Portable (i.e., Handheld, Calculator, Remote Controller) Patents (Class 345/169)
  • Patent number: 9459702
    Abstract: According to the present invention a portable input terminal may be described. The input terminal may permit inputting letters in a portable terminal, letters that may be inputted more quickly than in conventional inventions because the present invention is set in a way that three different letters, numbers or symbols can be inputted by pressing one input key one time. Three letters, numbers or symbols may be inputted through one key and a plurality of sensors may be arranged effectively. The inputting accuracy significantly improves over the prior art, avoiding inputting errors by applying and developing various kinds of inputting ways using all characteristics of the present invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2016
    Inventor: Song Hak Ji
  • Patent number: 9454237
    Abstract: A key assembly for an electronic device that includes a keycap defining a key that has a non-opaque portion to identify the key that is backlit. The assembly includes a light guide positioned in spaced relation to the keycap. An optical radiation source, such as top-fire light emitting diode, is mounted below the lower surface of the light guide. A mask is disposed on the top surface of the optical radiation source. The mask includes an aperture to allow light from the optical radiation source to pass into the light guide, and the mask blocks at least a portion of the light from the optical radiation source. The mask blocks a portion of the top surface of the optical radiation source that emits tinted light. The light guide is affixed atop the opaque mask such that it is nearly directly affixed to the optical radiation source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2016
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventor: Klaus-Dieter Meierling
  • Patent number: 9451499
    Abstract: Technologies relating to tagging and receiving media on a mobile communication device are disclosed. A mobile communication device is equipped with tag logic allowing the user to tag media objects that are observed and/or desired by the user. The outputted tag includes a media reference and a user identification. When the mobile communication device outputs a media object, the user tags the media object by entering a command, hitting a button, entering a key sequence, etc. The tag is transmitted from the mobile communication device to a media server over a network. Once the media server receives the tag, the media server locates the media object in a media database using the media reference and sends the media object through the network to the mobile communication device. The media server notifies a billing server of the tag, and the user is billed for the downloaded media object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC
    Inventor: Alasha Rollins
  • Patent number: 9448718
    Abstract: After marketplace listings are returned via a search, an indication of two or more of the marketplace results to pin and compare is received. A travel cost for any pinned local marketplace result to compare is calculated by determining a travel distance between the electronic device and the location in the pinned local marketplace result to compare and estimating a cost associated with traveling the travel distance. A true purchase price is calculated for each pinned local marketplace result to compare by adding the price for the product, the sales tax, and the travel cost. A true purchase price for each pinned online marketplace result to compare by adding the price for the product, the sales tax, and the shipping cost, these true purchase prices are then displayed side-by-side in the user interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: eBay Inc.
    Inventors: Dane Howard, Jack Phillip Abraham, Shannon B. Vosseller, Michael Lenahan, Ben Mitchell
  • Patent number: 9446856
    Abstract: A system for improving the maintenance of aircraft where a head-worn computer with a head up display and communication and control capabilities similar to Google Glass, except for increased ability to access RFID tags, is used to aid an avionics technician by providing visually and aurally information for the technician to perform services in less time with increased quality of service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2016
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventor: John E. Roling
  • Patent number: 9445513
    Abstract: A display device includes: a first display part having a first screen; a second display part having a second screen; a casing which accommodates the first and second display parts, therein. A first display part area accommodates the first display part and a second display part area accommodates the second display part, which are formed in the casing. The movement mechanism includes a first in-plane direction rail which allows the first display part to move in the X-direction; and a second vertical direction rail, which allows the second display part to move in the Z-direction. The first in-plane direction rail allows the first display part area to move between the first display part and a neighboring area which is disposed adjacent to the first display part. The second vertical direction rail allows the second display part to move between the second display part and the first display part areas.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2016
    Assignee: NAGASHIMAKOUGEI CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yoichi Nagashima
  • Patent number: 9438807
