Including Keyboard Patents (Class 345/168)
  • Patent number: 10075251
    Abstract: Broadcasting select haptic metadata includes broadcasting a broadcast signal to haptic-enabled devices. In response, haptic playback capability information is received at a host source from a haptic-enabled device when original haptic metadata in the broadcast signal encodes haptic information incompatible with the haptic playback capability information. The select haptic metadata, which is customized for the haptic playback capability information, is generated and sent from the host source to the haptic-enabled device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 2017
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2018
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Robert W. Heubel, Paige Raynes
  • Patent number: 10065111
    Abstract: A system maps a user's interaction with a game controller to predefined hand positions that can be used in gaming and multimedia applications. A game controller with sensors receives user input with capacitive sensors and generates sensor outputs. A controller modeling module receives the sensor outputs and trains a model based on the outputs. The trained kinematic model maps the sensor outputs to one or more of a plurality of predefined hand positions. When an application requests the status of a user's hand position, e.g., through an API, the mapped hand position is sent to the application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Oculus VR, LLC
    Inventors: Nirav Rajendra Patel, Palmer Freeman Luckey, Julian Hammerstein, Chris Dycus, Jason Higgins, David Maurice Moore
  • Patent number: 10068727
    Abstract: An illuminator may be coupled to the key cap of a key. The key cap may include a portion that is operable to be illuminated and one or more illuminators may be coupled thereto. In particular embodiments, keys may include power delivery systems that are operable to wirelessly transmit power from a power source to illuminators. Such power delivery systems can include inductive transmitters and/or receivers, ultrasonic transmitters and/or receivers, laser diodes and photodiodes, electrodes that capacitively couple to wirelessly transfer power, and so on. In various embodiments, keys may include interconnects that connect an illuminator with a power source. The interconnect may be a flexible material that includes one or more traces and is configured with a shape that bends and twists to allow movement without stretching. The interconnect may also be part of a movement or support mechanism of a key.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2018
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Ray L. Chang, Robert M. Proie, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10061396
    Abstract: An electronic apparatus having a thinner chassis by pressing keycaps and capable of avoiding an erroneous motion or an erroneous input. An electronic apparatus includes: a key-position setting mechanism configured to interlock with a rotation of a display chassis and a main body chassis via a hinge mechanism to move keycaps from a first position to a second position; and a controller configured to enable a key input signal from the keycaps when the keycaps are at least at the first position and to disable a key input signal from the keycaps when the key-position setting mechanism moves the keycaps to the second position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2018
    Assignee: LENOVO (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Yoshiyuki Shibayama, Hiroyuki Noguchi
  • Patent number: 10055813
    Abstract: An electronic device including a cover having a display protection function and a method thereof are provided. The method includes acquiring at least one of context information and attribute information of an application according to whether the cover is closed and displaying an object related to the acquired information on a region which is included or is not included in a region corresponding to the cover window of a display of the electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Woo-Yong Lee, Chul-Hwan Lee, Seong-Joon Jeon
  • Patent number: 10048779
    Abstract: An example computing system may include a display and an input device. The input device may include a touch sensor to provide touch data, and a contactless sensor to provide contactless data. A field of view of the contactless sensor is directed away from the touch sensor. A controller is to combine the touch data and the contactless data into combined data to generate a virtual hand to be displayed on the display. The virtual hand is to include an unsensed feature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2018
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Fred Thomas, Robert Adam Baum, David H Hanes, John Michael Main
  • Patent number: 10042163
