Patents Issued in July 26, 2016
  • Patent number: 9400522
    Abstract: A portable terminal apparatus is provided, which includes a first cabinet having a first display surface, a second cabinet having a second display surface, a support mechanism which supports the first and second cabinets to be switchable between first and second arrangement states which are different in a relative position between the first and second display surfaces, and a control unit which controls a display mode of the first and second display surfaces according to the switching between the first and second arrangement states.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: KYOCERA Corporation
    Inventors: Akiko Inami, Naoya Watanabe
  • Patent number: 9400523
    Abstract: An information device includes: a first housing and a second housing coupled through a hinge mechanism, the second housing being openable to a angle from a closed state where the second housing overlaps with the first housing; a third housing attached to a surface of the second housing on a first housing side through a movement mechanism capable of moving the third housing with respect to the second housing from an overlapped state with the second housing; a first display screen provided on a surface of the third housing on the first housing side; and at least one unit selected from a group of a second display screen, an input mechanism, an output mechanism and an input-output mechanism, the surface being exposed when the third housing is moved with respect to the second housing in a state where the second housing is opened with respect to the first housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventor: Nobuhiko Onda
  • Patent number: 9400524
    Abstract: An information handling system chassis is built at least in part from ceramic elements. For example, a transparent aluminum oxide ceramic portion covers a touchscreen to provide a rigid outer surface for accepting end user inputs. As another example, a ceramic chassis element has a ceramic material formed around a metal material of similar substance with bonding of the ceramic to the underlying material enhanced with oxidation of the outer surface of the metal material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventor: Deeder M. Aurongzeb
  • Patent number: 9400525
    Abstract: An electronic device (300) includes a housing (301). A touch sensitive surface (100) can be disposed along the housing. The touch sensitive surface can include a recessed surface feature (106) on a portion of the touch sensitive surface. A control circuit (315), operable with the touch sensitive surface, can detect a predetermined gesture sequence (501, 502, 503) when a touch actuation along the touch sensitive surface interacts with the recessed surface feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Chad Austin Phipps, Jeffrey R. DeVries, John C. Johnson, Louis J. Lundell, Thomas Y. Merrell, Mitul R. Patel, Jiri Slaby
  • Patent number: 9400526
    Abstract: Bumpers for electronic devices are provided. The bumpers may be formed from a polymer coupled to a housing via a primer. The primer may include a first functional group configured to form a chemical bond with the housing a second functional group configured to form a bond with the polymer. Accordingly, externally-mounted bumpers that do not impinge upon internal space within a housing may be provided. However, the bumpers may be employed for various other purposes. Related portable electronic devices, assemblies, and methods are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Matthew P. Casebolt, Derrick Tek-Kien Jue
  • Patent number: 9400527
    Abstract: A mobile terminal device that includes a frame that supports a structure of the mobile terminal, a button that fits with a hole in the frame, a gasket that contacts with the button, a first area of which contacting with the button being configured to move when the button is pushed, and a second area of which being fixed to the frame by an adhesive, processing circuitry, and a switch that contacts with the gasket, and moves and applies current to the processing circuitry when the gasket moves in response to the button being pushed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Mobile Communications Inc.
