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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8098230 | Ground-based haptic interface comprising at least two decoupled rotary finger actuators A ground-based haptic interface equipped with at least two decoupled rotary finger actuators adapted to be manipulated with the fingertips of a single hand of a user. For each finger actuator, a means are included for measuring the angular position of the actuator o... | 01/17/2012 |
| 8059094 | Apparatus and method for navigation in three-dimensional graphical user interface A navigation apparatus and method for a three-dimensional graphical user interface are provided. The apparatus includes an input unit that has a plurality of trackballs, in a space containing a certain plane and an-axis crossing the plane at a right angle, for navig... | 11/15/2011 |
| 8054293 | Electronic apparatus An electronic apparatus disclosed facilitates the replacement of an input device. In the electronic apparatus equipped with the input device allowing various input operations, the input device including first signal generators is positioned by being placed in an ope... | 11/08/2011 |
| 7973768 | Optical navigation device with consolidated processing for surface and free space navigation An optical navigation device for operation in a surface navigation mode and a free space navigation mode. The optical navigation device includes a microcontroller, a first navigation sensor, and a second navigation sensor. The first navigation sensor is coupled to t... | 07/05/2011 |
| 7965279 | Universal input device and system An input device for generating signals indicating input requests by a user which has a base portion, a control portion, a plurality of input means, a universal connection means, and a signal generating means. The universal connection means may connect the control po... | 06/21/2011 |
| 7903087 | Method for facilitating navigation and selection functionalities of a trackball incorporated upon a wireless handheld communication device Method an arrangement for facilitating the use of a trackball on a wireless handheld communication device as a navigation tool and a selection tool of designated information presented on a display screen of the device. A wireless handheld communication device is pro... | 03/08/2011 |
| 7889179 | Control device including a ball that stores data A device for controlling movement of an object relative to an environment is disclosed. The device may include a ball configured to store data for determining at least an orientation of the object relative to the environment. The data may pertain to a plurality of p... | 02/15/2011 |
| 7855714 | Method and apparatus for controlling a display in an electronic device A novel method and apparatus for controlling a display of an electronic device is provided. In an embodiment, the device is a portable electronic device with the combined features of wireless email and telephony. The portable electronic device also includes a camera... | 12/21/2010 |
| 7804486 | Trackball systems and methods for rotating a three-dimensional image on a computer display A trackball rotates a three-dimensional image displayed by a computer. Displacement data is generated for designated first and second non-antipodal points on the surface of the trackball's roller ball, for displacement of the designated first and second points durin... | 09/28/2010 |
| 7782302 | Trackball for a mobile device A graphical user interface which employs logical barriers for temporarily preventing cursor movement between graphical elements under certain circumstances. For example, one embodiment of the invention comprises a data processing device having a memory for storing p... | 08/24/2010 |
| 7782303 | Multi-direction input device A multi-direction input device for computers includes a directional wheel, a sliding member and a plurality of electrodes. The directional wheel has a rotational degree-of-freedom and two moving degree-of-freedom to be moved downwards, perform forward rolling, backw... | 08/24/2010 |
| 7777724 | Dustfree and waterproof rolling-ball optical mouse A dustfree and waterproof rolling-ball optical mouse includes a concave housing; a rolling ball movably engaged with the concave housing; a dustproof gasket fixed on the concave surface of the concave housing; a leakage hole of a conduit defined in a center of the c... | 08/17/2010 |
| 7724239 | Handheld electronic device, cursor positioning sub-system and method employing cursor scaling control A track ball cursor positioning sub-system is employed by a handheld electronic device including an operating system and a plurality of applications having a plurality of predetermined scaling values. The cursor positioning sub-system includes a track ball cursor po... | 05/25/2010 |
| 7710399 | Haptic trackball device A low-cost haptic feedback trackball device for providing haptic feedback to a user for enhancing interactions in a graphical environment provided by a computer. The trackball device includes a sensor device that detects the movement of a sphere in two rotary degree... | 05/04/2010 |
| 7692633 | Handheld electronic device with roller ball input An improved handheld electronic device includes an input apparatus, an output apparatus, and a processor apparatus. The input apparatus includes a reduced keyboard and a roller ball input. The roller ball input includes a movable portion that is substantially contin... | 04/06/2010 |
| 7683884 | Device for facilitating maintenance of a trackball The invention relates to a device for facilitating maintenance of a trackball. The device comprises a trackball, a cover inside which the trackball is attached, the cover comprising an opening allowing a movable part of the trackball to appear in order to operate th... | 03/23/2010 |
| 7626573 | Trackball for a mobile device A computer-implemented system and method for navigating through a plurality of graphical elements with a trackball. For example, a method according to one embodiment of the invention comprises: detecting a substantially vertical motion on the trackball when a first ... | 12/01/2009 |
| 7598944 | System and method for measuring operational life of a computer mouse wheel An exemplary system for measuring operational life of a computer mouse wheel is disclosed. The system includes a computer (10), a control card (11), a stepper motor servo controller (12), a stepper motor (13), a vertical servo axle (14... | 10/06/2009 |
| 7570250 | Control device including a ball that stores data A device for controlling movement of an object relative to an environment is disclosed. The device may include a ball configured to store data for determining at least an orientation of the object relative to the environment. The data may pertain to a plurality of p... | 08/04/2009 |
| 7522155 | Trackball device and vehicle incorporating the same A trackball device including (i) a sphere, (ii) a support for rotatably supporting the sphere, (iii) a rotation detector for detecting rotation of the sphere, and (iv) a controller. The controller generates a specific output signal responsive to a signal from the ro... | 04/21/2009 |
