3173 results about "Human–machine interface" patented technology

Affordable methods and apparatus are disclosed for inputting position, attitude (orientation) or other object characteristic data to computers for the purpose of Computer Aided Design, Painting, Medicine, Teaching, Gaming, Toys, Simulations, Aids to the disabled, and internet or other experiences. Preferred embodiments of the invention utilize electro-optical sensors, and particularly TV Cameras, providing optically inputted data from specialized datum's on objects and/or natural features of objects. Objects can be both static and in motion, from which individual datum positions and movements can be derived, also with respect to other objects both fixed and moving. Real-time photogrammetry is preferably used to determine relationships of portions of one or more datums with respect to a plurality of cameras or a single camera processed by a conventional PC.

An adaptive interface for a programmable system, for predicting a desired user function, based on user history, as well as machine internal status and context. The apparatus receives an input from the user and other data. A predicted input is presented for confirmation by the user, and the predictive mechanism is updated based on this feedback. Also provided is a pattern recognition system for a multimedia device, wherein a user input is matched to a video stream on a conceptual basis, allowing inexact programming of a multimedia device. The system analyzes a data stream for correspondence with a data pattern for processing and storage. The data stream is subjected to adaptive pattern recognition to extract features of interest to provide a highly compressed representation which may be efficiently processed to determine correspondence. Applications of the interface and system include a VCR, medical device, vehicle control system, audio device, environmental control system, securities trading terminal, and smart house. The system optionally includes an actuator for effecting the environment of operation, allowing closed-loop feedback operation and automated learning.

A system, method, and software product provide a wireless communications device with a markup language based man-machine interface. The man-machine interface provides a user interface for the various telecommunications functionality of the wireless communication device, including dialing telephone numbers, answering telephone calls, creating messages, sending messages, receiving messages, establishing configuration settings, which is defined in markup language, such as HTML, and accessed through a browser program executed by the wireless communication device. This feature enables direct access to Internet and World Wide Web content, such as Web pages, to be directly integrated with telecommunication functions of the device, and allows Web content to be seamlessly integrated with other types of data, since all data presented to the user via the user interface is presented via markup language-based pages. The browser processes an extended form of HTML that provides new tags and attributes that enhance the navigational, logical, and display capabilities of conventional HTML, and particularly adapt HTML to be displayed and used on wireless communication devices with small screen displays. The wireless communication device includes the browser, a set of portable components, and portability layer. The browser includes protocol handlers, which implement different protocols for accessing various functions of the wireless communication device, and content handlers, which implement various content display mechanisms for fetching and outputting content on a screen display.

A human-computer interface system and methods for providing intelligent, adaptive, multimodal interaction with users while accomplishing tasks on their behalf in some particular domain or combination of domains. Specifically, this system accepts user input via natural language text, mouse actions, human speech, whistles, gestures, pedal movements, facial or postural changes, and conveys results via natural language text, automatically-generated speech, and displays of graphs, tables, animation, video, and mechanical and chemical effectors that convey heat, tactile sensation, taste and smell.

A system and method are provided for receiving speech and/or non-speech communications of natural language questions and/or commands and executing the questions and/or commands. The invention provides a conversational human-machine interface that includes a conversational speech analyzer, a general cognitive model, an environmental model, and a personalized cognitive model to determine context, domain knowledge, and invoke prior information to interpret a spoken utterance or a received non-spoken message. The system and method creates, stores and uses extensive personal profile information for each user, thereby improving the reliability of determining the context of the speech or non-speech communication and presenting the expected results for a particular question or command.

