Class / Patent application number | Description | Number of patent applications / Date published |
345167000 | Trackball | 54 |
20080198135 | KEY INPUT DEVICE FOR MOBILE PHONE - A key input device for a mobile phone is provided. The key input device includes a printed circuit board with a plurality of dome switches. The key input device further includes a holder unit provided on the top of the print circuit board, a wheel key provided on the top of the holder unit and rotatably assembled to the holder unit and a rotary means interposed between the holder unit and the wheel key, the rotary means having a plurality of balls for allowing the wheel key to be rotated in such a manner that frictional force and wear produced by the rotation of the wheel key can be reduced. | 08-21-2008 |
20080231601 | INPUT DEVICE FOR CONTINUOUS GESTURING WITHIN A USER INTERFACE - An input device for a graphical user interface in a handheld mobile communications device. The navigation system comprises a trackball for generating trackball input when the trackball is actuated, a detector, proximate to and cooperating with the trackball, for generating detector input when the detector is actuated, and a processor to convert the trackball input and the detection input into a composite input signal for controlling a function in the graphical user interface. | 09-25-2008 |
20080259035 | PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE - A portable electronic device includes a main body, a display screen mounted on the main body, a track ball, a light source, a camera module and a signal processor. The track ball has a reflecting pattern provided on an outer surface thereof and is rotatable relative to the main body. The light source is configured (i.e., structured and arranged) for illuminating the main body. The camera module is configured for receiving and converting the light reflected from the track ball into electronic image signals containing movement information of the reflecting pattern of the track ball. The signal processor is configured for controlling movement of a cursor on the display screen according to the movement information of the reflecting pattern of the track ball contained in the electronic image signals. | 10-23-2008 |
20080291168 | Ground-Based Haptic Interface Comprising at Least Two Decoupled Rotary Finger Actuators - A ground-based haptic interface equipped with at least two decoupled rotary finger actuators adapted to be manipulated with the fingertips of a single hand of a user. For each finger actuator, a means are included for measuring the angular position of the actuator or for measuring the torque applied on the axis of rotation of the actuator. Each rotary finger actuator is associated with a control motor adapted to apply, on the axis of rotation of the actuator, a torque that is a function of the angular position of the actuator, or that controls the rotational position of the axis of rotation of the actuator as a function of the torque applied on this axis. The haptic interface can be used as a peripheral of a computer, for example, for interacting with a virtual environment. It can also be applied to the control or manipulation of real objects by being coupled, for example, with a robot or a manipulating arm. The interface also can be telemanipulated. | 11-27-2008 |
20080316175 | Track Ball Device - An object of the present invention is to provide a track ball device capable of storing information in a ball. In a track ball device | 12-25-2008 |
20090015559 | INPUT DEVICE AND METHOD FOR VIRTUAL TRACKBALL OPERATION - Input devices and methods are provided in which a sensing system is adapted to detect motion of an object on a surface and a processing system is coupled to the sensing system. The processing system is adapted to effect movement of a display pointer on a display in a first direction in response to motion of the object on the surface and effect continued movement of the display pointer in the first direction in response to the object being removed from the surface. | 01-15-2009 |
20090066650 | Method and handheld electronic device for improved calendar user interface navigation - A method, handheld electronic device and computer program product for inputting calendar information using a graphical user interface (GUI) of a calendar application are provided. The GUI is displayed on a display screen of the handheld electronic device which comprises a navigational input device for receiving navigational input in a first and a second direction. The method comprises: displaying a calendar event user interface screen on the display screen of the handheld electronic device, the calendar event user interface screen comprising a primary field having at least two subfields; invoking an edit mode of the primary field in response to predetermined user selection input; redisplaying the calendar event user interface screen to provide a visual indication that the edit mode is currently invoked for the primary field; changing the logical value of a selected subfield in response to navigational input in the first direction and redisplaying the changed value of the selected subfield in the calendar event user interface screen; and selecting an adjacent subfield in response to navigational input in the second direction and redisplaying the adjacent subfield to provide a visual indication that the adjacent subfield is the selected subfield in the calendar event user interface screen. | 03-12-2009 |
