Bodily Actuated Code Generator Patents (Class 341/20)
  • Patent number: 9299516
    Abstract: A luminous keyboard device includes a keypad module, a supporting plate, a light-mixing type light-emitting element, a first light guide plate, and a second light guide plate. The supporting plate has a partition part. By the partition part, a first color light beam and a second color light beam from the light-mixing type light-emitting element are not mixed with each other. The first color light beam is guided by the first light guide plate to a first light-outputting zone and a third light-outputting zone of the keypad module. The second color light beam is guided by the second light guide plate to a second light-outputting zone and the third light-outputting zone of the keypad module. The first color light beam and the second color light beam projected on the third light-outputting zone are mixed as a third color light beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2016
    Assignee: Primax Electronics Ltd.
    Inventors: Chung-Yuan Chen, Hsuan-Wei Ho
  • Patent number: 9286510
    Abstract: Systems, electronic devices, and methods for redeeming user activity level or other desired user behaviors for virtual currency are disclosed. In some implementations, a method includes: at a computer system, obtaining user activity information indicating an activity level of a user; and computing an in-application credit based on the activity level. The in-application credit can be redeemed by the user in an associated application. The in-application credit can be redeemed by the user for a coupon that can be applied towards out-of-application purchases. In some implementations, the activity level is determined in accordance with (i) a motion parameter reported by an activity sensor of an electronic device associated with the user, (ii) information obtained from a cell phone tower or a GPS device (e.g., using cell tower triangulation techniques); and (iii) self-reported user activity information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: 473 TECHNOLOGY, INC.
    Inventor: Kenneth Soohoo
  • Patent number: 9241105
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a camera module and a method for driving the camera module, the module including: a photographing unit controlling a shutter speed to photograph an image in response to an inputted control signal; a display unit displaying the image; and a controller outputting a first shutter speed control signal to the photographing unit to allow an average brightness of two or more particular areas to become a set reference brightness, in a case the two or more particular areas in a plurality of divided areas in the display unit are selected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: LG INNOTEK CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sunghyun Yun, Kyongnam Park, Mihean Kim
  • Patent number: 9239627
    Abstract: The conference room automation apparatus employs a processor-based integrated movement sensor, lights, cameras, and display device, such as a projector, that senses and interprets human movement within the room to control the projector in response to that movement and that captures events occurring in the room. Preferably packed in a common integrated package, the apparatus employs a layered software/hardware architecture that may be readily extended as a platform to support additional third-party functionality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY CORPORATION OF AMERICA
    Inventors: David Kryze, Jean-Claude Junqua, Ricardo Teixeira, Yue Fei, Jeremy Lauraire, Pierluigi Dalla Rosa, Colin Johnston
  • Patent number: 9229551
    Abstract: The present invention provides a capacitive sensor and detection method using the same. The capacitive sensor of the present invention includes at least one detecting plate and at least one reference plate surrounding each detecting plate. All of the reference plates are electrically coupled to the same first wire, and each reference plate is electrically coupled to a second wire. When an electrical signal is provided to the first wire and each second wire, one or more detecting plates touched or approached can be detected simultaneously based on the signal difference between each second wire and the first wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: EGALAX—EMPIA TECHNOLOGY INC.
