, the optical transceiver including a light support and a processor. The light support has at least one light emitting diode and at least one photodetector attached. The processor is in communication with the at least one light emitting diode and the at least one photodetector. The processor is capable of illuminating the at least one light emitting diode to create at least one light signal which is not observable to the unaided eyes of an individual. The second light signal includes at least one data packet. The processor may generate a signal for the projector to display information on the lense(s).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: Federal Law Enforcement Development Services, Inc.
    Inventor: John C. Pederson
  • Patent number: 9619054
    Abstract: An active stylus includes a pen body defining an accommodation chamber and a through hole unit, a control device mounted in the accommodation chamber and including a circuit board capable of outputting a signal to a touch control device of a touch screen being touched by the active stylus and elastic conductive members electrically connected to the circuit board and exposed to the outside of the through hole unit, and a rotating barrel rotatably mounted on the pen body around the through hole unit and including control zones movable with the rotating barrel relative to the pen body to change the contact condition between the elastic conductive members and the pen body for causing the circuit board to output one of a series of control signals to the touch control device in executing a corresponding operating function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2017
    Assignee: EGALAX_EMPIA TECHNOLOGY INC.
    Inventor: Chin-Fu Chang
  • Patent number: 9600117
    Abstract: A position indicator is provided, which includes a pressure sensor configured to detect a pressure applied to a tip of the position indicator. The position indicator further includes a storage configured to store the pressure as one type of digital data and to store at least one other type of digital data. The position indicator also includes a receiver configured to receive a command signal transmitted from a position sensor, and a control circuit configured to select one or more types of digital data in the storage based on the command signal. The position indicator includes a transmitter configured to transmit the selected one or more types of digital data to the position sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: Wacom Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yuji Katsurahira
  • Patent number: 9575574
    Abstract: A coordinate detection system includes a coordinate input device including a panel surface, an indication tool including a tip part with a conical shape or truncated-conical shape, a first image taking device to take a first image of the indication tool, a second image taking device to take a second image of the indication tool, and an information processing device to detect a first set of two oblique lines of the conical shape or truncated-conical shape based on the first image, detect a second set of two oblique lines of the conical shape or truncated-conical shape based on the second image, and calculate coordinates of a vertex of the tip part on the panel surface based on a first point of intersection between two oblique lines included in the first set and a second point of intersection between two oblique lines included in the second set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2017
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Masato Handa
  • Patent number: 9495023
    Abstract: An information processing method and an electronic device are described. The information processing method is applied in a first electronic device which can perform data transmission with a second electronic device. The first electronic device includes a first detecting unit. The method includes acquiring a first rotation information through detecting the rotation of the first electronic device by the first detecting unit; determining the first control instruction corresponding to the first rotation information based on the relationship between the preset rotation information and the control instruction, wherein the first control instruction is provided to the second electronic device to be executed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2016
    Assignees: BEIJING LENOVO SOFTWARE LTD, LENOVO (BEIJING) CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Bo Xu
  • Patent number: 9477325
    Abstract: A device is provided for identifying at least one laser pointer, including a laser projector having a scanning mirror device by which a projection surface is able to be scanned periodically; a modulation device for a laser beam of the at least one laser pointer; and a detection device, situated within the laser projector, for detecting the modulated laser beam of the at least one laser pointer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventor: Tobias Rankl
  • Patent number: 9471156
    Abstract: A CRT light pen emulating interface with power save and remote access for flat panel displays includes a pen flat panel display that indicates at least one of a user action with a light pen switch or other device and a presence of a light pen emulating object positioned on or proximate to a display surface of the electromagnetic pen flat panel display. A light pen emulating object is positioned proximate to the electromagnetic pen flat panel display. A processor generates a light pen emulation signal comprising position data for the light pen emulating object relative to the display surface of the electromagnetic flat panel display. A light pen CRT electronic interface converts the position data for the light pen emulating object into a corresponding signal that is comparable to a signal generated by a CRT light pen viewing a scanning dot on the CRT screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2016
    Assignee: Plasmability, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Joseph Basnett, Mitchell Allen Gregory, Stephen Lee Cowell
  • Patent number: 9269148
    Abstract: A displacement detection device includes a light source, an image sensor and a processing unit. The light source is configured to illuminate a work surface. The image sensor is configured to capture reflected light from the work surface and to output an image frame. The processing unit is configured to select a window of interest in the image frame having a maximum image feature and to calculate a displacement of the displacement detection device according to the window of interest.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2016
    Assignee: PIXART IMAGING INC.
