Input device including a scroll wheel assembly for manipulating an image in multiple directions

• US 20050259077A1
• Filed: 06/28/2002
• Published: 11/24/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Newton, Mark, Bathiche, Steven N., Fisher, Steven W., Muss, Timothy Michael, Garcia, Gino, Adams, Aditha M., Lindhout, Daan
• Granted Patent: US 7,042,441 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 345/163
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0213 Arrangements providing an integrated pointing device in a keyboard, e.g. trackball, mini-joystick for pointing devices integrated in a laptop computer G06F1/169; joysticks G05G9/047; constructional details of pointing devices G06F3/033
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0312 for tracking the rotation of a spherical or circular member, e.g. optical rotary encoders used in mice or trackballs using a tracking ball or in mouse scroll wheels tracking relative movement in co-operation with a regularly or irregularly patterned surface, e.g. as in optical mice G06F3/0317; constructional details of scroll or thumb-wheels G06F3/0362; optical rotary encoders G01D5/3473
• 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 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• 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: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning

Abstract

A scroll wheel assembly includes a rotatable member. Encoded rotation of the rotating member causes scrolling of an image on a display screen along an axis. An actuator is located within the rotational member. Pressure on different parts of the actuator causes scrolling of the image in opposing directions along a second axis. Pressure upon additional parts of the actuator can provide additional screen functions. Functions and commands caused by manipulation of the rotatable member or actuator may also be programmable.

Claims

1. A device for manipulating an image on a display device screen, comprising:

an input device in communication with the display device screen, the input device including a housing having an opening defined therein;

an actuator positioned within the input device and at least partially protruding through the opening, the actuator having at least two actuated conditions in which distinguishable signals are generated;

a rotational member surrounding the actuator and at least partially protruding through the opening, the rotational member being rotatable with respect to the housing and continuously rotatable through multiple complete revolutions;

an encoder for encoding amounts by which the rotational member is rotated, wherein

the actuator has a limited range of motion,

the actuator is engageable independent of the rotational member; and

a cylindrical portion wherein the rotational member rotates about the cylindrical portion and the actuator is positioned at least partially inside the cylindrical portion.

7. The device of claim 1, wherein the input device is a computer mouse.

8. The device of claim 1, wherein the input device is a keyboard.

20. The device of claim 1, wherein the actuator is an electrical switch having at least two positions corresponding to the at least two actuated conditions.

21. The device of claim 1, wherein the actuator includes potentiometers located at various positions such that movements in different directions away from a longitudinal switch axis causes resistance changes in different circuits.

22. The device of claim 1, wherein the actuator includes piezoelectric elements and is enageable without appreciable movement.

23. The device of claim 1, wherein:

the actuator has a longitudinal axis, and

movement of the actuator parallel to the longitudinal axis places the actuator in a third actuated condition in which a distinguishable signal is generated.

24. The device of claim 1, wherein:

the actuator has a longitudinal axis,

tilting the actuator away from the longitudinal axis in a first direction places the actuator in a first of the at least two actuated conditions, and

tilting the actuator away from the longitudinal axis in a second direction places the actuator in a second of the at least two actuated conditions.

25. The device of claim 24, wherein:

tilting the actuator away from the longitudinal axis in a third direction places the actuator in a third of the at least two actuated conditions, and

tilting the actuator away from the longitudinal axis in a fourth direction places the actuator in a fourth of the at least two actuated conditions.

26. The device of claim 24, wherein the actuator is biased against movement away from the longitudinal axis.

27. The device of claim 24, wherein at least one of the distinguishable signals corresponds to at least one of panning, zooming in or out, adjusting focus, adjusting brightness and adjusting sound volume.

28. The device of claim 24, wherein:

the actuator is placed in the first actuated condition by imposition of a first force in a first direction,

the actuator is placed in the second actuated condition by imposition of a second force in a second direction,

the actuator is placed in a modified first actuated condition by imposition of a third force in the first direction,

the actuator is placed in a modified second actuated condition by imposition of a fourth force in the second direction,

distinguishable signals are generated when the first force is imposed on the actuator in the first direction and when the third force is imposed on the actuator in the first direction, and

distinguishable signals are generated when the second force is imposed on the actuator in the second direction and when the fourth force is imposed on the actuator in the second direction.

