Joystick Patents (Class 345/161)
  • Patent number: 12251627
    Abstract: Disclosed is a system for controlling a robot via a foot-operable controller. The foot-operable controller includes a grid of large pressure-sensitive tiles that are responsive to being stepped on. Signals from the pressure-sensitive tiles are provided to a controller interface that converts the signals to control messages compatible with existing robot control interfaces, such as a universal serial bus. The foot-operable controller may be used to control various robots, including for example a robot equipped with a claw arm or a robot equipped with a ring launcher.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2025
    Assignee: Cardinal Gibbons High School
    Inventors: Grant Christian Ozaki, Benjamin James Miranda, Thomas Ryan Michael Greene, Brett Matthew Lopez, Charles Joseph Kilani, William Michael Meyers, Grace Ann Eberle, Ian Setia, Joseph Michael Biersack, Joseph Andrew Milazzo, Brett Richard Gallagher, Cassian Farias Kraus, Nicole Carol Allen, Kevin Nicolas Haller
  • Patent number: 12252234
    Abstract: The invention relates to an aircraft control column, the control column comprising a first shaft and a control lever configured to rotate the first shaft about a first axis through a first angular range [?1; ?3] via a mechanical joint having a primary reduction ratio, the control column comprising a braking device configured to brake the first shaft via a first transmission device having a secondary reduction ratio, the secondary reduction ratio being maximum for an angular position, the secondary reduction ratio increasing over the range [?1; ?4] and then decreasing over the range [?4; ?3] so as to obtain an overall reduction ratio that has a limited amplitude of variation over the first angular range [?1; ?3].
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2025
    Assignee: SAFRAN ELECTRONICS & DEFENSE
    Inventors: Clément Guillon, Rémi-Louis Lawniczak, Yvon Joncour
  • Patent number: 12239901
    Abstract: A gamepad and a control stick feedback force device thereof are disclosed. It comprises a control stick that is configured to accept a user's operation and is rotatably installed in a casing of the gamepad. It further comprises: a front friction plate and a rear friction plate that are disposed oppositely, and a pressing device for providing a pressing force between the front friction plate and the rear friction plate, the rear friction plate is fixedly connected with a rotating shaft of the control stick, the front friction plate is connected with a torque output device for driving the front friction plate to rotate, and the front friction plate applies a torque to the rear friction plate under the pressing force of the pressing device to form a feedback force to the control stick.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2025
    Assignee: GOERTEK INC.
    Inventor: Zhenzhen Liu
  • Patent number: 12239903
    Abstract: Described herein are controllers with sensor-rich controls for enhanced controller functionality. An example control may include a pressure sensor that is configured to detect an amount of a force of a press on a cover of the control based at least in part on a proximity of a metal layer to the pressure sensor. This control may further include a touch sensor for detecting an object contacting the cover of the control. Additional embodiments disclose, among other things, integrated trackpads and D-pads, as well as backlighting features that indicate a functional state of the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2025
    Assignee: Valve Corporation
    Inventors: Eric Judson VanWyk, Lucas Allen Whipple, Walter Petersen, Jeffrey Walter Mucha, Scott Dalton, Pierre-Loup Miguel Griffais
  • Patent number: 12223826
    Abstract: A haptic feedback system is configured to be disposed on a device, and includes: a fixed portion, a movable portion, a driving assembly, and a first connecting assembly. The fixed portion is fixedly connected to the device. The movable portion is movable relative to the fixed portion. The driving assembly is configured to drive the movable portion to move relative to the fixed portion for generating feedback to the device. The movable portion is movably connected to the fixed portion via the first connecting assembly, so that the movable portion has a first vibration mode relative to the fixed portion. The driving assembly receives a first signal having a first frequency, and the first frequency is the same as the frequency of the first vibration mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2025
    Assignee: TDK TAIWAN CORP.
