Famous Patents
William F. Semple, a dentist, was awarded the first US Patent on chewing gum in 1869. His recipe contained powdered chalk.
PatentStorm News
Make the Most of Our Site
See this month's Top Inventors and Most Cited Patents.
Stay on top of the latest innovations by subscribing to an RSS feed.
Registered users: Manage your profile.
| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7283121 | Input device with forward/backward control In a computer system having a display and a keyboard, a computer readable medium includes instructions for invoking a message hook procedure based on a mouse message indicative of a mouse event. Instructions also provide for identifying at least one focus applicatio... | 10/16/2007 |
| 7284278 | Secured KVM switch A method supports secure input/output (I/O) communications between an I/O device and a data processing system via a keyboard, video, and mouse (KVM) switch. An example embodiment includes the operations of establishing a first secure communication channel between th... | 10/16/2007 |
| 7283123 | Textures and other spatial sensations for a relative haptic interface device A low-cost haptic feedback device that provides spatially-based sensations such as textures in correlation with a displayed graphical environment. The device includes a housing, a sensor device, and an actuator for applying a force to the user. A local processor rep... | 10/16/2007 |
| 7280351 | Storing a structure within an electronic device An exemplary rechargeable mouse is adapted to be insertable into and removable from a bay of an electronic device. An electrical connection of the mouse electrically couples only to a power connection of an electrical interface in the device bay that also has a data... | 10/09/2007 |
| 7280096 | Motion sensor engagement for a handheld device A motion controlled handheld device includes a display having a viewable surface and operable to generate an image. The device includes a motion detection module operable to detect motion of the device within three dimensions and to identify components of the motion... | 10/09/2007 |
| 7280099 | Regulating a light source in an optical navigation device An optical navigation device that regulates the brightness of an adjustable light source, and a method thereof, are described. Light from the light source is emitted onto a surface and reflected from the surface to a sensor. The light received by the sensor is used ... | 10/09/2007 |
| 7280095 | Hierarchical methods for generating force feedback effects Embodiments of the invention relate to a hierarchical method for generating force feedback effects. In one embodiment, a method comprises receiving a first force contribution associated with a first (e.g., previous) position of a manipulandum; determining a second f... | 10/09/2007 |
| 7277084 | Accelerated data navigation A method and system uses an acceleration curve to enhance data navigation. In a preferred embodiment, the scrolling algorithm of an input device with a rotational member accelerates a resultant scroll amount in direct relation to a rotational speed of the rotational... | 10/02/2007 |
| 7275724 | Laptop computer support platform A laptop computer support platform including a rigid, multilayered assembly with a thermal insulator disposed between a generally planar upper side and a lower side defined by the assembly for reducing heat transference from a computer adapted to be supported on the... | 10/02/2007 |
| 7277083 | Ergonomically designed computer gaming device An ergonomically designed gaming device for a user that includes a semi-flattened hemispherical ovoid base, that is contoured into a general hand imprint shape with finger and thumb grooves and fingertip provisions to accommodate the user's index finger, middle fing... | 10/02/2007 |
| 7274480 | Portable communicator This communicator makes it possible for the user to do telephone, facsimile, and data communication at any location. On a pen input device, a space eye 2, a telephone control system, a facsimile control system, and a data transmission system are mounted. All ... | 09/25/2007 |
| 7274808 | Imaging system and apparatus for combining finger recognition and finger navigation An imaging system for imaging a fingerprint operates in at least two different modes to provide both finger recognition and finger navigation applications. A light source illuminates a swipe interface having an elongated sensing area upon which a user swipes a finge... | 09/25/2007 |
| 7274354 | Portable electronic apparatus A portable electronic apparatus disclosed has excellent operability, being capable of zooming, scrolling, moving a cursor, selecting an icon and others with one small operation unit. This portable electronic apparatus includes a display unit, the operation unit and ... | 09/25/2007 |
| 7274355 | Blended transfer function for computer pointing devices A transfer function is provided for use with computer pointing devices such as trackpads. The transfer function includes a first component having characteristics of a positional transfer function and a second component having characteristics of a velocity-based tran... | 09/25/2007 |
| 7271797 | Optical window for generating a waveforms An optical window is disclosed through which light can be shone to generate a waveform. Windows are hourglass-shaped, to better conform the shape of the windows to the distribution of light intensity. The optical window can be incorporated into a variety of optical ... | 09/18/2007 |
| 7268768 | Accelerated data navigation A method and system uses an acceleration curve to enhance data navigation. In a preferred embodiment, the scrolling algorithm of an input device with a rotational member accelerates a resultant scroll amount in direct relation to a rotational speed of the rotational... | 09/11/2007 |
| 7266988 | Resettable latching MEMS shock sensor apparatus and method The Resettable Latching MEMS Shock Sensor provides the capability of recording external shock extremes without consuming electrical power. The device incorporates a shock sensitive suspended proof mass, spring-loaded contacts, latches, and actuators for device reset... | 09/11/2007 |
| 7264473 | Replaceable faceplates for peripheral devices Automatically determining which one of a plurality of functions is to be associated with a movable member of an electronic device, depending on which one of a plurality of faceplates is coupled to the electronic device. A selected faceplate is coupled to a keyboard ... | 09/04/2007 |
| 7265869 | Compact printer housing A printer housing cover serves the dual purpose of protecting the printer's paper entry slot and user interface in a closed configuration and, in an open configuration, serving as a paper tray. The cover is hingedly connected to the housing and in a preferred embodi... | 09/04/2007 |
| 7262760 | 3D pointing devices with orientation compensation and improved usability Systems and methods according to the present invention describe 3D pointing devices which enhance usability by transforming sensed motion data from a first frame of reference (e.g., the body of the 3D pointing device) into a second frame of reference (e.g., a user's... | 08/28/2007 |