29. The device of claim 24, wherein:

the actuator is placed in the first actuated condition by moving the actuator a first distance in a first direction,

the actuator is placed in the second actuated condition by moving the actuator a second distance in a second direction,

the actuator is placed in a modified first actuated condition by moving the actuator a third distance in the first direction,

the actuator is placed in a modified second actuated condition by moving the actuator a fourth distance in the second direction,

distinguishable signals are generated when the actuator is moved the first distance in the first direction and when the actuator is moved the third distance in the first direction, and

distinguishable signals are generated when the actuator is moved the second distance in the second direction and when the actuator is moved the fourth distance in the second direction.

31. The device of claim 1, further comprising:

an encoder shaft rotating in response to rotation of the rotational member; and

an encoder wheel attached to the encoder shaft and rotatable within the encoder.

32. The device of claim 1, wherein rotation of the rotational member corresponds to increasing or decreasing sound volume.

2. A device for manipulating an image on a display device screen, comprising:

an input device in communication with the display device screen, the input device including a housing having an opening defined therein;

an actuator positioned within the input device and at least partially protruding through the opening, the actuator having at least two actuated conditions in which distinguishable signals are generated; and

a rotational member surrounding the actuator and at least partially protruding through the opening, the rotational member being rotatable with respect to the housing and continuously rotatable through multiple complete revolutions, wherein the input device is configured such that;

placement of the actuator in a first actuated condition scrolls the image to the left,

placement of the actuator in a second actuated condition scrolls the image to the right,

rotation of the rotational member in a first direction scrolls the image up, and

rotation of the rotational member in a second direction scrolls the image down.

3. The device of claim 2, wherein the actuator has at least four actuated conditions in which distinguishable signals are generated, and wherein the input device is configured such that:

placement of the actuator in a third actuated condition enlarges the image, and

placement of the actuator in a fourth actuated condition reduces the image.

4. The device of claim 2, wherein:

placement of the actuator in the first actuated condition scrolls the image to the left at a first rate for an initial period of time, and scrolls the image to the left at a second rate for a succeeding period of time, and

placement of the actuator in the second actuated condition scrolls the image to the right at a first rate for an initial period of time, and scrolls the image to the right at a second rate for a succeeding period of time.

5. The device of claim 2, wherein the input device is configurable to transmit a signal corresponding to a first user-definable display function upon placement of the actuator in the first actuated condition.

6. The device of claim 2, wherein simultaneous actuation of a modifier key on a keyboard changes the screen effect caused by at least one of placement of the actuator in the first actuated condition, placement of the actuator in the second actuated condition, rotation of the rotational member in the first direction and rotation of the rotational member in the second direction.

9. The device of claim 2, wherein the input device is a computer mouse.

10. The device of claim 2, wherein the input device is a keyboard.

11. The device of claim 2, wherein:

the actuator is placed in the first actuated condition by imposition of a first force in a first direction,

the actuator is placed in the second actuated condition by imposition of a second force in a second direction,

the actuator is placed in a modified first actuated condition by imposition of a third force in the first direction,

the actuator is placed in a modified second actuated condition by imposition of a fourth force in the second direction,

distinguishable signals are generated when the first force is imposed on the actuator in the first direction and when the third force is imposed on the actuator in the first direction,

distinguishable signals are generated when the second force is imposed on the actuator in the second direction and when the fourth force is imposed on the actuator in the second direction,

placement of the actuator in the first actuated condition scrolls the image to the left at a first rate, and placement of the actuator in the modified first actuated condition scrolls the image to the left at a second rate, and

placement of the actuator in the second actuated condition scrolls the image to the right at a third rate, and placement of the actuator in the modified second actuated condition scrolls the image to the right at a fourth rate.

12. A computer mouse, comprising:

a housing sized and configured for manual movement by a user across a work surface so as to permit a corresponding movement of a cursor on a computer display, the housing having;

an upper surface for contact with a hand of a user and a lower surface for contact with the work surface, and

an opening defined therein;

a scroll wheel having a circumference, the scroll wheel;

protruding through the opening in the housing and exposing the entire circumference, and

being continuously rotatable, with respect to the housing, through multiple complete revolutions.