    Inventors: Po-Xiang Zhuang, Wei-Jhe Shen, Yi-Ho Chen
  • Patent number: 12222409
    Abstract: An inspection apparatus includes a stage having a placing surface, a first magnetic field generator, and a second magnetic field generator. The first magnetic field generator is configured to be changeable in orientation and to singly generate a first magnetic field. The second magnetic field generator is configured to be changeable in orientation and to singly generate a second magnetic field. The first and second magnetic field generators are configured to cooperatively generate a composite magnetic field in cooperation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2025
    Assignee: TDK CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kazuya Watanabe, Hiraku Hirabayashi
  • Patent number: 12224138
    Abstract: An input device includes a permanent magnet, a magnetic sensor, an operating unit, and a conversion mechanism. A movable member is one of the permanent magnet or the magnetic sensor. The conversion mechanism is configured to convert a movement of the operating unit in a first direction into a first action of the movable member and convert a movement of the operating unit in a second direction into a second action of the movable member. The first action is a movement involving a change in a relative angle of rotation of the permanent magnet around a rotation axis relative to the magnetic sensor. The second action is a movement involving a change in the strength of the magnetic field applied to the magnetic sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2025
    Assignee: Panasonic Automotive Systems Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideki Nishinakama
  • Patent number: 12197241
    Abstract: A joystick sensor includes a housing, a reset assembly, a rocker assembly, a circuit assembly, the reset assembly, the rocker assembly and the circuit assembly are mounted on the housing; the rocker assembly includes two magnets, an upper rocker arm, a lower rocker arm, and a rocker body, one end of the upper rocker connected with one of the two magnets; one end of the rocker arm is connected with the other one of the two magnets, the other end of the lower rocker arm is secured a pressing block; the circuit assembly includes a flexible circuit board, two Hall IC elements, and a switch spring, the two Hall IC elements and the switch spring are arranged on the flexible circuit board, positions of the Hall IC elements respective correspond to positions of the magnets; a position of the switch spring corresponds to a position of the pressing block.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2025
    Assignee: GUANGDONG K-SILVER INDUSTRIAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Xiao Zeng, Jianbo Zhao
  • Patent number: 12186666
    Abstract: In an example of an information processing system, in a case where a user character is present on an area in a first state on a wall surface, and while an input to an operation button is continued, the user character is caused to perform a preliminary action, and if at least the input to the operation button ends, the user character is moved to a boundary between the area in the first state and another area on the wall surface. If the user character reaches the boundary, the user character is caused to jump from the boundary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2023
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shintaro Sato, Kenji Matsumoto, Shinya Nakagawa
  • Patent number: 12175143
    Abstract: The information processing apparatus communicates with a device via a USB connection in an application on which a function of the device can be executed by using a printer driver and communicates with the device via a network connection in the application. A control unit performs control to communicate with the device in the application by changing communication with the device from communication via the USB connection into communication via the network connection, in a case where the communication with the device via the USB connection cannot be performed in the application and the communication with the device via the network connection can be performed in a predetermined function of an operating system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2024
    Assignee: CANON KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Toru Kohata
  • Patent number: 12164325
    Abstract: A multidirectional input device includes a housing, an operating body, a rocker arm member, a reset member, and a first pressing part. A chamber is provided inside the housing which forms an opening communicating with the chamber. The operating body is provided in the chamber and extends out of the chamber from the opening. The rocker arm member and the reset member are provided in the chamber and are drivingly connected. The reset member and the operating body are elastically connected. The first pressing part is provided on the rocker arm member and extends in a direction close the reset member. During a movement process of operating body, the lower end face of operating part abuts against the upper end face of reset member, and the first pressing part abuts against an edge of the upper end face of reset member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2023
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2024
    Assignee: SHENZHEN ZESUM TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yusho Nakase, Xianwu Hu, Shiying Yang, Chaoxian Chen
  • Patent number: 12158388
    Abstract: Adaptors for positioning a force gauge relative to a control interface in a flight simulator or aircraft are disclosed where the control interface is moveable in at least one of a back-and-forth direction and a side-to-side direction. In some embodiments the adaptor comprises a housing positionable adjacent the control interface where the housing comprises a first surface configured to snugly receive a predetermined surface of the control interface and a second surface comprising a first housing connector configured for connection to the gauge connector such that pressure is exertable on the control interface by the force gauge in a first direction of measurement aligned with one of the back-and-forth direction and the side-to-side direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2021
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2024
    Assignee: CAE INC.