    Abstract: An onboard image display device for a vehicle includes a projector that projects an image including information conveyed to a passenger, the information including a state of a vehicle and a warning, the projected image being displayed on a window glass of the vehicle. The projector is provided in a space which is formed by a plate-shaped member in the vehicle. For example, the projector is mounted in an inner panel reinforcement of an inner panel of a side door. That is, the projector is mounted within a space which is originally provided by the inner panel reinforcement to ensure reinforcement function. Image light from the projector is projected on the window glass of the side door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2018
    Assignee: SUBARU CORPORATION
    Inventor: Mahiro Yamasaki
  • Patent number: 10031666
    Abstract: A method of displaying a function of a button of an ultrasound apparatus on the button includes displaying information about one or more functions provided by the ultrasound apparatus, selecting one from among the one or more functions which have been displayed, determining a button in which the selected function is to be set based on an external input signal for matching the selected function to the button in which the selected function is to be set; and displaying information about the selected function on the determined button.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Chi-young Ahn, Jong-chan Kwon, Ki-soo Kim, Jung-hoon Kim, Sang-min Hyun
  • Patent number: 10031583
    Abstract: Systems and methods for force-based object manipulation and haptic sensations are disclosed. One disclosed method includes the steps of receiving a first signal indicating a location of a user interaction and receiving a second signal indicating a first force. The method also includes, if the location of the user interaction corresponds to an object displayed on a display screen: outputting a first haptic signal to a haptic output device to cause a first haptic effect; and outputting a second haptic signal to the haptic output device to cause a second haptic effect if the first force meets or exceeds a first force threshold.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2018
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Vincent Levesque, Juan Manuel Cruz-Hernandez, Danny Grant, Jamal Saboune, Liwen Wu, Kurt Eerik Stahlberg, Abdelwahab Hamam
  • Patent number: 10025392
    Abstract: The ergonomic computer keyboard is configured for use with a computer. The ergonomic computer keyboard is adapted for use with a person. The ergonomic computer keyboard is an interface device that enables a person to use the computer. The ergonomic computer keyboard comprises a housing and a key set. The key set is installed in the housing. The orientation of the key set is set such that the angle of attack of a finger to a key selected from the key set key is adjusted relative to a traditional computer keyboard. This adjusted orientation results in a more natural orientation of the hands to the key set relative to the traditional computer keyboard. The ordering of the indicia of each key in the key set is adjusted relative to the QWERTY ordering such that hand movements are minimized during the typing process.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 17, 2018
    Inventor: Frederick Dykes
  • Patent number: 10021348
    Abstract: A conferencing system configured to make it easy to switch video data to be displayed on a shared display device. Multiple client devices are connected to a switching device directly or via a network. The output of the switching device is connected to a shared display device. Each client device outputs, to the switching device, video data used for a presentation. The switching device registers, in a queue, the order of displaying received video data on the shared display device. The registered order can be the order of receiving video data at the switching device. The content of the queue and the allocated time of each presenter can be displayed on the shared display device. The switching device switches video data to be displayed on the shared display device at a predetermined timing according to the order of the queue.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: LENOVO (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
    Inventors: Takumi Imai, Kazuhiro Kosugi, Daisaku Morita, Nozomi Mandokoro
  • Patent number: 10021792
    Abstract: Disclosed is a remote controller. The remote controller comprises a first panel and a second panel. The first panel is connected to the second panel by using a rotating connecting mechanism. The rotating connecting mechanism comprises a fixation base fixed to the first panel, a rotating shaft fixed to the second panel, and a sliding component. The sliding component comprises: an arc-shaped sliding rail disposed in the circumference direction of an outer sidewall of the rotating shaft; elastic pieces disposed on the fixation base in the axial direction of the rotating shaft and provided with circular holes; and rolling balls disposed between the arc-shaped sliding rail and the circular holes in an abutted mode. The arc-shaped sliding rail is fitted to the rolling balls in a sliding mode. Two ends of the arc-shaped sliding rail are higher than the middle of the arc-shaped sliding rail in the axial direction of the rotating shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: SHENZHEN TCL NEW TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Liheng Miao
  • Patent number: 10019157
