The invention provides for a controller device and corresponding method to be used with a personal computer. The invention can be used with a computer mouse and/or a keyboard to better provide user inputs. The invention primarily comprises an ergonomic body allowing for a user to comfortably rest their hand and align their fingers with a plurality of input devices. The input devices may be 2-axis joysticks with an integrated switch, keyboard switches, directional pads, or other means of converting a mechanical motion into an electrical signal. The controller device may connect to a personal computer using a USB cable or utilizing wireless technologies. User customization can occur using mechanical connections such as detachable palm rests, thumb caps, and even sections of the body. There are also software customizations such as auto-calibrating the joystick's baseline electrical signal noise and sensitivity and LED colors of various LEDs located within the device.

A device (1) includes a body (2) and a touch panel (3) supported by, integrated with, or underlying the body (2). The touch panel (3) includes a layer of piezoelectric material (5) disposed between a plurality of first electrodes (6) and at least one second electrode (7). The device (1) also includes at least one second piezoelectric input region (8) supported by, integrated with, or underlying a portion of the body (2) which does not correspond to the touch panel (3). The device (1) is configured to receive user input using the touch panel (3) and/or at least one piezoelectric input region (8).

Aspects of the subject disclosure may include, for example, a method, comprising: receiving, by a media processor including a processor, spherical audiovisual media content from a content delivery network; rendering, by the media processor, video for a point of view in the spherical audiovisual media content at a display device coupled to the media processor; receiving, from a remote control device coupled to the media processor, a control signal panning the point of view, resulting in a new field of view; and generating, by the media processor, audio signals from the spherical audiovisual media content corresponding to the new field of view, wherein the audio signals are adapted to audio reproduction equipment coupled to the media processor. Other embodiments are disclosed.

Apparatus, systems, articles of manufacture, and methods are disclosed for physical keyboards with multi-display computing devices. An example keyboard includes a plurality of keys and a translucent backplate having a first side and a second side. The example keyboard also includes a coating between the first side of the backplate and the plurality of keys, the coating to pass light to illuminate the plurality of keys, and the coating to obscure the plurality keys when viewed from the second side of the backplate.

In certain embodiments, an electronic input device includes a knob assembly defining an annular cavity and including a magnetically attractable armature. The electronic input device also includes a ratchet assembly disposed within the annular cavity and includes a ring magnet. The electronic input device includes a clutch mechanism that has a friction disc assembly, and an electromagnet configured to generate a magnetic field that shifts the friction disc assembly between a first position in which the friction disc assembly prevents rotation of the ratchet assembly and a second position in which the ratchet assembly is free to rotate with the knob assembly. The ring magnet of the ratchet assembly interacts with the magnetically attractable armature to generate a ratcheting feedback in response to rotation of the knob assembly when the friction disc assembly is in the first position.

According to an embodiment, a mousepad comprises a cover layer and an integrated keypad. The cover layer has a lateral extension and an upper surface which is usable for placement (placing, putting down) of a computer mouse. The keypad covers a part of said lateral extension. In an area not covered by the keypad there is a mouse parking area. The mousepad comprises a mouse detector associated with the mouse parking area and a corresponding control unit. The control unit is configured such that the keyboard gets activated when the mouse is inside the mouse parking area and gets deactivated when the mouse is outside the mouse parking area.

The present invention provides a display device, which includes a frame having an accommodating cavity and a display module disposed in the accommodating cavity. The display module includes a first light source, an optical unit, an imaging unit arranged on a side of the optical unit facing away from the first light source, and a lens array arranged on a side of the imaging unit facing away from the first light source. Corresponding to a preset pattern, light emitted by the first light source passes through the optical unit, the imaging unit and the lens array to form a default floating image in a floating display area outside the accommodating cavity. In addition, the present invention also provides a non-contact key and an input device including the above display module.

A device may include a display portion that includes a display housing and a display at least partially within the display housing. The device may also include a base portion pivotally coupled to the display portion and including a bottom case, a top case coupled to the bottom case and defining an array of raised key regions, and a sensing system below the top case and configured to detect an input applied to a raised key region of the array of raised key regions.

A tactile touch sensor (TTS) system and method allowing physical augmentation of a high-resolution touch sensor array (TSA) is disclosed. Physical augmentation is accomplished using a TSA physical overlay (TPO) placed on top of the TSA. The TPO is constructed to transmit forces to the underlying TSA. Force transmission is accomplished by either using a flexible overlay or with a rigid mechanical overlay that transmits user forces exerted on the overlay to the underlying TSA. Incorporation of TPO identifiers (TPI) within the TPO permits identification of the TPO by a TPO detector (TPD) allowing operational characteristics of the TSA to be automatically reconfigured to conform to the currently applied TPO structure by a user computing device (UCD). The UCD may be configured to automatically load an appropriate application software driver (ASD) in response to a TPI read by the TPD from the currently applied TPO.

The information processing apparatus includes a pointing stick which is disposed on a keyboard, has an operable stick and is possible to detect a displacement in an installation plane direction of the stick and a displacement in a direction which is vertical to the installation plane and a main control unit which displays a predetermined menu screen on a display unit in a case where the pointing stick detects a specific operation which includes the displacement of the stick in the vertical direction.