International Business Machines Corporation

Other

Lexmark International, Inc.

Joseph D Rutledge

Edwin Joseph Selker

Robert Stephen Olyha, Jr

Charles Philippe Tresser

Stephane Herman Maes

Timothy Joseph Chainer

Alejandro Gabriel Schrott

Robert J Von Gutfeld

Chai Wah Wu

Jerome J Cuomo

Charles Albert Rudisill

Marco Martens

Robert Carl Barrett

Arnold Halperin

John Daniel Upton

Frederick W Valone

Matthew F Cali

Donald J Mikalsen

Bruce P Kitchens

Jason M Jacobs

Robert J Kelley

Liam P Corballis

A controller for controlling a cursor includes an identifying module for identifying at least one of a first period when a cursor is in motion and a second period when the cursor is not in motion, and a calibrating module for calibrating an input parameter signal using a first hands-off test during the first period and a second hands-off test, different than the first hands-off test, during the second period.

Controller system and method for controlling a cursor

Controller, system and method for controlling a cursor

A method and apparatus for authenticating (or identifying) a subject, includes using one or a plurality of biometric measurements for authentication (or identification) without any sharing of the subject's biometric data with a party requesting authentication.

Method and apparatus for secure authorization and identification using biometrics without privacy invasion

A detachable keyboard for a telephone set is provided in the form of a keyboard card clipped to the headset, which is completely detached from the body when unclipped. Wireless communication between the handset body and keyboard is used when the card is unclipped, while contacts are activated in the clipped position so that the wireless handset then functions as in the case of a non detachable keyboard.

Hand held telephone set with separable keyboard

A cursor control apparatus allows switching between at least two modes of cursor position control operation; one of which provides emulation of cursor control keys with a graphic input device. The emulation of cursor keys provides control of cursor location in a digital mode in which the cursor is rendered only at locations corresponding to character areas, fields or cells as opposed to an analog mode in which the cursor may be positioned at higher resolution, either by providing multiple increment inputs to a cursor position controller or by direct application of signals to cursor key inputs of a processor. Enhancements of the digital mode of operation including cursor movement speed control are also provided.

Combined digital and analog cursor control

A threshold discrimination filter circuit compares signals output by a graphic input device such as an isometric joystick including strain gauges and a fixed resistance in a hierarchical voltage divider with threshold reference signals and corrects the output of the graphic input device based on previously stored samples thereof when a selection or deselection action by a user is discriminated to values at a time of onset of selection. Onset of selection may be achieved by estimating maximum curvature of a plot of output values over time. Changes in output signals during selection and other signal signatures such as would correspond to a lift are exploited to provide a plurality of selection operations which can be recognized. User actions may be adaptively captured to increase discrimination capability (e.g. resolution) and/or user recognition. Outputs of the graphic input device are supplied directly to a CPU of a data processing device between masking periods so that graphic manipulations such as dragging can be performed while masking unintended change of specified display location during selection and deselection.

Graphics display pointer with integrated selection

A low-cost circuit processes, with high precision, the output signals of a pointing stick used for controlling a cursor on a computer display screen. A two-stage method of high precision moderate range analog-to-digital (A/D) conversion is combined with a known method of A/D conversion by sweeping a reference voltage across the range of the voltage to be measured at a known rate and noting the time of coincidence. Operational amplifiers of moderate quality are used in an open-loop mode, so that the operational amplifier inputs are high impedance. In order to get sufficient isolation from power supply noise and variations, the analog circuitry is isolated from the supply voltage while measurements are being made. To avoid interference from the digital switching transients of the microprocessor with the analog comparator switching time, the microprocessor is placed in idle mode, thereby removing its internal clock drive signals (and associated transients) from all of the microprocessor's internal circuitry except the timer which is being used to make the measurement. The resulting circuitry is capable of detecting a very small signal in noise spikes many times larger.

