Abstract: A method for short range alignment using ultrasonic sensing is provided. The method includes shaping an ultrasonic pulse on a first device to produce a pulse shaped signal and transmitting the pulse shaped signal from the first device to a second device, receiving the pulse shaped signal and determining an arrival time of the pulse shaped, identifying a relative phase of the pulse shaped signal with respect to a previously received pulse shaped signal, identifying a pointing location of the first device from the arrival time and the relative phase, determining positional information of the pointing location of the first device, and reporting an alignment of three or more points in three-dimensional space. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A method for short range alignment using ultrasonic sensing is provided. The method includes shaping an ultrasonic pulse on a first device to produce a pulse shaped signal and transmitting the pulse shaped signal from the first device to a second device, receiving the pulse shaped signal and determining an arrival time of the pulse shaped, identifying a relative phase of the pulse shaped signal with respect to a previously received pulse shaped signal, identifying a pointing location of the first device from the arrival time and the relative phase, determining positional information of the pointing location of the first device, and reporting an alignment of three or more points in three-dimensional space. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Abstract: A method for determining position and alignment is provided. The method includes monitoring a first and second sequence of ultrasonic signals transmitted from the first device to a second device, estimating a location of the first device from Time of Flight measurements of the ultrasonic signals at respective microphones on the second device, calculating a set of phase differences, weighting a difference of an expected location and estimated location of the first device with the set of phase differences to produce a relative displacement, and reporting a position of the first device based on the relative displacement.

Abstract: A system (100) and method (200) is provided for directing a control action. The method includes the steps of detecting a first movement (202), capturing a first profile corresponding to the first movement (204), comparing the first profile with a second profile, the second profile corresponding to a second movement (206), and activating a user interface behavior (208) if the first profile and the second profile are substantially similar.

Abstract: A system (100) and method (200) for mapping a virtual user interface (VUI) to a graphical user interface (GUI) is provided. The method can include identifying (202) a range of object movement in a first coordinate system of the Virtual User Interface (101), identifying (204) a display range in a second coordinate system of the graphical user interface (103), and mapping (206) the range of object motion to the display range to produce a virtual mapping. The method can further include tracking (211) a finger (214) movement (310), applying (213) the virtual mapping to the finger movement to produce a second movement (312), and handling (215) a touchless control (102) in accordance with the second movement.

Abstract: A device (100) and a method (200) for operating a camera (130) based on touchless movements is provided. The device (100) includes a sensing unit (110) for detecting a touchless movement, and a controller (130) for handling one or more controls of the camera in accordance with the touchless movement. A virtual user interface is provided to allow a user to control a camera on a computer or a mobile device using touchless finger movements. Touchless controls are provided for zoom, pan, focus, aperture, balance, color, calibration, or tilt. A first touchless finger movement can select a control, and a second touchless finger movement can adjust the control.

Abstract: A method and apparatus which automates the radio cover assembly of the Scion tC automobile. The apparatus mounts to the radio cover frame and contains a motor, a linkage system, and a microcontroller. The radio cover can automatically move from an opened to closed position and visa-versa.

Abstract: A method (200) and system (220) for range detection is provided. The system can include a sensing unit (110) for detecting a location and movement of a first object (401), and a processor (107) for providing a measure of the movement. The processor can convert the measure to a coordinate signal for moving a second object (124) in accordance with a location and movement of the first object. The system can include a pulse shaper (109) for producing a pulse shaped signal (167) and a phase detector (101) for identifying a movement from a reflected signal (166). A portion of the pulse shaped signal can be a frequency modulated region (312), a constant frequency region (316), or a chirp region (324). In one arrangement, the pulse shaper can be a cascade of all-pass filters (515) for providing phase dispersion.