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 and receiving the illumination light from the collimating lens. The converging microlens array directs the illumination light 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. The array of microelectrical mechanical actuators orient the reflectors selectively 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).

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 movable 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: In a method of the present invention, a device message is generated indicating that a touch sensor on an input device has been touched without indicating what location on the touch sensor has been touched. The device message is routed to an application and instructions within the application are executed based on the device message.

Abstract: A digital panoramic camera system for producing digital panoramic images includes a camera body forming a linear optic path and which is rotatably mounted to a motor. An infrared cutoff filter is also provided along the optic path for filtering light which is then provided to a charge coupled device. The charge coupled device generates analog signals corresponding to color information transmitted by the light to an analog interface which tunes the analog signals. A series of pulses is provided to the motor and to an analog to digital converter, thereby synchronizing rotation of the camera body with the conversion of analog signals to digital signals within the converter. A digital interface unit is also provided which receives digital signals from the converter and provides converted digital signals to a computer for processing the signals into a digital panoramic image.

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 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 fuse array having a plurality of fusible links that can be addressed by two electrodes is disclosed. The fuse array includes two conductive strips having the plurality of fusible links located therebetween and electrically coupled to the conductive strips. The fusible links have different electrical resistance and each fusible link includes a fuse portion. A voltage potential applied across the conductive strips induces current flow through the fusible links in accordance with Ohm's law and ohmic heating occurs at the fuse portion in proportion to the square of the current. The voltage is increased to cause sufficient ohmic heating to occur in the most conductive fusible link (the fusible link having the lowest electrical resistance) so that the fuse portion in that fusible link fuses.

Abstract: A microelectrical mechanical systems actuator that provides a long throw is disclosed. The actuator includes a drive mechanism that oscillates a pallet that is located between leg portions of a drive member. The pallet includes first and second rows of pallet teeth located along two opposite edges of the pallet. The drive member is slideably coupled to a substrate, and includes first and second rows of drive teeth that are located along two opposing drive margins of the drive member leg portions. The pallet teeth and the drive teeth are compatible so as to permit meshing engagement of the pallet teeth with the drive teeth. The pallet is arranged between the rows of drive teeth. When the pallet teeth are meshingly misaligned with respective drive teeth and the pallet is urged against the drive margin, the drive member is forced to move until the teeth meshingly engage.

Abstract: An input device for a computer system includes an exterior surface and a touch sensor located on the exterior surface. The touch sensor is adapted to generate an electrical signal when a user touches the touch sensor. The electrical signal contains touch information that is the same each time the user touches the touch sensor regardless of where the user's touch occurs on the touch sensor. The input device also includes an input generator capable of generating input information sent to the computer system. The input information includes at least a depressible key's state, a depressible button's state, sound information, or movement information.

Abstract: An out-of-plane thermal buckle-beam microelectrical mechanical actuator is formed on a planar substrate of semiconductor material (e.g., silicon). The actuator includes first and second anchors secured to the substrate and multiple elongated thermal buckle beams that are secured between the anchors. The buckle beams are formed of semiconductor material, such as polysilicon. In one implementation, the buckling beams are coupled together by a pivot frame that includes a frame base secured to each buckle beam and at least one pivot arm that is coupled to the frame base at one end and includes a free end that pivots out-of-plane when the actuator is activated. A current source directs electrical current through the thermal buckle beams via the anchors to impart thermal expansion of the buckle beams and hence a buckling motion of them out of the plane (i.e., away from) the substrate.

Abstract: An out-of-plane thermal buckle-beam microelectrical mechanical actuator is formed on a planar substrate of semiconductor material (e.g., silicon). The actuator includes first and second anchors secured to the substrate and multiple elongated thermal buckle beams that are secured between the anchors. The buckle beams are formed of semiconductor material, such as polysilicon. In one implementation, the buckling beams are coupled together by a pivot frame that includes a frame base secured to each buckle beam and at least one pivot arm that is coupled to the frame base at one end and includes a free end that pivots out-of-plane when the actuator is activated. A cyclic current source directs cyclic electrical current through the thermal buckle beams via the anchors to impart thermal expansion of the buckle beams and hence a cyclic buckling motion of them out of the plane (i.e., away from) the substrate.