    Abstract: An approach for modifying a size of a key on a keyboard displayed on a touch screen is presented. Based on a fingertip of the user being aligned with the key at a first proximity, which enlarges the key, one or more keys originally on a periphery of the keyboard are moved, and in response, the one or more keys are removed from view on the touch screen. After enlarging the size of the key, keys other than the one or more keys retain their sizes, each of the keys are moved towards a corresponding edge of the touch screen, and after the one or more keys are removed, the keyboard is displayed to include the moved, originally-sized keys and the enlarged key and not include the removed one or more keys, and cover a second surface area equal to the first surface area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2018
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventor: Kaleb D. Walton
  • Patent number: 10002501
    Abstract: An electronic device includes a display unit 13, a panel 11, a tactile sensation providing unit 12 configured to vibrate a touch face of the panel 11, and a control unit 16 configured, when detecting contact to a tactile sensation providing area of the touch face corresponding to a predetermined word displayed on the display unit 13, to drive the tactile sensation providing unit 12 based on tactile sensation providing information associated with the predetermined word, such that a tactile sensation is provided to a contact object in contact with the tactile sensation providing area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2018
    Assignee: KYOCERA Corporation
    Inventors: Masatsugu Nakamura, Yasuhiro Ueno
  • Patent number: 9998063
    Abstract: A servo actuator controlling system includes a master controller and a number of servo actuators coupled to at least one interface of the master controller. The master controller includes a master MCU and a number of interfaces connected to the master MCU via a first bus. Each servo actuator includes a servo MCU, a first interface coupled to the servo MCU via a second bus, a second interface coupled the first interface and the serve MCU, a first servo switch connected between the first interface and the servo MCU, and a second servo switch connected between the second interface and the servo MCU. The first servo switch is set to turn on or off the first interface and the second servo switch is set to turn on or off the second interface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: UBTECH ROBOTICS CORP.
    Inventors: Tingshuang Huang, Youjun Xiong
  • Patent number: 9996213
    Abstract: Method and apparatus to enable selection of a user interface element based on the spatial interaction between a footprint assigned to a user input and the footprint assigned to a user interface element. The respective areas assigned to one or more of the respective footprints is based on at least one of the time period between the entered user input and the previous user input, and the distance between the entered user input and the previous user input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: Nokia Technology Oy
    Inventor: Liang Zhang
  • Patent number: 9998589
    Abstract: This feature phone type mobile phone includes a physical key and a display that displays a lock screen. While displaying a notification on the lock screen, the mobile phone transitions to a screen corresponding to the notification in response to a short press operation on the physical key, and while displaying a notification on the lock screen, the mobile phone transitions to a home screen in response to a long press operation on the physical key.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2018
    Assignee: KYOCERA Corporation
    Inventors: Saya Miura, Kazuki Morita
  • Patent number: 9990070
    Abstract: Providing a virtual keyboard interaction is disclosed. An indicator identifying a force intensity of a touch input provided on a touch input surface is received. It is determined that the touch input is associated with a virtual keyboard. A virtual keyboard interaction is provided based at least in part on the indicator identifying the force intensity of the touch input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Sentons Inc.
    Inventors: Lapoe E. Lynn, Samuel W. Sheng, Shih-Ming Shih, Yenyu Hsieh
  • Patent number: 9987498
    Abstract: Medical devices and methods in which a user can treat a patient or monitor a parameter of the patient or both may include a housing, a patient module located within the housing that is used for treating the patient, monitoring the patient or both, and a control panel. The control panel is attached to the housing and has a first surface and a second surface and is positionable between a first position and a second position with respect to the housing. The first position exposes a user to a first surface of the control panel and the second position exposes the user to a second surface of the control panel. A first set of user controls are located on one or the other of the first surface and the second surface and are structured to allow the user to interact with the patient module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: PHYSIO-CONTROL, INC.