| 7261481 | UV feature illumination In an aspect of the present invention, methods and systems for providing an input device are disclosed. In an aspect of the present invention, the input device includes a symbol and a UV light source is provided to direct UV light on the symbol. The symbol includes ... | 08/28/2007 |
| 7262759 | Optical based performance improvement for an optical illumination configuration A system, method, and method of manufacturing directed to an optical device with an efficient optical illumination. The optical illumination can be provided by tilting a light source and using a refractive lens to direct the light onto a surface. Alternatively, the ... | 08/28/2007 |
| 7259482 | Distance extender and method making use of same A distance extender (100, 200) for increasing a distance between a first device (145) and a second device (150) in electrical communication with the first device includes an electrical cable (130, 230) electrically coupled between the fir... | 08/21/2007 |
| 7258560 | Spring-loaded assembly for a connector A spring-loaded assembly for coupling a connector to a computer component includes an assembly housing operable to receive a portion of a screw used to couple the connector to a chassis of an information handling system. The assembly further includes a sliding block... | 08/21/2007 |
| 7259748 | Apparatus and method for controlling a cursor on a viewing screen An apparatus for controlling a cursor (10) on an electronic viewing screen (102) connected to a computer (104) without using hands. The apparatus comprises a detecting unit (108), intended to be carried by a user (106). The detecti... | 08/21/2007 |
| 7256770 | Method for displaying information responsive to sensing a physical presence proximate to a computer input device In a computer system, a touch sensitive input device having touch sensitive auxiliary controls system can be used to anticipate a user's action. When a user's hand approaches a touch sensitive input device, feedback can be displayed on a display screen. A user can r... | 08/14/2007 |
| 7253804 | Input device with integrated key plate and integrated side grips The present invention provides an input device such as a mouse which has a unique construction with integrated key plates and integrated side grips. In one embodiment, the input device comprises a housing, which includes a bottom case and an upper member disposed ab... | 08/07/2007 |
| 7253805 | Text input device and adapter mechanism A text input device for attachment to a game controller includes a small-sized housing, upper and lower faces, a plurality of text entry keys disposed on the upper face, and an attachment interface disposed on the lower face. A bracket for attaching the text input d... | 08/07/2007 |
| 7254665 | Method and system for reducing latency in transferring captured image data by utilizing burst transfer after threshold is reached Video sensor data are communicated to a memory of a computer system with reduced latency. Upon receiving data from the video sensor, the data are stored until a desired transfer quantity is reached. The transfer quantity is equivalent to a width of a system memory o... | 08/07/2007 |
| 7253803 | Force feedback interface device with sensor A force feedback mouse interface device connected to a host computer and providing realistic force feedback to a user. The mouse interface device includes a mouse object and a linkage coupled to the mouse that includes a plurality of members rotatably coupled to eac... | 08/07/2007 |
| 7250877 | Device to control an electronic or computer system utilizing a fluid flow and a method of manufacturing the same A device to facilitate a user interface of a computer system utilizing breath includes a body, a user side inlet defined by the body to receive a fluid flow generated by a user, an exhaust opening defined by the body, a conduit positioned between the user side inlet... | 07/31/2007 |
| 7248239 | Systems and methods for color changing device and enclosure A color-changing device which includes an enclosure at least a portion of which is material which is desired to change color. There is also included an illumination device, such as an LED or collection of LEDs which can illuminate the material. There can also be inc... | 07/24/2007 |
| 7247835 | Optical navigation device, and method for manufacturing same An optical navigation sensor receives light that is produced by a light source and reflected from a surface. The optical navigation sensor has a silicon substrate having a plurality of photo-sensing regions, each of which receives a portion of the reflected light, a... | 07/24/2007 |
| 7245287 | Method and apparatus for computer input using six degrees of freedom A pad for a computer input device includes a top surface over which the input device is slid and a bottom surface, opposite the top surface, for contacting a support surface. The bottom surface having a raised pivot portion allowing movement of the pad about the piv... | 07/17/2007 |
| 7246042 | Apparatus and method for enhancing accuracy of sensor signal An apparatus and method for enhancing the accuracy of a sensor signal are provided. The apparatus includes: a low-pass filter (LPF) that filters the sensor signal and outputs a low-frequency sensor signal; an operation determination unit that determines whether the ... | 07/17/2007 |
| 7245286 | Cellular telephone A cellular telephone with a pointing device that facilitates operations for line scrolling and page scrolling, in which the moving speed of a pointer can be controlled with respect to each on-screen display. The pointing device includes a pointer-operating button ha... | 07/17/2007 |
| 7242387 | Pen-mouse system The present invention is a system that provides a pen based computer user with a graphical user interface tool, a pen-mouse, that looks like and functions like a mouse but that is controlled by a limited input device such as a pen or stylus of the pen based computer... | 07/10/2007 |
| 7241219 | Methods and apparatus for providing entertainment content at a gaming device Gaming systems and methods of operation thereof are disclosed. Such gaming systems and methods allow a player of a gaming device, such as a slot machine or an arcade video game, to access entertainment services, such as broadcast television programming, web sites, p... | 07/10/2007 |
| 7242391 | Optical navigation chip An optical navigation chip. The optical navigation chip is appropriate for an optical pointing device and used for calculating a displacement of the optical navigation chip relative to an operating surface. The optical navigation chip comprises a photo sensor array ... | 07/10/2007 |
| 7239301 | 3D pointing devices and methods Systems and methods according to the present invention address these needs and others by providing a handheld device, e.g., a 3D pointing device, which uses at least one sensor to detect motion of the handheld device. The detected motion can then be mapped into a de... | 07/03/2007 |