    Inventors: Ming-Tsan Kao, Ren-Hau Gu, Yu-Hao Huang
  • Patent number: 9024919
    Abstract: A light emitting diode display panel includes a control circuit and a plurality of pixels arranged in a matrix. Each of the pixels includes a first light source and a first light sensing element. The first light sensing element receives a first optical signal from a lighting pen and generates a first control signal to the control circuit. According to the first control signal, the control circuit turns on the first light source in the pixel. The pixels further comprise a first polarizer covering the first light sensing element. When the lighting pen emits the first optical signal, a polarization direction of the light from the lighting pen is parallel to a polarization direction of the first polarizer. Therefore, the first optical signal can pass through the first polarizer and be received by the first light sensing element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chen-Han Lin
  • Patent number: 9019239
    Abstract: Creative design systems and methods are disclosed. In one embodiment, a creative design system is provided. The creative design system comprises a high resolution display, an interactive stylus that includes a transmitter at a tip of the interactive stylus that transmits an encoded signal associated with the interactive stylus and a plurality of sensors that track movement of the interactive stylus over the high resolution display by capturing and decoding the transmitted encoded signal as the stylus moves over the high resolution display. A creative design controller is configured to display sketches of context in response to the tracking of the movement of the interactive stylus over the high resolution display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Northrop Grumman Systems Corporation
    Inventors: H. Keith Nishihara, Shi-Ping Hsu, Donald G. Lariviere
  • Patent number: 9007349
    Abstract: A writing device includes an emitter and a light emitting diode display panel. The light emitting diode display panel includes an array and a receiver. The array has a plurality of pixels each including a first light source, a second light source, a third light source, a driving circuit and a light detecting device. The light detecting device is configured to receive the control signal from the emitter and transmit the control signal to the driving circuit to turn on the pixel. The receiver is electrically connected with the driving circuit. The receiver is configured to receive at least one of the first selective signal, the second selective signal and the third selective signal and transmit it to the driving circuit to turn on at least a corresponding one of the first light source, the second light source, and the third light source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yung-Chang Tseng
  • Patent number: 8982044
    Abstract: A position detector includes a tablet and a position indicator, which includes a coil and configured to continuously transmit a coil-based signal to the tablet as a position signal and to intermittently transmit the coil-based signal to the tablet as a non-positional signal. The tablet is configured to detect a position on its surface pointed to by the position indicator by detecting the continuously-transmitted coil-based signal, and to determine non-positional information regarding the position indicator (e.g., pen pressure, pen ID, etc.) by detecting the intermittently-transmitted coil-based signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Wacom Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yuji Katsurahira
  • Patent number: 8976155
    Abstract: A semiconductor device includes a photodiode, a first transistor, a second transistor, and a third transistor. The second transistor and the third transistor have a function of retaining a charge accumulated in a gate of the first transistor. In a period during which the second transistor and the third transistor are off, a voltage level of a voltage applied to a gate of the second transistor is set to be lower than a voltage level of a source of the second transistor and a voltage level of a drain of the second transistor, and a voltage level of a voltage applied to a gate of the third transistor is set to be lower than a voltage level of a source of the third transistor and a voltage level of a drain of the third transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Kurokawa, Takayuki Ikeda, Munehiro Kozuma, Takeshi Aoki
  • Patent number: 8963893
    Abstract: A CRT light pen emulating interface with power save and remote access for flat panel displays includes a pen flat panel display that indicates at least one of a user action with a light pen switch or other device and a presence of a light pen emulating object positioned on or proximate to a display surface of the electromagnetic pen flat panel display. A light pen emulating object is positioned proximate to the electromagnetic pen flat panel display. A processor generates a light pen emulation signal comprising position data for the light pen emulating object relative to the display surface of the electromagnetic flat panel display. A light pen CRT electronic interface converts the position data for the light pen emulating object into a corresponding signal that is comparable to a signal generated by a CRT light pen viewing a scanning dot on the CRT screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Plasmability, LLC
    Inventors: Robert Joseph Basnett, Mitchell Allen Gregory, Stephen Lee Cowell
  • Patent number: 8941617