    Inventor: Cheng-Han Lee
  • Patent number: 9224107
    Abstract: Among other disclosed subject matter, a computer-implemented method of managing customizing settings in a business structured interface is to be initiated. The method includes presenting a plurality of business process types to a user. Each of the business process types includes a plurality of business document types. First user input selecting a set of business process types is received. The first user input triggers for each selected business process type activation of features in an application program. In response to the first selection, the plurality of business document types associated with the selected business process type are presented. Second user input selecting a set of business document types is received. The second user input triggers activation of features in the application program. The application program is launched, wherein the features are activated and available during the operation of the application program.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2015
    Assignee: SAP SE
    Inventors: Roland Hoff, Roland Keil, Almer Podbicanin, Karsten Hartmann, Robert Baethe
  • Patent number: 9212690
    Abstract: An electrical cylinder controller with a rotational mechanism includes a box, a pivotal element, a fixing element, and a damping member; one end of the box has a hollow tube, the hollow tube internally has a restricting block; the pivotal element penetrates through the hollow tube, the pivotal element has a pivotal-connecting section and a protruding section elongating from the pivotal-connecting section, the external portion of the protruding section has a stopping block against the restricting block; the fixing element connects to the end portion of the protruding section; and the damping member female-connects to the external portion of the protruding section and is clamped between the hollow tube and the fixing element. Therefore, the effect of applying a force to the box for rotation is achieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 15, 2015
    Assignee: TIMOTION TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Chou-Hsin Wu
  • Patent number: 9189099
    Abstract: A central processing unit (CPU) monitors whether a predetermined event (pressing of a sleep release button, an incoming call, an alarm ring sound, or the like) is generated. When the predetermined event is generated, a sensitivity detection unit sets a sensitivity threshold value for input detection to a threshold value of a high-sensitivity mode, and the CPU displays a screen corresponding to the event. When an input operation is performed on the screen, the sensitivity detection unit resets a subsequent sensitivity threshold value according to input sensitivity information detected when the input operation is performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takahito Komoto
  • Patent number: 9170666
    Abstract: A system including a display, a sensor and a controller. The sensor can detect an object and generate data related to the object. The controller can determine a first pose of the object from the data and display a first representative image on the display. The controller can determine a second pose of the object and display a second representative image on the display, wherein the second representative image is associated with a displayed element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Bradley Neal Suggs, John J. Briden, John P. McCarthy
  • Patent number: 9171234
    Abstract: An improved method of learning a context of a segment of text input enables facilitated text input on an improved handheld electronic device. In response to a series of inputs, segments and other objects are analyzed to generate a proposed character interpretation of the series of inputs. Responsive to detecting a replacement of a segment of the character interpretation with another segment, a combination object comprising the another segment and a preceding object is stored. In response to another series of inputs, the combination object can be employed by a processing algorithm to ascertain a preference for the another segment in the context of the preceding object of the combination object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Vadim Fux, Sergey Kolomiets
  • Patent number: 9158415
    Abstract: A touch panel includes: a substrate; a plurality of light emitting elements; and a plurality of light receiving elements, wherein the number of light receiving elements may be greater than the number of light emitting elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2015
    Assignees: LG Electronics Inc., LG Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Byungsoo Song, Seonghak Moon, Victor Pushchin, Sungchul Kim, Munbong Song, Youngjoon Lee, Byungchun Yu, Byeongkil Ahn, Svetlana Volodkina
  • Patent number: 9110635
    Abstract: A device includes a processor and a memory accessible to the processor. The memory bears instructions executable by the processor to receive at least one signal from at least one camera in communication with the device, determine that a user of the device is looking at least substantially at a personal assistant feature presented on a display of the device at least partially based on the signal, and initiate a personal assistant which processes audible input from the user received at the device in response to a determination that the user is looking at least substantially at the personal assistant feature. The personal assistant is associated with the personal assistant feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2015
    Assignee: Lenova (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Jonathan Gaither Knox, Rod D. Waltermann, Liang Chen, Mark Evan Cohen
  • Patent number: 9101829
    Abstract: A system for initiating and using a three-dimensional object as a controlling device when interfacing with a computer system used for interactive video game play is provided. One example system includes an interface for receiving data from a capturing device of a three-dimensional space and storage coupled with computer system. The computer system provides data to a screen and receiving user input to obtain geometric parameters of the three-dimensional object and assign actions to be performed with the three-dimensional object when moved or placed in positions in front of the capture device during interactive video game play. The geometric parameters and the assigned actions being saved to a database on the storage for access during interactive video game play or future interactive sessions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2015
    Assignees: Sony Computer Entertainment America LLC, Sony Computer Entertainment Europe Ltd.
