Patents Issued in October 25, 2016
  • Patent number: 9477287
    Abstract: A method of optimizing a configuration of computing resources includes coupling computing devices to a test system. With the test system, a test is performed on one or more of the computing devices. The test includes operating the computing devices in two or more configurations. In each configuration, power consumption characteristics or thermal characteristics of the computing devices associated with the configurations are measured. Based on the measurements of power consumption characteristics, thermal characteristics, or both, a desired configuration for at least one computing device to be operated is determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Kenneth M. Schow, Peter G. Ross
  • Patent number: 9477288
    Abstract: A universal serial bus (USB) host includes a power unit and a USB interface unit. The power unit includes a battery and a charging module configured to control the battery. The USB interface unit is configured to interface with a first USB device, and is configured to be controlled based on a remaining amount of power of the battery. The USB interface unit is further configured to maintain a data connection between the USB interface unit and the first USB device when a power supply connection between the USB interface unit and the first USB device is disconnected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Seung-Soo Yang
  • Patent number: 9477289
    Abstract: A system has a plurality of electronic components including a memory, a PHY coupled to the memory, and one or more other electronic components. Power consumed by the PHY is estimated during operation of the system. Estimating the power consumed by the PHY includes modeling the power consumed by the PHY as a linear function with respect to memory bandwidth. Available power for the PHY is determined based at least in part on the estimated power consumed by the PHY. At least a portion of the available power for the PHY is allocated to at least one of the one or more other components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: ADVANCED MICRO DEVICES, INC.
    Inventors: Ashish Jain, Alexander J. Branover, Guhan Krishnan
  • Patent number: 9477290
    Abstract: Systems and methods that enable a reduction in the power consumption involved in measuring a user's affective response to content. The reduction in the power consumption is achieved by utilizing tags that indicate a mode of operation in which to operate a sensor when measuring affective response of the user to certain segments of the content. By using at different times, different modes of operation for operating the sensor, which are characterized by different energy consumption rates, the total power consumption of the sensor may be reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Inventors: Ari M Frank, Gil Thieberger
  • Patent number: 9477291
    Abstract: Described herein is an integrated circuit which comprises: a switching voltage regulator (SVR), having one or more bridge drivers, to provide regulated power supply to a plurality of power domains; and a power control unit (PCU) operable to adjust switching frequencies of the SVR according to states of the plurality of power domains, wherein drive strength or active phase count of the one or more bridge drivers is also adjusted by a logic unit of the SVR when the switching frequencies of the SVR are adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory Sizikov, Michael Zelikson, Efraim Rotem, Eyal Fayneh
  • Patent number: 9477292
    Abstract: A wake-up processor for a communications processor has a receive signal amplifier for amplifying the signal level of received RF which has been transmitted as wireless local area network WLAN packets, an amplitude detector for indicating the envelope of the RF energy in the packets, a threshold detector which thresholds the detected RF envelope, and a correlator which compares the detected and thresholded RF envelope with a private pseudo-random number to determine the level of correlation between the received value and the private value. When the correlation exceeds a required threshold, a wake-up signal is asserted which is used to bring a WLAN processor into an active state for processing of subsequently sent packets.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Redpine Signals, Inc.
    Inventor: Partha Sarathy Murali
  • Patent number: 9477293
    Abstract: An embedded controller for power-saving and a method thereof are provided. The embedded controller is used for executing a plurality of tasks and includes a timer module and a control unit. The timer module includes a plurality of timers, and each of timers is corresponding to one of the tasks respectively. The control unit is coupled to the timer module and respectively sets a wake-up period according to each task. When the wake-up period of each timer is expired, each timer respectively generates a wake-up signal to the control unit. The control unit controls the embedded controller to transfer to an active model from an idle model according to the wake-up signals respectively. After executing the tasks corresponding to the wake-up signals respectively, the control unit controls the embedded controller to transfer to the idle model from the active model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Wistron Corporation
    Inventor: Wen-Chun Tsao
  • Patent number: 9477294
    Abstract: A microcontroller which operates in a low power consumption mode is provided. A microcontroller includes a CPU, a memory, and a peripheral circuit such as a timer circuit. A register in the peripheral circuit is provided in an interface with a bus line. A power gate for controlling supply control is provided. The microcontroller can operate not only in a normal operation mode where all circuits are active, but also in a low power consumption mode where some of the circuits are active. A volatile memory and nonvolatile memory are provided in a register, such as a register of the CPU. Data in the volatile memory is backed up in the nonvolatile memory before the power supply is stopped. In the case where the operation mode returns to the normal mode, when power supply is started again, data in the nonvolatile memory is written back into the volatile memory.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Semiconductor Energy Laboratory Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tatsuji Nishijima, Hidetomo Kobayashi, Tomoaki Atsumi, Kiyoshi Kato, Shunpei Yamazaki
  • Patent number: 9477295
    Abstract: Systems and methods for managing power to Non-Volatile Memory Express (NVMe) devices. In some embodiments, an Information Handling System (IHS) may include a Central Processing Unit (CPU); a Non-Volatile Memory Express (NVMe) device operably coupled to the CPU; a service processor operably coupled to the CPU and to the NVMe; and a memory operably coupled to the service processor, the memory including program instructions stored thereon that, upon execution by the service processor, cause the service processor to: receive performance data from the CPU, receive metrics data from a source other than the CPU, and control an amount of power provided to the NVMe device based, at least in part, upon the performance data and the metrics data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: DELL PRODUCTS, L.P.
