Abstract: An apparatus may include processing logic coupled with a force sensor input and a touch sensor input. The processing logic is configured to determine a relative force magnitude based on a force signal received at the force sensor input and a baseline measurement of the force sensor. The processing logic updates the baseline measurement in response to detecting that the touch signal indicates the absence of the one or more touches from the sensing surface.

Abstract: A touch sensor, a projection surface, and a projector are combined to form a touchable projection surface system. An image presented by the projector is modified at least partially in response to touches on the touchable projection surface assembly. Implements such as styli, rollers, brushes, and so forth, as well as body parts such as fingers, palms, feet, and so forth may impart touches. Responses to the imparted touches may vary at least partially in response to the different implements.

Abstract: A display device and a method for controlling the same are disclosed. The method includes providing a first tactile feedback to a first area of a display unit, the first tactile feedback corresponding to texture information of the first area, detecting one or more touch inputs applied to the first area, accumulating attribute information of the touch inputs applied to the first area and storing the accumulated attribute information, updating the texture information of the first area according to the accumulated attribute information, and providing a second tactile feedback corresponding to the updated texture information of the first area.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed in which in a conventional non-grounding man-machine interface having no reaction base on the human body and for giving the existence of a virtual object and the impact force of a collision to a person, a haptic sensation of a torque, a force and the like can be continuously presented in the same direction, which can not be presented by only the physical characteristic of a haptic sensation presentation device. In a haptic presentation device, the rotation velocity of at least one rotator in the haptic presentation device is controlled by a control device, and a vibration, a force or a torque as the physical characteristic is controlled, so that the user is made to conceive various haptic information of the vibration, force, torque or the like.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and apparatuses, including computer programs encoded on computer readable media, for determining, using a pressure sensor, pressure data comprising a pressure indication and a time indication. A first mood is determined based upon the pressure data and one or more songs are selected based upon the determined first mood. A playlist is modified based upon the selected one or more songs, wherein the modified playlist comprises the selected one or more songs and the modified playlist is played. Song data, based upon the modified playlist, is wirelessly transmitted to a remote device.

Abstract: Navigation instructions using low-bandwidth signaling are supported in an alternative user interface that may be utilized as either a full replacement or as an enhancement to conventional visual/audio navigation interfaces. In one illustrative example, the alternative interface makes use of the more constrained, but generally broadly available low-bandwidth signaling capability of mobile devices to encode navigation instructions in the form of varying patterns of tactile vibrations that may be imparted from the device to a user as haptic feedback. The user can sense the vibrations and readily translate them into the navigation instructions without needing any kind of special decoding equipment or using any special techniques. The vibrations may be encoded using easy to remember patterns so that a full and rich navigation feature set may be accessed with minimal training on the user's part.

Abstract: Systems and methods for capturing and recreating the feel of a surface are disclosed. A method for capturing a feel of a surface comprises contacting the surface with a handheld tool, recording data measured by the tool, and generating a texture model of the surface based on the recorded data. A method for recreating a feel of a surface comprises contacting a virtual surface with a handheld tool, determining an estimated contact force based on the data measured by the tool, generating a vibration waveform from a texture model based on the data measured by the tool; and actuating at least one actuator of the tool according to the vibration waveform. A system for capturing and recreating a feel of a surface comprises a handheld tool, a storage device, and a processor.

Abstract: A device includes a housing, a processor that is coupled to the housing, the processor is configured to process a software program stored in a memory. A touch screen is coupled to the housing and configured to display graphical objects, wherein a sensor signal associated with a user's interaction with the touch screen is provided to the processor. A first actuator is coupled to the touch screen and positioned within the housing. The first actuator is configured to output a first haptic effect to the touch screen upon receiving a first activating signal from the processor. A second actuator is coupled to the housing and configured to output a second haptic effect to the housing upon receiving a second activating signal from the processor. The first activating signal is associated with a foreground event and the second activating signal is associated with a background event occurring in the software program.

Abstract: A mobile terminal includes a display module displaying an electronic document screen showing at least one full page among a plurality of pages of an electronic document, and the display module receives a first input for setting a number of pages to be turned among the plurality of pages. The mobile terminal further includes a controller which sets the number of pages in response to the first input, turns the set number of pages in response to a second input received proximate to the electronic document screen, and displays a subsequent page following the set number of pages turned on the electronic document screen.

Abstract: A terminal and a method of controlling the terminal are provided. The method of controlling a terminal receives a touch input while performing real-time communication, and transmits the input data to another party's terminal. Therefore, while performing real-time communication with another party, an operation of user may be transmitted to another party's terminal. Further, after the operation of the user is transmitted to another party's terminal, operation of another party may be fed back from another party's terminal.