    Abstract: An image input-output device includes a pixel which displays an image and reads an image. The pixel includes a photodetector element, a color layer, and a display element. The color layer is provided over the photodetector element and the display element is provided over the color layer, so that the distance between the photodetector element and the color layer is reduced. Accordingly, light is likely to enter the predetermined photodetector element through the predetermined color layer, and thus, even a color object can be read correctly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jun Koyama, Shunpei Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 8917262
    Abstract: A touch input system including a stylus and a display device is provided. The stylus includes a battery module, a touch portion, a transducer module and a RF transmitting module. When a contact pressure is acted on the touch portion, the touch portion is electrically connected to the battery module by the contact pressure and emits a light signal. The display region receives and reacts to the light signal, and the contact pressure is transformed into an electrical signal by the transducer module. The RF transmitting module is electrically connected to the transducer module and transmitting the electrical signal. The display device includes a display region and a RF receiving module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 23, 2014
    Assignee: Integrated Digital Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Shen-Tai Liaw, Nae-Jye Hwang, Feng-Sheng Lin, Chih-Ming Yuan
  • Patent number: 8907932
    Abstract: A system includes an electronic pen, functionally integrated with a personal computer for the acquisition and processing of signals associated with signatures, which can be network connected together with other personal computers. Each personal computer has connected as peripherals an electronic pen that includes two groups of inertial accelerometers that capture kinetic data and data about contact microvibrations with the writing support. The electronic pen also includes one self-referential optical navigation sensor that captures a series of data pairs, as momentary movements necessary in the reconstruction of the trajectory of the electronic pen and which, together with the kinetic data captured by the set of inertial accelerometers, represents personal computer input data for sensorial fusion processing and for creating the conditions to extract the information from the sensorial and psychomotric representation of a user's perspective.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Softwin S.R.L.
    Inventors: Mircea Sorin Rusu, Adrian Dinescu, Stefan Stelian Diaconescu
  • Patent number: 8902197
    Abstract: A combined display surface and a control device for a data processing system, wherein the position of a light beam hitting the display surface is measured and the measured result is used by the data processing system as a basis for determining a cursor position on the display surface. Several strip-shaped optical position detectors are arranged along the edge of the display surface, the measured signals of which are fed into the data processing system. The cross-sectional shape of the indicator beam is formed by several lines which protrude both the display surface and the position detectors arranged thereon. The optical position detectors are formed by a layered structure made of organic material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Isiqiri Interface Technologies GmbH
    Inventor: Richard Ebner
  • Patent number: 8878819
    Abstract: A portable optical touch system is disclosed in the present invention. The portable optical touch system includes two camera devices movably connected with each other and respectively disposed on two corners of a plane. Each camera device includes an imaging module for capturing an image of an object on the screen, an adjusting module connected to the imaging module for determining whether the two imaging modules are positioned on the same plane, and a measuring module connected to the imaging module for calculating a distance between the two imaging modules. The portable optical touch system further includes a controlling unit electrically connected to the camera device for calculating a coordinates of the object on the plane by analyzing the distance between the imaging modules and the images captured by the imaging modules.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2014
    Assignee: Wistron Corporation
    Inventors: Chia-Te Chou, Shou-Te Wei, Chun-Wei Wang
  • Patent number: 8867062
    Abstract: A system, method and computer program for enabling signings/dedications on a remote basis is provided. A first computer at a first location is associated with an individual from whom a signature or dedication is required. A second computer at a location where the signing or dedication is required is linked to the first computer so as to provide a two-way audiovisual communication system. The second computer is operate e to receive input from one or more individuals regarding their request for a signature and/or dedication, and to communicate the request to the first computer. The first computer is operable to permit the individual associated with the first computer to review the request, and based on such request provide a signature and/or personalized dedication as an input to an input device connected to the first computer. The first computer transmits the signature and/or personalized dedication from the first computer to the second computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Syngrafii Inc.