    Inventors: Elie Antoun Jreji, Austin P. Bolen, Karthik V
  • Patent number: 9477296
    Abstract: A method of controlling on/off of a core based on a used amount of an operating core and the number of tasks in an electronic device having a multi-core, and an apparatus thereof, includes confirming a load of an operating core and the number of executable tasks at a predetermined period, determining whether the load of the operating core and the number of executable tasks meet a defined on/off condition of the multi-core, and controlling on/off of the multi-core when the load of the operating core and the number of executable tasks meet the defined on/off condition of the multi-core.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Taehee Gwak, Hyungrok Kim, Youngtaek Kim, Eunji Lee, Kangtae Kim
  • Patent number: 9477297
    Abstract: A computer system includes a power supply unit (PSU), a matching circuit, and a chip. The matching circuit includes a voltage conversion unit, a voltage-dividing unit, a first resistor, a comparator, a diode, and a delay unit. The comparator includes a non-inverting terminal electrically coupled to the PSU to receive a power-good signal, an inverting terminal electrically coupled to the voltage-dividing unit to receive a reference voltage, and an output terminal. The delay unit is electrically coupled to a power supply and a power-good signal pin of the chip. When a voltage of the power-good signal is greater than the reference voltage, the output terminal of the comparator outputs a high level signal, the diode is turned off and the power supply is delayed by the delay unit and then output to the power-good signal pin of the chip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignees: HONG FU JIN PRECISION INDUSTRY (WuHan) CO., LTD., HON HAI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jin-Liang Xiong, Yong-Zhao Huang
  • Patent number: 9477298
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for power-efficiency management in a virtualized cluster system. The virtualized cluster system includes a front-end physical host and at least one back-end physical host, and each of the at least one back-end physical host comprises at least one virtual machine and a virtual machine manager. Flow characteristics of the virtualized cluster system are detected at a regular time cycle, a power-efficiency management policy is generated for each of at least one back-end physical host based on the detected flow characteristics, and the power-efficiency management policies are performed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Zhi Guo Gao, Li Li, Rui Xiong Tian, Hai Shan Wu, Bo Yang
  • Patent number: 9477299
    Abstract: Systems, methods, and apparatus to facilitate wireless device monitoring and control are provided. A first device controller may be adapted to be disposed within a power connector, in series with conductors of the power connector. The power connector may be adapted to provide power from a power source to a device. The first device controller may include two terminals to electrically couple the first device controller with the conductors of the power connector. The first device controller may further include a power component to power the first device controller. The first device controller may be configured to monitor one or more conditions of the device, control one or more functions of the device, and wirelessly communicate with a system controller that is remote from the power connector and the device. The power connector may correspond to a power plug and/or a terminal block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: EchoStar UK Holdings Limited
    Inventor: Geoffrey Thompson
  • Patent number: 9477300
    Abstract: A bridging device and a power saving method thereof are disclosed. When a bridging chip of the bridging device receives a power saving command transferred from a host and thereby enters a power saving state, a voltage converter of the bridging device is disabled accordingly and a selection circuit selects to couple a bus voltage to the bridging chip to power the bridging chip. The bus voltage is transferred from the host through a power pin of a connector of the bridging device. The connector is coupled to the host.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: VIA TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Yen-Chang Chen, Hui-Chih Lin
  • Patent number: 9477301
    Abstract: An operation support device having a surgical instrument unit and a surgical instrument unit support section, includes: an intermediate member connected to the surgical instrument support section and configured to hold the surgical instrument unit; a shielding member having a hole portion engaged with the intermediate member; and a driving force supply unit installed at the surgical instrument support section. A first space and a second space are formed by an assembly constituted by the shielding member and the intermediate member engaged with the hole portion as a boundary. The intermediate member is connected to the surgical instrument support section at a side of the first space, and holds the surgical instrument unit at a side of the second space. The driving force supply unit and the surgical instrument support section are disposed in the first space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: OLYMPUS CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kosuke Kishi
  • Patent number: 9477302
