Input device including a wheel assembly for scrolling an image in multiple directions
First Claim
1. An input device for scrolling an image relative to an image display screen, said device comprising:
- a housing having at least one opening;
a finger-engagable control member provided within said housing and having a portion extending through said opening permitting user manipulation thereof, said finger-engagable control member having a first portion rotatable about an axis extending within the housing, and said finger-engagable control member being tiltable relative to said housing, said finger-engagable control member including opposed convex curved surfaces and a centrally disposed ring raised from the opposed convex curved surfaces;
a tilt sensing system that determines when said rotatable member is pivoted relative to the housing in a direction perpendicular to the axis; and
a rotation sensing system that determines when the first portion of said finger-engagable control member is rotated about the axis, the rotation sensing system including a sensor contained within the finger-engagable control member, said sensor including an encoder that transmits light in a direction perpendicular to the axis.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A computer input device having a housing and a finger-engagable scrolling device. A portion of the scrolling device is endlessly rotatable about a first axis to preferably cause vertical scrolling of an image on a display. The scrolling device is pivotally movable relative to the housing about a second axis perpendicular to the first axis. The first axis and the second axis may lie in a common plane or otherwise be close to one another to provide a large range of possible angular motion. A sensor is preferably positioned within the finger-engagable scrolling device for rotational movement of the rotational portion of the finger-engagable scrolling device. A pivot sensor may be provided on the second axis or laterally disposed from the scrolling device. A cover with an aperture may be provided over the scrolling device to help prevent dust and other contaminates from entering the housing through the opening for the scrolling device. The scrolling device may be contoured in a number of alternative ways to provide enhanced control and/or visual or tactile cues. In response to sensed pivotal movement of the scrolling device, the image is horizontally scrolled, preferably in the direction of the lateral movement. The scrolling speed can be affected relative to the amount of displacement of the scrolling device and/or the amount of time that the scrolling device is displaced by a predetermined amount. The computer input device having the rotatable member may take the form of a keyboard, a mouse, a trackball device, or another type of computer input device.
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Citations
40 Claims
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1. An input device for scrolling an image relative to an image display screen, said device comprising:
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a housing having at least one opening; a finger-engagable control member provided within said housing and having a portion extending through said opening permitting user manipulation thereof, said finger-engagable control member having a first portion rotatable about an axis extending within the housing, and said finger-engagable control member being tiltable relative to said housing, said finger-engagable control member including opposed convex curved surfaces and a centrally disposed ring raised from the opposed convex curved surfaces; a tilt sensing system that determines when said rotatable member is pivoted relative to the housing in a direction perpendicular to the axis; and a rotation sensing system that determines when the first portion of said finger-engagable control member is rotated about the axis, the rotation sensing system including a sensor contained within the finger-engagable control member, said sensor including an encoder that transmits light in a direction perpendicular to the axis. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An input device for scrolling an image relative to an image display screen, said device comprising:
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a housing having at least one opening; a finger-engagable control member provided within said housing and having a portion thereof extending through said opening for manipulation by a user, said finger-engagable control member comprising a stationary portion and a rotatable portion; and a rotation sensor contained within an area generally defined by the stationary portion and the rotatable portion of the finger-engagable control members, wherein the rotatable portion of said finger-engagable control member is endlessly rotatable about an axis of rotation, and said rotation sensor includes an encoder that transmits light in a direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. An input device for scrolling an image relative to an image display screen, said device comprising:
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a housing having at least one opening; a scroll wheel assembly having a finger engaging portion exposed through said opening in the housing, said finger engaging portion including first and second portions exposed for manipulation, wherein said first portion is rotatably movable relative to the second portion; a tilt sensor configured to sense the tilting of the finger-engagable control member; and a rotation sensor contained between the first and second portions, the rotation sensor including an encoder that transmits light in a direction perpendicular to an axis of rotation of the first portion. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18)
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19. An input device for scrolling an image relative to an image display screen, said device comprising:
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a housing having at least one opening; a finger-engagable scrolling member having a rotatable portion extending through the opening in the housing and being mounted relative to the housing to be endlessly rotatable about a first axis and tiltable about a second axis substantially perpendicular to the first axis wherein said second axis intersects the scrolling member; a tilt sensor configured to sense the tilting of the finger-engagable control member; and a rotation sensor having an encoder that transmits light in a direction perpendicular to the first axis. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. An input device for scrolling an image relative to an image display screen, said device comprising:
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a housing having at least one opening; a finger-engagable scrolling member having a first portion extending through the opening in the housing and being mounted relative to the housing to be endlessly rotatable about a first axis and tiltable about a second axis substantially perpendicular to the first axis wherein said second axis intersects the scrolling member;
wherein said scrolling member is angularly movable about the second axis in a range of motion of at least of 10 degrees;a tilt sensor configured to sense the tilting of the finger-engagable control member; and a rotation sensor having an encoder that transmits light in a direction perpendicular to the first axis. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32)
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33. An input device for scrolling an image relative to an image display screen, said device comprising:
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a housing having at least one opening; and a scrolling assembly including a finger-engagable scrolling member, a carriage, and an assembly carrier, said finger-engagable scrolling member having a first portion extending through the opening in the housing and being endlessly rotatable relative to the carriage about a first axis, said carriage being tiltable with the finger-engagable scrolling member relative to the assembly carrier about a second axis substantially perpendicular to the first axis, and said assembly carrier being movable within the housing with said finger-engagable scrolling member and said carriage; and a rotation sensor having an encoder that transmits light in a direction perpendicular to the first axis. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35)
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36. An input device for scrolling an image relative to an image display screen, said device comprising:
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a housing having at least one opening; a finger-engagable scrolling member having a rotatable portion extending through the opening in the housing and being mounted relative to the housing to be endlessly rotatable about a first axis and tiltable about a second axis substantially perpendicular to the first axis; a tilt sensor configured to sense the tilting of the finger-engagable control member; a cover having an aperture therein, said portion of said scrolling member extends through said aperture, said scrolling cover being movable with the scrolling member when tilted about the second axis; and a rotation sensor having an encoder that transmits light in a direction perpendicular to the first axis. - View Dependent Claims (37, 38)
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39. An input device for scrolling an image relative to an image display screen, said device comprising:
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a housing having at least one opening; a finger-engagable control member provided within said housing and having a portion thereof extending through said opening for manipulation by a user; a rotation sensor contained within an area generally defined by the stationary portion and the rotatable portion of the finger-engagable control member; and said finger-engagable control member having a portion endlessly rotatable about an axis of rotation, and said rotation sensor having an encoder that transmits light in a direction perpendicular to the axis of rotation.
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40. An input device for scrolling an image relative to an image display screen, said device comprising:
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a housing having at least one opening; a finger-engagable control member having a rotatable portion extending through the opening in the housing and being mounted relative to the housing to be endlessly rotatable about a first axis and tiltable about a second axis substantially perpendicular to the first axis and displaceable in a direction into the housing; and a sensor arrangement for determining (i) rotation about the first axis, (ii) tilt about the second axis and (iii) displacement into the housing, said sensor arrangement having an encoder that transmits light in a direction perpendicular to the first axis.
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Specification