16. The computer mouse of claim 12, wherein the scroll wheel protrudes through the opening in the housing at a transition between a steep curve on a side surface of the housing and a shallow curve on the upper surface of the housing.

17. The computer mouse of claim 16, wherein less surface area of the scroll wheel is exposed on the portions of the scroll wheel nearer the lower surface than is exposed on the portions of the scroll wheel nearer the upper surface.

13. A computer mouse, comprising:

a housing sized and configured for manual movement by a user across a work surface so as to permit a corresponding movement of a cursor on a computer display, the housing having

an upper surface for contact with a hand of a user and a lower surface for contact with the work surface, and

an opening defined therein;

a scroll wheel protruding through the opening in the housing and being continuously rotatable, with respect to the housing, through multiple complete revolutions; and

a switch located within the scroll wheel, wherein

the switch is exposed for engagement independent of the scroll wheel,

the opening is defined in the housing so as to be located between the thumb and index finger of a user hand positioned on the upper surface,

force exerted upon a first location on the switch generates a first switch signal,

force exerted upon a second location on the switch generates a second switch signal,

rotation of the scroll wheel in a first direction generates a first rotational signal, and

rotation of the scroll wheel in a second direction generates a second rotational signal.

33. The computer mouse of claim 13, further comprising first and second buttons located at a forward portion of the mouse and wherein, when the palm of a right hand of a human user is in contact with the housing upper surface,

the first and second buttons are engageable by the right index finger of the user, and

the housing opening is located between the right thumb and index finger of the user.

14. A computer mouse, comprising:

a housing sized and configured for manual movement by a user across a work surface so as to permit a corresponding movement of a cursor on a computer display, the housing having

an upper surface for contact with a hand of a user and a lower surface for contact with the work surface, and

an opening defined therein;

a scroll wheel having a circumference, the scroll wheel

protruding through the opening in the housing and exposing multiple locations distributed throughout the circumference, and

being continuously rotatable, with respect to the housing, through multiple complete revolutions; and

a switch located within the scroll wheel, wherein

the opening is defined in the housing so as to be located between the thumb and index finger of a user hand positioned on the upper surface,

force exerted upon a first location on the switch generates a first switch signal,

force exerted upon a second location on the switch generates a second switch signal,

rotation of the scroll wheel in a first direction generates a first rotational signal,

rotation of the scroll wheel in a second direction generates a second rotational signal,

the first switch signal scrolls an image on a display device screen in a first direction along a first axis when the computer mouse is in communication with the display device,

the second switch signal scrolls an image in a second direction along the first axis when the computer mouse is in communication with the display device,

the first rotational signal scrolls an image in a first direction along a second axis when the computer mouse is in communication with the display device, and

the second rotational signal scrolls an image in a second direction along the second axis when the computer mouse is in communication with the display device.

15. The computer mouse of claim 14, wherein

force exerted upon a third location on the switch generates a third switch signal that scrolls an image in the first direction along the second axis when the computer mouse is in communication with the display device,

force exerted upon a fourth location on the switch generates a fourth switch signal that scrolls an image in the second direction along the second axis when the computer mouse is in communication with the display device,

force exerted upon a location on the switch between the first and third locations generates a signal that, when the computer mouse is in communication with the display device, scrolls an image on the display device in a direction having components in the first direction on the first axis and in the first direction on the second axis, and

force exerted upon a location on the switch between the second and fourth locations generates a signal that, when the computer mouse is in communication with the display device, scrolls an image on the display device in a direction having components in the second direction on the first axis and in the second direction on the second axis.

18-19. -19. (canceled)

30. (canceled)

34. A computer mouse for manipulating an image on a display screen, comprising:

a first input control continuously rotatable through multiple complete revolutions;

an encoder to enable sensing of rotational movement amounts as the first input control is rotated; and

a second input control having a user engageable movable member located within the first input control and exposed for user manipulation independent of the first input control, the second input control being biased toward a predetermined position.

36. The computer mouse of claim 34, wherein the actuator is a multi-position switch.

37. The computer mouse of claim 36, wherein the actuator is a five-position switch.

35. (canceled)