Trackball Patents (Class 345/167)
  • Patent number: 12128296
    Abstract: A controller apparatus includes two or more balls having a size sufficient for a human to manipulate with a single foot. Three or more bearings support at least one of the balls from below and permit rotation with respect to at least two axes. One or more position encoders are disposed proximate a surface of each of the two or more balls. The encoders are configured to determine a rotational displacement of each of the two or more balls with respect to two or more axes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2024
    Assignee: Sony Interactive Entertainment Inc.
    Inventors: Glenn Black, Celeste Bean, Sergey Bashkirov, Michael Taylor
  • Patent number: 12026896
    Abstract: Disclosed in embodiments of the present disclosure are a method and apparatus for displaying an object in a video, and an electronic device and a computer readable storage medium. The method for displaying an object in a video comprises: obtaining and displaying a video acquired by a photographing element; and in response to detecting that a first target action appears in the video, displaying a generation process of the target object in the video on the basis of the display position of the first target action in the video, wherein the generation process of the target object comprises: the target object appears at the display position and changes from small to large.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2024
    Assignee: BEIJING BYTEDANCE NETWORK TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jingjing Zhuge, Guangyao Ni, Hui Yang
  • Patent number: 11928268
    Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods, and apparatuses for a trackball including an adaptive brake. In an aspect, an apparatus includes a trackball, a wheel coupled to the trackball and configured to rotate about an axis, and a brake system configured to apply a braking force to the wheel. In some aspects, the brake system includes a magnetorheological fluid (MRF) brake, such as an MRF rotational brake. The MRF brake may be configured to apply a braking force to the wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: Dell Products L.P.
    Inventors: Jason Scott Morrison, Erik Summa
  • Patent number: 11857837
    Abstract: Devices and methods are disclosed for remote clinical monitoring performance of exercises using an instrumented resistance device (100). An example device (100) includes a resistance band (120) having a first end (122) and a second end (124). A first handle (130) connected to the first end (122) and a second handle (140) connected to the second end (124) of the resistance band (120). The device (100) further includes a force sensing assembly (150) positioned between the first handle (130) and the first end (122). The force sensing assembly (150) includes a force sensor (156) connected to the resistance band (120), a microcontroller (182) connected to the force sensor (156) to receive a set of load force measurements from the force sensor (156), and a communication module (184) connected to the microcontroller (182) to transmit the set of load force measurements to a local data receiving device (170).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2024
    Assignee: Trustees of Dartmouth College
    Inventors: Emily Wechsler, Ryan Halter, John A. Batsis
  • Patent number: 11755129
    Abstract: The invention provides a method for adapting sensitivity of a pointing device and a related image evaluation device (1). The pointing device is connected to a processor configured to execute a plurality of application workflows (A1, A2, . . . , An), and to a display configured to display a cursor. The method comprises the steps of: receiving a default sensitivity (S) of the pointing device; determining one of the plurality of application workflows (A1, A2, . . .
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS N.V.
    Inventors: Saurabh Arora, Devdatt Vilas Rao Kawathekar
  • Patent number: 11740708
    Abstract: An input device may include a housing, a scroll wheel having an arresting surface, and a lever pivotable about a pivot axis between first and second lever arms of the lever for moving a first free end portion of the first lever arm to engage or disengage the arresting surface. The input device may further include a motion converter in engagement with a second free end portion of a second lever arm. The motion converter configured to convert a rotational movement of a rotary member of the motion converter into an output motion to move the second free end portion of the second lever arm so as to pivot the lever about the pivot axis for engaging or disengaging the first free end portion of the first lever arm and the arresting surface of the scroll wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2023
    Assignee: Razer (Asia-Pacific) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventor: Farrukh Raza Rizvi
  • Patent number: 11713805
    Abstract: A sphere type shift control apparatus for an electronic shift system has a sphere member rotated with respect to a housing by power from a motor, and the rotation of the sphere member is restricted by holding torque of the motor, such that it is possible to implement a shift lock. Further, since a user can forcibly manually rotate the sphere member, the function of shift lock release can be implemented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA CORPORATION, SL Corporation
    Inventors: Min Gi Song, Ki Young Song, Dae Hyung Kim, Ji Hoon Yang
  • Patent number: 11604519
    Abstract: An input device may include a housing, a scroll wheel having an arresting surface, and a lever pivotable about a pivot axis between first and second lever arms of the lever for moving a first free end portion of the first lever arm to engage or disengage the arresting surface. The input device may further include a motion converter in engagement with a second free end portion of a second lever arm. The motion converter configured to convert a rotational movement of a rotary member of the motion converter into an output motion to move the second free end portion of the second lever arm so as to pivot the lever about the pivot axis for engaging or disengaging the first free end portion of the first lever arm and the arresting surface of the scroll wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 14, 2023