    Inventors: Gary Zalewski, Tomas Gillo
  • Patent number: 9092131
    Abstract: Methods for highlighting tappable web page elements in response to a touch detect a touch to a touchscreen display, determine that a touched element displayed at the touch location, and determine whether and how the touched element is to be highlighted. Highlighting can be based on various touched element properties. In one embodiment, if a touched element is not tappable, the element is not highlighted. If the touched element is editable, the element is highlighted. A region around the touch location is highlighted if the touched element is an image map or SVG element and a portion of the element at the touch location is tappable. A touched element is also highlighted if the element has an inline display style or is a highlight element type. The touched element is not highlighted if its size and complexity exceed size and complexity thresholds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventor: Jeffrey Tzu-Heng Lin
  • Patent number: 9086718
    Abstract: A key mechanism includes a tray, at least one keycap, at least one supporting structure and an engaging component. The at least one keycap is disposed on a side of the tray. The at least one supporting structure is connected to the tray and the at least one keycap for supporting the at least one keycap on the tray. The engaging component is installed on the tray. The engaging component includes a pivoting portion and an engaging portion. The pivoting portion is pivoted to the at least one supporting structure, and the engaging portion engages into an opening on a casing as the tray is assembled on the casing, so as to fix the tray on the casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: Wistron Corporation
    Inventor: Yu-Wei Lin
  • Patent number: 9053250
    Abstract: Examples of the present invention disclose a dual-mode tablet input system. According to one implementation, the system includes a portable electronic device configured to communicate with a primary computer. When a connection between the primary computer and portable electronic device is established, a mode change controller affiliated with portable electronic device is configured to switch the portable electronic device from a first operating mode to a second operating mode for facilitating user input on the primary computer and associated display.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Irwan Halim, Thomas J. Flynn, Louis R. Jackson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 9054710
    Abstract: A touch keyboard with an improved structure is disclosed. The touch keyboard includes a keyboard casing and an inductive circuit layer. The keyboard casing has a front surface and a rear surface; the front surface has a keyboard key assembly composed of a plurality of touch keyboard keys. The touch keyboard keys are integrally formed with the keyboard casing and projected from the front surface of the keyboard casing. The inductive circuit layer is formed on the rear surface of the keyboard casing and is used to detect touching and sliding operations from the user. The touch keyboard keys are projected from the front surface of the keyboard casing so as to identify positions of the touch keyboard keys without fixing user's eyes on the keyboard and increase touching feeling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Assignee: PARAGON TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ching-Feng Yu, Pin-Feng Hung
  • Patent number: 9046965
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method and device for position detection. For detection of a touch position, a segment of surface acoustic wave (SAW) is provided multiple times to be propagated on a SAW touch panel, and the multiple SAW segments are received by the SAW touch panel. In addition, during or after reception, partial output electrical signals are provided based on different portions of each received SAW segment to construct a complete output electrical signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2015
    Assignee: EGALAX—eMPIA TECHNOLOGY INC.
    Inventors: Shang-Tai Yeh, Teng-Wei Hsieh
  • Patent number: 9041562
    Abstract: An apparatus and an article of manufacture for controlling a voice site using a haptic input modality include validating a haptic input from an instrument capable of accessing a voice site, processing the haptic input on a server to determine a voice site command corresponding to the haptic input, and processing the voice site command at the server to control an interaction with the voice site.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Anupam Jain, Nitendra Rajput, Simon N. Robinson
  • Patent number: 9035806
    Abstract: A keyboard includes a plurality of key tops having areas where light is transmitted; a gear link part provided below the key top and configured to vertically move the key top, a housing part provided below the key top, the housing part being configured to hold the gear link part; a rubber actuator configured to provide a reaction force based on vertical motion of the key top; a membrane sheet provided below the rubber actuator and having a contact, the contact being configured to open and close based on the vertical motion of the key top; a support panel provided below the membrane sheet, the support panel being configured to fix the gear link part with the housing part; a light guide plate provided below the support panel; and a light emitting diode configured to emit the light to a side surface of the light guide plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: FUJITSU COMPONENT LIMITED
    Inventor: Takeshi Nishino
  • Patent number: 9032222
    Abstract: A data entry device including a housing formed of at least two portions, data entry circuitry located within the housing, at least one case-open switch assembly operative to sense when the housing is opened and tamper indication circuitry operative to receive an input from the at least one case-open switch assembly and to provide an output indication of possible tampering with the data entry circuitry located within the housing, the at least one case-open switch assembly including an arrangement of electrical contacts including at least first, second and third contacts and a displaceable conductive element, the tamper indication circuitry and the third contact together being operative such that when the third contact is short circuited to at least one of the first contact, the second contact and another contact, an output indication of possible tampering is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Verifone, Inc.
