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...When G.G. Hubbard learned of his future son-in-law's invention, he called it "only a toy." His daughter was engaged to a young man named Alexander Graham Bell.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8188989 | Control knob with multiple degrees of freedom and force feedback The present invention provides a control knob on a device that allows a user to control functions of the device. In one embodiment, the knob is rotatable in a rotary degree of freedom and moveable in at least one transverse direction approximately perpendicular to t... | 05/29/2012 |
| 8174512 | Hybrid haptic device utilizing mechanical and programmable haptic effects System and method for a rotary control in a device that comprises a knob, a shaft supporting the knob and coupled to rotate therewith a base supporting the shaft. A sensor, operationally coupled to the base, is configured to detect an aspect of manipulation of the k... | 05/08/2012 |
| 8165805 | System and method for marking a region of a road map displayed by a vehicle navigation system In the case of a system for marking a region within an image of a road map detail displayed on a vehicle video screen, a regional location can first be selected by a control element. The region, which represents one of several administrative levels, can be constantl... | 04/24/2012 |
| 8159475 | Device for providing a vehicle user with information In a device for providing information to a vehicle user about various functional elements using a display screen system, having an overview image to display the functional elements, having a rotating actuator, which is assigned to the functional elements, rotatable ... | 04/17/2012 |
| 8159476 | Mobile terminal comprising rotary type input device and method of setting sensitivity using the same This document relates to a mobile terminal comprising a rotary type input device and a method of setting a sensitivity using the same. The mobile terminal comprises a display unit for displaying a selection indicator, an input unit comprising a rotary type input dev... | 04/17/2012 |
| 8154537 | Resistive actuator with dynamic variations of frictional forces A system for generating haptic effects on a rotary knob includes an electrical coil and a core. A first level of voltage is applied to the coil to enable a first surface interface having a first coefficient of friction and to generate a first haptic effect by varyin... | 04/10/2012 |
| 8144135 | Hand-held electronic device with multiple input mode thumbwheel A thumbwheel input device oriented on an incline and comprising a wheel such that a first input is generated by rotation of the wheel about its axis, and a holder also having an axis of rotation and a portion thereon to receive the wheel whereby a second input is ge... | 03/27/2012 |
| 8130214 | Input apparatus An input apparatus according to one embodiment of the present invention may include an operation member that is rotatable and is movable in a direction along a rotation axis between an extended position and a pushed-in position. When a user rotates the operation mem... | 03/06/2012 |
| 8102384 | Interface device An interface device (15) is provided that includes an operating knob (30) for outputting an operation command signal to in-vehicle equipment, the operating knob (30) being provided with a palm rest portion (30a) for an occupant's p... | 01/24/2012 |
| 8094141 | Portable electronic device A portable electronic device includes a base segment, a sliding segment, and an input module. The base segment defines more than one indicator. The sliding segment is slidably connected to the base segment and defines a pointer operable to align with an indicator. T... | 01/10/2012 |
| 8085254 | Slide operation apparatus A slide operation apparatus capable of preventing a movable unit from being unintentionally moved in a box body, while being easy to assemble and simple in construction. The movable unit includes a gondola to which an operating element is fixed. The gondola is adapt... | 12/27/2011 |
| 8077165 | Operation device, electronic book device and electronic apparatus An operation device includes: an operated body; an operation signal producing part that produces an operation signal based on an operation on the operated body; and a tactile information presenting part that presents tactile information through the operated body. Th... | 12/13/2011 |
| 8040331 | Dual-mode rotatable input device Embodiments related to dual mode rotatable input devices that permit both resistive and non-resistive rotation are disclosed. One embodiment comprises a stationary hub, a rotatable member rotatable around the stationary hub, and a resistive rotation mechanism formin... | 10/18/2011 |
| 8022944 | Inputting device and mobile terminal Provided is an inputting device that is disposed in an opening of a cabinet surface. The device includes an elastic sheet having an outside surface disposed on an inside surface of the cabinet including the opening and across the opening. A sliding key is fixed on t... | 09/20/2011 |
| 8013847 | Magnetic actuator for providing haptic feedback Apparatus for providing haptic feedback are described. One described apparatus comprises a braking surface, an electromagnet core disposed in the braking surface, a disk operable to contact the braking surface such that a gap is defined between the disk and the brak... | 09/06/2011 |
| 7978186 | Mechanisms for control knobs and other interface devices Mechanisms for a control knob or other interface device providing additional degrees of freedom for the knob. One embodiment provides a rotatable knob moveable also in lateral plane approximately perpendicular to the axis of rotation. A mechanism providing the later... | 07/12/2011 |
| 7965282 | Operation device for vehicle An operation device for a vehicle is provided that enables switching over of a plurality of operation menu display screens and switching over of a plurality of function display screens for in-vehicle equipment displayed on a monitor by tilting of an operating knob (... | 06/21/2011 |
| 7956853 | Apparatus operating system An apparatus operating system includes a display unit and an input operation apparatus. The display unit displays an electronic map and an operation menu included in a multi-layer hierarchical structure. The input operation apparatus is a rotary switch or joy-stick ... | 06/07/2011 |
| 7952571 | Hand-held electronic device with multiple input mode thumbwheel A thumbwheel input device oriented on an incline and comprising a wheel such that a first input is generated by rotation of the wheel about its axis, and a holder also having an axis of rotation and a portion thereon to receive the wheel whereby a second input is ge... | 05/31/2011 |
| 7940254 | Context driven navigation mechanism A computing navigation mechanism includes a scroll wheel integrated below a keyboard layout for navigation of applications displayed on a computer screen. In one embodiment, the scroll wheel is configured to direct movement in response to a context of interaction wi... | 05/10/2011 |
