Patents by Inventor Kenneth Hinckley
Kenneth Hinckley has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Publication number: 20060038784Abstract: A method and system uses an acceleration curve to enhance data navigation. In a preferred embodiment, the scrolling algorithm of an input device with a rotational member accelerates a resultant scroll amount in direct relation to a rotational speed of the rotational member. The acceleration curve may be implemented in a look-up table in the mouse driver. Different acceleration curves may be used based upon whether a user is scrolling up or scrolling down. In a further embodiment, acceleration is temporarily inhibited upon the occurrence of a change in the direction of rotation of the rotational member.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 24, 2005Publication date: February 23, 2006Applicant: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Kenneth Hinckley, Steven Bathiche
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Publication number: 20060038796Abstract: A scrolling device for a computer may include a touch-sensitive surface, which may be elongated and/or have one or more active regions. Scrolling may be performed in manual as well as automated ways that may result in more accurate and efficient scrolling. Scrolling, as displayed on the screen, may further be rounded to the nearest document text line and/or distance unit, even though a more precise scrolling location value may be stored and/or tracked.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 17, 2005Publication date: February 23, 2006Applicant: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Kenneth Hinckley, Steven Bathiche, James Cauthorn, Michael Sinclair
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Publication number: 20060038785Abstract: A method and system uses an acceleration curve to enhance data navigation. In a preferred embodiment, the scrolling algorithm of an input device with a rotational member accelerates a resultant scroll amount in direct relation to a rotational speed of the rotational member. The acceleration curve may be implemented in a look-up table in the mouse driver. Different acceleration curves may be used based upon whether a user is scrolling up or scrolling down. In a further embodiment, acceleration is temporarily inhibited upon the occurrence of a change in the direction of rotation of the rotational member.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 24, 2005Publication date: February 23, 2006Applicant: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Kenneth Hinckley, Steven Bathiche
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Publication number: 20060033712Abstract: A virtual space for displaying the pointer in a visually correct manner on a multi-monitor computer system is presented. The virtual space is kept separate from the internal display surface of the multi-monitor computer system upon which information is written to be displayed on the monitors. The virtual space is established such that the virtual display areas of the virtual space reflect the visual arrangement of the monitors. The virtual space captures all pointer movements, such as by a mouse or other input device, and moves the pointer within the virtual space. On a pointer update frame, the pointer is mapped from the virtual space to the internal display space such that the pointer may be displayed on the monitors.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 13, 2004Publication date: February 16, 2006Applicant: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Patrick Baudisch, Edward Cutrell, Kenneth Hinckley, Robert Gruen
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Publication number: 20060028445Abstract: A method and system for electronically scrolling a document with a data processing apparatus uses an input device, e.g., a mouse, to permit position based scrolling without first accessing a scroll bar or other scrolling functionality element. In a page positional scrolling (PPS) mode useful for scrolling short distances, a displayed document is scrolled one pixel per one pixel of motion of the mouse. In a second mode (document positional scrolling—DPS), the document is scrolled a distance per pixel of mouse movement corresponding to the ratio of the document length (or width) to the page length (or width). In a further embodiment (smoothed document positional scrolling—SDPS), as the mouse is moved away from a starting position the system begins scrolling in PPS, transitions smoothly from PPS to DPS, and then continues to scroll in DPS.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 14, 2005Publication date: February 9, 2006Applicant: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Kenneth Hinckley, Steven Bathiche
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Publication number: 20060028444Abstract: A method and system for electronically scrolling a document with a data processing apparatus uses an input device, e.g., a mouse, to permit position based scrolling without first accessing a scroll bar or other scrolling functionality element. In a page positional scrolling (PPS) mode useful for scrolling short distances, a displayed document is scrolled one pixel per one pixel of motion of the mouse. In a second mode (document positional scrolling—DPS), the document is scrolled a distance per pixel of mouse movement corresponding to the ratio of the document length (or width) to the page length (or width). In a further embodiment (smoothed document positional scrolling—SDPS), as the mouse is moved away from a starting position the system begins scrolling in PPS, transitions smoothly from PPS to DPS, and then continues to scroll in DPS.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 14, 2005Publication date: February 9, 2006Applicant: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Kenneth Hinckley, Steven Bathiche