    Inventors: Mehran Mirkazemi-Moud, John Henry Barrowman, Christian Eric Schulz, Arnon Aviv, Amihav Avital, Sergey Meron, Dave Faoro
  • Patent number: 9024726
    Abstract: A multimedia device is disclosed in a specification. The multimedia device comprises a first interface, a memory to store a code value of a function corresponding to an electronic device coupled to the multimedia device through the first interface, and a controller to control information indicative of the function of the electronic device, obtain the code value stored in memory after receiving a first signal selecting the function, and transmit a second signal including the code value through a second interface coupled to a remote controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Keunryang Park, Dojoon Lee, Kwangsoo Choi, Sunghee Park
  • Patent number: 9025022
    Abstract: Certain aspects of an apparatus and method for gesture recognition using a two Dimensional (2D) imaging device may include capturing a first image of a hand in a first position, capturing a second image of the hand in a second position, generating an image mask for indicating the movement of the arm from the first position to the second position, determining an elbow position corresponding to the hand based on the image mask and estimating the change in depth of the hand from the first position to the second position based on the determined elbow position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Kuang-Man Andy Huang, Ming-Chang Liu, Wei Ji
  • Patent number: 9019132
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus, an input-mode adjustment method, and an input-mode adjustment program capable of allowing a user to input intended information are provided. The information processing apparatus determines whether the number of repetitions of deletion operation on information, such as a character string, is greater than a predetermined deletion operation threshold. When the number of deletion operations is greater than the deletion operation threshold, the information processing apparatus determines that a current input mode is not desired by a user, and changes the input mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventor: Kazutoshi Taniyama
  • Patent number: 9019131
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for human body communication are provided. A communication signal for transmission through the human body is generated. The communication signal is transmitted when the terminal is in contact with the human body. The touch is detected, and a communication signal is determined based on a number of the touch and a duration of the touch. A function corresponding to the communication signal is executed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2015
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Hyung Tae Kim, Hee Chan Choi
  • Patent number: 9013336
    Abstract: A data entry device including a housing including a top housing portion including key apertures, a plurality of data entry keys mounted in the housing to have data entry key depression travel paths in the housing, the plurality of data entry keys being associated with a substrate, which is disposed below the top housing portion and anti-tampering electrical conductors arranged between the top housing portion and the substrate thereby to prevent unauthorized access to the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Verifone, Inc.
    Inventors: Christian Eric Schulz, Arnon Aviv, Amihay Avital, Sergey Meron, Mehran Mirkazemi-Moud, Dave Faoro
  • Patent number: 9000956
    Abstract: A portable terminal includes a finger sensor that recognizes, in response to contact of a finger, the contact and a movement of the finger; and a conversion unit that converts the movement of the finger recognized by the finger sensor into an input event corresponding to an operation instruction to an application running on the portable terminal. If a period of time from recognition of release of the finger from the finger sensor to recognition of placement of the finger on the finger sensor is less than a predetermined amount of time corresponding to physical limitations of a human, the conversion unit does not convert to the input event the recognition of placement of the finger, and recognition of a movement of the finger until recognition of release of the finger after the recognition of placement of the finger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
    Inventors: Masayuki Goto, Makoto Hosoi, Hidekazu Ito, Shigefumi Yamada, Yoshihiro Takamatsuya
  • Patent number: 9000957
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system and method for typing Ethiopic characters in a computer system using at most two keystrokes. The rendering of characters is based on the timing between a first and second keystroke and on whether the first and second keystroke are, together, one of a predetermined number of ordered key pairs. Conventional symbol typing may be preserved by a prioritized assignment of the symbols to alternative shift keys. A timing disable key may be defined that allows typing of default characters at a comfortable speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Inventor: Aberra Molla
  • Patent number: 9000955
    Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement for detecting body parts by absorbing an electric near field. Various, particularly capacitive methods exist for detecting an approaching human body. Most of said methods operate on the principle that an electrode emits an alternating electric field, the distribution of which changes towards the environment when a body or body part approaches, and said change is detected by means of suitable electronics. The detection arrangement according to the invention is used for detecting objects, particularly moving limbs, that approach or are present in an observation zone and comprises a transmitter electrode device for inducing an alternating electric field in the observation zone or the surrounding area thereof, a receiver electrode device for detecting an electric field in the observation zone or said surrounding area, and an isolating electrode device for shielding part of the field that extends between the transmitter electrode and the receiver electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Ident Technology AG
    Inventor: Peter Fasshauer
  • Patent number: 8992225
