Abstract: A method and an apparatus for determining displacement of a surface member coupled to a user interface mechanism, for example a joystick handle, using a fixed optical motion sensor. Using the displacement of the surface member, the method, and apparatus may determine an absolute position of the surface member, recalibrating a center point upon detecting a difference in light reflection of the center point.

Abstract: An apparatus, system and method of sharing device data from a peripheral device by at least a first and a second computer where the peripheral device coupled with the first computer. The apparatus includes a device emulator coupled between the first computer and the second computer, the device emulator adapted to pass the device data from the first computer to the second computer in a format used by the peripheral device. Device data is received at the first computer, and it is determined whether the device data should be processed by the first computer, and the device data is passed to the device emulator for transmission to the second computer. In a method implementation, the determining operation may examine whether the first computer is the intended target of device data. The device data may be received at the device emulator and the device data may be encoded in a format used by the peripheral device, and transmitted in the format to the second computer.

Abstract: An apparatus, method, and system for coupling a host computer to a peripheral device over an extended distance. In one example, a first hub is provided for coupling with the host computer, the first hub configured as a compound device including a hub function and an embedded function, the first hub configured such that the embedded function is a virtual hub thereby providing an additional amount of time for signal transmissions by the first hub. A communications link is provided for coupling the first hub with the peripheral device, the characteristics of the communications link being based in part on the additional amount of time made available by the configuration of the first hub.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for coupling a host computer to one or more peripherals or for coupling peripherals to one another. In one example, the apparatus includes a hub having an upstream port for coupling with the host computer and one or more downstream ports for coupling with the one or more peripherals; and a local host dynamically coupled with the upstream port. In one example, when the host computer is not coupled with the upstream port, the local host communicates with the peripherals; and when the host computer is coupled with the upstream port, the local host disconnects from the upstream port so that the host computer communicates with the peripherals through the hub. In this manner, the apparatus may be used to couple peripherals to a host computer, or when a host computer is not present, the data from the peripherals may be communicated through the local host. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: A touch-sensor device, and method of making same, having a sensor element, conductive sensor trace, and active electronic components disposed on a single-layer.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for coupling a host computer to one or more peripherals or for coupling peripherals to one another. In one example, the apparatus includes a hub having an upstream port for coupling with the host computer and one or more downstream ports for coupling with the one or more peripherals; and a local host dynamically coupled with the upstream port. In one example, when the host computer is not coupled with the upstream port, the local host communicates with the peripherals; and when the host computer is coupled with the upstream port, the local host disconnects from the upstream port so that the host computer communicates with the peripherals through the hub. In this manner, the apparatus may be used to couple peripherals to a host computer, or when a host computer is not present, the data from the peripherals may be communicated through the local host. Other embodiments are also disclosed.