Scroll wheel device for portable computers

• US 6,724,365 B1
• Filed: 09/22/2000
• Issued: 04/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Dell Products LP (Dell Technologies Inc.)
• Inventors: Escamilla, Eduardo, Cepeda, Darin Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): Bella, Matthew C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, HAU H
• Application Number:
  US09/668,495
• Time in Patent Office: 1,306 Days
• Field of Search: 345/163, 345/168, 345/684, 345/157, 345/165, 345/164
• US Class Current: 345/157
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1616 with folding flat displays, e.g. laptop computers or notebooks having a clamshell configuration, with body parts pivoting to an open position around an axis parallel to the plane they define in closed position
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/169 the I/O peripheral being an integrated pointing device, e.g. trackball in the palm rest area, mini-joystick integrated between keyboard keys, touch pads or touch stripes G06F1/1643 takes precedence; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0312 for tracking the rotation of a spherical or circular member, e.g. optical rotary encoders used in mice or trackballs using a tracking ball or in mouse scroll wheels tracking relative movement in co-operation with a regularly or irregularly patterned surface, e.g. as in optical mice G06F3/0317; constructional details of scroll or thumb-wheels G06F3/0362; optical rotary encoders G01D5/3473
• 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 portable notebook computer includes a base having an exterior surface. A keyboard is mounted on the exterior surface. A palmrest area is mounted on the exterior surface adjacent the keyboard. A scroll device is mounted in the exterior surface adjacent the palmrest area. The scroll device includes a first portion protruding from the exterior surface, and a second portion extending through the exterior surface and recessed into the base. The scroll device is bi-directionally rotatable relative to the exterior surface and resiliently depressible into the base.

Claims

1. A computer comprising:

a base including an exterior surface;

a keyboard mounted on the exterior surface;

a palmrest area on the exterior surface adjacent the keyboard;

a stationary mounting bracket mounted in the exterior surface;

a rotating-only scroll wheel mounted in the stationary mounting bracket;

a reciprocably movable mounting bracket resiliently mounted in the stationary mounting bracket;

a rotating and reciprocating scroll wheel mounted in the reciprocably movable mounting bracket;

a belt rotatable engaged with the scroll wheels, the belt including a plurality of tabs separated by spaces between the tabs; and

a pair of opposed sensors mounted on opposite sides of the belt, whereby rotation of the belt moves the tabs and spaces between the sensors for generating a frequency signal from the sensors.

2. The computer as defined in claim 1 further comprising:

a switch mounted between the mounting brackets.

3. The computer as defined in claim 1 further comprising:

a switch mounted between the mounting brackets for actuation in response to the reciprocably movable mounting bracket being moved toward the stationary mounting bracket.

4. The computer as defined in claim 1 wherein each scroll wheel is mounted on a respective axle.

5. The computer as defined in claim 1 further comprising:

an axle supporting the rotating-only scroll wheel, the axle including a plurality of teeth; and

a tactile probe mounted in the base and extending into engagement with the teeth providing a sense of feel to a user in response to rotation of the belt.

6. A computer system comprising:

a base including an exterior surface;

a palmrest area on the exterior surface adjacent the keyboard;

a microprocessor mounted in the base;

a storage coupled to the microprocessor;

a stationary mounting bracket mounted in the exterior surface;

a rotating-only scroll wheel mounted in the stationary mounting bracket;

a reciprocably movable mounting bracket resiliently mounted in the stationary mounting bracket;

a rotating and reciprocating scroll wheel mounted in the reciprocably movable mounting bracket;

a belt rotatably engaged with the scroll wheels, the belt including a plurality of tabs separated by spaces between the tabs; and

a pair of opposed sensors mounted on opposite sides of the belt, whereby rotation of the belt moves the tabs and spaces between the sensors for generating a frequency signal from the sensors.

7. The computer system as defined in claim 6 further comprising:

a switch mounted between the mounting brackets for actuation in response to the reciprocably movable mounting bracket being moved toward the stationary mounting bracket.

8. A method of providing input into a portable computer comprising:

providing a base having an exterior surface;

mounting a keyboard on the exterior surface;

forming a palmrest area on the exterior surface adjacent the keyboard;

mounting a stationary mounting bracket mounted in the exterior surface;

mounting a rotating-only scroll wheel in the stationary mounting bracket;

resiliently mounting a reciprocably movable mounting bracket in the stationary mounting bracket;

mounting a rotating and reciprocating scroll wheel in the reciprocably movable mounting bracket;

rotatably engaging a belt with the scroll wheels, the belt including a plurality of tabs separated by spaces between the tabs; and

mounting a pair of opposed sensors on opposite sides of the belt, whereby rotation of the belt moves the tabs and spaces between the sensors for generating a frequency signal from the sensors.