    Inventors: Jean-Claude Yelle, Samuel Brisson, Zachary Planté
  • Patent number: 12128301
    Abstract: A program, a game control method, and an information processing apparatus, which are capable of improving operability of a game. A program causing an information processing apparatus to execute a step of causing an object arranged on a field object in a virtual space in which a coordinate system having a first axis and a second axis is set to be displayed on a screen in which a coordinate system having a third axis and a fourth axis is set, a step of detecting first and second positions on the screen while the first user operation is being detected, and a moving step of moving the object according to a first user operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2023
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Assignee: GREE, INC.
    Inventors: Daisuke Taka, Motoshi Abe, Masaru Ida, Kiyoto Suzuki
  • Patent number: 12121799
    Abstract: A method for adjusting input resistance includes determining, by an information handling system, one or more gaming context characteristics of a gaming application executed by the information handling system. The information handling system determines one or more adjustments to a resistance of a two-axis input device based, at least in part, on the one or more gaming context characteristics. The information handling system applies the one or more adjustments to the resistance of the two-axis input device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2024
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Erik Summa, Jason Scott Morrison, Tyler Ryan Cox
  • Patent number: 12111966
    Abstract: A position/force control system includes a worn unit and a control unit. The worn unit is configured to be worn on a body of a user, and provides force tactile sensation by an actuator. The control unit acquires data of a position of the worn unit in a space, based on data of space in which a touching object exists. The worn unit includes a control unit that acquires the data of the position from the control unit and controls driving of the actuator based on impedance and contour information of the touching object in the space, and the data of the position, thereby providing force tactile sensation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2024
    Assignees: KEIO UNIVERSITY, MOTION LIB, INC.
    Inventors: Kouhei Ohnishi, Takahiro Mizoguchi
  • Patent number: 12109056
    Abstract: One or more devices, systems, methods and storage mediums for optical imaging medical devices, and methods and storage mediums for use with same, for viewing, controlling, updating, and emphasizing one or more imaging modalities and/or for constructing or reconstructing 2D and/or 3D structure(s) are provided herein. One or more embodiments provide at least one intuitive Graphical User Interface (GUI), method, device, apparatus, system, or storage medium to comprehend information, including, but not limited to, molecular structure of a vessel, and to provide an ability to manipulate the vessel information and/or to construct or reconstruct 2D and/or 3D structure(s) of the vessel to improve or maximize accuracy in one or more images. In addition to controlling one or more imaging modalities, the GUI may operate for one or more applications, including, but not limited to, expansion/underexpansion (e.g., for a stent) and/or apposition/malapposition (e.g., for a stent), co-registration, and imaging.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2024
    Assignee: Canon U.S.A., Inc.
    Inventor: Mie Kunio
  • Patent number: 12104929
    Abstract: A compact crown for an electronic device such as an electronic watch, including a set of wipers capable of determining a rotation angle, rotation direction, or rotation speed, is disclosed. The set of wipers is in contact with at least one resistance member at different angular positions around a rotation axis. The crown may have a group of ground taps disposed along the resistance member and a measured signal may vary based on the position of each wiper as it contacts the at least one resistance member. A compact crown may also include capacitive members and capacitive sensors in order to similarly determine rotation angle, rotation direction, or rotation speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 1, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Tyler S. Bushnell, Adam T. Clavelle, Christopher M. Werner, Colin M. Ely, Stephen N. Sweet, Sriram Moorthy, Huan Peng
  • Patent number: 12093442
    Abstract: A handheld controller is adapted to control an electronic device. The handheld controller includes a first body, a second body, and a connecting portion. The first body is adapted to be held by a user's hand. The second body is connected to the first body through the connecting portion. The connecting portion is adapted to be clamped between user's fingers. A distance between the first body and at least a portion of the second body is variable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2023
