Abstract: The present invention provides a control knob on a device that allows a user to control functions of the device. In one embodiment, the knob is rotatable in a rotary degree of freedom and moveable in at least one transverse direction approximately perpendicular to the axis. An actuator is coupled to the knob to output a force in the rotary degree of freedom about the axis, thus providing force feedback. In a different embodiment, the knob is provided with force feedback in a rotary degree of freedom about an axis and is also moveable in a linear degree of freedom approximately parallel to the axis, allowing the knob to be pushed and/or pulled by the user. The device controlled by the knob can be a variety of types of devices, such as an audio device, video device, etc. The device can also include a display providing an image updated in response to manipulation of the knob.

Abstract: System, method and computer program product for rejecting or deferring the playing of a media file retrieved by an automated process. Rejection or deferral of an automatically playing media file is accomplished by a simplified user interface which presumes that a currently playing media file is acceptable unless the user signals the media player within a given timeframe. Signaling of the media player is accomplished using one or more sensors. The sensors include but are not limited to a motion sensor, an inclination sensor, a gesture sensor, a video sensor, a push-button switch and any combination thereof. The rejection or deferral of a media file by the user results in that file not being automatically selected again by the automated processes for at least a predetermined amount of time.

Abstract: Power management for an interface device that is manipulated by a user and in communication with a host computer and provides forces to the user. The device includes a sensor and an actuator. One embodiment provides first power from the host computer over a serial interface and second power from a power adapter. Another embodiment provides first power from the host computer and second power from a power storage device on the interface device that supplies power to the actuator. Another embodiment provides a power adapter supplying a portion of the first power to the sensor and a portion to the actuator, and a power storage device on the interface device provides second power to the actuator.

Abstract: Low-cost haptic interface device implementations for interfacing a user with a host computer. A haptic feedback device, such as a mouse or other device, includes a housing physically contacted by a user, and an actuator for providing motion that causes haptic sensations on the device housing and/or on a movable portion of the housing. The device may include a sensor for detecting x-y planar motion of the housing. Embodiments include actuators with eccentric rotating masses, buttons having motion influenced by various actuator forces, and housing portions moved by actuators to generate haptic sensations to a user contacting the driven surfaces.

Abstract: An interface device for use with a computer that provides locative data to a computer for tracking a user manipulatable physical object and provides feedback to the user through output forces. The physical object is movable in multiple degrees of freedom and is tracked by sensors for sensing the location and orientation of the object. A device processor can be responsive to the output of the sensors and can provide the host computer with information derived from the sensors. The host computer can provide images on a display where the computer responds to the provided sensor information and force feedback is correlated with the displayed images via force feedback commands from the host computer.

Abstract: An apparatus which comprises a manipulandum that is configured as a surgical instrument; a closed loop linkage system which includes a first central member fixedly coupled to a first object coupling and a second central member fixedly coupled to a second object coupling, wherein the first and second object couplings are separately coupled to the manipulandum to allow the manipulandum to be moveable in a plurality of rotary degrees of freedom and an axial degree of freedom; a force feedback system is coupled to the linkage system, wherein the force feedback system selectively applies resistive forces to the manipulandum based on the position of the manipulandum with respect to one or more reference coordinates. In an embodiment, the force feedback system includes an actuator to provide a force to the manipulandum in at least one degree of freedom in response to signals received from a computer system.

Abstract: A haptic feedback touch control used to provide input to a computer. A touch input device includes a planar touch surface that provides position information to a computer based on a location of user contact. The computer can position a cursor in a displayed graphical environment based at least in part on the position information, or perform a different function. At least one actuator is also coupled to the touch input device and outputs a force to provide a haptic sensation to the user. The actuator can move the touchpad laterally, or a separate surface member can be actuated. A flat E-core actuator, piezoelectric actuator, or other types of actuators can be used to provide forces. The touch input device can include multiple different regions to control different computer functions.

Abstract: A force feedback system provides components for use in a force feedback system including a host computer and a force feedback interface device. An architecture for a host computer allows multi-tasking application programs to interface with the force feedback device without conflicts. One embodiment of a force feedback device provides both relative position reporting and absolute position reporting to allow great flexibility. A different device embodiment provides relative position reporting device allowing maximum compatibility with existing software. Information such as ballistic parameters and screen size sent from the host to the force feedback device allow accurate mouse positions and cursor positions to be determined in the force feedback environment. Force feedback effects and structures are further described, such as events and enclosures.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are disclosed that enables a plurality of users of portable computing devices to each individually request and receive wait-time indications for each of a plurality of attractions within a physical establishment. In certain embodiments the attractions are rides and the physical establishments are amusement parks. In this way, users of portable computing device, such as mobile phones, may individually request and receive wait-time indications for each of a plurality of rides within at least one of a plurality of amusement parks. The methods and apparatus may be configured to maintain and access a database of wait-time values for a plurality of attractions within one or more physical establishments. In certain embodiments, request messages are received as SMS text messages from mobile phone and response messages are sent as SMS text messages to mobile phones.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for providing safe and low-cost force feedback peripherals for consumer applications. A device microprocessor local to an interface device is coupled to the host by a first interface bus. The microprocessor receives host commands from the host computer on the first interface bus, such as an RS-232 interface, and commands an actuator to apply a force to a user object, such as a joystick, in response to host commands. A sensor detects positions of the user object and output signals to the host on a second interface bus, such as a PC game port bus, separate from the first bus. In a “recoil” embodiment, a user initiates force feedback by pressing a button on the joystick, which sends an activation signal to the actuator. In other recoil embodiments, the host computer can transmit one or more enable signals and/or activation signals to the actuator to enable or command forces.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product for automatically providing reading place-markers to a user reading a textual document upon an electronic display. A gaze-tracking element monitors a user's gaze while he or she reads the textual document and determines a look-away event. In response to a look-away event, the system automatically provides a reading place-marker by accentuating an area at or near where the user looked away from the text. In this way the user may more easily return to the location at which he or she ceased reading. In some embodiments the place-marker is automatically removed upon determination that the user's gaze has returned to the marked location within the text. In some such embodiments the reading-place marker is removed in response to the user resuming a characteristic reading gaze motion at or near the marked location. In this way the marker is removed when no longer needed.