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Publication number: 20060028455Abstract: A touch-sensitive device for use as an electronic input device for controlling by scrolling the visible portion of a document or image relative to a display. The device can include various improved configurations such as physically separate opposed input surfaces at opposite longitudinal ends and/or lateral sides. The end regions of a touch sensitive surface may be rounded and/or tapered to provide relative positional feedback to the user. Tactile positional feedback can also include surface texture changes on the scrolling area and/or changes in the surface of the frame in the region immediately adjacent the scrolling area. The touch sensitive areas may be provided within a split alphanumeric section of an ergonomic keyboard to enable scrolling without the user having to remove his or her hands from the alphanumeric section.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 5, 2005Publication date: February 9, 2006Applicant: Microsoft Corp.Inventors: Kenneth Hinckley, Hugh McLoone, Steven Bathiche, James Cauthorn, Stiven Kerestegian, Timothy Muss
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Publication number: 20060010400Abstract: An interactive display table has a display surface for displaying images and upon or adjacent to which various objects, including a user's hand(s) and finger(s) can be detected. A video camera within the interactive display table responds to infrared (IR) light reflected from the objects to detect any connected components. Connected component correspond to portions of the object(s) that are either in contact, or proximate the display surface. Using these connected components, the interactive display table senses and infers natural hand or finger positions, or movement of an object, to detect gestures. Specific gestures are used to execute applications, carryout functions in an application, create a virtual object, or do other interactions, each of which is associated with a different gesture. A gesture can be a static pose, or a more complex configuration, and/or movement made with one or both hands or other objects.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 28, 2004Publication date: January 12, 2006Applicant: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Joel Dehlin, Christina Chen, Andrew Wilson, Daniel Robbins, Eric Horvitz, Kenneth Hinckley, Jacob Wobbrock
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Publication number: 20050275637Abstract: In a computer system, a touch sensitive input device having touch sensitive auxiliary controls system can be used to anticipate a user's action. When a user's hand approaches a touch sensitive input device, feedback can be displayed on a display screen. A user can receive feedback without activating the input device. The feedback may take the form of status information related to the feature controlled by the input device and can vary depending upon the application open. Likewise, when the hand of a user is moved away from the touch sensitive input device, the feedback brought on by sensing the user's hand may disappear.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 25, 2005Publication date: December 15, 2005Applicant: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Kenneth Hinckley, Steven Bathiche, William Vong, James Cauthorn, Corey Ladas, Kenneth Fry
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Publication number: 20050093824Abstract: A computer input device and computer system are provided that determine a height of the computer input device over a surface. Based on the height, an audio signal generator generates an audio driver signal. The audio driver signal is applied to an audio signal generate that generates an audio signal based on the audio driver signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 4, 2004Publication date: May 5, 2005Applicant: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Kenneth Hinckley, Michael Sinclair, Richard Szeliski, Matthew Conway, Erik Hanson
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Publication number: 20050093868Abstract: Methods and apparatus of the invention allow the coordination of resources of mobile computing devices to jointly execute tasks. In the method, a first gesture input is received at a first mobile computing device. A second gesture input is received at a second mobile computing device. In response, a determination is made as to whether the first and second gesture inputs form one of a plurality of different synchronous gesture types. If it is determined that the first and second gesture inputs form the one of the plurality of different synchronous gesture types, then resources of the first and second mobile computing devices are combined to jointly execute a particular task associated with the one of the plurality of different synchronous gesture types.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 30, 2003Publication date: May 5, 2005Applicant: Microsoft CorporationInventor: Kenneth Hinckley
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Publication number: 20050093823Abstract: A method and computer input device are provided for controlling a displayed object. Using the method and computer input device, an indication of the amount of rotation and translation of the computer input device is received. A decision is then made as to whether to use the amount of rotation of the computer input device to control a displayed object based on the amount of translation of the computer input device.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 4, 2004Publication date: May 5, 2005Applicant: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Kenneth Hinckley, Michael Sinclair, Richard Szeliski, Matthew Conway, Erik Hanson
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Publication number: 20050062729Abstract: A touch-sensitive device for use as an electronic input device for controlling by scrolling the visible portion of a document or image relative to a display. The device can include various improved configurations such as physically separate opposed input surfaces at opposite longitudinal ends and/or lateral sides. The end regions of a touch sensitive surface may be rounded and/or tapered to provide relative positional feedback to the user. Tactile positional feedback can also include surface texture changes on the scrolling area and/or changes in the surface of the frame in the region immediately adjacent the scrolling area. The touch sensitive areas may be provided within a split alphanumeric section of an ergonomic keyboard to enable scrolling without the user having to remove his or her hands from the alphanumeric section.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 12, 2004Publication date: March 24, 2005Applicant: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Kenneth Hinckley, Hugh McLoone, Steven Bathiche, James Cauthorn, Stiven Kerestegian, Timothy Muss