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2024
    Assignee: HTC Corporation
    Inventors: Chang-Hua Wei, Yu-Ling Huang
  • Patent number: 12082896
    Abstract: The system for assisting a surgeon in the context of surgical operations includes a mobile wearable computer worn or carried by a user of the system, at least one perception sensor for collecting anatomical and/or instrumental measurement data in an operating scene, a processor adapted to process the collected anatomical and/or instrumental measurement data collected by the at least one perception sensor, a memory connected to the processor and adapted to store anatomical and/or instrumental measurement data, a robotic effector connected to the processor and adapted to carrying an instrument, wherein movements of the robotic effector are slaved to the anatomical and/or instrumental measurement data, wherein the anatomical and/or instrumental data delimit an area of action within which the movements of the robotic arm are restricted in the operating scene.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2022
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: PIXEE MEDICAL
    Inventors: Anthony Agustinos, Quentin Lavenu, Luis Contreras
  • Patent number: 12079388
    Abstract: A pointing controller enables interaction with virtual objects in a virtual or augmented reality environment. The pointing controller comprises a form factor that enables it to be securely positioned in the user's fingers during a pointing gesture. The pointing controller tracks a pointing direction in three-dimensional space based on motion of the pointing controller. The pointing controller furthermore includes one or more control elements such as buttons or touch interfaces to enable additional interactions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 3, 2024
    Assignee: ARKH LITHO HOLDINGS, LLC
    Inventors: Nathaniel James Martin, Charles James Bruce, Lewis Antony Jones
  • Patent number: 12061751
    Abstract: An example of an information processing system determines a shear parameter including shear direction components in at least two directions and a moment parameter including moment direction components with respect to at least two axes, the shear parameter and the moment parameter relating to a user operation on an operation handler. Then, the example of the information processing system, based on a first input that is one of the shear parameter and the moment parameter, executes first control, and based on a second input that is the other of the shear parameter and the moment parameter, executes second control.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2024
    Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yuki Mizuguchi
  • Patent number: 12056296
    Abstract: An active stylus includes a haptic feedback subsystem, an accelerometer, and a controller that controls the haptic feedback subsystem to generate a haptic pulse having predefined haptic characteristics. The controller receives a detected acceleration profile from the accelerometer. The detected acceleration profile is caused at least partially by propagation of the haptic pulse through a stylus body of the active stylus, and caused at least partially by attenuation of the haptic pulse by an external object contacting the stylus body. A current usage state of the active stylus is identified based at least in part on a comparison between the detected acceleration profile and a acceleration context model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2023
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2024
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventor: Eliyahu Barel
  • Patent number: 12050793
    Abstract: A cloud system includes: an individual peripheral device including a microcontroller and a memory electrically connected to the microcontroller, wherein the microcontroller collects input-output data of the individual peripheral device, and the memory stores product data, user data of the individual peripheral device and the input-output data; a local host device electrically connected to the individual peripheral device, configured to receive the product data, the user data and the input-output data, wherein the local host device collects environment data of the individual peripheral device; and a cloud unit communicatively connected to the local host device, configured to receive the product data, the user data, the input-output data and the environment data and status data of the local host device, and output an effective parameter according to the input-output data, the environment data and the status data, wherein the effective parameter is for correcting the input-output data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2024
    Assignee: DEXIN CORP.
