Patents by Inventor Mihai Albulet

Mihai Albulet 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).

  • Patent number: 7782294
    Abstract: A pointing device is provided for reporting motion information about the pointing device. Counts representing movement in two dimensions are processed so that a packet data stream may accommodate the motion information. One aspect of the invention utilizes the value of count to determine whether compression of the motion information should be performed. When it is determined that compression should be performed, a compression function is selected, the count is processed by the compression function, and an indicator is set to indicate that the count is processed by the compression function. Reporting information, which includes the processed count and the indicator, is then transmitted to computer system. A user input interface that is associated with the computer system recovers the counts using appropriate inverse functions in accordance with the indicators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Mihai Albulet, Gary Rensberger
  • Patent number: 7688912
    Abstract: The present invention reduces adjacent channel interference for a wireless peripheral device. A direct digital synthesizer generates a waveform having intermediate angular changes during a transition time between symbol intervals. After the transition time, the direct digital synthesizer generates the waveform with an angular value that corresponds to the symbol being transmitted. In an exemplary embodiment, a generated waveform is characterized by one of two designated frequencies in response to a value of an input information bit. The waveform is further characterized by at least one intermediate frequency during a transition time between a change of the designated frequency. Another embodiment of the invention utilizes phase changes rather than frequency changes during reduce adjacent channel interference. With another aspect of the invention, methods are provided to determine waveform parameters for reducing adjacent channel power (ACP) to a maximum level of interference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: Mihai Albulet
  • Patent number: 7688780
    Abstract: Interference between collocated wireless devices sharing the same RF channel is avoided or minimized by a new header format provided for the first data packet in an RF transmission. By inclusion of an invalid pulse in the header of each isolated data packet, an FM receiver that “captures” a desired signal from a closest device, midstream of processing an undesired signal (pertubation) from a more distant collocated device, is caused to abort the invalid packet and reinitialize. The receiver is then able to properly process the first packet in the desired transmission (from the closest device).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 30, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Gary S. Rensberger, Mihai Albulet
  • Patent number: 7664537
    Abstract: A wireless input device may negotiate a predefined transmit/receive schedule with a receiving device (i.e., PC, PDA, cellular device). To conserve power, the wireless components of the input device are powered down during periods of non-transmission. The wireless input device detects intermediate user input and corresponding data according to a detection rate during periods of non-transmission. The intermediate data is then transmitted to the receiving device during a transmission period along with a current data detected at the time of transmission. The wireless device may further discard any intermediate data which does not reflect a significant change. Additionally, the system and method may include a detection rate that adapts to degrees of user activity detected by the wireless input device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Mihai Albulet, Peter E. H. Hauser
  • Patent number: 7656853
    Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for conserving power consumption of a wireless device such as a BLUETOOTH slave device. A master device polls a slave device in a polling period. The slave responds by transmitting a data packet. If there is an error in transmission of the data, the master device may transmit an ARQ (Automatic Repeat Request) to the slave device in a TIMEOUT period to indicate that the data packet was not received. The slave device may reduce power consumption or power off during that TIMEOUT and receive a retransmit ARQ in a subsequent polling period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2010
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: Mihai Albulet
  • Patent number: 7380145
    Abstract: A wireless device determines characteristics of a connection established (or being established) with a remote device and implements a power management algorithm based on those characteristics. The wireless device includes a battery power source, a radio transceiver powered by the battery, a memory and a controller. The controller is configured to create, via the transceiver, wireless connections with remote devices in any of a plurality of connection configurations. The controller detects the presence, in a wireless transmission from a remote device, of one or more parameters identifying one of the plurality of configurations. Based on the configuration identified, the controller implements one of a plurality of power management algorithms.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: Mihai Albulet
  • Patent number: 7336705
    Abstract: Systems and methods for evaluating a signal containing pulses received from a wireless computer peripheral device are provided. A received signal is analyzed to measure the strength of the received signal and determine whether sources of interference exist. Correction action is recommended based on the analysis of the received signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Mihai Albulet, Nathan C. Sherman
  • Publication number: 20070135178
    Abstract: A wireless input device may negotiate a predefined transmit/receive schedule with a receiving device (i.e., PC, PDA, cellular device). To conserve power, the wireless components of the input device are powered down during periods of non-transmission. The wireless input device detects intermediate user input and corresponding data according to a detection rate during periods of non-transmission. The intermediate data is then transmitted to the receiving device during a transmission period along with a current data detected at the time of transmission. The wireless device may further discard any intermediate data which does not reflect a significant change. Additionally, the system and method may include a detection rate that adapts to degrees of user activity detected by the wireless input device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 12, 2005
    Publication date: June 14, 2007
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Mihai Albulet, Peter Hauser
  • Publication number: 20070133663
    Abstract: Interference between collocated wireless devices sharing the same RF channel is avoided or minimized by a new header format provided for the first data packet in an RF transmission. By inclusion of an invalid pulse in the header of each isolated data packet, an FM receiver that “captures” a desired signal from a closest device, midstream of processing an undesired signal (pertubation) from a more distant collocated device, is caused to abort the invalid packet and reinitialize. The receiver is then able to properly process the first packet in the desired transmission (from the closest device).