    Inventors: Tetsuya Ito, Keiichi Sasamori
  • Patent number: 9400528
    Abstract: An internal fastening feature that also acts as a means of separating a housing body from a protective cover is disclosed. The internal fastening feature includes two arms that meet at a central hub that is pivotally coupled to a bracket. The bracket is coupled to an interior-facing surface of the protective cover. A first arm defines a threaded opening that receives a fastener that keeps the protective cover coupled with the housing body. A second arm, extending in a different direction than the first arm, is positioned above a protrusion of the housing body. When the fastener is disengaged from the first arm, a disengaging tool can apply a force to the first arm that rotates the second arm until it presses against the protrusion. The force applied to the protrusion is then transmitted to the protective cover, which is consequently pushed away from the housing body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Anthony S. Montevirgen, Daniel W. Jarvis
  • Patent number: 9400529
    Abstract: An electronic device has an electronic device housing containing electrical components such as integrated circuits and other components. The electronic device housing may be provided with signal paths. Electrical components may be mounted to the electronic device housing and may be electrically coupled to the signal paths. The housing may be provided with channels in which signal lines are routed. The housing may be formed from a material such as metal. A layer of dielectric in the channel may be interposed between the metal of the housing and the signal lines in the channel. Capacitive coupling and inductive coupling may be used to electrically couple the electrical components to a signal line in the channel. Solder may be used to solder contacts on the electrical components to a signal line in the channel. Meandering channels and channels that traverse right-angled surfaces may be used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Ray L. Chang
  • Patent number: 9400530
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus includes: a housing; a mounting member pivotably mounted to the housing; a displacing member including an L-shaped shaft hole formed in at least one of the mounting member and the housing member, and a shaft located in the shaft hole; the displacing member be configured such that the shaft is located at a first position of the L-shaped shaft hole when the mounting member is in a falling position and the shaft is located at a second position of the L-shaped shaft hole different from the first position when the mounting member is in an erected position; and a rotation suppressing member configured to hold the mounting member when the mounting member is displaced, and suppress the rotation of the mounting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Noritaka Hara, Ushio Oshima
  • Patent number: 9400531
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a notebook computer, comprising a computer main body and a screen movably connected to the computer main body. A cavity and an expansion card press mechanism is provided inside the computer main body. A popup box is further provided on one side of the computer main body. The expansion card press mechanism comprises press blocks capable of moving forward and backward in an installation direction of an expansion card. The press blocks press the expansion card. The cavity is provided with an opening which is disposed at a position on an end face of the computer main body. The popup box is movably connected to the computer main body and provided with an antenna.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: Shenzhen Arboo Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: David Chu, Haihua Zhou
  • Patent number: 9400532
    Abstract: A storage device includes a first portion including drive media, and a second portion. The second portion includes a first end wall that is in physical communication with first and second side walls, and a second end wall that is in physical communication with the first and second side walls. The second portion also includes a printed circuit board mounted within the cavity, a plurality of ribs within the cavity, and an air channel within the cavity. The air channel has a lower air flow impedance than other portions of the storage device including the first portion, the printed circuit board, and the ribs. The air channel extends along a direction between the first end wall and the second end wall of the storage device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: DELL PRODUCTS, LP
    Inventors: Haesung Kwon, Eric M. Tunks
  • Patent number: 9400533
    Abstract: An electrical connector assembly comprises an electrical connector and a bracket for retaining a fan. The electrical connector includes an insulating housing, a plurality of contacts received in the housing and a retaining device retained on one end of the housing. Said retaining device includes a locking portion, one end of the housing defines an outside face, the locking portion located at an interior of the outside face. It can reduce the installation space of fixing the bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: FOXCONN INTERCONNECT TECHNOLOGY LIMITED
    Inventors: Xue-Hai Shen, Er-Ying Guo, Wen-Jun Tang, Xue-Wu Bu
  • Patent number: 9400534
    Abstract: The invention provides an electronic device with connectors which can be adjusted the providing current. The connectors connect external electronic devices and provide current to power the external electronic devices. User can adjust the current providing status through the user interface of the electronic device according to high or low current requirement of external electronic devices. The electronic device can also read out the power parameter storing in an external electronic device, and adjust the current according to the power parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: Qisda Corporation
    Inventor: Feng-Lin Chen
  • Patent number: 9400535
    Abstract: A power supply circuit applied to a central processing unit (CPU) of a computer includes a pulse width modulation (PWM) controller, a control circuit, a first switch circuit, a second switch circuit, a first compensation circuit, a second compensation circuit, a first power circuit, and a second power circuit. When the computer is turned on, the PWM controller regulates duty cycles of pulse signals and outputs the regulated pulse signals to the first and second power circuits according to a first compensation signal, to provide a stable voltage to the CPU. When the computer is in a standby mode, the PWM controller regulates duty cycles of pulse signals and outputs the regulated pulse signals to the first power circuit according to a second compensation signal, to provide a stable voltage to the CPU.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: ScienBiziP Consulting (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hai-Qing Zhou
  • Patent number: 9400536
    Abstract: The present invention is to provide an electronic device capable of automatically resetting, which includes a main circuit system and an external circuit system. The main circuit system is able to send out a power supply state signal according to the voltage thereof and an activation state signal according to whether the main circuit system is properly activated. The external circuit system is able to receive the power supply state signal and the activation state signal, switch a switch between a turned-on state and a turned-off state for automatically cutting off electricity supplied to the main circuit system through the switch while the main circuit system is improperly activated and then supplying electricity to the main circuit system thereafter. Thus, whenever the electronic device is improperly activated, the electricity supplied to the main circuit system can be automatically cut off and then restored to reset the main circuit system automatically.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: ALPHA NETWORKS INC.
