Creative Labs Zen MP3 Players Sound Blaster Card

Patent-Weekend covers Creative patents. Some might really give us insights of what Creative has got up their sleeves. Some are just for the fun.

In another recent published patent: PORTABLE DIGITAL MEDIA DEVICE WITH A FORCE SENSOR,  Creative outlines the following abstract:

There is provided a portable digital media device, including: a storage device;a force sensor coupled to the storage device; a display; and a controller coupled to both the storage device and the display, wherein the display shows information. The device may also be used as a cursor control and input device when connected to a computer. Other applications of the device are also disclosed.

Which would mean, we have a portable device which would be a portable device on itself but also function as a way to operate your computer, or say another device. You could operate it as a remote for your media device ? Your guess is as good as mine. However it mentions the use of a force sensor and accelerometer to operate on all three x y and z axis of operation.

One of the benefits of a force sensor is that it would help to maintain a record of shocks which damage the hard disk or the player. For Example, as it detects an instantaneous force, it would power off automatically. However, as Creative is out of the HDD business in its media players, much of it doesn’t seem relevant at this point.There is also a mention of it being useful for any sort of force sensing situation.

Most of the things mentioned aren’t really practical for Creative to make a step in as of yet. It is a patent. Its sort of a reserved space for them for the idea. It never was developed since 2006 and it might never be.

(Patent link download soon)