Abstract: An encoder may be configured to receive a first input from a user. The encoder may include a first user input area. A configurator may be configured to communicate with the encoder and the encoder may be configured to communicate with a CPU. The encoder may receive the first input from the user at the first user input area based on an encoder configuration defined by the configurator. The encoder may communicate the first input to the CPU based on the encoder configuration defined by the configurator. A panel may be configured to receive a first input from a user. The panel may include a plurality of input areas. A portable computing device may comprise a configurator. The portable computing device may be configured to communicate with a CPU.

Abstract: An encoder may be configured to receive a first input from a user. The encoder may include a first user input area. A configurator may be configured to communicate with the encoder and the encoder may be configured to communicate with a CPU. The encoder may receive the first input from the user at the first user input area based on an encoder configuration defined by the configurator. The encoder may communicate the first input to the CPU based on the encoder configuration defined by the configurator. A panel may be configured to receive a first input from a user. The panel may include a plurality of input areas. A portable computing device may comprise a configurator. The portable computing device may be configured to communicate with a CPU.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to knob systems and methods to permit a smooth turning user input device that minimizes unintended horizontal displacement, along the X- or Y-axis, or unintended vertical displacement, along the Z-axis. The disclosed knob system may achieve this goal through the use of a back plate, a knob and a main housing extending through the knob and the back plate, the back plate comprises a plurality of Z-stop bearings, comprising a plurality of Z-stop balls and a plurality of Z-support springs, wherein the Z-stop bearings are in contact with the back plate and are configured to separate the knob from the back plate when the main housing is depressed in a vertical direction and wherein each of the plurality of Z-stop balls are attached to one of the plurality of Z-support springs, the Z-support springs bias the Z-stop ball against the knob.

Abstract: An encoder may be configured to receive a first input from a user. The encoder may include a first user input area. A configurator may be configured to communicate with the encoder and the encoder may be configured to communicate with a CPU. The encoder may receive the first input from the user at the first user input area based on an encoder configuration defined by the configurator. The encoder may communicate the first input to the CPU based on the encoder configuration defined by the configurator. A panel may be configured to receive a first input from a user. The panel may include a plurality of input areas. A portable computing device may comprise a configurator. The portable computing device may be configured to communicate with a CPU.

Abstract: A multi-touch input system may include: a touch surface; a display separate from the touch surface; and a processor. The processor may be configured to cause the display of an image on a display; detect a multiple-finger gesture on the touch surface; generate a signal indicative of the multiple-finger gesture; determine a speed of the multiple-finger gesture on the touch surface; and move the image proportional to the speed of the multiple-finger gesture. Moving may include moving the image with respect to a first axis when the multiple-finger gesture includes a first number of fingers, and moving the image with respect to a second axis when the multiple-finger gesture includes a second number of fingers different from the first number of fingers.

Abstract: A multi-touch input system may include: a touch surface; a display separate from the touch surface; and a processor. The processor may be configured to cause the display of an image on a display; detect a multiple-finger gesture on the touch surface; generate a signal indicative of the multiple-finger gesture; determine a speed of the multiple-finger gesture on the touch surface; and move the image proportional to the speed of the multiple-finger gesture. Moving may include moving the image with respect to a first axis when the multiple-finger gesture includes a first number of fingers, and moving the image with respect to a second axis when the multiple-finger gesture includes a second number of fingers different from the first number of fingers.

Abstract: A method manipulates a 3D image in three dimensions using two-dimensional gestures on a touchpad. The method moves the 3D image within an x-y plane in the direction of a multiple-finger linear gesture. A number of fingers used for the multiple-finger linear gesture is programmed in an instinct library associated with the touchpad. The method detects a multiple-finger linear gesture on a mutual capacitance touchpad and rotates the 3D image in the direction of the multiple-finger linear gesture about an axis in the x-y plane perpendicular to the multiple-finger linear gesture. The method also rotates the 3D image about the x-y plane in the direction of the multiple-finger linear gesture at a speed proportional to the speed of the multiple-finger linear gesture.