20090066651 | DEVICE AND METHOD FOR APPLICATION NAVIGATION ENHANCEMENT ON A HANDHELD ELECTRONIC DEVICE - A handheld electronic device with a body which houses a microprocessor-run software application is disclosed. The software application program requires operator navigation therein during use. Furthermore, the application program is programmed to receive a directional navigation instruction from the operator utilizing a navigation tool. The instruction indicates a direction and degree of navigation with the application program. The application program is further programmed to receive a complimentary instruction from the operator that adapts the instructed degree of navigation to be affected in the application program by the received directional navigation instruction. | 03-12-2009 |
20090073124 | Systems and Methods For Providing A Haptic Manipulandum - Systems and methods for providing a haptic manipulandum are described. In one described system, a lever arm is pivotably coupled to a housing, and configured to apply a processor-controlled force to a substantially-spherical manipulandum to provide a haptic effect. The described system may include a processor in communication with an actuator for providing the haptic effect. | 03-19-2009 |
20090073125 | Systems and Methods For Providing A Haptic Manipulandum - Systems and methods for providing a haptic manipulandum are described. In one described system, a lever arm is pivotably coupled to a housing, and configured to apply a processor-controlled force to a substantially-spherical manipulandum to provide a haptic effect. The described system may include a processor in communication with an actuator for providing the haptic effect. | 03-19-2009 |
20090102795 | INPUT DEVICE - An input device includes a ball having a magnetic body therein. The magnetic body includes projections radially extending from the core toward the outer periphery of the ball. The device also includes a ring magnet and magnet detection elements surrounded by a lower area of the ball so as to be opposite thereto. The structure allows the input device to be protected from dust and dirt during long-term use so as to maintain a good tactile feel in a simple structure. Because, the input device has no components such as rollers that are in contact with the ball. | 04-23-2009 |
20090115729 | CURSOR CONTROL DEVICE FOR AVIONICS DISPLAYS - A device for controlling a cursor on an avionics display screen. The device has a grab handle conveniently located and shaped to be comfortably gripped. The handle is equipped with a trackball which can be turned by the thumb to move the cursor on the display. Alternatively or additionally, a trigger may be provided to effect a select function using the index finger. One or more switches may be provided on the handle to change the content on the display. | 05-07-2009 |
20090160775 | TRACKBALL INPUT FOR HANDHELD ELECTRONIC DEVICE - A handheld electronic device that includes a display screen located above a trackball-based user input device is disclosed. At least one sensor is operatively associated with the trackball and configured to sense motion induced in the trackball when the trackball is rotated by substantially circular motion applied about an exposed portion of the trackball. The sensor is further configured to output electronic data representative of the sensed induced trackball motion. A microprocessor receives the output electronic data from the at least one sensor as input data and processes the input data into cursor guidance instructions. These cursor guidance instructions are outputted to the display screen and affect one-dimensional, substantially continuous cursor movement on the display screen in correspondence with the sensed trackball motion. | 06-25-2009 |
20090167687 | HANDHELD ELECTRONIC DEVICE WITH ROLLER BALL INPUT - An improved handheld electronic device includes an input apparatus, an output apparatus, and a processor apparatus. The input apparatus includes a reduced keyboard and a roller ball input. The roller ball input includes a movable portion that is substantially continuously rotatable with respect to a housing of the device and is rotatable about more than one axis to provide input. The processor apparatus includes a disambiguation routine that can output various proposed interpretations of inputs from the reduced keyboard. The roller ball input advantageously provides various inputs to the handheld electronic device without requiring significant user attention, which enables a user to direct a greater amount of attention to the output from the disambiguation routine and to other aspects of the device. The roller ball input potentially can be configured to additionally be translatable to provide an input, and additionally and/or alternatively the roller ball input can provide a tactile or other feedback to a user. | 07-02-2009 |
20100033432 | Trackball - A pointing device such as a scrolling device or trackball, including a ball formed at least partially from an electrically conductive material, and a PCB including a capacitive proximity sensor, wherein movement data representative of ball movement is communicated by a controller to an interface such as a monitor screen, and wherein an electrical switch is actuable in response to the proximity of the sensed object to the ball, such that when a user is not in contact with or in close proximity to the ball, movement data will not be communicated by the controller to the interface. | 02-11-2010 |