    Inventor: John C. Daynes
  • Patent number: 9990488
    Abstract: A method and associated computing device. A first arrangement of numeric characters 0-9 is displayed, on a touch screen of the computing device, for an entry of a confidential sequence of numeric characters by a user during display of the first arrangement of the numeric characters 0-9 in ten respective regions of the touch screen. Each region includes (i) a unique numeric character and (ii) a graphical design that does not include the unique numeric character. The graphical design in each region is a different graphical design in each region. Each region has a closed exterior boundary and is totally filled with the graphical design consisting of a background pattern or no pattern. A graphical characteristic is instantiated differently for each numeric character displayed in the first arrangement. User touches are received on the displayed first arrangement of the confidential sequence of numeric characters to authenticate or authorize the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Softlayer Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Chong Lee
  • Patent number: 9991924
    Abstract: A protective case design for a personal electronics device (PED) and an optional plug-in accessory, wherein the accessory mounts to the PED by plugging in to a PED interface connector, including at least one first case section covering a portion of the PED not holding the connector, and two interchangeable mating case sections covering the remaining portion of the PED including the connector portion. One of the interchangeable case sections covers the PED in operation without the accessory installed, and the other interchangeable section is configured to protect the accessory and complete the case protection while maintaining operable accessory-to-PED-connector electrical and mechanical connection when the case sections including the accessory are mated together. The accessory may be a thermal imaging camera.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Assignee: Seek Thermal, Inc.
    Inventor: Tim LeBeau
  • Patent number: 9990053
    Abstract: A keyboard and a method of controlling the same are provided. The keyboard includes a base, a plurality of keys, a plurality of key chips and a controller. The base has a plurality of connecting portions. Each key is detachably connected to one of the connecting portions. Each key chip is correspondingly disposed on one of the keys and has a corresponding key code. The controller is disposed on the base. The controller outputs an inquiring code to each key chip, and each key chip determines whether the key code thereof corresponds to the inquiring code. The key chip which has the corresponded key code feedbacks a press state of the corresponding key to the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2018
    Inventor: Yao-Jen Chang
  • Patent number: 9983788
    Abstract: Some embodiments provide an interactive viewer for an input device interface. Specifically, some embodiments provide a Keyboard Enhanced Interface (KEI) system that includes a KEI viewer. The KEI viewer includes multiple graphical keys that correspond to keys of a key based input device. The KEI viewer also includes multiple symbols that identify different output actions and logic for presenting a set of symbols over a set of graphical keys to identify a set of keys of the key based input device that are usable to directly invoke a set of output actions based on an active operational mode of the KEI system. A symbol identifies a particular output action that is directly invocable with a press of a key of the key based input device that corresponds to a graphical key over which said symbol is presented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: Intellitact LLC
    Inventor: Kevin Laubach
  • Patent number: 9984335
    Abstract: The data processing device includes a display unit, a touch panel unit that detects a touch operation and outputs detection information, a flick detection unit, a label determination unit, and a teacher data generation unit. The flick detection unit detects a flick direction from the detection information of the touch panel unit. The label determination unit determines a label representing a category to which content belongs, based on the flick direction. The teacher data generation unit displays the content on the display unit, and generates teacher data including the displayed content and the label determined by the label determination unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: NEC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshihiro Kanna, Nobutatsu Nakamura
  • Patent number: 9977594
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides a keyboard having a touch screen mounted thereon. A keyboard according to the present disclosure comprises: a key button unit comprising a plurality of key buttons; a touch screen unit comprising at least one touch screen installed at the lower end of the key button unit; a sensing means for sensing whether the key button unit is being used; and a keyboard control unit for sending signals inputted through the key button unit and the touch screen unit to a computer device, and interworking with the sensing means to control input or output of the touch screen unit, wherein the keyboard control unit controls a screen displayed on the touch screen unit to be displayed on a display of the computer device when the sensing means senses that the key button unit is being used. According to the present disclosure, a touch screen mounted on the keyboard is used as an auxiliary input device and an auxiliary display of a computer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Inventor: Yoon Suk Huh
  • Patent number: 9977595
    Abstract: A computing device is described that includes a presence-sensitive display component, at least one processor, and a memory. The memory stores instructions that when executed cause the at least one processor to output, for display, a graphical keyboard comprising a plurality of keys and a search element, and determine, based at least in part on a selection of one or more keys from the plurality of keys, a query suggestion. The instructions, when executed, further cause the at least one processor to receive an indication of input selecting the search element, and responsive to receiving the indication of input, output, for display, an updated graphical keyboard that includes a selectable link associated with the query suggestion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2018
    Assignee: Google LLC
    Inventor: Min-sang Choi
  • Patent number: 9968437
    Abstract: A method of reproducing a biological object includes 3D-imaging the object and generating a mold using a 3D printer; obtaining cells from a donor site on the object; preparing a live cell suspension using the cells from the donor site; forming a scaffold in the mold with collagen and seeding the scaffold with live cells, growing the cells in the mold and curing the collagen; and surgically implanting the object into a living subject, where the cells continue to live in the living subject.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Inventor: Bao Tran
  • Patent number: 9965066
    Abstract: A physical feedback system provided by the present disclosure includes: at least one physical feedback unit below a flexible touch screen; wherein the physical feedback unit includes an armature part and a coil part, at least one of the armature part and the coil part is in an active state, and a relative distance between the armature part and the coil part is initially a predetermined value; when the coil part is energized with a current, the relative distance between the armature part and the coil part is changed due to electromagnetism, and the changed relative distance is greater than or smaller than the predetermined value, so that a protrusion or a depression is formed at a corresponding position of the flexible touch screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: XIAOMI INC.
