Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC

Nsk Corporation

Tetsuji Aoyagi

Russell Irvin Sanchez

Mike M Paull

Mark K Svancarek

Takeshi Miura

Toru Suzuki

Katsuhiko Tanaka

Todd E Holmdahl

Manolito E Adan

Terry M Lipscomb

Hajime Suzuki

Hideki Okatani

Michihiro Kuramochi

An operator input device is configured to provide position information based on relative movement of the surface and the operator input device. The operator input device includes an image detector which is configured to detect an image on the surface and provide an image signal corresponding to the image detected. A controller is coupled to the image detector and is configured to receive the image signal and provide the position information based on a position of the image relative to the image detector.

Operator input device

The wireless computer input system uses a pen-type input device and a receiver. The pen-type input device includes an LED, at least one switch, a rechargeable battery, and a control circuit. The control circuit provides signals to the LED upon activation of the switch, and provides for power management functions allowing the pen to conserve power during idle periods. The receiver includes one or more light-detecting elements connected to position computation circuitry. The light-detecting element or elements are either a two-dimensional PSD, two one-dimensional PSDs or a four division photodiode. Optional lenses, optical filters, and apertured plates are positioned before the light-detecting element(s), improving the signal-to-noise ratio of the system. The computation circuitry receives the signals from the light-detecting element(s), digitizes them, and computes the coordinates of the pen which are output to a host computer. A recharging circuit, connected to the computation circuit, allows the pen to be recharged within the receiver or connected by a cord when the battery lacks sufficient power.

Wireless input device, for use with a computer, employing a movable

A user input system for inputting computer signals, such as a joystick, has an elongated member or handle that is movably received by a housing. The handle is capable of moving in at least three perpendicular directions, i.e., along X, Y and Z axes, and is capable of being rotated about at least one of the three axes. In a first embodiment, a pair of light emitting diodes ('LEDs') are mounted at an end of the handle and oriented toward the interior of the housing. The LEDs are strobed to alternately project light downward into the housing. A light detecting element, such as a two-dimensional position sensing device ('PSD'), two one-dimension PSDs, or a four quadrant photodiode, is positioned opposite the LEDs, and mounted to the housing to receive the light from the LEDs to produce signals. The signals are converted from analog to digital and input to a microprocessor. The microprocessor, employing trigonometric methods, calculates the position and orientation (i.e., rotation) of the handle and outputs the coordinates to a host computer. The joystick preferably includes switches that produce signals and a slidable member that produces a variable signal, all of which are also output to the computer. In a second embodiment, the LEDs are mounted to the housing to project the light upward and the light detecting unit is mounted at the end of the handle.

Input device for providing multi-dimensional position coordinate signals

In order to provide an optical disk drive and read/write apparatus, the time of erasure, recording and reproduction of data by which is shortened to heighten the apparatus in access speed and data transfer speed, in the apparatus according to the present invention, an optical disk 4 is clamped to a turntable 2 supported with bearings 24 by a housing, and an optical head 5 is movably supported by the housing so as to face the disk. Four such optical heads 5 are disposed at equiangular intervals on a circle, and controlled independently of each other to perform the erasure, recording and reproduction of data from and in the disk 4 so as to make the apparatus much higher in access speed and data transfer speed than in the case that only one optical head is used.

Optical disk drive and read/write apparatus

Growing community of inventors

Kanagawa, Japan

Tetsuji Aoyagi