Scroll disc input apparatus for a data processing device
First Claim
1. An apparatus comprising:
- an outer housing;
a display disposed in the outer housing;
a bracket flexibly coupled to an inner surface of the outer housing and the bracket configured to pivot about a pivot point, located on the bracket, while the outer housing remains stationary with respect to the display;
a scroll disc rotatably mounted within the bracket, the scroll disc rotating on an axis that is substantially perpendicular to a plane defined by the display, the scroll disc operable to cause a graphic element being displayed by the display to move in a first direction by a first predefined amount when rotated clockwise and to cause the graphic element to move in a second direction by the first predefined amount when rotated counterclockwise;
a dome switch operable to provide an input to the apparatus, the dome switch mounted on a circuit board that is located on a plane parallel to the display, the dome switch configured to be actuated by the bracket pivoting around the pivot point responsive to a force applied to the scroll disc and substantially parallel to the axis; and
a spring flexibly coupling the bracket to the inner surface of the outer housing, the spring configured to pull the bracket away from the dome switch responsive to the force applied to the scroll disc being removed.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus is described comprising: a data processing device having a memory for storing program code and data and a processor for processing the program code and data, and a display for displaying graphical images and text; a control disc rotatably and communicatively engaged with the data processing device, the control disc rotating on an axis which is substantially perpendicular to a plane defined by the display, the control disc communicatively engaged with the data processing device to cause a graphic element on the display to move in a first direction by a first predefined amount when rotated in a first direction and causing the graphic element to move in a second direction by the first predefined amount when rotated in a second direction.
19 Citations
11 Claims
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1. An apparatus comprising:
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an outer housing; a display disposed in the outer housing; a bracket flexibly coupled to an inner surface of the outer housing and the bracket configured to pivot about a pivot point, located on the bracket, while the outer housing remains stationary with respect to the display; a scroll disc rotatably mounted within the bracket, the scroll disc rotating on an axis that is substantially perpendicular to a plane defined by the display, the scroll disc operable to cause a graphic element being displayed by the display to move in a first direction by a first predefined amount when rotated clockwise and to cause the graphic element to move in a second direction by the first predefined amount when rotated counterclockwise; a dome switch operable to provide an input to the apparatus, the dome switch mounted on a circuit board that is located on a plane parallel to the display, the dome switch configured to be actuated by the bracket pivoting around the pivot point responsive to a force applied to the scroll disc and substantially parallel to the axis; and a spring flexibly coupling the bracket to the inner surface of the outer housing, the spring configured to pull the bracket away from the dome switch responsive to the force applied to the scroll disc being removed. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. An apparatus comprising:
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an outer housing; a display disposed in the outer housing; a bracket flexibly coupled to an inner surface of the outer housing and the bracket configured to pivot about a pivot point, located on the bracket, while the outer housing remains stationary with respect to the display; a scroll disc rotatably mounted within the bracket, the scroll disc operable to cause a graphic element displayed by the display to move in a first direction by a first predefined amount when rotated clockwise and to cause the graphic element to move in a second direction by the first predefined amount when rotated counterclockwise; a printed circuit board disposed within the outer housing on a plane that is parallel to the display; a dome switch adjacent mounted to the printed circuit board and operable to provide an input to the apparatus, the dome switch configured to be actuated by the bracket pivoting around the pivot point responsive to a force applied to the scroll disc and substantially parallel to an axis of rotation of the scroll disc; and a spring flexibly coupling the bracket to the inner surface of the outer housing, the spring configured to pull the bracket away from the dome switch responsive to the force applied to the scroll disc being removed. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10)
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11. An apparatus comprising:
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a housing having a housing face including an opening; a bracket flexibly coupled to an inner surface of the housing face and the bracket configured to pivot about a pivot point, located on the bracket, while the housing face remains stationary; a scroll disc mounted within the bracket, the scroll disc including a generally flattened surface that is partially covered by the housing face and partially accessible through the opening to allow rotation of the scroll disc to provide a first input and depression of the scroll disc to provide a second input; a dome switch operable to provide the second input to the apparatus, the switch configured to be actuated by the bracket pivoting within the housing substantially away from the housing face when the scroll disc is depressed; and a spring flexibly coupling the bracket to the inner surface of the housing face, the spring configured to pull the bracket away from the dome switch responsive to the scroll disc being un-depressed.
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Specification