Rotational element enabling touch-like gestures
First Claim
Patent Images
1. An input device, comprising:
- a housing;
at least one input element for providing a computer input from the input device;
a mechanical rotational element partially protruding from the housing such that portions of the surface of the mechanical rotational element contacted by the user are rotated to positions inside the housing inaccessible to the user'"'"'s touch during a portion of the rotation of the mechanical rotational element;
a rotational sensor for indicating rotational movement of the mechanical rotational element, the rotational sensor having a rotational sensing element mounted in the mechanical rotational element and a rotational detection element mounted in the housing of the input device proximate the rotational element;
a touch sensor for indicating one of touch and proximity of a portion of a user'"'"'s hand to the rotational element, the touch sensor having a proximity sensing element mounted in the mechanical rotational element and a proximity detection element mounted in the housing of the input device outside and proximate the mechanical rotational element; and
a processing module, coupled to the rotational and proximity detection elements, and configured to control a movement on a display in response to the rotational element and to stop the movement on the display in response to a signal from the proximity element indicating the absence of the user'"'"'s touch or proximity to the mechanical rotational element, such that continued movement of the rotational element in the absence of the user'"'"'s touch does not cause movement on the display, responsive to a signal from the proximity detection element.
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Abstract
In one embodiment, the present invention provides an input device with a mechanical wheel which includes a touch sensor. In one embodiment, the wheel is a thumbwheel that uses a magnetometer to detect rotation of a magnet inside the thumbwheel. The touch sensor in one embodiment is a cylindrical floating electrode which is capacitively coupled to a bridge electrode connected to a sensing circuit. The thumbwheel may be used for horizontal scrolling, zoom and other gestures.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. An input device, comprising:
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a housing; at least one input element for providing a computer input from the input device; a mechanical rotational element partially protruding from the housing such that portions of the surface of the mechanical rotational element contacted by the user are rotated to positions inside the housing inaccessible to the user'"'"'s touch during a portion of the rotation of the mechanical rotational element; a rotational sensor for indicating rotational movement of the mechanical rotational element, the rotational sensor having a rotational sensing element mounted in the mechanical rotational element and a rotational detection element mounted in the housing of the input device proximate the rotational element; a touch sensor for indicating one of touch and proximity of a portion of a user'"'"'s hand to the rotational element, the touch sensor having a proximity sensing element mounted in the mechanical rotational element and a proximity detection element mounted in the housing of the input device outside and proximate the mechanical rotational element; and a processing module, coupled to the rotational and proximity detection elements, and configured to control a movement on a display in response to the rotational element and to stop the movement on the display in response to a signal from the proximity element indicating the absence of the user'"'"'s touch or proximity to the mechanical rotational element, such that continued movement of the rotational element in the absence of the user'"'"'s touch does not cause movement on the display, responsive to a signal from the proximity detection element. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A mouse comprising:
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a mouse input for indicating a desired command with the mouse; a mechanical thumb wheel mounted on a side of the mouse; a first sensor for indicting rotational movement of the mechanical thumb wheel, the first sensor comprising a magnet internally mounted in said mechanical thumb wheel, and a magnetometer mounted near the mechanical thumb wheel; a second, touch sensor for indicating proximity of a portion of a user'"'"'s hand to the mechanical thumb wheel, the touch sensor comprising a floating electrode mounted in the mechanical thumb wheel, a bridge electrode mounted outside and adjacent the mechanical thumb wheel, and a detection circuit connected to the bridge electrode; a processing module for generating gesture commands responsive to signals from the first and second sensors; and wherein the gesture commands include a horizontal scrolling gesture and a double tap gesture to change mode; and wherein the processing module is configured to control a movement on a display in response to the first sensor and to stop the movement on the display in response to the second sensor indicating the absence of the user'"'"'s touch or proximity to the mechanical thumb wheel, such that continued movement of the mechanical thumb wheel in the absence of the user'"'"'s touch does not cause movement on the display, responsive to a signal from the detection circuit.
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17. An input device, comprising:
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a housing; at least one input element for providing a computer input from the input device; a mechanical wheel partially protruding from the housing such that portions of the surface of the mechanical wheel contacted by the user are rotated to positions inside the housing inaccessible to the user'"'"'s touch during a portion of the rotation of the mechanical wheel; a magnetic rotational sensor for indicating rotational movement of the mechanical wheel, the magnetic rotational sensor having a magnet internally mounted in the mechanical wheel, and a magnetometer mounted outside and near the mechanical wheel; a capacitive touch sensor for indicating one of touch and proximity of a portion of a user'"'"'s hand to the mechanical wheel, the capacitive touch sensor having a floating electrode mounted in the mechanical wheel, a bridge electrode mounted outside and adjacent the mechanical wheel, and a detection circuit connected to the bridge electrode; an insulator mounted on the wheel to cover the floating electrode; and a processing module for generating commands responsive to signals from the rotational and touch sensors; and wherein the processing module is configured to control a movement on a display in response to the magnetic rotational sensor and to stop the movement on the display in response to the capacitive touch sensor indicating the absence of the user'"'"'s touch or proximity to the mechanical wheel, such that continued movement of the mechanicalwheel in the absence of the user'"'"'s touch does not cause movement on the display, responsive to a signal from the detection circuit. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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Specification