| RE40698 | Hand-held trackball computer pointing device There is provided a hand-held pointing device which fits readily and comfortably in the hand of a user. The pointing device case shape is a pistol grip style designed to be ergonomically correct so that the device may be used for extended periods of time without use... | 04/14/2009 |
| 7477237 | Systems and methods for providing a haptic manipulandum Systems and methods for providing a haptic manipulandum are described. In one described system, a lever arm is pivotably coupled to a housing, and configured to apply a processor-controlled force to a substantially-spherical manipulandum to provide a haptic effect. ... | 01/13/2009 |
| 7439952 | Pointing device An electronic pointing cursor control device such as a trackball or mouse, comprising a first chamber adjoined to a second chamber, the chambers being separated by a fluid-tight wall comprising an optically permeable region; wherein the first chamber contains electr... | 10/21/2008 |
| 7423631 | Low-cost haptic mouse implementations Low-cost haptic interface device implementations for interfacing a user with a host computer. A haptic feedback device, such as a mouse or other device, includes a housing physically contacted by a user, and an actuator for providing motion that causes haptic sensat... | 09/09/2008 |
| 7405727 | Lift detection mechanism for optical mouse sensor A method for detecting a lift condition from an illuminated surface portion of an optical motion sensing device. According to a first embodiment, two different “loss-of-focus” thresholds are used. A first threshold is used when the optical pointing device is not... | 07/29/2008 |
| 7391409 | Method and system for applying gearing effects to multi-channel mixed input A method and system for interactive interfacing with a computer gaming system is provided. The method includes providing an input device, where the input device is configured to convey mutlti-channel mixed input data that is to be interpreted by the computer gaming ... | 06/24/2008 |
| 7388575 | Mechanical wheel instruction apparatus A mechanical wheel instruction apparatus to replace the conventional wheel structure that uses a grating switch to output signal. The invention has a mechanical conductive terminal set to output instruction signals when become conductive. The apparatus of the invent... | 06/17/2008 |
| 7389454 | Error detection in user input device using general purpose input-output A method and apparatus are disclosed for using a general purpose input-output (GPIO) interface to test a user input device such as a wireless keyboard or mouse. Operation of key-scan logic can be tested by the GPIO interface by temporarily disconnecting the outputs ... | 06/17/2008 |
| 7385587 | Asymmetrical computer mouse design with extended thumb button An ergonomic computer mouse has an arcuate top surface, a front end, a rear end, and left and right sidewalls. The top surface has a circular side view profile that extends from the front end to the rear end and is contiguous with finger buttons on the mouse. The su... | 06/10/2008 |
| 7379052 | Hand-held computer control device A hand-held control device which fits interchangeably into a user's right or left hand. An ergonomically correct housing allows the device to fit snuggly into the grasp of the users hand and be used without creating user fatigue. The operative element in the control... | 05/27/2008 |
| 7378990 | Laser locus ball apparatus for a wireless keyboard A laser locus ball apparatus for a wireless keyboard includes a base, a laser source generator, a locus ball, a light sensing element and a key cover. The base provides a lateral plate with a locating hole to locate the laser source generator and has another two opp... | 05/27/2008 |
| 7372453 | Foot operated computer mouse A computer cursor control system (10) including a foot operated cursor control device (16) connected to a Central Processing Unit (CPU) (12). The cursor (20) is positioned by the operator (18) by depressing a left pedal (24)... | 05/13/2008 |
| 7372452 | Portable terminal capable of displaying data in an upright direction regardless of rotation of screen and method therefore A portable terminal displays data received from the exterior or internally generated on its screen in an upright direction. The portable terminal includes a video processor, a display with the screen, a sensor, and a controller. The video processor converts data int... | 05/13/2008 |
| 7369116 | Foot-operated key pad A foot operated data entry pad has a plurality of foot buttons. The foot buttons are used to enter data values—e.g., numbers or symbols separately or in combination. Each button is capable of entering different data values, preferably depending on the length of ti... | 05/06/2008 |
| 7362308 | Modular scroll wheel with integral detent-engaging spring tab A single-piece component rotatably supports a scroll wheel and includes an integral follower arm extending into a well within which the scroll wheel rotates. Formed on a circumferential surface of the scroll wheel are regularly spaced detents or other structures for... | 04/22/2008 |
| 7358956 | Method for providing feedback responsive to sensing a physical presence proximate to a control of an electronic device In a computer system, a touch sensitive input device having touch sensitive auxiliary controls can be used to provide a user with information regarding the functionality of an auxiliary control. When a user's hand approaches a touch sensitive input device, feedback ... | 04/15/2008 |
| 7358958 | Method for locating a light source relative to optics in an optical mouse An optical tracking assembly for an optical mouse includes a light source, an optical sensor chip, and an integral optics assembly. The integral optics assembly includes lenses and alignment features receiving the light source. The alignment features center the ligh... | 04/15/2008 |
| 7355585 | Input device and information processing apparatus with such input device and cursor display control method An input device may be used with the information processing apparatus and the like, and provides an improved ease of operation in moving the cursor on the display screen. The input device includes a set of cursor keys 1 that, when activated, cause the ... | 04/08/2008 |
| 7352358 | Method and system for applying gearing effects to acoustical tracking A method and system for enabling dynamic user interactivity between user actions and actions to be performed by a computer program is provided. The system includes a computing system and an acoustic detection analyzer that is coupled to or executed by the computing ... | 04/01/2008 |
| 7352359 | Method and system for applying gearing effects to inertial tracking Methods and systems for interactive interfacing with a computer gaming system are provided. A method includes providing an input device, where the input device is configured to convey inertial data that is to be interpreted by the computer gaming system. The method ... | 04/01/2008 |