A search engine provides intelligent multi-dimensional searches, in which the search engine always presents a complete, holistic result, and in which the search engine presents knowledge (i.e. linked facts) and not just information (i.e. facts). The search engine is adaptive, such that the search results improve over time as the system learns about the user and develops a user profile. Thus, the search engine is self personalizing, i.e. it collects and analyzes the user history, and/or it has the user react to solutions and learns from such user reactions. The search engine generates profiles, e.g. it learns from all searches of all users and combines the user profiles and patterns of similar users. The search engine accepts direct user feedback to improve the next search iteration One feature of the invention is locking/unlocking, where a user may select specific attributes that are to remain locked while the search engine matches these locked attributes to all unlocked attributes. The user may also specify details about characteristics, provide and/or receive qualitative ratings of an overall result, and introduce additional criteria to the search strategy or select a search algorithm. Additionally, the system can be set up such that it does not require a keyboard and/or mouse interface, e.g. it can operate with a television remote control or other such human interface.

A method to generate technical information about a device or process by recognizing the identity of a device or process, retrieving a stored image dependent on the device, combining the stored virtual image together with an image of a real device object displaying the combination on a display and providing a virtual control HMI means to the user for monitoring and/or controlling the device or process. A graphical user interface, computer program and a system are also described.

A computer-human interface manages the available space of a computer display in a manner which reduces clutter and confusion caused by multiple open windows. The interface includes a user-selectable mode of operation in which only those windows associated with the currently active task are displayed on the computer monitor. All other windows relating to non-active tasks are minimized by reducing them in size or replacing them with a representative symbol, such as an icon, so that they occupy a minimal amount of space on the monitor's screen. When a user switches from the current task to a new task, by selecting a minimized window, the windows associated with the current task are automatically minimized as the window pertaining to the new task is displayed at its normal size. As a result, the user is only presented with the window that relates to the current task of interest, and clutter provided by non-active tasks is removed.

An adaptive interface for a programmable system, for predicting a desired user function, based on user history, as well as machine internal status and context. The apparatus receives an input from the user and other data. A predicted input is presented for confirmation by the user, and the predictive mechanism is updated based on this feedback. Also provided is a pattern recognition system for a multimedia device, wherein a user input is matched to a video stream on a conceptual basis, allowing inexact programming of a multimedia device. The system analyzes a data stream for correspondence with a data pattern for processing and storage. The data stream is subjected to adaptive pattern recognition to extract features of interest to provide a highly compressed representation which may be efficiently processed to determine correspondence. Applications of the interface and system include a VCR, medical device, vehicle control system, audio device, environmental control system, securities trading terminal, and smart house. The system optionally includes an actuator for effecting the environment of operation, allowing closed-loop feedback operation and automated learning.

The present invention provides a method of human-computer interfacing that provides haptic feedback to control interface interactions such as scrolling or zooming within an application. Haptic feedback in the present method allows the user more intuitive control of the interface interactions, and allows the user's visual focus to remain on the application. The method comprises providing a control domain within which the user can control interactions. For example, a haptic boundary can be provided corresponding to scrollable or scalable portions of the application domain. The user can position a cursor near such a boundary, feeling its presence haptically (reducing the requirement for visual attention for control of scrolling of the display). The user can then apply force relative to the boundary, causing the interface to scroll the domain. The rate of scrolling can be related to the magnitude of applied force, providing the user with additional intuitive, non-visual control of scrolling.

A “Wearable Electromyography-Based Controller” includes a plurality of Electromyography (EMG) sensors and provides a wired or wireless human-computer interface (HCl) for interacting with computing systems and attached devices via electrical signals generated by specific movement of the user's muscles. Following initial automated self-calibration and positional localization processes, measurement and interpretation of muscle generated electrical signals is accomplished by sampling signals from the EMG sensors of the Wearable Electromyography-Based Controller. In operation, the Wearable Electromyography-Based Controller is donned by the user and placed into a coarsely approximate position on the surface of the user's skin. Automated cues or instructions are then provided to the user for fine-tuning placement of the Wearable Electromyography-Based Controller. Examples of Wearable Electromyography-Based Controllers include articles of manufacture, such as an armband, wristwatch, or article of clothing having a plurality of integrated EMG-based sensor nodes and associated electronics.

