Abstract: A haptic output device is associated with a computer or other text reading device. The haptic device is controlled by the computer to react to a users finger position to provide a reaction force which defines characters (for example using Moon alphabet representation by stimulating grooves or ridges on a virtual plane. Feelable texture may be added to standard characters whereby the characters (or other non-standard characters) may be used as short handrepresentration for particular user-selectable words or phrases.

Abstract: Navigating on a display includes tracking coordinate information of an input tool on a display and moving a visible portion of a page of information on the display a distance equal to a change in the coordinate information of the input tool multiplied by a multiplier.

Abstract: The present invention is a system that provides a layer editor representing layers using box like controls. The layer controls are arranged in vertical stack representing the ordering of the layers in the paint application and provided with a highlight frame that indicates an active layer. The name or graphic of each layer depicted in the corresponding box for that layer can be created using drawing strokes of a stylus or pen of a pen-based computer. The pen is also used to select the controls, pop-up menus and perform selections or operations with underlying menus and/or functions. Making a mark with the pen can be used to select layer editing functions. A drawing dialog is used to write or draw the names applied to the layers.

Abstract: A method and system for interacting with computers by means of printed matter and sensing devices. The method includes providing a document with printed information relating to an Internet resource, such as a Web page, and at least one user interactive element representing an associated object for user response in relation to the resource; and effecting said response upon receipt of response data received from a sensing device with which a user interacts with the element, the sensing device being adapted to transmit the response data to a computer system linked to the Internet, in order to effect said response.

Abstract: A passive touch system includes a passive touch surface and at least two cameras associated with the touch surface. The at least two cameras acquire images of the touch surface from different locations and have overlapping fields of view. A processor receives and processes images acquired by the at least two cameras to detect the existence of a pointer therein and to determine the location of the pointer relative to the touch surface. Actual pointer contact with the touch surface and pointer hover above the touch surface can be determined.

Abstract: In a network connected to an interactive device and a registration server, a protocol for registering the interactive device with the registration server, including the steps of: installing a secret key and a public unique identifier in non-volatile memory in the interactive device and in a database of the registration server, before the interactive device is connected to the network; then, when the interactive device is connected to the network, authenticating the interactive device at the server by verifying the interactive device's encryption, using the secret key, of a challenge message; and finally, if the authentication succeeds, registering the interactive device in the database of the registration server.

Abstract: An image identification apparatus for identifying an image from a hand drawn representation of at least part of the image, the image identification apparatus comprising an image processor arranged in operation to generate a reference identification in response to spatial samples produced from at least part of the hand drawn representation, the reference identification being indicative of a first estimate of which of a plurality of pre-stored images corresponds to the hand drawn representation. and a controller which is arranged in operation to cause the image processor to produce a refined reference identification from the spatial samples and further spatial samples produced from a further part of the hand drawn representation, the refined reference identification being indicative of a refined estimate of which of the plurality of the prestored images corresponds to the hand drawn representation.

Abstract: A system and process for determining the location of a captured image from a larger image is described. Using a list of determined locations, the system is able to determine the best or most likely path of a pen tip.

Abstract: A digital pen that has an ink writing tip includes a laser on a pen body that directs light toward paper across which the writing tip is stroked. A CMOS camera or CCD is also mounted on the pen body for detecting reflections of the laser light, referred to as “speckles”. A processor in the pen body determines relative pen motion based on the speckles. A contact sensor such as an FSR on the pen body senses when the tip is pressed against the paper, with positions being recorded on a flash memory in the pen body when the contact sensor indicates that the pen is against the paper. The memory can be later engaged with a handwriting recognition device to correlate the positions to alpha-numeric characters. Ordinary paper can be used, but, if desired, special bar-coded paper can also be used, so that the recorded positions can be tagged with a page number, form field, and absolute position on the page.

Abstract: An objective is to provide a position pointing device, a program and a method for detecting the position pointing device which relates to a device pointing a position on a display screen and which can discriminate a scan mode of a display device and obtain information of pointed position by performing a processing corresponding to the discriminated scan mode. A photosensor (18) provided in the position pointing device detects a scanning beam from a display device (140) and generates a light detection signal. A scan mode discriminating section (30) judges that a scan mode in the display device is not a standard scan mode type, but a multi-density scan type if a frequency component of the light detection signal includes a frequency component of a horizontal synchronous signal in a multi-density scan type display device.

Abstract: A device is provided for capturing complete analog motion, rather than digital events. A beam of columnated light, generated from a laser emitting diode, it directed at a clear, rotatable ball bearing having a series of reflecting indicia within the surface of the ball bearing. The reflection of columnated light off of these indicia makes the analog motion of the ball bearing a capturable, optical event. A sensor reads through the clear ball bearing and converts this motion into memory. The raw data then goes into the temporary RAM, which holds all excess data as other date is streamed into the microprocessors. Those processors change the raw data into digital code, which can then be understood and translated by most modern personal computers. The digital code can then be stored in the unit's non-volatile RAM, where it remains until it is uploaded into a PC resident software program.