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 10, 2006
    Publication date: June 14, 2007
    Applicant: MICROSOFT CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gary Rensberger, Mihai Albulet
  • Publication number: 20070081609
    Abstract: The present invention reduces adjacent channel interference for a wireless peripheral device. A direct digital synthesizer generates a waveform having intermediate angular changes during a transition time between symbol intervals. After the transition time, the direct digital synthesizer generates the waveform with an angular value that corresponds to the symbol being transmitted. In an exemplary embodiment, a generated waveform is characterized by one of two designated frequencies in response to a value of an input information bit. The waveform is further characterized by at least one intermediate frequency during a transition time between a change of the designated frequency. Another embodiment of the invention utilizes phase changes rather than frequency changes during reduce adjacent channel interference. With another aspect of the invention, methods are provided to determine waveform parameters for reducing adjacent channel power (ACP) to a maximum level of interference.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2006
    Publication date: April 12, 2007
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: Mihai Albulet
  • Patent number: 7170870
    Abstract: Interference between collocated wireless devices sharing the same RF channel is avoided or minimized by a new header format provided for the first data packet in an RF transmission. By inclusion of an invalid pulse in the header of each isolated data packet, an FM receiver that “captures” a desired signal from a closest device, midstream of processing an undesired signal (pertubation) from a more distant collocated device, is caused to abort the invalid packet and reinitialize. The receiver is then able to properly process the first packet in the desired transmission (from the closest device).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2007
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Gary S. Rensberger, Mihai Albulet
  • Patent number: 7158580
    Abstract: The present invention reduces adjacent channel interference for a wireless peripheral device. A direct digital synthesizer generates a waveform having intermediate angular changes during a transition time between symbol intervals. After the transition time, the direct digital synthesizer generates the waveform with an angular value that corresponds to the symbol being transmitted. In an exemplary embodiment, a generated waveform is characterized by one of two designated frequencies in response to a value of an input information bit. The waveform is further characterized by at least one intermediate frequency during a transition time between a change of the designated frequency. Another embodiment of the invention utilizes phase changes rather than frequency changes during reduce adjacent channel interference. With another aspect of the invention, methods are provided to determine waveform parameters for reducing adjacent channel power (ACP) to a maximum level of interference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2007
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: Mihai Albulet
  • Patent number: 7124312
    Abstract: Capacitive proximity sensing is carried out by detecting a relative change in the capacitance of a “scoop” capacitor formed by a conductor and a surrounding ground plane. Charge is transferred between the “scoop” capacitor and a relatively large “bucket” capacitor, and a voltage of the bucket capacitor is applied to an input threshold switch. A state transition (e.g., from low to high, or high to low) of the input threshold switch is detected and a value (TouchVal) indicative of a number of cycles of charge transfer required to reach the state transition is determined. The presence or absence of an object or body portion in close proximity to or contact with a device can be determined by comparing TouchVal with a predetermined threshold value (TouchOff). In order to lessen the time required for detection, and/or improve the sensitivity thereof, the bucket capacitor may initially be charged to a repeatable non-zero reference level closer to the charge level that will cause a state transition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Mark W. Casebolt, Gary S. Rensberger, Steven N. Bathiche, Mihai Albulet
  • Publication number: 20060140166
    Abstract: The present invention provides a system and method for conserving power consumption of a wireless device such as a BLUETOOTH slave device. A master device polls a slave device in a polling period. The slave responds by transmitting a data packet. If there is an error in transmission of the data, the master device may transmit an ARQ (Automatic Repeat Request) to the slave device in a TIMEOUT period to indicate that the data packet was not received. The slave device may reduce power consumption or power off during that TIMEOUT and receive a retransmit ARQ in a subsequent polling period.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2004
    Publication date: June 29, 2006
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: Mihai Albulet
  • Patent number: 6995750
