Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080268296 | Polarity protection for multiple batteries - Battery carriages are provided herein that interface with batteries in the correct polarization, regardless of the orientation in which the batteries are inserted in the battery carriages. Such battery carriages may be advantageously used with any device that uses batteries. Such a device may include two or more battery carriages, wherein each of the battery carriages includes first and second dual-contact assemblies disposed on a substrate. Each of the two dual-contact assemblies may have a positive contact and a negative contact. The positive contacts may each be configured to contact a positive terminal of a battery and to be connected to a positive circuit connection, and the negative contacts may each be configured to contact a negative terminal of a battery and to be connected to a negative circuit connection. | 10-30-2008 |
20080309522 | Keyboard with touch sensitive zones and corresponding computer user interface - A keyboard key has a key portion that forms a cantilevered beam pivotable about an axis. A switch is disposed relative to the cantilevered beam, such that rotation of the cantilever beam about the axis causes depression of the switch. The switch is offset from an applied force-receiving portion of the key portion. A touch sensitive key also includes a touch sensor detecting contact with the key portion of the key. The invention can be extended such that the key portion is formed of transparent or semi-transparent material. The invention can also be extended to include touch sensitive areas on any portion of an upper case of the computer keyboard. | 12-18-2008 |
20090091290 | CONVENIENT RECHARGING OF A CHARGE STORAGE DEVICE - The convenient recharging of a charge storage device is disclosed. In one embodiment, a system comprises a portable device accessory with a charge storage device holding mechanism and a recharging circuit. The system also comprises a portable device with an interface at which the portable device and the portable device accessory are connectable. A charge storage device-switching mechanism is disposed within the portable device accessory or the portable device. The charge storage device-switching mechanism is actuatable to switch a first charge storage device in the portable device with a second charge storage device in the charge storage device holding mechanism of the portable device accessory by mechanically connecting and/or disconnecting the portable device from the portable device accessory. | 04-09-2009 |
20090130493 | PROTECTING AGAINST INCORRECT BATTERY POLARITY - Embodiments of battery holders with dual-contact assemblies are disclosed. One embodiment comprises a battery holder with a substrate and a spring dual-contact assembly, wherein the spring dual-contact assembly comprises a positive contact configured to contact a positive terminal of a battery positioned in the battery holder with the positive terminal oriented toward the spring dual-contact assembly and a negative contact configured to contact a negative terminal of a battery positioned in the battery holder with the negative terminal oriented toward the spring dual-contact assembly. The positive and negative contacts are coupled to an insulator configured to hold the positive contact and negative contact in a fixed relation to one another. Further, one or more cantilever wire springs hold the negative contact, positive contact and insulator in a resiliently displaceable relationship to the substrate. | 05-21-2009 |
20090148219 | REDUCED IMPACT KEYBOARD WITH CUSHIONED KEYS - A keyboard for use with a computing device and a method of manufacturing a keyboard key are provided. One disclosed keyboard includes a plurality of keys, each key having a key cap including a perimeter wall and a void positioned within the perimeter wall and opening to a top of the key cap. Each key further includes a cushion having a top portion configured to be contacted by a digit of a user and a bottom portion configured to be fitted within the void in the key cap. The cushion being may be configured to absorb an impact force directed against the key during a keystroke. | 06-11-2009 |
20090153485 | USER INPUT DEVICE WITH OPTICAL TRACKING ENGINE THAT OPERATES THROUGH TRANSPARENT SUBSTRATE - A user input device for use with a computing device is provided. The user input device may include a housing with a bottom portion including a substrate that includes a transparent portion. The user input device may further include an optical tracking engine mounted in the housing proximate the substrate and being configured to transmit and/or detect light for tracking movement of the user input device through the transparent portion of the substrate. | 06-18-2009 |