    Inventors: Milos Popovic, John H. D. Wiltshire, Matthew Mann Gibson, Robert James Darling, Margaret Atwood
  • Patent number: 8847894
    Abstract: A method, system, and medium are provided for providing tactile feedback in association with contact to a touchscreen display of a mobile device. One embodiment of the method includes receiving a touch input to a touchscreen display area provided by a user of the mobile device. The touch input selects a predetermined region within the touchscreen display area. Incident to the touch input of the predetermined region, a mechanical indicator on the rear of the mobile device is physically manipulated to provide an indication to the user that the predetermined region was selected by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Sprint Communications Company L.P.
    Inventors: Woojae Lee, Sanjay K. Sharma, Peter S. Syromiatnikov, Cesar Perez
  • Patent number: 8816994
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a display for displaying data stored on said electronic device; input means; sensing means for sensing the three-dimensional position of the input means relative to said device; and control means for controlling the data displayed on said display in dependence on the three-dimensional position of the input means relative to said device. The input means includes a source of electromagnetic radiation for directing an infrared conical beam onto the display. The sensing means can sense the elliptical eccentricity of the electromagnetic radiation incident on the display to determine the angle at which it strikes the display, and can sense the area of the electromagnetic radiation incident on the display to determine the distance of the input means from the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 26, 2014
    Assignee: Power2B, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Michael Lipman, Sarah Michelle Lipman
  • Patent number: 8786578
    Abstract: A pointing device and a display apparatus applying the same are provided. The pointing device corrects an error that occurs in a boundary between block in calculating a current location of the pointing device and calculates the current location. Accordingly, an error occurring in a boundary between blocks in calculating a current location of the pointing device is prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Byung-seok Soh, Sang-on Choi, Yong-wan Choi, Mi-ra Yu
  • Patent number: 8780040
    Abstract: A handwriting input device includes a housing and a nib selectively exposed from a bottom side of the housing or hidden in the housing. The device further includes a pressure sensor, a motion sensor, and a microcontroller. The pressure sensor generates pressure signals when the nib is depressed. The motion sensor senses movement of the device. The microcontroller records the sensed movement upon receiving the pressure signals, and processes the recorded movement to obtain track signals of handwritten information when the duration of not receiving the pressure signals exceeds a predetermined time interval. The track signals of handwritten information are then transmitted to an external electronic device communicating with the device to become handwriting shown on a display of the external electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 15, 2014
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Ping-Yang Chuang, Ying-Chuan Yu
  • Patent number: 8760390
    Abstract: An interactive device for improving image processing. The interactive device includes a processing module and a controller. The processing module includes a substrate, an image sensor formed on the substrate for generating a plurality of pixel signals, a calculation unit formed on the substrate for calculating at least one motion vector based on the plurality of pixel signals, and a transmission interface formed on the substrate for serially outputting the motion vector. The controller is used for controlling operation of the interactive device based on the motion vector output by the transmission interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: PixArt Imaging Inc.
