Abstract: A remote control for controlling a home entertainment device having a display screen provided with a movable object includes a touch pad. The touch pad is operable with the display screen such that the display screen is mapped to the touch pad area. The touch pad generates a signal in response to an operator touching the touch pad. The signal is indicative of the location of the touch on the touch pad. A controller is operable with the touch pad for receiving a signal from the touch pad in response to an operator touching the touch pad. In response to an operator touching the touch pad the controller moves the movable object on the display screen to the location on the display screen corresponding to the location of the touch on the touch pad. The touch pad also generates a gesture signal in response to a gesture performed on the touch pad. The gesture signal is indicative of the gesture performed on the touch pad. Each gesture performed on the touch pad corresponds to a control function.

Abstract: A hand-held remote computer input peripheral for communicating with a host computer having a display screen. An operator holds the input peripheral in space with a first hand. The input peripheral includes activation mode buttons each corresponding to a respective activation mode of the touch pad for controlling the display screen. The activation modes include a text entry mode for entering text on the display screen and a cursor control mode for controlling a cursor on the display screen. The input peripheral further includes a touch pad. The operator manipulates the touch pad using a second hand while holding the input peripheral with the first hand to perform functions associated with the activation modes for controlling the display screen. The text entry mode includes an annotation mode for enabling the operator to draw on to the display screen and a type mode for enabling the operator to print text on to the display screen.

Abstract: A touchpad assembly and method for providing a signal to a computer indicative of the location and applied pressure of an object touching the touchpad assembly is provided. The touchpad assembly includes X and Y position and pressure sensitive semiconductor resistance sensor layers. The X and Y sensors have a pair of spaced apart X and Y conductive traces running across opposite ends such that a resistance RX connects the pair of X traces and a resistance RY connects the pair of Y traces. The X and Y sensors come into contact at a contact point when an object asserts a pressure on the touchpad. The contact point is connected to each trace by a variable pressure resistance RZ associated with the X and Y sensors and variable position resistances of the X and Y resistances. First and second pair of timing capacitors are connected to respective ones of the pairs of X and Y traces.

Abstract: A hand-held remote computer input peripheral is operable to be held by a human operator with one hand while both hands harmoniously manipulate a touch pad, function keys, and a click button provided with the input peripheral. The touch pad is positioned in a housing to be held by one hand while comfortably being addressed by the other hand, either with a finger or stylus, for controlling typical computer mouse functions and/or entering graphic images. The fingers of the hand holding the input peripheral rest naturally on the function keys and the click button such that keys and button can be activated simultaneously, or in conjunction with, activities of the hand manipulating the touch pad. The input peripheral is advantageously used in electronic meeting room applications having a computer and communication peripherals such as electronic white boards, presentation projectors, and video conferencing systems.

Abstract: A computer input device that has the click function incorporated into a pointing device, rather than as a separate switch. The pointing device implements the operations of pointing, clicking and dragging based solely upon an evaluation of the pressure applied thereto. An array of sensors is monitored. The cursor direction is determined by the difference or ratio of applied force between the arrayed sensors. Cursor velocity is determined by the magnitude of the applied force. When a click is desired, the pointing device is pressed downward. The transient nature of the top or its nearly vertical force nature causes the output of the pointing device to readly distinguish between pointing and clicking operations.

Abstract: Infrared communications scheme for an infrared transmitting device having a light emitting diode (LED) ramps up the power of a carrier frequency signal applied to the LED in a given time interval to a given value. The carrier frequency signal is then frequency modulated with a data message for transmission by the LED. The power of a DC signal applied to the LED may then be ramped up in a given time interval to a given value before the carrier frequency signal is modulated with a data message. After transmission of the data message, the power of the carrier frequency signal applied to the LED is ramped down in a given time interval to a given value. The power of the DC signal applied to the LED is then ramped down in a given time interval to a given value.

Abstract: A touchpad assembly and method for providing a signal to a computer indicative of the location and applied pressure of an object touching the touchpad assembly is provided. The touchpad assembly includes X and Y position and pressure sensitive semiconductor resistance sensor layers. The X and Y sensors have a pair of spaced apart X and Y conductive traces running across opposite ends such that a resistance RX connects the pair of X traces and a resistance RY connects the pair of Y traces. The X and Y sensors come into contact at a contact point when an object asserts a pressure on the touchpad. The contact point is connected to each trace by a variable pressure resistance RZ associated with the X and Y sensors and variable position resistances of the X and Y resistances. First and second pair of timing capacitors are connected to respective ones of the pairs of X and Y traces.