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relate to controlling the functions of various devices based on spatial relationships. In one example, a system may include a depth and visual camera and a computer (networked or local) for processing data from the camera. The computer may be connected (wired or wirelessly) to any number of devices that can be controlled by the system. A user may use a mobile device to define a volume of space relative to the camera. The volume of space may then be associated with a controlled device as well as one or more control commands. When the volume of space is subsequently occupied, the one or more control commands may be used to control the controlled device. In this regard, a user may switch a device on or off, increase volume or speed, etc. simply by occupying the volume of space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Alejandro Kauffmann, Aaron Joseph Wheeler, Liang-Yu Chi, Hendrik Dahlkamp, Varun Ganapathi, Yong Zhao, Christian Plagemann
  • Patent number: 9477303
    Abstract: Systems and methods for combining three-dimensional tracking of a user's movements with a three-dimensional user interface display is described. A tracking module processes depth data of a user performing movements, for example, movements of the user's hand and fingers. The tracked movements are used to animate a representation of the hand and fingers, and the animated representation is displayed to the user using a three-dimensional display. Also displayed are one or more virtual objects with which the user can interact. In some embodiments, the interaction of the user with the virtual objects controls an electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Shahar Fleischmann, Gershom Kutliroff, Yaron Yanai
  • Patent number: 9477304
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes an image analysis unit that executes a process for analyzing an image captured by a camera, a speech analysis unit that executes a process for analyzing speech input from a microphone, and a data processing unit that receives a result of the analysis conducted by the image analysis unit and a result of the analysis conducted by the speech analysis unit and that executes output control of help information for a user. The data processing unit calculates a degree of difficulty of the user on the basis of at least either the result of the image analysis or the result of the speech analysis and, if the degree of difficulty that has been calculated is equal to or more than a predetermined threshold value, executes a process for outputting help information to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: SONY CORPORATION
    Inventor: Akane Sano
  • Patent number: 9477305
    Abstract: A stereoscopic image display apparatus includes: a distance measuring unit that measures a distance to a viewer; a selecting unit that selects parallax images having a binocular parallax amount corresponding to the measured distance to the viewer from parallax images of a display object based on the measured distance to the viewer as a stereoscopic image pair; and a display control unit that causes a display unit to display the selected stereoscopic display image pair.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventor: Toshiro Ohbitsu
  • Patent number: 9477306
    Abstract: Substrates for components such as a display, touch sensor, multifunction stackup, and so forth may incorporate one or more haptic actuators configured to generate haptic output. These actuators may be formed from a portion of a body of the substrate, or separate pieces bonded or otherwise affixed to the substrate. Audible output resulting from activation of the actuators may be minimized by coupling the actuators such that they produce a physical displacement of the body of the substrate within, rather than orthogonal to, the plane of the body of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph J. Hebenstreit, David C. Buuck, Ilya D. Rosenberg, Julien G. Beguin
  • Patent number: 9477307
    Abstract: Methods, articles of manufacture, and devices related to generating six degree of freedom (DOF) haptic feedback are provided. A computing device can receive first depth data about an environment. The computing device can generate a first plurality of points from the first depth data. The computing device can determine a virtual tool, where the virtual tool is specified in terms of a translation component for the virtual tool and a rotation component for the virtual tool. The computing device can determine a first force vector between the virtual tool and the first plurality of points. The computing device can send a first indication of haptic feedback based on the first force vector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: The University of Washington
    Inventors: Howard Jay Chizeck, Fredrik Ryden
  • Patent number: 9477308
    Abstract: A user interface system including a sheet that defines a surface and at least partially defines a first level fluid vessel arranged at a first level within the sheet and a second level fluid vessel arranged at a second level within the sheet, wherein both the first and second level fluid vessels are arranged underneath the surface; a first volume of fluid contained within the first level fluid vessel; a second volume of fluid contained within the second level fluid vessel; and a displacement device coupled to the first and second level fluid vessels that selectively manipulates the first and second volumes of fluid, thereby deforming a particular region of the surface to a first and second stage, respectively or deforming a first particular region and a second particular region of the surface, respectively.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Tactus Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Craig Michael Ciesla, Micah B. Yairi, Nathaniel Mark Saal