    Abstract: An image pickup apparatus in which drawing information can be input from a touch panel by a photographer and a display unit is rotatable between a reverse display state and a normal display state. When the display unit is in the reverse display state image data can easily be obtained which reflects drawing information intended by the photographer without changing a flipping status of the taken image. On the display unit, the drawing information is displayed in a manner so as to be superimposed on the taken image. Whether the display unit is in the reverse display state or the normal display state is detected, and in response to switching between the reverse display state and the normal display state, the drawing information displayed on the display unit is flipped. Depending on the type of the drawing information, the drawing information is vertically flipped, or the drawing information is vertically flipped and also horizontally flipped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yasumasa Ono
  • Patent number: 9430974
    Abstract: Some embodiments of the invention provide a device, system and method for displaying a color image. According to some exemplary embodiments of the invention a device for displaying a color image may include an illumination source including a plurality of light-producing elements able to produce light of each of m different wavelength spectra, wherein m is equal to or greater than three. The device may also include an array of attenuating elements able to spatially selectively attenuate the light produced by the illumination source according to an attenuation pattern corresponding to a gray-level representation of the color image, and an array of color sub-pixel filter elements able to receive selectively attenuated light from the array of attenuating elements, each sub-pixel filter element able to transmit light of one of n different primary colors, wherein n is equal to or greater than four.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2016
    Assignee: SAMSUNG DISPLAY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shmuel Roth
  • Patent number: 9420079
    Abstract: A method and apparatus used in communications devices for associating images with data is described. The method includes the steps of comparing data associated with a plurality of images with data associated with a record and linking an image from the plurality of images to the record if at least a portion of the data associated with the image matches at least a portion of the data associated with the record. The apparatus includes a memory for storing images and records and data associated with the images and records, a processor coupled to the memory for comparing the data associated with the records and data associated with a plurality of images, and a display coupled to the controller for displaying the image if at least a portion of the data associated with the image matches at least a portion of the data associated with the record.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Thomson Licensing
    Inventors: Mark Gilmore Mears, Khelan Modi
  • Patent number: 9411380
    Abstract: A portable electronic device having several features is disclosed. The device can include a retention member that retains flexible circuits extending from a top portion to a bottom portion of the device, thereby allowing some components to be moved from a top portion of the device to a bottom portion. The device may include a cover plate can be secured with a display in the top portion to cover the retention member and other internal components. The device can include an omni-directional port designed to receive a connector different orientations and provide power to the device. The device can include a flexible keyboard having butterfly keycaps. The device can include an array of openings for an audio driver, with some of the array including through holes and blind holes. The device can also include a touch pad having a force feedback sensor and a haptic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Houtan R. Farahani, Craig C. Leong, Matthew W. Blum, Zheng Gao, Kevin M. Robinson, Keith J. Hendren
  • Patent number: 9405390
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to selecting an object to display from an information processing device connected in a manner enabling the exchange of data to a touch panel having a display function. An aspect includes entering a trajectory extension mode in response to the user moving a finger over the touch panel at a speed equal to or greater than a predetermined speed. Another aspect includes extending and displaying a trajectory of the finger in response to the speed of the moving finger detected in the trajectory extension mode. Yet another aspect includes placing an object located at an end point of the extended trajectory on the touch panel in a selected state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2016
    Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yusuke Nishitani, Munetaka Ohtani, Yoshinori Tahara, Asuka Unno
  • Patent number: 9402323
    Abstract: A system can include a keyboard housing that includes a keyboard and a positionable keyboard bezel, a display housing that includes a display, a hinge that pivotably connects the keyboard housing and the display housing for orienting the display housing with respect to the keyboard housing, and a positioning mechanism that positions the keyboard bezel in a first state with respect to the keyboard for a first orientation of the display housing with respect to the keyboard housing and that positions the keyboard bezel in a second state with respect to the keyboard for a second orientation of the display housing with respect to the keyboard housing. Various other apparatuses, systems, methods, etc., are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Christopher Miles Osborne, Aaron Michael Stewart, Fusanobu Nakamura