Abstract: A wireless input device having an outward appearance resembling a standard ballpoint pen operates as both a standard ballpoint pen or similar writing instrument as well as an input device. The pen includes directional sensors for determining the direction and length of each pen stroke. A transmitter is provided in the pen barrel for transmitting the stroke signals directly to a computer for input and processing each stroke to provide an accurate representation of the pen stroke as it is being made. The transmitter may be a wireless device for transmitting a low frequency radio signal to a receiver associated with the computer. This permits the pen to be utilized anywhere within the transmitting range of the device, and in any orientation, with the computer picking up, processing and storing the signal representing the pen strokes.

Abstract: A hand-writing input and recording device is housed in a case and may be hand-held by a user when in use. The device includes a contact element, an amplifying element, a sense element, an X-Y axes matrix element, a recording and storing element, a transmitting element and a receiving element. When the contact element generates a displacement variation in the X-Y axes, the X-Y axes displacement variation value will be emitted from the transmitting element to the receiving element and input into a computer for display on a computer screen to show the characters or patterns generated from the X-Y axes displacement variation value.

Abstract: A touch screen having a high or fine resolution at relatively low cost is provided. In one embodiment, electrodes are placed directly on the surface of a CRT screen without the need for an electrode positioned on the rear surface. The touch screen may include a conductive coating and a protective coating which are preferably provided in a single vacuum chamber step. A high gain system including a high-frequency sampling bandpass filter provide discrimination of the desired signal over noise. A screen calibration technique is used to achieve linearization in order to convert the electric signals obtained from the screen into data indicative of the position of a touch on the screen.

Abstract: An imaging apparatus optically extruding parts of a screen image and outputting the extruded images from surfaces different in dimension from the screen surface, wherein a set of image guides formed by bundles of optical fibers placed on the surface of the screen extrude portions of the image displayed on the screen and radiate the extruded images from opposite surfaces different in dimension from the surface of the screen. When some image or a video stream are displayed on the screen, image features are modified so that the extruded portions are displayed on the surfaces of the image guides properly in response to the positions and orientations of the image guides. When the imaging apparatus is equipped to track the positions and orientations of the image guides in real-time, a user can interact with an image animation by moving the image guides.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus are used with a display. A physical relationship between the display and a viewer of the display is determined, and the physical relationship is monitored to detect when the relationship substantially changes. In response to the detection, the display is automatically positioned to compensate for the change.

Abstract: A computer-input stylus which provides visual color feedback when utilized in conjunction with a computer-implemented software-based drawing application. The input stylus includes a cylindrical body in a conical tip. A color display within the stylus is utilized to illuminate the conical tip with a color indicative of a currently selected color within the software-based drawing application, providing visual color feedback. The color display is implemented utilizing multiple light-emitting diodes or an active matrix liquid crystal display mounted within an optically transparent portion of the conical tip.

Abstract: A light pen computer interface system utilizes a coil located externally of the computer's CRT display monitor to sense the magnetic field which provides the raster for the CRT. Vertical and horizontal sync detection circuits receive the sensor coil output and supply vertical and horizontal sync signals to a timing circuit. The timing circuit in response to an output signal from the light pen and the vertical and horizontal sync signals supplies a pen position signal to the computer which is either representative of the x,y coordinates position of the light pen on the CRT screen or representative of the change of x,y coordinates between successive positions of the light pen.

Abstract: A pen input apparatus of the present invention is provided with an apparatus for detecting an inclination of an input pen. The apparatus for detecting an inclination of an input pen is composed of a hemispherical container, a conductive movable body, and detecting means. The hemispherical container, in which a hemispherical cavity is created, has an axis congruent with the axis of the input pen, and is provided so as to integrally move with the input pen, while a plurality of ring-shaped electrodes are concentrically provided with the input pen. The conductive movable body is provided in the hemispherical cavity, and moves according to the inclination of the input pen due to gravity. The detecting means detects the position of the movable body in the hemispherical cavity in accordance with how continuity is between the ring-shaped electrodes, and detects an inclination of the input pen in accordance with the detected position of the movable body.

Abstract: An image display apparatus detects the position of a point on a screen opposed to a photosensor based on the average of the number of scanning lines displayed before detecting an electron beam in the first scanning direction by the photosensor, and based on the number of scanning lines displayed before detecting an electron beam in the second scanning direction by the photosensor. The point may further or alternately be detected using the average of a time required from the start of one horizontal line scanning operation to detection of the electron beam, by the photosensor, in the first scanning direction, and a time required from the start of another one horizontal line scanning operation to detection of the electron beam, by the photosensor, in the second scanning direction.

Abstract: A light pen for use in data imput to data processing equipment, has an adjustable tip assembly wherein the tip switch sensitivity and tactile feel or feedback to the user can be varied according to user preferences and particular applications. In one mode, the pen can be set for a normal, longer throw of the switch, so as to provide and require a definite touch or push action on the part of the user in order to actuate the switch. In another mode, the tip switch characteristics can be adjusted for a very light feel, so as to permit delicate input such as handwriting or drawing. The tip assembly includes an adjustable stop member provided within the tip housing, to provide a variable limit for the travel of the tip structure.