Quotables
"During my service in the United States Congress, I took the initiative in creating the Internet."
Al Gore ; The basis for the later misquote by US Republicans that Gore had "invented" the Internet. Gore was the leading political champion of the modern-day Internet.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7345674 | Computer input device with digit support and natural position actuators A mouse has sufficient width to support the distal phalanges of a user's ring finger and little finger while the user's middle finger is positioned over a secondary button of the mouse. The mouse also provides at least one side button positioned so that it is not co... | 03/18/2008 |
| 7345670 | Image controller An image controller structured for allowing inputs to be converted or translated into electrical outputs, one preferred controller structured with at least a sufficient number of sensors to aid in controlling three-dimensional objects and navigating a three-dimensio... | 03/18/2008 |
| 7341521 | Limited placement joystick control system A joystick control system includes a first pair and a second pair of fluid enclosed resilient tubes with each pair of tubes having generally parallel spaced pressure sensing portions confined within a support housing with one pair of sensing portions disposed perpen... | 03/11/2008 |
| 7336266 | Haptic pads for use with user-interface devices Embodiments of the invention relate to haptic devices for use with a variety of computer/video interface devices. Such haptic devices can work in conjunction with and thereby provide “haptic augmentations” to otherwise conventional user-interface devices, includ... | 02/26/2008 |
| 7333083 | 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 ... | 02/19/2008 |
| 7330923 | Input devices and methods of operating same Input devices and methods of operating the same are described. In one aspect, an apparatus includes a housing, a display screen, a main input device, a wireless receiver, a carrier bay, and an auxiliary input device. The main input device translates user manipulatio... | 02/12/2008 |
| 7326913 | Ball-based device for controlling the movement of a cursor, and optical unit for such a device The invention proposes a device (20) comprising an actuation ball (30, FIG. 13), a casing (22) that surrounds the ball, elements (56) for guiding the ball in rotation, a first detection light source (LS1) for emitting at lea... | 02/05/2008 |
| 7324667 | Data converter A data converter is provided, which data converter includes a data conversion unit, a timer unit which counts time, and a lock system which locks a data conversion function of the data conversion unit in a disabled state based on the time counted by the timer unit. | 01/29/2008 |
| 7324346 | Plug-in module for portable computing device A plug-in module adds functionality to a portable electronic device. The module includes a housing that is accepted by a housing port of the portable electronic device. The module includes at least one latch to secure the module to the electronic device. Each latch ... | 01/29/2008 |
| 7324089 | Optical device for optical mouse The present invention relates to an improved optical device for optical mouse, being installed inside the case body of the optical mouse, comprising: a LED, a lens mount, a sensor and a digital signal processor. That is, instead of using the LED, the LED assembly cl... | 01/29/2008 |
| 7324085 | Techniques for pointing to locations within a volumetric display The present invention is a system that creates a volumetric display and a user controllable volumetric pointer within the volumetric display. The user can point by aiming a beam which is vector, planar or tangent based, positioning a device in three-dimensions in as... | 01/29/2008 |
| 7324090 | Modular scroll wheel with integral detent-engaging sprint 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... | 01/29/2008 |
| 7323959 | Trackball device A trackball device of the present invention includes an operating ball, multiple rollers which rotate by contacting the ball while it is rotated, multipole permanent magnets which co-rotate with these rollers, and a reed switch disposed in a position where it turns ... | 01/29/2008 |
| 7322011 | System and method of adjusting display characteristics of a displayable data file using an ergonomic computer input device An ergonomic pointing device, such as a mouse, is coupled to a computer having a visual display device. As a user rotates a roller associated with the mouse, the mouse generates computer signals that are interpreted by an operating system and software applications r... | 01/22/2008 |
| 7321361 | Coordinate input device having non-flat operation surface and electronic apparatus A coordinate input device includes a coordinate input unit which performs a coordinate input operation by sliding an operating member on an operation surface which is formed in a convex shape, a concave shape, or the shape of a polyhedron. More specifically, the coo... | 01/22/2008 |
| 7320112 | Information processing apparatus and method, and information processing program Executing a desired processing immediately by a simple operation using a jog dial for example. The display unit (3) has a jog dial (4) (a first operating means) and a back button (5) (second operating means) provided vertically at the right uppe... | 01/15/2008 |
| 7312789 | Input device with extendible body An input device having an extendible body or housing suitable for a hand-held operation. The input device includes a housing assembly including a palm-rest section and a base section opposite to the palm-rest section, a switch mechanism accommodated in the housing a... | 12/25/2007 |
