Abstract: A zonal cleaning system for a hopper trailer. The zonal cleaning system includes a controlled air supply that has air tanks with outlet valves operating sequentially and cyclically for a predetermined amount of time. Upper rail assemblies are positioned relatively about and mounted to the upper portion of the sidewalls and each connects to one of the outlet valves. The upper rail assemblies have nozzles directionally oriented and the sidewall rail assemblies each have a fluid delivery line connecting to one of the outlet valves. One or more drop-down segments connects to the fluid delivery line, and each of the drop-down segments has a nozzle manifold with one or more nozzles. Activation of the controlled air supply expels air sequentially and cyclically through each of the upper rail assemblies and each of the sidewall rail assemblies.

Abstract: A compressed air cleaning system for removing particles carried and transported in large containers, which includes a container having an upper portion and a lower chute portion for dispensing particles therethrough, a refillable compressed air tank adaptably connecting to an air compressor, and an air hose assembly in communication with the air tank and container.

Abstract: The present invention includes a pointing device having a first surface on which a puck field of motion is defined, a moveable puck, and a position detector. The moveable puck is confined to move on the first surface within the puck field of motion. The position detector periodically determines a position of the puck in the puck field of motion and an angle of rotation of the puck about an axis perpendicular to the first surface. In one embodiment, the puck includes a puck electrode on a second surface on the puck that is parallel to the first surface. The first surface includes first, second, and third electrodes that are parallel to the puck electrode, the puck electrode overlying a portion of each of the first, second, and third electrodes.

Abstract: An accelerometer captures multiple frames of image information and uses the image information to generate acceleration data related to an object. In particular, multiple image frames are used to determine relative movement between a target and an image collection system. The relative movement between the target and the image collection system is tracked over time to generate acceleration data related to the object.

Abstract: A scanning probe microscope and method for using the same are disclosed. The scanning probe microscope includes a probe, an electro-mechanical actuator, and a controller. The probe has a tip that moves in response to an interaction between the tip and a local characteristic of a sample. The electro-mechanical actuator moves the sample relative to the probe tip in three dimensions. The controller maintains the probe tip in a fixed relationship with respect to the sample in one of the dimensions, and causes the electro-mechanical actuator to move the sample relative to the probe tip in the other two of the dimensions along a smooth path to generate an image of an object in the sample in an area sampled along the smooth path.

Abstract: Optical device and a method for cleaning an optical surface on an optical device. An optical device has a device body and at least one optical surface on the device body. At least one access port on the device body is at a location on the device body laterally spaced from the at least one optical surface. At least one guide channel extends through the device body from the at least one access port toward the at least one optical surface for guiding a cleaning fluid injected into the device body through the at least one access port through the device body to the at least one optical surface to clean the at least one optical surface. The optical device can be an optical pointing device such as an optical computer mouse, or another device having an optical surface to be cleaned.

Abstract: A method performed by a slide pad system is provided. The method includes generating a first direction measurement using a first capacitance measurement, generating a calibration measurement using a second capacitance measurement, and computing a first position using the first direction measurement and the calibration measurement. A system including a slide pad including a slide disk, a sense module, and a control module is also provided.

Abstract: The present invention includes a pointing device having a first surface on which a puck field of motion is defined, a moveable puck, and a position detector. The moveable puck is confined to move on the first surface within the puck field of motion. The position detector determines a position of the puck in the puck field of motion and an angle of rotation of the puck about an axis perpendicular to the first surface. In one embodiment, the puck includes a puck electrode on a second surface on the puck that is parallel to the first surface. The first surface includes first, second, and third electrodes that are parallel to the puck electrode, the puck electrode overlying a portion of each of the first, second, and third electrodes.

Abstract: The present invention includes a pointing device having a first surface on which a puck field of motion is defined, a moveable puck, and a position detector. The moveable puck is confined to move on the first surface within the puck field of motion. The position detector determines a position of the puck in the puck field of motion and an angle of rotation of the puck about an axis perpendicular to the first surface. In one embodiment, the puck includes a puck electrode on a second surface on the puck that is parallel to the first surface. The first surface includes first, second, and third electrodes that are parallel to the puck electrode, the puck electrode overlying a portion of each of the first, second, and third electrodes.

Abstract: An accelerometer captures multiple frames of image information and uses the image information to generate acceleration data related to an object. In particular, multiple image frames are used to determine relative movement between a target and an image collection system. The relative movement between the target and the image collection system is tracked over time to generate acceleration data related to the object.