Abstract: An input device for a computer system includes an exterior surface and a touch sensor located on the exterior surface. The touch sensor is adapted to generate an electrical signal when a user touches the touch sensor. The electrical signal contains touch information that is the same each time the user touches the touch sensor regardless of where the user's touch occurs on the touch sensor. The input device also includes an input generator capable of generating input information sent to the computer system. The input information includes at least a depressible key's state, a depressible button's state, sound information, or movement information.

Abstract: In a method of the present invention, a device message is generated indicating that a touch sensor on an input device has been touched without indicating what location on the touch sensor has been touched. The device message is routed to an application and instructions within the application are executed based on the device message.

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: Moving a panel on a microelectromechanical system by generating a magnetic force that acts on the panel is disclosed. The panel is formed on, or coupled to, a substrate so as to be able to move between first and second positions. The panel includes an electrically conductive region, such as a metallic ring or sheet, or a doped polysilicon layer. An electrical coil is also located on the substrate and coupled to a power source that can generate time-varying current. When a time-varying current is conducted through the coil, a magnetic flux is generated in the coil that induces an electromotive force (emf) in the panel that, in turn, generates a magnetic flux having a direction that is opposite the magnetic flux in the coil. The opposing magnetic fluxes create a repulsive magnetic force that urges the panel to move away from the coil. A flat spring is provided to hold the panel in a desired position and provide a drag force on the panel as it moves.

Abstract: In a device having a display, at least one sensor signal is generated from a sensor in the device. One or more context values are then generated from the sensor signal. The context values indicate how the device is situated relative to one or more objects. At least one of the context values is then used to control the operation of one or more aspects of the device.

Abstract: A digital panoramic camera system for producing digital panoramic images includes a camera body forming a linear optic path and which is rotatably mounted to a motor. An infrared cutoff filter is also provided along the optic path for filtering light which is then provided to a charge coupled device. The charge coupled device generates analog signals corresponding to color information transmitted by the light to an analog interface which tunes the analog signals. A series of pulses is provided to the motor and to an analog to digital converter, thereby synchronizing rotation of the camera body with the conversion of analog signals to digital signals within the converter. A digital interface unit is also provided which receives digital signals from the converter and provides converted digital signals to a computer for processing the signals into a digital panoramic image.

Abstract: A microelectrical mechanical system (MEMS) actuator having coupled members that undergo different amounts of thermal expansion is disclosed for moving micromechanical objects, such as a mirror, toward and away from a surface or a planar substrate. The actuator members are a first elongate member and a second elongate member that are coupled together at their respective distal ends. At their respective proximal ends, the members are mounted onto discrete electrical paths formed on the substrate. Thus, current applied to one electrical pathway is conducted along the first member to the second member, and to the other electrical path. The first member includes a metal conductor that provides a reduced resistivity for electrical current. Thus, when current is applied to the actuator, the second member generates more thermal energy due to its increased resistance and thereby thermally expands a greater amount than the first member.

Abstract: A surgical simulator provides both visual and tactile feedback in order to realistically portray an actual surgical procedure. The visual feedback is provided through an SGI graphics computer which drives a monitor to display two images of an eye at slightly different perspectives. A set of optics, which preferably mimics an actual surgical microscope, combines the two images to form a stereo image of the eye. An instrument for simulating a surgical tool is connected through three sets of levers and hinges to three servo-motors which collectively generate a resistive force along any direction. The forces provided to the instrument are modeled after forces measured during an actual procedure and therefore accurately simulate the feel of a surgical procedure. The position and orientation of the instrument is transmitted to the SGI graphics computer which manipulates the eye based upon the position and motion of the instrument and updates the image of the eye to display a manipulated eye.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for digitizing an object for creating a three-dimensional digital model of the object comprises a turntable for rotating the object about a rotation axis, at least first and second light sources positioned and oriented for directing a thin sheet of light toward the object along an illumination plane substantially parallel to and substantially intersecting with the rotation axis, a first detector positioned to one side of the illumination plane and oriented for detecting light reflected along a first detection plane from the object for creating a plurality of first side contours as the object rotates, a second detector positioned to a side of the illumination plane, opposite the one side, for detecting light reflected along a second detection plane from the object for creating a plurality of second side contours as the object rotates, a third detector for capturing illumination on-axis contours in the form of a vertical straight line to derive an instantaneous color of the object's surf