Abstract: Infrared communications scheme for an infrared transmitting device having a light emitting diode (LED) ramps up the power of a carrier frequency signal applied to the LED in a given time interval to a given value. The carrier frequency signal is then frequency modulated with a data message for transmission by the LED. The power of a DC signal applied to the LED may then be ramped up in a given time interval to a given value before the carrier frequency signal is modulated with a data message. After transmission of the data message, the power of the carrier frequency signal applied to the LED is ramped down in a given time interval to a given value. The power of the DC signal applied to the LED is then ramped down in a given time interval to a given value.

Abstract: A thermally stable, mass-producible pointing device (10) producing an analog signal proportional to an applied force comprises actuator (20), including an arm (22) and a force transfer member (26), a connector (44), and a sensor (50). The connector maintains the force transfer member in contact with the sensor yet allows the force transfer member to change dimensions with ambient temperature without inducing stresses detectable by the sensor. In a preferred embodiment, the connector comprises an elastomeric adhesive and the sensor comprises a force-sensing resistor. The force transfer member is prevented from coming out of the assembly either by a retainer (12) comprising a shell or a potting compound retaining the force transfer member but permitting thermal expansion or contraction of the force transfer member. The force transfer member typically has a rounded or bevelled bottom surface (28) so the actuator rocks under an applied force.

Abstract: A device particularly for use with a computer comprises a housing for location at least partly between two fingers of a user's hand and an electronic circuit mounted on a board within the housing. The circuit includes a switch responsive to pressure selectively to open and close an electronic circuit, and conductive elements arranged on the board mounting the electronic circuit. A first control element is mounted with the housing and responsive to finger pressure such that pressure applied to the first control element causes the element to operate the switch. The first control element is movable with respect to a hinge such that finger action acts to cause the control element to swivel as a trigger about the hinge and thereby interact with the switch.

Abstract: A thermally stable, mass-producible pointing device (10) producing an analog signal proportional to an applied force comprises actuator (20), including an arm (22) and a force transfer member (26), a connector (44), and a sensor (50). The connector maintains the force transfer member in contact with the sensor yet allows the force transfer member to change dimensions with ambient temperature without inducing stresses detectable by the sensor. In a preferred embodiment, the connector comprises an elastomeric adhesive and the sensor comprises a force-sensing resistor. The force transfer member is prevented from coming out of the assembly either by a retainer (12) comprising a shell or a potting compound retaining the force transfer member but permitting thermal expansion or contraction of the force transfer member. The force transfer member typically has a rounded or bevelled bottom surface (28) so the actuator rocks under an applied force.

Abstract: An adaptive keypad which has one or more keys includes, for each key, a pressure transducer positioned below a semi-rigid faceplate where the pressure transducer has a resistance which decreases as the pressure compressing the transducer increases. The transducer is connected in series with a capacitor to define an RC circuit for each key. Each RC circuit has a charge time proportional to the pressure applied to the key. A time capture circuit initially and thereafter intermittently, obtains the charge time for each RC circuit for each key and computes a conductance value from that time. The initial conductance value is stored in a memory. A comparing circuit intermittently compares the initial conductance value with each subsequent conductance value generated for a key. If the comparison value generated is greater than a predefined amount, a signal is generated indicating that a key has been depressed.

Abstract: A two-axis tilt sensor, or inclinometer (10), uses a spherical reference element (18) floating in an inert fluid (20) and including a magnet (42) to produce an asymmetrical weight distribution. The asymmetrical weight distribution maintains the spherical reference element at a constant orientation with respect to gravity, while the position of the magnet on the spherical reference element with respect to a housing (12) is detected by opposing pairs of Hall effect sensors (22) mounted on the housing. The outputs from opposing pairs of sensors are processed by differential amplifier circuits (80) to determine signals corresponding to the tilt of the inclinometer about the axes.

Abstract: A pressure transducer includes a base ply, a resistance ply disposed on the base ply and at least two spaced apart contacts juxtaposed in relation to the resistance ply whereby at least one of the contacts may be pressed against the surface of the resistance ply. The resistance ply is made by spraying or silk screening a mixture of resin resistive to electrical conduction and a conductive particulate and then curing the composition to form a thin resistance ply having a surface with a multiplicity of micro-protrusions formed by the conductive particulate. The ratio of conductive particulate to resin is such that the mean distance between microprotrusions is greater than about five time the size of the conductive particles. The particles are in the range of about 0.5 to 10 microns and the resin layer is about is 0.4 to 0.8 microns thick.

Abstract: A pressure transducer includes a base ply, a resistance ply disposed on the base ply and at least two spaced apart conductors juxtaposed in relation to the resistance ply whereby at least one of the conductors may be pressed against the resistance ply. The resistance ply is made by spraying or silk screening a mixture of a continuous matrix conductive resin and a stannous oxide particulate and then curing the composition to form a solid resistance ply having a surface with a multiplicity of micro-protrusions formed by the stannous oxide particulate.