Devindra S Chainani

US Patent:

56569076, Aug 12, 1997

Filed:

Feb 9, 1996

Appl. No.:

8/599025

Inventors:

Devindra S. Chainani - Bellevue WA
Timothy E. Wood - Seattle WA

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

G01C 1738
G06F 1500
A63H 17395

US Classification:

318587

Abstract:

A control program for a programmable toy (24) is created using a graphic programming system implemented on a personal computer (10). In the preferred embodiment, the programmable toy comprises a vehicle that can be commanded to make turns in 45. degree. increments and to track an infrared source (220). To create the graphic control program, the user simply selects graphic objects from control panel (154) presented on a cartoon-like graphic screen. For example, the user can select a horn graphic object (168) or a headlight graphic object (166) to respectively activate a horn or headlights on the programmable toy. The user creates a graphic control program on a grid (160) using a mouse (23) to select the graphic objects and indicate parameters. Once the graphic control program is completed, it is downloaded from the RS-232 serial port of the personal computer into the programmable toy through a connecting link (25), which is then uncoupled from the programmable toy. A switch (29) on the toy activates the control program.

US Patent:

56978294, Dec 16, 1997

Filed:

Oct 26, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/548910

Inventors:

Devindra S. Chainani - Bellevue WA
Timothy E. Wood - Seattle WA

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

A63H 1700

US Classification:

446436

Abstract:

A control program for a programmable toy (24) is created using a graphic programming system implemented on a personal computer (10). In the preferred embodiment, the programmable toy comprises a vehicle that can be commanded to make turns in 45. degree. increments and to track an infrared source (220). To create the graphic control program, the user simply selects graphic objects from control panel (154) presented on a cartoon-like graphic screen. For example, the user can select a horn graphic object (168) or a headlight graphic object (166) to respectively activate a horn or headlights on the programmable toy. The user creates a graphic control program on a grid (160) using a mouse (23) to select the graphic objects and indicate parameters. Once the graphic control program is completed, it is downloaded from the RS-232 serial port of the personal computer into the programmable toy through a connecting link (25), which is then uncoupled from the programmable toy. A switch (29) on the toy activates the control program.

US Patent:

56218753, Apr 15, 1997

Filed:

Oct 26, 1993

Appl. No.:

8/143288

Inventors:

Christopher A. Mason - Woodinville WA
Devindra S. Chainani - Redmond WA
Pamela P. Ho - Bellevue WA
Susan M. Wilkins - Bellevue WA

Assignee:

Microsoft Corp. - Redmond WA

International Classification:

G06F 1724

US Classification:

395793

Abstract:

A method and system for automatic formatting of user selected text in a word processing system. A number of format options are displayed to the user and a text format selection is then obtained from the user for a selected format option. An identifier identifying the selected text format is stored in a text format data structure. One or more portions of existing text are thereafter selected by the user. For each selected portion of existing text, the selected portion is formatted with the text format identified by the identifier stored in the data structure. These steps are repeated until canceled by the user or until the user enters new text. In a preferred embodiment, the word processing system provides a conventional mode for performing conventional text formatting in which a text format is specified only after a single portion of existing text is selected by the user to which to apply the specified text format. The word processing system also provides an automatic formatting mode for automatically formatting any number of selected portions of text with a selected text format, as described above. By selecting a text format without first selecting a portion of existing text to which to apply the selected text format, the user places the word processing system in automatic formatting mode.

US Patent:

57240744, Mar 3, 1998

Filed:

Feb 6, 1995

Appl. No.:

8/384034

Inventors:

Devindra S. Chainani - Bellevue WA
Timothy E. Wood - Seattle WA

Assignee:

Microsoft Corporation - Redmond WA

International Classification:

G06F 900

US Classification:

345474

Abstract:

A control program for a programmable toy (24) is created using a graphic programming system implemented on a personal computer (10). In the preferred embodiment, the programmable toy comprises a vehicle that can be commanded to make turns in 45. degree. increments and to track an infrared source (220). To create the graphic control program, the user simply selects graphic objects from control panel (154) presented on a cartoon-like graphic screen. For example, the user can select a horn graphic object (168) or a headlight graphic object (166) to respectively activate a horn or headlights on the programmable toy. The user creates a graphic control program on a grid (160) using a mouse (23) to select the graphic objects and indicate parameters. Once the graphic control program is completed, it is downloaded from the RS-232 serial port of the personal computer into the programmable toy through a connecting link (25), which is then uncoupled from the programmable toy. A switch (29) on the toy activates the control program.