Abstract: Described embodiments relate to an interactive user interface that enables a user to intuitively recognize correlation between a selected object and a desired operation to be performed. Such an interactive user interface may be provided by obtaining a priority of a selected object upon detection of a designated touch input made on the selected object for moving the selected object from a first display region to a second display region in a graphic user interface, determining feedback attributes of the detected designated touch input based on the obtained priority of the selected object, and outputting visual and tactile feedback of the detected designated touch input based on the determined feedback attributes.

Abstract: A panel device 10, which is capable of increasing vibration amplitude of a panel without increasing power consumption of a piezoelectric element, includes a panel 11 rectangular in shape and piezoelectric elements 12, 13 also rectangular in shape disposed on the panel 11 for vibrating the panel 11, such that each of the piezoelectric elements 12, 13 is disposed having one side at a slant relative to one side of the panel 11.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a haptic feedback system includes a plurality of actuators to provide tactile feedback associated with an input surface. Each actuator is adapted to be activated independently of the other actuators. The system further includes a controller to activate a first actuator of the plurality of actuators to induce a first vibration at a selected input location of the input surface and to activate one or more additional actuators to induce at least a second vibration to localize the first vibration at the selected input location.

Abstract: A system includes a host computer configured to generate a graphical interface that includes a graphical object, obtain at least one spoken utterance, control an interaction of the graphical object within the graphical interface based on the spoken utterance, and generate an activating signal based on the spoken utterance. An interface device is configured to receive the spoken utterance, provide the spoken utterance to the host computer, and control the graphical object within the graphical interface based on the provided spoken utterance. The graphical object includes a graphical representation within the graphical interface. An actuator is disposed within a housing of the interface device, thereby protecting the actuator from contact by the user, and is configured to receive the activating signal from the host computer. The activating signal causes the actuator to impart a force via the housing.

Abstract: Technology is presented for generating directional force feedback in free space to a user using a mass rotatable about a movable axis. The mass and movable axis are responsive to a control signal to generate a force vector having a direction and a magnitude in three-dimensional space to provide feedback to the user. The force vector is created in response to an event in application executing in a processing device. The force vector represents feedback regarding an event in the application.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method an a device for mapping a virtual user input interface to a physical user input interface. The method is provided for mapping a virtual user input interface to a physical user input interface on a mobile terminal device. The mobile terminal device comprises a first physical user input interface, a display and a processing unit being connected to said display and said physical user interface, wherein an application is configured for use with a second user interface. The method of the invention comprises detecting an event indicative of an application to be executed that is configured for use with said second user interface and displaying a virtual user input interface representing said second user input interface on said display. If a a physical user input is received on said first physical user input interface, it is mapping to said displayed virtual user input interface, and displayed as an indication of a virtual input on said displayed virtual user input interface.

Abstract: Force feedback is provided to a user of a client computer receiving information such as a web page over a network such as the World Wide Web from a server machine. The client machine has a force feedback interface device through which the user experiences physical force feedback. The web page may include force feedback information to provide authored force effects. Force feedback is correlated to web page objects by a force feedback program running on the client and based on input information from the interface device, the web page objects, and the force feedback information. Generic force effects can also be provided, which are applied uniformly at the client machine to all web page objects of a particular type as defined by user preferences at the client machine. A web page authoring interface is also described that includes the ability to add force sensations to a web page. The user may assign force effects to web page objects and immediately feel how the web page will feel to an end user.

Abstract: A digital broadcast receiver controlled by a screen remote controller and a space remote controller and controlling method, the method including according to an embodiment displaying a screen remote controller, partitioning a portion of a whole screen of the broadcast receiver into at least two control regions, displaying a pointer to enable a first pointing signal outputted from the space remote controller to indicate one control region of the screen remote controller, receiving a second pointing signal from the space remote controller, and executing a function corresponding to the one control region indicated by the pointer.

Abstract: The present invention provides a media file management system and method for a home media center, which enable media files such as images or photos, music and movies included in a variety of information appliances to be conveniently edited on a screen of a display apparatus connected to a home media center. A search window in which media files to be searched are displayed or an edit window in which a media file to be edited is displayed are created. Then, if a user selects a file edit command for a media file displayed in the search window, the selected file edit command is executed and results of the execution of the file edit command are displayed in the edit window.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to methods and systems for providing customized “haptic messaging” to users of handheld communication devices in a variety of applications. In one embodiment, a method of using haptic effects to relate location information includes: receiving an input signal associated with a position of a handheld communication device (100); determining the position of the handheld communication device (100) relative to a predetermined location; and providing a haptic effect associated with a distance between the position of the handheld communication device (100) and the predetermined location. In another embodiment, a handheld communication device (100) can be used as a two-way haptic remote control.