    Assignee: Razer (Asia-Pacific) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventor: Farrukh Raza Rizvi
  • Patent number: 11561626
    Abstract: An input device may include a housing, a scroll wheel having an arresting surface, and a lever pivotable about a pivot axis between first and second lever arms of the lever for moving a first free end portion of the first lever arm to engage or disengage the arresting surface. The input device may further include a motion converter in engagement with a second free end portion of a second lever arm. The motion converter configured to convert a rotational movement of a rotary member of the motion converter into an output motion to move the second free end portion of the second lever arm so as to pivot the lever about the pivot axis for engaging or disengaging the first free end portion of the first lever arm and the arresting surface of the scroll wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2022
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2023
    Assignee: Razer (Asia-Pacific) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventor: Farrukh Raza Rizvi
  • Patent number: 11209316
    Abstract: A method of determining a temperature of a subject while not in physical contact with the subject. The method includes providing an infrared sensor oriented to receive the infrared radiation emanating from a subject and to generate at least one output that corresponds to the received infrared radiation, providing a processor to process the at least one output into a computed temperature of the subject, adjusting the computer temperature based on an emissivity of the subject, the emissivity determined at least in part by a luminance value based at least in part on an image of the subject providing a memory module to store a first plurality of computed temperatures in a predetermined sequence, and selecting a first maximum from among the first plurality of computed temperatures. A display is provided to display the temperature of the subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 28, 2021
    Assignee: Thermowand Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Timothy Johnson
  • Patent number: 11099658
    Abstract: A model controller includes a trackball having a spherical surface with one of latitudinal or longitudinal data tracks formed thereon. The model controller includes a base unit including a first image sensor adjacent to the trackball to capture images of the data tracks, wherein the captured images of the data tracks include orientation information to determine an absolute orientation of the trackball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Rafael Ballagas, Kevin Smathers, Hiroshi Horii
  • Patent number: 10652214
    Abstract: Method and system for improving the security of storing digital data in a memory or its delivery as a message over the Internet from a sender to a receiver using one or more hops is disclosed. The message is split at the sender into multiple overlapping or non-overlapping slices according to a slicing scheme, and the slices are encapsulated in packets each destined to a different relay server as an intermediate node according to a delivery scheme. The relay servers relay the received slices to another other relay server or to the receiver. Upon receiving all the packets containing all the slices, the receiver combines the slices reversing the slicing scheme, whereby reconstructing the message sent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: May Patents Ltd.
    Inventor: Yehuda Binder
  • Patent number: 10560654
    Abstract: A display device includes a display unit, a Bluetooth module configured to perform Bluetooth communication with a remote control device or a mobile terminal, an IR module configured to receive an IR signal from the remote control device, and a controller configured to control the display unit, the Bluetooth module and the IR module. The controller may transmit, to the remote control device, a Bluetooth connection stop request signal for breaking Bluetooth connection with the remote control device, if the display device enters a speaker mode for outputting audio played by the mobile terminal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Eunjung Lee, Taeyoung Kim, Minjae Kim, Sijin Kim
  • Patent number: 10497522
    Abstract: A luminous keyboard comprises a key assembly, a thin-film switch circuit board assembly, a base plate and a light guide plate. The key assembly is disposed on the thin-film switch circuit board assembly. The thin-film switch circuit board assembly is disposed on the base plate. The base plate is disposed on the light guide plate. The base plate and the light guide plate together form an aperture structure. The thin-film switch circuit board assembly includes a thin-film switch circuit board and a light-emitting unit. The thin-film switch circuit board forms a protrusion protruding toward the aperture structure. The light-emitting unit is disposed at the bottom surface of the protrusion and extends downward such that a lower end of the light-emitting unit is lower than a lower surface of the base plate so that the light-emitting unit emits light into the light guide plate directly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignees: LITE-ON ELECTRONICS (GUANGZHOU) LIMITED, LITE-ON TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ming-Fu Yen, Chen-Yu Tsai
  • Patent number: 10395863
    Abstract: The present disclosure includes a rotary dial assembly having a holder and a dial portion rotatably coupled to the holder. A plurality of dial magnets are fixed to the dial portion. A holder magnet is on a side of the holder opposite to the dial portion. The holder magnet is configured to attract or repel the plurality of dial magnets as the dial portion is rotated to resist rotation of the dial portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2019
    Assignee: DENSO International America, Inc.