  • Patent number: 9477309
    Abstract: Systems and methods for mapping message contents to virtual physical properties for vibrotactile messaging are disclosed. For example, one disclosed method includes the steps of receiving a sensor signal from a sensor, the sensor configured to detect an interaction with a messaging device, determining a virtual physical property of a virtual message object based at least in part on the sensor signal, determining a haptic effect based at least in part on the virtual physical parameter; and generating a haptic signal configured to cause an actuator to output the haptic effect.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: David M. Birnbaum, Christopher J. Ullrich, Danny Grant
  • Patent number: 9477310
    Abstract: The present invention provides the Free Fingers Typing Technology by fingers tapping on a surface, a technology that allows the user to type, point/select (on the display of a computer or computer-based-device) or play music with bare fingers without keyboard, without display pointing/selecting device and even without computer. The invention provides at least: one methodology to execute the finger movements, one convention to code the finger movements, two techniques to recognize the finger movements, a family of apparatus to optically monitor and recognize finger movements as well as the specifications of a plurality of related computer programs all used with the objective of interpreting finger-surface taps and converting them into computer characters, keyboard key strokes, functions of display-pointing/selecting device, music notes etc. . . .
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Inventor: Ibrahim Farid Cherradi El Fadili
  • Patent number: 9477311
    Abstract: A method includes displaying information associated with a first application on a touch-sensitive display of an electronic device. A gesture is detected on the touch-sensitive display, which gesture indicates a request to display information associated with a second application. At least part of the information associated with the second application is displayed without opening the second application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Mihal Lazaridis, Daniel Tobias Rydenhag, Donald James Lindsay, Alistair Robert Hamilton, Robert Simon Lessing, Jason Tyler Griffin, Joseph Eytan Benedek, Todd Andrew Wood
  • Patent number: 9477312
    Abstract: User input gloves and input methods are described that are well suited to provide input to computer modeling (eg CAD) and augmented reality (AR) systems, including wearable AR and spatial AR. Each glove comprises palm mounted ultrasonic transducers, accelerometers, finger based pinch inputs and a wireless communication module. The gloves can be used to measure distances over the natural range of distances that hands can be placed, as well as their orientation, with sufficient resolution to facilitate a range of gesture based input methods to be developed and utilized, including distance-based modeling by measurement. Further the gloves are light weight, allow fast input of modeling measurements, are easy to use, and reduce fatigue compared to existing glove based input systems. The user input gloves, and associated input techniques can be used to measure small and body sized objects using one or two hands, and large objects can be measured using single handed measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: University of South Australia
    Inventors: Thuong N. Hoang, Bruce Hunter Thomas, Ross Travers Smith
  • Patent number: 9477313
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a wearable apparatus includes a sensor, a processor coupled to the sensor, and a memory coupled to the processor that includes instructions executable by the processor. When executing the instructions, the processor detects by the sensor movement of at least a portion of an arm of a user; detects, based at least in part on the movement, a gesture made by the user; and processes the gesture as input to the wearable apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Pranav Mistry, Sajid Sadi, Lining Yao, John Snavely
  • Patent number: 9477314
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for selecting between multiple gesture recognition systems includes an electronic device determining a context of operation for the electronic device that affects a gesture recognition function performed by the electronic device. The electronic device also selects, based on the context of operation, one of a plurality of gesture recognition systems in the electronic device as an active gesture recognition system for receiving gesturing input to perform the gesture recognition function, wherein the plurality of gesture recognition systems comprises an image-based gesture recognition system and a non-image-based gesture recognition system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC
    Inventors: Rachid M. Alameh, Patrick J. Cauwels, David G. Fliszar
  • Patent number: 9477315