Abstract: An ultrasonic device determines a position of a user-controlled object within a virtual mouse region. The ultrasonic device includes an ultrasonic transmitter, spatially separated ultrasonic receivers and a processor. The ultrasonic transmitter produces an ultrasonic pulse and radiates the ultrasonic pulse into the virtual mouse region. The ultrasonic receivers receive a reflected ultrasonic pulse reflected from the user-controlled object within the virtual mouse region and produce respective reflected ultrasonic signals in response thereto. The processor determines the position of the user-controlled object within the virtual mouse region based on the reflected ultrasonic signals, and generates a position signal indicative of the position.

Abstract: A biometric identification device includes a biometric sensor, an encryption factor, and a microprocessor. The biometric sensor is operable to sense a biometric characteristic from a user and to generate data representing the biometric characteristic. The microprocessor is coupled to the biometric sensor and is operable to generate a user key based on the biometric characteristic and the encryption factor.

Abstract: An optical switching fabric with an optical to electrical converter in the output plane. The optical switching fabric has an input plane with at least one input. The input plane provides at least a first optical signal (e.g., a first set of optical signals). The optical switching fabric has an output plane. The optical switching fabric has an interconnection mechanism for receiving the first set of optical signals and directing each received optical signal to a predetermined location in the output plane. The output plane has at least one optical to electrical converter (e.g., a plurality of optical to electrical converters) for receiving the directed optical signals and responsive thereto for generating a set of corresponding electronic output signals.

Abstract: A touch device includes a touch panel and a vibration device to provide tactile feedback to a user to locate a key on a display of the touch panel. A processor generates a drive signal to the vibration device when the position on the display touched by a finger or stylus corresponds to a location of a key on the display. The vibration device causes the display to vibrate in response to the drive signal to provide a tactile key location indication to the user while the key is touched.

Abstract: A pointing device having top and bottom pucks that move on a stage is disclosed. The top puck moves over the top surface of the stage in response to a lateral force applied thereto. The top and bottom pucks are magnetically coupled such that the two pucks maintain a predetermined relative position with respect to one another. A position sensor generates a signal indicative of the location of the bottom puck. The pointing device can also include a pressure signal generator that generates a user present signal if the top puck is subjected to a force greater than a first force level. The determined pressure can also be used to simulate a button being pushed. Exemplary pressure signal generators utilize strain gauges, variable capacitors in the top puck, and circuits for detecting the vertical distance between the top and bottom pucks when the top puck includes a deformable member.

Abstract: A text entry system enables efficient entry of characters on an electronic device. The electronic device includes a display for displaying characters, an input device moveable between selectable positions and a processor operable to map a first one of the selectable positions and a second one of the selectable positions to an entered character.

Abstract: A dual-positioning controller includes a two positioning controllers for controlling movement of an indicium, such as a cursor, on a display of an electronic device. A coarse controller controls coarse movement of the indicium relative to content displayed on the display. A fine controller controls fine movement of the indicium relative to the content on the display.

Abstract: Optical device and a method for cleaning an optical surface on an optical device. An optical device has a device body and at least one optical surface on the device body. At least one access port on the device body is at a location on the device body laterally spaced from the at least one optical surface. At least one guide channel extends through the device body from the at least one access port toward the at least one optical surface for guiding a cleaning fluid injected into the device body through the at least one access port through the device body to the at least one optical surface to clean the at least one optical surface. The optical device can be an optical pointing device such as an optical computer mouse, or another device having an optical surface to be cleaned.

Abstract: An emulated hard key that emulates a key of a user-selected keyboard is generated on a reconfigurable keyboard. In one exemplary embodiment, the reconfigurable keyboard has an array of microchambers. Each microchamber is operable to change from a first height to a second height. A keyboard emulator controller controls the array of microchambers to set a first group of microchambers to the second height. When set to the second height, the first group of microchambers collectively emulates a first key of the user-selected keyboard.

Abstract: A pointing device having a puck that is confined to move in a field of motion on a surface and that provides pointing and clicking functions analogous to those of a conventional mouse is disclosed. The puck has first and second members that are spaced apart from one another by a resilient spacer when no force is applied between the members. The puck includes a tilt mechanism for allowing the first and second members to assume a tilted configuration with respect to one another in response to a force being applied between the first and second members. A position detector determines the position of the puck in the puck field of motion and a tilt position of the first member with respect to the second member. The determined tilt position is used to emulate two or more switches that are actuated by varying the tilt position.