    Inventors: Christopher Levay, Christopher Guzman
  • Patent number: 10248223
    Abstract: There is provided a pointing device fitting structure. The pointing device fitting structure includes a frame provided with a projecting portion, and a support member to which a pointing stick is attached. The frame is fixed to the support member via the projecting portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2019
    Assignee: MINEBEA MITSUMI INC.
    Inventor: Masao Mori
  • Patent number: 10209851
    Abstract: In a computer system, one or more windows displayed on a virtual desktop of a computing device are determined to be inactive. The one or more windows may correspond to one or more processes running on the computing device. In response to determining that the one or more windows are inactive, state information for the one or more corresponding processes is saved and the one or more windows and corresponding processes are terminated. The state information comprises information for restarting the one or more processes and regenerating the one or more windows in a state that existed at a point in time corresponding to the termination of the windows and processes. A user interface is provided for restoring the terminated windows based on the stored state information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2019
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventors: Jennifer Shien-Ming Chen, Alexander Friedrich Kuscher
  • Patent number: 10203836
    Abstract: A unique system and method is provided that facilitates pixel-accurate targeting with respect to multi-touch sensitive displays when selecting or viewing content with a cursor. In particular, the system and method can track dual inputs from a primary finger and a secondary finger, for example. The primary finger can control movement of the cursor while the secondary finger can adjust a control-display ratio of the screen. As a result, cursor steering and selection of an assistance mode can be performed at about the same time or concurrently. In addition, the system and method can stabilize a cursor position at a top middle point of a user's finger in order to mitigate clicking errors when making a selection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2019
    Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
    Inventors: Hrvoje Benko, Andrew D. Wilson, Patrick M. Baudisch
  • Patent number: 10152142
    Abstract: A foot control system for a computer processor including a platform attached to a pair of foot pedals, where each of the foot pedals is biased to be in contact with a depression switch when a downward force is applied. Control paddles are located around each foot pedal, wherein each of the plurality of control paddles is located proximately above a foot pedal such that an operator may activate each control paddle independently with movement of a foot. The control paddles are connected to a set of signal generating devices, where a first control paddle is located in an upper toe position, a second control paddle is located in a right side position, and a third control paddle is located in a left side position. A control processor receives control signals from the signal generating devices and transmits programming control signals to the computer processor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Inventor: Toby Breeden
  • Patent number: 10101884
    Abstract: A wearable device configured to pair with a plurality of electronic devices via a wireless network and to display a graphics user interface that includes a plurality of home screens corresponding to the plurality of electronic devices.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kollencheri Puthenveettil Dipin
  • Patent number: 10031593
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention provide a human interface device including an inner sphere, wherein the inner sphere has a center point. The human interface device can further include an outer sphere, and the outer sphere may be compressible. The human interface device may also include a plurality of pressure sensors between the inner sphere and the outer sphere for detecting localized compression of the outer sphere, a first three-axis-accelerometer located within the inner sphere, and a second three-axis-accelerometer located within the inner sphere, wherein the first three-axis-accelerometer and the second three-axis-accelerometer-accelerometer are each located at least a predetermined distance from the center point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Gherardo Albano, Francesco M. De Collibus, Luca Landi, Claudio Prudenzi
  • Patent number: 9886192
    Abstract: An inclination detection unit detects an inclination of the terminal device. A screen image rotation unit rotates a screen image when an inclination state of the terminal device detected by the inclination detection unit becomes a predetermined state. A touched position detection unit detects a position touched by a user. A comparison unit compares the position touched by the user before the inclination state of the terminal device becomes the predetermined state and the position touched by the user when or after the inclination state of the terminal device becomes the predetermined state. A suppression unit suppresses a rotation of the screen image by the screen image rotation unit, based on a result of comparison by the comparison unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: RAKUTEN, INC.
