Abstract: An electrostatic bimorph actuator includes a cantilevered flexible bimorph arm that is secured and insulated at one end to a planar substrate. In an electrostatically activated state the bimorph arm is generally parallel to the planar substrate. In a relaxed state, residual stress in the bimorph arm causes its free end to extend out-of-plane from the planar substrate. The actuator includes a substrate electrode that is secured to and insulated from the substrate and positioned under and in alignment with the bimorph arm. An electrical potential difference applied between the bimorph arm and the substrate electrode imparts electrostatic attraction between the bimorph arm and the substrate electrode to activate the actuator. As an exemplary application in which such actuators could be used, a microelectrical mechanical optical display system is described.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: An improved method and system for reducing the power consumption of computing devices capable of communicating over a wireless network allows longer device operation and/or the use of smaller batteries. The wireless computing device supports a low power channel for receiving control signals during idle periods of operation. When the computing device is idle, the device is configured to power down all of its components with the exception of the circuitry required to power the low power channel. As such, the channel is maintained in an active state for receiving signals during both idle and non-idle periods, or in an embodiment, only during idle periods. When another device wishes to communicate with the wireless computing device, the low power channel passes a “wake-up” signal to the device indicating that the device be powered up from the idle mode of operation. A host RF component that is coupled to the network via a host computer generates this wake-up signal in an embodiment of the invention.

Abstract: A microelectrical mechanical system (MEMS) actuator having electrically conductive coils that create first magnetic fields that are opposed by a second magnetic field is disclosed. The actuator includes two coils having dual, interspersed Archimedean spirals. Within an actuator, one coil is arranged with spirals that proceed clockwise, while the other coil is provided with spirals that proceed counterclockwise. An electrically conductive bridge mechanically couples the two coils of each actuator to a mirror. Opposing magnetic fields are created to provide a force that urges the coils to expand so that the outermost portions of the coil extend upward, away from the substrate, and lift the bridge and mirror. Control current may then be modulated to increase and decrease the coil's magnetic field strength thereby increasing and decreasing the coil's extension to raise and lower relative to the substrate.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A microelectrical mechanical out-of-plane thermal buckle-beam actuator is capable of providing transverse-plane movement of shutters. The actuator includes a pair of structural anchors secured to a substrate and one or more thermal buckle-beams secured at respective base ends to the anchors. Each buckle-beam extends substantially parallel to and spaced-apart from the substrate and is releasable from the substrate at points other than at the anchors. The thermal buckle-beam actuators are suitable for use in a microelectrical mechanical optical display system.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A MEMS optical display system includes an illumination source for providing illumination light, a collimating lens for receiving the illumination light and forming from it collimated illumination light, and a converging microlens array having an array of lenslets that converge the collimated illumination light. The converging microlens array directs the illumination light to a microelectrical mechanical system (MEMS) optical modulator. The MEMS optical modulator includes, for example, a planar substrate through which multiple pixel apertures extend and multiple MEMS actuators that support and selectively position MEMS shutters over the apertures. A MEMS actuator and MEMS shutter, together with a corresponding aperture, correspond to pixel. The light from the converging microlens array is focused through the apertures and is selectively modulated according to the positioning of the MEMS shutters by the MEMS actuators, thereby to impart image information on the illumination light.

Abstract: An image capturing system is installable in a room separate from a writing surface and a second area. The image capturing system is adapted to take visual images of the writing surface and second area and identify information written thereon.

Abstract: Energy efficient transmissive and transreflective display devices use ambient light from a natural or artificial source to supplement light supplied by a backlight. Ambient light passes through a transmissive diffuser to a rear surface of a transmissive display panel. Additional energy efficiency is achieved by using one or more photo-sensors to detect the amount of ambient light and automatically adjusting the backlight intensity as a function of photo-sensor output. As a result, backlight intensity and power usage can be minimized while maintaining the viewability of images shown on the display.