    Inventor: Kun-Neng Chuang
  • Patent number: 9400537
    Abstract: In a power supply impedance optimizing apparatus, first and second noise detecting circuits detect noises of first and second power supplies by magnetic field coupling between bonding wires of the first and second power supplies and bonding wires for first and second noise detection. A noise determining circuit determines a noise level using a frequency component in each of one or more frequency ranges as extracted from each of the noises of the first and second power supplies. The noise determining circuit controls ON/OFF state of the first switch connected between pads of the first and second power supplies and the second switch connected between pins of the first and second power supplies based on a determination result of the noise level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: MegaChips Corporation
    Inventor: Takashi Kawahara
  • Patent number: 9400538
    Abstract: A docking station connects through a docking port and docking cable with an information handling system to support communication between the information handling system and docking station peripherals. The docking cable includes an integrated input device, such as a mechanical button or fingerprint scanner, which accepts an end user input to command a power state transition at the information handling system, such as a transition between an on state and a reduced power state. The power state transition is sent directly from the integrated input device to the information handling system or, alternatively, from the integrated input device to the docking station and then from the docking station to the information handling system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Ernesto Ramirez, Christian L Critz, Liam B Quinn, Sean P O'Neal
  • Patent number: 9400540
    Abstract: An apparatus, computer readable medium, and method of event based dynamic power management. The method includes responding to receiving an indication of an event that is external to a hardware block engine by adjusting the power to the hardware block engine, if the event indicates that the power to the hardware block engine should be adjusted. The method may include receiving a second event that is external to the hardware block engine. The method may include determining whether or not the power should be adjusted to the hardware block engine based on the event and the second event. If it is determined that the power should be adjusted, then the power may be adjusted to the hardware block based on the event and second event. A method of monitoring a component and sending an indication of an event that the component will not require a hardware block engine is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: ATI Technologies ULC
    Inventor: Yury Lichmanov
  • Patent number: 9400541
    Abstract: Techniques pertaining to analyzing power consumed by a processing unit in a mobile computing device caused by execution of certain modules are described herein. A power trace is generated that indicates an amount of power consumed by the processing unit over time, and the power trace is aligned with an execution log. Spikes are extracted from the power trace, and computing operations are performed over the spikes to acquire data pertaining to power consumed by the processing unit that are attributable to modules in the execution log.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing,LLC
    Inventors: Thomas Michael Josef Zimmermann, Christian Alma Bird, Nachiappan Nagappan, Syed Masum Emran, Thirumalesh Bhat, Ashish Gupta
  • Patent number: 9400542
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention are directed to control devices configured for use with computing devices. More specifically, the present invention relates to methods and devices for performing presence detection of an object body near a device. The methods and devices described herein may include comparing a reference signal against an over the air signal to determine whether a phase difference exists between the reference signal and the over the air signal. The existence of a phase difference may be indicative of a object or body in proximity to the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: Logitech Europe S.A.
