ROLLER AND FOUR WAY ROLLER ASSEMBLY

• US 20070234828A1
• Filed: 03/20/2007
• Published: 10/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2006
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Darfon Electronics Corporation
• Original Assignee: Darfon Electronics Corporation
• Inventors: Huang, Chun-Chung, Liu, Zhan-Ling
• Application Number:
  US11/688,780
• Publication Number:
  US 20070234828A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/865.300
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 19/001 Thumb wheel switches
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2019/146 Roller type actuators
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 25/008 Operating part movable both angularly and rectilinearly, the rectilinear movement being perpendicular to the axis of angular movement

Abstract

A roller and a four way roller assembly is disclosed. The roller includes an axle, a wheel, and at least a flexible connecting portion. The flexible portion connects to the axle and the wheel, thereby the axle moves in the wheel. The four way roller assembly includes a base, a roller container and a roller. The roller container is movably installed on the base. The roller rotates in the roller container via the axle. The axle presses a first sensor on the base.

Claims

1. A roller, applied to an input device, comprising:

an axle;

a wheel;

at least a flexible connecting portion, the flexible connecting portion connecting to the axle and the wheel, wherein the axle passes through the wheel and moves freely in the wheel.

2. The roller as claimed in claim 1, wherein the roller comprises a plurality of flexible connecting portions radially connected to the axle and the wheel.

3. A four way roller assembly, applied to an input device comprising a first sensor, the four way roller assembly comprising:

a base;

a roller holder rotatably disposed on the base, comprising an opening; and

a roller comprising;

a wheel comprising a cannular portion;

a flexible connecting element;

a first axle disposed in the cannular portion, wherein the flexible connecting element is connected to the first axle and the wheel; and

a second axle pivoted to the opening;

wherein the roller rotates corresponding to the roller holder via the fist axle and the second axle; and

the first axle initializes the first sensor.

4. The four way roller assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein first sensor comprises an encoder.

5. The four way roller assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein the roller comprises a plurality of flexible connecting portions radially connected to the fist axle and the wheel.

6. The four way roller assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein the rotation direction of the roller holder is perpendicular to the rotation direction of the roller.

7. The four way roller assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein the roller holder comprises a rotating portion and a flexible portion;

the rotating portion is pivoted to the base;

the flexible portion is connected to the roller holder and the rotating portion.

8. The four way roller assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein the roller holder further comprises a hole and a first end;

the input device further comprises a second sensor;

when the first axle presses downward, the second sensor is initialized.

9. The four way roller assembly as claimed in claim 8, wherein the second sensor comprises a switch.

10. The four way roller assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein the second axle comprises a plurality of connectors and extends from an inner side of wheel to the outside.

11. The four way roller assembly as claimed in claim 3, wherein the roller holder comprises a second protrusion and a third protrusion;

the roller holder selectively rotates toward one of a first direction and a second direction;

the input device further comprises a third sensor and a fourth sensor;

when the roller holder rotates toward the first direction, the second protrusion initializes the third sensor;

when the roller holder rotates toward the second direction, the third protrusion initializes the fourth sensor.

12. The four way roller assembly as claimed in claim 11, wherein the third sensor and the fourth sensor comprise a switch respectively.