Hand-held electronic device with multiple input mode thumbwheel

• US 20030076292A1
• Filed: 10/19/2001
• Published: 04/24/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 10/19/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Chen, Chao, Griffin, Jason T.
• Granted Patent: US 6,842,169 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• 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 3/0362 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 19/001 Thumb wheel switches
• CPC Class Codes: H01H 25/00 Switches with compound movement of handle or other operating part

Abstract

A thumbwheel input device oriented on an incline and comprising a wheel such that a first input is generated by rotation of the wheel about its axis, and a holder also having an axis of rotation and a portion thereon to receive the wheel whereby a second input is generated by rotation of the holder about the second axis.

Claims

1. A thumbwheel input device characterized by:

a. a wheel having a first axis of rotation whereby a first input is generated by rotation of the wheel about the first axis; and

,

b. a holder having a second axis of rotation and a portion thereon to receive the wheel whereby a second input is generated by rotation of the holder about the second axis.

2. A thumbwheel input device of claim 1 further comprising:

a. a first input detection means for detecting input about the first axis; and

,

b. a second input detection means for detecting input about the second axis.

3. A thumbwheel input device of claim 2 wherein a portion of the wheel is partially protruding outside a housing enclosing the thumbwheel input device so as to permit the receiving of the first and second inputs

4. A thumbwheel input device of claim 2 wherein the first input detection means is a rotating encoder switch.

5. A thumbwheel input device of claim 2 wherein the second input detection means is a tactile switch.

6. A thumbwheel input device for a handheld electronic device with a housing in an inclined orientation comprising:

a. a wheel with an axle rotating around a first axis of rotation and that partially protrudes through the device housing on an incline;

b. a rotating encoder switch for receiving a first input when the wheel rotates about its first axis with an aperture and in which the wheel axle sits;

c. a printed circuit board with a first side and second side wherein the rotating encoder switch is attached to the first side of the printed circuit board;

d. a holder having a second axis of rotation that contains the wheel, the printed circuit board, and rotating encoder switch, which is oriented on an incline;

e. a tactile switch that is attached to the second side of the printed circuit board for receiving a second input;

f. a stop that engages the tactile switch for receiving a second input about the second axis of rotation.

7. The thumbwheel input device of claim 6 wherein the stop is an arm attached to the bottom of the holder that extends up toward the tactile switch.

8. The thumbwheel input device of claim 6 wherein the stop is a protrusion from the device housing that extends up toward the tactile switch.