Gimballed scroll wheel

• US 8,274,479 B2
• Filed: 06/18/2007
• Issued: 09/25/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Prest, Christopher D., Rothkopf, Fletcher, Dinh, Richard Hung Minh
• Primary Examiner(s): Mengistu, Amare
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bolotin, Dmitriy
• Application Number:
  US11/812,383
• Publication Number:
  US 20080088596A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,926 Days
• Field of Search: 345168-179, 200/5.R, 200/341, 200/342, 200/406
• US Class Current: 345/169
• 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: H01H 2003/0293 with an integrated touch switch
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 2025/048 having a separate central push, slide or tumbler button which is not integral with the operating part that surrounds it
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 25/041 having a generally flat operating member depressible at different locations to operate different controls

Abstract

An input device that includes both a movement detector, such as mechanical switch, and positional indicator, such as touch pad touch screen, and/or touch sensing housing is disclosed. These two input devices can be used substantially simultaneously to provide a command to the device. In this manner, different commands can be associated with depressing a moveable member in different areas and a single moveable member can perform like several buttons.

Claims

1. A device comprising:

a plate,

a touch panel,

a button comprising a top portion and a bottom portion,

a first switch positioned beneath the button and between the plate and the top portion of the button,

a second switch positioned beneath the top portion of the button,

the touch panel disposed on the plate and surrounding the button,

the bottom portion of the button configured to extend through the plate,

wherein force applied to the touch panel in a direction substantially coincident with an axis of actuation of the switches actuates only the second switch and force applied to the top portion in a direction substantially coincident with the axis of actuation of the switches actuates only the first switch,

wherein the plate and button move substantially independently of each other along the axis of activation of the switches during their respective activations, and

wherein a surface of the bottom portion of the button moves into contact with a frame on the switch side of the plate such that the actuating movement of the button is substantially terminated.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein signals associated with the touch panel and signals associated with the second switch are used in combination to simulate buttons associated with distinct areas of the touch panel.

3. The device of claim 1, wherein the touch panel is divided into multiple distinct button zones.

4. The device of claim 3, wherein the button zones are designated by a light source.

5. The device of claim 3, wherein each of the distinct button zones is associated with a button function.

6. The device of claim 5, wherein the button function comprises one of a Menu, Forward, Back, Play, Stop, Pause and Select function.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the touch panel is round.

8. The device of claim 7, wherein the touch panel surrounds the button.

9. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is included in a media player.

10. The device of claim 1, wherein the device is included in a cellular phone.

11. A device comprising:

a plate,

a touch panel,

a button comprising a top portion and a bottom portion,

a first switch positioned beneath the button and between the plate and the top portion of the button,

a second switch positioned beneath the top portion of the button,

a plate positioned between the first switch and the second switch,

the bottom portion of the button being configured to extend through the plate,

the touch panel disposed on the plate and surrounding the button,

the bottom portion of the button configured to extend through the plate,

wherein force applied to the touch panel in a direction substantially coincident with an axis of actuation of the switches actuates only the second switch and force applied to the top portion in a direction substantially coincident with the axis of actuation of the switches actuates only the first switch,

wherein the plate and button move substantially independently of each other along the axis of activation of the switches during their respective activations, and

wherein a surface of the bottom portion of the button moves into contact with a frame on the switch side of the plate such that the actuating movement of the button is substantially terminated.

12. The device of claim 11, wherein

the first switch is positioned above the plate and comprises a dome portion providing an amount of travel, and

the bottom portion of the button is configured to prevent the button from exceeding the amount of travel provided by the dome portion.

13. The device of claim 11, further comprising a processor configured to

receive a first signal generated by the touch panel indicating a position of an input on the touch panel,

receive a second signal generated by the second switch indicating that the touch panel has been moved, and

generate a command in response to the first and second signals.

14. The device of claim 11, wherein the second switch is a single switch positioned beneath the plate and capable of being activated by the touch panel.

15. The device of claim 11, wherein the first switch is positioned above the plate and comprises a lower actuation force than the second switch.