    Abstract: Navigating through objects or items in a display device using a first input device to detect pointing of a user's finger to an object or item and using a second input device to receive the user's indication on the selection of the object or the item. An image of the hand is captured by the first input device and is processed to determine a location on the display device corresponding to the location of the fingertip of the pointing finger. The object or the item corresponding to the location of the fingertip is selected after the second input device receives predetermined user input from the second input device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Kikuo Fujimura, Victor Ng-Thow-Hing, Behzad Dariush
  • Patent number: 9477316
    Abstract: Computing devices, computer-readable storage media, and methods associated with human computer interaction. In embodiments, a computing device may include a display, a processor coupled with the display, a user interface engine and one or more applications to be operated on the processor. In embodiments, the user interface engine or the one or more applications may be configured to detect movement of the portable computing device indicating a direction a user of the portable computing device would like a portion of the user interface to move and cause the portion of the user interface to be moved, from a current location on the display to another location on the display, in accordance with the indicated direction. Such movement may facilitate the user to interact with the portion of the user interface via the interaction zone of the display. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Vinod Govindapillai, Tomer Rider
  • Patent number: 9477317
    Abstract: A touch free input display control panel, may be used, to hygienically operate a device. Touch free input, allows the user, to activate the device's functions, which are displayed on the display, without physically touching the display. Limiting contact with the display, limits the possible transference of harmful bacteria and viruses, from the control panel to the users fingers. Limiting bacterial transmission between the user, and the panel, may be beneficial for users of multiuser public input displays, where contamination from bacteria on the displays is possible. Touch free displays may be used with the operation of devices, such as, elevators, as the elevator control panel. Touch free input may reduce static electric discharge, which may be beneficial in flammable environments, by reducing the possibility of flammable material combustion. Reducing static electric discharge may be beneficial in dry environments, such as, in a space station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Inventor: Sigmund Lindsay Clements
  • Patent number: 9477318
    Abstract: Concepts and technologies are disclosed herein for surface determination via bone conduction. According to one aspect, a user device can identify a surface via bone conduction. The user device can identify one or more controllable devices to control using the surface. The user device can detect a user interaction, such as a gesture, performed by a user on the surface. The user device can provide an instruction to the controllable device(s) to cause the controllable device(s) to perform one or more operations in response to the user interaction with the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I, L.P.
    Inventors: Christopher Baldwin, Brian S. Amento
  • Patent number: 9477319
    Abstract: The amount of power and processing needed to process gesture input for a computing device can be reduced by utilizing a separate gesture sensor. The gesture sensor can have a form factor similar to that of conventional cameras to reduce costs by being able to utilize readily available low cost parts, but can have a lower resolution and adjustable virtual shutter such that fast motions can be captured and/or recognized by the device. In some devices, a subset of the pixels of the gesture sensor can be used as a motion detector, enabling the gesture sensor to run in a low power state unless there is likely gesture input to process. Further, at least some of the processing and circuitry can be included with the gesture sensor such that various functionality can be performed without accessing a central processor or system bus, thus further reducing power consumption.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Leo B. Baldwin, Isaac S. Noble
  • Patent number: 9477320
    Abstract: The present invention is a data entry device featuring a novel way of touch-typing on a small smart-device using two or more opposing touchpad surfaces positioned around a display, said surfaces comprising a housing. Bumps or other touch sensitive features are arrayed around the periphery of a digital display on the device. The bumps or other touch sensitive features provide both a locating means for finger placement and a zone for sensing the shift of a pressure point or sensing motion of the finger along the surface, the shift or motion in a preferred direction indicating a selection from a displayed menu to be made by lifting the finger from contact. A novel way of holding the device by its wrist band or handle or strap while fingering the bumps leads to a fluid method of keying functionalities for use as a phone and as an internet-enabled texting device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: ARGOtext, Inc.