  • Patent number: 9400519
    Abstract: A multipart computer housing is described. The multipart computer housing includes at least a structural support layer and a body. The body includes at least an outer layer formed of lightweight flexible material and an inner layer attached to the outer layer. The inner layer is connected to the support layer forming a load path between the inner layer and the structural support layer. A load applied to the multipart computer housing is transferred by way of the load path to the support layer without substantially affecting the outer layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: John Raff, Bartley K. Andre, Laura Deforest, John C. DiFonzo, Zheng Gao, Michelle Goldberg, Bradley J. Hamel, Timothy S. Hibbard, Ron Hopkinson, William F. Leggett, Chris Ligtenberg, Gavin J. Reid, Charles A. Schwalbach
  • Patent number: 9392087
    Abstract: A mobile terminal is provided. The mobile terminal includes a terminal main body having a display module to display visual information, a window disposed above the display module and having a pattern layer to recognize a user's touch input, a key region formed on one surface of the window near one side thereof, and a light emitting module configured to illuminate the key region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Insu Song, Younghwan Moon, Youngmin Lee, Hyosung Park
  • Patent number: 9387397
    Abstract: A method of producing a handheld videogame controller is provided. The method includes providing a circuit board of a predetermined fixed size, the circuit board comprising a plurality of switches at predetermined positions. The method further includes obtaining measurements of at least a first hand of a user for whom the handheld videogame controller is to be produced, modifying a design of at least a first part of the handheld videogame controller responsive to the measurements, and 3D printing one or more modified parts of the handheld videogame controller using the modified design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 12, 2016
    Assignee: Sony Computer Entertainment Inc.
    Inventor: Yee Woon Goh
  • Patent number: 9380997
    Abstract: An ultrasonic diagnosis device wherein, in order to reliably stop the movement of a display unit by a simple mechanism during transportation of the device, a display unit restraint mechanism is provided with: a fixed portion which has a receiving groove for receiving a handle main unit provided on the display unit; and a rotation portion which moves rotationally in relation to the fixed portion. When the rotation portion is rotated with the handle main unit received in the receiving groove, the upper side of the handle main unit becomes covered with a cover portion. In this state, a hook member protrudes outward from the rotation portion and is engaged with an upper end portion to serve as a strut.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: HITACHI ALOKA MEDICAL, LTD.
    Inventor: Shinji Nakajima
  • Patent number: 9386337
    Abstract: A broadcasting signal processing apparatus for controlling display of an image based on a received broadcasting signal, in response to a user selection command being continuously received while displaying the image, controlling display of a plurality of visual guide items on the image, the plurality of visual guide items representing a plurality of functions of the broadcasting signal processing apparatus for guiding a user how to control the input device to select a function among the plurality of functions, determining a movement direction of a pointing position while the user selection command is continuously received based on first and second information, and in response to the user selection command not being received, executing a function among the plurality of functions based on the movement direction of the pointing position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Joon-hwan Kim, Seong-ick Jon, Young-hwa Yun, Jeong-yeon Lee, Woo-seok Hwang
  • Patent number: 9375067
    Abstract: A Guest Check Presenter Device and Method of Use. In one embodiment, advantageous for establishment use, the invention comprises a guest check presenter in the form of a booklet having a bill slot for holding a bill which can be made of transparent magnifying plastic that enlarges the appearance of the bill, which can be coupled with a light, enhancing visibility of the bill. The system also provides for a calculation device that limits its functionality and options: permitting the patrons to split the total of the bill, and calculate the percentage of gratuity desired selecting from choices provided on the face of the device. In a second embodiment advantageous for personal use, the case has a front and back side, with a computation device, a magnifier, and a light all being disposed on the case. By offering only limited functions, the device is made more user-friendly and time-efficient. The invention aids the elderly and eyesight-impaired individuals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2016
    Inventor: Connie B. Inukai
  • Patent number: 9360898
    Abstract: A method of providing a user interface in a terminal equipped with a tilt sensor. The method includes sensing an input of a key. The method also includes sensing a tilt input by the tilt sensor after sensing the input of the key. The method further includes performing a function corresponding to a combination of the key and the tilt input, when the tilt sensor senses the tilt input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hyo Jeon Ku
  • Patent number: 9354666