    Inventor: Xu Zhang
  • Patent number: 9965116
    Abstract: A system for facilitating engagement with a touch screen by a visually impaired person comprises an overlay. The overlay includes a bottom surface having a capacitive component and an overlay locating element. The overlay locating element is configured to interface with a touch screen underlying the overlay to provide a position of the overlay relative to the touch screen. A top surface of the overlay includes a tactile button that is located opposite of the capacitive component. The tactile button and the capacitive component are above the region of a displayed soft button. Engagement of the tactile button by the visually impaired person results in the capacitive component interacting with the touch screen in the region of the displayed soft button to provide a capacitive input detectable by the touch screen.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: SQUARE, INC.
    Inventor: Jonathan Andrew Wolter
  • Patent number: 9965974
    Abstract: A single-unit portable Braille device is provided that can include a housing and a touch-sensitive surface provided on the housing and configured to implement a virtual Braille keyboard including a plurality of virtual keys each associated with a key location on the touch-sensitive surface. The virtual Braille keyboard is configured for entry of input Braille data from a user contacting the touch-sensitive surface at one or more of the key locations. The portable Braille device also includes a refreshable Braille display provided on the housing and configured for outputting output Braille data for tactile reading by the user, and a processing unit in the housing and configured to receive the input Braille data from the touch-sensitive surface and to transmit the output Braille data to the refreshable Braille display. In some implementations, the portable Braille device includes a visual display located under the touch-sensitive surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Technologies Humanware Inc.
    Inventors: Dominic R. Labbé, Guy Santerre, Sébastien McKenzie-Faucher, Georges Bourque, Gregory Stilson, Luc Blanchette, Éric Lapointe
  • Patent number: 9965102
    Abstract: A virtual keyboard system and typing method are provided. The virtual keyboard system includes a projector configured for projecting a key area having keys onto a projection plane, a storage device configured for storing a key value mapping table, a typed position coordinate obtaining device configured for obtaining coordinates of a typed position of the key area, and a key value obtaining device configured for obtaining key values corresponding to the coordinates of the typed position from the key value mapping table. The key values are outputted when a projected virtual key area is touched by a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: SHENZHEN TCL NEW TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD
    Inventor: Bo Zhao
  • Patent number: 9965180
    Abstract: An information processing apparatus includes a first control unit configured to control an operation to be performed by the information processing apparatus and a second control unit configured to control an operation of an operation unit equipped with a display device. The first control unit generates first graphic data corresponding to a screen to be displayed by the display device. The second control unit generates second graphic data corresponding to a software key. Further, the information processing apparatus combines the first graphic data with the second graphic data to form composite graphic data and causes the display device to display the composite graphic data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2018
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takehito Utsunomiya
  • Patent number: 9958908
    Abstract: A miniaturized touch keyboard structure includes a keyboard and at least one touchpad. The keyboard includes a plurality of control keys and a blank key and the keyboard includes at least one control module arranged therein. The touchpad is directly arranged on the keyboard with one of control keys of the keyboard being converted into the touchpad. The touchpad is electrically connected to the control module. A relative position of the touchpad with respect to the blank key is such that the touchpad is located immediately leftward or rightward or both leftward and rightward of the blank key and the touchpad has a surface area that is smaller than or substantially equal to 2×2 cm2. Further, the touchpad has touch sensitivity and speed that are controlled by predetermined software.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: ACROX TECHNOLOGIES CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yia-Yuan Oreyang
  • Patent number: 9952696
    Abstract: An array substrate comprises a substrate, transistors arranged on the substrate, a first transparent electrode electrically connected with a drain of the transistor, and a second transparent electrode arranged between the first transparent electrode and the substrate. The first transparent electrode comprises strip-shaped electrodes electrically connected with each other. The second transparent electrode corresponds to the first transparent electrode and comprises electrode sets insulated from each other. Each of the plurality of electrode sets comprises two sub-electrodes arranged in the same layer, insulated from each, and arranged in a staggered and complementary manner. The sub-electrodes of the second transparent electrode act as a common electrode in a first preset time and a touch control electrode in a second preset time. A method for controlling the array substrate and a liquid crystal display device are also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Assignees: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD., BEIJING BOE OPTOELECTRONICS TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shengji Yang