Abstract: A method manipulates a 3D image in three dimensions using two-dimensional gestures on a touchpad. The method moves the 3D image within an x-y plane in the direction of a multiple-finger linear gesture. A number of fingers used for the multiple-finger linear gesture is programmed in an instinct library associated with the touchpad. The method detects a multiple-finger linear gesture on a mutual capacitance touchpad and rotates the 3D image in the direction of the multiple-finger linear gesture about an axis in the x-y plane perpendicular to the multiple-finger linear gesture.

Abstract: A joystick apparatus has a housing and a printed circuit board in the housing. A shaft is pivotably connected to a U-joint assembly to allow movement of the shaft relative to the center position within a circle. A concentric reduced power zone circle is associated with the circle. Operation of the joystick within the reduced power zone circle uses less power than operation outside of the reduced power zone. A knob and a magnet are located on the shaft. A Hall effect integrated circuit detects movement of the magnet in response to corresponding movement of the shaft by a user and generates a corresponding proportional joystick output signal indicative of a direction and an extent of rotation of the shaft. A multifunction joystick control system has a joystick configured to provide multiple operational modalities on a joystick. An electrical interface connects the joystick apparatus and the host central processing unit.

Abstract: Touch interfaces for electronic devices including one or more tactile response mechanisms. The tactile response mechanisms receive user input and provide a tactile response to the user to indicate that the user has selected a particular location or selectable area on the interface. The underside of the interface includes recesses and/or channels corresponding to on each specific touch or selectable area that localize the tactile response to the individual selectable areas.

Abstract: A method manipulates a 3D image in three dimensions using two-dimensional gestures on a touchpad. The method moves the 3D image within an x-y plane in the direction of a multiple-finger linear gesture. A number of fingers used for the multiple-finger linear gesture is programmed in an instinct library associated with the touchpad. The method detects a multiple-finger linear gesture on a mutual capacitance touchpad and rotates the 3D image in the direction of the multiple-finger linear gesture about an axis in the x-y plane perpendicular to the multiple-finger linear gesture. The method also rotates the 3D image about the x-y plane in the direction of the multiple-finger linear gesture at a speed proportional to the speed of the multiple-finger linear gesture.

Abstract: A method manipulates a 3D image in three dimensions using two-dimensional gestures on a touchpad. The method moves the 3D image within an x-y plane in the direction of a multiple-finger linear gesture. A number of fingers used for the multiple-finger linear gesture is programmed in an instinct library associated with the touchpad. The method detects a multiple-finger linear gesture on a mutual capacitance touchpad and rotates the 3D image in the direction of the multiple-finger linear gesture about an axis in the x-y plane perpendicular to the multiple-finger linear gesture. The method also rotates the 3D image about the x-y plane in the direction of the multiple-finger linear gesture at a speed proportional to the speed of the multiple-finger linear gesture.

Abstract: A method manipulates a 3D image in three dimensions using two-dimensional gestures on a touchpad. The method moves the 3D image within an x-y plane in the direction of a multiple-finger linear gesture. A number of fingers used for the multiple-finger linear gesture is programmed in an instinct library associated with the touchpad. The method detects a multiple-finger linear gesture on a mutual capacitance touchpad and rotates the 3D image in the direction of the multiple-finger linear gesture about an axis in the x-y plane perpendicular to the multiple-finger linear gesture. The method also rotates the 3D image about the x-y plane in the direction of the multiple-finger linear gesture at a speed proportional to the speed of the multiple-finger linear gesture.

