Patents Assigned to Selectech, Ltd.
  • Patent number: 5986644
    Abstract: A remote control system for providing information to an electronic apparatus such as a PC, Net computer or video game. The system includes a remote controller for generating an IR signal containing information usable by the apparatus, including cursor position information, select commands and other information. The system also includes a primary controller that is connected to the electronic apparatus typically, but not necessarily, by a cable. The primary controller includes a secondary controller having a movable element. The secondary controller generates relative position information based on the position of the movable element. The primary controller also receives the IR signal from the remote controller, converts this signal into electronic form, and then provides this signal to the electronic apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 16, 1999
    Assignee: Selectech, Ltd.
    Inventors: Lisa A. Herder, Paul H. Magnant, Harve P. Simmons
  • Patent number: 5574479
    Abstract: A system for determining the pointing orientation of a remote unit relative to a base unit. The fixed base unit comprises at least one light source for emitting at least one light beam, and a polarizer for polarizing light emitted by said light source in at least one particular predetermined orientation. The movable remote unit comprises a photodetector for detecting light emitted by said light source means of the fixed base unit and determining components of pitch, yaw and roll of the remote unit relative to the base unit. The remote unit transmits signals related to the pitch, yaw and roll to the base unit. Either the base unit or the remote unit may compute corrected pitch and yaw of the remote unit on the basis of the roll of the remote unit. The roll information may be used alone to rotate an icon in a graphical user interface on a television or computer screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1996
    Assignee: Selectech, Ltd.
    Inventor: Donald S. Odell
  • Patent number: 5359348
    Abstract: An improved optical pointing device utilizing a moveable unit having a voltage-to-frequency converter (VFC). The VFC emits pulses with separation proportional to the angular rotative and/or translational position of the moveable unit, which pulses are applied to an LED of the moveable unit. A microcomputer in a base unit measures separation of the pulses received by a photodetector to determine the components of the angular rotative and/or translational position of the moveable unit. In accordance with another aspect, automatic gain control circuitry is located in the moveable unit, thereby eliminating the need for two-way communication to achieve consistency of operation in a prescribed space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 1992
    Date of Patent: October 25, 1994
    Assignee: Selectech, Ltd.
    Inventors: L. Stephen Pilcher, Donald S. Odell
  • Patent number: 5045843
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical pointing device which preferably uses infrared light as a source and a camera as a detector. Movements of the camera with respect to the light source which remains fixed are sensed in the detector portion of the camera to determine the direction in which the camera is pointing with respect to, for example, a display screen adjacent the light source. The electronics included in the present invention are designed to act, responsive to sensing of the position of the camera with respect to the light source to cause corresponding movements of a cursor on the display screen. Other modes of operation of the present invention are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 3, 1991
    Assignee: Selectech, Ltd.
    Inventor: Per K. Hansen
  • Patent number: D342256
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1993
    Assignee: Selectech, Ltd.
    Inventors: Tim Payne, John Goodin