  • Patent number: 9946409
    Abstract: An input device, especially in the form of a computer keyboard provides which for a user of a computer keyboard special operator benefits result as compared to conventional keyboard systems in association with a pointing device. According to an embodiment, a computer keyboard with a keyboard that includes a multitude of manually operable keys, wherein in this keyboard an electrode arrangement is integrated, is designed in such a way and over a driver circuit exploited in such a way that by means of this electrode arrangement the detection of the spatial position or movement of a finger or a hand in an area in front of the keyboard is made possible in a electrical-field way, and by means of the driver, circuit system signals are provided that have an information content that correlates with position and/or movement of a finger or a hand of the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: MICROCHIP TECHNOLOGY GERMANY GMBH
    Inventor: Artem Ivanov
  • Patent number: 9939917
    Abstract: A data entry pad is described herein comprising a plurality of keys with each corresponding to a predefined sequence of characters indicative of at least one of a geographic size and geographic location related to land or mineral interests. A data entry pad is also described herein comprising a plurality of distinct and non-overlapping regions with at least one region of the plurality of distinct and non-overlapping regions encompassing a plurality of keys with each key corresponding to a predefined sequence of characters indicative of at least one of a geographic size and geographic location related to land or mineral interests.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Horizon Landboards, LLC
    Inventor: Jonathan Evan Jordan
  • Patent number: 9940017
    Abstract: Disclosed is a character inputting method, device and an intelligent terminal, the method including: when a virtual key in a virtual on-screen keyboard layout is selected, invoking a first probability statistical table matching at least one character having been displayed by at least one virtual key having been selected; displaying a part of the candidate characters with the highest combination probabilities or all of the candidate characters in the invoked first probability statistical table respectively on virtual keys in the virtual on-screen keyboard layout, and resetting focus on a preset virtual key, wherein any candidate character displayed on a virtual key configured with higher level has higher combination probability; and performing operations above periodically until an ideogram or a character sequence to be input is selected, and inputting the selected ideogram or the character sequence selected in an input area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignees: HISENSE ELECTRIC CO., LTD., HISENSE USA CORPORATION, HISENSE INTERNATIONAL CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Aichen Xu, Caixia Zhao, Shubin Zhao
  • Patent number: 9939921
    Abstract: An input device includes a plurality of keys, where at least one key of the plurality of keys may include a first surface configured to contact a plurality of input objects, a sensing region of the first surface configured to sense the plurality of input objects, a capacitive sensor configured to determine positional information of the plurality of input objects on the first surface of the key, and a lighting element configured to provide visual feedback to a user interacting with the at least one key.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
    Inventors: Andrew Hsu, Raja Bose, Bjorn Hovden, Mark Huie, Justin Mockler, Mohamed Sheik-Nainar, Kipling Inscore
  • Patent number: 9941878
    Abstract: Devices and methods for capacitively sensing key cap position during the initial and latter stages of a keystroke. A key assembly includes a stationary key guide magnet, a movable key cap magnet, and a transmitter/receiver electrode pair. One or both of the electrodes underlies the key cap. The capacitance change between the electrodes during a keystroke includes the capacitance change between the key cap and the electrode pair, and the change in capacitance between the key cap and the key guide. Key cap position may thus be accurately detected throughout the entire keystroke.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2018
    Assignee: Synaptics Incorporated
    Inventors: Robert J. Bolender, Joseph Kurth Reynolds
  • Patent number: 9933940
