Scroll wheel carriage
First Claim
1. A scroll wheel assembly, comprising:
- a scroll wheel sized for movement by a finger of a human user and having a rotational axis; and
a carriage having at least one fixture configured for coupling the carriage to a base so as to allow movement of at least a portion of the carriage relative to the base about a first carriage axis, a first section holding the scroll wheel and permitting the scroll wheel to rotate about the rotational axis, a second section, and a flexure joined to the first and second sections and permitting movement of the first section relative to the second section generally about a second carriage axis.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An axle of a scroll wheel for a mouse or other type of computer input device is held in a first part of a carriage. The first carriage part is joined to a second part of the carriage by a flexure. When a force is applied to one side of the scroll wheel, the first part of the carriage moves in one direction relative to the second part so as to engage a first switch. When a force is applied to the other side of the scroll wheel, the first part of the carriage moves in the opposite direction to engage a second switch. The carriage is connected to a base. When sufficient force is applied to the scroll wheel in the proper direction, at least a portion of the carriage moves and engages a third switch. The carriage includes a tang or other flexible member to bias the carriage against pivotal movement.
90 Citations
33 Claims
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1. A scroll wheel assembly, comprising:
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a scroll wheel sized for movement by a finger of a human user and having a rotational axis; and
a carriage having at least one fixture configured for coupling the carriage to a base so as to allow movement of at least a portion of the carriage relative to the base about a first carriage axis, a first section holding the scroll wheel and permitting the scroll wheel to rotate about the rotational axis, a second section, and a flexure joined to the first and second sections and permitting movement of the first section relative to the second section generally about a second carriage axis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. A computer input device, comprising:
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a housing;
first, second and third switches;
a scroll wheel sized for movement by a finger of a human user; and
a carriage coupled to the housing, wherein the scroll wheel is retained by the carriage and rotatable about a rotational axis, at least a portion of the carriage is movable with respect to the housing so as to permit movement of the scroll wheel in a first direction corresponding to engagement of the first switch and in a second direction corresponding to release of the first switch, the carriage includes first and second sections, the carriage further includes a flexure joining the first and second sections and permitting movement of the first section relative to the second section generally about a relative movement axis, movement of the first section in a first direction about the relative movement axis engages the second switch, and movement of the first section in a second direction about the relative movement axis engages the third switch. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33)
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Specification