    Inventors: Frederic Fortin, Laurent Cariou, Philippe Chazot
  • Patent number: 9400543
    Abstract: A main body ECU as a slave node includes a switch. The switch is under OFF state when a prohibition signal is outputted from a verification ECU as a master node and under ON state when the prohibition signal is not outputted. The switch is inserted in a reception path between a receive port of a microcomputer of the main body ECU and a receiver of a transceiver that is connected with a communication bus. When the switch is under OFF state, a reception signal outputted by the transceiver is not inputted into the microcomputer of the main body ECU. Therefore, the microcomputer is not activated even if an activation frame is transmitted to the communication bus; this enables the main body ECU to maintain a sleep mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Akito Itou
  • Patent number: 9400544
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses for reducing leakage power in a system cache within a memory controller. The system cache is divided into multiple sections, and each section is supplied with power from one of two supply voltages. When a section is not being accessed, the voltage supplied to the section is reduced to a voltage sufficient for retention of data but not for access. The cache utilizes a maximum allowed active section policy to limit the number of sections that are active at any given time to reduce leakage power. Each section includes a corresponding idle timer and break-even timer. The idle timer keeps track of how long the section has been idle and the break-even timer is used to periodically wake the section up from retention mode to check if there is a pending request that targets the section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Wolfgang H. Klingauf, Rong Zhang Hu, Sukalpa Biswas, Shinye Shiu
  • Patent number: 9400545
    Abstract: Embodiments of systems, apparatuses, and methods for energy efficiency and energy conservation including enabling autonomous hardware-based deep power down of devices are described. In one embodiment, a system includes a device, a static memory, and a power control unit coupled with the device and the static memory. The system further includes a deep power down logic of the power control unit to monitor a status of the device, and to transfer the device to a deep power down state when the device is idle. In the system, the device consumes less power when in the deep power down state than in the idle state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Inder M. Sodhi, Alon Naveh, Doron Rajwan, Ryan D. Wells, Eric C. Samson
  • Patent number: 9400546
    Abstract: Techniques for low-power implementation of a Universal Serial Bus (USB) Type-C connector subsystem are described herein. In an example embodiment, an integrated circuit (IC) chip device comprises a Universal Serial Bus (USB) Type-C subsystem. The Type-C subsystem is configured to operate an Ra termination circuit that consumes no more than 100 ?A of current after the Ra termination circuit is applied to a Vconn line of the Type-C subsystem, and/or to operate one or more standby reference circuits in a deep-sleep state of the device to perform detection on a Configuration Channel (CC) line of the Type-C subsystem, where the device consumes no more than 100 ?A of current in the deep-sleep state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: CYPRESS SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Rishi Agarwal, Nicholas Alexander Bodnaruk, Pavan Kumar Kuchipudi, Suresh Naidu Lekkala
  • Patent number: 9400547
    Abstract: According to some embodiments, there is provided a communication device including: a processing unit and a notifying unit. The processing unit receives an acquisition request of first information from a requester and determines based on a predetermined condition whether or not the first information needs to be acquired from an acquisition destination of the first information. The notifying unit notifies a first response to the requester when the processing unit determines that the first information needs to be acquired, the first response containing an instruction of transitioning to a low power consumption status.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Yuichiro Oyama, Takeshi Ishihara, Hiroshi Nishimoto
  • Patent number: 9400548
    Abstract: A gesture-based system may have default or pre-packaged gesture information, where a gesture is derived from a user's position or motion in a physical space. In other words, no controllers or devices are necessary. Depending on how a user uses his or her gesture to accomplish the task, the system may refine the properties and the gesture may become personalized. The personalized gesture information may be stored in a gesture profile and can be further updated with the latest data. The gesture-based system may use the gesture profile information for gesture recognition techniques. Further, the gesture profile may be roaming such that the gesture profile is available in a second location without requiring the system to relearn gestures that have already been personalized on behalf of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Zhengyou Zhang, Alex Aben-Athar Kipman, Kenneth Alan Lobb, Joseph Reginald Scott Molnar
  • Patent number: 9400549
    Abstract: Different methods and systems for a new-era electronic book are disclosed. In one embodiment, the content of the book can be presented by an electronic book device. The device includes a display to present the content to a user; a sensor to sense the user; and a processor. The processor can become aware of an attribute of the user, and change a portion of the content of the electronic book to be presented accordingly. In one embodiment, the attribute is not a behavior of the user. For example, the attribute can be a location of the user. The book can include a story and a non-story theme. The story theme can convey a concept, and the non-story theme can include scenes, scripts and/or props. The portion changed can be the story or the non-story theme, or both.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Inventors: Chi Fai Ho, Peter P. Tong