| 7310084 | Multi-way operation switch, input device and input unit A multi-way operation switch of the present invention includes an operation unit that is horizontally movable and rotatable; a plurality of first switch contacts for turning on and off the electrical coupling by horizontally moving the operation unit; and a second s... | 12/18/2007 |
| 7304636 | Ergonomic mouse A system that may couple to a computer that may include a selectably interchangeable pointing device controller, and further may include an ergonomic design that may include a front portion and a rear portion where the front portion is configured to move horizontall... | 12/04/2007 |
| 7302350 | Selection of software and hardware functions with a force/torque sensor A force-moment sensor (1) is used as a switch, with which, depending on the introduction of forces and moments onto an operating part (5) of the force-moment sensor (1), software or hardware functions of a device (2, 2′) to be controlle... | 11/27/2007 |
| 7295206 | Ink input region adjustments Aspects of the present invention relate to the creation of an ink font. Based on characteristics of handwritten characters, the collection of characters may be scaled so as to adjust the size of the font to match predefined size values or relationships. ... | 11/13/2007 |
| 7295187 | 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... | 11/13/2007 |
| 7286114 | Track ball structure A track ball structure for controlling movements of a cursor comprises a body, a capacity in the body, a track ball housed in the capacity having a portion exposed outside the capacity for controlling the movements of the cursor, and a plurality of sensors located i... | 10/23/2007 |
| 7286803 | Palm-sized mobile information terminal with finger-insertion hooking portion A mobile information terminal includes a case that is formed in tabular form and in the size of a palm, a display device that is stored such that the screen is exposed to the outside, an electronic circuit that is stored in the case and controls the display device, ... | 10/23/2007 |
| 7283120 | Method and apparatus for providing haptic feedback having a position-based component and a predetermined time-based component A manipulandum includes a sensor and an actuator. The sensor is configured to output a position signal when the manipulandum is moved from the first position to the second position. Additionally, the actuator is configured to output haptic feedback having a position... | 10/16/2007 |
| 7283124 | Mouse scroll wheel module A mouse scroll wheel module includes a retention part, a holding part sitting on the retention part to swing from front to back and from left to right, a revolving part installed on the holding part, a mechanical revolving encoder to receive output of encoded electr... | 10/16/2007 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 7277053 | Apparatus and methods for detecting and locating signals A discrete three-dimensional receiving element has multiple sensors scattered over its surface to detect and locate a signal. The sensors facing the signal detect the signal, and a boundary line is drawn between the sensor which detect the signal and those which don... | 10/02/2007 |
| 7276660 | Electronic device and latch structure thereof A latch structure disposed in a casing having a first opening and a second opening includes a pressing member, an elastic member, a hook member and a guiding member. The pressing member is disposed in the first opening. The elastic member has one side connected with... | 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 |
| 7266774 | Implementing a second computer system as an interface for first computer system A method, system, and program for using a second computer system as an input interface for a first computer system are provided. A second independent computer system is docked into a first computer system. Then, the first computer system uses at least one of an inpu... | 09/04/2007 |
| 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 |
| 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 |
| 7256679 | Stick lever units A stick lever unit is provided that is capable of eliminating uncomfortable feeling during manipulation of the stick, as well as, minimizing breaking of a wiring conductor of the variable resistor. The stick lever unit includes a fixing member, a first variable resi... | 08/14/2007 |
| 7253802 | User interface An electronic input device has a flexible keyboard for receiving user input and a housing defining a space for accommodating the keyboard. The input device has a compacted state and an extended state. The keyboard adopts a compacted spatial configuration in the comp... | 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 |
| 7239732 | Method and unit for storing a radiation image Radiation-image information is input from a radiation-image measuring apparatus to a measurement-information storing section, and measurement information, which consists of the positional information of a measuring point and a result of measurement based on the posi... | 07/03/2007 |
| 7236158 | Trackball and in-vehicle device controller using the trackball The present invention provides a trackball and an in-vehicle device controller using the trackball. The trackball provides a stable operational feel and is easy to operate even in an environment in a vehicle where vibration and movement are present. The trackball in... | 06/26/2007 |