    Abstract: An interactive cooking preparation device is presented. The user places ingredients that the user wishes to use in a recipe. The interactive cooking preparation device detects the ingredients placed by the user in the detection area of the interactive cooking preparation device using sensors. The detection results in a set of ingredient identifiers that correspond to the placed ingredients. A recipes database is then searched for the detected set of ingredient identifiers. The database search results in one or more suggested recipes. The suggested recipes are displayed to the user on a display device that is included in the interactive cooking preparation device. The user then selects one of the suggested recipes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Lydia Mai Do, Travis M. Grigsby, Pamela Ann Nesbitt, Lisa Anne Seacat
  • Patent number: 8989304
    Abstract: A method of transmitting, by a transmitter, information in a wireless communication system, the method includes generating first and second symbols; generating first and second transmit vectors on the basis of an Alamouti code from the first and second symbols; and transmitting the first transmit vector through a first antenna and transmitting the second transmit vector through a second antenna. The first transmit vector consists of a first transmit symbol and a second transmit symbol. The second transmit vector consists of a third transmit symbol and a fourth transmit symbol. The first, second, third, and fourth transmit symbols are transmitted based on first and second resource indexes. The first symbol is a first modulation symbol for first information, and the second symbol is a second modulation symbol for second information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Seung Hee Han, Moon Il Lee, Yeong Hyeon Kwon, Hyun Soo Ko, Ja Ho Koo, Dong Cheol Kim, Jae Hoon Chung, Sung Ho Moon, Jin Sam Kwak, Min Seok Noh, Hyun Woo Lee
  • Patent number: 8982997
    Abstract: In a method of transmitting a data stream from a transmitter in a multiple-input-multiple-output (MIMO) wireless communication system, where the transmitter comprises a plurality of transmit antennas, a discrete Fourier transform (DFT) is applied to the data stream to generate a plurality of symbol sequences; symbols of a first symbol sequence from the plurality of symbol sequences are paired with symbols of a second symbol sequence from the plurality of symbol sequences to generate a plurality of symbol pairs, wherein the pairing results in an orphan symbol; a space-time block code (STBC) is applied to the symbol pairs to generate a plurality of sets of STBC symbols, each set of STBC symbols being associated with a corresponding one of the plurality of antennas; a cyclic delay diversity (CDD) operation is applied to the orphan symbol to generate a plurality of CDD symbols, each CDD symbol being associated with a corresponding one of the plurality of antennas; and each one of the antennas transmits the corres
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Aplle Inc.
    Inventors: Ming Jia, Masoud Ebrahimi Tazeh Mahalleh, Mohammadhaadi Baligh, Hua Xu, Jianglei Ma, Amir Khandani
  • Patent number: 8976046
    Abstract: Methods and systems for a MEMS detector that enables control of a device using human breath are disclosed and may include detecting air flow caused by human breath via a microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) detector, which may include deflectable members operable to detect the movement of air. The deflection of the members may be limited via a spacer within the MEMS detector. The amount of deflection may be determined by measuring reflected light signals, piezoelectric signals, capacitance changes, or current generated by the deflection in a magnetic field. Output signals may be generated based on the detected movement. The MEMS detector may include a substrate, a spacer, and the MEMS deflectable members. The substrate may include a ceramic material and/or silicon, and may include embedded devices and interconnects. An integrated circuit may be electrically coupled to the substrate. Air flows may be directed out of the side of the MEMS detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Inventor: Pierre Bonnat
  • Patent number: 8976045
    Abstract: A tactile force sense presenting device of the present invention includes: an operation unit which includes an operation lever to be operated by an operator, and a movement guide surface which guides an input of a slide motion of the operation lever in the XY-planar direction and an input of a push-in motion of the operation lever in the Z-axis direction at a specific position on the XY-plane; a detection unit which detects the input of the slide motion of the operation lever in the XY-planar direction and the input of the push-in motion of the operation lever in the Z-axis direction; a calculation control unit which calculates a force corresponding to an operation of the operation lever, based on detection results of the detection unit; and a drive transmission unit which includes a driving unit including at least one actuator, and which causes, based on calculation results of the calculation control unit, the driving unit to generate a resistive force of the operation lever with respect to the input of the
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Shin Norieda
  • Patent number: 8970403
    Abstract: A method for actuating a tactile interface layer of a device that defines a surface with a deformable region, comprising the steps of deforming a deformable region of the surface into a formation tactilely distinguishable from the surface, detecting a force from the user on a deformed deformable region, interpreting the force as a command for the deformable region, and manipulating the deformable region of the surface based on the command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Tactus Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Craig Michael Ciesla, Micah B. Yairi, Nathaniel Mark Saal
  • Patent number: 8963746
    Abstract: A touch-sensitive linear adjustment switch is configured to be touched along a linear direction in order to turn on or off, or make stepwise adjustment to the power supplied from, an external power source. The switch includes a housing having a light-permeable sensing surface. The touch control circuit board in the housing has a touch control circuit layer adjacent to the sensing surface. The surface of the touch control circuit layer is divided into plural first sensing areas arranged along the linear direction and is provided at intervals with plural first light-emitting elements, each located beside or in one first sensing area. When touched, the sensing surface triggers the touch control circuit layer in the corresponding first sensing area to control light emission of the light-emitting element(s) beside or in the first sensing area and to output a coded signal for controlling power supply from the external power source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Inventor: Ching-Hsiung Chu
