Abstract: A control stick including a stick assembly including: an outer tube-like opaque wall; an annular light guide structure disposed inside the outer tube-like opaque wall in a concentric manner wherein an annular end surface of the annular light guide structure is flushed with a first end of the outer tube-like opaque wall; and an elongated central axial member fitted inside the annular light guide structure and held by the annular light guide structure. A first axial end of the elongated central axial member is directed in a same first direction as the first end of the outer tube-like opaque wall. A second axial end of the elongated central axial member includes a control-engagement-element for engaging with a control stick mechanism. The control stick further including at least one light source disposed to transmit light to the annular light guide structure which is directed to the annular end surface thereof.

Abstract: A directional pad assembly including a directional-control unit having a plate-like structure and two or more plunger elements slidable relative to the plate-like structure; a main support structure to support a centre of the plate-like structure such that the plate-like structure is multi-directional tiltable; an interface frame structure suspended above the plate-like structure of the directional-control unit and in a fixed spatial relationship and non-movable relative to the main support structure; and two or more switches arranged around the main support structure and aligned to the two or more plunger elements. The directional-control unit being operable between a first mode, whereby the plate-like structure is tiltable, and a second mode, whereby the two or more plunger elements are individually slidable relative to the plate-like structure, to activate the two or more switches.

Abstract: A battery-operated handheld device including a housing to enclose electrical components and a battery holder. The battery holder including a first battery slot and a second battery slot. The first and second battery slots being sized to hold batteries of different battery sizes. The second battery slot being alongside the first battery slot. The electrical components of the handheld device may be powered by either the first battery inserted into the first battery slot or the second battery inserted into the second battery slot. The battery holder may serve as an adjustable weight distribution mechanism to shift a centre of gravity of the handheld device between a first predetermined centre of gravity associated with the first battery inserted into the first battery slot and a second predetermined centre of gravity associated with the second battery inserted into the second battery slot.

Abstract: An analog input device including at least one mounting panel and a matrix of analog push button assemblies mounted thereon. Each analog push button assembly including an analog pressure sensor including a pressure reception arrangement having an optical sensing sub-arrangement configured to measure an amount of light varied according to a pressure sensed at the pressure reception arrangement and an output terminal for outputting an analog signal corresponding to the amount of light measured, and a plunger element configured to exert the pressure on the pressure reception arrangement. The analog input device may include a multiplexer including an input side coupled to the push button assemblies and an output side; an analog-to-digital converter coupled to the output side of the multiplexer; a processor coupled to the analog-to-digital converter and configured to output a data packet; and a communication interface configured to transmit the data packet to a host computing device.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling a pointer on a screen of an electronic device may include a receiver device and a wireless input device. The input device may include a sensing unit configured to detect the input device's movement; a position determination unit configured to determine the input device's current position based on the detected movement; a prediction unit configured to predict the input device's current position; a comparison unit configured to determine a difference between the determined and predicted positions, and whether the difference is greater than a similarity threshold; and a transmitting unit configured to transmit the determined position to the receiver device in response to determining that the difference is greater than the similarity threshold. The receiver device may include a receiving unit configured to receive the determined current position and a communication unit configured to communicate this received position to the electronic device to control the pointer.

Abstract: An audio device includes a first earbud and a second earbud, each of which is configured to establish respective first and second wireless links with an audio source, and receive, from the audio source, audio information over the respective first and second wireless links. The first earbud and the second earbud are further configured to communicate with one another over a third wireless link. At least one of the first earbud and the second earbud includes a measurement circuit configured to measure respective signal strengths of the first, second and third wireless links, a computation circuit configured to compute a difference in signal strengths of the first and second wireless links, and a determination circuit configured to determine an operating environment of the audio device based on the computed difference and further based on the signal strength of the third wireless link.