    Inventor: Soh Masuko
  • Patent number: 9878237
    Abstract: An operation device for performing an operation input on a play machine has an operation unit, a support that supports the operation unit while the operation unit is rotatable about a first rotation axis, and a switching unit that switches a direction of the first rotation axis by rotating the support about a second rotation axis in a direction different from that of the first rotation axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: OMRON Corporation
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Onitsuka
  • Patent number: 9880613
    Abstract: A device includes a display panel configured to display an interface. The device includes a motion sensor configured to detect a motion of the device and to output a detection signal in response to the detection of the motion. The device includes circuitry configured to control, based on the detection signal, the display panel such that at least one of a display position and a display size of an element displayed in the interface changes, wherein when the motion includes a physical shock on the device, the detection signal includes an indication of a hitting position corresponding to a position on the device where the physical shock is detected by the motion sensor, and the circuitry controls the display panel such that the at least one of the display position and the display size of the element changes based on the hitting position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignees: Sony Corporation, Sony Mobile Communications Inc.
    Inventor: Takahiro Aizawa
  • Patent number: 9739498
    Abstract: A passive infrared (PIR) motion sensor system includes a non-contact thermopile detector for capturing infrared energy from a focused upon area in a room or zone deemed most likely to be occupied and generating a thermopile temperature signal therefrom, a pyroelectric detector for viewing through multiple passive lens elements (lenslets) that form PIR beams from a large portion of the room or zone and generating a pyroelectric signal therefrom, an ambient temperature sensor for sensing an ambient temperature in the room or zone and generating an ambient temperature signal detection threshold that is utilized in PIR detection therefrom and a microcomputer configured to process the thermopile temperature signal, the pyroelectric signal and the ambient temperature signal and determine whether the room or zone is occupied or unoccupied.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2017
    Inventor: Fred Katz
  • Patent number: 9588643
    Abstract: An electronic device may include a touch-sensitive display and sensor circuitry that detects whether a user's right hand or left hand is being used to operate the touch-sensitive display. Control circuitry may arrange icons and virtual buttons on the touch-sensitive display based on which hand is being used to provide touch input to the touch-sensitive display. For example, when the sensor circuitry detects a user operating the electronic device with his or her left hand, the control circuitry may position icons and virtual buttons closer to the left edge of the touch-sensitive display so that the icons and virtual buttons are easier to reach with the user's left hand. The sensor circuitry may include one or more touch sensors, proximity sensors, fingerprint sensors, motion sensors, or other suitable sensors capable of gathering information about which hand is being used to operate the electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventor: Thayne M. Miller
  • Patent number: 9588670
    Abstract: An exemplary information-processing device includes: an operation receiving unit that receives an operational input made by a user for moving a display area that has area that overlaps with a predetermined area, a display controlling unit that controls a display unit to display a graphic in the display area, and a movement controlling unit that controls movement of the display area in accordance with values derived from the operational input so that the display area moves with a restriction of movement in a predetermined direction when the display area and the predetermined area are in a predetermined positional relation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2017
    Assignee: NINTENDO CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Ichiro Suzuki, Wataru Tanaka, Seita Inoue, Ryota Oiwa
  • Patent number: 9547377
    Abstract: An ultrasonic image processing apparatus includes a trackball module configured to receive a control command from a user, and a controller configured to generate a control command for the trackball module and transfers the generated control signal to the trackball module. The trackball module includes a trackball configured to receive a control command from a user, and a lighting device. The lighting device includes a light source, an optical passage bent at least once to provide an optical path through which light emitted from the light source passes while being reflected at least once, and a light exit opening defined at one end of the optical passage from which light passing through the optical passage is emitted to an outside of the lighting device. The light exit opening is defined around the trackball.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: SAMSUNG MEDISON CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jung Sik Song, Soon Deok Kim, Sung Hyeok Won, Gil-ju Jin
  • Patent number: 9239634
    Abstract: A computer equipment comprises a trackball used to point to objects on a screen of the equipment. A method for driving the computer equipment is also provided. The trackball comprises a moving part and a body inside which the moving part can be displaced, the computer being configured to display at least one object and a pointer on the screen. The trackball comprises means making it possible to exert a tangential force on the moving part, means driven by the computer. The computer is configured to modulate the force according to the shape of the object displayed and the position of the pointer relative to the object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 19, 2016
    Assignee: Thales
    Inventors: Enrique-Roberto Laso-Leon, Amandine Audouy, Mathieu Le Merrer
  • Patent number: 9229529
    Abstract: A device includes a display panel configured to display an interface. The device includes a motion sensor configured to detect a motion of the device and to output a detection signal in response to the detection of the motion. The device includes circuitry configured to control, based on the detection signal, the display panel such that at least one of a display position and a display size of an element displayed in the interface changes, wherein when the motion includes a physical shock on the device, the detection signal includes an indication of a hitting position corresponding to a position on the device where the physical shock is detected by the motion sensor, and the circuitry controls the display panel such that the at least one of the display position and the display size of the element changes based on the hitting position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Takahiro Aizawa