    Abstract: An electronic device including a first body, an input module and a second body is provided. The first body has a positioning structure. The input module is slidably disposed on the first body and positioned at a first position by the positioning structure. The second body is pivoted with the first body. When the second body is expanded relative to the first body to obtain a first included angle between the first body and the second body, the second body drives the positioning structure to release the input module, such that the input module is capable of sliding from the first position to a second position relative to the first body and separating from the positioning structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: COMPAL ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Li-Fang Chen, Yung-Hsiang Chen, Pei-Pin Huang
  • Patent number: 9355094
    Abstract: A data processing apparatus receives data indicating a movement of a client device by a first user. The apparatus determines that the movement of the client device is a delimiter motion for switching between a first mode, in which the client device is configured to (i) provide a first interface for a first user speaking in a first language and (ii) perform speech recognition of the first language, and a second mode, in which the client device is configured to (i) provide a second interface for a second user speaking in a second language and (ii) perform speech recognition of the second language, the second interface being different from the first interface. Based on determining that the movement is a delimiter motion, the apparatus switches between the first mode and the second mode without the second user physically interacting with the client device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 31, 2016
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Alexander J. Cuthbert, Joshua J. Estelle, Macduff Richard Hughes, Sunny Goyal, Minqi Sebastian Jiang
  • Patent number: 9348431
    Abstract: There is provided a display device for controlling rotation of content displayed on a display panel, including: a display panel on which the content is displayed; a sensor configured to measure a pitch ? and a roll ? of the display device, wherein the pitch ? is a degree to which the display device is tilted with respect to a horizontal plane by an up-down rotation, and the roll ? is a degree to which the display device is tilted with respect to the horizontal plane by a left-right rotation; and a control processor configured to determine whether or not to rotate the content or to control a rotation speed of the content displayed on the display panel, according to at least one of the pitch ? and the roll ?.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2016
    Assignee: KOREA ADVANCED INSTITUTE OF SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
    Inventor: Sungjae Hwang
  • Patent number: 9342172
    Abstract: A method for controlling an electronic device is provided. The method includes detecting at least one conductive materials attached to a protection case, identifying a combination of the detected at least one conductive material corresponding to an arrangement of the at least one conductive material, mapping the combination of the detected at least one conductive material to an operational function of the electronic device according to user control, and storing a mapping result.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2016
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Jae-Joon Choi
  • Patent number: 9336326
    Abstract: A disclosed method of transferring information between application programs on a mobile device may involve executing a browser application program on the mobile device to display a page containing one or more objects on a touch panel display; responsive to user touching of the display, identifying an object from the displayed page as having been selected by the user; and copying the selected object from the displayed page. The method further includes steps of displaying on the display a list of one or more destination programs available for selection and execution on the mobile device. The method may also involve steps of, responsive to user touching of the touch screen display, identifying one destination program as having been selected by the user, and launching the identified program. Then, the copied object is pasted for use in the execution of the identified destination program.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: Cellco Partnership
    Inventors: Martin Jeffrey Abbott, Ioannis Tsampalis, Shelley K. Allen, Huiyu Wang, Kathleen Jane Chylinski
  • Patent number: 9330542
    Abstract: A computing device includes a memory storing executable instructions, a processor configured to execute the instructions, a programmable display screen configured to display text-based information, and a multi-color indicator. The multi-color indicator is located on a surface of the computing device and includes a plurality of segments, each segment configured to display at least four different colors, where colors displayed by segments of the multi-color indicator are programmable, through execution of the instructions by the processor, to display non-text-based information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2016
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: William F. Richardson, Andrew Bowers, Neil Hendin
  • Patent number: 9323344
    Abstract: A keypad for an electronic device is provided and includes a substrate, a plurality of frets disposed with the substrate and a plurality of mechanical keys disposed with the substrate and arrayed in rows interleaved among the plurality of frets, at least one of the keys being deflectable toward a position at which a switch of a circuit is affected and a capacitive sensor layer disposed between the frets and the keys and the substrate to register movement of a capacitive element across the frets and the keys.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2016