    Inventors: Hsuan-Hsien Lee, Chin-Hsin Yang, Tzu-Yi Chao
  • Patent number: 8743090
    Abstract: Disclosed is a display device equipped with an input section that can be operated accurately. A display device equipped with an input section (50) of the present invention includes a correcting section (39), which includes a sensor location detecting section (28) that detects the location of the optical axis of light projected from the light-projecting section. To the sensor location detecting section (28), the location information of a pointer is inputted as the location of the optical axis of the light. The correcting section (39) also includes a sensor shape detecting section (29) that detects the shape of the light-receiving region receiving the light projected from the light-projecting section. The display device equipped with an input section (50) further includes a pointer location correcting section that corrects the pointer location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2014
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yoichi Kuge
  • Patent number: 8723838
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a proximity sensing apparatus and a method thereof. A sensor apparatus comprises a panel, an emitting device, and a proximity sensor module. The panel includes a first transparent area and a second transparent area; an emitting device is located under the panel and the emitting device emitting a light passing through the first transparent area. The proximity sensor module is located under the panel and the proximity sensor module includes at least one proximity sensor with high sensitivity which is a second proximity sensor and at least one proximity sensor with low sensitivity which is a first proximity sensor, and the proximity sensor module receives the light passing through the second transparent area. The light passing through the first transparent area and then reflecting from an object to passing through the second transparent area, and the panel is able to provide a touch function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2014
    Assignee: Capella Microsystems (Taiwan), Inc.
    Inventors: Cheng-Chieh Huang, Jinn-Ann Kuo, Chi-Huang Chang, Yu-Hao Kao
  • Patent number: 8717335
    Abstract: An active photosensing pixel is disclosed, in which a two-terminal photosensing transistor has a first terminal coupled to a first node, a second terminal coupled to a selection line and a control terminal connected to the first terminal. A driving transistor has a first terminal coupled to a first reference voltage, a second terminal coupled to an output line and a control terminal connected to the first node.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Inventors: Chen-Pang Kung, Wen-Jen Chiang
  • Patent number: 8711101
    Abstract: An input coordinate point is obtained from a pointing device, and either one of first and second controls is selected in accordance with an operation performed by a user. When the first control is selected, a movement vector is calculated based on the input coordinate point and a predetermined coordinate point, and a display area of a virtual space, which is displayed on a display device, is moved. Alternatively, when the first control is selected, the movement vector is calculated based on the input coordinate point and predetermined coordinate point, and an object is moved within the virtual space. When the second control is selected, the object is moved to a position in the virtual space, the position corresponding to the input coordinate point. Then, the display device is caused to display the virtual space within the display area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toshiaki Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8698746
    Abstract: A system and method is disclosed for calibrating a pointing device. A virtual movement of a position indicator is generated based on current acceleration parameters of an acceleration curve applied to a physical movement made at a pointing device and terminating at a target action. A plurality of virtual path segments are determined based on the physical movement, and an overall error representative of a deviation of the endpoint of each segment from the target action is generated. One or more hypothetical acceleration parameters are calculated that, when applied to the changing position information, generate an overall hypothetical error value less than the overall error. The current acceleration parameters are set equal to the one or more hypothetical acceleration parameters to calibrate the pointing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventor: Iain Merrick
  • Patent number: 8624835
    Abstract: An interactive input system includes at least one illumination source emitting radiation into a region of interest; at least one imaging assembly capturing image frames of the region of interest, the at least one illumination source being in the field of view of the at least one imaging assembly; and a controller communicating with the at least one illumination source, the controller controlling the intensity of radiation emitted by the at least one illumination source during image frame capture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2014
    Assignee: SMART Technologies ULC
    Inventor: Trevor Mitchell Akitt
  • Patent number: 8619065
    Abstract: A stylus device receives light from a display though an optical element that is adapted to increase the field curvature of an image formed on an image sensor of the stylus device. Based on the size and shape of a portion of the image that is in focus, a distance, orientation, and/or azimuth of the stylus device with respect to the display can be determined. In addition, a position corresponding to each pixel, or groups of pixels, is encoded into blue light emitted by each pixel or group of pixels of the display. Upon initialization, or after a loss of synchronization, the stylus device can determine its position with respect to the pixels by decoding the encoded position. After synchronizing its position with the display, the stylus device can determine its subsequent positions by tracking pixels of the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Andreas Nowatzyk, Charles P. Thacker
  • Patent number: 8587526
    Abstract: A system and method for providing feedback to a user making a gesture for switching between at least two types of user interactions used to operate a digitizer system, the method comprising recognizing the gesture to switch between the types of user interactions, switching the type of user interaction used to operate the digitizer system, and providing feedback to the user indicating recognition of the gesture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2013
    Assignee: N-trig Ltd.