16. The device of claim 11, wherein the touch panel is round.

17. The device of claim 11, wherein the button is centrally positioned relative to the touch panel.

18. A device comprising:

a platform comprising a plate, a touch panel, a button and a first switch, wherein

the touch panel is disposed on the plate and surrounds the button,

the button comprises a top portion and a bottom portion,

the first switch is positioned between the plate and the top portion of the button and the bottom portion of the button is configured to extend through the plate,

a frame comprising a space within which the platform is provided, and

a second switch positioned beneath the top portion of the button and between the platform and the frame, wherein force applied to the touch panel in a direction substantially coincident with an axis of actuation of the switches actuates only the second switch and force applied to the top portion in a direction substantially coincident with the axis of actuation of the switches actuates only the first switch, wherein

the plate and button move substantially independently of each other along the axis of activation of the switches during their respective activations, and wherein

a surface of the bottom portion of the button moves into contact with the frame on the switch side of the plate such that the actuating movement of the button is substantially terminated.

19. The device of claim 18, wherein the platform is configured to move relative to the frame about multiple axes.

20. The device of claim 18, wherein bottom portion of the button connects with the frame in a pressed position.

21. The device of claim 18, wherein the button is constrained along an x and y axis by a side wall of the touch panel and along a z axis by a tab of the touch panel and a bottom wall of the frame.

22. The device of claim 18, wherein the platform is constrained along an x and y axis by a side wall of the frame and along a z axis by a top wall and a bottom wall of the frame.

23. The device of claim 18, wherein the first switch comprises a flexible member formed in a bubble shape.

24. A device comprising:

a touch panel, a button, a plate, a first switch and a second switch,

the touch panel being configured to surround the button,

the touch panel being configured to gimbal relative to a frame while being restrained within the frame,

at least one of the first switch and the second switch being aligned beneath the button, the first switch and the second switch being configured to provide mechanical spring action for the button and for the touch panel,

the plate being configured to extend beneath the touch panel and between the first switch and the second switch,

the plate being configured to transmit a force applied to the touch panel from the touch panel to the second switch and not the first switch, wherein

a force applied to the touch panel activates the second switch and does not activate the first switch, and

a force applied to the button activates the first switch and does not activate the second switch.

25. The device of claim 24 wherein the force required to activate the second switch is greater than the force required to activate the first switch.

26. The device of claim 24 wherein the first switch is configured to gimbal with the touch panel.

27. The device of claim 24 wherein at least one of the first switch and the second switch comprises a dome switch.

28. A device comprising:

a first input configured to provide location information and configured to move relative to a frame while being restrained within the frame,

a second input configured to provide movement information,

a plate,

a first switch, and

a second switch,

at least one of the first switch and the second switch being aligned with the second input,

the plate being configured to extend under the first input and between the first switch and the second switch,

the plate being configured to transmit a force applied to the first input from the first input to the second switch and not the first switch, wherein

a force applied to the first input activates the second switch and does not activate the first switch, and

a force applied to the second input activates the first switch and does not activate the second switch.

29. The device of claim 28 wherein the force required to activate the second switch is greater than the force required to activate the first switch.

30. The device of claim 28 wherein the first switch is configured to move with the first input.

31. The device of claim 28 wherein at least one of the first switch and the second switch comprises a dome switch.

32. A device comprising:

a first input configured to provide location information and configured to move relative to a frame while being restrained within the frame,

a second input configured to provide movement information,

a plate,

a first switch, and

a second switch,

at least one of the first switch and the second switch being aligned with the second input,

the plate being configured to extend under the first input and between the first switch and the second switch,

the plate being configured to transmit a force applied to the first input from the first input to the second switch and not the first switch, wherein

the second switch is activatable independently of and simultaneously with activation of the first switch by a force applied to the first input, and

the first switch is activatable independently of and simultaneously with activation of the second switch by a force applied to the second input, whereby

the first input and the second input are useable simultaneously to generate a single command.