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Rotational element enabling touch-like gestures

  • US 10,379,637 B2
  • Filed: 01/30/2015
  • Issued: 08/13/2019
  • Est. Priority Date: 01/30/2015
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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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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