Abstract: A haptic assembly configured to control a plurality of windows on a vehicle. The assembly includes a haptic device configured to provide haptic feedback to a user when switching between the plurality of windows, and when moving a selected window of the plurality of windows between an open position and a closed position. The assembly can also include a graphical user interface (GUI) configured to display icons that represent each of the plurality of windows, and display a position of the selected window, wherein either the haptic device or the GUI can be used to switch between each of the plurality of windows to be controlled.

Abstract: Apparatus, systems and methods are provided for simulating a material. In particular, the disclosed apparatus, systems and methods involve modeling deformation characteristics of a material and generating a virtual representation of a physical interaction with the material based on the modeled deformation characteristics of the material and data representative of the physical interaction.

Abstract: In one or more embodiments, a device includes a surface and an actuator mechanism operably associated with the surface. The actuator mechanism is configured to provide tactile feedback to a user responsive to an electrical signal. In at least some embodiments, the actuator mechanism comprises a pair of spaced-apart substrates each of which supports a conductive layer of material. A dielectric material and an adjacent air gap may be interposed between the substrates. Drive circuitry is operably connected to the spaced-apart substrates and is configured to drive the conductive layers of material with an electrical signal. This signal may be responsive to sensing a touch input on the surface or other appropriate event.

Abstract: A display method is disclosed. The display method includes the following steps. Capture a facial feature of a user to obtain an image. Process the image to obtain a viewing angle of the user. Scroll page content displayed by a display element according to the viewing angle of the user. A display device is also disclosed.

Abstract: A system and method for providing an online ordering machine that manages the distribution of products over a distributed computer system is herein disclosed.

Abstract: Devices using tactile feedback to deliver silent status information are described. One embodiment includes an electronic device comprising a housing comprising a user contactable region, a tactile element coupled to the user contactable region, and an actuator coupled to the tactile element and capable of outputting a haptic sensation localized to the tactile element.

Abstract: A system and method for providing notifications on a mobile computing device is disclosed. The method comprises enabling multiple applications that operate on the mobile computing device to generate notifications in response to event occurrences. A plurality of notification representations are presented in a notification bar on the display. The plurality of notification representations are individually generated by a corresponding application in response to an event occurrence. The plurality of notification representations are represented in a first portion of the notification bar and with a number that represents how many notification representations from an application have been generated and not dismissed by a user.

Abstract: A design interface tool for designing force sensations for use with a host computer and haptic feedback interface device. A haptic feedback device communicates with a host computer that displays the interface tool. The user selects and characterizes force sensations using the interface tool, and a graphical representation of the characterized force sensation is displayed. The characterized force sensation is output to a user manipulatable object of the force feedback device so that the user can feel the designed force sensation The user can include multiple force sensations in a compound force sensation, where the compound sensation is graphically displayed to indicate the relative start times and duration of each of the force sensations. The user can also associate a sound with the force sensation, such that the sound is output in conjunction with the output of the force sensation.

Abstract: Disclosed is a mobile terminal, including: a terminal body having a front surface, a rear surface and side surfaces; a display unit disposed on the front surface of the terminal body, and configured to enable writing thereon through a touch input in a writing mode; a squeeze sensing unit mounted to the side surface of the terminal body for sensing of a squeeze operation applied to the terminal body, and configured to sense a pressure applied to the side surface of the terminal body; and a controller configured to recognize a type of the squeeze operation by the squeeze sensing unit, and to generate different control commands related to the writing mode based on the recognized type.

Abstract: We describe a method of displaying one or more pages of a document on an electronic document reading device using a second, computerised electronic device, the method comprising: running a document display management program on said second electronic device; using said management program to invoke an application running on said second electronic device to open said document on said second electronic device, such that said opening of said document is hidden from said user; using an intermediary code module, in particular a printer driver for said application, coupled to said application to generate image data representing an image of a said page of said document to be displayed on said electronic document reading device; sending said image of said page to said electronic document reading device; and displaying said image of said page on said electronic document reading device.