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Publication number: 20050062732Abstract: A device for detecting the position of a human finger or other object on a touch-sensitive scrolling pad. Dual independent oscillators may be used to generate two pulse trains at frequencies dependent upon the capacitance of two conductors resulting from the position of the finger on the conductors. The pulses from each oscillator may be counted over a time interval. A ratio-metric measurement may be taken by calculating the ratio of the two counts, and a sum may also be calculated. The ratio of the two counts relates to finger position on the device, and their sum relates to finger pressure upon the device.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 12, 2004Publication date: March 24, 2005Applicant: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Michael Sinclair, Kenneth Hinckley, James Kajiya, Nathan Sherman
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Publication number: 20050062719Abstract: A computer input device includes a camera for capturing an image of a pattern on a surface. A processor in the computer input device determines equations for lines from the image of the pattern, applies the line equations to a transform to form transformed line equations, and uses the transformed line equations to determine the height of the computer input device above the surface.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 4, 2004Publication date: March 24, 2005Applicant: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Kenneth Hinckley, Michael Sinclair, Richard Szeliski, Matthew Conway, Erik Hanson
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Publication number: 20050062718Abstract: In an input device, a camera captures images of a surface. Using the images, the input device determines its orientation. Data representing the orientation of the input device and data representing the captured image are communicated from the input device to a host computing device.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 4, 2004Publication date: March 24, 2005Applicant: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Kenneth Hinckley, Michael Sinclair, Richard Szeliski, Matthew Conway, Erik Hanson
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Publication number: 20050057530Abstract: A pad for a computer input device includes a top surface over which the input device is slid and a bottom surface, opposite the top surface, for contacting a support surface. The bottom surface having a raised pivot portion allowing movement of the pad about the pivot portion.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 4, 2004Publication date: March 17, 2005Applicant: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Kenneth Hinckley, Michael Sinclair, Richard Szeliski, Matthew Conway, Erik Hanson
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Publication number: 20050035956Abstract: A device for detecting the position of a human finger or other object on a touch-sensitive scrolling pad. Dual independent oscillators may be used to generate two pulse trains at frequencies dependent upon the capacitance of two conductors resulting from the position of the finger on the conductors. The pulses from each oscillator may be counted over a time interval. A ratio-metric measurement may be taken by calculating the ratio of the two counts, and a sum may also be calculated. The ratio of the two counts relates to finger position on the device, and their sum relates to finger pressure upon the device.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 21, 2004Publication date: February 17, 2005Applicant: Microsoft CorporationInventors: Michael Sinclair, Kenneth Hinckley, James Kajiya, Nathan Sherman
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Publication number: 20050010876Abstract: The present invention provides a three-dimensional user interface for a computer system that allows a user to combine and store a group of windows as a task. The image of each task can be positioned within a three-dimensional environment such that the user may utilize spatial memory in order remember where a particular task is located. In further embodiments of the invention, the three-dimensional environment includes a stage, which is used to display the task with the current focus. When a user selects a new task in the gallery, the task is moved to the stage and given focus. If a previous task was on the stage, an image of the previous task is captured. This image is then moved into the task gallery away from the stage. This process allows users to switch between multiple window configurations with a simple action.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 5, 2004Publication date: January 13, 2005Applicant: Microsoft CorporationInventors: George Robertson, Mary Czerwinski, Kenneth Hinckley, Kirsten Risden, Daniel Robbins, Maarten van Dantzich
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Publication number: 20010011995Abstract: In a computer system, a touch sensitive input device having touch sensitive auxiliary controls can be used to provide a user with information regarding the functionality of an auxiliary control. When a user's hand approaches a touch sensitive input device, feedback can be displayed on a display screen. A user can receive feedback without activating the input device by touching or being extremely proximate to an auxiliary control. The feedback may take the form of a tool tip related to the auxiliary control or a combination of auxiliary controls simultaneously touched. When the hand of a user is moved away from the touch sensitive input device, the feedback brought on by sensing the user's hand may disappear.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 13, 2001Publication date: August 9, 2001Inventors: Kenneth Hinckley, Steven Bathiche, William Vong