20100053086 | TRACKBALL MODULE STRUCTURE - A trackball module structure is provided. In the structure, a Hall IC is integrated in a flexible printed circuit, and the integrated structure and a trackball device are disposed on the base to be located. Afterwards, a lid is used to fix the integrated structure and the trackball device to form a module. The module is easy to be disposed on an electronic device. This not only solves the problem that the conventional trackball is hard to locate, but also prevents the ESD with the cooperation of a metal base and a metal lid. | 03-04-2010 |
20100097319 | MULTI-DIRECTIONAL NAVIGATION BETWEEN FOCUS POINTS ON A DISPLAY - A method and apparatus for navigating between different focus points displayed on an electronic device, comprising, for each of said different focus points, maintaining a list of any adjacent ones of said focus points to which focus can move in each direction responsive to a navigation event in said direction, for each said list having only one adjacent focus point moving focus to said one adjacent focus point responsive to said navigation event, and for each said list having more than one adjacent focus point accessing a memory setting and moving focus to a predetermined one of said adjacent focus points responsive to said navigation event in accordance with said memory setting. | 04-22-2010 |
20100134417 | HANDHELD ELECTRONIC DEVICE - A handheld electronic device includes an input apparatus, an output apparatus, and a processor apparatus. The input apparatus includes a reduced keyboard and roller ball input. The roller ball input includes a movable portion that is substantially continuously rotatable with respect to a housing of the device and is rotatable about more than one axis providing input. The processor apparatus includes a disambiguation routine that can output various proposed interpretations of inputs from the reduced keyboard. The roller ball input advantageously provides various inputs to the handheld electronic device without requiring significant user attention, which enables a user to direct greater amount of attention to the output from the disambiguation routine and other aspects of the device. The roller ball input can be configured to additionally be translatable to provide an input, and additionally and/or alternatively the roller ball input can provide a tactile or other feedback to a user. | 06-03-2010 |
20100141584 | STROKE BASED INPUT SYSTEM FOR CHARACTER INPUT - An improved handheld electronic device includes an input apparatus, preferably a trackball, an output apparatus, namely a display, and a processor apparatus. The processor apparatus is structured to execute a number of routines including a stroke-based input user interface routine. The stroke-based input user interface routine is structured to present a user interface on the display. The user interface includes an active portion, a filter portion and an output portion. | 06-10-2010 |
20100177044 | METHOD AND APPARATUS TO FACILITATE NON-FLUSH GENERAL NAVIGATION BUTTONS FOR A CLAMSHELL HANDHELD DEVICE - A handheld device comprising a first portion and a second portion rotatably coupled to the first portion. The handheld device is movable between an opened configuration and a closed configuration. A non-flush navigation button is coupled to one of the first and the second portion wherein the non-flush navigation button is disposed in a position that is accessible for manipulation in both the opened and the closed configurations. | 07-15-2010 |
20100214225 | METHOD FOR AND APPARATUS FOR DISPLAY SCROLLING - An electronic device comprising a display for displaying an image that exceeds the dimensions of the display, a multi-directional input device for navigating the image on the display, at least one button input device on each of opposite sides of the multi-directional input, a touch sensor adjacent and underlying the multi-directional input device and the button input devices for sensing touch adjacent the multi-directional input device and the button input devices and in response generating an output signal, and a processor for receiving the output signal and scrolling the image responsive to the touch sensor sensing touch that commences adjacent the multi-directional input device and moves toward the button input device. | 08-26-2010 |
20100309129 | DIRECTIONAL CLICKABLE TRACKBALL - A multi-function navigation device in the form of a trackball that is both rotationally actuable and multi-directionally clickable. The multi-function navigation device can receive user commands by rotational movement and various directional clicking of the trackball. Directional depression of the multi-function navigation device activates switches corresponding to predetermined directions to effectuate directional selections or directional movements of a cursor for navigating the display of an electronic device. | 12-09-2010 |
20110109555 | INTERFACE SYSTEM INCLUDING TRACKBALL - A user interface system includes a display, a user interface including a trackball, a brake assembly configured to cooperate with the trackball to limit rotational movement of the trackball to about predetermined axes, and a control system in electrical communication with the display, the user interface, and the brake assembly. The control system is configured to operate in at least one input status mode including a first input status mode and a second input status mode based on desired directional input of the trackball. The control system includes a trackball control module. When in the first input status mode, the trackball control module communicates with the brake assembly to restrict rotation of the trackball to about a first axis. When in the second input status mode, the trackball control module communicates with the brake assembly to restrict rotation of the trackball to about a second axis. | 05-12-2011 |