    Inventor: Ho Lung Lu
  • Patent number: 12049298
    Abstract: A control lever assembly for controlling an aircraft system. The lever includes: a housing having an outer side and an aperture defined by a rim; and a control lever extending through the aperture and movable in the aperture; the control lever having an outer cover member arranged to slide over the outer side of the housing and cover the rim throughout the range of movement of the control lever.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2024
    Assignee: RATIER-FIGEAC SAS
    Inventors: Arnaud Soulié, Patrick Moulènes
  • Patent number: 12042303
    Abstract: A patient communication system comprises a hand-held data input subsystem and a display subsystem. The data input subsystem may be configured to sense, and wirelessly convey, information associated with 3-D movement of the data input subsystem, and actuation of a signaling element within the data input subsystem. The display subsystem may receive the information and to present a visual representation of the information in a graphical user interface (GUI). The display subsystem may adaptively interpret the information with respect to range of motion sensitivity and orientation of the data input subsystem, and movement of the data input subsystem with respect to its prior state. The system may map the conveyed information to the GUI, generate and display images on the GUI with which a patient may interact by manipulating the data input subsystem, and capture one or more selections executed by the patient through actuation of the signaling element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2024
    Assignees: Brown University, University of Massachusetts, The United States Government as Represented By The Department of Veterans Affairs
    Inventors: Miriam Anna Rimm Goldberg, Leigh Hochberg
  • Patent number: 12036865
    Abstract: The invention relates to a rotary control device (1) for a vehicle comprising a user interface surface (3), in particular a knob, that is embodied to rotate with respect to a housing (5) of the device (1) around a rotational axis (7) of the device (1), further comprising a sensor unit (9) for monitoring the orientation and/or rotational movement of the user interface surface (3) with respect to the housing (5), a processing unit (11), and a communications interface (13) for transmitting control signals (Ts) according to an output (Op) from the processing unit (11), said output (Op) being generated by the processing unit (11) on the basis of sensor data (Ds) from the sensor unit (9).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2024
    Assignee: SIGNATA GmbH
    Inventors: Rainer Haevescher, Artur Neumann
  • Patent number: 12019812
    Abstract: An active stylus includes a haptic feedback subsystem, an accelerometer, and a controller that controls the haptic feedback subsystem to generate a haptic pulse having predefined haptic characteristics. The controller receives a detected acceleration profile from the accelerometer. The detected acceleration profile is caused at least partially by propagation of the haptic pulse through a stylus body of the active stylus, and caused at least partially by attenuation of the haptic pulse by an external object contacting the stylus body. A current usage state of the active stylus is identified based at least in part on a comparison between the detected acceleration profile and a acceleration context model.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventor: Eliyahu Barel
  • Patent number: 12016739
    Abstract: A surgical image capture and display system includes a handheld image capture and pointing device and a display assembly. An image is captured by an image sensor of the handheld device and displayed on the display assembly. The image sensor detects light emitted by one or more beacons of the display assembly. The system determines, based on the light emitted by the one or more beacons, a position or orientation of the handheld device relative to the display assembly. The system updates display of a graphical user interface comprising the image on the display assembly in accordance with the determined position or orientation of the handheld device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2024
    Assignee: Stryker Corporation
    Inventors: Brandon Hunter, Ramanan Paramasivan, Amit A. Mahadik
  • Patent number: 12005345
    Abstract: A video game controller, including a first joystick, including a first body having an elongate shape, and a directional pad disposed on at least a portion of a first end of the first body to input at least one input corresponding to each point of the directional pad, a second joystick, including a second body having an elongate shape, and a plurality of action buttons disposed on at least a portion of the second body to input at least one action input in response to depressing at least one of the plurality of action buttons, and a base to removably connect to at least one of a second end of the first body and a second end of the second body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2024
    Inventor: Riley Simons Stratton
  • Patent number: 12000753
    Abstract: Techniques are described for testing whether an end effector, or component thereof, is correctly or incorrectly installed to a manipulation system. A manipulation system can include a manipulator arm configured to receive an end effector having a first moveable jaw, a transducer configured to provide first effort information of the end effector as the end effector moves, and a processor configured to provide a command signal to effect a first test move of the first moveable jaw, and to provide an installation status of the of the end effector using the first effort information of the first test move.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2023
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2024
    Assignee: Intuitive Surgical Operations, Inc.
