Navigation wheel having switching assembly

• US 20060192764A1
• Filed: 02/28/2005
• Published: 08/31/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 02/28/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Siddiqui, Kabir
• Application Number:
  US11/069,884
• Publication Number:
  US 20060192764A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/169
• 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: H01H 2019/146 Roller type actuators
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2207/004 Printed circuit tail
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2207/026 Pressure contact
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2223/018 rotatably
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 25/008 Operating part movable both angularly and rectilinearly, the rectilinear movement being perpendicular to the axis of angular movement
• CPC Class Codes: H03J 1/0025 in a remote control unit remote control tuning in general H03J9/00
• CPC Class Codes: H03J 2200/25 Remote control device with display

Abstract

An ergonomic pointing device receives user commands for controlling an electronic device. Typically a switching assembly is provided underneath a navigation wheel. The switching assembly comprises switches for generating and/or modulating signals in response to the received commands. Locating the switches in the switching assembly allows, for example, increased manufacturing tolerances. Additionally, the switching assembly can be secured to a device base such as a printed circuit board of the electronic device using, for example, a solder reflow process. Attaching the wheel assembly to the base permits, for example, the use of materials (such as rubber) and colors for the wheel that would otherwise be incompatible with a high temperature process.

Claims

1. A pointing device for controlling an electronic device, comprising:

a wheel assembly that comprises a wheel, wherein the wheel assembly is arranged to modulate a signal in response to rotation of the wheel by a user;

a switching assembly that comprises a first, second, and third switch, each of which are generally configured to modulate a signal in response to a user depressing the wheel; and

a device base that is arranged to physically secure the wheel assembly to the switching assembly.

2. The pointing device of claim 1, further comprising an electronic device that is attached to the device base, wherein the electronic device provides displays to the user in response to the modulated signal.

3. The pointing device of claim 2, further comprising a rotating base that is configured to rotate within the device base such that the axis of the rotation of the wheel can be changed by a user of the electronic device.

4. The pointing device of claim 2, further comprising a pivot pin that is arranged at a first point to inhibit both the first and the second switches from modulating a signal in response to a single depression of the wheel.

5. The pointing device of claim 1, wherein the device base is compatible with a soldering process and the wheel is not compatible with a soldering process.

6. The pointing device of claim 1, wherein the device base comprises a printed circuit board.

7. The pointing device of claim 1, wherein the wheel assembly and the switching assembly are arranged to be secured to the device base by a soldering process.

8. A pointing device for controlling an electronic device, comprising:

a wheel means that comprises a wheel, wherein the wheel assembly is arranged to modulate a signal in response to rotation of the wheel by a user;

a switching means that comprises a first, second, and third switch, each of which are generally configured to modulate a signal in response to a user depressing the wheel; and

a device base means that is arranged to physically secure the wheel assembly to the switching assembly.

9. The pointing device of claim 8, further comprising an electronic device that is attached to the device base means, wherein the electronic device provides displays to the user in response to the modulated signal.

10. The pointing device of claim 9, further comprising a rotating base means that is configured to rotate within the device base means such that the axis of the rotation of the wheel can be changed by a user of the electronic device.

11. The pointing device of claim 9, further comprising a pivot means that is arranged at a first point to inhibit both the first and the second switches from modulating a signal in response to a single depression of the wheel.

12. The pointing device of claim 8, wherein the device base means is compatible with a soldering process and the wheel is not compatible with a soldering process.

13. The pointing device of claim 8, wherein the wheel means electrically communicates with the device base means by leaf springs.

14. An electronic device, comprising:

a wheel assembly that comprises a wheel, wherein the wheel assembly is arranged to modulate a signal in response to rotation of the wheel by a user;

a switching assembly that comprises a first, second, and third switch, each of which are generally configured to modulate a signal in response to a user depressing the wheel;

a device base that is arranged to physically secure the wheel assembly to the switching assembly; and

a processor that is arranged to receive the produced signals.

15. The device of claim 14, wherein the processor is further arranged to change an electronic image in response to the produced signals.

16. The device of claim 15, further comprising a display that is arranged to display the electronic image.

17. The device of claim 14, further comprising an application program that is configured to select a particular data field displayed in a list in response to the produced signals.

18. The device of claim 14, wherein the wheel assembly is configured to rotate about an axis that is substantially vertical from the axis of rotation of the wheel, such that the orientation of the wheel assembly is changed with respect to the electronic device.

19. The device of claim 18, further comprising means for determining the orientation of the wheel assembly.

20. The device of claim 19, wherein the processor is further configured to adjust the electronic image in response to the orientation of the wheel assembly.