    Inventor: Mark Schaffer
  • Patent number: 9477321
    Abstract: A handheld electronic communication device includes a plurality of text entry keys arranged in a keyfield. A navigation home region includes a navigation home key, and a navigation travel region bounds the navigation home region. The navigation travel region overlies text entry keys within the keyfield. A user navigates by actuating the navigation home key and then moving his finger across keys lying within the navigation travel region and otherwise generally used to effect text entry into the device. The navigation home key is preferably configured for dual levels of actuation, as may be the text entry keys.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Jason T. Griffin, Steven Fyke
  • Patent number: 9477322
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for providing assistance in communication and academic achievement to individuals possessing fine motor coordination impairment. A computer is provided having software and a storage medium having a plurality of potential user expressions. At least one user screen is in communication with the computer upon which a plurality of potential user expressions are displayable. A plurality of widely spaced apart controls are provided in association with the user screen corresponding to the potential user expressions. When the user wishes to select one of the potential user expressions, the user operates the control that corresponds to the desired potential user expression using gross motor movements. A primary component is image-based for pre-literate users, and a secondary component is character-based for literate users. In the primary component, an operator sends images from which the user chooses. In the secondary component, the user selects characters for a two-dimensional content area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Inventors: Michelle Denise Noris, Joshua Justin Weitzman
  • Patent number: 9477323
    Abstract: A medical device including an operation determiner for determining operations to be performed by the medical device in response to a gesture of the device with respect to the medical device, and an operation data accessor for accessing operation data for the operation performed by the medical device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: CareFusion 303, Inc.
    Inventors: Donald Halbert, Sreelal Chandrasenan, Daniel Vik, Gregory Borges
  • Patent number: 9477324
    Abstract: Presented is method and system for processing a gesture performed by a user of an input device. The method comprises detecting the gesture and determining a distance of the input device from a predetermined location. A user command is then determined based on the detected gesture and the determined distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Rahul Ajmera, Anbumani Subramanian, Sriganesh Madhvanath
  • Patent number: 9477325
    Abstract: A device is provided for identifying at least one laser pointer, including a laser projector having a scanning mirror device by which a projection surface is able to be scanned periodically; a modulation device for a laser beam of the at least one laser pointer; and a detection device, situated within the laser projector, for detecting the modulated laser beam of the at least one laser pointer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
    Inventor: Tobias Rankl
  • Patent number: 9477326
    Abstract: The present invention provides a method for determining an object position, including the following steps: determining the intensities of a plurality of pixels; determining that a portion of pixels in the plurality of pixels belong to an object image corresponding to an object; and determining coordinate data of the object based on a number of pixels in each row or column of the portion of the plurality of pixels belonging to the object image and the coordinates of pixels in the portion of the plurality of pixels belonging to the object image. The present invention also provides a pointing system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: PIXARAT IMAGING INCORPORATION
    Inventors: Yi-Hsien Ko, Chia-Cheun Liang, Nien-Tse Chen
  • Patent number: 9477327
    Abstract: A display device having a display surface includes a plurality of black lines defining a plurality of pixels; and a plurality of information patterns arranged so as to overlap the display surface and each representing information regarding a position thereof on the display surface. Each information pattern is formed by using a plurality of marks provided so as to overlap the pixels, and each mark is formed from a material that transmits visible light and absorbs or diffusedly reflects infrared light. A length of each mark in a width direction of the thickest black lines among the black lines defining the pixel overlapped by the mark is larger than a width of each thickest black line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Tanaka, Kazuhiro Yamada, Kenji Hasegawa
  • Patent number: 9477328
    Abstract: According to one general aspect, an apparatus includes a trackpad that includes a cover member having a top surface and a switch coupled to the cover member. At least two spring members are coupled to the trackpad and are each disposed at a non-zero distance from each other and are each configured to collectively bias the trackpad in a first position in which the top surface of the cover member is in a first plane. The trackpad is movable to a second position in which the top surface of the cover member is in a second plane substantially parallel to the first plane when an input force is exerted on the top surface of the cover member. The switch is configured to trigger an electrical signal within a computer when the trackpad is moved to its second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Google Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Edward Clayton, Felix Jose Alvarez Rivera, Amy Han
  • Patent number: 9477329
    Abstract: System for controlling the interior of a vehicle including a center button for selecting a mode, an inner knob for selecting a function, and an outer knob for adjusting that function. The system may include an outer display for graphically displaying different options for adjusting the selected function. The system may also include a processor which may generate instructions to effectuate the function adjustment upon the user actuating the knobs and/or the center button. A display on the center button may display modes, and an inner display located behind the inner knob may display functions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: THUNDER POWER HONG KONG LTD.