Abstract: A microelectrical mechanical system (MEMS) actuator having electrically conductive coils that create first magnetic fields that are opposed by a second magnetic field is disclosed. The actuator includes two coils having dual, interspersed Archimedean spirals. Within an actuator, one coil is arranged with spirals that proceed clockwise, while the other coil is provided with spirals that proceed counterclockwise. An electrically conductive bridge mechanically couples the two coils of each actuator to a mirror. Opposing magnetic fields are created to provide a force that urges the coils to expand so that the outermost portions of the coil extend upward, away from the substrate, and lift the bridge and mirror. Control current may then be modulated to increase and decrease the coil's magnetic field strength thereby increasing and decreasing the coil's extension to raise and lower relative to the substrate.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: An electrostatic bimorph actuator includes a cantilevered flexible bimorph arm that is secured and insulated at one end to a planar substrate. In an electrostatically activated state the bimorph arm is generally parallel to the planar substrate. In a relaxed state, residual stress in the bimorph arm causes its free end to extend out-of-plane from the planar substrate. The actuator includes a substrate electrode that is secured to and insulated from the substrate and positioned under and in alignment with the bimorph arm. An electrical potential difference applied between the bimorph arm and the substrate electrode imparts electrostatic attraction between the bimorph arm and the substrate electrode to activate the actuator. As an exemplary application in which such actuators could be used, a microelectrical mechanical optical display system is described.

Abstract: 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.

Abstract: A method and system for mobile device power consumption management decreases the instantaneous power consumption of a mobile device, increasing operational lifetime of the device. In an embodiment of the invention, the mobile device is associated with a plurality of device behavior modification techniques that can be set in response to data collected from a plurality of sensors associated with the device. In an embodiment, the sensors detect the device's motion, tilt, proximity to a user, contact with a user, and orientation with respect to a user. In a further embodiment, the sensors detect a temperature related to the device or its environment.

Abstract: A unilateral in-plane thermal buckle-beam microelectrical mechanical actuator is formed on a planar substrate of semiconductor material, for example. The actuator includes first and second anchors secured to the substrate and a floating shuttle positioned movably parallel to the substrate. Symmetric first and second sets of elongated thermal half-beams are secured between the floating shuttle and the respective first and second anchors. The first and second anchors and the first and second sets of thermal half-beams are positioned along one side of the floating shuttle. The half-beams are formed of semiconductor material, such as polysilicon. A current source directs electrical current through the thermal half beams via the anchors to impart thermal expansion of the thermal half-beams and hence linear motion of the floating center beam generally parallel to the substrate.

Abstract: A MEMS optical display system includes an illumination source for providing illumination light, a collimating lens for receiving the illumination light and forming from it collimated illumination light, and a microlens array having an array of lenslets for receiving the illumination light from the collimating lens. The converging microlens array directs the illumination light through an array of pixel apertures in an aperture plate to a microelectrical mechanical reflector array positioned opposite the aperture plate. The microelectrical mechanical reflector array includes an array of microelectrical mechanical actuators that support reflectors in alignment with the array of pixel apertures and selectively orients the reflectors to direct the illumination light back through the pixel apertures (to form part of a display image) or against the aperture plate (to be blocked). The illumination light passing back through the pixel apertures passes through the microlens array and a beamsplitter to a display screen.

Abstract: A microelectrical mechanical out-of-plane thermal buckle-beam actuator is capable of providing transverse-plane movement of shutters. The actuator includes a pair of structural anchors secured to a substrate and one or more thermal buckle-beams secured at respective base ends to the anchors. Each buckle-beam extends substantially parallel to and spaced-apart from the substrate and is releasable from the substrate at points other than at the anchors. The thermal buckle-beam actuators are suitable for use in a microelectrical mechanical optical display system.

Abstract: Energy efficient transmissive and transreflective display devices are described. Ambient light from a natural or artificial source is used to replace and/or supplement light normally supplied by a backlight. This is done by directing ambient light to the rear of a transmissive display panel. A window, light tunnel, or a reflective surface located in the rear or top of a display device may be used to direct the ambient light to the back of the display panel. A translucent diffuser and/or diffuse reflector are used to diffuse the ambient light to reduce the chance of bright spots appearing on the display. Additional energy efficiency is achieved by using one or more photo-sensors to detect the amount of light, incident on the front and/or rear of a display panel and by automatically adjusting the backlight intensity as a function of photo-sensor output. In this manner, backlight intensity can be minimized while maintaining the viewability of images shown on the display.

Abstract: 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.