20100060567 | CONTROLLING DEVICE OPERATION RELATIVE TO A SURFACE - Architecture for automatic switching between multiple modes in a handheld device such as a mouse based on the presence of specular light, or lack thereof. When applied to a presenter mouse, the architecture facilitates the automatic switching between mouse mode and presenter mode without manual intervention by the user. An optical approach is well suited since most optical systems include a light source, lenses, and light sensors to detect reflected light from the source (or lack thereof). The approach leverages the existing light source and lenses in a mouse to minimize incremental cost, yet provide a robust technique for detecting lift from the tracking surface thereby automatically switching between modes as the user moves the mouse on and off the tracking surface. A delay circuit and/or image comparison can also be provided that eliminates undesirable triggering to a different mode by preventing unintended switching between the multiple modes. | 03-11-2010 |
20100078303 | MECHANICAL ARCHITECTURE FOR DISPLAY KEYBOARD KEYS - Mechanical architecture for providing maximum viewing area on key button tops of keys for a user input device. The viewing area is for the display of information on the key buttons, and also includes tactile feedback similar to standard laptop keyboards, all using low cost manufacturing methods such as injection molding. The architecture optimizes an aperture through the core of the key switch assembly in order to project an image through the aperture and onto the display area of the key button. The architecture relocates in at least one embodiment the tactile feedback mechanism (e.g., dome assembly) out from underneath the key button to the perimeter or side of the key switch assembly. The architecture finds particular application to input devices such as keyboards, game pods, data entry device, etc., that operate in combination with an optical surface (e.g., wedge lens). | 04-01-2010 |
20100259488 | AVOIDING OPTICAL EFFECTS OF TOUCH ON LIQUID CRYSTAL DISPLAY - Embodiments are disclosed herein related to the avoidance of undesirable optical effects in a liquid crystal display used with a touch-sensitive display input device. For example, one embodiment provides a user interface comprising a body, a light source disposed within the body, and a liquid crystal display configured to create an image displayable on one or more display surfaces coupled to the body. The user interface device further includes a light delivery system positioned optically between the light source and the liquid crystal display to deliver light produced by the light source to the liquid crystal display. The light delivery system comprises a light exit surface spaced from the liquid crystal display to form a gap positioned between the light exit surface of the light delivery system and the liquid crystal display. | 10-14-2010 |
20100304188 | END-LOADED BATTERY CARRIAGE - A battery carriage is provided, including first and second dual-contact assemblies. The first dual contact assembly is disposed on a body portion of the battery carriage and the second dual contact assembly is disposed on a separable portion of the battery carriage. Each dual contact assembly includes a positive contact configured to contact a positive terminal of a battery and a negative contact configured to contact a negative terminal of the battery. The separable portion of the battery carriage is selectively moveable into and out of a coupled state with the body portion. When the separable portion is moved into the coupled state, the dual contact assemblies are held spaced apart to define a receptacle in which the dual contact assemblies hold opposing ends of the battery. Movement of the separable portion into the coupled state also establishes electrical conductivity between the positive contacts of each of the dual contact assemblies, and between the negative contacts of each of the dual contact assemblies. | 12-02-2010 |
20110044056 | LIGHT COLLECTOR FOR AN ILLUMINATION OPTIC - A light collector is provided to converge light from a light source down to a range of acceptance angles of an illumination optic, and to couple the converged light into the illumination optic, where the range of acceptance angles of the illumination optic is less than a range of emission angles of the light source. | 02-24-2011 |
20110050580 | LIGHT COLLECTOR FOR AN ILLUMINATION OPTIC - A light collector is provided to converge light from a light source down to a range of acceptance angles of an illumination optic, and to couple the converged light into the illumination optic, where the range of acceptance angles of the illumination optic is less than a range of emission angles of the light source. | 03-03-2011 |