  • Publication number: 20150051607
    Abstract: A foot pedal with a treadle that pivots up and down to vary its pitch, and/or side to side to vary its yaw. The pivot range of motion is divided into a plurality of zones, each zone configured to correspond to a respective virtual switch. When the treadle is pivoted into one of the zones, the corresponding virtual switch is activated. The virtual switch controls an operatively coupled device such as a handpiece used in a surgical procedure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 3, 2014
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Inventors: Abraham Hajishah, Mitchell W. Mallough
  • Patent number: 8957762
    Abstract: An intermediary between a remote control device and a remotely controllable device implements identification and/or authentication. The intermediary is, e.g., a node or set of nodes within a head end of a cable network service provider. A remote control device at a customer premise sends a command intended to control a remotely controllably device which is also located at the same customer premise. The customer premise includes a network interface, e.g., a cable modem, which has associated identification information. The command and the associated network interface identification information are communicated to the intermediary, e.g., via a cable modem. The intermediary accesses a subscriber record corresponding to the location based on the network interface identification information. The intermediary identifies the device to be controlled, e.g., a particular set top box and/or authenticates the remote control device. A command is sent via the network to the device to be controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Time Warner Cable Enterprises LLC
    Inventor: Scott Ramsdell
  • Patent number: 8952833
    Abstract: A receiving apparatus includes a casing; a lid is rotatably engaged in one side of the casing to open and close the casing. The receiving apparatus further comprises a supporting portion and a transmission mechanism. The supporting portion is engaged in the bottom of the casing for receiving an input and output interface. The transmission mechanism rotates the supporting portion to be in between vertical and horizontal relative to the casing by cooperation with the lid; wherein when the receiving apparatus is in a closed state, the supporting portion is inclined to the bottom of the casing; and when the casing is in an open state, the supporting portion is perpendicular to the bottom of the casing. An electronic device employing the receiving apparatus is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignees: Fu Tai Hua Industry (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd., Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jun-Liang Zhang
  • Patent number: 8952832
    Abstract: Interfacing application programs and motion sensors of a device. In one aspect, a high-level command is received from an application program running on a motion sensing device, where the application program implements one of multiple different types of applications available for use on the device. The high-level command requests high-level information derived from the output of motion sensors of the device that include rotational motion sensors and linear motion sensors. The command is translated to cause low-level processing of motion sensor data output by the motion sensors, the low-level processing following requirements of the type of application and determining the high-level information in response to the command. The application program is ignorant of the low-level processing, and the high-level information is provided to the application program.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Invensense, Inc.
    Inventors: Steven S. Nasiri, Joseph Jiang, David Sachs
  • Patent number: 8952928
    Abstract: The invention discloses a full screen driven detection. A driving signal is simultaneously provided to all first conductive strips arranged in parallel in a first direction in a touch screen, and mutual capacitive signals are detected from all second conductive strips arranged in parallel in a second direction. The mutual capacitive signals can be used for determining whether an external conductive object coupled to the ground is touching or approaching the touch screen or not even if water or other conductive object not coupled to ground is on the touch screen. Thus, the baseline of the mutual capacitive signals can be updated if the touch screen is not touched or approached by any external conductive object coupled to ground over a predetermined period of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Egalax—Empia Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Chin-Fu Chang, Chi-Hao Tang
  • Patent number: 8947269
    Abstract: A digital processor having a key input unit and a key input method are disclosed. The key unit includes: a base that is fixed at the central position of the key unit; a slider that horizontally moves in parallel to the horizontal plane of the base by the user's operation; a frame that supports the slider so as to horizontally move; and a restoration unit that gives a resistive force against the horizontal movement of the slider and restores the horizontally-moved slider to an original position. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the number of keys by increasing the number of information to be input by the use of a single key.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Inventor: Se-Woon Jung
  • Patent number: 8941476
    Abstract: A system is disclosed for communicating tactile messages to a user, such as a racecar driver, yacht crewmember, or other athlete. The system can include a tactile vest having tactile activators for conveying tactile messages to the user, including real time messages for helping the user assess and improve physical performance. The messages may be generated based on various types of sensor data, including, for example, data collected by vehicle sensors of a racecar or yacht.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Racing Incident Pty Ltd.