20110128227 | PORTABLE ELECTRONIC DEVICE AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING SAME TO PROVIDE TACTILE FEEDBACK - A method of controlling an electronic device includes displaying information on display of the electronic device, associating an active area with a part of the information that at least partially matches a search term, and providing tactile feedback in response to detection of the active area for the part of the information. | 06-02-2011 |
20110128228 | Programmable Remote Control - Methods for operation and a remote control are provided. In one embodiment, a method for operation includes detecting an activity mode for the remote control, wherein the activity mode is based on user programming of the remote control to operate one or more devices for at least one type of communication provided by a communication interface of the remote control. The process may further include detecting a user selection of a user interface of the remote control, wherein the user selection is associated with a command for the one or more devices, and determining a communication setting based on the user selection and the activity mode. The command may be transmitted by the communication interface of the remote control to the one or more of the devices based on the communication setting, wherein transmission of the command is based on one or more communication types of the communication interface. | 06-02-2011 |
20110134041 | INPUT DEVICE - An input device includes a case, a ball, a magnetic detecting element, a wiring board, and a rocking part. The ball is rotatably accommodated in the case, exposed from an opening of the case, and is embedded with a magnetic substance having a plurality of protrusions or with a plurality of magnets. In a case the magnetic substance is embedded in the ball, a magnet is placed where its magnetism affects the plurality of protrusions. The magnetic detecting element is disposed facing the ball with a certain gap. The switch is mounted on the wiring board. The rocking part is placed between the case and the switch, supporting the case in a swingable manner with respect to the switch. The switch is turned on and off corresponding to a rocking motion of the rocking part. The ball and the magnetic detecting element are attached to the rocking part so that the gap is kept constant with each other when the rocking part rocks. | 06-09-2011 |
20110134042 | NAVIGATION TOOL INCLUDING INDUCTION FUNCTIONALITY - There is provided a handheld electronic device including a support structure, a display, a navigation tool assembly and a coil. The display is located on a front face of the device and upon which graphical user interface information is displayed to the user of the device. The navigation tool assembly is coupled to the support structure and includes a navigation tool that is moveable relative to the support structure. The navigation tool is configured to control motion of a selection or position indicator on the display. The coil is coupled to the support structure. A movement of the navigation tool relative to the support structure effects induction of current through the coil. | 06-09-2011 |
20110157020 | TOUCH-CONTROLLED CURSOR OPERATED HANDHELD ELECTRONIC DEVICE - Proposed is a touch-controlled cursor operated handheld electronic device, including a main housing, a display screen disposed on the main housing, and a touch-control member disposed on the main housing at a position opposite to the display screen with respect to the main housing. The display screen displays a touch-control interface including application program activating icons and a cursor. The cursor is configured to at least touch-control the application program activating icons of the touch-control interface. The application program activating icons are configured to start and execute associated application programs. The cursor on the touch-control interface is touch-controlled and operated by the touch-control member. | 06-30-2011 |
20110163960 | INPUT APPARATUS - An input apparatus includes a case, an operation body stored rotatably in the case, a magnetic body fixed to the operation body, a magnet provided around the operation body, a magnetic detection element for detecting a magnetic flux from the magnetic body, and a frame for retaining the case. The magnetic detection element faces the operation body with a predetermined space therebetween. The frame includes depression sections for causing the magnetic detection element to elastically contact the lower surface of the case. This input apparatus can accurately detect a rotation angle. | 07-07-2011 |
20110199306 | Control device - A control device includes a base frame, a bearing board hinged to the base frame at the top for holding an electronic device, a bracket hinged to the bearing board for supporting the bearing board on the base frame in a sloping position, a trackball device mounted in a front recess of the base frame in front of the bearing board and carrying a rolling bar in a rolling chamber thereof for rotating or moving by the user and a circuit module with a sensor module for sensing the direction and amount of rotation or displacement of the rolling bar and outputting a corresponding signal and a connection interface module for transmitting the output signal from the sensor module to the electronic device to control the cursor on the display screen of the electronic device. | 08-18-2011 |