20110097937 | MULTIPLE ORIENTATION BATTERY CONNECTOR - A connector is provided for electrically coupling a battery with a battery-powered device. The connector includes a first dual-contact assembly and a second dual-contact assembly. Each of the dual-contact assemblies includes a positive contact for contacting a positive PP3 terminal of a PP3 battery, and a negative contact for contacting a negative PP3 terminal of the PP3 battery. Each dual-contact assembly is configured so that, when the dual-contact assembly is physically engaged with either of the PP3 battery terminals, one of the contacts of the dual-contact assembly electrically engages the PP3 battery terminal, while the other of the contacts of the dual-contact assembly is electrically insulated from the PP3 battery terminal. Accordingly, the PP3 battery may be installed in either of two valid connection states relative to the connector, in which appropriate electrical connectivity is provided via the connector to a device to be powered by the PP3 battery. | 04-28-2011 |
20110117389 | FLEXIBLE SIZE AND ORIENTATION BATTERY SYSTEM - A battery receptacle system is provided to accept various types or sizes of batteries in different orientations. The battery receptacle system includes a first radial notch for positioning a first positive terminal of a first battery to electrically connect with the first positive contact at a first position, and a second radial notch for positioning a second positive terminal of a second battery of a different size and/or type than the first battery to electrically connect with the first positive contact at a second position, different from the first position. The second radial notch is configured to prevent the first positive terminal of the first battery from electrically connecting with the first positive contact at the second position. | 05-19-2011 |
20110248920 | KEYBOARD WITH HINGED KEYS AND DISPLAY FUNCTIONALITY - A computer peripheral is provided. The computer peripheral includes a display device and a keyboard assembly. The keyboard assembly is disposed over the display device. The keyboard assembly is configured to permit viewing of images produced by the display device through the keyboard assembly. Further, the keyboard assembly includes a base structure and a plurality of keys. Each of the plurality of keys is selectively physically depressible relative to the base structure to cause production of an input signal. Further, each of the plurality of keys is movably coupled with respect to the base structure via a hinge at one edge of the key. Further still, each of the plurality of keys includes a transparent portion to permit viewing of the images produced by the display device through the key. | 10-13-2011 |
20110248921 | KEYCAP CONSTRUCTION FOR KEYBOARD WITH DISPLAY FUNCTIONALITY - A computer peripheral is provided. The computer peripheral includes a display device and a keyboard assembly disposed over the display device. The keyboard assembly is configured to permit viewing of images produced by the display device through the keyboard assembly. The keyboard assembly includes a plurality of keys. Each of the plurality of keys is selectively physically depressible to cause production of an input signal. Each of the plurality of keys includes a keycap having a perimeter piece and a central piece. The central piece is transparent so as to permit passage of light from the display device through the central piece to a user of the keyboard assembly. | 10-13-2011 |
20110248922 | ADAPTIVE KEYBOARD LIGHT PILLAR - An input device includes a display device configured to selectively modulate light to produce a changeable display image. The input device also includes a keyboard assembly disposed over the display device and including one or more depressible keys. Each depressible key includes a keycap having a light transmissive window; a light pillar between the keycap and the display device; and a light-turning layer between the light pillar and the keycap. | 10-13-2011 |
20110248923 | ADAPTIVE KEYBOARD LIGHT TURNER - An input device includes a display device configured to selectively modulate light to produce a changeable display image. The input device also includes a keyboard assembly disposed over the display device and including one or more depressible keys. Each depressible key includes a keycap having a light transmissive window and a light-turning feature or element between the display device and the keycap. | 10-13-2011 |
20110260978 | TRANSPARENT KEYBOARD ASSEMBLY WITH UNDERLYING DISPLAY DEVICE - The disclosure provides for a computer peripheral having a keyboard assembly situated over a display device that produces images which are viewable through the keyboard assembly. The keyboard assembly has a plurality of keys, each of which includes a keycap and a mechanical understructure that is at least partially transparent. The mechanical understructure is disposed between the keycap and the display device to guide reciprocating movement of the keycap toward and away from the display device. In some embodiments, the mechanical understructure may have a non-oblique planar configuration, in which a majority of its surface area is composed of planar surfaces that are parallel or perpendicular to the underlying display device. | 10-27-2011 |
