High resolution scrolling apparatus
First Claim
1. An input device for scrolling an image relative to a display screen, the input device comprising:
- a housing forming at least a portion of an exterior surface of the input device;
a scroll wheel having a substantially circular configuration with an outer diameter, at least a portion of the scroll wheel extending outward from the housing and positioned to be manipulated by a user; and
an encoder wheel coupled to the scroll wheel and configured to rotate in response to rotation of the scroll wheel, the encoder wheel having a diameter at a point at which rotation is optically sensed, the diameter of the encoder wheel being greater than the outer diameter of the scroll wheel, the scroll wheel and the encoder wheel being oriented perpendicular to each other.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A scrolling apparatus is disclosed that includes a rotatable scroll wheel and a sensor assembly coupled mechanically. The sensor assembly has an encoder wheel that rotates in response to rotation of the scroll wheel. The rotational axis of the encoder wheel is axially displaced from the rotational axis of scroll wheel, and concepts related to gearing may be utilized to increase the angular velocity of the encoder wheel in relation to the scroll wheel. In addition, the diameter of the encoder wheel may be greater than the diameter of a conventional encoder wheel. The gearing concepts and the differences in diameter of the scroll wheel and encoder wheel may be utilized alone or in combination to provide the scrolling apparatus with relatively high resolution.
11 Citations
27 Claims
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1. An input device for scrolling an image relative to a display screen, the input device comprising:
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a housing forming at least a portion of an exterior surface of the input device; a scroll wheel having a substantially circular configuration with an outer diameter, at least a portion of the scroll wheel extending outward from the housing and positioned to be manipulated by a user; and an encoder wheel coupled to the scroll wheel and configured to rotate in response to rotation of the scroll wheel, the encoder wheel having a diameter at a point at which rotation is optically sensed, the diameter of the encoder wheel being greater than the outer diameter of the scroll wheel, the scroll wheel and the encoder wheel being oriented perpendicular to each other. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An input device for scrolling an image relative to a display screen, the input device comprising:
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a scroll wheel; and an encoder wheel mechanically coupled to the scroll wheel such that a ratio of angular displacement between rotation of the encoder wheel and rotation of the scroll wheel is greater than 1;
1, the scroll wheel and the encoder wheel being perpendicular to each other. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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21. An input device for scrolling an image relative to a display screen, the input device comprising:
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a scroll wheel limited in rotation to a first rotational axis; and a sensor assembly mechanically coupled to the scroll wheel, the sensor assembly having a encoder wheel that rotates about a second rotational axis in response to rotation of the scroll wheel, the first rotational axis and the second rotational axis being perpendicular. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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Specification