  • Patent number: 9081415
    Abstract: An indicator operation detecting device includes a sensor including two sets of electrodes intersecting each other, an operation detecting circuit configured to detect a position indicated by an indicator (e.g., a finger) with respect to the sensor as a coordinate value on predetermined coordinate axes (e.g., X and Y axes), and a surface operation part disposed to receive an operation (e.g., touching) of the indicator with respect to the sensor. The surface operation part includes a first input part having a curved surface and employing a corresponding area of the sensor as a detection area, and a second input part having a linear region and employing a corresponding linear area of the sensor surrounded by the area for the first input part as a detection area. A surface shape of the linear region is different from the curved surface of the first input part to be tactilely distinguishable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: Wacom Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Yasuyuki Fukushima
  • Patent number: 9075437
    Abstract: Disclosed is a tactile presentation apparatus including a plurality of tactile cells. Each of the plurality of tactile cells includes a supporter for shielding magnetic force, a tactile feeder moving up according to the magnetic force in the supporter, and an electromagnet generating magnetic force depending on depth information of a pixel. The tactile presentation apparatus includes a permanent magnet, a vibration device that vibrates according to texture information, and a pressure sensor measuring pressure applied to the tactile feeder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2015
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventor: Young Ho Kim
  • Patent number: 9053654
    Abstract: An apparatus for performing data entry by a user includes a first electronic device configured to be attached to a person's head and including a display for viewing by the person; and a second electronic device configured to be attached to a person's forearm and used in combination with the first electronic device. The first and second electronic devices are configured for wirelessly communications with each other, at least some of the wireless communications representing user input by the person for interfacing with a user interface displayed to the person on the display of the first electronic device, whereby data entry by the person is accomplished. The first electronic device is configured to wirelessly transmit data entered by the person to a computer system for electronic storage in a non-transitory computer readable medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 9, 2015
    Inventor: John Sherman
  • Patent number: 9035877
    Abstract: The present invention introduces a 3D computer cursor that helps the user to interact with 3D computer applications in an intuitive manner. Said 3D computer cursor enables the user to easily manipulate a plurality of windows, objects, or the like to be moved or rotated in three dimensions on the computer display serving a variety of desktop and web-based applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Inventor: Cherif Atia Algreatly
  • Patent number: 9030412
    Abstract: A method and apparatus of detecting user initiated movement by an input element handled by a user is disclosed. The method may include performing a calibration procedure that is initiated by the user via a physical movement performed by the user. The method may also include positioning at least one sensor to dynamically adjust a size of an effective workspace range capable of detecting the user's movement of the input element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Open Invention Network, LLC
    Inventor: Matthew Kevin Usey
  • Patent number: 9013408
    Abstract: An improved user input device is disclosed whereby the device is equipped with a trackball in addition to other control devices, such as an analog stick controller (e.g., thumbstick or joystick). The trackball is mounted in such a way that it projects both upwardly and downwardly from the device body in the vertical plane. The user is able to touch and use the trackball from both the upper and lower directions. In a preferred embodiment, the trackball is clickable, affording greater control and ease of use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Razer (Asia-Pacific) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventor: Sian-Chin Tsai
  • Patent number: 8994661
    Abstract: A user interface device (100) includes a capacitive trackball assembly (108) having a conductive trackball (110) and one or more conductive plates (210, 310, 410, 510, 610) proximate to a surface of the conductive trackball (110), thereby enabling the conductive trackball assembly (108) to operate as a capacitive touch sensor. Each user contact point with the conductive trackball (110) modifies the effective capacitance of the conductive trackball assembly (108). The user interface device (100) senses the effective capacitance of the conductive trackball assembly (108) to discern the number of user contact points on the conductive trackball (110) and uses this information, along with other parameters, such as a concurrent sensed rotation vector of the conductive trackball (110), to identify a user command intended by the user. The identified user command may be transmitted to a controlled system (740) to effectuate or modify an operation at the controlled system (740).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Google Technology Holdings LLC
    Inventor: Apoorv Srivastava
  • Patent number: 8982053
    Abstract: A second user interface screen is presented to a user in response to detection of a predefined user motion associated with a first user interface screen. In one embodiment, a method includes: presenting, via a display of an end-user device, a first user interface screen; detecting, via a user input device of the end-user device, a predefined user motion associated with the first screen, wherein the user motion is substantially in a direction of movement in a plane parallel to the display; and in response to detecting the user motion, presenting a second user interface screen via the display, the second screen including information corresponding to the first screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Yahoo! Inc.
