Abstract: Synchronizing a shutter control signal of an optical sensor device of a video gaming system with a horizontal retrace signal generated by a game console of the system such that the frame rate of the optical sensor device is synchronized to the horizontal retrace signal. Synchronizing the frame rate to the horizontal retrace signal eliminates or reduces the occurrence of random stripes in the images captured by the optical sensor device, commonly known as flickering.

Abstract: A pointing device and method for operating the same is disclosed. The pointing device includes an illumination system, a camera system, and a controller. The illumination system illuminates a surface over which the pointing device moves. The illumination system generates a light level determined by an illumination control signal. The camera records a plurality of images of the illuminated surface. The controller records first and second images taken by the camera at different times and determines a displacement indicative of the direction and distance the positioning device moved between the two different times. The controller also generates the illumination control signal. The illumination control signal depends on at least one of the images recorded by the camera system. In one embodiment, the surface is characterized by a reflectivity and the light level generated by the illumination system is inversely related to that reflectivity.

Abstract: An HVAC system for a vehicle preferably utilizes a control panel which encodes operator request signals at the control panel prior to sending those signals to a driver module. In this way, complex wire harnesses are not required. A most preferred embodiment includes a wireless connection between a control input and a driver module for receiving control signals and driving appropriate components on the HVAC system. The control signals are preferably transmitted over a wireless link through RF technology. Alternatively, infrared signals may be utilized.

Abstract: A servo track following system for positioning a moving read/write head relative to a magnetic storage disc. A plurality of servo tracks are recorded in sectors on the disc for identifying radial positions or informational tracks. The servo tracks have a nonuniform radial track density varying from more dense at the periphery of the disc to less dense at the interior, established with a method that allows the unique performance characteristics of the head to determine the actual spacing of the tracks. A clock track is written by writing a single pulse on a fixed clock track head, phase-lock looping to an intermediate clock track, which is written on a moving head, and then phase-lock looping up to the final clock track which is written on the fixed clock track head. Radial track density is then determined by moving a head to a limit stop and writing a reference track.