Input device for scrolling a computer display

• US 7,038,664 B2
• Filed: 11/01/2001
• Issued: 05/02/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/01/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fellowes Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Fellowes Incorporated
• Inventors: Danzyger, Howard L., Valiunas, William R., Herbst, John E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Awad, Amr A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): SHENG, TOM V
• Application Number:
  US10/002,835
• Publication Number:
  US 20030080942A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,643 Days
• Field of Search: 345156-158, 345/173, 345/179, 345/184, 463 37- 38, D14402-417
• US Class Current: 345/163
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03543 Mice or pucks G06F3/03541 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/03549 Trackballs 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

An input device such as a mouse, track ball or joystick that has a rotatable element for scrolling a graphical display presented on an apparatus. The rate of scrolling of the graphical display is constant and independent of the rate of rotation of the rotatable element. The input device further comprises a motion signal generator, a motion signal interpreter and a software driver. The motion signal generator detects motion of the rotatable element and generates motion signals. The motion signal interpreter checks for generation of motion signals within predetermined periods of time. If at least one motion signal is detected within the predetermined period of time the motion signal interpreter generates one output signal at the end of the predetermined period of time. When the software driver receives an output signal, the software driver generates a line scrolling command to scroll the graphical display.

Claims

1. An input device for scrolling a graphical display comprising:

a. a rotatable element;

b. a motion signal generator responsive to motion of the rotatable element, wherein the motion signal generator detects motion of the rotatable element and generates motion signals;

c. a motion signal interpreter in communication with the motion signal generator, the motion signal interpreter providing one output signal at the end of a predetermined period of time when one or more motion signals are detected within the predetermined period of time; and

d. a software driver in communication with the motion signal interpreter wherein the software driver accepts output signals from the motion interpreter and generates line scrolling commands in response to reception of the output signals, wherein the scrolling rate of the graphical display is constant when the rotatable element is rotated and independent of the rate of rotation.

2. The input device of claim 1 wherein the motion interpreter comprises:

a. a memory buffer that receives and stores motion signals from the motion signal generator;

b. a timer that measures the predetermined period of time;

c. a comparator connected with the memory buffer and the timer to check if a motion signal has been received by the memory buffer within the predetermined period of time; and

d. an output signal generator in communication with the software driver.

3. The input device of claim 2 wherein the predetermined period of time is within the range of about 1 and about 300 milliseconds.

4. The input device of claim 3 wherein the predetermined period of time is within the range of about 15 and about 25 milliseconds.

5. The input device of claim 2 wherein the rotatable element is a scroll wheel.

6. The input device of claim 2 wherein the rotatable element is a track ball.

7. A graphical display scrolling device comprising:

a motion signal generator operable to detect rotational motion of a rotatable element; and

a motion signal interpreter having a memory buffer that stores motion signals generated by the motion signal generator for a predetermined period of time, said motion signal interpreter generates an output signal at the end of the predetermined period of time when one or more motion signals are detected within the predetermined period of time, wherein a line scrolling command for a graphical display is generated in response to each output signal and the scrolling rate of the graphical display is constant when the rotatable element is rotated and independent of the rate of rotation.

8. The graphical display scrolling device of claim 7 wherein the rotatable element is a scroll wheel.

9. The graphical display scrolling device of claim 7 wherein the rotatable element is a track ball.