20110268487 | KEYBOARD ASSEMBLY AND UNDERLYING DISPLAY DEVICE - The disclosure provides for a computer peripheral in which a display device produces images which may be viewed through a keyboard assembly that is disposed over the display device. Each the key of the keyboard assembly includes a keycap and a mechanical understructure that is configured to guide reciprocating movement of the keycap toward and away from the display device. The mechanical understructure is disposed away from a central portion of the keycap, to permit images produced by the display device to be viewed through the central portion of the keycap. | 11-03-2011 |
20120068933 | INTERACTIVE KEYBOARD WITH MULTIPLE DIFFERENT KEY ARRANGEMENTS - A keyboard kit that is selectively configurable by an end user to provide differing key arrangements is provided. The keyboard kit includes a plurality of differently-configured keyboard modules and an underlying display device. Each of the plurality of differently-configured keyboard modules may be at least partially see-through and include mechanically-depressible keys, the underlying display device and plurality of differently-configured keyboard modules being configured such that, upon securing of a selected one of the plurality of differently-configured keyboard modules to the underlying display device, the selected one of the plurality of differently-configured keyboard modules covers at least a portion of an operative surface of the underlying display device and enables through-key user viewing of dynamic keyboard imagery from the underlying display device. | 03-22-2012 |
20120068934 | INTERACTIVE KEYBOARD WITH VIEWABLE DISPLAY - A keyboard with viewable output display capability is provided. The keyboard includes a display device and a plurality of keys situated over the display device, each of the plurality of keys being mechanically depressible so that the key is reciprocally movable toward and away from the display device, and each of the plurality of keys being further configured to permit image light from the display device to pass through the key. The keyboard further includes an electrical trace network underneath the plurality of keys and formed at least in part from a transparent conductive material to permit image light from the display device to pass through the electrical trace network, the electrical trace network being operable, for each of the plurality of keys, to produce an electrical signal associated with the key in response to depression of the key toward the display device. | 03-22-2012 |
20120084966 | METHOD OF MAKING AN INTERACTIVE KEYBOARD - Various methods of making an interactive keyboard in which a plurality of mechanically-depressible keys are situated over a display device, each of the mechanically-depressible keys being configured to permit through-key viewing of images produced by the display device, is provided. One example method includes providing a mold which defines a mold cavity. The method further includes introducing keycap material into the mold cavity. In such an example, the keycap material and the mold interact to produce a molded keycap having a viewing portion with one or more optical layers that are at least partially see-through and configured to provide one or more optical effects in connection with light that is incident upon the one or more optical layers. | 04-12-2012 |
20120086643 | KEYBOARD DEVICE WITH OPTICALLY ENHANCED DISPLAY OUTPUT - A display and input system configured to receive tactile user input and provide dynamic display output is provided. The system includes a display device and a plurality of input locations situated over the display device. Each of the input locations is at least partially see-through to permit viewing of imagery generated by the display device, where each of the input locations includes an optical element spaced from an operative surface of the display device and configured to adjust viewer perception of image light emanating from the display device through input location. The display and input system may also be implemented to include mechanically-depressible keys providing keyboard-type input functionality. | 04-12-2012 |
20120262309 | PARTICULATE BARRIER FOR KEYBOARD DISPLAY - This disclosure provides for a computer peripheral having displayable output in addition to keyboard-type input functionality. A plurality of keycaps are situated over a display device, and each keycap is movable downward and upward relative to the display device. Associated with each of the keycaps is a display region on the display device. The display region produces imagery which is viewable through transparent portions of the keycap. For each of the keycaps, a particulate barrier is provided to prevent particulate from entering into the display regions associated with the keycaps. | 10-18-2012 |
