Track wheel with reduced space requirements

• US 7,423,628 B2
• Filed: 02/27/2004
• Issued: 09/09/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 02/27/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Green, Steven, Chyc, Paul
• Primary Examiner(s): Hjerpe; Richard
• Assistant Examiner(s): FATAHI YAR, MAHMOUD
• Application Number:
  US10/788,973
• Publication Number:
  US 20050190146A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,656 Days
• Field of Search: 345156-184
• US Class Current: 345/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• 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 3/0338 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: 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: H04M 1/233 including a pointing device, e.g. roller key, track ball, rocker switch or joystick constructional details of pointing devices per se G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72469 for operating the device by selecting functions from two or more displayed items, e.g. menus or icons

Abstract

An input generating device for use in a hand held electronic device having a housing includes a core formed in a planar and semicircular in shape, forming a peripheral edge extending around said core and a track slidably engaged with the peripheral side edge. A curved portion of the peripheral edge extends outwardly from the housing allowing access thereto by the user. A first input is generated by sliding movement of the flexible track relative to the core. First input detection means, such as a turns encoder switch detects the sliding movement of the track. The core is depressibly mounted within the housing, generating a second input when the core is depressed. A second input detection means, such as a tactile contact switch detects depression of the core.

Claims

1. An input generating device positioned at a side of an electronic device comprising:

core formed to have two parallel planar surfaces, said core including a peripheral edge around the entirety of said core; and

a flexible track slidably engaged with the core for movement only in a first direction and a second direction, where said second direction is opposite said first direction;

said core including a channel formed in said peripheral edge, such that said flexible track is slidably engaged with said core within said channel;

whereby a first input is generated by sliding movement of the flexible track relative to the core in said first direction.

2. An input generating device as recited in claim 1 further comprising a first input detection means for detecting the first input generated by said sliding movement of the flexible track.

3. An input generating device as recited in claim 2 wherein said input detection means is a turns encoder which detects sliding movement of the track.

4. An input generating device as recited in claim 1 wherein said two parallel planar surfaces are of a semi circular shape.

5. An input generating device as recited in claim 1 wherein said flexible track is a single flexible piece, extending around said peripheral edge.

6. An input generating device as recited in claim 1 wherein said flexible track comprises a plurality of track segments attached to each other in series.

7. An input generating device as recited in claim 1, wherein said input generating device further comprises a depressible component, whereby a second input is generated by depression of said depressible component.

8. An input generating device as recited in claim 7 further comprising a second input detection means for detecting the second input.

9. An input generating device as recited in claim 8 wherein said second input detection means is a tactile contact switch, which detects an input when the depressible component is depressed.

10. A input generating device as recited in claim 9 wherein said tactile contact switch provides a click like tactile feedback to the user when depressed.

11. An input generating device as recited in claim 9 wherein said core is mounted in sliding engagement with a carriage, said depressible component being positioned such that urging the core to slide along the carriage, causes the core to engage and depress the depressible component, and activate the tactile contact switch.

12. An input generating device for use in a hand held electronic device and positioned at a side of a housing thereof, said input generating device comprising:

a core formed to have two parallel planar surfaces and a peripheral edge extending around said core, said core mounted within said housing,

a flexible track slidably engaged with the core for movement only in a first direction and a second direction, where said second direction is opposite said first direction,

said core including a channel formed in said peripheral edge, such that said flexible track slidably engages with said core within said channel;

whereby a first input is generated by sliding movement of the flexible track relative to the core in said first direction,

a portion of the core and track protruding outside said housing allowing access thereto by a user,

the input generating device including a first input detection component for receiving said first input generated by said sliding movement of the track.

13. An input generating device as recited in claim 12 wherein said first input detection component is a turns encoder, which senses sliding movement of the track relative to the core.

14. An input generating device as recited in claim 12 further comprising:

a depressible component, depressibly mounted to the housing, generating a second input when said depressible component is depressed; and

a second input detection component for detecting said second input.

15. An input generating device as recited in claim 14 wherein said depressible component is a spring loaded button, and said second input detection component is a tactile contact switch.

16. An input generating device as recited in claim 15 wherein said core is mounted in sliding engagement with a carriage, said depressible component being positioned such that urging the core to slide along the carriage, causes the core to engage and depress the spring loaded button and activate the tactile contact switch.

17. An input generating device as recited in claim 16 wherein:

said core is formed such that said parallel planar surfaces have a semicircular shape, and

a curved portion of said peripheral edge extends outwardly from said housing.

18. An input generating device as recited in claim 14 wherein said hand held electronic device further comprises a display screen, said first and second input detection means being coupled to the display screen by a processor, said first input and said second input directing a navigational function and selection function on said display screen, respectively.