    Abstract: An accessible virtual keyboard provided as a computer-readable medium including instructions, that when executed by a controller in communication with a user interface, cause the controller to: in response to a request from a running application, display a keyboard including selectable cluster keys via the user interface, wherein each cluster key is associated with a character set including two or more characters, wherein each displayed cluster key includes each character of the character set displayed within a boundary; in response to a selection of one of the cluster keys, display selectable individual keys of the character set associated with the selected cluster key via the user interface, wherein each individual key is associated with a single character of the character set associated with the selected cluster key; and, in response to a selection of one of the individual keys, provide the associated character as an input to the running application.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: CRICK SOFTWARE LTD.
    Inventor: John Crick
  • Patent number: 9933859
    Abstract: A character input system includes a mobile terminal and an information processing apparatus. The mobile terminal includes: a motion detecting portion configured to detect a motion of shaking the mobile terminal; and a notification processing portion configured to transmit a motion notification to the information processing apparatus when the motion detecting portion detects the motion of shaking the mobile terminal. The information processing apparatus includes: a character input portion configured to receive a character input operation; and a conversion processing portion configured to, upon reception of the motion notification from the mobile terminal, convert an input character that has been input on the character input portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2018
    Assignee: KYOCERA Document Solutions Inc.
    Inventor: Ken Saratani
  • Patent number: 9928352
    Abstract: A system and method for processing, storage, distribution, and interaction with electronic images created or captured by mobile devices having network communications capabilities, such as smartphones, allows a user whose image-displaying device includes enhanced viewer software to use an image displayed on the image-displaying device as a portal for communication with others who have interacted with the image, including authors and facilitators of the image. Watermarking and security measures are provided to enable source and content verification of a displayed image so that user morphing of imagery can be tracked to maintain stability of image-based interaction and so that malicious imagery tamper can be prevented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: TAUTACHROME, INC.
    Inventors: Jon N. Leonard, Matthew W. Staker, Robert P. Gille, Joel C. Sercel, Jeffery S. Davis, Claude A. Bailey
  • Patent number: 9930499
    Abstract: A mobile terminal and control method to share content with a device and control the device are provide. The mobile terminal includes a communication unit to communicate with a host and the device; a search unit to receive content information and device information; an input unit to receive a content selection signal and a device selection signal; and a control unit to control the mobile terminal. The mobile terminal receives content information from a host and selects content to be outputted to a device selected from device information from the host. The mobile terminal controls the selected device using control commands transmitted to the selected device based on a control mode. If the control mode is not stored in the mobile terminal, the mobile terminal may receive the control mode from the host.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 27, 2018
    Assignee: GOLDPEAK INNOVATIONS INC
    Inventors: Tae Young Lee, Tae Yong Kim
  • Patent number: 9921656
    Abstract: A system that generates a haptic effect using an Eccentric Rotating Mass (“ERM”) actuator determines a back electromotive force (“EMF”) of the ERM actuator during operation of the device and receives a haptic effect signal including one or more parameters, where one of the parameters is a voltage amplitude level as a function of time. Based on the determined back EMF, the system determines if the ERM actuator is spinning and varies the voltage amplitude level based on the back EMF to generate a varied haptic effect signal, where the varying includes, when the ERM actuator is determined to be spinning, reducing the voltage amplitude level compared to when the ERM actuator is determined to not be spinning. The system then applies the varied haptic effect signal to the ERM actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: Immersion Corporation
    Inventors: Robert A. Lacroix, Michael A. Greenish, Erin B. Ramsay
  • Patent number: 9921610
    Abstract: A portable electronic device includes first body and second body pivoted to the first body. The first body includes casing, supporter, first magnetic component and torsion component. The casing includes accommodating trench and first trench. First lateral of the supporter is pivoted to the casing via the torsion component, and second lateral of the supporter includes notch. When the supporter is located in the accommodating trench and the first magnetic component extends into the notch, the supporter is positioned inside the accommodating trench by the first magnetic component, and the torsion component stores elastic potential energy. When the second body rotates close to the first body, the first magnetic component exits the notch due to magnetic repulsive force of second magnetic component of the second body, and the torsion component releases the elastic potential energy so that the second lateral of the supporter rotates out to support the second body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2018
    Assignee: COMPAL ELECTRONICS, INC.