20110221677 | 3-Axis Trackball - An input device is disclosed. The input device can provide a control signal to a host system. The input device can include a ball and one or more sensor assemblies configured to sense the position of the ball. The input device can sense movement both in the X-Y motion of the ball, and the spin of the ball. Different control signals may be sent to a host system based upon the X-Y motion and the spin of the ball. | 09-15-2011 |
20110241994 | TRACKBALL DEVICE AND ULTRASONIC DIAGNOSTIC APPARATUS - According to one embodiment, there is provided a trackball device provided for an operation panel of a predetermined computer, the device includes a first casing including a housing portion, a ball rotatably housed in the housing portion, a detector provided in the housing portion and configured to detect input information based on rotation of the ball, and a second casing including an opening portion and mounted on the first casing to restrain the ball in the housing portion while part of the ball is exposed from the opening portion, wherein the second casing further comprises a ring portion which is provided along the opening portion and exposed from the operation panel when the trackball device is provided on the operation panel, and is configured to be detachable from the first casing upon application of a dynamic action to the ring portion. | 10-06-2011 |
20110241995 | TRACKBALL MODULE - A trackball module ( | 10-06-2011 |
20110291933 | Presenting a New User Screen in Response to Detection of a User Motion - A second user interface screen is presented to a user in response to detection of a predefined user motion associated with a first user interface screen. In one embodiment, a method includes: presenting, via a display of an end-user device, a first user interface screen; detecting, via a user input device of the end-user device, a predefined user motion associated with the first screen, wherein the user motion is substantially in a direction of movement in a plane parallel to the display; and in response to detecting the user motion, presenting a second user interface screen via the display, the second screen including information corresponding to the first screen. | 12-01-2011 |
20110304549 | MULTI-COLOR TRACK BALL FOR USE IN GAMING APPLICATIONS - An opto-mechanical trackball assembly is disclosed with increased functionality. In accordance with an important feature of the invention, a plurality of polychromatic light sources, such as polychromatic LEDs (also known as RGB LEDs), are spaced apart and disposed adjacent the trackball. Such polychromatic LEDs can provide up to 256 colors as well as allow the intensity of the light emitted from the trackball to be controlled. In addition, sequencing the turning on and off of spaced apart polychromatic light sources can be used to simulate movement of the trackball to raise the level of interest in the game, for example, during periods when the game is not being played. The polychromatic LEDs can also be used to create a light show of different colors to draw interest to the game during periods of inactivity. In one embodiment of the invention, the polychromatic light sources are configured for use in arcade/casino games that accommodate multiple users. In such multiple player games, each player can select a color. The selected color is displayed during that player's turn. Thus, the trackball in accordance with the present invention provides increased functionality relative to known trackballs with monochromatic light sources. | 12-15-2011 |
20110316783 | INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS, METHOD, AND RECORDING MEDIUM - An information processing apparatus includes, a screen switching input unit to input an instruction for switching between a screen displayed on a first display unit and a screen displayed on a second display unit, and a display control unit to display, in response to input of the switching instruction, the screen displayed on the first display unit on the second display unit and disabling displaying of the screen displayed on the second display unit before input of the switching instruction on the first display unit. | 12-29-2011 |
20120007807 | Full keyboard remote control - A remote controller includes a housing, a CPU, an input module, and an output module. The input module is electrically connected to the CPU for selectively inputting signals into the remote controller to controllably communicate with the home entertaining appliance. It includes a plurality of control keys provided on the housing for allowing a user to input at least one command to the CPU for interactively communicating with the home entertaining appliance, and a full keyboard arrangement provided on the housing and has a full keyboard set comprising a plurality of information keys for being selectively pressed to input at least one command to the corresponding the CPU. The output module is wirelessly linked with the home entertaining appliance for wirelessly transmitting the inputted commands of the input module to the home entertaining appliance. | 01-12-2012 |
20120176319 | HAPTIC INPUT DEVICE - A distance vector from the original cursor position where the cursor exists before the manipulation to the cursor movement destination position is set to a movement direction distance vector, distance vectors from the original cursor position to each button position of a plurality of buttons are set to button distance vectors, and the button having the shortest movement time is determined as a target button intended by a user by computing the movement time to a plurality of buttons using the movement direction distance vector and a plurality of button distance vectors, so that the display control of the display unit is performed such that the cursor is dragged into the target button. | 07-12-2012 |