    Inventor: Jia-Wei Ding
  • Patent number: 9477330
    Abstract: A method for detecting orientation of a stylus with respect to a digitizer sensing surface includes detecting a signal emitted by a stylus at a plurality of coordinates on a digitizer sensing surface, determining coordinate of a writing tip of the stylus, defining at least one feature characterizing an asymmetrical spread of the stylus signal on the digitizer sensing surface with respect to the writing tip coordinate, and characterizing an orientation of the stylus responsive to the characterization of the asymmetrical spread.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventor: Yuval Stern
  • Patent number: 9477331
    Abstract: This relates to a method of extrapolating proximity information to generate a border column or row of touch nodes (also known as touch pixels) and then fitting an ellipse to the contact patch including the extrapolated border touch nodes. Additionally, a contact can be identified as a thumb based on both its major axis and its distance to an edge of the touch sensing surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: APPLE INC.
    Inventors: Wayne Carl Westerman, Ari Y. Benbasat
  • Patent number: 9477332
    Abstract: A system and method for controlling the performance of complex operations on a dashboard-mounted touchscreen in a vehicle moving above a predetermined minimal speed. The system includes a sensor for determining that the touchscreen is intended or going to be touched by driver and/or front seat passenger. A control, responsive to operation of the sensor, disallows or allows the touchscreen to be responsive to a touching. The touchscreen is not allowed to perform a complex operation when the vehicle is moving above the minimal speed if the touchscreen is touched by the driver. The touchscreen is allowed to perform a complex operation when the vehicle is moving above the minimal speed if the touchscreen is not going to be touched by the driver and is touched by the passenger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Mark A. Cuddihy, Manoharprasad K. Rao, Louis Tijerina, Walter Joseph Talamonti, Devinder Singh Kochhar
  • Patent number: 9477333
    Abstract: The manipulation system described herein provides a common platform and application-programming interface (API) for applications to communicate with various multi-touch hardware devices, and facilitates the interpretation of multi-touch input as one or more manipulations. Manipulations map more directly to user intentions than do individual touch inputs and add support for basic transformation of objects using multiple touch contacts. An application can use manipulations to support rotating, resizing, and translating multiple objects at the same time. The manipulation system outputs two-dimensional (2D) affine transforms that contain rotation, scale, and translation information. Thus, using the manipulation system the application author can focus more on building touch-capable applications and let the manipulation system handle the underlying transformations and communication with the multi-touch hardware.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Reed L. Townsend, Xiao Tu, Bryan Scott, Todd A. Torset, Erik M. Geidl, Samir S. Pradhan, Jennifer A. Teed
  • Patent number: 9477334
    Abstract: A curved touch panel and a method for fabricating the same are disclosed. The curved touch panel with a predetermined curvature, includes a curved substrate having a curved upper surface and a curved lower surface, the upper surface being chemically strengthened and the lower surface being acid-etched, an adhesive layer disposed on one of the curved upper surface and the curved upper surface of the curved substrate, and a curved touch sensor plate with flexibility having a curved upper surface and curved lower surface disposed on the adhesive layer opposite to the curved substrate, wherein the curved upper surface and the curved lower surface are acid-etched, and the curved substrate, the adhesive layer, and the curved touch sensor plate are attached together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: BUWON PRECISION SCIENCES CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Kyung-Chul Ahn
  • Patent number: 9477335
    Abstract: A portable terminal includes a touchpad that detects contact made thereto and output a value indicating a degree of the contact, and stores a first threshold and a second threshold less than the first threshold. The portable terminal calculates, based on the output value, an area contact value indicating a degree of the contact for each of contacted areas of the touchpad. The portable terminal judges whether the contacted areas include two areas that are not directly adjacent to each other and each have a calculated area contact value equal to or greater than the second threshold. When judging negatively, the portable terminal determines, as a target area to which processing to be performed is allocated, one of the contacted areas having an area contact value equal to or greater than the first threshold, and when judging affirmatively, the portable terminal does not to determine the target area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: KYOCERA Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuto Miyazaki, Takashi Izumi
  • Patent number: 9477336
    Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes: a display; a first display controller configured to display a background screen image(s); and a second display controller configured to display, within each background screen image, at least one object image each for receiving a command for executing a corresponding predefined processing. The first display controller executes a display switch processing to switch the background screen image being displayed on the display from a first background screen image to a second background screen image by moving the first and second background screen images in a first direction. The second display controller executes a shaking display processing in which the object image displayed within the second background screen image is repeatedly moved between two positions. The shaking display processing is started upon a start of the display switch processing and finished after an end of the display switch processing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2016
    Assignee: BROTHER KOGYO KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Shinsuke Kaigawa