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventor: Chao Chen
  • Patent number: 9313788
    Abstract: The invention relates to a mobile device for wireless data communication, the device comprising the following functional units a central data processing unit, a memory unit, a display element, a user interface, a power supply unit, and a wireless transceiver configured for wireless data communication using the same frequency ranges of the sub 1 GHz frequency band for both sending and receiving data, each of the functional units being functionally connected to at least the central data processing unit. Furthermore, a method for communicating data by wireless data communication in a data communication network is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: UNIVERSITÄT POTSDAM
    Inventors: Sebastian Fudickar, Max Frohberg, Phillip Mahr, Bettina Schnor
  • Patent number: 9310893
    Abstract: A mobile terminal having a QWERTY key layout and a method of setting and inputting a symbol therein are provided. The method of setting a symbol in a mobile terminal having a QWERTY key layout includes selecting a setting function of a symbol defined a user; adding, if the selected setting function comprises an addition function, a selected symbol to a key mapping table, deleting, if the selected setting function comprises a deletion function, a selected symbol from the key mapping table, and changing, if the selected setting function comprises a change function, a selected symbol to another selected symbol. Therefore, symbols frequently used by a user can be viewed in one screen, thereby minimizing steps for searching for a desired symbol. Further, a symbol set by the user can be immediately determined by displaying symbols mapped to each key of a key input unit with a QWERTY key layout, and thus a character including a symbol can be easily input, thereby improving user convenience.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Nam Hee Kim
  • Patent number: 9313321
    Abstract: A screen unlocking method for a mobile terminal, includes: providing an icon on the touch screen that indicates the mobile terminal is in a lock state; receiving an input event of a user on the touch screen, the input event comprising a rotating operation on the icon; detecting whether a rotating angle of the icon equals a unlocking angle preset in a storage system of the mobile terminal; and transitioning the mobile terminal from the lock state to an unlock state upon the condition that the rotating angle equals the unlocking angle. In the screen unlocking method and device for a mobile terminal, the shape, position, and direction of the unlocking identification are allowed to be set according to requirements from different users, thereby meeting users' personalized needs and enriching users' visual effects; in addition, the unlocking angle can be set by users, which improves user experience.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: TENCENT TECHNOLOGY (SHENZHEN) COMPANY LIMITED
    Inventors: Liang Zeng, Jun Xue, Lei Chen
  • Patent number: 9307294
    Abstract: In response to a user's operation, a menu screen generating section (12) changes a menu screen to be generated (i) from a first menu screen (M1) in which thumbnail images (Ta through Tg) corresponding to respective plurality of pieces of content are linearly arranged (ii) to a second menu screen (M2) in which the thumbnail images (Ta through Tg) are circularly arranged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Masayuki Hiyoshi, Takahiro Tsugi, Bin Wu, Keiichi Hasegawa, Masayoshi Kanbara, Shinya Nishina
  • Patent number: 9304683
    Abstract: A soft input panel (SIP) for a computing device is configured to be used by a person holding a computing device with one hand. For example, a user grips a mobile computing device with his right hand at the bottom right corner and uses his right thumb to touch the various keys of the SIP, or grips a mobile computing device with his left hand at the bottom left corner and uses his left thumb to touch the various keys of the SIP. The SIP comprises arced or slanted rows of keys that correspond to the natural pivoting motion of the user's thumb.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2016
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Timothy S. Paek, Dmytro Rudchenko, Bongshin Lee, Nikhil Devanur Rangarajan
  • Patent number: 9292107
    Abstract: A mobile telephone includes an active-pixel sensor in conjunction with a DSP chipset and a light source allowing the telephone to detect horizontal movement across a flat surface. When moved horizontally, the telephone detects relative position movement and transmits a new position to a nearby computer. The computer interprets this new position as a cursor control position and moves its cursor. The telephone is placed into a mode such that physical buttons or displayed buttons on a touch screen operate as a mouse click when pressed. The mouse click is interpreted by the telephone and transmitted to the computer to affect the mouse click. The telephone is also placed into a mode such that raising it from the flat surface indicates that a subsequent three-dimensional movement is interpreted as a mouse click. A shake, rotation or sharp movement is interpreted as a mouse click which is transmitted to the computer to implement the mouse click in conjunction with its cursor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: Trend Micro Inc.