Abstract: A haptic feedback system includes a user interface device, such as a touchscreen that includes a touch panel and one or more haptic drive elements coupled to the touch panel, a touch controller, and an actuator controller. The touch controller receives sensed data from the touch panel, and in response generates and sends a haptic signal to an actuator controller. Generation and transmission of the haptic signal bypasses any system host controller. A dedicated signal path couples the touch controller and the actuator controller, over which the haptic signal is transmitted. Alternatively, the haptic signal is transmitted from the touch controller to the actuator controller over a serial bus interface. In response to the received haptic signal, the actuator controller implements an appropriate drive signal in the form of a haptic waveform to the one or more haptic drive elements of the touchscreen.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for dynamically zoning a touch screen environment. The apparatus includes an identification module detecting a number of users around a perimeter of a display, a zoning module generating, via a processor, a plurality of user zones in response to the number of users detected, and a positioning module orienting a gesture zone, within each of the plurality of user zones, in relation to a corresponding user. The method includes detecting a number of users around a perimeter of a display, generating, via a processor, a plurality of user zones in response to the number of users detected, and orienting a gesture zone, within each of the plurality of user zones, in relation to a corresponding user.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, an information processing apparatus includes a touch screen display, a vibrator, an area display module, a touch position detector, and a vibration controller. The vibrator is configured to vibrate the touch screen display. The area display module is configured to display a first area on the touch screen display. The touch position detector is configured to detect a touch position on the touch screen display. The vibration controller is configured to control the vibrator in order to vibrate with a first pattern, if the touch position moves from an inside of the first area to an outside of the first area.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product for automatically providing a haptic stylus based interface for enhanced user interaction with touch screen devices are disclosed. The stylus communicates with the touch screen device to report stylus operating information from onboard sensors, and to receive application program instructions defining feedback and friction forces to be applied by onboard actuators. The applied feedback and friction forces may be independently controlled. Friction forces are provided via a rolling contact ball gripping mechanism that mimics varying physical engagement between the contact ball and a touch screen display surface by controlling the relative rotational freedom of the contact ball. Embodiments of the invention enable a haptic stylus to mimic three-dimensional interactions for gaming, object manipulation and sculpting, and non-contact proximity-based stylus operation scenarios.

Abstract: Reaction information of participants to an interaction may be sensed and analyzed to determine one or more reactions or dispositions of the participants. Feedback may be provided based on the determined reactions. The participants may be given an opportunity to opt in to having their reaction information collected, and may be provided complete control over how their reaction information is shared or used.

Abstract: An operator control device for a technical system includes at least one touch-sensitive operator control panel which produces, based on electrical vibration, an adjustable and operator perceptible frictional force when the operator moves his finger on the surface thereof, wherein operator control elements are provided within the at least one operator control panel, the frictional force is produced and an operator command is generated by the operator touching a respective operator control element with his finger, at least some of the operator commands are control commands for the technical system, the number of operator control elements includes at least one first operator control element, and where the frictional force produced when a respective first operator control element is touched is lower than the frictional force produced in response to a touch in a region of the at least one operator control panel bordering the respective first operator control element.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product for automatically providing a haptic stylus based interface for enhanced user interaction with touch screen devices are disclosed. The stylus communicates with the touch screen device to report stylus operating information from onboard sensors, and to receive application program instructions defining feedback and friction forces to be applied by onboard actuators. The applied feedback and friction forces may be independently controlled. Friction forces are provided via a rolling contact ball gripping mechanism that mimics varying physical engagement between the contact ball and a touch screen display surface by controlling the relative rotational freedom of the contact ball. Embodiments of the invention enable a haptic stylus to mimic three-dimensional interactions for gaming, object manipulation and sculpting, and non-contact proximity-based stylus operation scenarios.

Abstract: A force feedback system provides components for use in a force feedback system including a host computer and a force feedback interface device. An architecture for a host computer allows multi-tasking application programs to interface with the force feedback device without conflicts, where a single active application may output forces. A background application also provides force effects to be output and allows a user to assign force effects to graphical objects in a graphical user interface. Force feedback effects and structures are further described, such as events and enclosures.

Abstract: A method, system and computer-usable medium for generating a manufacturing-usable easily modifiable product order document is presented. An object collection of objects that describe features of components of a product is created. A view database that describes a logical relationship among components in the object collection is also created. A single document that includes the object collection and the view database is then generated. This single document can be updated according to technical requirements for a product being manufactured according to a product description created from the single document.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing haptic cues to a touch-sensitive input device having a rotary degree of freedom are described. One described method includes the steps of receiving data from at least one packet, determining navigation within at least one list based at least in part on the data, and determining whether to output a haptic effect, the haptic effect based at least in part on the data.