Reduced cost pointing stick circuit

A battery powered sensing device using an analog sensor has electronic circuitry that maintains sensitivity and calibration of the sensing device during quiescent periods with very little power drain. In one implementation, a joystick is provided with a sensitive analog sensor, such as strain gauges, connected to the shaft of the joystick. The strain gauges are connected in a bridge circuit across which a voltage is applied. Three operational amplifiers are connected to combinations of the strain gauges in the bridge circuit to generate X, Y and Z output voltages corresponding to the combined signals generated by the strain gauges. A microprocessor receives outputs from the sensitive analog sensor and generates a sample signal and performs a recalibration of sampled signals during periods of inactivity. The sampling interval for recalibration is increased in periods of extended inactivity, greatly reducing the current draw on the battery power supply and greatly reducing power requirements of the sensing device.

Low-power standby mode for a remote sensing device

Input force applied on a pointing device (51) having outputs (x,y) is related to the velocity of a cursor on a video screen according to a transfer function (FIG. 2) substantially described by a parabolic sigmoid function, thus resulting in adapting the force/velocity relationship to accommodate human perception and motor control limitations and task specific coordination problems.

Controller for improved computer pointing devices

A threshold discrimination filter circuit compares an amplitude and rate of change of amplitude of an output of a graphic input device such as an isometric joystick including strain gauges and a fixed resistance in a hierarchical voltage divider with threshold reference signals and corrects the output of the graphic input device based on previously stored samples thereof when a selection or deselection action by a user is discriminated. Outputs of the graphic input device are supplied directly to a CPU of a data processing device between masking periods so that graphic manipulations such as dragging can be performed while masking unintended change of specified display location during selection and deselection.

A pre-connected pointing device assembly retrofitable onto the keyboard of an existing computer system includes an analog input unit and a digital input unit physically and electrically interconnected to a data processing unit by flexible bands. The units and flexible bands are adhesively secured to the keyboard. The analog input unit is placed between two of the keys of the keyboard and the digital input unit is placed at the edge of the keypad area, preferably below the space bar. The data processing unit can be configured to fit in a recess at the rear of the keyboard.

Pointing device for retrofitting onto the keyboard of an existing

A user interface apparatus and method for a computing or processing system employing a graphical user interface is presented. In order to provide a good user feel, and specifically to avoid a feeling of inertia or sluggishness in cursor motion as the user starts or stops movement, the apparatus and method provide a negative inertia transfer function. That is, the cursor movement signal produced by applying the input parameter to a transfer function in accordance with the invention is related to a sum of (i) the input parameter, and (ii) a signal related to the rate of change of the input parameter. This is preferably implemented as an additive high-pass transfer function. Preferred embodiments can employ analog circuitry or a digitally programmed transfer function algorithm. The input parameter to which the transfer function is applied can be a magnitude signal, such as that from a polar coordinate system, or separate components, such as x- and y-components from a rectangular coordinate system, can be treated separately.

Graphical user interface cursor positioning device having a negative

A test assembly suitable for life testing a computer pointing stick includes a rigid shaft that is rotated by a motor and a mounting mechanism for holding and positioning the pointing stick under test in a coaxial relationship with the rigid shaft. A cantilever spring arm is rigidly connected at one end to the rigid shaft so that it rotates with the rigid shaft and is mechanically coupled under lateral spring tension at its other end to the pointing stick. The spring rotates with the rigid shaft and applies lateral force to the pointing stick via a collar attached to the pointing stick, the direction of the applied force rotating with the rigid shaft and cantilever spring. A counter records the cumulative number of flexure cycles required to make the pointing stick functionally fail.

Assembly suitable for life testing a multi-dimensional force transducer

An induction device has an elongated core made of two or more uniform ferromagnetic spaced-apart toroids. A first winding around the core creates an inductor. When the induction device includes a second winding, a transformer is created. The transformer acts as a powercord transformer when the exposed ends of one winding are available at one end of the elongated core for connection to a source of alternating current and the exposed ends of the other winding are available at the other end of the core for connection to a load. An inductor with a single-turn winding can be constructed by first forming the core by stacking two or more ferromagnetic toroids end-to-end and spaced apart, then threading two wires through the core center and placing two wires outside the core and connecting the ends of the wires to create the winding. A transformer can be constructed by first following the steps to create an inductor. A second winding is then created in a similar manner as the first winding.

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Mahopac, NY, United States of America

Joseph D Rutledge