20120188165 | MULTI-DIRECTIONAL NAVIGATION BETWEEN FOCUS POINTS ON A DISPLAY - A method and apparatus for navigating between different focus points displayed on an electronic device, comprising, for each of said different focus points, maintaining a list of any adjacent ones of said focus points to which focus can move in each direction responsive to a navigation event in said direction, for each said list having only one adjacent focus point moving focus to said one adjacent focus point responsive to said navigation event, and for each said list having more than one adjacent focus point accessing a memory setting and moving focus to a predetermined one of said adjacent focus points responsive to said navigation event in accordance with said memory setting. | 07-26-2012 |
20120235914 | MONITOR - A monitor is disclosed and includes a displaying device, a supporting device, and a console. The supporting device is connected to and supports the displaying device. The console is connected in communication to the displaying device and is capable of being engaged with the supporting device. The console includes a first switch key and a second switch key. The displaying device can be triggered to switch to a first displaying mode by the first switch key or to a second displaying mode by the second switch key. The detachable design for the console of the invention not only allows a user to quickly switch the displaying modes, but also avoids shaking due to performing the switching on the displaying device by fingers in the prior art. Therefore, the invention can effectively solve the inconvenience of switching or setting the displaying modes in the prior art. | 09-20-2012 |
20120235915 | TERMINAL TRACKBALL NAVIGATION APPARATUS AND NAVIGATION METHOD - A navigation method for preventing mobile phone communication from interfering with the mobile phone navigation apparatus based magnetic induction includes: receiving electrical pulse signals sent by a light-receiving counter; recognizing a displacement direction of a trackball according to a position of a light-receiving counter that sends the electrical pulse signals; recognizing a rotation speed and a rotation distance of the raster wheel according to a duration and a period of the electrical pulse signals; and calculating a displacement speed and a distance of the trackball according to the rotation speed and the rotation distance of the raster wheel, and enabling a navigation chip to generate navigation information. | 09-20-2012 |
20120293415 | HAPTIC DEVICE FOR CARVING AND MOLDING OBJECTS - A system, method, and computer program product for automatically providing a haptic stylus based interface for enhanced user interaction with touch screen devices are disclosed. The stylus communicates with the touch screen device to report stylus operating information from onboard sensors, and to receive application program instructions defining feedback and friction forces to be applied by onboard actuators. The applied feedback and friction forces may be independently controlled. Friction forces are provided via a rolling contact ball gripping mechanism that mimics varying physical engagement between the contact ball and a touch screen display surface by controlling the relative rotational freedom of the contact ball. Embodiments of the invention enable a haptic stylus to mimic three-dimensional interactions for gaming, object manipulation and sculpting, and non-contact proximity-based stylus operation scenarios. | 11-22-2012 |
20130027311 | HANDHELD ELECTRONIC DEVICE - A handheld electronic device includes an input apparatus, an output apparatus, and a processor apparatus. The input apparatus includes a reduced keyboard and roller ball input. The roller ball input includes a movable portion that is substantially continuously rotatable with respect to a housing of the device and is rotatable about more than one axis providing input. The processor apparatus includes a disambiguation routine that can output various proposed interpretations of inputs from the reduced keyboard. The roller ball input advantageously provides various inputs to the handheld electronic device without requiring significant user attention, which enables a user to direct greater amount of attention to the output from the disambiguation routine and other aspects of the device. The roller ball input can be configured to additionally be translatable to provide an input, and additionally and/or alternatively the roller ball input can provide a tactile or other feedback to a user. | 01-31-2013 |
20130100024 | ROLLING TYPE INPUT APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR SETTING SENSITIVITY THEREOF, AND ELECTRONIC EQUIPMENT - The embodiments of the present invention disclose a rolling type input apparatus, a method for setting sensitivity thereof and electronic equipment. The method comprises: detecting a rolling direction and the rolling distance of a rolling device ( | 04-25-2013 |