    Inventors: Leonard Engelhardt, Jonathan Moore
  • Patent number: 8570307
    Abstract: The electronic writing instrument is provided with: a writing unit that writes down on a medium where a code indicating identity information and location information of the medium is formed; an emitting unit that emits light to the medium; a photoelectric conversion unit that includes photoelectric conversion element receiving a reflected light from the medium by the light emitted by the emitting unit and outputting an electronic signal after converting the reflected light by photoelectric conversion; a receiving unit that receives a user operation; and a condition changing unit that changes at least any one of an emitting condition of the emitting unit to the medium and an output condition of the photoelectric conversion unit when the receiving unit receives an operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: Fuji Xerox Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shin Takeuchi, Eisuke Osakabe, Eigo Nakagawa, Hiroyuki Funo, Tomohito Takagi
  • Patent number: 8547364
    Abstract: An electronic device comprises a display for displaying data stored on said electronic device; input means; sensing means for sensing the three-dimensional position of the input means relative to said device; and control means for controlling the data displayed on said display in dependence on the three-dimensional position of the input means relative to said device. The input means includes a source of electromagnetic radiation for directing an infrared conical beam onto the display. The sensing means can sense the elliptical eccentricity of the electromagnetic radiation incident on the display to determine the angle at which it strikes the display, and can sense the area of the electromagnetic radiation incident on the display to determine the distance of the input means from the display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2013
    Assignee: Power2B, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert Michael Lipman, Sarah Michelle Lipman
  • Patent number: 8531437
    Abstract: A handwriting input system includes a handwriting input device, a visible light sensing member, an infrared sensing member, and a receiving member. The handwriting input device includes a writing head and an infrared light source adjacent to the writing head. The writing head is capable of leaving color distinguishable traces on an object. The visible light sensing member is configured for capturing images of handwriting traces. The infrared sensing member is configured for capturing images of movement track of the infrared light source. The visible light sensing member and the infrared sensing member are slidably installed on the receiving member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tsung-Yu Lin
  • Patent number: 8525784
    Abstract: A methods and systems for use of an input device with a display system are disclosed. In an example embodiment, a projection device configured to project a displayed image is provided where the displayed image includes one or more selectable items. The projection system further includes an input device which may be movable in free space and may be configured to point to the selectable items. The input device may be enabled to provide a double-click input to effect one or more changes in a graphical user interface that corresponds with a selection of a particular one of the selectable items at which the input device is pointed. The double click input may be identified such that movement of the input device after initiation of the double-click input may be ignored by the graphical user interface until completion of the double click input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2013
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Alexander Benenson
  • Patent number: 8477117
    Abstract: An embedded optical induction input device and method of implementing the same. Such a device includes a light sensing circuit and a conversion circuit. The light sensing circuit generates an induced current signal based on the variations of the intensity of light irradiation received as caused by a touch-control-position event; and the conversion circuit is connected to the light sensing circuit and receives an induced current derived therefrom. The conversion circuit is provided with a first transistor and a second transistor coupled together, that are driven by a positive and a negative biases having the same period but different phases, thus the induced current signals are converted into induced voltage signals based on the alternative turn-on's and turn-off's of the first transistor and the second transistor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Hannstar Display Corporation
    Inventors: Po-Yang Chen, Po-Sheng Shih
  • Patent number: 8462139
    Abstract: Disclosed is a sensor apparatus comprising a plurality of pixels, a digital to analog converter for providing a ramp signal, A comparator for comparing the output level of each pixel to said ramp signal, and memory for storing the digital value that corresponds to said output level for each pixel, the sensor apparatus thereby converting the analog output level of each pixel to a digital value. The apparatus operates by providing an analog output that is sourced from the digital to analog converter used to provide said ramp signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Ltd.
    Inventor: Jeffrey Raynor