Abstract: A haptic feedback system that includes a controller, a memory coupled to the controller, an actuator drive circuit coupled to the controller, and an actuator coupled to the actuator drive circuit. The memory stores at least one haptic effect that is executed by the controller in order to create a haptic effect.

Abstract: A method and a device for detecting user input includes receiving a user input at an input arrangement of a user interface. The input arrangement has at least one piezoelectric sensor that generates an electric signal in response to the input. The electric signal is processed to determine the presence of the input. The processing may indicate the magnitude of the force of the input, in addition to the input's location. An output arrangement of the user interface generates an output in response to the processing. The output may be a haptic, audio or visual output.

Abstract: A display- and control element panel for controlling cabin functions in an aircraft, comprising a bi-stable display element and a control elements wherein the bi-stable display element and the control element are arranged so as to be essentially congruent, wherein the bi-stable display element is adapted to reproduce information at least in one sub-region, and wherein an event is triggerable by activating the control element.

Abstract: An interactive display management device for managing content to be displayed on each of a plurality of interactive display devices is configured to receive respective content items from each of one or more content clients. Interactive display devices transmit interaction data indicating interactions between one or more body parts of users or objects held by users and virtual objects displayed on respective interactive display devices to the display management device, and the display management device is configured to determine, based at least on the interaction data received from one or more interactive display devices, playlists for respective interactive display devices, wherein the playlists indicate one or more content item to be displayed on the respective display device.

Abstract: A graphics development framework for designing physics-based graphical user interfaces is described herein. According to one embodiment, visually linkable patches are displayed in a first window of a graphics development framework, where the patches represent a graphics composition which when rendered, animate a physical movement of a graphics object of the physics-based GUI. A feedback patch is displayed to visually provide a feedback from an output of the composition to an input of the composition, such that a subsequent physical movement of the graphics object is determined based on a previous physical movement of the graphics object, without requiring a user to program source code of the displayed patches. A result of rendering is instantly displayed in a second window of the graphics development framework, simulating the physical movement of the graphical object. Other methods and apparatuses are also described.

Abstract: An electronic device and method of operating comprises a housing; a base coupled to the housing; and an electro-mechanical transducer coupled to the base, the electro-mechanical transducer configured to operate in a resonant mode and output a haptic effect upon receiving a drive signal at a predetermined drive frequency. In an embodiment, the electro-mechanical transducer further comprises a plurality of electro-mechanical transducers, each electro-mechanical transducer configured to operate in its respective resonant mode and output a respective haptic effect upon receiving a drive signal having a predetermined drive frequency. Alternatively or additionally, the electro-mechanical transducer further comprises a plurality of spaced apart electro-mechanical devices coupled thereto in a serial fashion between a first end proximal to the base and a second end distal to the base.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling a touch surface control device, including at least one step comprising the generation of sensory feedback corresponding to the detection of a pressure applied by a user on the touch surface, said sensory feedback comprising haptic feedback and acoustic feedback. The invention is characterized in that the generation of the acoustic feedback is initiated after the generation of the haptic feedback once a characteristic value of the haptic feedback has exceeded a pre-defined threshold. The invention also relates to an electric control device having a touch surface, characterized in that it includes means for implementing said method (1).

Abstract: A touch-sensitive input device provides improved visual feedback at (or near) the point and time of contact. As the user touches a touch-sensitive screen or pad, a portion of the screen or pad changes in visual appearance to indicate that the input has been received. In one embodiment, the change in visual appearance is localized to an area proximate to the point of contact. In one embodiment, the change in visual appearance is accomplished by illuminating an area proximate to and centered around the point of contact. In another embodiment, the change in visual appearance is accomplished by illuminating one or more illuminable elements, such as light-emitting diodes (LEDs) on the touch-sensitive pad.

Abstract: Various systems, devices, and methods are provided for generating an impact and/or surface haptic effect for a handheld computer interface such as a video game controller. For example, the handheld computer interface may include a handle coupled to an impact actuator. The impact actuator includes a movable mass and an end stop. The impact actuator may receive a haptic effect signal and in response cause the mass to contact the end stop to generate a haptic effect. A smart material that outputs a surface haptic effect may be coupled to a surface of the handle such that the surface haptic effect is output substantially from the smart material rather than the handle. The handle may be coupled to an end piece having a shape that simulates an object such as a tennis racket, golf club, or other object.

Abstract: An information processing apparatus performs layout processing on print data, performs a preview based on layout-processed print data, and stores the print data used in the preview into a print queue when actual print processing is performed, thus preventing the same print processing from being repeatedly performed.