20130120264 | CONTROL DEVICE - A control device includes a supporting surface, a sensing member, a displacement generation member, and a movable member. The supporting surface is extended along a first longitudinal direction. The displacement generation member faces the sensing member. The movable member is extended along a second longitudinal direction, and linearly translatable along the first longitudinal direction of the supporting surface. When the second longitudinal direction of the movable member is parallel with the first longitudinal direction and the movable member is linearly translated along the first longitudinal direction or rolled along a direction perpendicular to the first longitudinal direction, a displacement of the movable member relative to the supporting surface synchronously results in a displacement of the displacement generation member relative to the sensing member. Moreover, a first control signal is generated in response to an interaction between the displacement generation member and the sensing member. | 05-16-2013 |
20130127723 | COLLAPSIBLE TRACKBALL - Some embodiments of the inventive subject matter may include a trackball to provide input to electronic computing device. The trackball can include and upper portion having an upper surface. The trackball can include a lower portion having a lower surface. The lower portion can be operatively connected to the upper portion, wherein the upper portion can combine with the lower portion to form a complete sphere, and wherein the upper portion can be housed inside the lower portion in a collapsed position. | 05-23-2013 |
20130147713 | User Interface Methods And Apparatus For Controlling The Visual Display Of Maps Having Selectable Map Elements In Mobile Communication Devices - A viewable map region of a map is visually displayed in a display, and a plurality of point of interest (POI) indicators are presented in the viewable region. One or more off-map indicators are also presented in the viewable region, where each off-map indicator indicates a POI indicator outside of the viewable region but within a predetermined range. In response to detecting a forward signal when a cursor is on a current. POI or off-map indicator, the viewable region is panned in the display in the upwards direction when the cursor is on a topmost POI or off-map indicator. Otherwise, the cursor is repositioned in an upwards direction onto a next POI or off-map indicator in the viewable region. The reverse occurs with respect to detecting of a reverse positioning signal. | 06-13-2013 |
20130147714 | METHOD AND DEVICE FOR TRACKBALL-BASED PRESS POSITIONING - In a method and device for trackball-based press positioning, when the trackball is under pressure, the multi-legged support that supports the trackball will be deformed, and then transmits the deformation information to the processing module. The processing module compares the deformation information with the deformation threshold information stored therein. When it is determined that the trackball is under pressure but not in contact with the pressure sensing module, the trajectory of the trackball is recorded by the positioning module, and corresponding operations are performed on the displayed information in accordance with the trajectory. The press positioning information of the trackball may be recognized, and corresponding operations may be determined in accordance with the information. | 06-13-2013 |
20130154936 | Computer Equipment Comprising a Trackball and Method for Driving the Computer Equipment - A computer equipment comprises a trackball used to point to objects on a screen of the equipment. A method for driving the computer equipment is also provided. The trackball comprises a moving part and a body inside which the moving part can be displaced, the computer being configured to display at least one object and a pointer on the screen. The trackball comprises means making it possible to exert a tangential force on the moving part, means driven by the computer. The computer is configured to modulate the force according to the shape of the object displayed and the position of the pointer relative to the object. | 06-20-2013 |
20140002362 | User Interface Device Having Capacitive Trackball Assembly | 01-02-2014 |
20140062884 | INPUT DEVICES - Input devices for a computer-based system include a touch screen comprising a dynamic input portion on which context-sensitive user inputs may be displayed, a cursor control comprising a palm rest and a track ball. The palm rest may be located relative to the track ball and the dynamic input portion of the touch screen for ease of use by the user. | 03-06-2014 |
20140267041 | TRACKBALL INPUT DEVICE WITH ADDITIONAL ROCKING MOTION - A system includes a graphical user interface and a trackball device configured to provide controlling input to the graphical user interface. The trackball device includes a trackball configured to allow a rocking motion along an axis of the trackball. | 09-18-2014 |
20150009148 | Universal User Interface Device - A flexible, scalable hardware input device for interacting with a variety of devices ranging from a phone, to a media playback device to a steering wheel or a tablet PC is provided. The input device includes a set of mechanical input controls, each mapping to one or more independent functions and a set of touch sensitive input control areas (e.g., capacitive), where each touch sensitive input control area receives touch input independently. In addition, one or more of the touch sensitive input control areas interchangeably overlay one or more of the mechanical input controls, whereby interaction with the touch sensitive input control areas is processed together to determine a corresponding function for controlling the application, service or computing device. | 01-08-2015 |
20160167512 | CONTROL PANEL FOR VEHICLE | 06-16-2016 |