Abstract: A joystick apparatus has a housing and a printed circuit board in the housing. A shaft is pivotably connected to a U-joint assembly to allow movement of the shaft relative to the center position within a circle. A concentric reduced power zone circle is associated with the circle. Operation of the joystick within the reduced power zone circle uses less power than operation outside of the reduced power zone. A knob and a magnet are located on the shaft. A Hall effect integrated circuit detects movement of the magnet in response to corresponding movement of the shaft by a user and generates a corresponding proportional joystick output signal indicative of a direction and an extent of rotation of the shaft. A multifunction joystick control system has a joystick configured to provide multiple operational modalities on a joystick. An electrical interface connects the joystick apparatus and the host central processing unit.

Abstract: A rotary pushbutton and touchpad device, a system and a method detect rotary movement, axial displacement and touchpad gestures. The device has a knob which may rotate about an axis of rotation, may move upward and downward on the axis of rotation, and may have a touchpad. The touchpad may be fixedly connected to a rotary girder and/or a shaft clip within the knob which may prevent the touchpad from rotating when the knob is rotated. A substantially hollow and cylindrical outer shaft may be fixedly connected to the knob so that rotation of the knob rotates the outer shaft. The shaft clip may be fixedly connected to an actuator shaft which extends through the interior of the outer shaft and conveys axial displacement of the knob. Shutters extending from the outer shaft may rotate into or away from a position between a light emitter and a light pipe.

Abstract: An optical encoder, a system and a method for outputting a signal are provided. The optical encoder and the system have a shaft extending from an interior of a housing. A circuit board having a light emitting element and a light detector is connected to the housing. The light emitting element emits an amount of light within the interior of the housing. A light pipe transmits, deflects and/or directs the amount of light from the light emitting element toward the light detector. A rotor which is connected to the shaft rotates to change the amount of light received by the light detector. The shaft is connected to a sprocket which contacts a spring to produce a sound or vibration which indicates the shaft is rotating, twisting and/or turning. The circuit board outputs a signal via a cable based on the amount of light received by the light detector. The signal corresponds to a position and/or a location of the shaft.

Abstract: A machine insertable DIP switch having the same dimensions as an integrated circuit module which includes a base having molded-in terminal contact elements, a slider for each pair of contacts and carrying a spring-biased contact member of cup or ball shape and a cover holding the sliders within the base. Each slider receives a contactor such that in one position the contacts will be normally closed and in a diametrically opposed position the contacts will be normally open while the actuating tab or button of the slider remains in the same position with respect to the cover and base.

Abstract: A machine insertable DIP switch having the same dimensions as an integrated circuit module which includes a base having molded-in terminal contact elements, a slider for each pair of contacts and carrying a spring-biased contact member of cup or ball shape and a cover holding the sliders within the base. Each slider receives a contactor such that in one position the contacts will be normally closed and in a diametrically opposed position the contacts will be normally open while the actuating tab or button of the slider remains in the same position with respect to the cover and base.

Abstract: A linear DIP switch for mounting directly on a printed circuit board including a base, a slide actuator, and a cover member, wherein the base, slide actuator and cover member include a detenting and contact registration system. The base includes a plurality of contacts molded into a body of plastic so that they are electrically insulated from each other and selectively exposed on the slide actuator side through openings in the plastic body which define detenting and contact positions to receive contact arms carried by the slide actuator. Further detenting means includes ball detents carried by the slide actuator and engageable with indent track means on the cover side walls.

Abstract: A keyboard assembly including a printed circuit board having a plurality of dual channel switch sites thereon including a plurality of contacts defining keypads and dome-shaped conductive resilient elements generally called domes, coacting with the keypads which in their relaxed state maintain the switch open and in their depressed and tripped state close the switch. The domes are provided with a centrally disposed upwardly extending projection or dimple to be engaged by an actuator or button and a peripheral portion defining a contact surface for continually engaging one of the contacts on the switch site. The other contacts are engaged by a central portion of the dome when it is depressed and tripped. Each switch site includes a ring-shaped contact in continuous engagement with the peripheral portion of the dome and a pair of triangular or delta-shaped contacts disposed within the ring-shaped contact and engageable with the central portion of the dome when it is depressed and tripped.