Abstract: An input device including a housing, a ring-shaped scroll wheel, and an integrated haptic unit inserted through the scroll wheel. The integrated haptic unit includes a bridging structure and a variable motion-resistance component coupled thereto. The variable motion-resistance component having a cylindrical body rotatable relative to the bridging structure. The scroll wheel being fixedly attached to the cylindrical body in a coaxial manner. The variable motion-resistance component being configured to vary a motion-resistance profile against a relative rotation motion between the cylindrical body and the bridging structure for defining a haptic behavior of the scroll wheel. The integrated haptic unit includes an inbuilt encoder to convert relative motion between the cylindrical body and the bridging structure as an output signal. The integrated haptic unit being mounted to the housing in a manner so as to suspend the integrated haptic unit and the scroll wheel from a portion of the housing.

Abstract: An extendable cover for a portable electronic device including a first back panel having a first edge portion and a second back panel having a second edge portion. The first back panel and the second back panel being linearly slidable to move the first and second edge portions relative to each other along a sliding axis, wherein the first and second edge portions are opposite ends of the extendable cover along the sliding axis. The cover may include an electrical cable management arrangement having a rotatable hub disposed at the second back panel, and a hub-biasing mechanism coupled between the rotatable hub and the second back panel to bias the rotatable hub in a biased rotational direction to reel in a first electrical cable extending between the first back panel and the rotatable hub as the first and the second edge portions are moved towards each other.

Abstract: A joystick device including a hollow housing having an endless boundary structure and a ceiling structure with an opening; a control-stick having a head portion and a stem portion, the hollow housing surrounding the stem portion with the head portion outside the hollow housing; and a plurality of biasing curved arm members extending outwardly from the stem portion and movable with the control-stick as a whole relative to the hollow housing along a plane at least substantially perpendicular to the stem portion. Each of the plurality of biasing curved arm members having a curved segment with a convex side directed towards a respective corresponding portion of the endless boundary structure so as to bias the stem portion when the control-stick is being moved towards said portion. The plurality of biasing curved arm members being distributed around the stem portion so as to cooperate with each other to centre the control-stick.

Abstract: A method, a computer readable medium, and an apparatus for wireless communication are provided. The apparatus may receive, via a radio frequency channel, a first data from a first human interface device at a first time slot of a frame. The apparatus may transmit the first data to a computing device. The apparatus may receive, via the radio frequency channel, a second data from a second human interface device at a second time slot of the frame. The apparatus may transmit the second data to the computing device. The apparatus may transmit, via the radio frequency channel at a third time slot of the frame, at least one of a first acknowledgment to the first data, a first lighting effect configuration data for the first human interface device, a second acknowledgment to the second data, or a second lighting effect configuration data for the second human interface device.

Abstract: The wrist rest may include a base structure; at least two flexible supports extending from the base structure; a vibration assembly supported on the at least two flexible supports in a manner such that the vibration assembly may be spaced apart from the base structure; and a cushion assembly including a cushion disposed over the vibration assembly in a manner so as to conceal the vibration assembly between the base structure and the cushion. The cushion may be secured to the base structure. The at least two flexible supports may be configured to isolate the base structure from a vibrating motion of the vibration assembly. A surface of the vibration assembly directed towards the cushion assembly may move relative to a corresponding surface of the cushion assembly in a manner so as to allow the vibration motion of the vibration assembly to be sensed through the cushion.

Abstract: An inductive joystick may include a control structure including an elongate member movable along at least one direction substantially perpendicular to its length; and a position sensing assembly including a printed circuit board having at least one surface arranged adjacent to the control structure and at least one metal dial arranged over the at least one surface. The at least one surface may be substantially parallel with the elongate member's length and with the at least one direction, and may be provided with at least one transmitter coil and at least one receiver coil. In use, the transmitter coil(s) may induce signal(s) in the receiver coil(s) and the metal dial(s) may interfere with the induction. Moving the elongate member may cause relative movement between the surface(s) and the metal dial(s) which may vary the induced signal(s) based on a position of the metal dial(s).