    Inventors: Nicola Diolaiti, Benjamin S. Flamm
  • Patent number: 11980810
    Abstract: An operation device has a movable portion movable between a first position and a second position. The movable portion is operated by a user while the operation device is gripped by the user. The operation device receives information identifying a control mode and control information defined for each control mode as an instruction related to control of a tactile force sense, and controls the tactile force sense presented to the movable portion by using the received control information in the control mode identified by the received information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2024
    Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Ikuo Yamano, Yusuke Nakagawa, Shinichi Hirata, Yuichi Machida, Yoichi Nishimaki
  • Patent number: 11971739
    Abstract: A joystick for controlling a machine in multi-axes includes a control portion having a body in which at least one circuit board having at least one sensor is provided; a top portion having a flexible boot forming at least partly an outer periphery of the top portion provided on the control portion; a control arm mounted on a pivotal member for pivotal movement relative to the body; wherein said control arm is made of plastic in an injection-molding operation and has an overmolded magnetic member suitable to interact with the sensor, said magnetic member provided in the proximity of the circuit board wherein said control arm has a connection portion such that said flexible boot is attached to the control arm from said connection portion. Thereby usage of the overmolded control arm which made of plastic provides sensitivity, production quality and additionally, thriving resistance to vibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: MAKERSAN MAKINA OTOMOTIV SANAYI TICARET ANONIM SIRKETI
    Inventor: Levent Erkocak
  • Patent number: 11969646
    Abstract: In non-limiting examples of the present disclosure, a user input device is provided. The user-input device may include non-contact magnetic, capacitive, or inductive components for translating movements of a joystick into angular positions. Magnets attached to axial shafts of a joystick assembly may cause changes in voltage in magnetometers on a PCB when the axial shafts are rotated, which may be translated into angular positions of the joystick. Conductors attached to axial shafts of a joystick assembly may cause changes in capacitive charge in capacitors on a PCB when the axial shafts are rotated, which may be translated into angular positions of the joystick. Anisotropic magnetically permeable material and/or excitation components attached to axial shafts of a joystick assembly may cause changes in inductance in inductors on a PCB when the axial shafts are rotated, which may be translated into angular positions of the joystick.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignee: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
    Inventors: Steven William Ranta, Ian Hartman Skop, Edoardo Gastelum Enriquez, Evan William Mattingly
  • Patent number: 11964562
    Abstract: An operation panel of an electronic equipment includes a panel body having at least two openings that have identical shapes and sizes, at least one dummy cover having a shape and a size that fits to any of the at least two openings that have identical shapes and sizes, and an electronic component that is mounted on the dummy cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: DENSO TEN Limited
    Inventors: Masataka Sakata, Shohei Yoshii, Tomoaki Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 11934626
    Abstract: A joystick includes a stick head, an actuating component, a substrate, a bearing base, a resilient recovering component and a constraining component. The actuating component has a first end and a second end opposite to each other. The first end is connected to the stick head, and an identification feature is disposed on the second end. The substrate has a detection module used to detect the identification feature and determine motion of the stick head. The bearing base is disposed on the substrate. An opening portion of the bearing base aligns with the detection module and the actuating component. The resilient recovering component is disposed between the substrate and the bearing base. The constraining component is disposed on the resilient recovering component and movably disposed inside the opening portion, and used to abut against the actuating component in a detachable manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: PixArt Imaging Inc.
    Inventors: Hung-Yu Lai, Yong-Nong Huang, Hui-Hsuan Chen, Jia-Hong Huang
  • Patent number: 11936497
    Abstract: A module unit for connecting a data bus participant to a local bus. The module unit has a first input interface and a first output interface which can be connected to the local bus, a first data connection interface which can be connected to the data bus participant, and a first switch which is adapted so as to assume a first or a second switch state depending on a control input from the data bus participant, connect the first input interface to the first output interface in the first switch state, and connect the first data connection interface to the first output interface in the second switch state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: WAGO Verwaltungsgesellschaft mbH
    Inventors: Daniel Jerolm, Hans-Herbert Kirste, Anton Lischewski, Frank Schadde
  • Patent number: 11934588