A “Wearable Electromyography-Based Controller” includes a plurality of Electromyography (EMG) sensors and provides a wired or wireless human-computer interface (HCl) for interacting with computing systems and attached devices via electrical signals generated by specific movement of the user's muscles. Following initial automated self-calibration and positional localization processes, measurement and interpretation of muscle generated electrical signals is accomplished by sampling signals from the EMG sensors of the Wearable Electromyography-Based Controller. In operation, the Wearable Electromyography-Based Controller is donned by the user and placed into a coarsely approximate position on the surface of the user's skin. Automated cues or instructions are then provided to the user for fine-tuning placement of the Wearable Electromyography-Based Controller. Examples of Wearable Electromyography-Based Controllers include articles of manufacture, such as an armband, wristwatch, or article of clothing having a plurality of integrated EMG-based sensor nodes and associated electronics.

An HVAC control system is described comprising: a server (32) having planned information, a man-machine interface (50) capable of communication with the server (32) to provide dynamic information about building occupancy based on a change in cold water in a mains riser. A central control unit (28) which can communicate with the server (32), and a room node (22, 24) for providing information about conditions within the room whereby, the information about room conditions is compared to planned information and/or dynamic information and adjustments made accordingly. The room node (22, 24) may comprise sensors (276, 278, 272, 274) which provide information about conditions in the room. Dynamic information can include changes to planned occupancy, the effect of solar heating and weather conditions. Changes to planned occupancy can be established through detecting location (internally or externally) or destination of a user; and calculating estimated time of arrival of a user.

A man-machine interface is disclosed which provides force information to sensing body parts. The interface is comprised of a force-generating device (106) that produces a force which is transmitted to a force-applying device (102) via force-transmitting means (104). The force-applying device applies the generated force to a sensing body part. A force sensor associated with the force applies device and located in the force applicator (126) measures the actual force applies to the sensing body part, while angle sensors (136) measure the angles of relevant joint body parts. A force-control unit (108) uses the joint body part position information to determine a desired force value to be applies to the sensing body part. The force-control unit combines the joint body part position information with the force sensor information to calculate the force command which is sent to the force-generating device.

An improved control and monitoring system for managing more than one computer system using a witch with a single connector for keyboard, video and mouse signals for each computer being managed. A notebook style display, keyboard, and pointing device attached to the switch provide a human interface. Each computer is attached to the switch using a cable having a single connector at the attachment point to the switch and separate connectors for keyboard, video, and pointing device signals at the attachment point to each computer, thus allowing a greater density of connections to computers without modifying the computers being controlled and monitored. Even greater densities may be realized by designating one switch as a master and attaching additional switches to the master.

The present invention is a new 3D graphical user interface (3D GUI) technology that seamlessly integrates personal computer (PC) desktop, web portal, and data visualization functions in an intuitive 3D environment. This new paradigm in human computer interfaces provides a seamless and intuitive ability to create a 3D website, “walk” or navigate from one 3D website to another, and allows multiple users to collaborate and interact with each other and the website. The invention dynamically creates a customized 3D environment that allows intuitive access to complicated websites as well as seamless multi-user collaboration and interaction. —In a preferred embodiment of the invention—The 3D GUI installs as the active desktop on a PC, replacing the user's “wallpaper” with the 3D GUI. —In another embodiment—The 3D GUI is accessed via a standard web browser window (i.e. using Netscape Navigator or Internet Explorer). —In either of these embodiments—, The user can simply “walk” from one 3D website to another, see and communicate with other users that are also at that website, access website information and share information with other users currently visiting the website. The invention also provides a method for reducing the file size normally associated with transmitting all the content in a 3D website.

Disclosed are new methods and apparatus particularly suited for applications in a vehicle, to provide a wide range of information, and the safe input of data to a computer controlling the vehicle subsystems or “Telematic” communication using for example GM's “ONSTAR” or cellular based data sources. Preferred embodiments utilize new programmable forms of tactile touch screens and displays employing tactile physical selection or adjustment means which utilize direct optical data input. A revolutionary form of dashboard or instrument panel results which is stylistically attractive, lower in cost, customizable by the user, programmable in both the tactile and visual sense, and with the potential of enhancing interior safety and vehicle operation. Non-automotive applications of the invention are also disclosed, for example means for general computer input using touch screens and home automation systems.

