Abstract: An apparatus is provided for user input to a computer. The apparatus consists of movable left and right paddles connected to the ends of a tie bar by 3-axis gimbles. The paddles are shaped to facilitate holding the device and rotating the paddles while keeping a user's fingers and thumbs free to activate tactile key-switches positioned under them. The position of the gimbles relative to the tie bar cause the paddles to rest in a neutral position when the apparatus is pressed between a user's hands. The gimbles rotate off the neutral position based on a user's wrist position. Both the rotations of the paddles and the status of the key-switches are used to determine the input codes sent to a paired computer. A display on the paired computer shows left and right arrays of icons representing available inputs and highlights the inputs currently accessible by the user's fingers and thumbs based on the paddle positions.

Abstract: A method and an apparatus are provided for user input to a computer. A sensing apparatus tracks the position of the wrist and the position of the digits on the hand. A paired display shows left and right arrays of icons representing available inputs and highlights the inputs currently accessible by the digits based on the position of the wrists.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for user input to a computer. The apparatus consists of movable left and right paddles connected to the ends of a tie bar by 3-axis gimbles. The paddles are shaped to facilitate holding the device and rotating the paddles while keeping a user's fingers and thumbs free to activate tactile key-switches positioned under them. The position of the gimbles relative to the tie bar cause the paddles to rest in a neutral position when the apparatus is pressed between a user's hands. The gimbles rotate off the neutral position based on a user's wrist position. Both the rotations of the paddles and the status of the key-switches are used to determine the input codes sent to a paired computer. A display on the paired computer shows left and right arrays of icons representing available inputs and highlights the inputs currently accessible by the user's fingers and thumbs based on the paddle positions.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for user input to a computer. The apparatus consists of movable paddles with multiple axes of motion. The paddles are shaped to include means for holding the device while keeping a user's fingers and thumbs free to activate touch sensitive areas on the paddles. Both the positions of the paddles and the location of touches are used to determine the input codes sent to the computer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for user input to a computer. The apparatus consists of movable paddles with multiple axes of motion. The paddles are shaped to include means for holding the device while keeping a user's fingers and thumbs free to activate touch sensitive areas on the paddles. Both the positions of the paddles and the location of touches are used to determine the input codes sent to the computer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for folding a case along a hinge where the hinge is designed to project the neutral bend access of the fold to a layer affixed to an outer surface of the case.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for folding a keyboard along one or more vertical axes where the staggered rows on a standard QWERTY keyboard are slid into alignment prior to folding to simplify the folding mechanism and further reduce the footprint of the device when folded.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for a touch sensor made from a combination of conductive and non-conductive fibers. The fibers are woven into a fabric wherein non-conductive fibers keep horizontal conductive fibers from contacting vertical conducting fibers unless a touch is applied. The conductive fibers are grouped into horizontal and vertical strips and the fibers in a strip are connected together throughout the fabric. The ends of the strips are connected to control electronics that drive signals to the sensor fabric and measure signals from the sensor fabric to determine touch locations and touch contact areas.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for a touch sensor made from a flexible substrate with voids and resistive conductive elements suspended within it. The voids in the substrate are positioned in the areas where conductive elements cross. The substrate holds the conductive elements apart in these voids when no pressure is applied, but allows the crossing conductive elements to come into contact when pressure from a touch is applied. The conductive elements follow a serpentine path to increase the number of crossings for a given number of conductive elements. The ends of the conductive elements are connected to control electronics around the periphery of the substrate that energizes select conductive elements with constant voltage and constant current signals and measures voltage from other conductive elements to ascertain touch locations and touch contact areas respectively. The sensor can be planner or made to follow contoured surfaces such as the outer surfaces of a mobile electronic device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for folding a case along a hinge where the hinge is designed to project the neutral bend access of the fold to a layer affixed to an outer surface of the case.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for a touch sensor made from a combination of conductive and non-conductive fibers. The fibers are woven into a fabric wherein non-conductive fibers keep horizontal conductive fibers from contacting vertical conducting fibers unless a touch is applied. The conductive fibers are grouped into horizontal and vertical strips and the fibers in a strip are connected together throughout the fabric. The ends of the strips are connected to control electronics that drive signals to the sensor fabric and measure signals from the sensor fabric to determine touch locations and touch contact areas.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for user input to a computer. The apparatus consists of movable grips with multiple axes of motion. The grips include means for holding the device while keeping a user's fingers and thumbs free to activate touch sensitive areas on the grips. Both the positions of the grips and the location of touches are used to determine the input codes sent to the computer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for a touch sensor made from a flexible substrate with voids and resistive conductive elements suspended within it. The voids in the substrate are positioned in the areas where conductive elements cross. The substrate holds the conductive elements apart in these voids when no pressure is applied, but allows the crossing conductive elements to come into contact when pressure from a touch is applied. The conductive elements follow a serpentine path to increase the number of crossings for a given number of conductive elements. The ends of the conductive elements are connected to control electronics around the periphery of the substrate that energizes select conductive elements with constant voltage and constant current signals and measures voltage from other conductive elements to ascertain touch locations and touch contact areas respectively. The sensor can be planner or made to follow contoured surfaces such as the outer surfaces of a mobile electronic device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for user input to a tablet computer. The apparatus consists of movable grips with touch sensitive regions attached to the sides of a tablet computer. Both the positions of the grips and the location of touches are used to determine the input codes sent to the computer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for user input to a tablet computer. The apparatus consists of movable grips with touch sensitive regions attached to the sides of a tablet computer. Both the positions of the grips and the location of touches are used to determine the input codes sent to the computer.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for the interconnection of multiple circuit boards within a device. A module is provided which comprises multiple circuit boards interconnected with a plurality of connectors. Modules may be interconnected to other modules using the same connectors. Circuit components are disposed on inner surfaces of the circuit boards of the module. Multiple circuit boards and modules are interconnected by contacts that do not require soldering, that permit the circuit boards and modules to be removably coupled to each other by the contacts, and that permit circuit boards to be positioned by a spaced amount that results in a small spacing between circuit boards. Enclosures are also provided, which allow modules to be configured and secured in both a horizontal and vertical direction. Thus, modules may be interconnected to other modules on each side, as well as interconnected to other modules stacked above or below the module.

Abstract: A method and apparatus are provided for a touch sensor made from fibers with conductive and non-conductive regions. The fibers are woven into a fabric and connected to control electronics. The fibers are grouped and the ends of the fibers in a group are connected together prior to connection to the control electronics in order to reduce the number of connections required between the sensor fabric and control electronics. The control electronics drive signals to the sensor fabric and measure signals from the sensor fabric to determine touch locations and touch contact areas.

Abstract: An apparatus (100) having variable resolution that captures user touch points on a touch pad. Control circuitry in the apparatus (301) detects a touch point on the touch pad, (302) determines a location of the touch point, and (303) adjusts resolution of an area proximate the location of the touch point to detect subsequent touch points.

Abstract: An Expandable communications bus system for transferring data between a plurality of devices. The expandable communications bus system is comprised of a plurality of communication busses each capable of transferring n bits of data between devices. A device may be connected to any multiple of the communication busses. Mn bits of data may be transferred at one time between devices using m busses. Other busses in the system transfer can data between other devices while the transfer over m busses is occurring allowing for more efficient use of bus resources. For each communications bus that is connected to a device, the device has an interface that controls the transfer of data over the communications bus. Arbitration for a bus is performed by the interface of each device connected to the bus.