  • Patent number: 9400550
    Abstract: In one or more embodiments described herein, there is provided an apparatus comprising a processor and a memory including computer program code. The memory and the computer code are configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to be able to determine a graphical indicator for display to the originator of personal user data. The graphical indicator is a graphical representation of a determined interest value of one or more viewers to the personal user data. This determined interest value is generated using feedback signalling representative of the feedback provided by changes in facial expression of respective viewers to viewing said personal user data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy
    Inventor: Miika Juhani Vahtola
  • Patent number: 9400551
    Abstract: Methods, apparatuses, and computer program products are herein provided for causing presentation of a notification on a display based on the user's susceptibility to notice the notification and the desired intrusiveness of the presentation of the notification. A method may include determining that a notification should be presented to a user on a display. The method further includes determining a susceptibility level pertaining to the likelihood the user will notice the notification. The method further includes causing presentation of the notification on the display based at least in part on the susceptibility level and an intrusiveness level for presentation of the notification. The intrusiveness level pertains to how intrusive presentation of the notification should be to the user's experience. Corresponding apparatuses and computer program products are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy
    Inventors: Daniel L. Ashbrook, David H. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 9400552
    Abstract: An apparatus for checking a gaze object includes an eye detector configured to detect eyes from a captured image of a user who stares at objects while the objects displayed on a display move at certain frequencies, a frequency converter configured to check a motion of the detected eyes and convert the motion of the eyes into an eye moving frequency, and a discriminating unit configured to compare the eye moving frequency and moving frequencies of the objects and discriminate an object at which the user stares depending upon whether or not the eye moving frequency is identical with the moving frequencies of the objects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY
    Inventors: Sung Min Park, Seok Beom Lee, Hee Jin Ro, Dong Hee Seok
  • Patent number: 9400553
    Abstract: Embodiments that relate to scaling a visual element displayed via a display device are disclosed. In one embodiment a method includes receiving and using gaze tracking data to determine gaze locations at which a user is gazing on the display device. Depth tracking data is received and used to determine that a user's pointer is at a predetermined location. In response, a locked gaze location on the screen is locked, where the locked gaze location includes at least a portion of the visual element. In response to locking the locked gaze location, the visual element is programmatically scaled by a predetermined amount to an enlarged size. A user input selecting the visual element is then received.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Bernard James Kerr, Edward Elliott, Morgan Kolya Venable
  • Patent number: 9400554
    Abstract: Provided are an information display system, a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium, and a display control method. The information display system includes a transmission type head-mounted display and a control section. The control section includes a gaze point detecting section configured to detect a point of gaze of a user, a first judgment section configured to judge whether the user gazes at a certain area on a virtual screen or on the background beyond the virtual screen, a second judgment section configured to judge whether a sight-line region around the intersection of the virtual screen and a sight line of the user overlaps with an object displayed on the virtual screen, and a display control section configured to, in response to a movement of the point of gaze, change at least one of a display position and a display mode of the object on the basis of judgment results.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: KONICA MINOLTA, INC.
    Inventors: Mitsuharu Hayasaka, Masahiro Ozawa, Takahisa Matsunaga, Hiroshi Nogawa, Yasufumi Aoyama, Kunikazu Satou, Tetsuren Nogawa
  • Patent number: 9400555
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention relate to computer systems for transmitting or receiving and playing a plurality of data streams, where at least one of the data streams includes video data packets and/or audio data packets and at least one other data stream includes further data packets that are synchronized with the video and/or audio data packets. In particular embodiments, the further data stream includes haptic data packets that include haptic command data generated in real time with the video and/or audio data streams, where the haptic command data is provided to a haptic output device configured to replicate or approximate sensations through the output of one or more mechanical forces in synchronization with the playing of video and/or audio from the video and/or audio data streams.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: INTERNET SERVICES, LLC
    Inventors: Michael Quigley, Ramon Alarcon
  • Patent number: 9400556
    Abstract: An electronic device 100 includes a touch panel 102 for accepting a touch operation by a user to detect a touch position, a vibrating section 203 for vibrating the touch panel 102 in a first vibration mode and a second vibration mode, and a vibration control section 301 for controlling the vibration of the vibrating section 203. The number of vibration nodes occurring on the touch panel 102 in the first vibration mode is different from the number of vibration nodes occurring on the touch panel 102 in the second vibration mode. The vibration control section 301 vibrates the touch panel 102 in at least one of the first vibration mode and the second vibration mode depending on the touch position of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: Panasonic Intellectual Property Management Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yusuke Adachi, Ryo Okumura