    Inventors: Rong Bo, Mingqi Zhong, Haibo Zhang
  • Patent number: 9292697
    Abstract: A computing device utilizes matrix codes to securely communicate information with a variety of servers. The computing device receives public user data, and generates a display of a base matrix code for reading by a scanner associated with a first server, wherein the base matrix code includes the public user data in a first mask. Responsive to the display of the base matrix code to the scanner associated with the first server, the computing device receives first private user data from the first server. The computing device generates a display of a first combined matrix code for reading by a scanner associated with a second server, wherein the first combined matrix code includes the public user data in the first mask and includes the first private user data in a second mask. The computing device can receive the public and first private user data in a matrix code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Tong C. Dougharty, Charlet N. Givens, Janki Y. Vora, Fang Wang
  • Patent number: 9285837
    Abstract: A physical keyboard having a plurality of individual keys temporarily overlays a touch-sensitive display. Each individual key selectively provides either of a first level of capacitive coupling and a second, different level of capacitive coupling to the touch-sensitive display. By one approach the key provides that first level of capacitive coupling to the touch-sensitive display when a user asserts the key (for example, by pressing upon the key) to thereby communicate to the touch-sensitive display a selection of that individual key. The key can provide that second level of capacitive coupling when a user touches, but does not assert, the individual key. So configured, this second level of capacitive coupling serves to communicate to the touch-sensitive display an input instruction other than a selection of that individual key.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Klaus-Dieter Meierling, Wolfgang Michael Theimer, Günther Heinrich Burghardt, Heinz Henning Taschke, Frank Von Heimburg
  • Patent number: 9281859
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a smartphone cover module with an embedded game controller. The smartphone cover module includes a smartphone cover provided to protect a surface of a smartphone, with a through hole formed to expose the surface of the smartphone. A direction button is formed on the through hole of the smartphone cover and made of a conductive material. A direction-change support is formed into a shape of a pole that extends downwards from a central portion of a lower surface of the direction button, and spaces the direction button apart from the surface of the smartphone. A button restoring pad connects the direction button or the direction-change support to the smartphone cover, and is formed into a shape of a pad made of an elastic material, thus restoring the direction button from an inclined state to an original state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2016
    Inventor: Eun-Ml Lee
  • Patent number: 9274685
    Abstract: Embodiments relate to systems and methods for predictive text entry for small touch-screen devices. A two-state input interface (116) of a device (102) can include a seek area (120), which displays a subset of letters representing the full range of available letters. The user can select a first letter in that subset. A prediction engine (160) can generate a next most-likely letter (162) based on the currently inputted letter, using look-up tables or other techniques based on letter sequence probabilities. The user can respond with a right or left-swipe gesture, causing the prediction engine (160) to seek the most-likely next letter upstream or downstream in the alphabet. The user can also respond by touching the seek area causing the prediction engine (160) to seek the next predicted letter closest to the touch point. The prediction engine (160) can also generate a predicted completed word, for convenient user selection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Roger W Ady, Hui Dai, Jeong J Ma
  • Patent number: 9275541
    Abstract: A remote control system, set forth by way of example and not limitation, includes a remote control device including one or more controls operative to develop at button control signals in response to activation by a user. An interface device is responsive to the button control signals and is operative to provide device control signals via a wired connection to an electronic display device. The device control signals are operative to control an application running on an electronic display device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: ALPHA AND OMEGA, INC.
