Horizontal wheel user input device

• US 20030122783A1
• Filed: 12/28/2001
• Published: 07/03/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 12/28/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Original Assignee: Intel Corporation
• Inventors: Green, Carl I.
• Application Number:
  US10/041,039
• Publication Number:
  US 20030122783A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/168
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0213 Arrangements providing an integrated pointing device in a keyboard, e.g. trackball, mini-joystick for pointing devices integrated in a laptop computer G06F1/169; joysticks G05G9/047; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0338 with detection of limited linear or angular displacement of an operating part of the device from a neutral position, e.g. isotonic or isometric joysticks
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0362 with detection of 1D translations or rotations of an operating part of the device, e.g. scroll wheels, sliders, knobs, rollers or belts

Abstract

A user input apparatus including wheel positioned horizontally relative to keyboard surface of a portable computer, wherein rotation of the wheel communicates user input to the computer.

Claims

1. A user input apparatus comprising:

a wheel positioned horizontally relative to keyboard surface of a portable computer, wherein rotation of the wheel communicates user input to the computer.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the wheel is positioned below a space bar of the keyboard surface, substantially in a center of the keyboard surface.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the wheel includes ridges to provide friction.

6. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein rotation of the wheel moves an object displayed on a display of the portable computer, in a vertical direction.

7. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein rotation of the wheel provides variable input to an application being executed on the portable computer.

8. The apparatus of claim 7, wherein the variable input includes numerical input, wherein rotation of the wheel in a first direction increases a numerical value, and rotation of the wheel in a second direction decreases the numerical value.

3. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the wheel includes a tracking device to provide user input to direct a cursor displayed on a display of a portable computer.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein the tracking device is placed substantially in a center of the wheel.

9. A portable computer comprising:

A user input device comprising a wheel positioned horizontally relative to keyboard surface of a portable computer, wherein rotation of the wheel communicates user input to the computer.

10. The portable computer of claim 9, wherein the wheel is positioned below a space bar of the keyboard surface, substantially in a center of the keyboard surface.

11. The portable computer of claim 10, wherein the wheel includes a tracking device to provide user input to direct a cursor displayed on a display of a portable computer, the tracking device is placed substantially in a center of the wheel.

12. The portable computer of claim 11, wherein rotation of the wheel provides variable input to an application being executed on the portable computer.

13. The portable computer of claim 12, wherein the variable input includes numerical input, wherein rotation of the wheel in a first direction increases a numerical value, and rotation of the wheel in a second direction decreases the numerical value.

14. A computer comprising:

A user input device comprising a wheel positioned horizontally relative to keyboard surface of a portable computer, the wheel is further positioned below a space bar of the keyboard surface, substantially in a center of the keyboard surface, and rotation of the wheel communicates user input to the computer; and

Tracking device to provide user input to direct a cursor displayed on a display of the computer, the tracking device is placed substantially in a center of the wheel.

15. The computer of claim 14, wherein rotation of the wheel moves an object displayed on a display of the computer, in a vertical direction.

16. The computer of claim 14, wherein rotation of the wheel provides variable input to an application being executed on the computer.