    Inventors: Michael Holzer, Jeffrey Bonforte
  • Patent number: 8970519
    Abstract: A method for applying a first or second set of threshold values for touch sensor gesture recognition based on the presence of one of a plurality of predetermined conditions is described herein. The plurality of predetermined conditions can include one or more of a lift detection, a speed threshold detection, and a button press detection. Lift detection can be detected by one or more of an optical sensor, gyroscope, or accelerometer. Speed detection can be detected by one or more of an optical sensor, gyroscope, or accelerometer. Button detection can be detected by a mechanical button, pressure sensitive button, or a touch sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: Logitech Europe S.A.
    Inventors: Jean-Daniel Zanone, Jaroslav Jirousek, Baptiste Merminod, Vincent Mayor
  • Patent number: 8970477
    Abstract: A exemplary key assembly for a handheld device includes one or more L-shaped key structures each having a first member configured to receive an input keystroke and a second member substantially orthogonal to the first member; and a frame configured to receive the one or more L-shaped key structures, the frame having a wall aligned with the second member of the key structure, with the wall further comprising a switch for each of the one or more L-shaped key structures associated with an inner surface of the wall, wherein each switch is associated with an actuator associated with the second member of the corresponding key structure such that depression of a given key structure causes the actuator of the second member of the key structure to engage the switch of the wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2015
    Assignee: BlackBerry Limited
    Inventors: Norman Miner Ladouceur, Jason Tyler Griffin, Martin Riddiford, Daniel Jordan Kayser, Tracy Christina Sharp, Rachael Elizabeth Roberts
  • Patent number: 8941591
    Abstract: User interface elements positioned for display is described. In various embodiment(s), sensor input can be received from one or more sensors that are integrated with a portable device. A device hold position that corresponds to where the portable device is grasped by a user can be determined based at least in part on the sensor input. A display of user interface element(s) can then be initiated for display on an integrated display of the portable device based on the device hold position that corresponds to where the portable device is grasped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Gavin M. Gear, Ross N. Luengen, Michael C. Miller
  • Patent number: 8933887
    Abstract: A device information display apparatus may include a device information reception unit that acquires device information of a device through a field bus, the device being connected to the field bus, a display unit that displays the device information, which has been acquired by the device information reception unit, on a screen, a display switch unit that switches the devices of which the display unit displays the device information, switching of the devices being performed according to a predetermined order, and a manipulation unit that receives a manipulation instructing the switching of the devices by the display switch unit, the manipulation unit outputting an instruction signal. The display switch unit may receive the instruction signal and switches the devices in one of a forward direction and a reverse direction of the predetermined order based on a direction of the manipulation, which has been received by the manipulation unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: Yokogawa Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Mako Umemoto, Kazuhiro Hashizumi
  • Publication number: 20150009148
    Abstract: A flexible, scalable hardware input device for interacting with a variety of devices ranging from a phone, to a media playback device to a steering wheel or a tablet PC is provided. The input device includes a set of mechanical input controls, each mapping to one or more independent functions and a set of touch sensitive input control areas (e.g., capacitive), where each touch sensitive input control area receives touch input independently. In addition, one or more of the touch sensitive input control areas interchangeably overlay one or more of the mechanical input controls, whereby interaction with the touch sensitive input control areas is processed together to determine a corresponding function for controlling the application, service or computing device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 24, 2014
    Publication date: January 8, 2015
    Inventors: Brett Allen Bentsen, Dennis Edward Flanagan, Gregory Sean Cox, Thamer A. Abanami
  • Patent number: 8922479
    Abstract: A user input panel dynamically expands to accommodate user input, such as handwritten or keyboard input. Expansion may occur in one or two out of four possible directions, depending upon the language to be written or typed. For example, when writing English words, the input panel may expand to the right as the user writes and then downward when the input panel has fully expanded rightward.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
    Inventors: Ernest L. Pennington, II, Adrian James Garside, Jeffrey West Pettiross, Shawna Julia Davis, Tobiasz Alexander Zielinski
  • Patent number: 8913232
    Abstract: Two or more spatial filters are used in determining velocity based on speckle translation. A light source may be turned on, turned off, or both for a variable amount of time during operation. The velocity may then be determined with trend identification, correlation, recursive frequency estimation, or measurement bandwidth variation. A confidence level may also be calculated for the measured velocity, and the measured velocity reported or used only when the calculated confidence level meets or exceeds a given value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Avago Technologies General IP (Singapore) Pte. Ltd.