    Inventors: Donna M. Auguste, David E. Hayes
  • Patent number: 9272434
    Abstract: A cutting apparatus including a plurality of types of holding members holding a workpiece and a plurality of types of cutting members cutting the workpiece held by the holding member. Each holding member includes a sheet of base, a holding portion disposed on a surface of the base and having a holding capacity suitable for a type of the workpiece to be held, and a holding member indicator capable of distinguishing the types of holding members. Each cutting member includes a cutter having a blade configured to cut the workpiece and having a cutting capacity suitable for a type of the workpiece to be cut, a support portion supporting the cutter, and a cutter indicator provided on the plurality of types of cutting members and capable of distinguishing the types of cutting members, the cutter indicator being similar in configuration as the holding member indicator of corresponding holding member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Assignee: Brother Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Katsuhisa Hasegawa, Tomoyasu Niizeki, Kayo Hasui
  • Patent number: 9262075
    Abstract: A computing device may output a graphical keyboard for display. The graphical keyboard may comprise a first and a second subset of keys. The first and second subsets of keys may be arranged to form a first shape and a second shape that enclose a first and a second central area of the graphical keyboard, respectively. No key of the first subset of keys is adjacent to more than two other keys in the first subset of keys. No key of the second subset of keys is adjacent to more than two other keys in the second subset of keys. For each respective letter key in the first and second subsets of keys, the respective letter key is positioned within the graphical keyboard at a location that is generally consistent with a position of a key for the letter a QWERTY-style keyboard.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Xiaojun Bi, Shumin Zhai
  • Patent number: 9264694
    Abstract: A hand-held imaging apparatus 10 comprises a lower housing 11, an upper housing 21, an outer camera 25, a lower LCD 12, a touch panel 13, and change means. The upper housing 21 is foldably connected to the lower housing 11. The outer camera 25 is provided in an outer surface of the upper housing 21 when folded. The lower LCD 12 has a display screen which is provided in an inner surface of the lower housing 11 when folded, and displays a live image which is currently taken by the outer camera 25. The touch panel 13 is provided on the display screen of the lower LCD 12. The change means makes a change to the live image based on an input with respect to the touch panel 13.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: NINTENDO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Masato Kuwahara, Kazunori Koshiishi, Yui Ehara, Masahiro Imaizumi
  • Patent number: 9262399
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a processor configured to execute: accepting a character input; causing a display module to display a character or a character string, which has been input by the character input; causing the display module to display a plurality of words which are conversion candidates corresponding to the input character or character string; causing the display module to display, responding to designation by a user of a word of the plurality of words which are conversion candidates, at least one synonym corresponding to the designated word; and causing the display module to display, responding to selection by the user of a synonym of the displayed at least one synonym, the selected synonym in place of the input character or character string.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: CASIO COMPUTER CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shunsuke Unno
  • Patent number: 9261973
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for detecting a touch of a first key associated with a first character on the keyboard, detecting a touch of a second key corresponding to a second character on the keyboard, determining an order for previewing the first and second characters in response to the detecting, and previewing the first and second characters in the determined order in an information entry field of the electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2016
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Donald Somerset McCulloch McKenzie, Jerome Pasquero, Jason Tyler Griffin
  • Patent number: 9255811
    Abstract: A visual guidance system is presented. The system includes a vehicle with an implement connected thereto. The vehicle has a windshield through which the operator looks while steering the vehicle. A guidance image is displayed in the operator's sight path and provides a point of reference for the operator that indicates the outer most position of the implement. The position of this guidance image is calculated by a control system and the image is displayed by a display unit. As the operator steers the vehicle, the operator positions the guidance image at the border of the field or road. This allows the user to precisely control the vehicle and the implement in a convenient and efficient manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Inventor: Brian R. Edelen
  • Patent number: 9250781