| 7889187 | User interface for controlling a bathroom plumbing fixture A plumbing fixture is operated by a user interface that has an enclosure with a faceplate from which a pedestal seamlessly projects outward. An alphanumeric display is visible through the faceplate and a plurality of switches respond to the user pressing different p... | 02/15/2011 |
| 7847792 | Simple integrated control for zoom/pan functions A simple, integrated control for pan and zoom of a display of data represented by a very long data record is in the form of a control knob having an outer ring for controlling pan and an inner knob for controlling a zoom factor. A zoom function is turned ON either b... | 12/07/2010 |
| 7834864 | System and method comprising a user interface for control of scientific image acquisition The present invention provides a control interface for one or more instruments that comprise an image acquisition system, the control interface consisting of kinesthetic controls that do not require visual attention. The control interface of the present invention ma... | 11/16/2010 |
| 7834865 | Rotary actuator A rotary actuator includes a shaft with a knob which are rotatable about a shaft axis. The actuator includes a haptic effect device connected to the knob via the shaft. The haptic device is rotatable about the axis and includes a detent ring and a bolt fixed to the ... | 11/16/2010 |
| 7804495 | User interface system, user interface apparatus, and method of controlling electronic device The present invention provides a user interface apparatus capable of determining both control content and a control amount without increasing the number of buttons. A remote controller RC is provided with a ring pad 121 as a ring-shaped operating eleme... | 09/28/2010 |
| 7724244 | Slide-type input device, portable device having the input device and method and medium using the input device A slide-type input device, a portable device provided with the input device and a method and medium of using the input device, which more freely move a pointer displayed on a screen, and more conveniently and exactly select a specific object, is provided. The slide-... | 05/25/2010 |
| 7710409 | Method and apparatus for use of rotational user inputs Improved approaches for users of computing devices to interact with graphical user interfaces are described. According to one aspect, a rotational user action supplied by a user at a user input device is transformed into linear action with respect to a graphical use... | 05/04/2010 |
| 7705838 | Movable user interface A wireless communication handset (100) having a movable housing portion (204) coupled to a housing portion (202) that rotates relative to the housing portion. The movable housing portion may be a ring that rotates from one position 200 to... | 04/27/2010 |
| 7679611 | Haptic stylus utilizing an electroactive polymer Haptic feedback interface devices using electroactive polymer (EAP) actuators to provide haptic sensations. A haptic feedback interface device is in communication with a host computer and includes a sensor device that detects the manipulation of the interface device... | 03/16/2010 |
| 7671851 | Reconfigurable tactile controls and displays New methods and apparatus are provided for efficiently and safely providing controls and displays therefore, particularly, but necessarily to be used within the center stack region of a vehicle instrument panel. The apparatus utilizes, in most embodiments, a rear pr... | 03/02/2010 |
| 7643017 | Servosystem A servosystem, in particular a servosystem for a motor vehicle, includes a display showing a list of clickable menu items, a rotary knob with a rotary element to operate the rotary knob, with a number of mechanical detents to alternately increase the rotary momentum... | 01/05/2010 |
| 7639241 | Hand-held electronic device with multiple input mode thumbwheel A thumbwheel input device oriented on an incline and comprising a wheel such that a first input is generated by rotation of the wheel about its axis, and a holder also having an axis of rotation and a portion thereon to receive the wheel whereby a second input is ge... | 12/29/2009 |
| 7639240 | Method of mounting thumbwheel switch on printed circuit board and handheld electronic device incorporating same A thumbwheel switch for a handheld electronic device is mechanically and electrically mounted on the substrate of a printed circuit board using SMT with the thumbwheel seated in a cutout in the substrate and with the top surface of the thumbwheel about flush with th... | 12/29/2009 |
| 7595792 | Measuring apparatus with value editor and corresponding method A value editor and a corresponding method is described for a measuring apparatus, by which setting parameter values can be modified. Parameters can be set for at one of multiple functional units and modified by control elements. Multiple control elements can togethe... | 09/29/2009 |
| 7593006 | Input device for moving cursor and scrolling image on screen In the case where the operator is moving the cursor on the computer screen through the use of a mouse, when the cursor display moves to a position which coincides with any of the menu display, a boundary position of the menu display or a position which coincides wit... | 09/22/2009 |
| 7589717 | Systems and methods for user interfaces designed for rotary input devices Systems and methods for providing visual navigation cues in user interfaces for use with rotary input devices are described. One described method comprises causing a plurality of graphical objects to be displayed in an arc. The curvature of the arc is configured to ... | 09/15/2009 |
| 7570254 | Haptic feedback controller, method of controlling the same, and method of transmitting messages that uses a haptic feedback controller A haptic feedback controller that controls a controlled appliance includes a base, a cap, a piezoelectric motor, a rotation control device, and a rotational state detecting device. ... | 08/04/2009 |
| 7567243 | System and method for low power haptic feedback Systems and methods for low power consumption haptic feedback are described. In one described system, a device comprises a manipulandum and a haptic effect generator in communication with the manipulandum. The actuator is operable to provide a first haptic profile a... | 07/28/2009 |
| 7545367 | Rotary input apparatus In a rotary input apparatus, an operational end enabled to be rotationally operated is provided, an operational input device detects a rotational displacement of the operational end to move a pointer displayed on a display thereof to perform a selection operation of... | 06/09/2009 |
| 7535464 | Navigation wheel having discrete switches An ergonomic pointing device receives user commands for controlling an electronic device. Typically three switches are provided underneath a navigation wheel. The two side switches are typically located towards the back right and left corners of the navigation wheel... | 05/19/2009 |