A human-computer interface system which includes a computer, the computer includes a central processing unit, a first memory, a second memory, at least one storage device, a system hub, an input/output adapter for connecting the at least one storage device to the system hub, an operating system installed onto the at least one storage device, applications software installed onto the at least one storage device, a communication network, the computer being connected to the communication network, a means for inputting and detecting data and commands generated by a user, a plurality of output converters, and a means for allowing the computer to develop and express the computer's emotional states.

A system and/or method that configures a HMI based at least upon a current state of parameters and a predefined protocol. A processing component queries an industrial automation environment receiving a current state of parameters relating to a human machine interface (HMI). A rendering component automatically configures the HMI to function in accordance with a predefined protocol.

Disclosed herein are new forms computer monitors and displays, and preferred embodiments utilize electro-optical sensors, and particularly TV Cameras, providing optically inputted data from the display screen or from specialized datum's on objects and/or natural features of objects, which may be illuminated using specialized light sources, such as laser pointers. The invention is a continuation of earlier applications aimed at providing affordable methods and apparatus for data communication with respect to people and computers.

The system and method of the preferred embodiment supports trading of securities over the Internet both on national exchanges and outside the national exchanges. The preferred embodiment supports an improved human interface and a continuous display of real-time stock quotes on the user's computer screen. The ergonomic graphical user interface (GUI) of the preferred embodiment includes several functional benefits in comparison with existing on-line consumer trading systems. In the preferred embodiment, the users are subscribers to a securities trading service offered over the Internet. Preferably, each subscriber to this service is simultaneously connected from his own computer to a first system which provides user-to-user trading capabilities and to a second system which is a broker/dealer system of his/her choice. The system providing the user-to-user trading services preferably includes a root server and a hierarchical network of replicated servers supporting replicated databases. The user-to-user system provides real-time continuously updated stock information and facilitates user-to-user trades that have been approved by the broker/dealer systems with which it interacts. Users of the preferred system can trade securities with other users of the system. As part of this user-to-user trading, a user can accept a buy or sell offer at the terms offered or he can initiate a counteroffer and negotiate a trade.

The present invention provides for distributed navigation and route guidance using networked computing devices. A computing device may host one or more navigation functional components. The location of a navigable object is sensed and communicated to associated navigation components in a communication network. The navigation components collectively provide guidance information to a navigable object controller. A navigable object controller directs the movement of an navigable object using guidance information to keep it on a specified route. The navigable object controller interacts with the distributed navigation system through an interface, which provides the appropriate presentation of guidance information and functions for the particular type of navigable object controller (e.g., human-machine interface, or system to system). The present invention provides the structures and methods for a flexible navigation and guidance system supporting a variety of network capabilities and computing devices using the same software implementation.

A controlling device and a controlling system. The controlling device transmits controlling signals to an electronic device and receives operation statuses thereof through a power line. The controlling device includes a Human-Machine Interface (HMI) device for displaying the operation statuses of the electronic device. The controlling device includes a controller, an HMI device connected to the controller, a power supply for providing an electric power to the controller and the HMI device, and a power line network signal transmit/receive module connected to the controller.

A man-machine interface is disclosed. The circle is divided into several angle cells. The required inputted content is placed in the cells, the inputted option direction of motion is detected in real time, the content which the user want to input is forecasted and inputted according to the content in the angle cell directed by the extension line of the direction of motion

The invention is intended to provide an excavation teaching device for a construction machine which can realize easy confirmation of a proper target excavation surface and increase the working efficiency during excavation even in work of forming the face of slope in complicated three-dimensional landforms.