    Abstract: A portable electronic device including a calendar application operable to display a calendar application at a first time and first timescale as well as a second time and second timescale different from the first time and first timescale, and an input unit operable to detect a movement of the portable electronic device, wherein the calendar application proceeds to the second time or second timescale from the first time or first timescale upon detection of the movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: SAP SE
    Inventors: Rolan Abdukalykov, Roy Ghorayeb, Mohannad El-Jayousi, Alain Gauthier, Xuebo Liang, Vincent Lavoie
  • Patent number: 9253416
    Abstract: A device and method of background substitution are disclosed. One or more cameras in a mobile device obtain a depth image. A processor in or external to the device segments the foreground from the background of the image. The original background is removed and a stored background image or video is substituted in place of the original background. The substituted background is altered dependent on the attitude and motion of the device, which is sensed by one or more sensors in the device. A portion of the stored background selected as the substitute background varies in correspondence with the device movement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Motorola Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Gregory J. Dunn, Terance B. Blake
  • Patent number: 9250737
    Abstract: An information apparatus includes a housing, first and second strain detectors, and first and second stress collectors that transmit distortion applied to a side surface of the housing to the first and the second strain detectors, respectively. Upon having the same amount of distortion is applied to the side surface of the housing, the first and strain detectors outputs different values a processing circuit. This information apparatus has a small size and can be accurately controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yusaku Nishimiya, Hideaki Ishiba, Yoshiyuki Hayashi, Tsutomu Nakanishi, Narihiro Mita, Yuichi Mizuno, Hideo Ohkoshi, Taketoshi Takashima, Yoshimitsu Ikeyama
  • Patent number: 9239596
    Abstract: A portable electronic device includes a lower member, an upper member, a strip-storing unit and an electric connecting strip. The lower member is provided with a keyboard module. The upper member is slidably disposed on the lower member. The strip-storing unit is disposed in the lower member. The electric connecting strip is retractably disposed in the strip-storing unit, and two ends thereof are respectively connected to the upper member and the lower member. When the upper member slides on the lower member, a part of the electric connecting strip is pulled out or pulled back into the strip-storing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: QUANTA COMPUTER INC.
    Inventors: Chia-Fu Lu, Chih-Hsi Lai, Ming-Chin Ko, Chao-Hsien Chan
  • Patent number: 9235984
    Abstract: A remote control device includes first and second pointing devices, wherein each pointing device is provided in a different plane, for the provision of flexible and ergonomic user commands. The first pointing device may be provided on an upper surface of a remote control housing (in a first plane) while the second pointing device may be provided on a lower surface of the remote control housing (in a second plane). In this configuration, a user's thumb may engage the first pointing device which the user's finger engages the second pointing device. Combinations of thumb and finger movement are detected through the pointing devices and interpreted to generate remote control signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: STMicroelectronics (Research & Development) Limited
    Inventors: Jeffrey M. Raynor, Benjamin E. Norman
  • Patent number: 9229479
    Abstract: The present invention provides an electronic apparatus and a docking station, thereby solving the conventional technical problem that the electronic apparatus is damaged because it cannot sustain the excessive force applied by the user to the auxiliary device during separating the electronic apparatus from the auxiliary device since the electronic apparatus is coupled to the auxiliary device by the spring and the engagement mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: Lenovo (Beijing) Limited
    Inventors: Liang Han, Runsheng Liang, Ping Tian, Jianglei Wei
  • Patent number: 9229631
    Abstract: An apparatus and method for controlling a screen display in a portable terminal are provided. The apparatus includes a display unit, an input unit, a memory unit, a magnification identifying unit, and a controller. The display unit displays a screen display having a controlled magnification level. The input unit sets a zoom-in or zoom-out point on the screen display. The memory unit stores reference information for determining a zoom-in or zoom-out magnification level of the screen display. The magnification identifying unit measures a tilt of the portable terminal, and determines control or non-control of a magnification level of the screen display using the measured tilt. The controller controls the screen display according to the identified magnification level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: Samsung Electronic Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Hyun-Chul Woo, Moon-Ki Huh, Jung-Sik Kim