The present disclosure provides a method and apparatus of a computer interface device using an open kinetic chain with retractable links. It comprises a two-link robot arm that rotates along a shoulder and elbow joint. Each link can also be extendable in length. The end effector stylus has a ball tip that fits into a socket on the distal end of the second link, meaning that the stylus is detachable and interchangeable. The device can achieve a very high refreshing rate and a high spatial resolution. The links, elbow joint, and shoulder joint have sensors that record linear position and rotational data, respectively, which get transmitted and processed in an MPU on the main PCB. The PCB communicates with a PC as a haptic input device. The method and apparatus improve: (1) device control accuracy and comfort; (2) refreshing rate and responsiveness; (3) device resolution and/or input area size.

The present disclosure provides a method and apparatus of a computer interface device using an open kinetic chain with retractable links. It comprises a two-link robot arm that rotates along a shoulder and elbow joint. Each link can also be extendable in length. The end effector stylus has a ball tip that fits into a socket on the distal end of the second link, meaning that the stylus is detachable and interchangeable. The device can achieve a very high refreshing rate and a high spatial resolution. The links, elbow joint, and shoulder joint have sensors that record linear position and rotational data, respectively, which get transmitted and processed in an MPU on the main PCB. The PCB communicates with a PC as a haptic input device. The method and apparatus improve: (1) device control accuracy and comfort; (2) refreshing rate and responsiveness; (3) device resolution and/or input area size.

A device for use with a touchscreen or a touch-enabled computing device. The device includes a first layer, a second layer and an attachment device. The first layer has a first set of characteristics. The second layer has a second set of characteristics with at least one or more characteristics differing from that of the first layer. The attachment device is configured to combine the first and second layers about an outer periphery and at a second internal portion.

A device for simulating finger movement on a computer touchpad prevents the computer attached to the touchpad from falling asleep or locking. The device includes a small motor that moves a weight inside the device and thereby changes the location of the center of gravity of the device, causing the device to tilt in different directions when the device is placed on the touchpad. The lower support of the device is conductive, e.g., metalized, so that the changes in the location of the contact patch between the device and the touchpad simulate finger movements on the touchpad. The small motor may be an electric motor, such as a wall/desk clock motor powered by an AA battery, or a mechanical wind-up movement. In examples, the simulated finger movement is linear or circular.

A device for online gaming includes an actuation component and a controller communicatively coupled to a computer system. The controller is configured to perform operations including detecting an actuation of the actuation component, wherein the actuation component is associated with performing of an action in a video game executed by the computer system. Responsive to detecting the actuation, an instruction is provided to the computer system to perform the action, wherein, based on a current value of a timer, the computer system restricts the action from being performed. The timer, having been previously initiated based on a prior actuation of the actuation component, relates to a cooldown period during which the action cannot be repeated after the action is performed. Responsive to receiving a command from the computer system, a tactile effect is generated as an indication to a user that the action can be repeated.

A system that incorporates the subject disclosure may include, for example, a button including a fixed force magnet coupled to a first housing assembly component serving as a top portion of the button, a variable force magnet coupled to a second housing assembly serving as a bottom portion of the button, and a spring coupled to the fixed force magnetic and the variable force magnet for repelling the fixed force magnet from the variable force magnet according to a spring constant of the spring. The variable force magnet emitting a magnetic field to counter the spring constant and thereby adjust a force required to depress the button. Additional embodiments are disclosed.

A fingertip protective cover to reduce transmission of germs, viruses and the like when a person’s fingertip contacts a touchscreen, such as are used on many electronic devices. A dome shaped main body has a convex top surface, adapted for contact with touchscreen contact points. A bottom surface has a concave recess for receiving a portion of a human fingertip. At least the recess of the fingertip protective cover is sufficiently self-adhesive to releasably adhere to the fingertip in use, or alternatively an adhesive is disposed in the recess. The top surface is electrically conductive to permit use with electrically conductive (capacitive) touchscreens. The entirety of the fingertip protective cover may be formed of an electrically conductive material, or alternatively the top surface may be covered with a layer of electrically conductive material.

In relation to a tactile presentation panel, a tactile presentation panel has a tactile presentation knob placed on an operation surface and presents a tactile sense to a user via the tactile presentation knob, and includes a control circuit that divides the operation surface into a plurality of regions, assigns a control target to each of divided regions, and sets a tactile sense to be presented for each of the divided regions, a tactile control circuit that generates a tactile sense set by the control circuit for each of the divided regions by changing a frictional force between the operation surface and the tactile presentation knob, and a touch detection circuit that detects a position on the tactile presentation panel of the tactile presentation knob. The tactile presentation knob is placed in the divided region so that the control target is selected.

A flexible wireless charging mouse pad includes an anti-slip cushion layer, a double-sided adhesive layer, and a coil. The anti-slip cushion layer has a topside with a single-ring groove, and the single-ring groove has an inner bottom groove wall. The double-sided adhesive layer is adhered to the topside. The coil has multiple surrounding rings arranged side by side with one another to form a coil module, and the coil module of the coil inside the single-ring groove is stacked and connected between the double-sided adhesive layer and the inner bottom groove wall and adhered by the double-sided adhesive layer, so as to achieve a wireless charging effect by the mouse pad in the condition of having only one single-ring groove on the flexible board layer, further to achieve the effects of reducing manufacturing difficulty, lowering manufacturing cost, and improving market competitiveness.

A system that incorporates the subject disclosure may include, for example, a method that includes identifying a plurality of devices associated with a computing device, identifying status information from each device of the plurality of devices, and identifying presentation features for each device of the plurality of devices. The method further includes receiving presentation information indicating a setting to present first status information from a first device of the plurality of devices via a selected device of the plurality of devices, wherein the first status is presented on the selected device by a selected presentation feature of the selected device. Additional embodiments are disclosed.