  • Patent number: 9400557
    Abstract: A device to output a haptic effect includes a haptic effect generator comprising one or more microdroplets of a fluid configured to output a haptic effect, and a substrate configured to control movement of the one or more microdroplets of fluid. The device further includes an actuator coupled to the haptic effect generator configured to exert one or more forces on the substrate to cause the one or more microdroplets of fluid to output the haptic effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventor: Rajashree Baskaran
  • Patent number: 9400558
    Abstract: A multi-touch display layer may have a texturizing polymer layer. The texturizing polymer layer may elevate a surface portion of the texturizing polymer layer to a level to texturize information displayed on the multi-touch display layer. A gesture may be detected for the elevated surface portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: HJ Laboratories, LLC
    Inventors: Harry Vartanian, Jaron Jurikson-Rhodes
  • Patent number: 9400559
    Abstract: Systems, methods and computer readable media are disclosed for gesture shortcuts. A user's movement or body position is captured by a capture device of a system, and is used as input to control the system. For a system-recognized gesture, there may be a full version of the gesture and a shortcut of the gesture. Where the system recognizes that either the full version of the gesture or the shortcut of the gesture has been performed, it sends an indication that the system-recognized gesture was observed to a corresponding application. Where the shortcut comprises a subset of the full version of the gesture, and both the shortcut and the full version of the gesture are recognized as the user performs the full version of the gesture, the system recognizes that only a single performance of the gesture has occurred, and indicates to the application as such.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Stephen Latta, Kevin Geisner, John Clavin, Kudo Tsunoda, Kathryn Stone Perez, Alex Kipman, Relja Markovic, Gregory N. Snook
  • Patent number: 9400560
    Abstract: Disclosed is an image display device capable of recognizing a hand of a user and predefining an operating region. Image recognition means recognizes the position of a hand of the user. Operating region setup means predefines the operating region, on an imaging region plane of imaging means and around a position on which the user's hand is projected, for the purpose of enabling the user to issue instructions to the image display device. When the position on which the user's hand is projected moves and comes close to the periphery of the operating region, the operating region setup means moves the operating region in the direction of the movement of the position on which the user's hand is projected. Further, the image recognition means recognizes a hand-waving motion of the user, whereas the operating region setup means sets the size of the operating region in accordance with the magnitude of the user's hand-waving motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: HITACHI MAXELL, LTD.
    Inventors: Takashi Matsubara, Masumi Moritani
  • Patent number: 9400561
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for operating a close proximity communication channel based on a gesture. A gesture event is generated on a touch screens of a portable terminal. The portable terminal includes a close proximity communication module. The portable terminal generates a context message corresponding to the gesture event. The context message is transmitted to at least one other portable terminal. The close proximity communication channel is established based on the context message.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Andriy Fisunenko, Oleksii Mokhonko, Igor Kryvoruchko, Oleksiy Kasitskiy
  • Patent number: 9400562
    Abstract: An image projection device for projecting an image on a projection object includes a detecting unit configured to detect a detection object present within an object space corresponding to the image projected by the image projection device; a recognizing unit configured to recognize an instruction motion of a user based on detection of the detection object by the detecting unit; and an output unit configured to generate an output corresponding to the instruction motion recognized within the object space by the recognizing unit from the instruction motion and the image projected by the image projection device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventor: Kazuhiro Takazawa
  • Patent number: 9400563
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus are provided for displaying pictures according to hand motion inputs. An application is executed for displaying a picture from among a sequence of pictures on a display. Groups of skin color blocks corresponding to a hand are detected from among image frames output from a camera. A motion is detected among the groups of skin color blocks. Direction information is obtained on the detected motion. The application is controlled to display a previous picture or a next picture in the sequence of pictures on the display according to the direction information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Dong Hyuk Lee, Mu-Sik Kwon, Jung-Rim Kim, Seong-Taek Hwang, Sang-Wook Oh, Hyun-Soo Kim
  • Patent number: 9400564
    Abstract: A system for a vehicle includes a user identification subsystem operable to detect a driver; and an interactive display subsystem operable to generate output for display on a vehicle window based on detection of the driver, the output associated with a reminder specific to a questionable driving habit of the driver.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignees: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc., Toyota Motor Sales, U.S.A., Inc.