    Abstract: A pointing device is provided for reporting motion information about the pointing device. Counts representing movement in two dimensions are processed so that a packet data stream may accommodate the motion information. One aspect of the invention utilizes the value of count to determine whether compression of the motion information should be performed. When it is determined that compression should be performed, a compression function is selected, the count is processed by the compression function, and an indicator is set to indicate that the count is processed by the compression function. Reporting information, which includes the processed count and the indicator, is then transmitted to computer system. A user input interface that is associated with the computer system recovers the counts using appropriate inverse functions in accordance with the indicators.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2006
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Mihai Albulet, Gary Rensberger
  • Publication number: 20050237301
    Abstract: A pointing device is provided for reporting motion information about the pointing device. Counts representing movement in two dimensions are processed so that a packet data stream may accommodate the motion information. One aspect of the invention utilizes the value of count to determine whether compression of the motion information should be performed. When it is determined that compression should be performed, a compression function is selected, the count is processed by the compression function, and an indicator is set to indicate that the count is processed by the compression function. Reporting information, which includes the processed count and the indicator, is then transmitted to computer system. A user input interface that is associated with the computer system recovers the counts using appropriate inverse functions in accordance with the indicators.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2005
    Publication date: October 27, 2005
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Mihai Albulet, Gary Rensberger
  • Publication number: 20050240785
    Abstract: Capacitive proximity sensing is carried out by detecting a relative change in the capacitance of a “scoop” capacitor formed by a conductor and a surrounding ground plane. Charge is transferred between the “scoop” capacitor and a relatively large “bucket” capacitor, and a voltage of the bucket capacitor is applied to an input threshold switch. A state transition (e.g., from low to high, or high to low) of the input threshold switch is detected and a value (TouchVal) indicative of a number of cycles of charge transfer required to reach the state transition is determined. The presence or absence of an object or body portion in close proximity to or contact with a device can be determined by comparing TouchVal with a predetermined threshold value (TouchOff). In order to lessen the time required for detection, and/or improve the sensitivity thereof, the bucket capacitor may initially be charged to a repeatable non-zero reference level closer to the charge level that will cause a state transition.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 30, 2005
    Publication date: October 27, 2005
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Mark Casebolt, Gary Rensberger, Steven Bathiche, Mihai Albulet
  • Patent number: 6954867
    Abstract: Capacitive proximity sensing is carried out by detecting a relative change in the capacitance of a “scoop” capacitor formed by a conductor and a surrounding ground plane. Charge is transferred between the “scoop” capacitor and a relatively large “bucket” capacitor, and a voltage of the bucket capacitor is applied to an input threshold switch. A state transition (e.g., from low to high, or high to low) of the input threshold switch is detected and a value (TouchVal) indicative of a number of cycles of charge transfer required to reach the state transition is determined. The presence or absence of an object or body portion in close proximity to or contact with a device can be determined by comparing TouchVal with a predetermined threshold value (TouchOff). In order to lessen the time required for detection, and/or improve the sensitivity thereof, the bucket capacitor may initially be charged to a repeatable non-zero reference level closer to the charge level that will cause a state transition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2005
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Mark W. Casebolt, Gary Rensberger, Steven N. Bathiche, Mihai Albulet
  • Publication number: 20050114714
    Abstract: A wireless device determines characteristics of a connection established (or being established) with a remote device and implements a power management algorithm based on those characteristics. The wireless device includes a battery power source, a radio transceiver powered by the battery, a memory and a controller. The controller is configured to create, via the transceiver, wireless connections with remote devices in any of a plurality of connection configurations. The controller detects the presence, in a wireless transmission from a remote device, of one or more parameters identifying one of the plurality of configurations. Based on the configuration identified, the controller implements one of a plurality of power management algorithms.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 25, 2003
    Publication date: May 26, 2005
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventor: Mihai Albulet
  • Publication number: 20040199829
    Abstract: Systems and methods for evaluating a signal containing pulses received from a wireless computer peripheral device are provided. A received signal is analyzed to measure the strength of the received signal and determine whether sources of interference exist. Correction action is recommended based on the analysis of the received signal.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2003
    Publication date: October 7, 2004
    Applicant: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Mihai Albulet, Nathan C. Sherman