International Business Machines Corporation

Other

USA As Represented by Secretary of the Navy

Richard L Garwin

James Lewis Levine

Michael Alan Schappert

Nalini Kanta Ratha

Rudolf Maarten Bolle

Janusz S Wilczynski

David A Thompson

Joel B Miller

Allen N Garroway

Robert S Germain

Kevin Hunter Vorhees

Gregory Fraser Russell

Anthony Wayne Miles

George J Fan

Nathan Sauders Caswell

Bryan H Suits

Jeremy Branson

Harold L Friedman

Charles H Bowman

Jeffrey A Farringer

Larry L Greene

Sharathchandra Umpathirao Pankanti

A user is provided with the capability to view only those segments of TV broadcast programs and/or pre-recorded digital programs that are identified by the user (or other persons, e.g., parents) as acceptable. Preferences for the types of material that is desired for viewing are provided. The provider analyzes a selected program and creates a user specific segmentation file that, when played along with the recorded program, causes the program to automatically skip specific types of material (e.g., commercials, violence, pornography, etc.) and/or jumps to specific material desirable without the user having to intercede during the viewing. The segmentation file is distributed to the user and the user provides a fee to the provider for making and distributing this customized segmentation file.

Enhanced program viewing method

A complex micromirror or LCD array device that performs complex optical or electro-optical transforms is described. Both real and imaginary parts of a light beam are modulated in amplitude to give a spatially and temporally modulated beam.

Apparatus for electronically controlled holograms

An apparatus which includes a probe for detecting a resonance signal induced in a sample. The probe and the resonance signal each have a respective, corresponding Q, and the ratio, Q&prime;, of the Q of the probe to the Q of the resonance signal is relatively large. Preferably, Q&prime; is greater than, or equal to, 1.

Probe for detecting a transient magnetic resonance signal, wherein the ratio of the Q of the probe to the Q of the resonance signal is relatively large

A computer system and method determines the force and/or torque applied during the image acquisition stage of a biometric characteristic. Images with very high or very low pressure or high shear torque are rejected and user/operator is notified to re-acquire the image. Alternatively, the application of force and torque by the subject is restricted mechanically so that the images are acquired while the force and/or torque are within acceptable ranges.

System and method for distortion control in live-scan inkless

This invention provides an optical pointing device, such as those used to control devices such as televisions, VCRs, video games and computers, which have improved accuracy and lower sensitivity to detrimental effects, such as noise and user hand unsteadiness, than prior art devices. Such pointing devices emit light beams, such as infrared light, which when received by a receiver are used to position cursors or other symbolic shapes, such as sliding volume controls. An advantage of the pointing device of the invention is that light emitting diodes of conventional manufacture, known to have poor optical precision and hence variable angular emission profiles, may nevertheless be used in the pointing device of the invention.

Optical alignment method for pointing devices

Shielding materials used in electromagnetic digitizers which are packaged in a notebook computer environment. Shielding materials with sufficiently high magnetic permeability to increase the magnetic signal detected by the digitizer sensor grid can be used in such an environment, and can be placed in direct contact with the sensor grid. Aluminum or copper shields can also be placed in direct contact with the sensor grid to provide the requisite shielding. A combination of conductive and ferrite material can also be used as the conductive base material provides for shielding and a layer of ferrite material increases the magnetic signal and prevents signal attenuation by the conductor.

Shielding materials for electromagnetic digitizers

An acoustic contact sensor for handwritten computer input is disclosed herein. The contact sensor comprises ultrasonic sending transducer means, receiving transducer means and circuit means for providing a logic signal to a computer when contact is made. The sending and receiver transducer means can either individually be coupled to a pen stylus or writing and/or display surface.

Acoustic contact sensor for handwritten computer input

User-machine interaction through a touch input display screen is enhanced through the use of surface coding in the form of stylus diameter or reflectivity peripheral surface features that are sensed in optical sensing apparatus.

Data processing information input using optically sensed stylus features

The location of an object in a work area is established by sweeping a single light beam over the area and employing in coordinate calculations the rotational arc of the light source, and the serial events of the light variation when the beam is reflected from a mirror positioned on the opposite periphery intersects the object and the light variation when the beam directly intersects the object.

Data processing input interface determining position of object

The calibration of a force sensing type data input device through the use of at least one correction developed by minimization of differences between an actual location of a pattern of test forces and a calculated location of the test forces where the calculation is on the basis of the effect of the test forces on the equilibrium of the device.

Calibration of a force sensing type of data input device

A piezoelectric touch screen assembly can be attached to mounting ears on an ordinary CRT assembly. The touch screen assembly includes a frame, a glass plate which is seated on a gasket at one surface of the frame and a plurality of piezoelectric elements which are bonded to the glass plate and are 'trapped' between the CRT face and the glass plate. Studs extend outwardly from the CRT ears through openings in the frame. Coil springs are placed on the studs and are trapped by washer nuts to load the touch screen assembly toward the CRT by a predetermined amount. Grommets with a unique cross sectional configuration are mounted at the openings through the frame. The grommet is designed to provide minimal resistance to movement of the touch screen assembly toward or away from the CRT face but greater resistance to movement of the assembly in other directions.

Touch screen mounting assembly

Correlation of light beam movement with electrical timing in a light beam interrupt data input interface device is provided by determining the magnitude of an angular difference between the electrical system and a line through the scanning axis for use as a correction factor. The correlation principle involves a combination of measurement with respect to the electrical system and the application of geometric principles to provide a correction factor.

Calibration of a scanning light interrupt type of data input interface

An actuator for a magnetic read/write head carried by a linear motor has its stator located between a pair of disks within a stack of magnetic recording disks. The stator comprises an array of reversed polarity magnets (preferably permanent) in a linear array. A pair of flat coils are the drive elements of the armature of the motor with the coils arranged in side-by-side relationship for bridging from magnet to magnet in the stator. Thus the armature will not be stalled between magnets. The actuator is controlled by an electronic control system for selecting any position precisely, rather than in steps as in a stepping motor. A microprocessor can be used to adjust control of the direction of motion of the actuator based upon feedback signals.

Low mass actuator system for magnetic recording disk

Information is transferred interactively between a user and an information processor by establishing the direction of the user's gaze or visual focus with relation to portions of a viewing surface and thereafter the direction of the user's gaze or visual focus to a specific portion of the viewing surface conveys information. The direction of a user's gaze is established through a reflected signal from the operator's eyeball.

Eye controlled information transfer

An interface and terminal are provided between data processing operations and the movement of an indicator member of stylus. The interface and terminal identifies the coordinates of the position of the stylus by the angles that a light beam reflected from the stylus makes with a reference and uses a history of coordinate data for specific coordinate selection. The stylus position is sensed by interruption of light. The terminal retains and displays a trace of the stylus movement. The interface and terminal are useful both for manual to computer input, and, for remote data processing to mechanical movement, such as in displays and manufacturing operations. Accuracy of the order of 0.01 inches in 12 inches is achieved.

Growing community of inventors

Scarsdale, NY, United States of America

Richard L Garwin