    Inventor: Peter Hill
  • Patent number: 8941511
    Abstract: A hand-held electronic device has a keyboard with a plurality of keys, each key having a substantially flat contact surface extending to the sides of each key. One of the sides of the key is beveled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventor: Jason T. Griffin
  • Patent number: 8937561
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling a body-scanning device using multiple wireless devices is disclosed. The method includes communicating a secure wireless signal from a footswitch enclosure to a footswitch receiver coupled to the body scanning device in response to an actuation of a footswitch zone carried on a footswitch enclosure. Additionally, a wireless signal is communicated from a handswitch enclosure in response to an actuation of a handswitch zone and communicated to a handswitch receiver located in the footswitch enclosure. The wireless signal is then communicated from the footswitch enclosure to the footswitch receiver coupled to the body-scanning device to enable an operator to control the body-scanning device using the handswitch or the footswitch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 20, 2015
    Assignee: Canyon Ridge Resources, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Gregory Shields, Robert H. Woodward
  • Patent number: 8929478
    Abstract: An apparatus for transmitting data in a communication system includes: a receiving unit configured to receive feedback information for each of a plurality of stations (STAB) in response to a control frame; an adjusting unit configured to adjust links of the STAB at frequency channels based on the feedback information, and set optimal links for the respective STAB; and a transmitting unit configured to transmit data to the STAB through the optimal links, wherein the feedback information comprises one or more of optimal stream number information, optimal modulation and coding scheme (MCS) information, optimal bandwidth information, average signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) information, space-time information, optimal space-time block coding (STBC) information, group ID information, coding type information, and FB Tx type information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Min-Ho Cheong, Sok-Kyu Lee
  • Patent number: 8928500
    Abstract: There is provided a state determination device including an input point acquisition section which acquires position information of an input point specified by an operating object, a reference region setting section which sets a reference region including the input point acquired by the input point acquisition section at a current time point, an input point-number acquisition section which acquires a number of input points acquired by the input point acquisition section in past and included in the reference region, and a determination section which determines, based on the number of input points acquired by the input point-number acquisition section, whether the operating object is in a moving state or in a still state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Naoki Kikuchi
  • Patent number: 8928499
    Abstract: An input device is disclosed that includes keys on a first surface and a second surface of the input device. At least some of the keys are operably coupled to a matrix including a switch for each key therein. When one of the keys is pressed, the corresponding switch is activated to provide a signal indicative thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Gary Rensberger, Gene Robert Obie, Mike Franks, Vincent Ball, Steven W. Fisher
  • Patent number: 8922399
    Abstract: Illustrative embodiments of force sensitive input devices and methods are disclosed. In at least one embodiment, an input device may comprise a first input key configured to output a first analog signal as a function of force applied to the first input key, a second input key configured to output a second analog signal as a function of force applied to the second input key, a third input key configured to output a third analog signal as a function of force applied to the third input key, a fourth input key configured to output a fourth analog signal as a function of force applied to the fourth input key, and a controller configured to output movement data including both direction and magnitude in response to the first, second, third, and fourth analog signals, where the movement data is formatted for presentation to a driver of a computing device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Aimpad, LLC
    Inventors: Nikhil Bajaj, Lance William Madsen
  • Patent number: RE45694
    Abstract: Provided is a character input method and apparatus for automatically switching an input mode in a terminal having a touch screen. If a press event occurs in one of key regions displayed in the touch screen, it is determined whether a drag event occurs prior to occurrence of a release event. According to whether the drag event occurs, one of a separate input mode for inputting one of characters of a corresponding character group and a text input mode for inputting a word including one of the characters of the character group is executed. Thus, a user can easily input a character by rapidly selecting a desired input mode. A character input method in a terminal having a touch screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 29, 2015
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Keun-Ho Shin, Young-Seop Han