20120263513 | VIEWING DISPLAY IMAGERY THROUGH A KEYBOARD KEYCAP - A computer peripheral is provided in which depressible keys are situated over a display device. A region on the display device is associated with each key. Each key includes a keycap with a central viewing window for viewing changeable display imagery produced by the display region associated with the key. Each key has a mechanical understructure that guides and constrains movement of the keycap toward and away from the display device. The mechanical understructure is configured to not optically obstruct through-keycap viewing of changeable display imagery produced on the associated region of the display. In many examples, the mechanical understructure is positioned outside of the display region to provide such unobstructed viewing. | 10-18-2012 |
20120320077 | COMMUNICATING STATUS AND EXPRESSION - There is provided a robot that includes a processor executing instructions that determine a desired image to be displayed. The processor issues control signals corresponding to the desired image to be displayed. The robot also comprises a display assembly including a plurality of light sources, and a display surface. Selected ones of the plurality of light sources are activated depending at least in part upon the control signals. The display assembly includes a plurality of first light-carrying members. Each of the first light-carrying members transfers light from a corresponding one of the light sources to a light-carrying member to produce the desired image to be displayed on the display surface. | 12-20-2012 |
20120323365 | DOCKING PROCESS FOR RECHARGING AN AUTONOMOUS MOBILE DEVICE - Described herein are technologies pertaining to autonomously docking a mobile robot at a docking station for purposes of recharging batteries of the mobile robot. The mobile robot uses vision-based navigation and a known map of the environment to navigate toward the docking station. Once sufficiently proximate to the docking station, the mobile robot captures infrared images of the docking station, and granularly aligns itself with the docking station based upon the captured infrared images of the docking station. As the robot continues to drive towards the docking station, the robot monitors infrared sensors for infrared beams emitted from the docking station. If the infrared sensors receive the infrared beams, the robot continues to drive forward until the robot successfully docks with the docking station. | 12-20-2012 |
20120327315 | VIDEO PROJECTION SYSTEM FOR MOBILE DEVICE - A mobile device such as a robot includes a processor, a memory that stores components executable by the processor, and a projection assembly. The projection assembly includes a projector, a lens, a movable mirror, and a first projection surface integral with a surface of the mobile device. The components include a projection component and a control component. The projection component determines the projection parameters, and projects the image onto the movable minor, dependent upon the projection parameters. The control component causes the projector and the lens to focus the image onto the first projection surface, and further causes the movable mirror to reflect the image onto the first projection surface. | 12-27-2012 |
20130009592 | AUTONOMOUS DEVICE BATTERY EXCHANGE - Various embodiments related to automatically exchanging a discharged battery for a charged battery in an autonomous device are disclosed. For example, one disclosed embodiment provides a method of operating an autonomous device, the method including autonomously moving to and operatively engaging with a battery exchange dock such that a discharged battery in the autonomous device is automatically removed from the autonomous device and placed into a charging receptacle on the battery exchange dock and a charged battery is automatically received from the battery exchange dock by the autonomous device. The method further includes autonomously disengaging from the battery exchange dock after receiving the charged battery. | 01-10-2013 |
20130342493 | Touch Detection on a Compound Curve Surface - Described is detecting touch on a compound curve surface that displays content for touch-based interaction. Touch may be detected by processing an infrared image to detect a shadow corresponding to the touch, and/or by detecting infrared reflection corresponding to the touch. Also described is providing a curved surface with capacitive sensing. Also described is the use of frustrated total internal reflection to detect touch. | 12-26-2013 |
20140118629 | VIDEO PROJECTION SYSTEM FOR MOBILE DEVICE - A mobile device includes a processor, a memory that stores components executable by the processor, and a projection assembly. The projection assembly includes a projector, a lens, a movable mirror, and a first projection surface integral with a surface of the mobile device. The components include a projection component and a control component. The projection component determines the projection parameters, and projects the image onto the movable minor, dependent upon the projection parameters. The control component causes the projector and the lens to focus the image onto the first projection surface, and further causes the movable mirror to reflect the image onto the first projection surface. | 05-01-2014 |