Hillcrest Labs’ Freespace Technology Debuted
with Logitech MX Air Mouse
ROCKVILLE, Md. — Aug. 20, 2007 — Hillcrest Labs today announced that its patented
Freespace™ motion-control technology is being debuted by Logitech, the world’s leading
manufacturer of computer mice. Logitech is using the technology in the new Logitech® MX
Air™ Rechargeable Cordless Air Mouse. Freespace technology was initially designed by
Hillcrest Labs for use in advanced television remote controls such as Hillcrest Labs’ awardwinning
Loop™ controller. It enables consumer-electronics manufacturers and service providers
to embed advanced motion control capabilities into a wide range of devices and form factors.
Unlike conventional mice, people are not limited to using the MX Air mouse on a surface.
Instead, the MX Air mouse works on the desk and in the air, enabling effortless navigation and
control of digital media with just a flick of the wrist. The rechargeable MX Air mouse features
gesture-based commands, a touch-sensitive scroll panel, a wireless range of up to 30 feet, and a
sleek design.
“The MX Air mouse offers people a radically new way to interact with PC-based entertainment,”
said Erik Charlton, Logitech director of product marketing for performance and gaming mice.
“With more and more people using their PCs to watch videos and listen to music, we wanted to
create a product that would allow people to adjust the volume, change a song, or browse online
videos without having to return to the desk. Hillcrest’s Freespace technology enabled us to do
that and we’re pleased to be the first company to use Freespace technology in a commercial
product.”
“Logitech’s MX Air Mouse enables people to lean back from the desk and get comfortable while
navigating their favorite TV shows, music, online movies, photos, or any other application on
their computers,” said Dan Simpkins, CEO of Hillcrest Labs. “Industry insiders often refer to the
TV as the ten-foot viewing experience and the PC as the three-foot experience, so perhaps this
can be thought of as the six-foot experience. We are very proud that Logitech selected Freespace
technology to play a major role in its new innovative product, giving people a natural,
orientation-free way to browse, discover and interact with digital content at home.”
While Hillcrest Labs offers a complete, pointer-based interactive media system for television, the
company recognized that components of its system, such as Freespace, have valuable commercial
viability on their own and began licensing Freespace last year. Freespace uses patented digitalsignal
processing that uses gravity and other inertial forces to detect its position in the air. The
software translates motion instantaneously, and automatically adjusts for natural hand tremors.
Unlike older technologies that are based solely on gyroscopes, Freespace-enabled pointing
devices work regardless of directional orientation. Since users do not need to aim the device
toward a screen they are free to hold the device in whatever position feels most comfortable to
them.
Hillcrest Labs’ Freespace technology was recognized as part of the prestigious 2006 International
CES Innovations Design and Engineering Award, presented by the Consumer Electronics
Association. Hillcrest Labs also was presented the Editor’s Choice award by Popular Mechanics
at the 2007 Consumer Electronics Show.
For more information about the MX Air mouse, visit www.logitech.com. More information
about Hillcrest Labs is available at www.hillcrestlabs.com.
About Hillcrest Laboratories
Hillcrest Laboratories (a.k.a. Hillcrest Labs) has created the first pointer-based, interactive media
system for TV. Hillcrest Labs enables CE manufacturers, service providers and Internet content
companies to deliver the most visually engaging and intuitive way to browse, discover, and
interact with digital media throughout the home. Components of Hillcrest Labs’ interactive
media system can be embedded across a wide range of in-home entertainment devices including
PCs, DVRs, media adapters, and more. The company won a 2006 International CES Innovations
Design and Engineering Award, presented by the Consumer Electronics Association. Based in
Rockville, Maryland, Hillcrest Labs was founded in 2001 by Dan Simpkins. The company is
funded by NEA, Columbia Capital and Grotech Capital. For additional information, visit
www.hillcrestlabs.com.

Patent trolls thrive in the current patent system because their vague patents on things which really shouldn't be patentable are "lost" because of the quantity of patents out there and the difficulty of searching for relevant patents. If you sue someone before they release a product they have an opportunity to change their design in a way that doesn't violate your patent and (therefore) you won't make any money.

You must first wait until the product has been on the market long enough to generate the largest pay-out possible, and to encourage the company to settle in fear of an injunction being produced, to be an effective patent troll.

We'll see how the protection Nintendo set up will work.
They licence the technology from another company, so basically, they normally can't be sued over this, as they're not the one violating the patents.

LOL, I read the title of this thread on the main page of this site and was like, "Aww man, what happened now?" Then I read the first sentence of the OP and just started laughing.

Seriously though, this suing business really needs to stop! The US patent law people really needs to incorporate this rule, "If you patent an idea, you have 1 year (or whatever REASONABLE amount of time) to created a product that utilizes that idea."

Someone wants some of that Nintendo cash :)

Please this is nothing.. T-mobile patent the color Magenta.. yes.. the color...

You can own a color....Soon lime green you will be mine!

Nintendo has CASH! LET'S TAKE IT!!!

This is becoming a tradition. =D

I own a copyright to the letter W.

SUE SUE SUE

I'M SING NINTENDO FOR TAKING 2 "I"S FROM MY LAST NAME TO MAKE THE NAME "WII"! THEY ARE GOING DOWN!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!@!@!!!!~!!!!!`111111