    Inventors: Warren Jing Po Chou, Tina Brunetti Sayer, Jason A. Schulz
  • Patent number: 9400565
    Abstract: A keyboard with a sensing switch function includes a press key module provided for a user to input a keyboard signal, a micro control unit electrically coupled to the press key module for receiving a switching signal to determine the output priority of each output port and deliver the keyboard signal, and plural output ports for transmitting the keyboard signal via a cable or wireless transmission. The keyboard also includes a sensing module with plural light sensors for sensing a change of light to generate a switching signal, and a display module with plural indicating lamps having a quantity equal to the quantity of the output ports, and the indicating lamps are switched according to the output mode. After obtaining the output priority, the output port outputs the keyboard signal to an external device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: JYE WANG ENTERPRISE CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hsueh-Ling Chiu
  • Patent number: 9400566
    Abstract: A driving method for a display panel is provided. The display panel includes at least a first common signal line, at least a second common signal line and a plurality of pixels arranged as a pixel array. The pixel array includes a first pixel row and a second pixel row electrically connected to the first common signal line and the second common signal line, respectively. The driving method includes steps of: generating a first AC common signal; generating a second AC common signal, wherein the first AC common signal and the second AC common signal are inverse to each other; and providing the first and second AC common signal to the first and second pixel rows through the first and second common signal lines, respectively, by way of N-frame switch, wherein N is a positive integer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: AU OPTRONICS CORP.
    Inventors: Wei-Chun Hsu, Yu-Hsin Ting, Wei-Chih Lee, Chung-Lin Fu, Nan-Ying Lin
  • Patent number: 9400567
    Abstract: A system and method for implementing an efficient and easy to user interface for a touch screen device. A cursor may be placed by a user using simple inputs. The device operates places the cursor coarsely and refines the cursor placement upon further input from the user. Text may be selected using a gripper associated with the cursor. The user interface allows text selection without occluding the text being selected with the user's finger or the gripper. For selecting text in a multi-line block of text, a dynamic safety zone is implemented to simplify text selection for the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Jeffrey J. Weir, Jennifer L. Anderson, Jennifer Wolfe, Gerrit H. Hofmeester, Jan-Kristian Markiewicz, Andrew R. Brauninger, Stuart J. Stuple, David Earl Washington, Matthew J. Kotler, Ryan Demopoulos, Amish Patel
  • Patent number: 9400568
    Abstract: An image display apparatus and a method for operating the image display apparatus are disclosed. The method for operating an image display apparatus includes displaying at least one object on a display, displaying a pointer on the display, accumulating a movement value of a remote controller during a predetermined period, detecting reference coordinates of the displayed at least one object, correcting the accumulated movement value based on the reference coordinates if the reference coordinates are detected, and changing the location of the pointer based on the corrected value and displaying the pointer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Taeksoo Kim
  • Patent number: 9400569
    Abstract: Methods, systems, and products describe physical structures for interactive computer displays. A tangible, three-dimensional structure has an interior and an exterior surface. A bundle of optical fibers propagates light through the interior to the exterior surface of the three-dimensional structure. A magnet in the three-dimensional structure produces an attractive force, and a marker on the exterior surface identifies the three-dimensional structure and the magnet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I, L.P.
    Inventor: Kevin A. Li
  • Patent number: 9400570
    Abstract: A stylus may have an elongated body with opposing first and second ends. Electronic equipment may have a touch sensor that receives electromagnetic signals from one or more electrodes at the first end. The stylus may have a six-axis inertial sensor at the second end. Force sensors may be located at the first and second ends. User input from the force sensors, the inertial sensor, and other input-output devices may be used to supply the stylus with mode change commands. In response to the mode change commands the stylus may transition between operating modes such as a touch sensor mode and one or more inertial sensor modes. Inertial sensor data may be used to allow the stylus to operate as a joystick, a rotational controller, an air mouse, or other input devices in addition to serving as a touch sensor input device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Ray L. Chang
  • Patent number: 9400571
    Abstract: A drive controlling apparatus that drives a vibrating element of an electronic device including a display panel, a touch panel disposed on a display surface side of the display panel and the vibrating element generating a vibration in a manipulation input surface of the touch panel, includes a drive controlling part being configured to drive the vibrating element by using a driving signal causing the vibrating element to generate a natural vibration in an ultrasound-frequency-band in the manipulation input surface, the drive controlling part being configured to drive the vibrating element so that an intensity of the natural vibration varies in accordance with a position and a temporal change degree of the position of a manipulation input performed onto the manipulation input surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Yuichi Kamata, Kiyoshi Taninaka, Yasuhiro Endo
  • Patent number: 9400572
    Abstract: A device and method include detecting a position of a finger positioned proximate a touch screen of a hand held device, the touch screen having a target available for selection via the finger, comparing the detected position of the finger to a selection range, and moving a target on the touch screen responsive to the comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2016
    Assignee: Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Russell Speight VanBlon, Neal Robert Caliendo, Jr.