Abstract: Low-cost haptic interface device implementations for interfacing a user with a host computer. A haptic feedback device, such as a mouse or other device, includes a housing physically contacted by a user, and an actuator for providing motion that causes haptic sensations on the device housing and/or on a movable portion of the housing. The device may include a sensor for detecting x-y planar motion of the housing. Embodiments include actuators with eccentric rotating masses, buttons having motion influenced by various actuator forces, and housing portions moved by actuators to generate haptic sensations to a user contacting the driven surfaces.

Abstract: A system is provided for generating animated self-portraits of a user that depict lifelike simulated behaviors under computer control. A processor controlled camera captures a plurality of self-portrait photographs of a user, each photograph depicting the user in one a plurality of different facial poses, for example different facial angles, eye-gaze directions, and facial expressions. An image database stores the photographs indexed with respect to the particular facial pose depicted. Processor implemented software routines access the image database such that a plurality of particular sequences of indexed photographs is selected and displayed in rapid succession. An animated self-portrait is therefore displayed that depicts a particular simulated facial behavior associated with each particular sequence.

Abstract: An apparatus, system and method for electronically controlling the acoustical characteristics of certain percussion musical instruments such as acoustical drums and cymbals are provided. The various embodiments incorporate one or more electroactive materials which are conjoined to the vibratory elements associated with a drumhead or cymbal. A processing unit may be provided to electronically control the electroactive materials in dependence on signals received from the electroactive materials, and/or separate acoustical sensors. The processing unit may also control the electroactive materials in dependence upon user input signals, pre-programmed profiles, and/or pre-programmed threshold values. In this way the present invention may selectively and dynamically vary the tonal qualities and/or muting characteristics of percussion musical instruments in accordance with the needs and/or desires of a user.

Abstract: Devices using tactile feedback to deliver silent status information are described. One embodiment includes an electronic device comprising a housing comprising a user contactable region, a tactile element coupled to the user contactable region, and an actuator coupled to the tactile element and capable of outputting a haptic sensation localized to the tactile element.

Abstract: A computer implemented method and apparatus for automated personal rep-counting and exercise orchestration. A portable computing device is programmed to access a preplanned exercise regimen for a user, the regimen including a series of differing exercise activity sets, each exercise activity set including a prescribed exercise repetition count for a prescribed exercise type. An exemplary embodiment monitors a user's progress through an exercise regimen by automatically counting exercise repetitions, instructing the user to progress to the next exercise activity set in the exercise regimen when a required repetition count is complete for a current exercise activity set. A sensor unit, typically in wireless communication with the portable computing device, is selectively attached to a user body part or a dynamic exercise equipment element thereby allowing the portable computing device to count of repetitions of the particular exercise activity.

Abstract: A video media player for controlling the playback of video media in response to one or more finger gestures performed over the displayed image of a playing video media file. A display is adapted to display the video media. A touch screen surface is disposed in a position on the display. A processor is adapted to receive data from the touch screen surface and detect whether a user touches an area of the touch screen surface at least partially over an area of the display on which the video media is being displayed. The processor also determines whether the user has imparted a predetermined gesture on the touch screen surface. The processor further performs a corresponding action relating to the playback of the video media in response to determining that the user has imparted the predetermined gesture.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention relate to haptic devices for use with a variety of computer/video interface devices. Such haptic devices can work in conjunction with and thereby provide “haptic augmentations” to otherwise conventional user-interface devices, including a variety of computer mice known in the art, irrespective of their types and manufactures. Such haptic devices can also be used to convey information to a user by way of haptic sensations.

Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product is provided which enables customers of an establishment to collaboratively select a series of media files to be played within that establishment by entering data into a personal wireless portable computing device on their person, for example a cellular telephone. Upon entering a media file selection into a portable computing device and where necessary an establishment identifier, a message is sent over a wireless link to a media server which maintains a media menu and a playlist queue for the establishment. The establishment media server then coordinates the local play of media listed on the playlist queue through interactions with a media player local to the establishment. In this way, a plurality of separate customers may selectively use their portable computing devices to add specific musical media file selections to a playlist queue for the designated establishment.

Abstract: A low-cost haptic feedback device that provides spatially-based sensations such as textures in correlation with a displayed graphical environment. The device includes a housing, a sensor device, and an actuator for applying a force to the user. A local processor reports relative sensor data to the host processor and receives force information from the host processor. The host force information causes a texture sensation to be output by the actuator, the texture sensation providing forces to the user at least approximately spatially correlated with predefined locations in the graphical environment as determined by a local processor. In some embodiments, the local processor can model a position of the cursor while the cursor interacts with the texture field, where the modeled position is used for determining the force output to the user, and the force information from the host can include a gating command to activate or deactivate the texture sensation when the cursor enters or exits the texture field.