Trackball module

• US 8,558,794 B2
• Filed: 12/01/2009
• Issued: 10/15/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/08/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V. (Koninklijke Philips N.V.)
• Original Assignee: Koninklijke Philips N.V.
• Inventors: Hoeven, Pieter
• Primary Examiner(s): OLSON, JASON C
• Application Number:
  US13/133,154
• Publication Number:
  US 20110241995A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,414 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 345/167
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1613 for portable computers cooling arrangements therefor G06F1/203; constructional details or arrangements for pocket calculators, electronic agendas or books G06F15/0216; constructional details of portable telephone sets: with several bodies H04M1/0202
• 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 3/03549 Trackballs G06F3/03541 takes precedence

Abstract

A trackball module is provided for connecting a trackball to an electrical device, comprising a trackball for being manipulated by hand, a sensor device for detecting a turning of the trackball, a support device for positioning the trackball in a use position, in which the trackball is exposed for being manipulated, and a rest position, in which the trackball is adapted for being received by the electrical device, and an operating direction, which is defined roughly by a line through the center of the trackball and the center of a manipulating surface of the trackball exposed for turning the trackball by hand in the use position.

Claims

1. A trackball module for connecting a trackball to an electrical device, the trackball module comprising

a trackball configured for being manipulated by hand,

a sensor device for detecting a turning of the trackball,

a casing having a first receiving part for receiving the trackball, the first receiving part comprising an inclined first sliding surface and a second receiving part for receiving the sensor device, the second receiving part comprising an inclined second sliding surface and

a support device for positioning the trackball in a use position, in which the trackball is exposed for being manipulated, and a rest position, in which the trackball is adapted for being received by the electrical device, and having an operating direction defined substantially by a line through the center of the trackball and the center of a manipulating surface of the trackball exposed for turning the trackball by hand in the use position,

wherein the casing is movable by means of the support device, the first receiving part and the second receiving part are movable with respect to each other, the inclined second sliding surface is configured to be in contact with the first sliding surface during at least a part of the movement of the first receiving part with respect to the second receiving part, and the support device is configured to change the position of the sensor device with respect to the trackball so that the sensor device is arranged

mainly along the operating direction for detecting the turning of trackball in the use position and

offset in a direction generally perpendicular to the operating direction in the rest position with respect to the position of the trackball.

2. The trackball module according to claim 1, wherein the support device is configured to move the trackball and the sensor device between the use position and the rest position.

3. The trackball module according to claim 1, wherein the casing is turnable through an angle α

, wherein the angle α

is 45°

≦

α

≦

190.

4. The trackball module according to claim 1, wherein the support device is configured so that a part of the casing closes a release opening of the electrical device in the rest position.

5. The trackball module according to claim 1, wherein the support device comprises a telescopic rail for a linear movement of the trackball and the sensor device.

6. The trackball module according to claim 1, wherein in the rest position a part of the trackball is exposed and configured to release the support device by clicking the trackball for moving the trackball and the sensor device in the use position automatically.

7. The trackball module according to claim 1, wherein the trackball is connected to the support device so that in addition to the manipulating surface of the trackball at least one assist surface of the trackball is exposed in the use position for clicking and/or turning the trackball.

8. The trackball module according to claim 7, wherein at least one distance sensor is provided for detecting a clicking of the trackball, wherein the distance sensor is arranged roughly antipodal to the assist surface.

9. The trackball module according to claim 7, wherein the trackball is received by a casing, wherein the casing is shaped for exposing at least two different surfaces of the trackball bordered by the casing.

10. The trackball module according to claim 1, wherein the sensor device is configured for detecting a rotation around a first rotation axis and/or a rotation around a second rotational axis and/or a distance of the trackball.

11. The trackball module according to claim 1, wherein the trackball is movable with respect to the sensor device along the operating direction, wherein the movement of the trackball with respect to the sensor device is in particular spring loaded.