    Inventors: Susan Hunter, Charles D. Hoke, Ramakrishna Kakarala, John S. Wenstrand
  • Patent number: 8907190
    Abstract: The present invention includes a first rotating operation unit which is arranged in one end section of an instrument main body such that a portion thereof protrudes from the top surface of the instrument main body, and switch-operated by the protruding portion being rotated by the thumb of a left hand, and a second rotating operation unit which is arranged posterior to the first rotating operation unit such that a portion thereof is exposed on a side surface side of the end section, and switch-operated by the exposed portion being rotated by a finger other than the thumb. Accordingly, when the left hand is placed on the end section, the thumb is placed corresponding to the first rotating operation unit, and the other finger is placed corresponding to the second rotating operation unit, whereby these rotating operation units can be rotated separately by only the left hand.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Assignee: Casio Computer Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Makoto Nakamura, Akira Sakashita
  • Patent number: 8902165
    Abstract: A scrolling device is provided to scroll display content on a display device. The scrolling device includes a scroll ring with a sensor mechanically coupled to the scroll ring and adapted to generate an input signal for controlling the display device as a function of an angular displacement of the scroll ring. A portion of the scroll ring is circumscribed by a ring gear that is engaged by a pinion gear attached to the sensor. As the scrolling device is rotated, the ring gear rotates, which rotates the pinion gear to drive the sensor, which can be a potentiometer. A controller is adapted to receive the input signal from the sensor and select between predetermined segments in the display content or select between a plurality of pages of display content.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Rockwell Collins, Inc.
    Inventor: Jaycob D. Pflughaupt
  • Patent number: 8902155
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus and a control method are provided that are capable of reducing power consumption. The electronic apparatus having a normal mode in which first electric power is consumed and a power-saving mode in which second electric power lower than the first electric power is consumed includes a first sensor and a second sensor whose power consumption is lower than that of the first sensor. In the power-saving mode, supply of power to the first sensor is restricted, the second sensor is set to the power-saving mode, a trigger for restoring the power-saving mode to the normal mode is detected by using the second sensor set to the power-saving mode, and the power-saving mode is restored to the normal mode based on the detected trigger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Hidetoshi Kabasawa, Kenji Hachisu, Kazuyuki Yamamoto, Takashi Masuda
  • Patent number: 8896527
    Abstract: A user control input system for a host with a display. A controller establishes a communication link with the host and includes a first motion sensor. At least a second motion sensor is also in communication with the host. First user movement induces the first motion sensor to generate a first signal that is communicated to the host such that the host induces movement of a cursor on the display to move with respect to control objects at a first resolution. Second user movement induces the second motion sensor to generate a signal that is communicated to the host such that the host processing unit induces movement of the cursor at a second coarser resolution. The cursor can include first and second indicia such that the second indicium is moved proportional to the second motion at a finer resolution than movement of the first indicia.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Sun H. Ahn
  • Patent number: 8884933
    Abstract: A support body holding a touch pad is mounted on a hollow support body of a base member, a space is formed in the base member and extends from its inside to an inside of the hollow support body, a shaft is provided vertically to an operation knob and extends from a back surface of a top surface portion, the touch pad has a through hole through which the shaft is inserted into the space, a rotation detection portion detecting rotating movement of an operation body and a pressing detection portion detecting reciprocating movement of the operation body are provided, and, in the space, the shaft is linked to a rotating movement portion making rotation detection movement for the rotation detection portion with rotating movement of the operation body and a pressing movement portion making pressing detection movement for the pressing detection portion with reciprocating movement of the operation body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 11, 2014
    Assignee: Alps Electric Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Tatsuya Yokoyama, Anthony McCurdy, Shinya Urayama, Yu Igarashi, Shunsuke Nakazawa