    Abstract: A method includes, at a controller, sensing a magnitude of a first force applied to the thumbstick in a substantially downward direction relative to a top portion of the housing while the thumbstick is in the stationary default position, and a magnitude of a second force applied to the thumbstick in the substantially downward direction relative to the top portion of the housing while the thumbstick is in a position other than the stationary default position. The method includes receiving the magnitude of the first and the second force, and determining whether the magnitude of the first force or the second force satisfies a predefined force value. The method further includes providing haptic feedback to the user in response to a determination that the magnitude of the first force or the second force satisfies the predefined force value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: META PLATFORMS TECHNOLOGIES, LLC
    Inventors: Robin Michael Miller, Raymond Louis Nicoli, Chin Yuan Cheng
  • Patent number: 11934591
    Abstract: A mouse includes a lower shell, an upper shell covered on the lower shell, a first elastic element, a second elastic element and a circuit board. The upper shell has a first button and a second button. A bottom surface of the first button extends downward to form a first pressing portion. A bottom surface of the second button extends downward to form a second pressing portion and a third pressing portion. One end of the first elastic element abuts against the first pressing portion to generate a first downward force. One end of the second elastic element abuts against the second pressing portion to form a second downward force. The other end of the second elastic element abuts against the third pressing portion to generate a resilience force. The first downward force is equal to a sum of the second downward force and the resilience force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: CHENG UEI PRECISION INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Tsung-Shih Lee
  • Patent number: 11928266
    Abstract: The information processing apparatus includes a pointing stick which is disposed on a keyboard, has an operable stick and is possible to detect a displacement in an installation plane direction of the stick and a displacement in a direction which is vertical to the installation plane and a main control unit which displays a predetermined menu screen on a display unit in a case where the pointing stick detects a specific operation which includes the displacement of the stick in the vertical direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Lenovo (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Daisuke Watanabe, Takahide Wada, Akihiro Miyano, Mamoru Okada, Naoyuki Araki
  • Patent number: 11921939
    Abstract: This information processing system includes: a controller including an operation element to be displaced from an initial position by user's operation, a restoring force imparting section applying a restoring force for returning the displaced operation element to the initial position, a resistance section using a magnetorheological fluid whose viscosity changes with a magnetic-field intensity and which becomes resistance when the operation element is displaced from/to the initial position, and a magnetic field generation section which provides the magnetic field to the magnetorheological fluid; and a circuit capable of controlling the magnetic field generation section. The circuit controls a magnetic-field intensity so that the viscosity of the magnetorheological fluid periodically changes at least between a first viscosity state and a second viscosity state in which the viscosity is lower than in the first viscosity state so that the operation element returns to the initial position by the restoring force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2023
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Nintendo Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takafumi Aoki, Takanori Okamura
  • Patent number: 11914858
    Abstract: A window replacement display device having a memory that stores landscape information, a clock unit that generates current time information, a display unit for displaying the landscape information, and a control unit configured to change the landscape information according to the current time information and to display it on the display unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Inventors: Helen Hyun-Min Song, Yunseo Jeon
  • Patent number: 11908311
    Abstract: Innovative techniques to design and generate haptics waveforms are proposed. The proposed techniques reduce or eliminate audible noises being generated by a haptic actuator during operation. A haptic controller may compose a voltage waveform at a resonant frequency of the haptic actuator and generate a corresponding control signal. Instead of suddenly entering a high impedance state from a driving state, the voltage waveform may include a ramp down portion in which the voltage ramps down continuously but quickly so that the current flowing within the actuator is brought down before entering the high impedance state. In this way, audible noises may be reduced or even eliminated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2022
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: QUALCOMM Incorporated
    Inventors: Joseph Dale Rutkowski, Liangguo Shen, Shivaprakash Halagur, Joshua Zazzera, Nathaniel Jay T. Salazar
  • Patent number: 11896895
    Abstract: A rotating assembly comprises a rotary shaft, an accommodating body and a position-limiting switch. An outer wall of the rotary shaft includes a first tenon and a second tenon. The accommodating body includes a matching hole for the first tenon to insert and rotate therein. An inner wall of the matching hole includes a convex rib. By rotating the rotary shaft, a side wall of the first tenon and a side wall of the convex rib butt against or separate from each other, so that in an axial direction of the rotary shaft, the rotary shaft is fixed or movable relative to the accommodating body. When the side wall of the first tenon and the side wall of the convex rib butt against each other, the position-limiting switch and the second tenon are clamped together to prevent the rotary shaft from rotating relative to the accommodating body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2024
    Assignee: GOERTEK, INC.