    Inventors: Ming-Shun Lu, Ming-Chung Liu, Kun-Hsin Liu, Yun Bai, Yu-Wen Cheng
  • Patent number: 9912792
    Abstract: The present invention provides a mobile terminal comprising: a terminal body having a display part on the front side thereof; and a back input part exposed to the back side of the body and having a first button part for receiving a push input of a first function, wherein the first button part comprises: an exposed part having a colored layer and exposed to the outside; a knob part formed on the back side thereof so as to fix the exposed part; and a body part covering the knob part and formed to be integrated with the exposed part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Sangwook Hahn, Sooyong Song, Sangchul Jeon, Youngjin Hyun, Hyoyeol Lee, Euna Kim, Woohun Lee
  • Patent number: 9910512
    Abstract: Provided are systems and methods for receiving a plurality of response speed profiles associated with an application, selecting a first response speed profile from the plurality of response speed profiles, causing rendering of an on-screen display based at least in part on the first response speed profile, determining that a response speed profile change condition exists, selecting a second response speed profile from the plurality of response speed profiles, and causing rendering of an on-screen display based at least in part on the second response speed profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 6, 2018
    Assignee: Amazon Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Shinjan Kumar Tiwary, Eric Peter Raeber, Singana Dayakar Reddy LNU, Stephen Allen Whitney, Richard Baker
  • Patent number: 9891754
    Abstract: Disclosed is a method for controlling a display and a display using the same. The method includes: detecting the approach of a user's hand to the display unit, determining a user's input hand shape; and displaying a display screen corresponds to the determined user's input hand shape. Through the present invention, a user may render a higher menu list and a lower menu list to be displayed on one screen, and may control display screen shift direction and speed, merely by performing a finger extending and folding action. Further, the user may control the size of a display screen by inputting the finger extending and folding action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 13, 2018
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eun Young Lim, Min Kyu Park, Hee Jeong Choo, Hyun Ki Kim
  • Patent number: 9886142
    Abstract: There is provided a capacitive touch sensing system including a touch panel, a plurality of amplification units, an analog signal processing unit and an AD converter. The touch panel includes a plurality of driving electrodes intersecting with a plurality of sensing electrodes. Each of the amplification units is coupled to one of the sensing electrodes so as to output an amplified sensing signal. The analog signal processing unit demodulates a differential signal of the amplified sensing signals outputted by two adjacent amplification units or demodulates the amplified sensing signal outputted by the amplification units to generate a dc signal. The AD converter converts the dc signal to a digital signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2018
    Assignee: PIXART IMAGING INC.
    Inventor: Kei-Tee Tiew
  • Patent number: RE46919
    Abstract: A flexible display device and a method for controlling a display image are disclosed. In one aspect, the flexible display device includes a first display which has a flat shape and a second display which is disposed on either side of the first display and has a curved surface bent at a boundary between the first and second displays. The display further includes a controller which controls a screen of at least one of the first and second displays according to a user touch and/or a battery capacity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2018
    Assignee: Samsung Display Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hyun-Jae Lee, Jung-Soo Rhee, Kyung-Hyun Ko