A display unit (46) displays, as an image in a first screen area (46a), a plurality of small plane surfaces G constituting a three-dimensional target landform and illustrations of a body S of the construction machine and a bucket B as an excavating tool at a fore end of an operating mechanism. Also, the display unit discriminatively displays in the first screen area, as a target excavation surface TG defined by a small plane surface along which excavation is feasible, one of the plurality of small plane surfaces constituting the three-dimensional target landform, which satisfies that the direction normal to the one small plane surface is parallel within a range of allowable error to a plane in which the operating mechanism operates. A panel computer (45) displays, on the display unit (46), a line resulting from projecting a line normal to the target excavation surface, selected from among the plurality of, small plane surfaces constituting the three-dimensional target landform, and the direction in which the operating mechanism of the construction machine operates with current orientation thereof, as well as relative positional relationships among the body of the construction machine, the position of the operating mechanism and the target landform.

The invention discloses a remote automatic control system of a fracturing pump skid used in an oil field. The system is used for remote automatic control of a well service pump skid and a truck-mounted skid used in the oil field; the remote automatic control system consists of a field control system which consists of Siemens S7-315 series PLCs which are taken as a core, a Siemens MP370 which is taken as a remote control human-machine interface, and Ethernet which is taken as a transmission media; the system can achieve remote control functions such as start, stop and emergency stop of an engine, gear shifting, braking, turning back to a neutral position and idle speed of a gearbox and the like, and the system can modify field running parameters in a remote manner, thus realizing bidirectional transmission between the pump skid and the human-machine interface (HMI); the Ethernet is taken for communication so that the pump skid can transmit the field data to a remote controller or a server at the speed of 100MB/S; an industrial exchanger is taken to connect the devices such as the PLC, the HMI and the like to achieve more group controls; the exchanger can convert the field data into the data formats such as a standard *.CSV format and the like, and directly transmit the data to the server for data processing.

Apparatus and method for controlling a molding machine includes structure and function for a human machine interface control panel having: (i) a flat panel display screen; (ii) a pointing device; (iii) a plurality of pushbuttons overlaid with or without icons; (iv) a housing containing the above and the associated electronics; (v) structure to uniquely identify each users preferred configuration; (vi) structure to connect to a remote controller for both digital information and video signal communication; (vii) a connection for receiving external power to drive the panel's electronics and display; and (viii) software running in the remote controller to provide all the operating functions of the human machine interface.

A holographic HMI is described by which data and commands can be entered into computers and other electronic equipment. The holographic HMI involves no tangible physical contact between the human operator and the control elements of the HMIs because the input devices are holographic images of keys or other customarily touch-activated tangible input elements. Operator interaction with those holographic images is detected through electromagnetic means or other means, obviating the need for direct physical contact with any solid input object or surface. Such holographic HMIs comprise a hologram for generating a holographic image of a tangible input object of the tangible control mechanism for the electronic or electro-mechanical device. An illumination device illuminates the hologram to produce the holographic image. An actuation detection device detects the selection by the operator of a holographic image, generated by the hologram, of the tangible input object, and a signal generator receives the detection of the actuation detection device and provides an input signal to the electronic or electro-mechanical device thereby to produce the response. The hologram is affixed to a transparent or translucent material.

A manifold compatibility omni axis, electronic human interface device comprises a controller operatively coupled to an omni axis steering device having one or more attachments for motion detection, and a stationary fitness device operatively coupled to the controller. The controller comprises a re-centerer for re-centering one or more axis of movement, and a ratio processor for interpreting, transmitting, and adjusting one or more ratios for speed and other axis of movement. The controller is operatively coupled to a computer via a standard interface. The computer is configured to play a virtual reality program based at least in part on input from the controller. The controller is configured to mimic natural steering movements, making a user's physical movements with respect to the omni axis steering device and the stationary fitness device closely resemble movements in the virtual reality program.

A system and method are disclosed for preventing accidents in a vehicle. The system comprises an eye gaze detector for receiving an eye gaze vector from a driver. The system additionally comprises a proximity sensor for detecting locations of nearby objects and their velocities. A vehicle accident risk is determined based on the nearby object location and velocity. Additionally, the driver's knowledge of vehicle circumstances is determined based on the nearby object location and velocity as well as the eye gaze location. Responsive to the driver's knowledge and the vehicle accident risk, a vehicle alert is activated.