    Inventor: Changhua Dong
  • Patent number: 11893164
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a system for eyes-free text entry. The system may include a wearable device having a display and processing circuitry configured to receive a haptic input provided to a keyboard mounted on a finger of a user, the haptic input being an indication of an alphabetical letter, generate a list of candidate words based on the received haptic input, each candidate t word of the list of candidate words being associated with a probability thereof, display the generated list of candidate words to the user via the display of the wearable device, receive a selection of a particular candidate word of the list of candidate words, and append the particular candidate to a present sentence structure, wherein the keyboard has a layout based on a spatial model reflecting spatial awareness, by the user, of key locations on the finger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2024
    Assignee: TRUSTEES OF DARTMOUTH COLLEGE
    Inventors: Zheer Xu, Jun Gong, Xiaojun Bi, Xing-Dong Yang
  • Patent number: 11884379
    Abstract: A control system is for a high lift assembly of an aircraft. The assembly is controllable in two aerodynamic configurations each with different lift. The control system includes a manual control device operable by a pilot of the aircraft. The manual control device includes at least one member movable relative to a base body. The movable member can be moved relative to the base body between a rest position, a first position and a second distinct position. The manual control device includes a resilient return device for the movable member in the rest position. The manual control device issues a signal when the movable member reaches either the first or second position, to move the high lift assembly between two of the aerodynamic configurations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2024
    Assignee: DASSAULT AVIATION
    Inventors: Jérôme Le Borloch, François Pineau
  • Patent number: 11857473
    Abstract: A seat for a mobility device accommodating flexibility, personalized comfort, and transportability. The seat can include a button push means to enable movement of a height-adjustable armrest. The seat back can fold upon the seat for transportability. The seat cushion and armrest cushion can be removably mounted and separately replaceable. The seat can be mounted upon various types of devices, including, but not limited to, wheelchairs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: DEKA Products Limited Partnership
    Inventors: Matthew A. Norris, Trevor A. Conway, Paul R. Curtin, Dale B. McGrath, Zachary E. Cranfield, Alexander D. Streeter
  • Patent number: 11860587
    Abstract: An electronic device, such as a watch, has a variable friction mechanism for providing variable frictional feedback as an input mechanism, such as a crown, is rotated. The variable frictional feedback may correspond to operational states, events, or other conditions at the electronic watch. The variable frictional feedback may be provided by changing a frictional force between the crown and the variable friction mechanism. The variable friction mechanism may include a friction element adapted to contact a shaft of the crown and an actuator adapted to change a frictional force between the friction element and the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Steven J. Taylor, Brenton A. Baugh
  • Patent number: 11860665
    Abstract: An active operating module comprising an operating lever that is pivotably mounted about at least one pivot axis and for each of the at least one pivot axis at least one first active actuating force module, which generates a torque acting on the operating lever, against which a user has to deflect the operating lever out of a rest position. The at least one first active actuating force module is arranged below the at least one pivot axis and is effectively connected directly to the operating lever by a transmission. The active operating module further comprises at least two first active actuating force modules, wherein these comprise in particular a conical region and are arranged at a 90° angle to one another.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: ELOBAU GMBH & CO. KG
    Inventors: Jürgen Dorn, Ulrich Morent
  • Patent number: 11833421
    Abstract: A program, a game control method, and an information processing apparatus, which are capable of improving operability of a game. A program causing an information processing apparatus to execute a step of causing an object arranged on a field object in a virtual space in which a coordinate system having a first axis and a second axis is set to be displayed on a screen in which a coordinate system having a third axis and a fourth axis is set, a step of detecting first and second positions on the screen while the first user operation is being detected, and a moving step of moving the object according to a first user operation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2022
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: GREE, Inc.
    Inventors: Daisuke Taka, Motoshi Abe, Masaru Ida, Kiyoto Suzuki
  • Patent number: 11831033
    Abstract: A rechargeable battery pack system includes a retention cage, a reserve power module, and a rechargeable battery pack. The retention cage is removably attachable over a battery compartment of a game controller. The reserve power module has first electrical contacts that contact battery contacts of the game controller for providing electrical power from the reserve power module to the game controller when the reserve power module is in the retention cage and the retention cage is attached to the game controller. The rechargeable battery pack has electrical contacts to contact second electrical contacts of the reserve power module for providing electrical power to the reserve power module and to the game controller, through the reserve power module. The reserve power module can uninterruptedly power the game controller when the depleted rechargeable battery pack is removed from the retention cage to be replaced by a charged rechargeable battery pack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2023
    Assignee: Otter Products, LLC
    Inventors: Jonathan B. Rayeski, Grady E. Barfoot, Jonathan B. Miksch, Andrew W. Willard, Jack B. Nanney, Christopher R. Langlois